1000 West Goodale Boulevard
Columbus, Ohio 43212
(614) 299-4131 http://www.krema.com/
Top Tastes
1. PB Apple Cheesecake
2. Buckeye Milkshake
3. The Kicker
4. Cashew Delight
5. Buckeye Cashew Crunch
Now that I finally made it to the Grandview-area Krema Nut Company, I am seriously upset I waited this long to check it out. I am always fiending for peanut butter anything, so it was high time that I give Krema a visit, if for no other reason than to check a box on the 2016 Hot List. I underestimated what I’d find inside, and I will definitely return, with friends, for some nutty treats.
Upon entering, you walk into the gift shop. The store sports every snack and sweet you can imagine, many of them house-made. Pick up addictive Buckeye Cashew Crunch popcorn, cinnamon almonds, or Krema’s nut butter sampler pack so you can taste every variety! Glass offers a peek into the production area from the retail section; Krema also conducts tours by appointment, giving a glimpse of the peanut butter-making process.
But it’s the sandwich shop area to the left where you should head for your dining pleasure. The Cashew Delight, with tart cherry preserves and cashew spread, is simple and utterly satisfying, or gobble up the PB Apple Cheesecake sandwich, combining peanut butter on one side with honey nut cream cheese and chunky apple fruit spread on the other. Heat seekers should snap up The Kicker, made with house hot and spicy peanut butter and slathered with raspberry preserves. You can also mix-and-match your choice of breads, nut butters, and toppings like bananas, marshmallow fluff, or orange-apricot spread for a custom sammy. Wash it all down with a Buckeye milkshake, a thick and creamy take on the beloved PB and chocolate combo in a shake.
Culinary Clue: Don’t miss out on Brothers Drake’s collaborative PB & J mead, made using 300 pounds of Krema’s Spanish peanuts for the PB component. And yes, it actually does taste like your favorite childhood sandwich.
Mother’s Day is one of the best holidays of the year – the weather finally starts to turn, and it is so important to take time to celebrate the special woman in our lives. Everyone has their own Mother’s Day dining traditions, but you should definitely consider taking mom out for brunch! When Stacie from Little Adventures Await (http://www.littleadventuresawait.com) asked me to guest post for her Mother’s Day roundup, it was the perfect opportunity to pick my Mother’s Day brunch favorites. Below, you will find my restaurant ideas for Mom’s big day, but you MUST check out Stacie’s full article here: http://www.littleadventuresawait.com/2016/04/mothers-day-in-cbus.html. She has tons of gift inspiration, and also multiple giveways! Plus if you are looking for fun things to do with kids in our capital city, she is your go-to girl.
The Barn at Rocky Fork Creek
http://thebarncolumbus.com/
For a traditional brunch that the whole family will love, book a table at The Barn. This Cameron Mitchell spot is serving up a bounty of dishes, ranging from eggs benedict to peel-and-eat shrimp, plus two carving stations. The enormous patio in the back also boasts cozy chairs, its own bar, and multiple fire pits to gather with your crew afterwards. Hurry though, because reservations are filling up fast!
Dough Mama
http://www.dough-mama.com/
Treat the special mama in your life to a slice of heaven at Dough Mama. The inviting Clintonville bakery is the ideal place to nosh on savory low-key treats such as seasonal quiche, fruit hand pies, and bread pudding, all paired with Thunderkiss coffee. Best of all, every mom that comes in the door gets to take home a free slice of pie!
Lindey’s Restaurant & Bar
http://www.lindeys.com/
A Columbus classic, check out Lindey’s in German Village for an upscale and satisfying dining affair. Lindey’s is offering a buffet as well as a special a la carte menu for the occasion, so you have the best of both worlds. You can gorge yourself on dishes like beignets or a Monte Cristo with maple blueberry jam, mother-approved!
Zen-Cha Tea Salon
http://www.zen-cha.com/
Give mom the gift of a unique and tasty experience at Zen-Cha. The lady in your life will adore sipping every variety of tea under the sun. Nibble on plump Chinese dumplings and Earl Grey pancakes, or order the miniature scone sampler to share with the table. Brunch doesn’t have to be fussy to be beautiful and scrumptious.
101 Beer Kitchen
http://www.101beerkitchen.com/
If you are a procrastinator like me, some of the fancier spots might be booked before Mother’s Day creeps up on you. 101 Beer Kitchen to the rescue! Seating is first come, first serve, and there are Dublin and Gahanna locations. My mouth is already watering over the 101 Twinkie, a pastry cream- stuffed take on French toast and the pretzels with beer cheese. For the craft brew-loving mom, this should be your pick.
A ho-hum entrée can be transformed by the unctuous, drippy center of a just-cooked egg; there’s really no limit to the cuisine the incredible, edible ingredient can boost, from Mexican chilaquiles to a spicy pizza. Egg dishes also photograph well, thanks to the pop of sunny yellow yolk. Columbus restaurant chefs recognize the power of huevos too! Below, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite local menu items which get their extra special something from the addition of eggs.
http://www.foxinthesnow.com/
There’s something so perfect about the egg tarts at the Italian Village spot. Buttery, flaky crust frames a tender egg sprinkled with chives, and leaves you wanting to order a million more. The café touts an excellent egg sandwich crowned with arugula, so make a return visit to sample that as well!
http://www.fornoshortnorth.com/
I’ve written about my passion for this pizza before, but I won’t hesitate to do it again. Who would’ve guessed that Brussels + pancetta + cheese + oozy eggs = the breakfast of my dreams? This pie is charred in all the right places, and is best paired with a mimosa for maximum enjoyment.
http://www.sophiesgourmet.com/
This little food cart puts out some of my favorite mobile food in town, and provides proof that eggs work for dinner too. Order up some piergoi with roasted garlic paprika butter, and make sure to add a fried egg. It comes with caramelized onions, sour cream, and a full belly.
http://kittiescakes.com/
Only available on Sunday mornings while supplies last, this egg dish is so good, I’ve never gotten a good photo of it. Kittie’s offering consists of a fluffy egg sandwiched between a split biscuit sprinkled with everything bagel spice. If this treat doesn’t get you out of bed, nothing will.
http://www.hoofhearted.bar/
This isn’t your basic egg-topped poutine, it’s innovative comfort food at its finest. Once popped, the savory egg yolk envelops chunky potatoes, onion rings, cheese curds, jalapeno, and more. All the components come together to make the ideal appetizer for brewery fun.
I will be totally open about my love for all things buffalo. I am obsessed with buffalo cauliflower, buffalo chicken dip, and of course, (boneless) buffalo wings. My new appetizer addiction: buffalo chicken meatballs stuffed with a perfect nugget of blue cheese! One thing I am not crazy about though, is making a grocery run, so I was super excited to partner with Shipt to create this recipe. Shipt is new to Columbus, and the best way to describe it is like Uber for your groceries. I will whip up something crazy out of my fridge in order to avoid shopping, and this is a perfect solution. I made these tasty meatballs using ingredients from Kroger, which were purchased by a Shipt shopper and then delivered to me. It was heavenly to cut right to the part I love best – cooking (and eating) up a storm. Find the satisfyingly spicy recipe below, followed by some more info about Shipt and how you can try it too.
Blue-Cheese Stuffed Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Ingredients
1/2 lb. ground chicken
1/2 lb. ground Italian sausage
1/2 c. Panko breadcrumbs
1 egg, beaten
3 T. fresh parsley, chopped
3/4 c. crumbled blue cheese
1/2 c. Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
3 T. melted butter
First, using a spoon and your hands, form the blue cheese into 15 dime-sized balls and set aside. In a large bowl, use your hands to mix together ground chicken, sausage, Panko, egg, and parsley until just combined. Don’t overwork the meat mixture or it will become tough.
Next, pinch off some of the meat mixture and flatten it into a small pancake shape. Place one of the blue cheese balls in the center of the meat mixture, and fold the edges around the cheese, sealing the cheese inside. Don’t let any of the cheese show; otherwise it may leak out in the cooking process. This recipe will make around 15 meatballs, each around the size of a half dollar.
Bake the meatballs at 425° for around 20 minutes on a wire rack, until cooked through completely. In a small bowl, mix together the hot sauce and the melted butter. Using a pastry brush, slather hot sauce mixture on each meatball, thoroughly coating the entire surface. Return meatballs to the oven for 5 more minutes to help set the sauce.
To cool your mouth down, dunk these babies in ranch dressing if desired. Enjoy!
GIVEAWAY: I also have a free yearlong trial of Shipt to give away! It’s $99 for the membership normally, so it’s a great deal. You can register to win HERE.
First, using a spoon and your hands, form the blue cheese into 15 dime-sized balls and set aside.
In a large bowl, use your hands to mix together ground chicken, sausage, Panko, egg, and parsley until just combined. Don't overwork the meat mixture or it will become tough.
Next, pinch off some of the meat mixture and flatten it into a small pancake shape.
Place one of the blue cheese balls in the center of the meat mixture, and fold the edges around the cheese, sealing the cheese inside. Don't let any of the cheese show; otherwise it may leak out in the cooking process.
Bake the meatballs at 425° for around 20 minutes on a wire rack, until cooked through completely.
In a small bowl, mix together the hot sauce and the melted butter.
Using a pastry brush, slather hot sauce mixture on each meatball, thoroughly coating the entire surface.
Return meatballs to the oven for 5 more minutes to help set the sauce.
3.5.3208
More about Shipt, straight from the source: Through the Shipt app, members create grocery lists, note any preferences or substitutions, choose a one-hour delivery window and pay for their order. Shipt connects members with local Shoppers to shop at the nearest grocery store, hand picking the items and delivering to the member’s home or office within hours of the order.
Disclosure: I was given a Shipt trial in order to provide an honest review of the service. Any opinions expressed within this review are my own unbiased views.
For the new year, I buckled down and did a juice cleanse with sambaFRESH juices…and I am finally getting around to writing about it. I love juice and had been wanting to see if I could actually follow through and do a multi-day cleanse. The answer, surprisingly, was yes! My husband was out of town for a work trip and so it seemed like the perfect time – he is a total food enabler and I always end up wanting to bake when he is around. For my needs, I went with the workplace cleanse so I had 4 juices during the day with a light salad at night. The New Albany location was the most convenient for me, and the staff there was super awesome. They explained how everything worked in great detail (a relief for a first-time cleanser like myself) and labeled the order to drink each juice for me. I also had a horrible sinus infection, and sambaFRESH hooked me up with some immunity booster shots with lemon, honey, and ginger to help clear up my cold!
When I headed home with my juices, I started to worry since I enjoy fruits, but some of the bottles were really green (read: would they taste like veggies I hate?). Many of the juices were available to sample before purchase, but there was no way to try them all, plus I wanted to follow the recommended plan. Also, I was nervous about being starving during the three day stretch – I don’t do hangry well. Once I started though, I have to say if you keep busy during the day and drink your juices on time, you won’t be hungry. You might miss the process and routine of eating, but you should not be ravenous.
My favorite juice was the first one of the day: G.L.O. (grapefruit, lemon, orange). I could kick off each morning with a G.L.O. juice, seriously. It was bright, citrusy, and refreshing. I am not addicted to morning coffee, so I didn’t miss the caffeine, but this juice helped perk me up. The other flavors I looked forward to were A.B.C. (apple, beet, and carrot) and the dessert-like vanilla Proteina (cashews, filtered water, cinnamon, maca, medjool dates, vanilla). I even liked the Rio, which had me nervous since cucumber is the bane of my existence. The pear and lemon must have helped hide the evil cucumber just enough! The only juice I didn’t care for was the Detox, I think because of the fennel. I actually ended up having a Tonico (tumeric, orange, lemon, filtered water, pineapple) left after the three days because I wasn’t hungry for it, so I drank it the next day for breakfast. Win!
Could I cleanse all the time? No. I am too obsessed with eating pizza. However, I am looking forward to incorporating more juices into my diet, and I would definitely try another cleanse. It is a good way to hold yourself accountable and hit the reset button when you are feeling a little sluggish. Have questions about doing a juice cleanse? Shoot me an email or contact me on social media to chat! I’d love to hear more about your juice experiences too.
Top Tastes: 1. Bacon French Toast 2. Toad in the Hole 3. Sugared Dougnuts 4. Howlin’ Tail 5. Driftwood Session IPA
When a brewery-restaurant can fully master both the beer and the kitchen sides of the equation, there’s not too much more that I am looking for in a dining experience. Wolf’s Ridge Brewing certainly fits the bill here. But then, the downtown spot went above and beyond, developing a brunch menu with beautifully plated and innovative cuisine. It’s a combo of elegant brunch dishes and well-made beers that is impossible to find anywhere else in Columbus.
Let me go ahead and let you know ahead of time: you will struggle to select your meal. My husband and I had to go the “divide-and-conquer” route on our most recent visit so that we could sample as many items as possible, and still wanted to try more entrees. The poutine special they had that day really threw off our game, but who can say no to peppers + onions, sausage gravy, and an egg over shoestring fries? So we had that too. The regular menu though, is packed with delectable choices. Take the sugared doughnuts, for instance: large doughnut holes that arrive at your table warm and puffy, with eggnog anglaise for dipping. Or try the Bacon French Toast, any bacon lover’s dream: Brioche bread, bourbon bacon ice cream, applewood smoked bacon, anglaise, and syrup. It’s ok to get ice cream for breakfast if it’s a dish someone else created, right? I am so glad I decided the answer is a resounding “yes!” The Toad in the Hole, or “hens in a nest/eggs in a basket,” depending where you’re from, had the best porter cheese sauce, and was served with fingerling potatoes and bacon. It looked way better than any egg I’d fried up at home, that’s for sure. And there’s more too: Oysters Rockefeller frittatas, Cuban-style eggs benedicts, or a Kentucky Fried Chicken sandwich.
The drink possibilities are worthy complements to the fabulous fare. Wolf’s Ridge Brewing has some excellent beers to quench your late-morning thirst, all of which are brewed in-house. Flights are available to taste them all, but my favorites for brunch are the Driftwood Session IPA, to ease into the day with a low ABV brew, or the creamy N2 the Night Stout. On the cocktail side of things, sip on the Beermosa: House Hefeweizen, Lillet, and fresh-squeezed orange juice, or my favorite, the Howlin’ Tail: Howling Moon beer, Watershed gin, lime, orange, St. Germain, and grapefruit bitters. Beer cocktails should really be more popular.
Culinary Clue: If you are looking for a lighter snack or post-brunch beverage, check out the tap room at the back of the restaurant. It is a separate space with munchies, a full draft list, and sometimes even live music. Take a peek at the menu here: http://www.wolfsridgebrewing.com/menu-1/
I finally got around to doing a Live Columbus Instagram takeover! This account (@livecolumbus) gives anyone who wants it a chance to show how they “live Columbus,” taking followers around town and giving a glimpse into their ideal day in the capital city. If you aren’t familiar with Andrea Archibald, the originator of the account, check out her personal feed at @andrealivescbus. She’s the owner of the Simply Vague stores at Polaris and Tuttle malls, and lends her support to many local vendors.
Doing an Instagram takeover is also a great way to get new eyes on your business, as the account has over 20,000 followers, so people who might not have discovered your brand can find you. It is interesting to see the different perspectives on Columbus living. I’ve seen restaurants do a behind-the-scenes look at their kitchens, yoga studios show you crazy poses at iconic locations, moms take followers on a tour of kid-friendly spots, or charities, photographers, and even a flower farm take the helm to put their spin on the account.
For my takeover, I had to highlight my favorite Cbus spots to eat and drink, naturally. If you didn’t follow along, I’ve included some shots from the day below:
I kicked off the morning with a cup of Sticky Toffee Caramel coffee from Crimson Cup Coffee and uploading a blog post about my favorite bacon dishes in Columbus.
The first stop on my tour brought me to Kittie’s Cakes to pick up some desserts for later. Read all about Kittie’s in this blog post.
After picking up some dessert treats, I headed to one of my favorite neighborhoods Grandview Heights and ate these delicious pimento cheese and garlic butter biscuits from Third and Hollywood. Click here to read all about brunch at Third and Hollywood.
For a quick lunch I enjoyed two of my favorites: a beer flight from The Daily Growler + the spicy scallop King Kong roll at Hudson 29.
Clintonville is another great dining destination, and one item I can’t get enough of is the honey goat cheese balls from Crest Gastropub. Served up with Brother’s Drake Apple Pie mead, I couldn’t think of a better Sunday happy hour treat!
I started winding down the day with a stop at Rockmill Brewery. It’s a perfect spot for a Sunday Funday picnic with beautiful views and wonderful brews. You can read all about Rockmill Brewery by going here.
I love dining out, but my first love is baking. I made it home in time to make some blueberry streusel muffins! For some of my original recipes, head here on the blog.
I had to close with the ideal late night snack: Mikey’s Late Night Slice pizza! Love mixing the garlic and the sauce-that-shall-not-be-named together for dipping, and I can’t wait to try the Mikey’s + Hot Chicken Takeover pizza.
When it comes to bacon dishes, I’ve tried it all. This year’s Ohio Bacon Fest at the Columbus Commons was my dream, and I sampled everything from bacon pecan pie made by The Pearl to bacon-cheddar popcorn courtesy of Pam’s North Market Popcorn. Knowing my weakness for anything bacon-related, a friend even bought me bacon dental floss once (it’s probably not approved by the American Dental Association). But what if you are looking for a bacon fix at one of Columbus’ local restaurants in the meantime? Here are some of my favorite dishes that can satisfy those cravings for meat candy any time.
Katalina’s Original Sweet & Spicy Bacon
One of my go-to breakfast spots in Cbus is Katalina’s, and nothing pairs better with pancake balls or avocado tacos than Katalina’s Original Sweet & Spicy Bacon. The bacon is served in thick slices, is crisp but still has a good amount of chewiness, and is slathered in a mix of sticky and savory spices. It is way too addictive, do not plan on sharing. http://www.katalinascafe.com/
Lamb Bacon at Brassica
Bacon doesn’t have to be traditional to be delicious. The lamb bacon at Brassica is unlike anything you’ve ever tried before. Who knew bacon belonged with pitas and hummus and even spicy carrots? The kitchen makes the lamb bacon themselves, curing it and brushing on a tasty pepper glaze. You won’t miss the pork here; this delight is smoky and wonderful. http://brassicashortnorth.com/
Chocolate Bacon Donut at Destination Donuts
As any true bacon aficionado will tell you, bacon can go well in desserts and other sugary applications! Everyone likes a sweet and salty combo, and Destination Donuts knows how to play that game. Order their Chocolate Bacon donut for the most mouthwatering breakfast you’ve ever imagined. Think tender dough, dark chocolate, and crunchy bacon bits. Heaven! http://www.destinationdonuts.com/
Bacon Risotto at Veritas Tavern
If there’s one thing I can guarantee in this life, it’s that bacon + runny egg + risotto = sheer perfection. At Veritas Tavern, they coax every bit of bacony goodness out when preparing their Bacon Risotto, and the end result is spectacular. If you’ve been told that classy restaurants can’t do bacon, let this Delaware spot prove naysayers wrong. http://www.veritastavern.com/menus/
Bacon Breakfast Sausage Patties at Blystone Farm
If you like to whip up bacon-centric meals at home, check out the Bacon Breakfast Sausage patties at Blystone Farm in Canal Winchester. This local butcher gives you the best of both worlds by grinding up bacon into their house sausage mix, which are the perfect size for sliders or breakfast munching. They also sell slabs of their bacon, which is so tempting as well. http://blystonefarm.com/
We’ve all seen them while scrolling through Facebook: the instructional cooking videos that quickly show you how to prepare a meal from start to finish. I absolutely love sharing and reading recipes, so I thought that making one of these posts of my own could be a fun side experiment! With the help of my husband’s iPhone prowess and a foolproof recipe, we were ready to tackle this project.
My mother-in-law first gave me the idea of cooking the meat, pasta, and sauce all together in one pan, and I have modified it for my own preferences. Anyone who knows me is aware that I am the laziest person ever when it comes to dishes. I hate them SO MUCH. I refuse to buy almost anything that isn’t dishwasher-safe, and my husband and I have a standing agreement that I cook and he cleans up. So the idea of dirtying only one pan and one spatula to whip up a full meal has me totally sold. Because this recipe has so few ingredients and steps, it was an ideal choice for our foray into food filmography. There are still some kinks to be worked out, but I hope you enjoy!
One-Pot Sausage Penne
Ingredients:
1 16 oz roll of Italian sausage
1 24 oz jar of your favorite pasta sauce or marinara
3 cups water
1 16 oz box penne pasta
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
More Parmesan and parsley, for garnish
In a large, deep skillet, brown the sausage until cooked through completely. Add the pasta sauce to the pan, along with the 3 cups of water. Stir to combine with the sausage. Bring the mixture to a boil.
Next, pour the penne into the pan. Keep the mixture at a gentle bubble, stirring regularly to keep the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the skillet. Cook until the penne is cooked through and the water has reduced out of the pan, about 12-15 minutes.
Add in the Parmesan, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes, stirring until well-incorporated. Scoop the pasta into bowls, and sprinkle with more cheese and parsley as desired. Enjoy!
You could also add other veggies or garnishes to this dish and it would be super tasty; make it your own!
Let me know what recipe we should make into a cooking video next in the comments below.
Top Tastes:
1. Kimchi Panzanella
2. Roller Blabe DIPA
3. Poutine
4. Musk of the Minotaur IPA
5. Are We Having Fun Yet? Pale Ale
What do you get when you mix great craft beer, innovative cuisine, and a dash of humor? The new Hoof Hearted Brewery & Kitchen, of course! I’ve long been a fan of Hoof Hearted’s beer offerings (thanks to The Daily Growler) but I was totally blown away by the food at the brewpub. A great addition to Italian Village, Hoof Hearted’s restaurant is airy and colorful. Brew tanks encased in glass are the joint’s focal point, and they have an excellent assortment of logo-laden swag on display for purchase as well.
Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty though. Hoof Hearted shines the most when it comes to IPA’s; which is just dandy for this hophead. The Musk of the Minotaur IPA is a great mix of citrus and hop bitterness, and I love Roller Blabe, the fruity and smooth Double India Pale Ale. The “party pale” ale, Are We Having Fun Yet?, is a beer that is just drinkable enough for summer patio-sipping. A gose, a coffee ale, and other solid picks are also available.
Sometimes breweries that serve food get stuck in the same old rut, dishing up pretzels and greasy fries. Not so for the Hoof Hearted menu, since the creators of Crest Gastropub are at the helm. I am desperate for the recipe to recreate the Kimchi Panzanella, one of my favorite bites of 2016 so far. This shareable plate takes chunks of bread, Brussels Sprouts, and tangy kimchi, then slathers it all in an out-of-this-world red pepper sauce. So original, so savory, and surprisingly vegan-friendly! We also sampled the oxtail toast and the poutine. The poutine was a table favorite, with large potato wedges topped with jalapenos, daikon, pork cheek, onion rings, brown gravy, and a gloriously runny egg. The cheese plate looked killer, as did the fried chicken and the taco quartet – I must return soon for these items. Desserts consist of apple pie dolloped with sage whipped cream and a pistachio-crusted fig tart.
Culinary Clue: Don’t forget about Hoof Hearted’s Marengo taproom either. At this original location, you can score cans of your favorite brews on select weekends, and drink their selections on draft as well. Be sure to get there early – these can release parties can get crowded.
