Caroline, Author at Columbus Culinary Connection

October 21, 2015October 22, 2015 by Caroline

A Cooking Class at Shaw’s Restaurant & Inn

Listen, I know you might think you are Geoffrey Zakarian in the kitchen, but the reality is that we could all use a tune-up on our cooking skills. As a Mother’s Day gift this year, my mom and I headed to Shaw’s Restaurant & Inn for a belated celebratory cooking class. Because it was her special day, my mom picked the class. We attended the ” What Ales You?” themed session, consisting of a menu based entirely around beer. Each item was divine! Here is a peek at the menu:

Beer-Braised Prime Rib Tacos with Chipotle Crema and Pickled Onions

Spinach Salad with Dried Cherries, Spicy Pecans, & Beer Vinegar Dressing

Guinness Ice Cream with Malted Pretzel Gravel

Check out some of the mouthwatering offerings in photo form, as well as some pictures of the historic Shaw’s building:

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October 18, 2015October 19, 2015 by Caroline

Grilled Peaches and Blue Cheese Salad Recipe

In case I haven’t mentioned this, I am absolutely crazy for almost all fruits. But peaches in particular have a special place in my heart, since my dad grew them in our backyard as a kid (you can find my peach cobbler recipe here). As orchard season draws to a close, the apples, pears, and peaches we have enjoyed during warmer months are starting to fade. So how to best use those not-so-perfect grocery store peaches? Grill those babies! Heating the fruit brings out the juices, and caramelizes the natural sugars in the peaches, making mediocre fruit taste spectacular. Add some blue cheese and some arugula and you have a quick and healthy meal or side dish.

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September 30, 2015October 13, 2015 by Caroline

Ohio Bacon Fest

Bacon has developed such a cult-like following in recent years, and for good reason. This salty treat is more than just a side for eggs at breakfast time, and the offerings at the Ohio Bacon Fest proved just that. For the bacon-obsessed like myself, even choosing which dishes to try was incredibly difficult.

It was the first year for this bacon celebration, so I can forgive the fact that ticket lines were a little bit long. But at every turn, there was bacony deliciousness. Great Lakes beers were also served, and there were pig-themed vendors with everything from bacon t-shirts to dog treats.

Here’s the breakdown of the bacon-laden delicacies I sampled:

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September 27, 2015August 28, 2018 by Caroline

A Visit To: Kelleys Island

I hadn’t been to Kelleys Island since I was a kid, so I was eager to return this past weekend for a mini-vacation to unwind. It was a little dreary during our stay, but in the end it cleared up just enough to enjoy the end-of-summer weather for a few hours. I had a friend who was a Kelleys veteran with me, who introduced me to all of the classic island favorites like Brandy Alexanders, perch, and Bag the Moon tequila-filled strawberries. My favorite part though, was the bonfire we had Saturday night – you can see so many stars out there! Here are some of my favorite shots from the trip:

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September 23, 2015September 23, 2015 by Caroline

Por’Ketta Food Truck

Por’Ketta Food Truck
Columbus, OH
(614) 570-1107
http://porkettacbus.com/

Top Tastes:

1. Porchetta Sandwich + Egg
2. Chicken Sandwich
3. Purple Potato Salad
4. Corn Salad
5. Bourbon, Bacon, and Peach Marmalade

I’m just going to come out and say it. I am absolutely in love with Por’Ketta. At any point when I am even remotely in the vicinity of this truck, I will hunt it down, and promptly order one of everything. While this relative newcomer to the mobile food scene has a limited menu, every dish is tastier than the last.

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September 20, 2015September 7, 2016 by Caroline

The Grandview Hop

One thing that really sets Grandview apart from other neighborhoods is its sense of community. A fabulous example of that is the Grandview Hop, a street merchant extravaganza which promotes local business. The Hop runs from May-September, always from 5-9 on the last Saturday of the month. Part of Grandview Avenue is shut down for vendors, with wares ranging from jewelry to coasters, or peddling treats like popsicles and cupcakes. Many of the brick-and-mortar shops and restaurants are open too, with sales and happy hour specials. Often you can catch live music and activities as well.

(This is the fourth in a series of posts highlighting the food and drink scene in Grandview Heights. To learn more, click here)

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September 16, 2015August 24, 2016 by Caroline

Caroline’s Picks: 5 Bourbon Cocktails to Try

I’ve never been shy about the fact that I enjoy bourbon. I think it is perfect on the rocks, but I also love it in a cocktail. With bourbon’s rise in popularity, many of our local distillers have been rushing to create bourbon offerings of their own. With selections like Watershed Bourbon, OYO Bourbon Whiskey Michelone Reserve, and newcomer Mill Street Distillery Bourbon, there are certainly plenty of on-the-rocks options. But if you are looking for a blended cocktail, here are 5 bourbon-based cocktails to catch in Columbus.

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September 13, 2015September 14, 2015 by Caroline

Nada Columbus

220 W. Nationwide Blvd.
Columbus, OH 43215
614.715.8260

Columbus

Top Tastes:

1. Crispy Pork Belly Tacos
2. Salsa Tasting Trio
3. Chicken and Corn Enchiladas
4. Churros
5. Prickly Pear Margarita

Be prepared to nosh on better-than-average Mexican selections at Nada, one of the new Cincy-based transplants to Columbus. You can find the restaurant at a prime location in the Arena District, close to all the action at Nationwide, Huntington Park, and the LC Pavilion. The casual, rustic interior is warm and inviting, making it the ideal place to linger for happy hour drinks. The patio at Nada is also one of my favorites in the city; the view of the old Union Train Station arch at McFerson Commons is perfect.

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September 9, 2015September 9, 2015 by Caroline

Drink Up Columbus Collaboration

I am excited to announce a new venture for Columbus Culinary Connection! Each month, I will have an original recipe featured in Drink Up Columbus! Drink Up Columbus has long been one of my favorite Cbus publications, and is a go-to source for all things booze-related in Columbus. They have been so successful in our market that they recently launched Drink Up Cincinnati, to enlighten Cincy residents about the beverage scene there too.

I love to cook, and enjoy using local products in my recipes, so this collaboration is a natural fit. Columbus has so many brews and spirits available that it will not be hard to concoct some brand-new dishes under the Drink Up Columbus umbrella for your enjoyment each month. The first article highlights some great pairings of ice cream with Columbus-based beers and liquors, creating some amazing ice cream floats. Below you will find a few photos from my experiments with spiked floats.

To learn more about Drink Up Columbus, and to see my first monthly recipe posted there, check out the website here: http://drinkupcolumbus.com/2015/09/08/alcohol-floats/

The Adult Root Beer Float

Pumpkin Spice

Ingredients for Pumpkin Spice

Caramel Apple Shine

Base for the Caramel Apple Shine

Keep Connected,

Caroline

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September 6, 2015 by Caroline

Challah Food Truck

https://www.facebook.com/ChallahFoodTruck
(614) 579-0601

Top Tastes:

1. Pastrami, Egg, and Cheese on Challah
2. Smoked Salmon Club
3. Schmaltz Fried Potatoes
4. Seventh Son Brisket Sandwich
5. Latkes

Everything about Challah food truck screams fun. I am a sucker for a good pun, and you can’t say the truck’s name without wanting to add an exclamation point on the end, or yell “holla!” with glee while you nosh on their delicious eats.

Most recently, I caught up with Challah at Seventh Son for brunch. The Jewish comfort food-inspired cuisine here will satisfy every morning craving you’ve ever had, guaranteed. Brunch is a great way to kick off your day, and to me, there is nothing more quintessentially brunch than a runny egg sandwich. My favorite item by far at Challah is the Egg and Cheese Sandwich on challah bread, with pastrami added. This treat is anchored by a soft challah roll, the base of any good sandwich. The next layer is yummy herby mayo, cheese, and a latke, a crunchy potato pancake that adds a nice texture to the dish. You can order the latkes on their own too, with one of the sandwich sauces for dunking. The sandwich is topped with a perfectly dippy egg, which oozes out over the meat (note to self: get more napkins next time). The pastrami is tender and peppery, plus it paired amazingly with my Seventh Son New Horizon Rye beer, by the way.

If you are looking for smoked salmon, pick up the smoked salmon club. This unique take on a club has smoked salmon, escarole, tomato, mayo, fried red onion, and LAMB BACON. As a bacon lover, I was incredibly surprised to enjoy the lamb version that Challah slaps on the sandwich. I am also partial to the Seventh Son Brisket sandwich. It consists of cheese, truck-made brisket, and tangy pickled veggies, along with a squirt of horseradish mayo for dipping purposes. Order the schmaltz fried potatoes on the side, which are super flavorful and perfectly crispy. Brunch aspirations are set!

I’ve also heard tales of the truck stocking chicken and waffles ice cream, which I have yet to catch, but would love to try! If you are looking for a great brunch that is totally different from the typical food truck experience, head to Challah.

Culinary Clue: Chef Catie appeared on a recent food truck episode of Cutthroat Kitchen. This Food Network TV show pits chefs against each other in series of challenges, and they specially sought after the Challah creator! Catch her appearance on The Truck Stops Here episode.

One meal was been provided by Challah, but all opinions in this review are my own. Download the Street Food Finder app to see where you can find Challah.

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