Caroline’s Picks: 5 Sliders to Try

Caroline's Picks - 5 Sliders to Try
There’s something about sliders. They are perfectly bite-sized, a platter of them is ideal for sharing, and they are full of flavor. Columbus restaurants and food trucks have some great slider offerings; some of them have very unique fillings! Here is a breakdown of some of my favorite sliders in town:

Quinoa Slider: Strongwater Food and Spirits

Quinoa Slider: Strongwater Food and Spirits

Strongwater has a ridiculously awesome vegetarian menu; so good that it almost makes me reconsider my carnivore status. Almost. It sounds crazy, but the quinoa “patty” on this slider is fabulous. Add some microgreens, vegan mayo, and a sweet-and-sour tomato sauce, and you’ve got a winning combo.

OH! Classic Slider: OH! Burgers

OH! Classic Slider: OH! Burgers

Slider purists will cherish these mini burgers. With a juicy beef center and toppings of cheddar, bacon, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and onion, these sliders pair well with a cold beer. That’s lucky, since you can often find this truck at Land-Grant Brewing!

Mac and Cheese Slider: Cray Eatery and Drinkery

Mac and Cheese Slider: Cray Eatery and Drinkery

Looking for a calorie splurge? This little bite of heaven has all the elements you’d ever want: a deep-fried macaroni and cheese patty, bacon, ranch, and a pretzel bun. Check out their other slider offerings too! The majority of the menu is fun styles of small sandwiches.

Pork Belly Lotus Slider: Aloha Steatery

Pork Belly Lotus Slider: Aloha Steatery

Aloha’s concept of steam bun sliders is fresh and satisfying. My favorite of their steam bun sammies? The pork belly, drizzled with sweet BBQ and a sprinkle of cilantro. All these goodies are tucked into a soft, warm pocket of dough. Yes please!

Spicy Saigon Sliders: Mai Chau

Spicy Saigon Sliders: Mai Chau

The sweet and spicy sliders from this Vietnamese truck was one of the most memorable items I tried at this year’s Food Truck Festival. Flavorful pulled pork saturated in hot sauce is finished with a crunchy slaw to cool it all down, making this slider offering is a must-try.

Have some suggestions for other Cbus slider joints? Let me know in the comments below.

Keep Connected,

Caroline

Door to Door Organics Delivery Service

Door to Door Organics
I’ll admit it – I am one of those home chefs that is obsessed with cooking, but absolutely despises grocery shopping. Enter Door to Door Organics! This fresh, organic delivery service is new to the Columbus area, and I was lucky enough to get to do a trial run. Having to make constant trips to the store is one reason that I sometimes slack on eating fruits and veggies. Excuses be gone – these goodies are now delivered straight to your doorstep! GIVEAWAY ALERT: Keep reading for more info.

With Door to Door, you get to select a box size (based on your level of need/# of people in your household) as well as whether you want just fruits, just veggies, or a mix of both. I got a mixed box, because I wanted everything, naturally. The coolest part, in my opinion, is that you can then swap out items that you don’t want or that aren’t your favs (all mention of cucumbers was banished from my deliveries!) for other comparable items that you desire. Find items ranging from ginger to green onions, and kiwi to cantaloupe in the weekly boxes. The prices for these ripe items are very reasonable, especially since you don’t have to leave your couch to get them. All of this deliciousness is packed carefully in dry ice, where it can sit out on your porch until you arrive home from work.

My Door to Door Organics Delivery

There is also a whole host of pantry items, meats, and even dairy products. I unearthed a great deal on peeled and deveined shrimp, and also discovered a new love of molasses, something I never used regularly before. Some items, like tahini paste, are convenient to get through the service for the sole reason that I never know what aisle to find them in at the grocery! Another thing that is really awesome about Door to Door is that they have some local Ohio products too – I ordered some Bearded Buch Kombucha (Cleveland-made), Hartzler Dairy milk from Wooster, and Pinot Grigio & Artichoke Parmesan Salad Dressing, courtesy of Athens’ Vino de Milo.

I have made some pretty tasty meals from some of my scores, such as PB & J Chia Pudding (recipe to come), Carrot Soup with Sriracha, Acorn Squash Stuffed with Sausage and Apples, and Buffalo “Wing” Tofu sticks! Having access to some more unusual items really gave me some great meal inspo, and there is a whole online catalog of Door to Door recipes. Check out some photos of my dishes below:

Meals using Door to Door Organics Ingredients

Kindly, the folks at Door to Door Organics also want readers to be able to sample their wares. All Columbus Culinary Connection readers can get $10 off their first order by following this link – https://ohio.doortodoororganics.com/signup?gift_cert=CBUSCULINARY15O.

Even more exciting, I also have three $50 gift certificates for Door to Door Organics to give away! You can register to win the certificates HERE.

See if you are in the delivery area by visiting the site: https://ohio.doortodoororganics.com.

Keep Connected,

Caroline

Disclosure: I was given a Door to Door Organics trial in order to provide an honest review of the service. Any opinions expressed within this review are my own unbiased views.

A Cooking Class at Shaw’s Restaurant & Inn

A Cooking Class at Shaw's Restaurant
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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Ohio Bacon Fest

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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A Visit To: Kelleys Island

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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The Grandview Hop

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)

Click Here to View My Grandview Pocket Guide

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Caroline’s Picks: 5 Bourbon Cocktails to Try

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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Drink Up Columbus Collaboration

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

The Adult Root Beer Float

Pumpkin Spice

Pumpkin Spice

Ingredients for the Pumpkin Spice

Ingredients for Pumpkin Spice

Caramel Apple Shine

Caramel Apple Shine

Base for the Caramel Apple Shine

Base for the Caramel Apple Shine

Keep Connected,

Caroline

Introducing: Foodie Fight Friday Trivia

#FOODIEFIGHTFRI
It’s trivia time! Get ready for a “foodie fight,” because starting this Friday, Columbus Culinary Connection will be posting a new food-related quiz question each Friday night. Test your wits about topics related to fun and food, both locally and across the U.S. Here’s how it works:

  • Follow Columbus Culinary Connection on Twitter and Instagram: @cbusconnect
  • Look for the trivia question graphic on Friday nights, #foodiefightfri
  • Post your best guess for the answer (write A, B, C, D) by comment or reply
  • Correct answers will be posted in the comments on Instagram, and by reply tweet on Twitter after a number of users have answered
  • Sign up for my monthly newsletter where I will recognize the weekly winners.

Instagram Foodie Fight Friday
To whet your appetite and kick-start your brain for Friday, try your hand at the questions below. Find the answers at the bottom of the post.

1. The Circleville Pumpkin Show is one of the best Central Ohio festivals, featuring tasty pumpkin treats. What year did this favorite fall festival begin?

A. 1887            B. 1948              C. 1994           D. 1903

2. The Aztecs have been credited with being one of the first to crush peanuts into a chunky paste resembling peanut butter. Which major PB producer created the crunchy version of the spread as we know it today?

A. JIF                 B. Peter Pan      C. Skippy        D. Reese’s

3. Do you recognize this local dining hot spot? Where was this snapshot taken?
Foodie Fight Friday Graphic

A. The Crest     B. The Whitney House       C. The Crafty Pint         D. The Pearl

I love trivia, and I think it is apparent that I am obsessed with food, so this will be a match made in heaven! Start looking for the hashtag #foodiefightfri to answer and play along. Thanks for reading!

Keep Connected,

Caroline

Answer Key

  1. D    2. C     3. B
The Oilerie Grandview

The Oilerie: Grandview

1409 Grandview Avenue
Columbus, OH 43212
Phone: (614) 824-2668
http://www.oilerie.com/columbus.php

Let’s get something straight – samples are amazing. At The Oilerie in Grandview, you can taste until your heart’s content, and you will want to do exactly that. Tucked away in a strip mall off of Grandview Avenue, you would never know that this tiny spot could inspire so many recipe ideas in one visit!

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

The Oilerie

Click Here to View My Grandview Pocket Guide

All of the olive oils from the store come from olives harvested by the same producer, whose picture is hanging on the wall. The store is a maze of tables topped with large metal dispensers called fusti. Each of these containers is filled with a perfect olive oil or vinegar; there are little cups beside the fusti for endless sampling. It is so hard to choose which ones to select – each variety seems better than the last. For olive oils, there are choices such as chili, dill, lemon, and oregano, as well as speciality oils like avocado and hazelnut. The garlic oil is the best seller, and would be perfect for all kinds of cooking: topping grilled veggies, dipping bread, or a simple drizzle on pasta. In vinegars, The Oilerie stocks flavors like blueberry balsamic, pear balsamic, raspberry balsamic and a delicious aged signature balsamic. I can’t wait to make a spinach salad with the pomegranate balsamic vinegar – yum! Once you do decide (after 30 minutes of debate and tasting, in my case) the selection will be bottled and poured in front of you. It is then sealed and labeled with the date for maximum freshness.

The Fusti at the Oilerie

Overwhelmed by all the options? The staff is happy to help you select an olive oil that is right for your needs. During my recent visit, I chatted with Harley, who gave me plenty of tips on how to use the more unusual oils in the best way (cinnamon olive oil on a baked sweet potato? Yes please!). He also told me that The Oilerie does parties, which for around $10 a person, is a great deal. They shut down the store for your group, make a few dishes using their oils and vinegars for you to devour, and then let you go taste crazy!

Tasting Cups at The Oilerie

Click Here to View My Grandview Pocket Guide

In the store, you will also find other tasty products like pastas, sauces, spices, and even olive oil-based skincare items. Any of their offerings would be a fabulous gift for an out-of-town friend too. I also picked up some cherry balsamic preserves that will be amazing on pork tenderloin, but I’ll be back soon for that white balsamic that I’m having insane regret that I didn’t buy.

Cherry Balsamic Sauce

Culinary Clue: Still need ideas about how to utilize that bottled goodness? Check out the Oilerie’s recipe suggestion guide here: http://www.oilerie.com/recipes/index.html

This is the third review post for my Grandview culinary scene series. Sign up here to automatically be informed when new Grandview posts are released! To see my breakdown of the best Grandview spots for dining and shopping, check out the initial roundup post here.

Keep Connected,

Caroline