My Columbus Favorites

Once again, Sam has inspired a post (the previous was the inside of my fridge, before and after).  This time, she put the topic of your favorite things in your city - if you were to throw a party featuring your favorite local products, what would they be?  All of my first thoughts were sweet, but there are a few pork products in here, as well...

Of course, there would have to be Jeni's Ice Cream.  Although once questioned about jumping on the Jeni's bandwagon, I sincerely believe Jeni's is one of the best things Columbus has going for it, and I'm not just saying that to schmooze.  It's good stuff.  Jeni works hard to come up with her fantastic flavors, and more days than not she's actually still making the ice cream (until recently, she was making all of those great macarons for the ice cream sandwiches herself). 

A baguette from Eleni Christina.  I don't always love every baked good I've had from EC, but their baguettes never disappoint.  I'm kind of sad that I don't live in their building anymore, because it means I have less of their great bread in my diet (although my tummy is a little flatter, thanks to that).  Eleni Christina's baguettes have this really great savory flavor, probably owing to a nice slow proof.  I also love the rosemary "foccaccia" which is only sold on Saturdays, and rarely available when I try to buy it, but has this incredible, olive oil slathered and salt-sprinkled top that I love.  Whenever we go out to eat at a restaurant which serves this bread, Husband is nice enough to let me eat all the foccaccia, or at least the salty crust.

Pierogies from Krystyna's Deli (review).  I can only eat about 4 at a time, a fact which saddens me every time I fry these little pillows up.  They are best served when prepared simply: onions, bacon, and a good dose of butter.  (Ida ave at Grandview 614.488.2860)

A plate of cookies from Pistachio, along with a few Canelé.  Husband could probably eat a dozen of these not quite sweet little cakes a day.  Available on Fridays and Saturdays only, he has recently adopted this habit of picking up a few while out and about.  It's really nice, but I have to eat one every time he offers one up, good for the soul, not good for the old buddha belly.  The macarons at Pistachio are a revelation.  I am going to be very, very sad when Pistachio moves to their new location (but again, tummy will thank me) and I can't walk.  (680 N. Pearl in the Short North)

Reuben from Danny's Deli (review).  This was the find of the year.  You've never had corned beef (as a Columbuser) until you've had corned beef from Danny's.  It makes that $15 reuben you got from that K deli look like cat food.  HAHAHAHA.  Oh, I slay me.  (37 W. Broad St - Front St entrance)

A Banh Mi from Mi Mi Cafe (review).  This was the find of last year.  Husband and I talk frequently about how we dream about the Banh Mi at Mi Mi.  It's a good thing the reuben from Danny's and the Banh Mi are completely different, so I don't feel hard pressed to say one sandwich is better than another.  The pate, the pickled veggies, the mayo, if you haven't been yet, GO.  GO NOW.  The rest of this post can wait. 

Info:  Mi Mi Café 5858 Columbus Square, in the Columbus Square Shopping Center (yes, where the Bowling Palace is located) at the corner of Cleveland Ave and E. Dublin-Granville Rd.  614.899.9202.

A Curried Egg Bun from Crescent bakery.  A favorite treat of mine which I rarely allow myself to eat (I don't even want to think about the calorie content), this little pastry is basically a yeast donut covered in coconut and filled with Japanese curry and a hard cooked egg.  If you haven't tried it, it's really hard to explain the complex sweet, spicy, and rich deliciousness of this little bun.  (Kenny Centre, Kenny at Olde Henderson)

As a sidenote, I haven't eaten anything to speak of yet today, and I'm getting very hungry.  Okay, that's not entirely true.  I have had a few bites of store-bought macaroni salad.  It's a very strange guilty pleasure I have, this affinity for macaroni salad. 

While we're on the subject of Japanese bakeries, let's do two things from Ichiban bakery.  Everyone who knows me knows that my preferred birthday cake is a strawberry cake from Ichiban - pictured center, betwixt green tea cake and mocha cake (or Golden Delights, for that matter).  I know there are trans fats in the "Bettercream" frosting they used, but I don't care.  The strawberry cake is a thing of beauty.  In addition to the strawberry cake, the steamed pork buns (alas, not very photogenic) at Ichiban are also something I love to indulge in from time to time.  Fat as both hands put together, they are puffy, sweet, and incredible.  (also in the Kenny Center, Kenny at Olde Henderson) 

Tuna rolls from Kihachi (review).  Forget everything you think you know about sushi.  Although Kihachi is not a sushi bar, when blue fin tuna is in season, and you can get the loin/otoro combo, you'll fall in love with sushi all over again.  Info:  Kihachi  2667 Federated Blvd  Dublin, OH (20 minute drive from downtown)  614.764.9040

Hot Italian Sausage & Giardinara Pizza from the Rossi.  This is easily my favorite pizza in Columbus.  While we're at it, how about some of those incredible Yukon Gold fries.  Neither of these options travel very well, so I don't know if I could bring them home for a party, but if I had visitors in town, I would take them here.  (895 N. High in the Short North)

I'm sure I'm forgetting a ton of my favorites.  Maybe this can be an ongoing list.  What are some of your favorites?

Comments

[SarahE]

Yummm the Rossi...if only there were more seats...but wait did I hear they were expanding? Anyway, their macadamia nut chicken makes me want to lick the bowl!

[Bear]

Great list! One quick note -- the link for Danny's Deli should be dannysdeli.net, not dannysdeli.com. And it's 2:45 a.m. and I would KILL for one of those reubens right now....

[DM]

The Rossi! We went there tonight on your recommendation. The burger was great, but the pizza was _amazing_. Best pizza in Columbus by a long shot. Thank you!

[Tim]

Hi Lisa,

Just came back from Kenny Center and stumbled across your blog.

Very interesting and useful for someone like me. I am new to Columbus from Toronto. Before I decided on the relocation, my foremost concern was whether Columbus would be diverse enough to accomodate my interest in food and cooking. I was pleasntly surprised on my first trip here. Now settling in, I am still very happy in the food department.

Couple of other random comments:

Giada - your write-up on Food Network is hilarious. The first time I saw Giada I was wondering if they were using an ultra wide-angle to shoot the show: how come her head looked so big?

Checked out Ichiban Bakery today and disappointed without buying anything. I am ethnic chinese and I think I know how good a chinese bakery can be, but I am turned-off by the fact that they try so hard to be a japanese-wanna-be in a mall competing with the japanese bakery (Cresent?).

Restuarants - Sigh... I purposely skipped that section for now. Simply because I have not met any new friends in town for such outing yet.

Lastly, if you spot my license plate in town, you will probably pick that out. I picked a personalize plate first time in my life because the number plate they gave reeeeally sucked. But once I picked the word for my personalized plate, the staff at BMV just couldn't stop chatting me up on food and cooking :D

Anyway, will certainly check back often, your guide to the activities in town is important for me.

Thanks,

Tim

[JustinD]

I love this blog, but it makes me hungry.

I concur with Jeni's, Pistachios, and the bag's from EC.

Here's another suggestion: Chicken and green beans (with a spicy black bean sauce) served over rice noodles at Moy's Restaurant on High.

[Deborah Dowd]

I am so glad to see your recommendations! My duaghter is moving to Columbus for a two-month rotation at Columbus Children's this Saturday, and it helps to be able to tell her some places she might like to eat (I I have already gotten some recommendations over at Columbus Foodie!) She will be living in Pickerington, which doesn't look like it has much foodwise (at least from what I can see on the web), so if you have any suggestions for eating, shopping, it would be a great help!

[michael]

Great list.

I need to try Mi Mi Cafe and both delis for sure.

I love Jeni's since forever basically.. Chinese fivespice and salty caramel double dip.

The curry egg "pan" is my favourite at Crescent, but the katsu (pork cutlet) sandwich is also a good choice, and possibly less heart attack provoking. Its a nice thin breaded cutlet fried up crisp and served with shredded fresh cabbage and a tasty sauce (yakisoba?) served on japanese style white bread with the crusts trimmed. This is really good, trust me.

[lisa the waitress]

Great favorites! I'll have to try a few of those I haven't before or haven't been in awhile - I haven't been to Sunflower since high school, but I remember it fondly.

And I also love the Rossi burger - it's been the best on our burger hunt so far.

Thanks for reading!

[osulew]

I definitely second the Rossi fries and I would add the Rossi burger too...hands down one of my favorite meals yet so simple. I would also pick Jeni's. I love nothing more than a scoop of thai chili and a scoop of gravel road in a waffle cone. I would also add as my personal favorites the tortas from Cuco's taqueria, Rossi or MoJoe mojitos, apple martinis from Martini, kung pao chicken from Sunflower Chinese, and (strange choice) the shrimp philly roll from Wild Oats sushi case. Oh, and bread (no sandwich thank you) from Katzinger's.

[sam]

wow! I never thought for a second that would catch on as a meme.
Thanks for taking a bite and sharing!

[Kate]

Oh man, we've only been gone from Columbus for a few weeks but reading about Jeni's ice cream sandwiches and Pistachio's macarons makes me want to cry! Portland is a great food town, but I do miss my Columbus favorites! Keep up the great posts, even if they do make me a little homesick!