Restaurant Widow

Things to do in Columbus::May 28th Edition

Okay.  I hate excuses; I hate making them, I hate people who make them.  I hate the phrases "It's not my fault," and "it's not fair."  All of that being said, this is kind of also a good thing.  And it's not an excuse, because after I make the statement I'm going to talk about how I will correct the situation next week.  I got a second job!  As a writer!  These first few weeks, it has taken up a good bit of my time.  As it would turn out, I'm not as perfect at it as I thought, and my learning curve is a little longer than I might have guessed.  It is for this reason that I have failed to get my events up on time.  SO.  Next week, I'll start writing them on Tuesday (they take awhile, as hard as it might be to belive), and they'll be ready by Wednesday. 

Okay. 

Enjoy the weather!  It's hard to believe it, but I think summer is about here.  I'll skip all of the "time flies" cliches...

There are lots of opportunities to get out there and see what the city has to offer!  As always, I am certainly missing something, so if you have any events to add, please don't hesitate to leave them in the comments.

• One great thing about summer is there are lots of nice free things to do.  Particularly if they involve puplic spaces and music (later in the summer, we'll get into Music in the Air).  To kick off the season of free outdoor things to do involving music is Summer Fridays at the Statehouse.  Each Friday, there will be free entertainment and boxed lunches from the Capitol Cafe.  Performances take place at noon.
• Another great free event is the Actors' Theatre Company's presentation of Macbeth, which runs through June 15th in Schiller Park.  Pack a picnic!
• Yet another great free event is Riverfest, which takes place this Saturday at Genoa Park downtown; the festival celebrates Ohio's waterways with boating, cleanup, recycling, etc.
• So, this Saturday is the National Road Yard Sale.  It takes place along rt 40.
• The Columbus Symphony welcomes Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy award-winning composer and pianist Marvin Hamlisch this weekend.  Get to the symphony while you can - there won't be any Picnics with the Pops this summer.
• Throughout the summer at COSI, you can see a 3D movie on prehistoric sea monsters!  And, COSI is open 7 days a week throughout the summer!
• Arnett Howard and his Creole Funk band will be playing on the Grandview Library lawn on Tuesday, June 3rd.

Dulce de Leche Ice Cream

I set out yesterday to make espresso ice cream, thinking that perhaps I would try to teach myself how to make an ice cream with chocolate bits in it (mint chip is my favorite, and I am hoping to make some this summer with fresh mint and lots of really good dark chocolate).  However, reaching into the cupboard for the espresso powder, I noticed a tin of dulce de leche I bought at the Mexican grocery a few weeks ago when I was making a flan, and I decided to try it out instead.

Good idea, Lisa!  It's really good, and the more I make this ice cream (Jeni's eggless recipe from this month's Food & Wine), the better the texture seems to be.  This probably had the best texture yet and was rich without being too cloying.  You should try it!  It does require just a little extra mixing, but it's still finished in about 15 minutes (minus the chilling and freezing time, of course).

Please click through for the recipe; here are my adaptations:

1/2 can (about 7 ounces) dulce de leche, available in the Mexican section of large grocery stores
Mix this in the mixer with the cream cheese, stopping and scraping every few seconds to ensure it is completely mixed (it took me 3 scrapings to be perfect)
Reduce the sugar by half.
Increase salt by a few pinches.
I used 1 tbsp vanilla bean extract (the good stuff, please) instead of vanilla pods; however, if you go overboard on the amount, this can theoretically cause the ice cream to have a slightly more loose texture, because of the alcohol content in the vanilla.

Proceed as normal, beating the hot cream slowly into the cheese/leche mixture to be sure everything is nicely incorporated; scrape down as needed.

An Update on Rachel Widomski & Julie Liu

First of all, I just want to say how amazed I am at the way the community has come together over the incident at Haiku. 

At work, all of us servers have been discussing how best to help the family; restaurant workers very rarely have insurance.  We almost never have disability insurance, and sadly, very few of us have the "3 month safety net" recommended by economists.  Being disabled or discovering you have some sort of debilitating illness is (for me, at least) a constant, back-of-your-mind fear.  Because we work on our feet, not all of us have something to "fall back on" if we are injured.  We don't have giant corporations supporting us if we can't work.  We can go from perfectly comfortable in life to completely broke in one month.  Of course, restaurant workers aren't the only ones to have to live this way, it just happens that we are in the spotlight right now.  And, we cost our employers basically nothing (we are paid $3.40 an hour, all of which goes to the government). 

The reason I'm saying all of this is because Rachel and her family, regardless of their prior financial situation, need help. 

Just for example: a (server) friend of mine had a heart attack last year.  He didn't have insurance.  He was back to waiting table 2 weeks later, and then received his bill in the mail: $115,000.  Yes, the bill for a heart attack is nearly as much as my house.  All he could do was laugh about it - "what am I supposed to do with this?  Put it on the fridge?!" 

My friend Kelly, also a server, who donated a kidney earlier this year, was not provided any sort of disability.  She had to save enough money to pay her bills for the month she was going to be out of work so that she could save her ex-boyfriend's life.  There isn't even a tax credit or anything for being a living organ donor.  Isn't that weird? 

All of that to say, please donate.  There are lots of ways to help, and they are outlined below, this press release provided by Liz Lessner and CORA (the Central Ohio Restaurant Association):

Community Rallies to Aid Hit-and-Run Victims

Plans benefit weekend

Columbus, OH—Short North businesses, restaurants, and friends have demonstrated a tremendous outpouring of support in the week following the tragic events outside Haiku restaurant. Now, family and friends of the victims are teaming up with Short North retailers to plan a collaborative fundraising effort to help support the victims and their families during this difficult time.


Update on the condition of the victims
Julie Liu, co-owner of Haiku, suffered fractures to her sternum, multiple fractures to her ribs, a broken collarbone, and a dislocated wrist. She is also suffering from a serious concussion and a bruised brain. Doctors at The Ohio State University Medical Center are keeping Julie at the hospital to monitor her brain condition and her rehabilitation.

Bartender, artist, and OSU student Rachel Widomski has suffered severe spinal cord injuries. While she has displayed remarkable strength throughout the ordeal, Rachel will be permanently paralyzed as a result of her injuries. Her rehabilitation will be extensive due to the severity of the spinal cord injuries.

The Rachel Widomski Medical Care Trust has been set up at Huntington Bank. Anyone may make donations in person or mail checks to any Huntington Bank branch. Online donations are being accepted at www.haikuhelp.com. Paul Liu, co-owner of Haiku and husband of Julie Liu, states that "even though Julie's condition is not certain at this time, I would like to place our focus on Rachel" in reference to fundraising and benefit efforts.

Statement from Paul Liu, co-owner of Haiku and husband of Julie Liu
"Thank you to Mr. Todd Sandler for your heroic act of putting yourself in harm's way and also thank you for assisting the police in facilitating the apprehension of the perpetrator. My deepest gratitude goes to the support and help of Mayor Coleman's office, the City of Columbus, the Columbus police department, paramedics, and the armies of nurses and doctors at The Ohio State University Medical Center for your caring and dedication to the excellence of your profession.

Right now, I am overwhelmed by the people of Columbus with all the love, well wishes, prayers, and generosity that have been expressed to me, my family, and my extended family here at Haiku. I sincerely thank you. I would also like to thank the media for their sensitivity to my and Rachel's family and the delicate nature in which you have reported on this inconceivable incident. Thank you for embracing us at a time of need and showing how much love is in this city."

Immediate Needs
Rachel is a native of Youngstown, Ohio. She has been in Columbus 6 years. She had recently begun pursuit of a bachelors in fine arts at The Ohio State University. Her parents and family have come to be by her side to help her through this inconceivably difficult time. The community is rallying to help the family manage the challenge of costs related to lodging, food and travel. Hotel rooms, dining certificates and cash donations are vital. Rachel's prognosis indicates she will be hospitalized for months. She will need the support of her family close at hand to face the challenges that await her. If you would like to contribute, please visit www.haikuhelp.com or email info@haikuhelp.com.

Long-Term Needs
Rachel's life has been shattered. Her medical expenses and rehabilitation expenses will be insurmountable for her and her family. We have an opportunity as a community to step forward and offer tokens of assistance that will help bridge the chasm to recovery. The following are among the first of many such opportunities:

Benefit weekend Friday, June 6 through Sunday, June 8
In response to this catastrophic event, friends and family of Rachel and Julie are planning a three-day series of benefit events that will raise money to help assist the victims and their families throughout their recovery. The benefit weekend consists of four parts and will require the support of the entire community to be successful.

1. Tip Drive: Through her work at Haiku, Rachel was a "family member" of both the Short North Arts District and the restaurant community. An overwhelming number of Short North restaurants and businesses will be participating in a three-day effort to raise awareness and gather donations. Many restaurants are reporting that their service staff has agreed to donate their collected tips to the fund. The Central Ohio Restaurant Association is also working to expand the Tip Drive effort across the city. Restaurateurs interested in participating should contact Elizabeth Lessner via email at Elizabeth@tiptopcolumbus.com.

2. Artwork Silent Auction: Rachel studied art at The Ohio State University and is herself a budding Ohio artist. Rachel's, Julie's, and Haiku's impact on the arts community will be demonstrated through a silent auction of local artist's works. This will be held at The Art Exchange (17 E. Brickel Street in the Short North). All proceeds from the auction will be donated to the recovery fund. Full details will be posted at haikuhelp.com and shortnorth.org beginning May 29.

3. A Place of Reflection: The storefront at 650 N. High Street will be transformed into an elegant showcase of the two women's lives. This is a place where visitors can reflect, write letters to Julie and Rachel, read updates about their recovery progress, and learn how to make contributions to the fund. Rachel's artwork will also be on display. The storefront will be active beginning the week of June 2.

4. Benefit Concert: A concert to round out the Gallery Hop evening, Saturday, June 7, will feature several well-known local acts. The evening concert will be held in the vicinity of Haiku Restaurant (800 N. High Street). Band line-up and schedule will be posted at haikuhelp.com and shortnorth.org beginning May 29.

Volunteers—We need your help
As this is an all-volunteer effort, we need all the help we can get. The Short North Business Association, Central Ohio Restaurant Association, and Couchfire Collective are working together to organize these events and gather volunteer support. If you or your business would like to get involved, please contact us at info@haikuhelp.com.

Contributions—Ongoing Initiatives and Opportunities to Send Support
In addition to visiting Huntington Bank to contribute to Rachel's trust fund, concerned citizens can also make contributions online at www.haikuhelp.com. This website will also be an ongoing source of information about the recovery of both Julie and Rachel, and a calendar of planned events to continue the support efforts well into the future.

Contact: John Angelo, Executive Director, Short North Business Association
614.299.8050 • 513.289.8300 (cell) • johnangelo@shortnorth.org

Lazy Market Lunch, #2 - Spaghetti with Halloumi

Typical lazy market day lunch.  Boil spaghetti in salted water.  While it is boiling, saute the halloumi; I like to use a nonstick pan and put it over high heat, about 2-3 minutes for the first side, and then 1-2 minutes the second side.  After turning the cheese, add a little cracked black pepper, a few red pepper flakes, and about a tbsp of lemon juice; boil a minute or so until the lemon juice is reduced.  Place the spaghetti in a bowl and drizzle very lightly with good extra virgin olive oil.  Top with the cheese.  Easy peasy lunch!  Might want to add a few spears of asparagus; I had a long day yesterday, and I'm being as lazy as possible in between marketing and work!

(Lazy Market Lunch, #1)

Market Report for May 24th

What a lovely day for marketing!  My parents are in town (my grandmother turns 90 today!!), so my mom joined me for marketing today!  We had a lot of fun, and she got to see a lot of the farmers and landmarks of my website for herself.

Today, I met a new bee keeper at the North Market, Ikes Bees!  The honey was delicious - they had a mild, treacly summer honey, and a fuller-flavored, more robust autumn honey (below, note the color difference), which I picked up, along with a beautifully-packaged, perfect for host-gifting rosemary-infused honey (top of post).  I took some pictures of the bees, but it was really bright out and the bee display case was reflective, so it didn't really turn out very well.

Of course I stopped by Toby Run for some mushrooms and Toad Hill for some eggs.  Today was our first CSA pick up!  This year I chose to split my CSA with a friend, but I can tell you that this week we had: radishes, ramps, and lettuce.  Also, this year we can buy grass-fed beef!

Then we were off to the Worthington Market, where Mom picked up lots of rhubarb (she can't get it in North Carolina, so she's been stocking up) at Pop & Judy's Farm.  I also bought some rhubarb and also finally some of their dried beans - Black Turtle and Red Rider:

I stopped by Oink Moo Cluck after receiving their email regarding a new product - homemade weiners in natural casings.  I love hot dogs, and actually, they are very difficult to make, so it's pretty cool they found someone to make them.  I didn't take a picture, but I'll update you when we cook them up.  This was such a popular item for OMC that they were sold out by 10am!

And then it was off to Blue Jacket Cheese, where I bought two packages of Gretna Grillin' Cheese and a ball of hand-pulled fresh mozzarella:

It was a great day of marketing, and I loved spending it with my mom!  (Thanks for joining me, Mom!!)

And what did you get this week?

Things to do in Columbus::Late May 22nd Edition

So, I was lying awake at 4 this morning, thinking about things to write about, when all of a sudden, I realized that it was Wednesday!!  (Well, it had been, when I went to bed)  And I totally forgot to do my events!!  What is wrong with me?  Belated Spring Fever?  I'm not sure, but it's making my brain all scattered.  You'd think, after more than a year of getting up every Wednesday morning and writing the week's events, it would be a habit.  And it usually is, until yesterday. 

But!  Enough apologizing.  Let's get on with the week's events.  It's shaping up to be a lovely weekend, so get out there and enjoy it.  There's plenty to do.  I am sure I am missing tons of stuff, because I know there are things I missed! Please leave your events in the comments!

• First up, this evening is Pecha Kucha, which is a really cool event.  Basically, anyone can get up and give a presentation for around 20 minutes.  It's perfect for the easily bored (like me).  You can have 20 slides, and speak on each slide for 20 seconds.  I went to February's event, and it was great.  Tonight's event is at the Drexel Grandview and begins at 7pm.  A $2 is suggested.
• This weekend is Asian Festival!!  Asian Festival is one of my favorite events of the year.  Unfortunately, you'll have to rely on one of the other Cbus foodbloggers to document the event, because I think my weekend will be too busy to attend.  This is especially disappointing because every time I've been to Asian Festival, it has been mind-bogglingly hot, and this weekend it's only supposed to be around 70, perfect temperature to spend the day at Franklin Park.  Well, have fun!
• This weekend begins the CSI Experience at COSI!  Do you know, that at Costco, you can buy your very own CSI box which includes fun things like microscopes and stuff?  It's for kids, of course, but I was really half-tempted to buy it for myself.  In another universe, where nature gave me a scientific brain, I am a super cool CSI person, just like on CSI Vegas (yeah, yeah, I know it isn't really like that in real life, but don't kill the dream; I couldn't pass Chemistry with flying colors, anyway).  What are we talking about?  Oh yeah, the CSI experience.  Take your kids!  Especially your daughters!  Why?  Because not enough young women go into scientific fields, because they aren't encouraged to do so at a young age, and then they lose interest.  You'll forgive me if I don't site my sources, right?  Especially since one of you so graciously reminded me recently that I'm not a member of the legit media, and therefore don't have to be unbiased or follow journalistic ethics.  Boo to that person.  If you're reading this, then you didn't follow through on your threat!!
• Don't forget the Jeff Smith:Bone & Beyond Exhibit at the Wexner!  I've been brushing up on my Bone by reading the complete Bone, and I can tell you, it's pure joy.  A great comic for kids and adults alike, I can't think of when I've come across a series of completely loveable characters; besides, the epic deals with great moral lessons - loyalty, the dangers of greed, etc.  It makes me happy to read it.  So anyway, I can't wait to get to the exhibit.  Check out the Wex's website for more great events.
• Shakespeare in the Park takes off tonight!  with Macbeth.  I love it!  Get to Schiller Park early for a good spot and pack sweather and a delicious picnic and walk over to Pistachia Vera afterwards for some desserts.  The Actor's Theatre will be taking on a few other playwrights this year, including Moliere.  Click above for the full lineup.
• MadLab's Theatre Roulette wraps up this weekend!  There are three showings a day, all of different shorts.  Admission is based on a sliding scale for $10 - $15, so if you are looking for a great (inexpensive) date, this is it!
• Do something romantic and get some exercise this weekend with the Hocking Valley Canoe Livery's torchlit tour of the Hocking River!
• This Saturday is the annual Salmon Roast at the Hills Market in Worthington!  The event takes place from 11:30am - 3:30pm.  $7.50 buys you a salmon sandwich with sides, along with music and all sort of good times.  Weather should be beautiful.  (Hills just got a liquor agency!  Good for them!)
• This Saturday is the debut of Screen on the Green!  This event, a fundraise for the fantastic Columbus AIDS Tast Force, takes place on the baseball diamond at Goodale Park and features 3 classic movies - Plan 9 From Outer Space, Village of the Damned, and Fantastic Planet.  Shows start at 6:30pm and should wrap up around 10:30.  A $10 donation is suggested and picnics are encouraged (but no booze, please).

A Few Things to Look out for at the Markets this Week

Dear Readers: When I originally posted this, I wrote that Halloumi is a Greek Cheese.  It is, of course, indigenous to Cyprus.  I regret the error; please forgive my ignorance!

Also, Fred mentioned in the comments that Blue Jacket cheese is also represented at the Worthington Market, it the Graeter's parking lot!\

There are a few things I've been buying at the market that I haven't really documented.  Well, here's a picture of a sandwich I made - maybe not the healthiest sandwich ever, but still tasty.  It is completely stolen from the Rossi's Ham & Gruyere with a fried egg.  My version is sourdough toast doused with a pinch of salt and olive oil (instead of mayo), tavern ham (Boar's Head, from Weiland's) and Swiss cheese from Thurn's, all topped with 2 over medium fried eggs from Toad Hill, the star of this post.  These eggs are really tasty, especially if you are a yolk fan.  They have huge, dark orange yolks almost as dark as duck egg yolks.  They are great, so pick some up this week.

The next thing is the "Gretna Grilling Cheese" from Blue Jacket Cheese (you gotta love their perfunctory website).  This is similar to Halloumi, a Greek cheese with a pleasant squeaky texture which doesn't melt, making it perfect for the grill.  Blue Jacket produces farmstead cheese - meaning they make cheese from their own cows.  Weary from a long night of work, Husband fried up the cheese Saturday night - just sliced it up and sauteed it without salt or anything.  The cheese releases a little fat (but doesn't melt), and it browns beautifully.  The exterior gets nice and brown and crusty; the cheese is delightfully salty.  Husband was in love.  This will definitely be on my weekly list of must-buys.

And lastly, the asparagus at Anderson Orchard (usually right next to Toad Hill) is picked the morning of the market, washed, and bagged in one-pound bags, all ready to cook or eat in the car on the way home, I was recently advised by Farmer Steve.  It also has an intensely asparagus-y, almost floral grassy flavor.  It is also usually the least expensive asparagus at the market.

Just thought I'd let you know what to keep an eye out for if you will be visiting the North Market this week!  I'll see you there!

Pearl Alley Market Coming Soon!

For those of you who find it hard to get to Saturday markets after working all week and toting the kids to their Saturday morning soccer games, take heart.  The Pearl Alley market is here to rescue you (if you work downtown).  I really enjoy this particular market, because it offers an urban spot to pick up a few basics - especially if you forgot them on Saturda - and while you are there you can always enjoy a slice of My Mama's Sweet Potato Pie and lunch at El Arepazo.  When all of the vendors are there and a band is playing, the market has a great feel.  Pearl Alley takes place Tuesdays & Fridays throughout the summer.  Here's the official press release - I'll see you there on June 3rd!!:

Join us on Tuesday June 3, 2008 as we open Pearl Market for the 2008 season!

The Market will open at it's usual 10:30a.m. with our Opening Ceremony featuring Mayor Michael B. Coleman to begin at 11:00a.m. After June 3, Pearl Market will be open every Tuesday and Friday through October from 10:30a.m through 2:00p.m.

Whether you’re one of our regulars or an occasional shopper, I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the changes we have in place for you this year. Some highlights include, an expanded farmers market offering a larger selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, more lunch and snack offerings, and farmers and merchants positioned on Broad Street to serve you.

Please feel free to forward this to your friends and colleagues to help spread the word.

For more info:

Adam Schroeder
www.downtowncolumbus.com

**Lisa is Jumping Up and Down**

I GOT A NEW CAMERA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, poor little Canon Elph - I've taken you everywhere for the past 2 1/2 years, and I hated to replace you (sort of) - you've taken thousands and thousands of pictures for me, you've been my faithful companion.  You've been laughed at, banged up, dented, and dropped in the snow.  And I have loved you (for the most part) every minute of the way.  I promise I'll still take you on vacation this year, don't fret.

And HELLO Kodak Z1012is!!  I'm still trying to get used to the new camera - my Canon would focus up to 1 inch away from a subject, taking super close macro shots, while the Kodak only likes to get about 4" away, but I still think it takes a pretty great picture.  I won't bore you with my first batch of pictures; you can see them on Flickr if you'd like. Check it out-here's a picture of the compost bowl:

North Market Apron Gala Recap!

For a server, getting a Saturday night off is like having the boy you are in love with finally ask you to the prom.  And like prom, it only happens once a year.  Both the Apron Gala and my receiving a Saturday night off.

I love the North Market.  I don't think it's any secret.  And I love the Arpon Gala.  It's a great fundraising event, because you are directly enjoying your donation!

The main event at the Apron Gala is the food!  and the silent auction.  I am a little too poor for silent auctions, but I breezed through anyway, just to see what was on the block.  Columbus Foodie donated a basket of her favorite things!  What a great idea!  That never ocurred to me!  So, Ms. Food, just for the record, I am totally copying you next year.  You've been warned.

At any rate, I donned 2 fabulous aprons for the Gala - I will be posting pictures in a separate email because I am sabatoging myself by protesting the late delivery of my new camera by not taking anymore pictures until it arrives.  For now, anyway.  Suffice it to say, both aprons were adorable!  Although I didn't get nominated for best apron.  As a matter of fact, let's talk about apron nominations for a second - Desi, son of Walker Evans, of Columbus Underground Fame, won best male apron (who can compete with the cutest baby ever?) and the aunt of Anne Evans, wife of Walker Evans, won for best female apron with her giant homemade lobster arpon (very cute).  I smell a conspiracy.

But let's get on with the food, shall we?  I truncated this column because there are a ton of photos and I don't want everyone to have to wait 10 minutes for them to load, so don't forget to click through for the rest!!

First stop is always Those Fish Guys, because they have the oyster bar, and I love raw oysters.  They are hard to come by here in Columbus, and whenever they are available, they are very expensive.  Here are some very sanitary hands shucking my oyster: