Restaurant Widow

Join Us for Tea?

A couple folks from Columbus Underground will be meeting this Sunday at 1pm for High Tea at the Hilton at Easton.  And no, it's not just girls!

I'd love for you to join us!

If you would like to attend, please send me an email and we will all enjoy some tiny pastries and brilliant conversation.

We've decided that white gloves and floppy hats are optional.

Things to do in Columbus::July 30th Edition

Deep sigh of relief.  The project I have been working on for my part-time second job has finally been completed!  whew!  I made a lot of typos and learned a lot.  Now that I can go back to my shorter, more part time hours, I can devote more time to what I love more than most things in the world, writing for you!  It feels good, getting back into the rhythm of writing, and just sitting here, going through the old familiar routine of writing up the weekly events.  I like it.  This is what I love the most.

There are quite a few things going on in Columbus this week and beyond, so if I forget anything, you know the drill.

• First of all, this is the last week for the Jeff Smith:Bone & Beyond Exhibit at the Wexner Center.  I can't believe I still haven't made it.  But Thursday I'll be at the Wex for the Fall Preview show, so I hope to go a little early and walk through.  Don't forget about the Kubrick retrospective going on; tomorrow night you can see Dr. Strangelove, one of my personal Kubrick favorites.  If that means anything.
• Friday night kicks off the summer Rhythm on the River series at the Riverfront Amphitheater.  Oliver Mtukudzi & the Black Spirits perform.
• In more outdoor music this week, the Eileen Howard Band will perform at Goodale Park (in the Short North) this Sunday at noon.
• And Tuesday for lunch in the Topiary Park (downtown), the Ark Band will perform (reggae).
• The Ohio State Fair starts today, so if you've been sitting around thinking how you haven't seen pig calling, dairy cow judging, or eaten a fried Twinkie lately, now's you chance.  I was driving down 17th Ave the other day, and the chair lift was running.  That was pretty cool. 
• This Saturday is the Pickerington Jazz & Blues Ribfest!  There, suburbs, don't say I never give you any love!
• This Saturday is the Gallery Hop in the Short North.  If you have never been to a Gallery Hop or are loathe to come out because of the crowds, the August Hop is a good one because it tends to be less well-attended than other months of the year. 
• This week in wine tastings: Vino 100 Polaris (Hi Liz! For the record, I just met owner Liz this week when she walked up to me and said "Are you THE Lisa?") gives you the chance to taste American-style Bordeaux on Thursday; on Monday, you can taste a flight of Petit Verdot & Petite Syrah.
• I was going to put Spagio Cellars in here but the PDF doesn't load.  They have tastings every Thursday night.
• This week at Whole Foods - first of all, tonight is Buckeye Bounty, a farmer's market with a focus on Ohio products.  On Monday night, you can taste some healthier options to State Fair fare.
• This week in cooking classes at Sur la Table: Friday - Hawaiian Luau; Sunday - Elegant Sunday Brunch; Tuesday - Moroccan Supper Party; Thursday - Sushi 101.

Lisa's Bocuse d'Or Adventure!

Despite all of the hubbub, I received an email today from a really cool person who wanted to sow the seed for my trip to Orlando to cover the US competition for the Bocuse d'Or!

This sponsorship came from Zoe, a long-time Short North resident and supporter of all kinds of great things, along with Nancy Haitz, owner of the Cookware Sorcerer!  (If you came to my June dinner, you might remember the super cool green chef coat I wore, which I bought from Nancy) and, if you ever see Husband opening wine with his fancy schmancy horn wine service, it also came from the Cookware Sorcerer!  In addition to the $100 from Zoe & Nancy, I also received a $20 tip from a reader today, so that will also be in the "Bocuse d'Or Adventure Fund."  I will be purchasing my trip as soon as I receive my debit card from PayPal, which should be any day now.

Note to readers: this is NOT a solicitation for money.  This is an announcement that I am going and am excited. This is a public thank-you to someone who is helping me get to the event.  Although, that chef coat did came from Chefwear, a sponsor of the Bocuse d'Or, and I wouldn't turn down a handout from them.  A big company with lots of money who clothes chefs.

Please allow me to repeat: I am not asking you for money.  I am using Hotwire to try to find a reasonable flight/hotel package and trying to be frugal. 

I have emailed the press contact for the Bocuse d'Or and asked if they would be supplying any press passes to new media, so I am keeping my fingers crossed on that front. 

It's funny, all the reaction to my original post.  When I first received the press release about the Bocuse d'Or, I became really, really excited - what a great opportunity to represent the city of Columbus as we enter the national spotlight.  I immediately knew I wanted to go and write about the event.  How often do the residents of Cbus actually get a chance to see what their chefs are doing elsewhere?  I thought it would be really cool if companies would pay to send me, since at this point I do not have advertising nor do I make money writing, and I was surprised by the harsh comments I received (and relieved by the nice retorts - some of you made me cry in a good way). 

The mean comments took the wind out of my sails initially, but I stand behind my comments and do not think I am being self-centered or any of the other things mentioned in the comments.  If I were interviewing for a job - say with a magazine or other legit press - to cover the story, I would certainly say "I'm the best person for the job."  This website takes a lot of work but I love every single minute of it; I love to eat and write, but I'm not really writing this for myself, I write for all of the people who read - who want to eat, cook and shop in Columbus, who might want to move here, visit, get a job here, have an event, have some fun - whatever brings people to my site, I do it for all of you. 

So, although I am calling this my adventure (at the suggestion of benefactor Zoe), it really isn't an adventure for me only.  It's an adventure for all of us.  I just happen to be able to take the time to go.  So, I hope you will be entertained by the journey.  I am really hoping to get access to Chef Rosendale as he and his commis Seth Warren prepare for the competition. 

At this point, I have no idea what my free time will be like in Florida, but if you have any ideas of what I should do/eat/etc, please don't hesitate to suggest them.  I will be there 4 days.

The RW Best of Columbus

So.  The Other Paper came out with their readers' picks of best places in Columbus.  The Alive did it a few months ago.  It's something both papers do every year and every year it leaves me scratching my head.  Clearly, their readers need to get out more.  It has only been in the past few years that Bucca di Beppo has edged out the Olive Garden for the city's best Italian.  Seriously?!  That's embarrassing

So, I thought I'd get us started on a "best of" of our own.  Please feel free to argue and add in your own faves.  I have left a few blank where I have no idea whatsoever.  I am not ashamed to admit that I copied this list directly from TOP's website.  A few categories have been deleted because my 14 year old niece reads this, for the love of crumb cake.

Best Asian:  Best Asian seems like kind of a broad category.  So I'm dividing it up.
Best Japanese: Kihachi
Best Vietnamese: Mi Mi Cafe
Best Chinese: hm.  Probably not the best in the city, but I eat lots of Coco's
Best Asian Fusion: Indochine (primarily Vietnamese & Cambodian)
Best Thai: again, probably not the best in the city, but I eat lots of PS Tai Thai

Best Brunch: Sage American Bistro

Best Wine List: Alana's

Best Greek: The Pita Hut.  I'm totally addicted. The schwarma, the falafel, the HUMMUS.

Best Italian: Giuseppe's

Best Mexican: Cuco's.  I'm also fond of the taco cart on 5th Ave just East of Neil,

Best French: the Refectory

Best Indian:  There's this really great Indian buffet on Polaris.  Just give me a second to remember the name.  (hm. still can't remember or find it on Google.  It's at the corner of Polaris & Sancus)

Best Vegetarian:  Dosa Corner

Best Steakhouse:  The Top, of course!  Yum. 

Best Seafood: G. Michael's, best scallops in Cbus, I promise.

Best BBQ: Although I do find it to be hit or miss, I'll have to go with the rest of the city on this and give it to City BBQ; although there's this place in Hilliard I've heard a lot about.

Best Farmer's market: Again, I'll agree: the North Market.  But of course, you know I also love Pearl Alley, Clintonville, and Worthington.

Best Pizza: No contest, bonoTOGO.  Although, see below:

Best 2 a.m. food: Hounddog's is our go-to late-night delivery

Best Deli: Brown Bag

Best Bakery: Pistachia Vera

Best Wings: Barley's - extra grilled, please

Best Subs: Um, okay, as much as I hate to have a chain in here, I really, really love Potbelly.  Italian on Wheat with loads of hot peppers.

Best Dessert: any flavor of macaron from pistachia Vera is the best $1 spent in the city.

Best Ice Cream: Seriously?  Jeni's. 

Best Burger: Rigsby's & the Rossi (it's a tie, but the Rossi has another category)

Best French Fries: Rosendale's

Best Pub Grub: Betty's.  I actually think the fish 'n chips @ Old Bag are quite terrible.  Good fish & chips can be found at Brazenhead, the last time I checked.

Best Greasy Spoon: Jack & Benny's

Best Beer Selection: Tip Top

Best Sushi: Kikyo

Best Place to Lunch: The last time Husband & I had lunch at Cbus's fave, Northstar (which was this past week), it was $33.  No lie.  the best place for lunch in Cbus is El Arepazo.

Best Coffeehouse: I refrain from comment.

Best Small Plates/Appetizers: we agree again: the Burgundy Room.

Best New Restaurant: Sage

Best Overall Eats/Drinks: the Rossi

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Best Festival: Asian Festival.  Comfest is fine but it's too crowded these days.

Best Art Gallery: Is it okay if I've never actually been in and just gaze at it through the windows?  Rivet.  I love that stuff.

Best Place to Hear Poetry: As a girl with an English degree, I think I am forbidden from letting my true feelings about poetry be know.

Best Place to See Comedy: The only comedy I've really seen lately is Lisa Lampenelli at the Palace.

Best Local Band: Absolutely no opinion.  I'm probably not as in tune with local music as I should be.  Although, my friend Barry has a band called Main Street Gospel, so let's go with them.

Best Local Record Label: I think it's pretty cool we even have record labels.

Best Local Dance Company: I really only know BalletMet?

Best Museum:  Columbus Museum of Art.  I don't think it gets enough credit.

Best Cinema: I also like the Arena Grand, but hey people at the Other Paper?  the Drexel doesn't own it anymore, so I don't think you can call them brethren.

Best Charity Event:

Best Theater/Performance Space: I like the Southern.  Of course, the Ohio Theatre is the best, but it always gets the attention.

Best Theater Company: Let's go for my friend Kevin and his Carrickmacross Productions.

SPORTS/ FITNESS
I pretty much have no opinion here.  Feel free to leave your comments.
Best Local Sports Team: can it be someone other than the buckeyes?  Please?  OH!  I know!  The Roller Girls!!

Best Sports Arena:

Best Martial Arts Studio:

Best Yoga: Yoga on High won the city vote; the lasts time I was there someone sat directly in front of me and flashed me their coin slot for an entire hour.  And it was another food writer.

Best 5K/ Marathon Event: let's go for the Marathon.  I have friends who run in it.

Best Place to Jog: jogging.  Ha.

Best Bowling Lanes: I'm a really bad bowler, which makes me a pain to go bowling with.  I peter out after like 4 frames.

Best Gym/ Sports Facility: I'll agree here - I used to be a member of Lifetime, but it became too expensive and too far away for me to pay to not go every month.  Now I pay to not go to Victory.

Best Bike Shop: I'll vote for Bike Source, even though they laughed at me when I asked if I could buy a basket for my new bike. 

Best Bike Path: Is there more than one?

Best Public Golf Course: There's no golf in the Widow household.

PEOPLE

Best Local Politician:I'll agree with Mr. Coleman, and I do believe he has been tipped off regarding his tipping habit, because I wait on him frequently and he always tips 20%.

Best Local Artist: 

Best Self-Promoter: Cameron Mitchell

Best Coach: I'll agree with Jim Tressel, because I have a little crush on him. 

Best Buckeye:

Best Blue Jacket:

Best Crew Member:

Best Clipper:

Best Local Actor:

Best Local Actress:

Best Local Comedian:

Best Sound Guy:

Best Local Columnist: I'll agree: Mike Harden, although I rarely read the Dispatch

Best Sports Reporter: I rarely watch local news.

Best TV Weatherman: see above

Best Overall Local Celeb: Jeff Smith!!

MEDIA

Best Blog: hello?  Restaurant Widow, of course. 

Best Radio: I'll go with CD101, even though I listen to way more NPR, I'm not completely happy with any of our public radio stations.

Best Local Newscast: I hardly watch the news, but I'll have to go with Channel 10 even though Angela Pace isn't in front of the camera anymore.  Also I like Jerry & Andrea.  And their website doesn't have any annoying popups like Channel 4 does.

DAYLIFE

Best Park: North Bank

Best Neighborhood: Have to stick with the hood here, and go with SoHud, even though the High street part of it kind of looks like a war zone right now.  We're going to have to work on that.

Best Boating/Watersports: I'd really like it if we could rent peddle boats or kayaks at North Bank.

Best Employer: Anyone who pays me to work in my jammie pants.

Best House of Worship: bed

Best Zoo Exhibit:  Kangaroos

Best Salon: Anyone who knows me knows I don't really go to a salon, but my friend and former tiny-adopter Jessie works there, so I'm going to agree with Lucky 13

Best Spa: a what now?

Best Waterpark: No one gets to see this waitress in a bathing suit.

Best Car Wash: we have an old, paid off silver car so we don't have to make use of a Car Wash.

NIGHTLIFE

Best Nightclub/Dancing: Hm.  I miss the garage.

Best Live Music Club:

Best Sports Bar: Gallo's.  They rock.  A great beer selection and the Steelers on a giant screen.

Best Gay Bar: attention TOP - it's not Union Station anymore, it's Union.  I can't really vote here, because the last time I was at Union, I felt uncomfortable.  Some girls started making fun of me in the bathroom, bringing up painful middle school memories.  I try to avoid situations where I can't wash my hands in peace.  I used to work at Union Station once upon a time, so before you go thinking I'm homophobic, you probably don't know me very well.  I've waited on boys wearing leather and chain halters.  I suppose I've aged out of the hip gay bar scene.  Most of the people I knew back in the day are old coupled homebodies just like me.

Best Pub: St. James Tavern - cheap yummy beer and a super cool owner

Best Singles Bar: I am terrified of Park Street on the weekends.  Seriously.  Terrified.

Best Campus Bar: Fortunately I have absolutely no idea.

Best German Village Bar: Thurman.

Best Grandview Bar: yikes, Grandview Cafe won?  Their staff was really rude to me and my friends when we happened upon their karaoke night, which is apparently members-only.  We weren't looking to butt in, just wanted a beer.  So I'll have to say Brazenhead.

Best Downtown Bar: I agree: Tip Top

Best Clintonville Bar: O'Reilly's.

Best Short North Bar: The Rossi

Best Happy Hour: Hyde Park, hands down.  They have the best bartenders who never scowl at me when Husband and I roll in wearing non-brand name jeans and raggedy tee shirts.  Their crabmeat cocktail is $14 very, very well spent.  And the girly cocktails are a bargain for 4 measly dollars.  Beware; they taste like juice, but they sneak up on you.  Plus, watching the Patrick-Bateman actalikes is really fun for me.

Best Billiards: I am as terrible at billiards as I am at bowling.  Nonetheless, I suppose St. James because it isn't completely terrible when I'm there watching other people play pool.

Best Jukebox: St. James.

Best Showbar: I agree: Shadowbox.  Although if we had a real cabaret, I mean with big ladies singing and wearing feather boas, I'd totally go.

Best Patio: Lindey's

Best DJ: I'm old.

Best Open Mike: YIKES.

Best Comedy Night: I didn't even know Surly Girl had comedy night.  I'll have to start checking this out.

Best Dive Bar: You'll have to get to the 'burbs for this one, but it's hands down the Ruckmoor north of 270.

Best Blues Club: I wish I knew.  Don't say Thirsty Ear because it is ear-splittingly loud in there and I can't stand that. 

Best Jazz Bar: I don't have the patience for jazz.  Call me crazy.

Best Country Bar: um, what?

Best Karaoke Night: no. 

Best New Bar: I think it technically opened last year, but Rhumba Cafe in SoHud wins for opening the first bar in the Clintonville area that doesn't make you want to slide into a black hole.

Best Overall Bar: the Rossi.

COMMERCE/ TRADE

Best Mall: Easton, I suppose.  However, the Polaris area has my favorite place in the world - Costco

Best Boutique for men: Tigertree

Best Boutique for women: Tigertree. I love Tigertree.  If I'm every feeling like I need a little perking up, I know I can go into Tigertree and buy myself a treat for under $30.  Usually a handbag.  On Paper is a close second.

Best Jewelry: I'll agree - the Diamond Cellar, because that's where my platinum emerald-cut engagement ring came from, and besides the rings in my traguses, it's usually the only jewelry I wear.

Best Bookstore: yay!  I love the Book Loft.  Although, I get a little claustrophobic in there, and I'm the sort of weirdo that always has to have their escape route planned, and the thought of a first starting while you are shopping in there can make your knees feel a little shaky.

Best Grocery: Weiland's, followed by Carfagna's.

Best Lingerie: Hm.  Lately I'm a big fan of the new Hanes 360 stretch line at Target.

Best Wine Shop: Spagio Cellars

Best Record Shop: Magnolia, of course.  Since I was 15

Best Accessories: ooh!  Tigertree, again.

Best Dance Studio: Those guys who own the ballroom dancing studio in Grandview are always a treat for the eyes.  They're fabulous.

Best Electronics: hm. Ebay.

Best Organic Food Store: I suppose Whole Foods, even though I should probably say Raisin Rack, but I haven't been there.

Best Place to Buy Buckeye Gear: There is no buckeye gear in the Widow household, unless you count chocolate and peanut butter.

Best Car Dealership: Our Honda came from Honda East.  Although, I love MAG because I'm a VW girl at heart.

Best Mechanic/Garage: Hugh White Honda downtown always fixes my flats for cheap and they are nice to me.

Best Garden Store: Hopefully Weiland's will have their outdoor garden center back next year. 

Best Sporting Goods: I've never shopped there, but I got a very nice email from Clintonville Outfitters, so let's go with them.  They're close by.

Best Home/Garden:I really have to say, I really love Lowe's a lot.

Best Furniture Store: Costco

Best Shoe Store: Hm.  Whoever sells Danskos and Simples.  They're pretty much all I wear.

Best Place to Buy Jeans: I'm cheap.  Old Navy.

Best Dry Cleaners: Spring Cleaners.  They are the best.  Last year I took my down comforter in after a cat puked on it.  They told me it was going to be $18, which was fine.  But when I went to pick it up, the owner said "Oh, it's only $13.  The guy who took it thought it was a comforter, but it's really more of a blanket." Rock on, customer service.  Those guys are the best. 

Best Apartment Complex:

Best Bank Credit Union:

Best Green Company:  Sure, I'll go with COSI.
 
Best Tattoo:  I'll agree with High Street Tattoo, although they haven't given me any tattoos personally, they've given my friend Matt loads of great ink.  And one of these days, I totally plan to go there for the tattoo I've been thinking about . . . (oh mom, I'm an old grown up!)

Best Thrift Shop:

PLACES

Best Arts/Entertainment district: Yep, the Short North

Best Building Downtown: I also like the LeVeque Tower

Best View:  North Bank Condominiums

Best Date Spot That's€™s not Dinner, a Movie or a Bar: Franklin Park Conservatory

Best Place for Couples: in the kitchen.

Best Place to Take Out-of-Towners: The North Market

Best Place to Walk Your Dog:

Best Place to Say “I "I do"€:

Best Place in Ohio for a Daytrip: Yellow Springs

Best Place to Let Your Kids Run Wild:

MISCELLANEOUS

Best Scandal:

Best Use of Taxpayer Money: I'll agree with bike paths, although later COTA service would be nice for next year please

Best Waste of Taxpayer Money: I agree. Streetcars.  Give me a break.  As a good friend of mine once said "screw streetcars! The best thing that ever happened to this city was Skybus. Bring Skybus back!"

Best Kept Secret: I'll agree with this - Columbus itself.

Best Thing That Hane's€™t Been Mentioned: Best new additions to the local Columbus Food Scene: Blue Jacket Creamery.

CSA & Farm Market Report for July 26th

I woke up super early, so I decided to go ahead and get at 'em before it got too hot.  I hit the North Market first and bought my first Toby Run shitakes in awhile - poor Jim thought I might have fallen out of love with his shroomies!  Comb's herbs had also picked some squash blossoms early in the morning, so I snagged two bags of those - really, is there anything more beautiful?

I picked up some arugula from Toad Hill Organics, which became part of my lazy market lunch - boil-in-the-bag Tasty Bit curry (I love that stuff) with brown rice and sauteed arugula.

I was happy to see Quiver Full back at the market.  They are one of the only sources for locally-grown and milled flours and cornmeal.  I bought some cornmeal and a pound of their whole grain pastry flour, as well as some whole grain pancake mix.  The pancake mix is nice because you only have to add water, so you can make just one pancake at a time.  Which I did, to taste.  The pancake was actually quite delicious.  I'll admit it - I'm a bit of a white flour and white pankcake kind of girl, but I need to get more whole grains into my diet.  These pancakes were really good.  The flavor of the flour is really something, and if you'd like an example of how the best of even the most simple ingredients make a world of difference, I suggest you check these out.  The products aren't cheap, but as Mr. Quiver Full was explaining to me, the milling process he use doesn't generate extra heat, so the germ in the grain is still alive.  This is very good fo you, however it can cause insects to try to invade the grains, so they should be refrigerated.  I think I might make some all-local blueberry muffins or something this week.  Well, now I think of it, I suppose there isn't any local sugar.  We'll think on that.

My Elizabeth Telling CSA this week contained Swiss Chard, onions, green beans, potatoes, tiny little carrots, and extra eggs!  Woot!  I'm about to scramble those and place them on toast with some sauteed mushrooms.

And then I was off to Clintonville!  I walked past a new vendor with some amazing-looking artisan breads.  I'll have to check them out next week when I have more time.  Lately, bread has become a conveying device for the loads of butter I've been making, and well, girls can't live on butter alone, so I passed on the bread, and the Amish donuts (those things are evil).  I picked up my Wayward Seed Farms CSA, which contained arugula, more tiny carrots, some baby zucchini, wax beans, a cucumber, some fingerling potatoes (below - they smell delighfully like dirt), and some cute little eggplants (above).  I've had a love/hate relationship with eggplant over the years, but thanks to a reader, I've learned to love them.  I'm going to have to search for that comment and thank that reader.  FYI, the secret is to cook them really well and douse them with olive oil.  The Wayward Seed Fruit CSA contained apricots, apples and blueberries!

I also saw peaches for the first time this week, but I had to pass on them due to already having tons of fruit in the house.

I had a busy week last week (can you believe I actually worked like 50 hours?! well, if you knew me, you'd know how amazing that is), and I have a bit of a busy week this week, so I won't be doing a ton of cooking, but I do hope to get a few things on the table to write about.  Simple and healthy things, because let's face it, there's a little more waitress to love  than I usually like having around, so I see lots of veggies and whole grains in my future.

So, readers, what did you get this week?

So, Readers, What do You Want?

It's been a hectic few weeks for me.  I can definitely understand how difficult it can be for bloggers who work full-time jobs (where they can't write) and/or have children.  Just by adding 20 more hours to my work week, I am amazed by how hard it is to keep up with what I want to write about.

This time has provided me with some extra time to think about where I am headed with this site.  The comment about being arrogant, crass, and full of myself has also got me thinking.

This site is, of course, primarily about food.  However, I am constantly receiving emails from people who want to know where to work/shop/have cheap dates/take visitors/impress their friends, etc.  I get a lot of email from people who are relocating to Columbus and would like advice on where to live.  I always get lots of emails thanking me for my event listings, and whenever I neglect them, folks get irritated.

This just contributes to my already enlarged head.

Just kidding, but it does sometimes cause me to stray away from the topic at hand, because I feel there is a need for a "lifestyle" niche here in Columbus.  One reader even suggested I have a (non food) shopping guide to look out for cute clothes & furniture and let my readers know about it.

I don't want to stretch myself too thin, but the truth is, sometimes I see that there is no end to the things I could write about if I only had the time.  Every time I try to start a sidebar blog, I find that I just don't have enough time to keep it updated.  But, my thought now is, perhaps I could start a sidebar which is a combination of lifestyle/events, and also perhaps feeds from other pertinent sites. 

I guess the bottom line is, what do you want, as readers? 

My second question is, how much would you hate me if I began accepting advertising?  My ads would be primarily local, locally-owned business which may or may not have to do with food.  I do not think I would accept general restaurant advertising, however I would accept adverts regarding specific events and from restaurant associations, such as Columbus Independents.  I hate flash ads and popups, so there would be none of that nonsense.  Adds would be small and on the sidebar; they might look something like the links I have on the bottom left (such as the North Market badge), only nice people would pay a small fee to have their badge there.  The primary goal here is not to generate tons of revenue (although if blogging were my job, you would have new things to read 3 times a day and I would be even plumper than I already am), the goal is to make enough extra income that I could do 2-4 solid restaurant reviews a month; perhaps 2 small, maybe ethnic spots and also 1-2 nicer restaurants.

As a writer, I have been gifted with lots of ideas, and I rarely suffer from writer's block.  It is usually time and finances (and a general embarassment that I sometimes eat boiled spaghetti with butter and salt when I'm feeling extra lazy or tired) that keep me from writing as much as I would like.  Also, with Husband studying hard for his sommelier test, and generally being stressed in general, we are more likely to go to comfortable spots where we are regulars and close to home than going far away. 

I'm just taking some time to think and regroup and get a feel for why you read this website and what you would like to see in the future. 

You comments, even the mean ones, are welcomed and encouraged.

Join Me at Katzingers!

There is a wine & goat cheese tastking tomorrow night at Katzingers, which they were nice enough to invite me to.  You can go, to!  More information here.

I will be getting back to normal, including more Columbus events, very soon!

I So Rock! Exclusive Bourdain Video!

I wrote this whole thing about how much I love No Reservations and promptly forgot to save it. . .

That's Lisa for you, busy Lisa, all kinds of out of sorts.

At any rate, the fine folks from No Reservations sent me this exclusive video, just for MY readers.

On Tonight's episode of  No Reservations, Anthony Bourdain goes to Saudi Arabia.  I hope to learn as much as I learned from the heartbreaking Cambodia episode.

Click here to view.

Also, click here to see the promo.

Enjoy!

For those of you who haven't watched it, No Reservations is the best show on television right now.  It's amazing.  And it airs Monday nights at 10pm on the Travel Channel (58 here in Cbus).  More info.  Click here to read Tony's blog.

Local Chef to Compete to Represent USA in Bocuse d'Or

UPDATE: thanks to David, who left a comment (which you can read in the comment section) that I am arrogantly and crassly asking my readers to send me to this event. I realize that is how it came across, but I am not. My thought was more that perhaps someone who read my website might be able to help me figure out how to get a sponsorship from one of the sponsors of the comeptition. For instance, Diageo is a major sponsor, and they have more money than I do. I guess I am indeed full of myself. I can't deny that I think I would be a good person - if not the best person currently writing about food - to cover this event for the residents of the city of Columbus. I know the contestants and have a lot of experience working with chefs and might have a unique perspective that others might miss. Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of having a major newspaper or television company or really anything behind me to pay for this, in the same way that members of the "legit" press will have. I think a lot of my readers forget that I am a regular middle-class person. I really don't know a lot of people who can come up with upwards of $1000 in extra income in 8 weeks. It's not long enough to get another job, and unfortunately the summertime is a difficult time to make money in restaurants. This month, I have made roughly half of what I typically make in a month. I used my economic stimulus check to pay bills. I am not complaining; that is life in the restaurant business. People are busy and don't go out as much. As much as I would love to be trotting off to delicious dinners twice a week to write about, I simply cannot afford it. Consider the fact that to review a nice restaurant costs me around $200. That is more than a day's pay. Furthermore, I have been working on a huge project for another job and I haven't had any spare time to seek out great restaurants or cook amazing meals. As far as your comment, "you have begun begging from your readers" I am not sure what else I have asked my readers to buy for me. I have had a tip jar on my website for years now. If you are talking about my dinners, I paid twice as much for the dinner as I received in payments. I made absolutely no money on the event. Again, I don't have the luxury to spend $1000 to make dinner for my readers. Believe me, I wish I did. I did let the attendees of the dinner know that they were welcome to leave tips, and put out a tip jar. I received $110 in tips which I divided equally between my chef and my assistant. I took no money, nor did Husband. As a matter of fact, Husband paid for the wine personally and received no reimbursement from the diners who attended the dinner. If you think I am full of myself and do not offer anything to you, then you are more then welcome to return to getting your food news from the Columbus Dispatch or whomever else does it without asking anything of you. Except to purchase the paper. And support their advertisers. Okay, that made me so angry that I have become distracted from the project I am supposed to be working on at this very moment. Shake it off and get back to the original story:

So!  Columbus will soon become a highlight of the culinary world. Chef Richard Rosendale, of Rosendales has been invited, with 7 other US chefs, to compete to represent the US in the Bocuse d'Or.  Click here to read more about the Bocuse d'Or. Click here to read the entire release. After reading the release, be sure to note the Board of Directors for this event. Talk about a who's who of world chefs.

Those of you who attended my June dinner might remember that my chef was Seth Warren, who will be Chef Rosendale's commis (apprentice) during the competition.  Yay!  I love that kid!

To bring everything all together, Husband used to work with Seth at the Refectory.  The chef at the Refectory is Richard Blondin.  Richard Blondin was personal chef to Paul Bocuse once upon a time.  One of Mr. Bocuse's favorite recipes of Chef Blondin's was his peaches in Beaujolais, something I, in turn, made for my cooking demo last summer at the North Market, who hosted my June dinner, where Seth was my chef.  Whew!  (there you go, Seth, like 5 mentions in one post).  Alas, his involvement in preparing for the competition means he won't be able to be my chef for my August dinner, which I will be announcing very soon.

Columbus clearly needs its very own blogger (I mean, you could read about it from whomever the Dispatch sends, but where's the fun in that?) there to cover the event; so my question is, who's going to sponsor me to go to Florida to blog the event live? Turns out, it's pretty cheap to travle to Florida in September. So you can sponsor me on the cheap!

And now, for the press release

For Immediate Release

: July 17, 2008

Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller, Jerome Bocuse and many of this country’s leading chefs are uniting their efforts in support of the Bocuse d’Or USA, the not-for-profit organization created to recruit, train, and support an American team for the world’s most prestigious culinary competition: the Bocuse d’Or World Cuisine Contest. The latter is an Olympic style event for professional chefs created over twenty years ago by Paul Bocuse and now held biennially in Lyon, France. Written applications for USA team candidates were due June 30, 2008.  Based on these written applications, eight semi-finalist teams (one chef plus one assistant per team) were selected to compete in an elimination contest to be held on September 26-27, 2008 at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Before a live audience, the eight teams will prepare elaborate fish and meat platters for a panel of prominent chef judges. They will be evaluated for their excellence in taste, presentation, creativity and technical precision.  The competition will be open to the public.

Bocuse d’Or USA will provide the eight semi-finalist teams with travel and accommodations for the competition at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Semi-finalists will also receive training equipment and food supplies, a $2,000 stipend, and a one-year subscription for Avero Slingshot restaurant intelligence software. At the USA Bocuse d’Or Contest, the top three placing teams will be awarded cash prizes of $15,000 for the first place team, $10,000 for the second place team, and $5,000 for the third place team. The winning team will also be awarded a cruise vacation courtesy of Crystal Cruises.

Most importantly, the finalist team will receive a paid sabbatical to train for the Bocuse d’Or World Cuisine Contest. They will train from October 2008 through late January 2009 at the Bocuse d’Or USA Culinary Training Center in Yountville, California. This training facility, which includes private living quarters, is being created by Chef Thomas Keller adjacent to his renowned restaurant, The French Laundry. During the training period, the team will work intensively to perfect their dishes for presentation in Lyon.

They will be working with a dedicated chef coach, Roland Henin, a long time mentor to Thomas Keller, in a kitchen custom-designed expressly for the Bocuse d’Or. The USA team will then go on to compete at the Bocuse d’Or World Cuisine Contest in Lyon, France in late January 2009. During the training period, the chef and commis finalist team will be compensated by Bocuse d’Or USA at a rate equivalent to compensation from their current employers.

All Epcot guests are welcome to attend the September 26-27, 2008 Bocuse d’Or USA competition. Information on where to purchase tickets will be available through

www.bocusedorusa.org

in late Summer.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DANIEL BOULUD, CHAIRMAN
THOMAS KELLER, PRESIDENT
JEROME BOCUSE, VICE-PRESIDENT

CULINARY ADVISORY BOARD
DAN BARBER
MARIO BATALI
JOHN BESH
MICHEL BOUIT
TERRANCE BRENNAN
TOM COLICCHIO
TRACI DES JARDINS
ROCCO DISPIRITO
SUZANNE GOIN
DANIEL HUMM
JEAN JOHO
PAUL KAHAN
HUBERT KELLER
EMERI L LAGASSE
NOBU MATSUHISA
MICHAEL MINA
DAVID MYERS
PATRICK O’CONNELL
JACQUES PEPIN
WOLFGANG PUCK
MICHEL RICHARD
ERIC RIPERT
ALAIN SAI LHAC
MARCUS SAMUELSSON
ANDRE SOLTNER
ALEX STRATTA
LAURENT TOURONDEL
CHARLIE TROTTER
JEAN-GEORGES VONGERICHTEN
DAVID WALTUCK

MEDIA ADVISORY BOARD
DANA COWIN, FOOD & WINE
BARBARA FAIRCHI LD, BON APPETI T
RUTH REICHL, GOURMET
MARTHA STEWART
MITCHELL DAVIS, JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION
SUSAN UNGARO, JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION 16 EAST 40TH STREET NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10016 212.933.5313 WWW.BOCUSEDORUSA.ORG

CSA & Market Report for July 19th

Are these the dog days of summer?  When do those begin?  Because it is hot out.  Already 80 by the time I hit the market at 9am.  I had someone coming to adopt a kitty today, and it wasn't my turn to pick up the Elizabeth Telling CSA, and I had precisely $26 in cash, so I kept things very light by only going to the Clintonville Market.  It was crowded!  Which I suppose is good, because it means there are lots and lots of people out there who are interested in eating locally and supporting our Central Ohio farmers.

So, today I picked up my Wayward Seed farm CSA - the vegetable share included zucchini, cucumbers, cabbage, green beans, mesclun mix, and some red potatoes!  The fruit share included Queen Anne cherries, blueberries! and Lodi apples (above).  They were also selling plums (yum!) but they were really busy and the line was enormous, and I was in danger of becoming hot tired and cranky, so I took as pass on plums.


I stopped by Blue Jacket Creamery for some lemon quark and cheddar curds, and then bought a dozen ears of bi-color sweet corn at Yoder farmers.  I bought some of the last red thumb potatoes until early fall and some Walla-Walla (above) onions from Arbor Hill Organics (I love the kid who sells those; he's very well-spoken; today he asked me if I was "wistful" about the end of the red thumbs) and lastly, a dozen eggs and some Amish donuts from 2 Silos.

What a week I've had!  I don't know about all of this being busy nonsense.  It's really cutting into my nap time.  But, more on that later.  I have missed writing for everyone, and I am happy to be back to regular writing (probably around Tuesday). 

So, what did you get this week?  And what are you planning to do with it?