Restaurant Widow

Things to do in Columbus::December 3rd Edition

Well, it's winter here in Central Ohio, and being the first week of December, that means there are lots of things to do this weekend, mostly involving spending your money on cool gifts.

There are so many things to list; if you emailed me an event and I forget, please let me know.  Also, if you have an event to add, please don't hesitate to leave a comment or send me an email.

Of course, those special folks who follow me on Twitter are going to be visiting me at my new job tomorrow night!

• First up, there are two great events this week at the North Market.  The first is tomorrow night, the "Ladies of the North Market Cookie Exchange."  The fabulous ladies of the North Market will be baking up their best cookies for you to enjoy (and take with you). At the event, you can enjoy coffee or wine, along with lots of finger foods and stories of the market.  Robin Davis, food editor for the Columbus Dispatch, hosts.  Saturday at the Market is the Holiday Open House & Craft Extravaganza.  Lots of local artisans will be featuring their crafts and artsy goods.  If you are committed to buying things which are locally produced as gifts this holiday season, this is a great place to find cool things.

• This Sunday is the Home for the Holidays tour of homes in Olde Towne East.  OTE is home to some of the most beautiful houses in Columbus, so this will certainly be a great tour.  While you are in that part of town, you can take in the topiary garden or just stroll around.  It's pretty.

• Of course, this Saturday is the Holiday Hop in the Short North.  The Holiday Hop is the largest Gallery Hop of the year, and it's very festive (if you aren't working).  It's another great chance to do some holiday shopping, especially if you are interested in unique and artistic gifts.
• This weekend is the Winterfair at the Ohio Expo Center.  Yet another opp to buy crafty things.  
• This weekend, the Columbus Gay Men's Chorus will perform their annual Christmas program, JOY!, at the King Avenue Methodist Church.  There's even a matinee on Saturday!  
• This Saturday is the Holiday Student Art Sale at CCAD.  If you've never been and you are looking to get more art into your life, you really have to go.  Whether you want to spend $5 on a screen printed card or $1000 on a wall-sized painting for your great room, it's a fantastic event.  
• CATCO has great things going on this weekend and beyond.  First of all, every year I say I am going to go see Santaland Diaries and yet I haven't made it yet.  This year, I'm doing it.  So, there's David Sedaris' Santaland Diaries, and also a duo of Truman Capote's stories, A Christmas Memory and the Thanksgiving Visitor.
• This weekend begins the Holiday Movie series at the Arena Grand Theatre in the Arena District.  This week's movie is White Christmas!  
• Mad Lab presents 3 in 30 this month - 3 holiday-thremed, original plays will show at 10:30pm on Saturday.  The best part? The shows are short (30 minutes) and are only $5.  It's a great place for a date, boys.
• This Saturday is the Craft Fair at Sprout Soup, a natural Mom & Baby store in Clintonville.    
• This week is membership appreciation week at the Wexner Center; you will recieve 20% off the fabulous stuff at the Wexner gift shop, a free beverage at Cam's, and a behind-the-scenes tour of Other Voices, Other Rooms on Saturday!   

Head to Alana's Tomorrow! to Taste Winning Ohio Wines

Monday night, Husband and I braved the cold and snow to venture out to the Twisted Vine to taste a vast array of Ohio wines!  We actually weren't surprised to find there were a few gems in the bunch!

One of our old favorites, Kinkead Ridge, was selected (no surprise, it's fantastic) as well as a few other great local wines.

Tomorrow, please visit Alana's and show your support for Ohio wines!  If you aren't up for a full-on dinner, don't forget that Alana's has put in a great new bar, so you can sidle up and have a glass of Ohio wine and an appetizer or salad made from lots of local products.

I was at Alana's last week and we had a really amazing meal.  Just to get your taste buds working, we had: shaved Brussels sprouts with hazelnuts and Rogue River Blue; goat cheese and leek cakes; amazing duck confit with Thai bbq sauce; we also had a small past of garganelle with spinach and a nutmeg bechamel, risotto with pumpkin and more Brussels sprouts, and a really, really, really good ribeye.  (Thanks Lioco! We loved your wines even before you bought us dinner! for those of you who attended my December dinner, we served their Indica with Seth's amazing potato gnocchi with sweet potatoes and sage).

At any rate, I hope you will head to Alana's and try out some Ohio wines.

Here is the official press release about the tasting:

(Columbus, Ohio – November 19, 2008) Ahead of the legendary gridiron clash, wine lovers in Michigan and Ohio assembled to determine whose wines would triumph in a head-to-head clash. The Slow Food chapters of Columbus and Huron Valley are pleased to congratulate the winners:

Sparkling Wine: Shady Lane Cellars Blanc de Blancs 2000 (MI)

Aromatic White: Ferrante “Golden Bunches”Riesling 2007 (OH)

White Wine: Black Star Farms “Arcturos” Chardonnay sur lie 2006 (MI)

Pinot Noir: Black Star Farms “Arcturos” Pinot Noir 2006 (MI)

Red Wine: Kinkead Ridge Revelation 2006 (OH) 

While the real winners are the consumers of Michigan and Ohio who have an array of quality local wines to enjoy, these wines emerged as the MVPs for their respective teams. “I would consider any of these winning wines to be on a par in quality to their peers from California and elsewhere,” said organizer Andrew Hall, “and at very consumer-friendly prices.”

Both Ohio and Michigan share a centuries-old tradition of viticulture which was wrecked by Prohibition but has re-emerged in recent times. From the Ohio River Valley to the upper shores of Lake Michigan, growers and winemakers are working hard to create unique and quality wines. In light of the growing concerns about the carbon footprint of transported products, this event was created to showcase these local efforts and in the context of one of our storied local rivalry. On November 16th and 17th, groups of judges convened in Ann Arbor and in Columbus to judge over 60 selected wines from Michigan and Ohio. This is the first purely consumer-selected judging of wines in either state. It is also unique among competitions in being limited to wines from grapes exclusively from those states.

“There were a lot of good wines from both states,” commented one of the judges, “and I hope that people will give them a chance. Restaurants and consumers are starting to care a lot about local produce and wines should follow.”

Slow Food Columbus sponsored this event as part of a ‘Drink Local’ campaign. On November 20th, the first annual celebration of this event, the top-rated Ohio wines will be available by the glass at Alana’s Restaurant in Columbus.

Things to do in Columbus::November 19th Edition

I think it's winter.  It certainly is cold outside.  It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is only a week away!  As I write this, I am watching yesterday's Good Morning Columbus, which I DVRd because they are having a segment on buying local gifts and it features Amy from Little Alouette and Daniel from Skreened, and they are talking about school delays!!  Already! At this rate, I think your kiddos will be in school throughout June, since a lot of them missed a week when the power was out.

Events are a little light this week, probably owing to the fact that Thanksgiving is right around the corner.  As always, if I am missing something or you would like me to include your event, please feel free to email me or leave a comment!

• Tomorrow is Third Thursday in the Short North - a great time to get some holiday shopping done with local businesses!  Retail shops will be open late. 
• Beginning this Friday, head to Dublin to see the Emerald City Players perform the Full Monty!  Wonder if they'll wear fake Monties?
• Last week I got it wrong, but tomorrow Wild Goose Creative presents Nathan Smart and Matt Eyer, comedians in their new space on Summit Street!
• Also beginning this Friday is Wildlights at the Zoo!  Tour the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium with lots and lots of lights! Also get lots of hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts.
• Beginning this evening at the Southern Theatre is CAPA's presentation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, as interpreted by Tim Supple.  I've been hearing a lot about this performance and it sounds amazing.  Originating from India, it features acrobatics and visually stunning costumes; it includes 7 of the many, many languages of India, but the timeless story should transcend language, I would think.  I hope I get to go!
• Upcoming at House Wine in Worthington, you can taste the Matetic Winery wines of Chile on Monday the 24th, and on Wednesday the 26th, House Wine hosts a Winter beer tasting!  the 26th is also the Holiday Preview for the businesses around House Wine, aka the "Old Worthington Quarter," so other businesses will be staying open late, including The Candle Lab, Caffe Daniela, and the Jan Allmon Studio Gallery (pick up a coupon for the gallery at House Wine!).

Things to do in Columbus::November 13th Edition

I'm a day late because I spent yesterday in Cleveland learning about email marketing!  Then I cam home and had a great dinner at Alanas - duck confit with Thai bbq, shaved Brussels sprouts with Rogue Creamery blue cheese and hazelnuts, goat cheese and leek cakes, pumpkin soup, risotto with pumpkin and more sprouts, pasta with spinach and nutmeg cream sauce, and an amazing delmonico ribeye with fruit of the moon shitakes!  Followed by some Jeni's cognac ice cream!  YUM.

But that was yesterday, and the rest of the week and weekend are filled with work, for me at least, but fortunately for you, there are plenty of fun things to do with your weekend free!

If I've missed anything, please don't hesitate to remind me.

• First up, this weekend is Tiny Canary, the foremost indie DIY craft and art fair of the season.  There will be tons of really great crafts, so if you're looking to buy handmade for the holidays, this is one of the best places to get a lot done in a small amount of time.
• The Chris Awards - the Columbus International Film Festival - continues this week with animation for adults.  I love animation for adults (I saw the first-ever South Park, 100 years ago, as part of an animation festival before it was every on TV).  Alas, it's on Saturday night.  But you should go!
• The Warhol exhibit at the Wexner Center this weekend features a two-day symposium with Warhol biographer Wayne Koestenbaum and artist Francesco Vezzoli Friday night, and Saturday features experts on Warhol, including Other Voices Other Rooms curator Eva Meyer-Hermann
• The Columbus Clippers are leaving their old stadium on the west side for a new Arena District stadium, but first they are having a garage sale to clean out the old stadium this Saturday!  Alas, there won't be any seats available, but if you've always been pining for a turnstyle, now's your chance.
• Tonight, Wild Good Creative presents Third Thursdays with comedians Nathan Smart and Matt Eyer. Correction - this event is next Thursday, the 20th, and appropriately, the third Thursday of the month.
• If you can make it to Cleveland this weekend, be sure to check out their Fabulous Food Show, which will include lots of celebrity chefs.  Next door is Cleveland by Hand an art show, and admission is included with your Food show admission.
• Vino 100 Polaris has a few interesting tastings coming up - tonight is a mead tasting, and tomorrow is a blind Chardonnay tasting.  If you think you love the oakiest chardonnays, this would be really interesting.

Call for Artsy Crafty Entires

                     cupcake pin by local artist Sweet Stella Designs

Hello Columbus Creative Types!  I am working on a compilation of sources of buying locally and buying handmade this holiday season, and I want to be sure I am not missing anyone.  If you have an event featuring locally made artworks or crafts, if you are an artist, if you have an Etsy shop, if you are just starting out, whatever, please send me an email and let me know what you are about.  If you have a picture of some of your work that would be great!  You can also leave a comment and I can email you from there.  If you know of an artisty or crafter please pass their info along.  I already have some great events and artists to write about but I'd like to be as comprehensive as possible.

I want to encourage everyone to keep their money in our local economy during these tough times so that people who work for themselves can continue doing so!

Updates on Dinners

I just wanted to let everyone know that, although I asked if people would be willing to pay more for a more intimate and high-end experience, I am committed to keeping my regular educational dinners; the more expensive dinners would not replace them. 

As a matter of fact, I am currently in the very early stages of planning a very inexpensive series for next summer which would probably be lunches, centered around the markets, for young and/or inexperienced cooks.  I am a guest lecturer tomorrow (yikes!) and my discussion with the professor led to a desire to get more students involved in eating locally.  This would have to be cheap and fun.  Any ideas are welcome.  If you know of any kitchens on campus available for cheap (read: free), that would be great, too!

Next Summer I'm hoping against hope that I will be able to have Saturdays off; in which case, at least every other Saturday would be devoted to the education of others.  Unfortunately, I am a one-person organization and can't do everything for free!  Since Saturdays are usually the most profitable day of the week in the restaurant industry, it's like giving up 2 days of work. 

I got to thinking about it this morning as I was writing a (so far unpublished) diatribe about how Columbus non-profits expect too much money from people, and don't focus enough on the middle class.

I want the dinners to remain as accessible as possible to the diverse crowd we have seen so far.  I love to meet everyone and am constantly surprised by how cool and interesting my guests have been.

I could have really cheap events if only I had a kitchen open to my dining room!  I'd just have everyone come over and hope they didn't mind the occasional cat hair in their soup!!  That would give me lots of motivation to be clean and hang up some of the artwork I've purchased over the last few years.  Maybe I can accomplish something with a few portable burners?  We'll all put our heads together over the next few weeks and months and see what we can come up with.

Here is an interesting article about in-home cooking classes.  Of course, I am no chef and would not charge $500, but I do have a few prep tables and a few induction burners wouldn't break the bank...

Things to do in Columbus::November 5th Edition

Enjoy the nice weather while it lasts!  It looks as though we'll be back to the same old cold rainy Ohio November by Sunday.  Oh well.  I've been looking for an excuse to wear some of my new scarves.  Today is lovely, and I'm looking forward to a nice walk to work.  Or at least half bus ride half walk.  We'll see. 

• First up, this weekend the North Market is hosting Lynn Rossetto Casper!  If you aren't familiar with the name, you should be.  Lynn hosts a show called the Splendid Table on NPR.  Locally, it airs at 2pm on Saturdays on WCBE.  Usually during that time, I am taking my post-farmers market and pre-work nap, but I still love to catch the show when I can.  I especially love the yearly Thanksgiving show, Turkey Confidential, where lots of celebrities call in to talk about what they will be making for Thanksgiving.  At any rate, the Market will host Lynn for "How to Host a Splendid Holiday Party" this Saturday night.  I am not sure if the event is sold out yet or not, but if (like me) you can't take that night off work to attend (or volunteer for the event, alas), Lynn will be speaking casually Saturday morning at the Market.  I'll see you there!
• This weekend is the Columbus International Festival at Vet's Memorial.  75 different cultures will be represented at the festival, featuring arts, crafts, and of course, food!
• The Wilds - where I still have never been and really need to go - is closing up normal hours for the winter, but they still have lots of events going on through the fall and winter.  This weekend, you can learn all about owls and even hike around calling and viewing owls.
• CCAD presents the Columbus International Film & Video Festival at various locations throughout the city; the festival begins Sunday and continues throughout the week with animation for adults and kids, documentaries and independent films.
• This weekend, ProMusica will present Beethoven's 7th Symphony at the Southern Theatre.   
• This weekend is the Castle Arts Affair at the Arts Castle in Delaware, which features lots of hand-crafted items for the holidays and beyond.
• This Saturday is Andyland at the Wexner Center; get dressed up and party like it's 1983 at this late-night party which features a set by Columbus superstar DJ RJD2.  The jury is still out on whether I'll be able to make it or not.  Tickets are very reasonable at $35 (for members) but I have about 20 things going on that day!  It's a crazy day in Central Ohio!
• Lastly, this Sunday is the 12th annual Ikenobo Ikebana Flower Arrangement exhibit at the Crowne Plaza; Ikebana is a Japanese art of flower arranging; I won't pretend to know anything about it, but I believe it involves a balanced relationship between perfect flowers and the negative space in between them.  You can see demonstrations and even take a lesson for yourself.

Things to do in Columbus::October 28th Edition

This event listing is once again brought to you by the Wild Goose Creative and their Southern Thanksgiving event on Sunday, November 2nd!  Pea Casserole and buttermilk pie (yum!) will be had by all. 

• Our next event this week is the Halloween Highball, which will take place in the Short North this Friday night from 6pm - midnight.  I believe I will be pouring beer somewhere after 10pm, but I'm not sure where yet.  I'll keep you posted.  The event features all sorts of great DJs, costume contests for pets and their hoomans, a fashion contest (in which my friend Jen will be participating!), and lots of other fun.  Besides all of that, High St will be closed between Buttles & Hubbard, and that's always fun! 
• If you haven't had enough of the Short North after the Highball, the Gallery Hop takes place on Saturday!  And the weather is supposed to be nice this weekend, so there's no excuse not to get out and do something fun this weekend!
• I've never been to the Santa Maria downtown, have you?  Well, this week is the week to go, when the ship will become haunted!
• Learn the haunted history of the Kelton house this Thursday night!  If you've never been to the Kelton house, it's really cool. 
• Yet another one of those things I've always wanted to do is the Columbus Landmarks' Halloween Ghost Tour of Columbus; I've heard it's really fun.  I'll be working, but you should go and tell me how it is!
• This months Warhol First Sundays at the Wexner Center features Warhol's fascination with celebrity.  Get a screen test and a celebrity portrait. 

Things to do in Columbus::October 22nd Edition

This Spot will be updated the next time I wake up (see previous post)

This event listing is brought to you by Wild Goose Creative and their Too Many Cooks Event! (would you like to sponsor an event listing? You Can!)

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"Join us to warm up for Thanksgiving with the dishes you could enjoy in a Sothern home.  Meredith will demonstrate some of her favorite time-tested tricks and techniques and treat us to a wide array of sides and desserts.  Come sample the bounty and get thankful a little bit early this year!" A $10 donation is suggested.  Click on the link above (the picture) to learn more about Wild Goose

While I recover, please feel free to write about any of your events in the comments section, and I will then include them when I do make the list.

Thanks!

Stroke Of Brilliance! Stolen From Anthony Bourdain! A Columbus Food Roundtable!

So tonight, while I was watching No Reservations - Dinner at Anthony's Table, I had a stroke of brilliance which came directly from whomever created that episode (thanks, No Reservations crew!)

We should have a similar dinner/roundtable discussion about the state of food in Columbus.  Let's find a resatuarant to host us (I have an idea, but if you run a restaurant and would like to volunteer, please send me an email) and get together about 6-8 local food lovers to talk about the state of food in Columbus!

We'll record the episode, find someone super cool to edit for us for free, and have a video.  I'll post it and, well, whoever wants to can post it.  How does that sound?  I'd like to have a few people who might have controversial points of view, but not have anyone as irritating as Amy Sacco (blech), who is just the sort of person I can't stand - needs to have constant attention.  This is probably selfish on my part, because I don't have the energy or desire to fight for the spotlight, and so I find this sort of garrish personality very tiresome. 

(at this point, someone who knows me is probably rolling their eyes, thinking how delusional I am, how I am just like that, and how I should get a hold of myself.  Just being realistic)

You must be willing to have a time limit to your comments and give up the ground for others.  Just like a debate!

A lot of people panned the episode in the comments, and I'll agree a little bit.  I don't spend $1800 on dinner, because I can't afford it, and I don't think a lot of you can, either (although if you can, I'll happily join you!).  The cast was also incredibly irritating.  I love Bill Buford, but his chocolate story seemed contrived purely for one-ups-manship (another incredibly horrid behavior I probably possess).  Tony seemed uncomfortable; probably the only person he could really relate to was Ted Allen, and maybe the waiter.  I loved it when he talked about how he feels like he doesn't belong in nice restaurants, and it was funny to see the uncomprehension in the eyes of that horrid Sacco lady, who has never felt anything close to a normal moment of embarrassment, I am convinced, because she thinks she's so darn fabulous.  It was also funny how the only person who showed the remotest interest in hearing about what they were eating and allowing the waiter to do his job was Mr. Bourdain himself.  As a server, it is maddening when no one at the table will listen to you.  I once had a table who refused to even make eye contact with me or look up from their conversation for the first 37 minutes they were in the restaurant.  After doing the "waitress pause" 37 times, I finally just stood there until finally, after about 60 seconds, one woman said - "I think our waitress wants something."  Um, have you forgotten that you are here for a reason?  "Well," I said, "I just thought you might want something to drink, but if not, just flag me down when you do."  The funny thing about this situation is that I am sure it was somehow my fault they went so long without a drink.  Sometimes I can't figure out why people come into a restaurant if they aren't interested in placing an order.  Here's a tip for you: you only have to listen to your waitress twice: when she takes a drink order, and when she takes your food order.  Otherwise, you are free to ignore her as much as you'd like.  But you can't get service if you refuse to do your part.

Blech! Now I'm irritated.  What are we talking about?  Oh!  A Columbus Food Roundtable.

Ideally, I suppose I'd like to have a professional cook in the mix, someone in the wine business, a low-rent foodie, maybe a farmer who supplies to restaurants and home cooks, and maybe a few good home cooks.  I would like to focus on things happening in Central Ohio, but we could talk about other cities when talking about our biggest desires for Columbus.  I would like to keep the format not snobby, unlike the Bourdain edition, and casual.

here's what we will need:

1. a willing restaurant, especially one who will be willing to cook for us on a day they aren't open or really early, or really late. We don't need anything gourmet like the dinner they had at CD50; just something good and tasty that won't be bad if it gets a little cold.  Family style might even be cool.  It might give you some exposure, who knows?
2. a few decent camcorders (I have one)
3. a saintly video editor who won't make everyone at the dinner look like a jerk (at least, not me) who will get the editing done in a timely manner.  Would also accept someone who would give me a brief tutorial on how to do it. 
4. 5-7 cool people who are passionate about food and Columbus.  I do not want Columbus-haters, so if you just moved here and just want to talk about how great your home state is, I don't want you.  I will have a screening process for this, and if you fail, you will be ejected from dinner or ridiculed by your dining companions (I am a very good trash-talker)

Sound interesting?  if you would like to participate or would like to nominate someone, please send me an email!