Foodwire
By Amy Fisher |
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Bob Evans is trying to re-capture part of that elusive demographic of 18-34 year olds. Graceland is the sight for the first remodeled location. Now you can chill at Bob's with the ever-so-current Wi-Fi and multiple flat-screen TVs. For more info, check out Bob Evans on Twitter, or friend them on Facebook. Next the tagline will be changed to "get down on the farm."
If you are above the new ballpark hype, you may want to go to church to be sure you still have a soul. In addition to the usual franchise suspects, i.e. Donatos, Pizza Hut, Tim Hortons, and the new-and-improved Bob Evans, there will be a few Ohio originals. City BBQ and Roosters will have kiosks offering some park-friendly fare, and the Elevator Brewery will be selling a few of their microbrews at the park.
Not all the action will be happening inside the park. Businesses in the Arena District are trying to capture their own piece of the Americana pie. O'Shaughnessy's (401 N Front St. ) will be selling Schmidt's 'Bahama Mamas' and running a shuttle to and from the park. Rise and Dine (274 Marconi Blvd.) will be extending their hours on game days, and Boston's Gourmet Pizza (191 Nationwide Blvd .) will be selling their pie by the slice.
Outside of the Arena district, more hype is to be had. Columbus' darling trio, Tip Top, Betty's, and Surly Girl will be offering Clippers-inspired eats for a steal. Rounding them all off will be their new hot dog palace, Dirty Franks (248 S Fourth St. ), opening this summer downtown.
Also caught up in the Clippers' marketing mania are Morton's (280 N High St.) and Deep Wood (511 N High St.). Both are thinking outside the box. Morton's will be having "power hour" drink specials. Deep Wood is planning a four-course upscale comfort food menu. Some Deep Wood and a baseball game sounds like a homerun to me.
Nancy's Home Cooking (3133 N High St.), the legendary Clintonville comfort food hub, is closing June 1st, due to financial strain. You will be able to pick out Nancy's long time lovers this summer by the spare tire of hastily eaten chicken and noodles and the far off gaze of a lost soul.
Word is (fingers crossed) the gregarious bonoPizza people, Bill and Peggy Yerkes, will be setting up shop in Grandview. While they test out the location, they will be operating out of a portable pizza oven on the corner of Third and Northwest avenues - conveniently in front of the Boulevard Carryout. The portable oven will only be operating on Fridays from 5 to 10 p.m. If all goes well, permanent shop will be set up in the old Flying Pizza location. If you have never tried bonoPizza, here is your chance to make peace with the pie gods.
Sugar Daddy's Bakery (1329 Cameron Ave.), of food network fame, just opened a storefront. It will be hard not to feel like a princess now that you don't have to sneak into your sugar daddy's back door. What better gift for mother's day then a Sugar Daddy treat?
Custard mania is expanding through the 'burbs. Whit's Frozen Custard Made Fresh Daily started in Granville six years ago, and has been working its way around the outerbelt. Two new Whit's opened recently, one in Gahanna (121 S Stygler Rd.), and the latest in Pataskala (564 E Broad St.). The major advantage of the rich frozen custard is that it's warmer than the ice-cream competitors, no brain freeze.
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams seems to be doing splendidly. Another store opened in April in Historic Downtown Dublin (1 Bridge St.). Also, Jeni's is working on a deal to use organic milk from a local dairy for all of their products. Dear Jeni of the Ice Cream, thank you. Love, Columbus.
Another tapas restaurant, Mosaik Modern Lounge and Tapas Bar, will be moving in to the old Gibby's space (51 Vine St.). It's scheduled to open in May. Looks like tapas will be on the tip of everyone's tongue in Columbus for a while longer.
Eclipsed by the Montgomery Inn fan fare, The Cook Shack quietly opened its downtown location (20 E Long St.) this April. Hopefully this old-school comfort food will fill the Nancy's-sized hole in my soul.
Originally Published: May 1, 2009
