Cafe Bella
Artistic simplicity and fresh ingredients are the hallmarks of this niche cafe
By Angie Theado |
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What do you get when you cross an eager blend of botanist, activist, chef, and ex-military engineer? You get Vince Withers, proprietor and chef at Cafe Bella, a ubiquitously passionate man whose ideas and ideals on community reach far. The bistro, located on North High Street, serves up freshly grown lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, parsley, and squash from their lush patio onto your plate. Withers has established a holistic ecological progression that provides a unique opportunity for local diners to consume conscientiously. The vegetables are mostly grown in found material in a process known as 'upcycling,' the even more responsible cousin of recycling. All the surplus vegetables, including seedlings, are donated to SDA Choice, a local food bank that also provides for the less fortunate through education - planted in reusable containers, the sprouts are handed over to an Americorps VISTA operative who teaches basic care for them.
Inside the charming interior, objects are artfully arranged around the restaurant: a long countertop at the right separates the dining area from the small functional kitchen. The black-and-white tiled counter creates a heartwarming diner-ish atmosphere.
Draped with tomato vines and other plants, the patio is framed with PVC pipes that help operate a watering system. Water tanks, home to a variety of little fish, fill the patio with soothing bubbling sounds. Demonstrating his aquacultural endeavors, Withers said he hopes to donate twenty of these water tanks, including fish and plants.
A fresh, light meal at Cafe Bella
Photo: Eric Pacella
At Cafe Bella, Withers showcases the beautiful flavor of summer flora by keeping the menu simple and fresh. Our meal started with an amuse-bouche of fresh tomato salsa on a tortilla chip, an unexpected surprise. Withers joined us tableside to discuss the particular offerings of the day, and we decided that a light pasta and salad would satisfy our hunger, adding a side of meatballs to calm the carnivore inside.
The salad, a delicately dressed mixture of spinach, radish, carrot, and alfalfa sprouts in sesame oil, was simple and pure, a perfect touch for a hot afternoon.
Yellow summer squash and zucchini starred in the pasta dish, as vegetables should during the growing season; unfettered and fresh, the vegetables were tangled up in spaghetti noodles coated in lightly seasoned garlic oil, served family style. The bill was equally enticing: each meal was a deliciously affordable $9. Also of note, the prices at Cafe Bella are negotiable.
Personal and charming, Cafe Bella feels more like a hang-out at a friend's house than taking a seat in a corporate assembly line, where the ingredients could have come from anywhere. Busy lifestyles often prevent us from being directly involved in our food production. Thankfully, Cafe Bella allows us a chance to dine that much closer to it.
Cafe Bella
2593 N High St.
(614) 267-1998
www.myspace.com/cafebellacolumbus
Originally Published: September 1, 2009
