Fall Leaves at Darby Creek Metropark

Wow. The last few times I posted, I was in denial about Summer ending. Two months later and we’re quickly approaching Christmas. So where have I been? The short answer is working long hours, starting to train for a triathlon, planning a major vacation (This winter, we’re going a culinary tour of Oaxaca, Mexico!) and enjoying lots of good food and good times with family and friends. I’ve been so busy living life that I haven’t had time to blog about it. And now there are so many things I’d like to write about that I’m not sure where to pick back up. So I’m starting with a recap of the last few months.

A Fall day at Darby Creek

September:

• After all of the bridal shower festivities, my sister Ashley married her fiance Justin in a beautiful outdoor ceremony.


The happy Bride & Groom

• Jared and I did a lot of hiking at the Metroparks, biking on the Olentangy River Trail and brunching. All that exercise works up an appetite, right? To me, food and exercise go hand in hand. Aside from the obvious benefits, regular exercise lets me enjoy good food without gaining weight or sacrificing my overall health.


Our trusty old Schwinns at Scioto Audobon Metropark

• I went on a 9 day business trip to West Virginia. It was tiring, but I am grateful that I got to go. I was there to help train and organize another office. But I also learned a lot that I could bring back to my own office here in Columbus.


Sunset over the mountains of WV

• Of course, I also tried several new recipes. My favorite was a Vegetarian Lasagne that took 3 hours and 2 sauces (Tomato & Béchamel) to create. It tasted incredible but got a little overcooked on the top; so it didn’t look very pretty in pictures. I plan to make it again, very soon, and post the recipe.


Lasagna sauces simmering on my stovetop

October

• Jared and I attended Taste of Grandview Heights. This was our first “Taste of”. From what I understand, it is much more casual than most of these events. While we enjoyed trying new foods, one of our favorite things about this event was how the staff of restaurants we frequent recognized and chatted with us. Specifically, I’m thinking of Mazah Mediterranean Eatery, home of the best Falafel and some of the prettiest food around. We were also happy to see Old Bag of Nails Grandview, which we refer to as our Cheers bar and which we love for its laid-back atmosphere and friendly bartenders. Local businesses: make your customers feel special & we’ll stay loyal.


Somehow, the only pic I have of downtown Grandview is an old cameraphone pic from last winter

• I made these Apple Cider Doughnuts. I’m not posting the recipe because, for once, I followed it exactly. These doughnuts were perfect – soft and airy on the inside, sweet and crispy on the outside. They are a lot of work, but well worth it.


The best doughnuts ever

• Before venturing out to Highball Halloween (which I highly recommend if you haven’t been), I hosted a Halloween party complete with Halloween-themed food and drinks. Among other things, I made a Graveyard 7-Layer Dip and a Zombie Bride Cake (with from-scratch Devil’s Food, of course). Jared invented a Candy Apple Cocktail, my sister made a Bugs & Dirt Cake, and several of my guests brought goodies including Sangria and Halloween-sprinkled Chocolate-Covered Pretzels. While Christmas is my favorite food holiday, Halloween is a close second. Halloween food is fun. There aren’t really any expectations; so you can get really creative and kitschy. And while Christmas is a family holiday, Halloween is a great time for friends to get together, eat ridiculous amounts of sweets and enjoy one anothers’ company.


Zombie Bride Cake



Fun Halloween Food

November

• November brought Dine Originals Columbus Week. This is another event that I hadn’t attended in the past. My friends and I opted for a meal at Skillet. The food was creative and excellent, as always. My only complaint is that I don’t think Pumpkin Polenta was worth the $30 price. Another friend and I agreed that the $20 prix fixe is probably more fitting for such a casual restaurant. That being said, I’ll definitely be returning to Skillet very soon.


Skillet's Dining Room

• In other Columbus food news, Jared and I finally had a chance to try the lunch special at Venky’s Spice House. For $5.99 (I believe), you get an appetizer, two curries, daal, naan, rice and dessert. Venky’s is one of our favorite Indian restaurants. Their food is more flavorful than several other area Indian restaurants, and their prices are great. We were excited about this lunch special because we could try things we’d never had before. And the portions were so generous that we had enough for dinner that night.


When my curry grows up, it wants to be like the curry at Venky's

• Since Jared and I like to try new, local restaurants, I am a loyal follower of Fudha. If you haven’t heard of it, Fudha offers half-price gift certificates for local restaurants. They donate $1 of the cost of each Fudha to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. This is a great way to try new places, or save some money at trusty favorites. The first time we went to Skillet, it was actually with a $20 gift certificate that had cost $10 through Fudha. When Venky’s offered one, I snapped it right up.


When I used my Fudha at Skillet, I meant to review my tasty meal. Obviously, I never got around to it.

• Of course, when November rolls around, so does The Food Holiday – Thanksgiving. We get together with our loved ones and give thanks for all of life’s blessings, then eat copious amounts of food. Due to my work schedule, I wasn’t able to go home to celebrate with my family. This was the first time Jared and I celebrated Thanksgiving alone together. It was a bittersweet day for me since I really missed everyone. But I did enjoy the chance to make my own, slightly nontraditional Thanksgiving meal, which I will be posting sometime this week.


Making Thanksgiving Dinner

Every day, I’m reminded of how thankful I am that Jared and I moved from a small town in Michigan to Columbus. We are both Ohio natives, from the Cleveland area. But being away from your home state for several years has a way of making you appreciate it. I don’t know that we’ll be here forever because I hate winter with a passion. But for now, we’re really enjoying our life in a new city and learning about all that it has to offer.

Downtown Columbus, seen from the Olentangy Trail

Super Torta II Taco Truck

I have made it a personal goal to try every taco truck in the city. That, along with my sister’s wedding shower, will be my culinary project for the summer. I have no idea if I’ll succeed. But it certainly makes finding cheap, tasty and quick meals a lot more fun. I inadvertently started this quest last month when I found La Popular truck while doing a few errands. Shortly after that, a few friends and I spent a Saturday afternoon driving around Columbus’ west side in search of some awesome Mexican food for lunch. We finally settled on Super Torta II, probably because its yellow paint and huge “open” sign caught our eyes.

This particular truck is parked in an empty lot on Georgesville Road. It appears to be an old city bus that has been converted into a taco truck. There are several chairs arranged alongside the truck, and a grassy area that is great for impromptu picnics. The menu has an assortment of tacos, tortas, burritos, quesadillas, huaraches and a few specialty items. They also offer Jarritos sodas and agua fresca. On the counter, there are a spicy red salsa and the green avocado-tomatillo salsa that I love. I ordered a pineapple agua fresca and a huarache al pastor.

I consider myself fairly well-versed in Mexican food. Yet somehow, the huarache is a fairly new discovery for me. A huarache is a type of sandal worn in Mexico. It is also the name of a similarly-shaped culinary delight. The base of a huarache looks and tastes like a thick, oblong, fried corn tortilla. It can be topped with any number of traditional taco and torta fillings and salsas. Finally, there is a layer of cheese and crema.

Huarache al Pastor

While I waited for my huarache, I sipped my agua fresca. It was refreshing, and sweet but not overly so. The first thing I have to say about the huarache itself is that it was huge. It was almost too big for the dinner-sized plastic plate that it was served on. It was topped with a thin layer of chunky refried pinto beans. On top of that was a generous amount of al pastor. The beans and meat were covered in shredded iceburg lettuce and diced tomatoes. Finally, there was a drizzle of crema and a sprinkle of crumbled cheese. Unable to make up my mind, I topped it with both the red and green salsas. The thing I like so much about huaraches is all of the contrast they offer. The base is soft, but not mushy. The meat is tender and salty, the lettuce crisp and the dairy products creamy. The crema helps cool the heat of the salsas. And the agua fresca is the perfect contrast to wash it all down.

Some days, good things just randomly happen. Today was one of those days. Since finding out that Columbus is home to several taco trucks, I have been obsessed with finding and eating at them. Last fall, my husband, two friends and I spent an entire afternoon driving around Columbus looking for the things. I had recently discovered the Taco Trucks Columbus website and had mapped out the locations of several trucks. Sadly, we never did find an open taco truck; and the weather was getting cold, closing trucks for the season.

Fast forward 6 months. Spring has come to Ohio, bringing with it warm weather, sunshine, and the re-opening of taco trucks. I was out on my lunch break today, stopped at a red light on the corner of Wilson Road and West Broad Street. And what did I see? La Popular taco truck!

The truck itself is simple – really just a trailer with a small kitchen inside. You walk up to the window and order your food. Seating is limited. There are a couple stools and a picnic table. Several men were standing around eating tacos, talking and laughing. I ordered my tacos al pastor. While I waited for my food, I broadcast my taco truck discovery to the world via Twitter and Facebook (I didn’t have my camera with me, which is why you’re getting crappy phone pictures with this post). The guys probably thought I was silly taking a picture of the truck. But I’ve never been afraid of looking silly. Besides, I was excited! Real tacos! Three minutes away from my office!

The tacos were delicious. The meat was moist and just a little sweet. They were topped with diced tomatoes and onions and fresh cilantro. The tacos were accompanied by sliced radish, lime, and tomatillo salsa. The salsa was nice and spicy, which isn’t usually the case with tomatillo salsas. My only real problem was that the corn tortillas were a little dry. I think the truck must buy them from the store rather than make them by hand. Still, I am not one to complain about a fresh and tasty lunch for under $5. I will be back very soon to sample their tortas and other taco offerings.

Since I’d already made plans to spend Saturday afternoon searching for tacos with my friends and husband again, I’ll have more taco truck reviews soon.

Location & Contact Information:
3545 W. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43228
(Intersection of Wilson Rd. & W. Broad St.)

Pretty purple cocktails & flowers made for a great girly night out

Guess why these are called Dancing Lady orchids

Columbus has a surprising number of fun and interesting places to go and things to do. Franklin Park Conservatory is one of my favorite recent discoveries. In addition to a huge greenhouse full of gorgeous plants and flowers, the conservatory has acres of outdoor gardens. Since my visits have both been in the winter (a great way to escape the cold and snow, I might add), I can only imagine how pretty the outdoor areas are when they are in full bloom. The conservatory also hosts rotating, seasonally-themed exhibits and events.

Currently, they have two special exhibits: Orchid Forest and Chihuly Reimagined. Dale Chihuly is an artist who creates large, colorful pieces of blown-glass. The conservatory owns a large portion of his work, and has displayed the pieces amongst various plants and flowers. Several Chihuly pieces are displayed in concurrence with the other special program – the Orchid Forest located in the Pacific Island Water Garden. Until I went to the Orchid Forest, I didn’t know that orchids came in such a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors.

"Sunset" in the Pacific Island Water Garden

In addition to its seasonal special events, FPC hosts Cocktails at the Conservatory every Thursday evening. They stay open late, have a DJ or live music, and offer hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. The theme of the event changes every month; but the idea is always the same. Use a seasonally relevant plant or flower as the creative inspiration for a cocktail. For example, January was “Spruce & Spumanti” while February’s theme is “Orchids & Orchidtinis”.

Chihuly art among the orchids

“Orchids & Orchidtinis” was  a fairly casual event, kind of like an indoor garden party. You order your drink and maybe a plate of hors d’oeuvres and stand around a tall table chatting with friends. It turns out that an orchidtini is a pretty lavender-colored drink the involves Hypnotiq, some sort of pink liqueur and possibly grapefruit juice. It was refreshing, if a little tart. The food, which was catered by the conservatory’s cafe, included hummus with veggies and pita wedges, plates of cheese and crackers, and sweet treats, among other things. My friends and I shared some hummus and cheese, then decided to walk around the conservatory. The Chihulys were especially vibrant in the darkened conservatory. Some of them were almost glowing. While we walked, we talked and laughed and took pictures and generally enjoyed a break from the workweek.  Since this event is fairly low-key and ends early in the evening, it’s a perfect way to unwind on a Thursday night. I enjoyed it so much that I’ve already made plans to return for “Clover & Lucky Charms” in March.

Sea-inspired art

]]> http://www.howdoyouburncereal.com/2010/02/15/orchids-orchidtinis/feed/ 0 http://www.howdoyouburncereal.com/2009/10/20/banana-bean-cafe/ http://www.howdoyouburncereal.com/2009/10/20/banana-bean-cafe/#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:21:28 +0000 Cassandra http://www.howdoyouburncereal.com/?p=227
Tonight, we decided to go out to dinner. I was in the mood for something other than my usual Mexican or Asian dinner picks. Last month, I went to the Banana Bean Cafe with a couple girlfriends. I had a great fish burrito and a blue pineapple-coconut cocktail with a name I can’t recall. Both selections were really good and left me anxious to go back and try some of the Banana Bean’s other offerings. Their menu isn’t like any other I’ve seen in Columbus. The restaurant describes its food as Floribbean cuisine, which it says is a mix of Cuban, Jamaican, Floridian and Caribbean foods. This translates into an eclectic and flavorful menu that includes Po-Boys, an enchilada omelet, and jerk chicken.


The cafe is hard to miss. It is housed in a melon-colored building with a mural of a beach scene on the front. The inside and outside are decorated with a mix of tropical paraphernalia with a dash of contemporary and New-Orleans art. Since it was happy hour, I ordered the special, a $2 Hemingway. It was mix of rum, lime juice, grapefruit juice and a dash of grenadine. It was quite refreshing, like a classic daiquiri with a dash of grapefruit. It was also an attractive pink color, prompting me to take a picture of it and the waiter to harass me about being a blogger.

Jared and I decided to order an appetizer and sandwiches. To start, we split an order of Flash Fried Sweet Plantains. Shortly after ordering, a basket full of plantains arrived. They had been coated with a thin layer of seasonings (I think this was salt and cumin with a dash of cinnamon and maybe something else) and fried. Being a fan of salty/sweet combinations, I liked them right away. The plantains were great on their own, and even better when dipped in the accompanying Ya-Ya sauce. This was a sweet sauce with a strong habanero bite. The end result was a spicy, sweet, salty flavor that was full without being overwhelming.

Jared ordered the Little Havana Cubano with a cup of black bean soup. The pork, ham, swiss and pickle sandwich was served on pan cubano. The pork was sliced thickly and had a slight citrus flavor. The bread reminded me of focaccia in both taste and texture. It wasn’t the most authentic Cuban sandwich; but it was satisfying. The soup was even better. It was a thick black bean soup garnished with cheese, sour cream and green onions. The meaty, earthy flavor makes it a definite comfort food. My only complaint is that it could have used a little more heat.

I had the Calle Ocho sandwich with sweet potato fries. This sandwich also had thick pork slices, which were complimented by a salty olive and caper salad and a smattering of manchego cheese. It was served on the same thick bread as the Cubano. The pork and cheese tempered the salad’s saltiness quite well, making the sandwich quite flavorful. I preferred this sandwich since it had less meat and a more interesting flavor. The sweet potato fries were crinkle-cut and slightly salty. They were nothing special, but were perfect alongside the sandwich. Both sandwiches were large. Neither of us could finish them after the heavy plantain appetizer. We took the leftovers home to eat for lunch the next day.

I’m now two for two on satisfying trips to this restaurant. Too often, foods revolve around only one flavor. They’re either really hot or really sweet. Even worse, they are just plain bland. Combining salty, sweet and hot flavors into one dish can be a tricky business. The Banana Bean manages these somewhat unexpected combinations very well. Their food combines flavors so that they compliment one another and taste good without being overwhelming. Since their menu is full of tempting items, I’m sure I’ll be back very soon.

Banana Bean Cafe Info
Location: 340 Greenlawn Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43226
Phone: (614) 443-2266
Website: http://www.bananabeancafe.com
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 9am-3pm
Type of Food: Floribbean cuisine and cocktails

It was a nice surprise to walk in expecting deli sandwiches and be greeted by the sweet smell of baked goodies. The French Loaf does serve soup and a few basic sandwiches like chicken salad, ham and turkey. But their specialty is obviously baked goods. They offer a variety of great-looking breads, cakes, cupcakes, pastries and several types of croissants. There are a few tables and chairs inside and outside of the store, though no one was eating at them when I was there around 2:00pm. I ordered my standard sandwich place meal, chicken salad with lettuce and tomato on a croissant. Being a sucker for chocolate croissants, I took a couple home with me.


The chicken salad was good, if a little heavy on the mayo. The lettuce was crisp and the tomato tasted quite fresh. But the star of the sandwich was the croissant itself. It was flaky and buttery with just the right amount of sweetness. This, of course, made me more excited about the chocolate croissant. I was not disappointed. It was large and filled with a generous chunk of dark chocolate that contrasted perfectly with the salty-sweet croissant. With a cup of black coffee, it would have been a great breakfast. Overall, I don’t know that I’ll get sandwiches at The French Loaf very often. But I’ll definitely go back very soon for the melt-in-your-mouth croissants and to try their other delicious-looking goodies.

French Loaf Info
Location: 1456 W. Fifth Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43212
Phone: (614) 488-6843
Hours: Tue-Sat 7:30am-7:00pm, Sun 8am-5pm, closed Monday.
Type of Food: Sweet and savory baked goods, light lunches