Part 3 of a Series
BY JANET STEINBERG
The innovative Columbus culinary scene
has come a long way since my first visit to Columbus many moons ago. The
creative chefs and entrepreneurial restaurateurs of “C-Bus” offer an
outstanding culinary experience from dawn through dusk. Let me begin with
breakfast and show you how I ate my way through a recent visit to Columbus.
has come a long way since my first visit to Columbus many moons ago. The
creative chefs and entrepreneurial restaurateurs of “C-Bus” offer an
outstanding culinary experience from dawn through dusk. Let me begin with
breakfast and show you how I ate my way through a recent visit to Columbus.
1. KATALINA’S CAFÉ, a little café
with lots of local goodness, is housed in a 100-year-old gas station that
Katalina brought back from the brink. Known as the Dine Diva, Katalina slings
“local homemade food with attitude –but no pretense”. Her mantra is
“Peace, Love & Pancake balls”. It is said that people “line up for
miles and enter with smiles” for her pancake balls (sales number over a million
to date). These little round balls from heaven can be filled with dulce
de leche or jam. However, the all time favorite filling is Nutella.
with lots of local goodness, is housed in a 100-year-old gas station that
Katalina brought back from the brink. Known as the Dine Diva, Katalina slings
“local homemade food with attitude –but no pretense”. Her mantra is
“Peace, Love & Pancake balls”. It is said that people “line up for
miles and enter with smiles” for her pancake balls (sales number over a million
to date). These little round balls from heaven can be filled with dulce
de leche or jam. However, the all time favorite filling is Nutella.
 |
NUTELLA FILLED PANCAKE BALLS |
2.
GALLERIE BAR AND BISTRO is located in the art-filled atrium setting of the
Hilton Columbus Downtown. The oversized
lamp in the Bistro is one of the favorites in the hotel’s $1-million dollar art
collection consisting of 225 original works of art from more than 100 area
artists.
GALLERIE BAR AND BISTRO is located in the art-filled atrium setting of the
Hilton Columbus Downtown. The oversized
lamp in the Bistro is one of the favorites in the hotel’s $1-million dollar art
collection consisting of 225 original works of art from more than 100 area
artists.
 |
ONE OF THE FAVORITE PIECES OF THE HOTEL’S ART COLLECTION |
The Bistro serves up Ahi Tuna Tacos that
are as delicious to look at, as they are to eat. These crispy tacos are
stuffed with ponzu-marinated rare ahi tuna, shaved cabbage-cilantro slaw,
picked ginger and sesame. Sriracha aioli is drizzled over the top.
are as delicious to look at, as they are to eat. These crispy tacos are
stuffed with ponzu-marinated rare ahi tuna, shaved cabbage-cilantro slaw,
picked ginger and sesame. Sriracha aioli is drizzled over the top.
 |
| CRISPY CRUNCHY AHI TUNA TACOS |
3. FOOD TRUCKS have taken hold in
Columbus. Foodies, eager to taste a variety of foods, can have a field
day indulging in a delicious mix of tastes from the food trucks that abound in
Columbus. From Dos Hermanos there was authentic Mexican
food. Tacos were served with onion and cilantro on a corn tortilla and burritos
were filled with meat, rice, beans, cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo,
onion, and hot & verde sauce.
Columbus. Foodies, eager to taste a variety of foods, can have a field
day indulging in a delicious mix of tastes from the food trucks that abound in
Columbus. From Dos Hermanos there was authentic Mexican
food. Tacos were served with onion and cilantro on a corn tortilla and burritos
were filled with meat, rice, beans, cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo,
onion, and hot & verde sauce.
 |
AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD FROM DOS HERMANOS |
From Ajumama, we tried fast and
sassy Korean street food. The Bimbim Balls (seasoned rice and
veggies, panko breaded and fried, were topped with sweet and spicy bimbim sauce
and toasted Korean seaweed. Sweet Carrots’ mac & cheese was
topped with fried artichokes, an aioli sauce drizzle, a pinch of Parmesan
cheese, and scallions.
sassy Korean street food. The Bimbim Balls (seasoned rice and
veggies, panko breaded and fried, were topped with sweet and spicy bimbim sauce
and toasted Korean seaweed. Sweet Carrots’ mac & cheese was
topped with fried artichokes, an aioli sauce drizzle, a pinch of Parmesan
cheese, and scallions.
 |
| BEST MAC & CHEESE EVER! |
4. SCHOKKO ART CAFÉ, an
artful concept in restaurants, is located on the main floor of The Columbus
Museum of Art. It looks out onto Patty’s Garden, the sculpture garden
named in honor of the late Patricia M. “Patty”
Jurgensen, long-time CMA Trustee. This vibrant, contemporary café
features specially created signature items including a variety of healthy and
hearty dishes like the Roasted Creole Tomato Soup and the Black Bean Burger.
The café takes its name from the 1909 Alexej Jawlensky painting “Schokko
with a Red Hat”. The model was nicknamed “Schokko”
because she loved hot chocolate and eagerly accepted a cup of hot chocolate
following her session posing for Jawlensky. The painting is one of the Columbus
Museum of Art’s signature pieces in their Sirak Collection.
artful concept in restaurants, is located on the main floor of The Columbus
Museum of Art. It looks out onto Patty’s Garden, the sculpture garden
named in honor of the late Patricia M. “Patty”
Jurgensen, long-time CMA Trustee. This vibrant, contemporary café
features specially created signature items including a variety of healthy and
hearty dishes like the Roasted Creole Tomato Soup and the Black Bean Burger.
The café takes its name from the 1909 Alexej Jawlensky painting “Schokko
with a Red Hat”. The model was nicknamed “Schokko”
because she loved hot chocolate and eagerly accepted a cup of hot chocolate
following her session posing for Jawlensky. The painting is one of the Columbus
Museum of Art’s signature pieces in their Sirak Collection.
 |
| SCHOKKO NAMED FOR HER LOVE OF CHOCOLATE |
5. THE GUILD HOUSE
is an artisan eatery that brings a
one-of-a-kind restaurant to the Short North community. It features seasonal
offerings that are regionally and globally inspired with an artistic technique
in an energetic and inviting space of repurposed wood, local art, and
contemporary accents. If dining with friends, order a variety of appetizers
such as the ahi tuna ribbons, oysters with cucumber coriander mignonette, prime
rib cap with sweet onion relish and blue cheese, and flatbread with white bean
puree, grilled ramps, ham and shitake mushrooms. You could almost stop
there, but why not go for the sea bass in a lobster broth?
is an artisan eatery that brings a
one-of-a-kind restaurant to the Short North community. It features seasonal
offerings that are regionally and globally inspired with an artistic technique
in an energetic and inviting space of repurposed wood, local art, and
contemporary accents. If dining with friends, order a variety of appetizers
such as the ahi tuna ribbons, oysters with cucumber coriander mignonette, prime
rib cap with sweet onion relish and blue cheese, and flatbread with white bean
puree, grilled ramps, ham and shitake mushrooms. You could almost stop
there, but why not go for the sea bass in a lobster broth?
 |
OYSTERS WITH CUCUMBER CORIANDER MIGNONETTE |
6. THE
REFECTORY RESTAURANT has a long and
distinguished history in Columbus. This upscale restaurant, complete with soaring ceilings & stained-glass
windows, was first used as a church built in
the mid-1800s. The Refectory began serving Columbus in 1976 and in the
1980s it assumed its role as Columbus’ premier French restaurant. You
might begin with Cured Foie Gras & Duck Breast with Apple Fondant and Onion
Compote, Aged Balsamic Reduction and Champagne Vinaigrette. Follow that
with a whole Dover Sole served tableside with Lemon Caper Butter Sauce.
The food, the atmosphere, and the service were superb.
REFECTORY RESTAURANT has a long and
distinguished history in Columbus. This upscale restaurant, complete with soaring ceilings & stained-glass
windows, was first used as a church built in
the mid-1800s. The Refectory began serving Columbus in 1976 and in the
1980s it assumed its role as Columbus’ premier French restaurant. You
might begin with Cured Foie Gras & Duck Breast with Apple Fondant and Onion
Compote, Aged Balsamic Reduction and Champagne Vinaigrette. Follow that
with a whole Dover Sole served tableside with Lemon Caper Butter Sauce.
The food, the atmosphere, and the service were superb.
 |
| DOVER SOLE TO PERFECTION |
One thing I can guarantee,
you won’t go to bed hungry in Columbus.
you won’t go to bed hungry in Columbus.
Bon appetite!
JANET STEINBERG is an
award-winning Travel Writer and International Travel Consultant with THE TRAVEL
AUTHORITY in Mariemont, Ohio
award-winning Travel Writer and International Travel Consultant with THE TRAVEL
AUTHORITY in Mariemont, Ohio