It's been a while. I know. I'm sorry. But I haven't been lounging around, skipping work, or shunning the internet. Hell, I haven't even really been on vacation.
What I have been doing a lot of recently is driving. It took well over 500 miles to get an aging car to the Midwest. The car promptly threw a fit when we parked it in the driveway, overheating then leaking, until we had to go give it a lot of money to nurse it back to health. My fiancee and I have been walking a lot since then. Luckily we live here now.
We're in Columbus, Ohio so she can go to grad school at the Ohio State (for free!!). I'm taking the security deposit from our Brooklyn apartment and living the good life for a month or so, or until I find some kind of a job. I'm starting a new column over at Serious Eats called "Dinner Tonight", where I'll be writing a little short blurb about a simple meal recipe each work day. It should be up soon. It's going to be a great summer.
Anyway, It’s a big move, one that breaks apart the exclusively New York-centric content of this blog, and those weeks about pizzas, hamburgers, and other things the city seems to do so well. But don't worry. Blake is still hunkered down in his gorgeous new apartment, and will keep the New York end of the site up and kicking.
And it's home for me. I was born and raised in Indiana, so I'm having a much easier time settling down here then I did when I wandered off to New York. I also live in the Short North area, a tree-laden stretch of land just north of the downtown loop. It is gorgeous.
The only thing I’m really worried about is the food. In Brooklyn, I lived a short walk from one of the best grocery stores on the planet (Fairway), some of the best pizza (Lucali), and a butcher who made his own sausage everyday (Esposito). That doesn't even mention the bread shop that still made everything on site (Mazzola’s Bakery). Besides Panera, the only bread producing place I've found here is the Wonder Bread factory down the street. I'm not kidding.
But I’m ready to look. When I was last here I was content to check out the chains, but not any longer. If you’re sitting pretty in Ohio and have some good ideas, or just want to meet for drinks, please let me know. I'd love to meet other foodies around the area. Otherwise, it is off to the kitchen. I've got a lot of food I need to take pictures of.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
try the North Market. Its like a foodcourt, only more exciting.
I live in Columbus as well (well, Dublin, but if my fiance didn't work way out in the middle of nowhere, we'd live downtown in a heartbeat), and I would definitely say hit up the North Market. Produce, meat, bread, some good ethnic food stands, and a Saturday farmer's market.
And you're by many of the city's good restaurants, both casual and more expensive (check out tip top, rosendale's, el arepazo, surly girl, the rossi for just a few to get you started); I like the Grandview area as well.
A great local blogger who posts a lot of restaurant reviews, things to do in Columbus, etc. is http://www.restaurantwidow.com, if you want some good ideas.
Welcome back to the Midwest!
Hello and welcome to Columbus (or home). Sarah was right when she mentioned to check out the restaurantwidow's website. Another good site is the Columbus foodies. She does a lot of restaurant reviews too. I am not a food blogger myself, but I do spend way too much time reading them and look forward to your posts from our hometown.
As for Columbus, hopefully you'll have fun here and find some stuff you like. The short north is a great area to be and though Columbus is nothing compared to NY, there is a surprising amount of cultural diversity here. Good shows, the ballet, the symphony, Blue Jackets hockey, Clippers baseball, Crew soccer, several venues for music and of course the Buckeyes. And if you haven't experienced the craziness that is college football in this town, then you only need wait about another month because it is pretty unbelievable. (In a good way if you are a fan) German village is just down the road from you(check out the Bookloft) as are a handful of microbreweries. There is Easton and Polaris for shopping shopping. (Also at Easton is a Trader Joes as well as one in Dublin- but try never to have to go on a weekend, because it just gets stupid busy- but then again you did live in NY, so never mind that) Whole foods is not far from the short north either and on the other side of town in Westerville is a great natural food store with fantastic costumer service called Rasin Rack. Hopefully, Cowtown won't be too much of a shock to you and you'll find some great things. Good luck at OSU and thanks for the blog. It's always fun to read.
Hey Nick-
Hope you're getting settled in ok!
Over in Grandview on 5th there is a darling bakery called The French Loaf. After 5 pm, most items are half off. Also, check out La Chantaline on Lane in Upper Arlington…they have delicious fresh bread there too (and amazing cheesecakes) although it's a little more pricey.
Don't fret about the bread situation here in town, I'd be more worried about the washer and drying breaking down.
What exactly constitutes a car as "aging"?