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We are huge street food fans so you can imagine our delight at finding food carts lining the Arawak Kay beach on the first day of our recent island vacation. The food truck scene in our hometown of Columbus, Ohio is more varied and delicious but will never match the Bahamas view!
1. grouper snack 2. colorful shrimp shack 3. peanut man 4. beached sailboat
This post is an entry in a contest for a ticket to Eat Write Retreat sponsored by Feastie.
Just a week after visiting Cleveland, we hit the road again for two nights in Cincinnati.
Our trip last Friday - Sunday was motivated by my participation in the 5B Conference and Cincy Winter Beer Fest. In between drinking and talking about blogging, we visited Terry's Turf Club, the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History & Science, the Cincinnati Art Museum, Senate Pub, and Findlay Market.
The Restaurant Widow (RIP and may Lisa write again soon!) has a thorough review of the burgers at Terry's. I want to add some footnotes on the experience beyond the food.
The decor at Terry's is an expertly curated array of sign memorabilia from the last 100 years. Much of the neon, posters, and signs are of local Midwestern brands. Three classic Bevador beer coolers chill a great selection of craft brews. There is no better way to distract your dining partners from the delicious meat juice dripping down your arm than to point at one of the thousand neato things on the wall.
Staff at Terry's also gets major props for providing first class diner service. They are welcoming without being overbearing, quick without rushing, and a tight knit group. Turnover is obviously very low as we've seen the same people working each time we go and we overheard a waitress say they don't even accept applications because openings are so rare.
Go for the burgers, go for the museum-quality memorabilia, go for the service - just go!
The Cincy Museum Center first wows you with its amazing location. On a hill overlooking a valley in one direction and city in another, a family can spend a long time just taking in the scenery. Step inside, and you are taken aback again by the stunning Art Deco architecture of the old Union Terminal. 22-foot tall mosaics illustrating the history of Cincinnati line the rotunda of the common area. Witnessing the beauty of the Union Terminal is reason enough to go to the History, Children's or Science Museum housed in the building.
Though the Natural History & Science Museum was largely unoccupied (it was late in the afternoon during a snowfall), we managed to lose each other in a darkened exhibit. I walked through the hall several times looking for Alex and nothing caught my attention; I couldn't even tell you what the hall intended to display.
We reunited to go through the limestone cave experience. The recreated limestone cave was safe for kids* to touch, climb, and explore. We all enjoyed walking through without the worry of disturbing a natural system. *This cave might not be safe for rambunctous toddlers or early walkers as there are many steps, slippery areas, and small pools.
The dinosaur hall was fun for Lil. I found it circutous in routing and information beyond observation of fossils hard for a child to absorb. Several interactive exhibits did not function fully.
We all enjoyed the Nature's Trading Post, though we brought nothing to trade. Apparently those in the know bring in natural treasures (hopefully collected under legal circumstances) to trade for others. They had a great collection of rocks, fossils, and shells for trading as well as live animals and displays of nature collections like the eggs pictured.
Overall, the quality of the Natural History & Science Museum did not live up to the beauty of the building. It was a fine way to spend an hour, but next time we will check out the children's museum instead. As a reciprocal museum, admission is free for COSI members.
I like beer, it's true. But at the Cincy Beerfest and 5B conference, I was in the company of people who LOVE beer.
Because I was a conference speaker I was given a VIP pass to the beerfest for Friday and Saturday nights. This entitled me to local restaurant and rare beer samples in a private area plus early entry into the main hall. With over 300 beers on hand, the time before the crowds was key to sampling without long waits. The best bite I ate was the braunschweiger from Virgil's Cafe and best beer was North Coast's Le Merle, though I can't claim to have tasted them all by a long shot.
Mini-rant 1: Many people at the beerfest wore necklaces made of pretzels. This is unsanitaryish (I clearly don't have high sanitary standards), unfashionable, and just plain weird.
Mini-rant 2: The longest line was for Yuengling. Seriously? People paid $35 to come to a beerfest and stand in line for Yuengling. I was dumbfounded.
Thankfully the 5B conference surprised me in a good way. The leader, Carla, is clearly a master at friendly organization. She lined up casual, knowledgeable speakers and kept registration limited to allow for genuine interaction among participants. I met Jen from Our Good Food Life and Lori from Fake Food Free in person for the first time and caught up with Diana from Cookerati and Julie from Wine Me, Dine Me Cincinnati.
Everyone was approachable, swag was minimal, and the obvious focus was on community. I can share my session notes on building your blog through groups if anyone wants them. I consider the first year of 5B a huge success and hope to see it grow in the future.
When we drove up to the art museum on Saturday afternoon, the attendant told us parking was free. While most people might think this is a great thing, I started to get a sinking feeling in my stomach. A special event must be going on. This place is going to be crowded.
I was right. Nick Cave, fiber artist, was visiting, the museum was hosting a fundraiser, and it was a family fun day. The historic building was simply crawling with people.
We immediately happened into the source for some of the chaos - a three story interactive fiber installation. White wigged and clothed women helped visitors make yarn pompoms to keep or add to the jellyfish-like oversized mobile pictured above. We never did understand why the assistants were in white but their costuming added to the absurdity and beauty of our crowded visit.
Though our senses were overstimulated with a very loud band and so many visitors, the art pulled us in. Cincinnati has an amazing collection of everything from ancient world artworks to two Tiffany loving cups to modern paintings.
The curators display their excellent array in a interesting ways. Some is grouped by style and age as one might expect. The Nick Cave visiting exhibit (January 21, 2012 - April 29, 2012) is installed in galleries throughout the museum and connected by green lines on the floor. Another rotating exhibit, Monet in Giverney (February 04, 2012 - May 13, 2012), is housed in a single room with paper decorated ceiling and careful artwork placement to compare how garden sights inspired Monet. An entire hall on the 2nd floor is filled with art in a display so compact that there is no space for information placards and instead a booklet provides details.
We had to leave after an hour and a half because the crowd was just too much. Do as I say, not as I do - plan to spend an entire week day at the art museum to peacefully absorb the very fine collection. If you are a fiber artist or appreciate recycled materials, go before the end of April to see the Nick Cave works - they are fun and provocative.
Senate is the darling of the Cincinnati dining scene, so far as I can tell from recommendations and reviews. The last two times we've been in the area, we haven't made it to Senate and I was determined to do so this visit.
We missed our first opportunity when we left later than expected on Friday and exceeded the lunch hours. We almost missed Saturday dinner because we were hungry before they opened but I insisted that we wait.
I thought that arriving right at opening time would be a good way to beat the crowds. Somehow the restaurant was almost full when we arrived! We grabbed the last table, one right by the door. It was a little chilly but the food more than made up for the location.
Senate is decorated in a modern classy pub style. Flat screen televisions over the bar play old movies. A fabulous country eastern music selection blared over the speakers. Most of the seating was either at the bar or at tables with shared bench seating. Senate has a solid cocktail menu and beer list prepared by informed bartenders.
The pub atmosphere continues to the menu where the selection largely consists of sandwiches and hot dogs. These are no ordinary patties and sausages, though. They are creative combinations made in house and served with house-made condiments.
We started with poutine, a current favorite of mine. Senate serves the classic fries-gravy-cheese curds melange on top of bechamel. I thought this combination would be over the top indulgent but somehow it worked. The 'gravy' was a very meaty topping of beef short ribs and the creamy bechemal covered for the lack of saucy gravy. This is a heart-stopping dish that must be shared among diners.
Alex ordered the lobster BLT. Again, we suspected that a BLT with lobster would be a waste of amazing seafood. Alex said this sandwich was perfectly balanced, however, and he ate it so quickly I didn't even get to share a bite.
I chose the daily special hot dog, the 'Danny DeVito'. A spicy andoullie sausage was smothered in Chimay cheese sauce, a few bits of broccoli, bacon, and shoe string potatoes. The bacon and potatoes seemed unnecessary and I wished there was more broccoli but I wouldn't hesitate to order this again.
Lil, with her expensive tastes, ordered the duck leg entree. Duck leg is not hard to do well and Senate excelled with a wine sauce and perfectly prepared vegetable accompaniments. Indeed, the roasted brussels sprouts, parsnips, and carrots were my favorite parts of the dish.
I was a little confused by the loud bar feel and pricey gourmet food paired together. On the upside, the loudness would cover almost any noise a kid could make and the staff was very accommodating to Lil, even making her lemonade from hand when she ordered. I, personally, enjoy conversation without shouting and would have preferred a bit more space and quiet.
By the time we left, Senate was bustling with a line practically out the door. I can understand the appeal for the food. To take advantage of the demand and the needs of those who want a softer experience, perhaps management will open a second Senate in a more spacious quiet location. Even if they stick with the single noisy bar, I know we will return.
On the way out of town we hit up Findlay Market for breakfast and meat for dinner. The 'market' is actually a series of buildings that include permanent and week-to-week vendors.
We limited our visit to the main indoor market for lack of time to explore more. A half dozen meat vendors offer a variety of quality and price points. Several from-scratch baked goods and prepared food vendors stand at the ready to supply home cooks. A coffee shop, creperie, Asian, Mexican, juice, and gelato stands are available for ordering freshly made meals. Tables and chairs are scattered through the market for those wanting to eat at Findlay. The late breakfast we ate (smoothies, coffee, and a Mexican rice bowl) was acceptable, though not the gourmet fare offered at the North Market.
In the growing season, farmers line the walkways with local produce. The fresh produce offerings this time of year were scarce. Though I may have missed them, fine cheese and alcohol also seem to be missing from the market. Even though we clearly visited in the slow season, Findlay Market is big and could support nearly all of a family's grocery needs.
Beyond the fantastic art museum and plenty of places for good eats, Cincinnati boasts a more hilly landscape and older architecture than Columbus. The Netherland Plaza Hotel (now owned by Hilton and open to friendly tourists who don't bother the paying guests) shares Art Deco stylings similar to the Cincinnati Museum Center. Homes and businesses are wedged onto steep streets reminiscent of San Francisco. I enjoy simply driving around Cincy to the top of the hills and looking around.
What are your favorites in downtown Cincinnati?
Terry's Turf Club 4618 Eastern Ave Cincinnati, OH 45226 (513) 533-4222 burgers $7 and up, peanuts in shells free
Cincinnati Museum Center 1301 Western Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45203 (513) 287-7000 $12.50 Adult/ $11.50 Senior (60+)/ $8.50 Children (3-12)/ $4.50 Toddlers (1-2), reciprocal with COSI
Cincinnati Art Museum 953 Eden Park Drive Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 721-2787 Free admission
Senate Pub 1212 VINE ST Cincinnati, OH 45202 1 513.421.2020 cocktails $9, gourmet sandwiches $11, entrees $16
Findlay Market 1801 Race Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 665-4839
PS. My apologies that pictures are again taken with my crummy camera phone. I am accepting donations towards a faster better phone camera. If enough of you care about travelogues, I might be convinced to take the big camera. Tell me what you think in the comments.
PPS. Interested diners may want to read Columbus Underground's recent review of the Taste of Belgium Bistro near Senate in Cincinnati.
Last weekend, Alex, Lil and I travelled to Cleveland for a quick getaway. In a matter of 48 hours we dined at Noodlecat, cooked yakitori with Chef Jonathon Sawyer, visited the Great Lakes Science Center, stayed in a very interesting Marriott Residence Inn hotel, shared a late night bite at The Greenhouse Tavern, explored the Cleveland Natural History Museum, and ate at Great Lakes Brewing Company Brewpub. I did not intend to write about our experiences so I left the big camera in the hotel room and just enjoyed the days. But too many things were too great not to share, so I illustrated this recap of our trip with phone pictures. Enjoy!
(comments by Alex and Lil)
1. Very fun quirky restaurant. Lil loved the Noodlecat logo. 2. Service was excellent and the wait-staff was very kid-friendly. 3. The food was creative and yummy. I very much liked the miso bbq chicken wings and Lil loved her soba noodles with butter and poached chicken. 4. My udon dish was very well done and nicely spicy even though udon is somewhat unappealing to me personally. 5. The restaurant is very convenient to downtown hotels and other attractions. 6. The Greenhouse Lager (by Great Lakes Brewing Company) is a very nice crisp and clean lager. It went very well with the spicy fare.
(comments by Alex and Lil)
1. It was a very easy walk from the downtown restaurant and hotel area. 2. The reciprocal membership with COSI was a very nice thing to have as we were able to explore the museum for free. 3. We were there late in the day so quite a few things were closed. Also as it is winter, the outdoor exhibits were not open. 4. The second floor has a discovery area with dozens of different displays. These range from sound-based to motion or light based. Simple circuits are explored and magnetism is presented in an approachable manner. 5. All of the exhibits allow you to interact and experiment with the setups. 6. All of the exhibits are easily child-accessible. 7. There is more than enough there to keep adults occupied as well.
While Alex and Lil dined and museumed, I made skewer after skewer of tongue, short ribs, chicken thigh and scallion, pork belly, and pork cheeks in the back of the Noodlecat kitchen. I helped Kenny and Misako from Freshstreet transform the front of the house into a Japanese street festival feel with Japanese masks, toys, hand-written signs, and games.
When guests began to arrive, I grilled skewers over bincho-tan charcoal with Chef Jonathon Sawyer, one of Food & Wine Magazines’ Best New Chefs and recent Iron Chef contestant. We chatted a bit as we cooked but mostly worked to be sure the yakitori skewers were at their best for the party-goers. I had a blast!
Read Columbus Crave and Kristian's post for more pictures of the food and decor. Thanks to Bethia Woolf of Columbus Adventures for sharing the pictures above.
After service and clean up, I was tired but wanting to wind down from the night. I met Jason, mastermind behind Thunderkiss coffee, and his wife Emily at the Greenhouse Tavern bar. Though I had munched on several yakitori skewers, I left room for a midnight snack. GHT's gravy fries did not disappoint. Thick, black pepper-spiced gravy smoothered the hand-cut fries and hand-made mozzarella curds. If anything there was too much gravy, but it's hard to complain about something so delicious.
The thorough and soft-spoken bar manager (I'm sorry I didn't catch his name) made me the best French 75 I've ever tasted with Cleveland's own Tom's Foolery Applejack. The drink, as well as conversation with him about the state of Ohio spirits, was just what I needed to relax after a busy day.
Alex is a Marriott gold star super elite fancy pants reward member, so he naturally selected a Marriott brand hotel for the night. For family trips, he usually chooses the Residence Inn brand because they have a mini kitchen, snacks, breakfast, and often a door between bedroom and sitting area so the adults can chat after kid bedtime.
The Cleveland Downtown Residence Inn was a bit difficult to find but turned out to be a hidden treasure. It is a renovated century old hotel that spans a whole city block. This hotel had stained glass windows, antique marble walkways, and an open shopping arcade.
Thanks to Mr. Points and a slow night, the manager upgraded Alex to the largest room in the hotel. The square footage was nearly as large as our whole house! Lil was delighted to occupy her own bedroom and bathroom. The manager even let Alex know that no one was staying in the adjacent rooms so Lil could run around if she wanted to. (And you know she did!)
Even without the upgrade, this Residence Inn is a recommended accommodation: it has the beauty of a vintage city hotel with all the modern amenities a family could want. Plus, it's in the middle of everything - one can walk to the stadiums, science center, and both Jonathon Sawyer restaurants.
The Cleveland Natural History Museum is nestled behind a brass stegosaurus, life-size Linnaeus likeness and oversize sundial on University Circle. When we finally entered the museum after thirty minutes of viewing the outdoor sculptures, we were greeted by a staff person holding a tame opossum. You might remember how we feel about opossums, yet we all pet Daisy and studied her prehensile tail.
We wandered into the hall of Humans & Nature next. This was a brilliantly designed collection of taxidermy animals alongside geographically paired human artifacts. Lil enjoyed the dioramas while Alex and I stood slack-jawed at the quantity and beautifully displayed variety of creatures. We studied Balto up close, one of our favorite characters from modern history.
Thanks to the unseasonably warm weather, we were able to spend a half hour enjoying the outdoor Wildlife Center. Populated with wild creatures that can be found in Ohio, we were able to see raptors, river otters, and mammals up close. We especially enjoyed communicating with the two crows, birds that for some reason avoid our very dense neighborhood. This area reminded me of the Ohio State Fair ODNR wildlife exhibit without the fair food smell and crowds.
Finally we made our way to the cafe for lunch. Here is where the museum fell flat as the choices were limited to lunchmeat sandwiches, fries, uninspired salads and soda vending machines. We were very hungry but didn't want to spend usury rates for something we wouldn't enjoy, so we mired in indecision. Lil had a little bit of a breakdown.
Fortunately, a travelling exhibit of Antarctic photographs calmed us all down enough to make the decision to leave for another lunch spot. Before we left, we watched a portion of a TedX talk by the photographer Paul Nicklen about his amazing encounter with a seal.
Knowing we were all very hungry and wanted a restaurant with healthy options, we opted for a known quality restaurant, Great Lakes Brewpub. This was our third visit to Great Lakes Brewpub in the last decade.
The wide menu features plenty of from-scratch recipes we wanted to try. We started with the charcuterie and cheese plate. Filled with treats from the nearby West Side Market and in-house cured compliments, the plate was a winner and served as Lil's lunch. I tried the vegan burger and salad, both of which were lacking in enough textural variety to make them exciting but amounted to a filling and healthy meal. Alex chose the special, a Cuban sandwich and excellent Parmesan crusted fries.
Our trip was a whirlwind two days that did more to fill us with desire to return than to come home. We want to go back in the spring when we can finish exploring the Natural History Museum, see the outdoor exhibits at the Science Center, visit the art museum, and perhaps check out the new aquarium.
We have to conclude that Cleveland rocks! Have you ever been? What do you enjoy in CLE?
Noodlecat Restaurant 234 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44114 216 589 0007
Great Lakes Science Center 601 Erieside Ave. Cleveland, OH 44114 (216) 694-2000
Residence Inn Downtown Cleveland 527 Prospect Avenue East Cleveland, Ohio 44115 USA 1-216-443-9043
The Greenhouse Tavern 2038 E 4th Street, Cleveland, OH 44115 216-443-0511
Cleveland Natural History Museum 1 Wade Oval Drive University Circle Cleveland OH 44106-1767 U.S.A. 216.231.4600 | 800.317.9155
Great Lakes Brewing Company & Brewpup 2516 Market Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44113 216.771.4404
Freshstreet Yakitori (previously Section 8 Yakitorium) has received a good bit of press lately. The reviews are universally great but no one has picked up on exactly what makes the Yakitorium so tasty and authentic.
Bincho-tan is a special hardwood charcoal produced and imported from Japan. So far as I can find, no one else in Columbus (and possibly the state) is using this cooking fuel.
Bincho-tan is produced from oak by steaming the wood at high temperatures. The resulting charcoal burns at a lower temperature but for longer periods of time than traditional coals. More importantly to cooks, bincho-tan does not smoke.
Yakitori stands prefer bincho-tan, therefore, because it allows the true taste of the meat to come through the flames. The charcoal also powers a grill for many hours, allowing the chef to cook through a meal shift.
Kenny Kim and Misako Ohba first brought Japanese street food to Columbus with their Foodie Cart crepes. They later added takoyaki (pancake-batter like savory balls filled with octopus or corn) and moved into a shack in the Short North. Yakitori is their latest endeavor, served late nights at the Double Happiness bar in the Brewery District.
Kenny and Misako import their bincho-tan from Japan through a Chicago importer. Several other ingredients including ramen noodles are obtained in this way. They invest great cost in importing these authentic goods because they are not satisfied with lesser replacements.
The pair skillfully skewer small bits of meat, some of it local, on wooden spikes so the meat rests evenly across the yakitori grill bricks. Traditional Japanese chicken thigh and skin are offered, as are more adventerous cuts like beef cheek, pork belly, tongue, and tuna. At least one vegetable is always available. Skewers run between $2-4.
Yakitori are grilled over hot bincho-tan to order. Some are served simply with lemon and salt; others are dipped in a soy-based sauce. The resulting meat has the crisp texture of a grilled product without excessive smokiness.
Wise visitors order a variety; I was surprised at how much I loved the unctuous beef cheek and also that I enjoyed okra cooked yakitori-style, as I don't like it in any other preparation.
Other Japanese specialities compliment the yakitori, including an excellent take on okonomiyaki (savory cabbage pancakes) for $4. Diners can eat at the Double Happiness bar or in their comfy lounge. The bar makes notable soju (barley spirit) and sake cocktails, well matched to the Freshstreet food.
Despite, or perhaps because of, the Japanese street food authenticity, Freshstreet Yakitori is widely appealing to many palates. Kids will enjoy meat on a stick as much as adults. There is something for every diet and adventure-level.
If you go:
Freshstreet Yakitori at Double Happiness 482 S Front St Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 220-5558
http://www.facebook.com/freshstreet www.doublehappinessohio.comNB. I will be cooking yakitori with the Freshstreet folks in Cleveland at a Brick & Mortar pop-up Japanese Festival this Thursday, February 2, at 6:30 pm. Tickets are still available for the event. Columbus Food Adventures has a few spots left for their road-trip adventure that includes the festival dinner, ride from Columbus and back, and a meet and greet with Chef Jonathon Sawyer.
Way back in August when the grass was green and the weather sticky hot, Flying J Farm opened its (barn) doors to host the Shake the Hand that Feeds You dinner benefiting Slow Food Columbus. Alex, Lil, and I attended with our Japanese exchange student Anna.
Chefs from Skillet Rustic. Urban. Food expertly cooked up much of the feast including a lingua appetizer sandwich that helped inspire our sweet heart charcuterie. The family-style meal included a whole roast pig, tomato salad, rosemary potatoes, braised cabbage, and our favorite dish of the night, sweet potatoes and kale.
Chef Casey's pairing of my favorite vegetable, kale, and nutritious sweet potatoes was a new combination to me. Every time I eat at Skillet R.U.F. I am struck by their simple brilliance and want to recreate dishes at home.
Six months after the Flying J dinner, I chopped the last of our homegrown sweet potatoes to share with family on Christmas Eve. I prepped the vegetables early in the day and cooked them together just before guests arrived. I covered the dish to keep warm during cocktails.
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Maple Cider Vinegar Kale & Sweet Potatoes Time: 15 minutes preparation, 20 minutes cooking Makes: 6 side dish servings
1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 red onion, sliced into two-inch pieces 2 cups sweet potato, peeled and diced into one-inch pieces 1 large bunch kale, leaves washed well, removed from ribs, and chopped/torn into large chunks 1-2 teaspoons salt (to taste) 10-20 grinds white pepper (to taste) 1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and onions. 2. When onions have begun to turn translucent, add sweet potatoes and turn up the heat. Cook for 10 minutes, tossing or gently stirring regularly. 3. Add kale pieces, salt, and pepper. Stir gently and reduce heat back to medium. Cook for five minutes or until kale starts to wilt. 4. Pour maple syrup and apple cider vinegar over the mix. Continue cooking until sweet potatoes are cooked through. Serve warm.
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PS. Need a little reassurance that summer will come again? Relive Shake the Hand that Feeds You through pictures.
Added to Simple Lives 76.
At Murphin Ridge Inn in southern Ohio, guests enjoy spacious rooms, expansive views and perfect understated service. There is only one distraction from the calm, and it's a good one: the food.
A visit to the bed and breakfast starts with finding a handmade cookie in your room. Make a cup of hot coffee or tea in the gathering room to compliment the treat.
(Click pictures to view them full size.)
Explore the grounds by hiking one of the marked trails or enjoying the vistas while seated on a rocking chair. Flower and vegetable gardens are tucked into sunny spots all over the property. You can view the plants that provide inspiration to meals including a patch of asparagus, plenty of peppers, and herbs galore.
The Inn truly comes alive during dinner. The seasonal menu throws more than just a nod to the locavore movement. Plates are filled with local everything from Adams County meats to Ohio creamery cheeses to garnishes from the gardens around the Inn.
On the night I dined with six-year-old Lillian, our starters were the stand out dishes. A pear and celery soup surprised me with subtle sweetness from the pear and deep earthiness of the celery root. Lillian, usually vegetable averse, gobbled the house salad, a lightly dressed romaine lettuce with apples and nuts. We later enjoyed our dinner of hot dog and potato wedges (her) and house-made butternut ravioli (me).
There is an air of comfortable elegance at Murphin Ridge Inn. The warm atmosphere is perfect for inspiring a child to be on her best behavior. Dinner service is neither too stuffy nor lax and includes quick bread service and coloring books to encourage quiet calm children.
After dinner we enjoyed chatting with chef Brad. He is clearly excited about using Adams County bounty in meals and also sources from Cincinnati's Findlay Market. Sherry McKenney, co-owner of Murphin Ridge, was busy preparing desserts but made time to talk to us about breakfast options.
After a cozy evening without television (Lillian can survive!) we slept comfortably. The next morning we followed a cat back to the Inn for breakfast.
We munched on homemade granola, yogurt, and fruit in the company of friendly guests before the entrée. On the day we dined, breakfast was orange French toast and locally sourced pork sausage. The menu rotates daily and seasonally.
Lil and I spent a few more hours in the morning playing tennis, following kitties, and watching birds at the dozens of feeders. We reluctantly packed our bags to leave Murphin Ridge Inn and vowed to return to the truly relaxing retreat soon.
When you go:
Murphin Ridge Inn 750 Murphin Ridge Road West Union, Ohio 45693 Make reservations online or by calling 877-687-7446 or 937-544-2263 Follow Murphin Ridge Inn on Facebook and Twitter for news and specials.
Murphin Ridge generously provided an overnight stay, dinner, and breakfast for Lillian and I. All opinions remain my own.
A food truck with a name dear to our chicken-loving hearts opened recently in close proximity to our house. Alex visited first, took pictures, and wrote this review:
Clintonville is seeing an influx of food trucks recently. Despite the objections of various stick-in-the-mud types, the diversity is only growing.
The Coop is the latest truck to arrive on the Clintonville scene. As the name suggests, it is a poultry-themed establishment and happens to have thrown out a shingle on the corner of Indianola and Cliffside. As this is only a few blocks from our house we had their fare (one of each thing on the menu) for our Wednesday family dinner.
The dishes were:
French Omelet BLT sandwich - Delicious folded omelet with thick-cut bacon and fresh veggies on white bread. The whole thing melted in your mouth and was done exceptionally well.
Udon noodles with duck - This was probably the standout dish of the evening. The noodles were well cooked, the duck was delicious and it was all complimented wonderfully with a hot and sour broth. This was a fabulous dish that I could eat every day. Of course, as with their other dishes, it was topped with an over-easy egg.
Chorizo Hash - Exactly what the name describes. Very nicely done with chopped up bits of corn tortilla incorporated into the mix. The over-easy egg made for a delicious sauce over the hash after the yolk was broken open.
Roasted Chicken Quarter (thigh/leg) over Corn with Parsley and Parmesan - This was a very simple presentation that pleased the ever-picky Lillian. The chicken was cooked very well and the corn mixture was creative and delicious.
Overall, we left full, satisfied and with a very favorable impression of Coop. It's not the cheapest food truck out there, but come on, you can order duck on the side of the street. Give it a try, you definitely won't be disappointed.
I couldn't resist Alex's raving and took our family on the short walk to the vintage cart on October 13. Here's my take:
Alex wrote 'delicious' four times in his review. While it is the most over-used adjective describing food, The Coop might be deserving of the quadruple praise.
The chef/owner of Coop, Angela Theado, is a restaurant veteran. She features local ingredients including Ohio eggs, meat, greens and fruit in from-scratch recipes.
The menu changes often to reflect what is seasonally appropriate and available. Beverage options are Clintonville-roasted Thunderkiss coffee, Coke, and San Pellegrino. The Coop uses Eartha Limited eco-friendly serving dishes and offers recycling bins for patrons. Two picnic tables are available for seating and there is parking for at least four cars in the lot.
We tried the duck leg ($10, a steal) for Lillian. Cooked in fat as confit first and finished in the oven, the meat was fall off the bone delectable. Lil gobbled it up while I savored the kale. Dressed lightly when raw, the tender leaves wilted slightly under the heat of the duck. Not wanting to upset the picky kid, I ate the pepper giardiniera on the side. This was the right choice for our family - Lil would have balked at the heat - though I can taste how well it would pair with the succulent duck meat.
I ordered the Omelet BLT ($7) after hearing about it from Alex and several friends. This high stacked sandwich layers bacon, arugula, tomato, and a gently cooked egg and cheese omelet between two slices of grilled Texas toast. It is saucy but manages to hold together for eating. Some don't enjoy the intrusion of soft egg in a BLT but I liked how The Coop transformed a summer tradition into a more filling meal.
My sister Megan has become a regular at The Coop. By happenstance, she pulled up just after our food was served. She ordered the Chorizo Hash ($8) and ran off to work before I could taste it. I snapped a few pictures to capture the sweet potatoes covered in Ohio bison chorizo sauce, egg, and cheese.
Angela told me that The Coop will continue operating until the water lines freeze. Water lines for a food truck? Yep. One difference between The Coop and many other food carts is that it has a full dish station to handle the skillets in which Angela prepares each dish to order. While having to hook up to water makes this truck less mobile than some, a fresh skillet for each patron means that The Coop can accommodate food allergies and play with a wider range of ala minute cooking styles than those carts with a grill top alone.
More than the local sourcing, delectable dishes, and sustainable practices, what diners will like enjoy most about The Coop is the care with which the menu is planned. Rich duck confit needs a zesty accompaniment like citrus dressed kale. Sweet potato hash begs for a balance like spicy chorizo sauce to come off as a pleasant savory dish. Dishes include vegetables as thoughtful components. And everything IS better with an egg on top.
The Coop Current location: Cliffside and Indianola, 43202, look for the sweet blue pickup or yellow lights after dark Cash or credit accepted Website Facebook