Where to Pick Pumpkins {Friday Five}

Man carrying pumpkins 1980s Several readers and friends have asked me where I recommend going to pick pumpkins.

The truth is, I don't have a farm that I love. All I've visited are too crowded and pushy with extra purchases and sugary sweets. I wish I could find somewhere reminiscent of my childhood where the focus was on the pumpkin picking, not the extraneous stuff.

Here are five choices:

1) CRC Pumpkin Patch - The Clintonville Community Resource Center hosts a fall festival every year where families can receive a local pumpkin for a three-can donation to the food pantry. They have fall themed snacks and entertainment available too. 14 West Lakeview Columbus OH 43202

2) Circle S - This if the farm we usually hit up with a playgroup. Circle S has the hay barn, the snacks, the petting zoo, and hayrides to the field to pick your pumpkin. It is rather crowded on the weekends, expensive, and offers foreign cider, but those looking for agri-tainment will be pleased with Circle S. 9015 London Groveport Rd. Grove City, OH 43123

3) Pigeon Roost Farm - We happened upon Pigeon Roost one day after a fall hike. It is picturesque and offers a playground, pumpkin displays, and petting zoo among other activities. I've heard it gets extremely crowded on weekends. 4413 National Rd SW Hebron OH

4) Jacquemin Farms - We stopped at Jacquemin once before pumpkin season. It is well thought out and small, which might limit crowds. Read CbusMom's review of their pumpkin offerings. 7437 Hyland Croy Rd. Plain City, OH 43064

5) Circleville Pumpkin Show - This is the big one, a huge street fair with pumpkin growing contests, displays, crafts, food, entertainment and more. I remember going as a kid and being overwhelmed by the crowds. The Circleville Pumpkin show website lists all the fun available today and tomorrow from 10 am -10 pm. 159 East Franklin Street Circleville, Ohio 43113

Where are you going this year?

PS. Wherever you find your pumpkins, don't forget to roast the seeds!

Charcuterie Class {Birthday Giveaway}

charcuterie class giveawayEver wondered how to make bacon? Why nitrites/nitrates are sometimes used? Do you enjoy making meat jokes? I will cover all this and more in my Charcuterie Class on October 18 at Wild Goose Creative, the last of my Preserving Series. Participants get to go home with tasting samples in their belly and a few fresh sausages to boot.

One lucky reader can win a place at the meaty table! Just leave a comment below with your favorite cured meat product.

Giveaway Details

The winner will receive free entry to the October 18 Preserving Class at Wild Goose Creative in Columbus, Ohio. Class time is 6:30-8:30 pm, value $35. Transportation to and from class is the responsibility of the winner.

Contest entries close at 12:01 AM EST on Friday, October 14, 2011. One winner will be selected with random.org. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to email notification to claim their entry. Only one comment per person please.

Disclosure: I am personally sponsoring this giveaway.

Celebrate Local Pop-up Shop {Profile}

celebrate local store easton Combine interest in the inaugural Easton Farmer's Market, an empty store front, and a community of local producers and what do you have? Celebrate Local, a pop-up holiday shop of all-Ohio goods.

Celebrate Local opens October 1 and will continue sales through the winter holidays at Easton where Harry & David's previously resided. The shop offers frozen, refrigerated and fresh local foods, handmade pantry items, and locally made crafts. Customers can select items from around the store to build a personalized custom gift basket.

A project of the Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI), Global Gallery, and the Easton Community Foundation, Celebrate Local seeks to showcase Ohio food producers and artisans to shoppers searching for local gifts. A generous vendor agreement will feed the economy by returning much of the sales to the small businesses and entrepreneurs of central Ohio.

made by amy d aprons at celebrate localhoney at celebrate localraw caramel apples celebrate local

I spotted Hound favorites Snowville Creamery milk, Stinky Bomb soaps, Ohio Bison Farm, and Made by AmyD aprons in the shop. More vendors are coming; several fresh produce vendors from the Easton Farmer's Market will house their wares at Celebrate Local and Jenny from Purely Simple Raw told me she will stock healthy snacks like kale chips and caramel apples. When the liquor license is issued (permit inspection happened this week), the store will also carry Brother's Drake mead and Ohio wines.

Stop in to shop for daily meal ingredients or gifts for the holiday season. Celebrate Local has the best of Ohio waiting for you.

celebrate local store location

Celebrate Local Store October 1, 2011 - January 2012 4030 The Strand, Easton Columbus OH 43219 614-596-1303

Bites October 2011

Dig in with your knife and fork - early October serves up a full plate of Columbus food news! local is growing 20111. Local Foods Week starts Friday with a happy hour at restaurants around the city benefiting Local Matters. Festivities continue October 1 - 8 with events as diverse as an urban farming forum at the Wex to local drink tasting at House Wine to the culminating Harvest Dinner and Ball and Market to Market ride. Head over to the Eat Local Ohio site to find the activities that match your calendar and budget.

2. Local radio station WCBE turned 55 on Monday. Happy Birthday 90.5! A documentary about their history will be screened on Monday October 10 from 5:30-8:30 at Shadowbox. Notable for promoting local music and events, WCBE is also host to Foodcast, a radio show about all things edible in Columbus. Tune in at 2:01 on Saturdays or listen to archives and read notes on the Foodcast website.

3. Carole at ChopSizzlePop is seeking interview questions for her newest blog feature, "Ask the Chef". The first "chef" (who claims he is just a home cook) is Cleveland native Michael Ruhlman. I submitted my question; head over to the ChopSizzlePop page to ask yours.

4. Columbus Underground celebrates their 10th anniversary of being the go-to source for independent online news this October. Walker and company have scheduled a slew of celebratory events including new flavor launches from Sugardaddy's and Vienna Ice Cafe listed on the 10th anniversary messageboard thread. Huge kudos to the CU team for featuring the best of Columbus every day!

5. Franklin Park's Hungry Planet exhibition and events continue in October with a Live-fire demo October 2, food truck court on October 9 and Wednesday 'Food for Thought' lecture series.

6. The latest art exhibition at Brother's Drake is Yummy! an explosion of food and art. The opening reception is this Saturday, October 1 from 7-11 pm featuring nosh from local and independent folks and a raffle benefiting Mid Ohio Food Bank. The exhibit will continue through October 23.

7. Celebrate Local, a pop-up holiday shop featuring Ohio produced foods and gifts, opens Saturday. The non-profit store will be located in the former Harry and David store at Easton. Tomorrow, I'll post a preview of the Celebrate Local.

I must apologize in advance for light posting over the next week. I am teaching four classes in the next seven days and will celebrate my own birthday on the 9th. You can see me in person at the Family Pasta and Sauce class this Sunday or the Applicious Culinary class on Thursday October 6. Contact me to register for either.

Experience Columbus Bathrooms {Friday Five}

Last week, Experience Columbus treated a group of bloggers from around the US and I to a whirlwind tour of the Columbus food scene. The other guests captured some fabulous shots of the food we ate and drank. I took pictures in the bathrooms. My line of reporting was unintentional but actually makes sense in hindsight. More than a place to wash up, the best restrooms reflect the sensibility of a place. Here's what I found in the toilets around town:

carey shoe artistry westincarey shoe artist
1) The food scene tour started in the Men's Room of the Westin Columbus. The loo is not of note but it houses one of the most notable people I've ever met in central Ohio: Carey, the Shoe Artist. Fine shoe collectors send him their leathers and Carey restores the shoes to former luster...from his office in the bathroom.

basi italia cook book casebasi italia lightswitch
2) I carried my purse into the Basi Italia water closet. I didn't expect to use the camera in the bag but I couldn't resist documenting chef Johnny's cookbook collection and quirky choice of a light switch plate.

rockmill brewery drawer front3) Rockmill Brewery is an earthy yet refined place. The birds eye maple sink cabinet drawer fronts reflect this aesthetic exactly.

pistachia vera bathroom4) The light and tasteful restroom of Pistacia Vera perfectly mirrors the atmosphere of the rest of their elegant bakery.

5) The last bathroom I want to highlight is not pictured because it doesn't exist, sorta. Non-Columbus folks were surprised and thrilled at the diversity and quality of the taco trucks we toured with Columbus Food Adventures, whose van is not equipped with a lavatory. Ever prepared, guide Bethia was ready with potty break spots for guests as needed.

Stay tuned to my fellow travelers for their impressions of Columbus: Blue Kitchen (Chicago) Cincinnati Nomerati Eat The Love (San Francisco) The Heritage Cook (San Francisco Bay) Joe of The Hungry Dudes (Detroit) A Thought For Food (Boston) Vanilla Icing (Pittsburgh) Wine Me, Dine Me Cincinnati

 

Disclosure: Experience Columbus paid for my meals and transportation for a three day extravaganza of eating. I bet they didn't expect a review of restaurant johns when they asked me to come along. ;)

Country Living Fair 2011

I presented an apple cooking demonstration at the Country Living Fair on the Ohio Village campus this morning. Enough people asked for a review that I'm providing a quick one today for those who want to visit Saturday or Sunday. The Fair is organized by Country Living magazine and reflects their aesthetic for earthy, farm decor and crafts. Vendors of such items are positioned throughout the location. Many Ohio Village buildings are open, housing appraisals, magazine subscription sales, and demonstrations. Caterers, food trucks, Jeni's and farms sell food ranging from typical fair fare to more upscale and local dishes.

Children can explore the grounds of the Village, watch artisan demonstrations, and play with Victorian era games. They will likely not enjoy visiting vendor booths where breakables are tempting and space is confined.

The Fair was very crowded by the time I left at 1 pm on Friday afternoon. With good weather predicted all weekend, I expect visitors will fill the cobblestone streets daily. I plan to take Lil back on Sunday morning early, hopefully before the bulk of guests arrive.

Country Living Fair Columbus 2011 Ohio Village 17th street exit off 71 Parking: $5, free for Ohio Historical Society members Admission: $16/day or $20/weekend pass, includes admission to the Ohio Historical Center

Country Living Fair is also going to Atlanta and Austin this year. Visit the Country Living website Fair page for more details about additional locations.

Disclosure: In exchange for presenting at the fair, I received a stipend and weekend passes for me and my family. This profile was not expected, nor compensated for.