Whet your appetite in this deliciously diverse city.
By Jennifer Garrett
Columbus, Ohio, is like that family-owned, neighborhood restaurant that you can’t help raving about. Still, every time you do, you worry you’re letting the cat out of the bag. What if too many people find out and the lines get too long and the service suffers?
The beauty of a city like Columbus is its all-star attractions and amenities peppered with personal attention. Makes you wonder why any cliché tourist trap was ever on your group’s wish list to begin with. Columbus ranks in the country’s top 15 most populated cities, therefore it competes in the national market for top entertainment, dining and culture. Yet it still remains a mystery to so many people. The city’s special touches come in the form of “experiences.” Experience Columbus, the city’s CVB, has partnered with hand-picked community businesses to package hands-on, interactive activities, which planners can mix and match to satisfy groups of any size, age and interest.
When I hear “experience,” the first thing that comes to mind is eating. So after I ate my way through Columbus’ diverse neighborhoods, I can say I thoroughly experienced the central Ohio destination. My taste buds couldn’t tell where I was; for one meal I was making my own omelet in Chef Tami Cecil’s kitchen and the next I was licking CaJohn’s fiery chili off my lips in the North Market. This city seems made for groups, especially those with a healthy appetite.
If your clan is looking for a cooking adventure, it shouldn’t set foot in Columbus without meeting Tami Cecil.The stockbroker turned Culinary Institute of America-trained chef began Woodhaven Farm in 1993 and hasn’t looked back since. She offers cooking classes, parties and team building on her farm outside Columbus. Besides the delicious food she’ll help you whip up and the insights about group members she’ll pull out, Tami will keep everyone on their toes and laughing the entire time.
Another must on your tasting to-do list is Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. The world (as in The New York Times, Food & Wine magazine and Food Network) has taken notice of Jeni’s creative organic, hand-churned ice cream concoctions. A group “experience” with Jeni includes the local chef navigating you through her unusual flavors such as the famous salty caramel or seasonal goat cheese with roasted red cherries. Best part is, there are samples of her mini sundaes, ice cream and macaroons for everyone.
The point of culinary tourism is to experience a culture through its food. There is no better way for your group to do that than by letting them loose in the North Market. Surrounded by locals either grabbing lunch or serving it, visitors get a true taste of the region scouring local produce, meats and seafood. Mike Cast offers the very best local cheeses at Curds and Whey, with some local facts and flavor thrown in; Pasataria’s homemade sauces and lasagna are better than grandma’s; and the cake balls at Omega Artisan Baking are simply divine. CaJohn not only serves up signature spicy sauces and salsas in its booth, but Cookin’ with CaJohn classes in the market’s Dispatch Kitchen teach groups how to make stews, salsas and four-course dinners.
A quick jaunt to the nearby suburb of Gahanna and you’ll find out how it earned its moniker as the Herb Capital of Ohio. Learn how to make your own desserts flavored with herbs in “Desserts with Distinction,” a workshop at the Ohio Herb Education Center. The center also educates visitors on other uses for herbs (think home spa), teas, edible flowers and herb garnishes. Then venture out into the Gahanna Municipal Herb Gardens’ biblical, scented, meditative, medicinal and culinary gardens for some peace, quiet and herbal inspiration.
Bringing home a goody bag of treats will spread the word about Columbus’ offerings. The region’s famous Buckeye chocolates, made at the local Anthony-Thomas factory (another worthy tour) are the perfect ambassador for the Buckeye State capital. And don’t worry, Jeni’s ships her delicious ice cream across the country.
Sorry, Columbus, you’re no longer under wraps. I couldn’t hold it in.
