I bit into my Red Caprese sandwich made with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and roasted red peppers, and I marveled at it - a simple, yet absolutely delicious catered lunch option. Every lunch at Freshbox Catering is served with a pickle spear, Miss Vicki’s Sea Salt Kettle Chips, an apple and a chocolate covered Oreo (my personal favorite). They’ve thought of everything, even putting the basil pesto for my sandwich on the side, which is a small detail that I can appreciate.

Not only do they offer high quality food at a competitive prices, but Freshbox is also founded on a great mission: to empower the residents of Faith Mission Shelters by offering a competitive work environment focused on life-changing skills and training. (more…)

Calling all wine lovers and foodies! It is time again for the Columbus Food & Wine Affair Grand Tasting , Sept. 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. This is by far one of my favorite events of the year and the place to be seen in Columbus.

Located at the majestic Franklin Park Conservatory , the event combines food tastings from over 35 of the finest restaurants in central Ohio with and pourings of over 300 international wines. As you walk throughout the Conservatory, you can watch chefs create some of your favorite dishes and see how they prepare some of their specialties. To see a list of the entire chef demonstration schedule, click here .

Here is a peek at just a few of the menu items: (more…)

Celebrate our favorite city on Columbus day weekend with Experience Columbus Days , Oct. 8-11.

You’ll get up to 50% off at at variety of Columbus entertainment and attractions, plus a can’t-be-beat 25% discount on food at Dine Originals Columbus restaurants. If you’ve been wanting to experience something new, or you just want to hit an old favorite, this is the perfect time to do it.

Attractions and entertainment venues offering great deals include COSI, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus Food Adventures, SegAway Tours of Columbus, BalletMet, the Wexner Center for the Arts . . . and the list goes on.

Dine Originals Columbus restaurants include those like Pistacia Vera, Figlio Wood-Fired Pizza (Grandview), Katzinger’s Delicatessen, Due Amici, The Refectory, G. Michael’s Bistro, The Top Steakhouse, Surly Girl Saloon . . . and again, the list goes on.

To see everyone participating, visit ExperienceColumbusDays.com . While you’re there, be sure to download and print the discount flyer . You must show it to receive your discount, and you can use it as often as you like.

Want to share this event on Facebook? Please do. Click here .

And, for other ways to get the word out about Experience Columbus Days to your friends, blog readers, Twitter pals and others, check out the resources here . Let us know if there’s anything else you need to help share the news.

One of our tour stops:
the Greener Grocer at the North Market

Columbus has a new way to experience some of our city’s great culinary offerings. Columbus Food Adventures launched in July and is owned and operated by Bethia Woolf, who runs three prominent Columbus food blogs.

Currently, Columbus Food Adventures offers three different tours that will expand your palate and leave your mouth watering: Short North Tour, Taco Trucks Tour and Alt Eats Tour (see the end of this post for details on how you can win one).

I was fortunate to be on one of the first Short North tours offered, along with my coworker, Scott. The tour began at the North Market at 11 a.m. and lasted a few hours. We walked a total of 1.5 miles and learned about the history of the area at specific stops on our route. (more…)

One of the fastest growing interests in the culinary world is the farm-to-table movement. So, we recently invited several food writers and bloggers from across the country to Columbus for a four day foodie frenzy. We took them to several locales that epitomize the farm-to-table movement and offer a twist that’s uniquely Columbus. Here are just a few of the places we went that would make a great stop for anyone.

Black Creek Bistro
Restaurateur/farmer Kent Peters is the owner of Black Creek Bistro, located in Olde Town East. Kent is one of Columbus’ best purveyors of the farm-to-table movement. Each morning he goes to his farm, which is 10 minutes from downtown, hops on his tractor powered by recycled kitchen oil and chooses what will be on the menu that night. The restaurant also features a great wine collection, including several Ohio wines to pair with the locally grown menu items. I would have to recommend the juiciest, fall off the bone chicken I’ve ever had in my life: the chicken confit. It’s a half confit chicken from Gerber Poultry in Kidron Ohio, served with pan jus and accompaniments du jour. Another great entrée is the pork mole tender consisting of pork loin scallops with mole sauce, guacamole and tortilla crisps with pickled vegetables and accompaniments du jour. Blackcreek Bistro offers a truly tasty farm-to-table experience.

Knead Urban Diner
For chef Richard Lopez and wife Krista Lopez, the word "knead" means making everything by hand, the old fashioned way. Lots of love and plenty of local, fresh ingredients are key to their menu of Mex-Italian-Ohioana fusion items. One of my favorites, the "Motherclucker" chicken sandwich, elicits both chuckles and raves. (more…)

There are lots of ways to get a great deal while you’re out and about in Columbus. Being a self proclaimed “coupon queen,” I have compiled a list of three Columbus organizations that not only help you save money, but also support local businesses:

Columbus Insiders Club - monthly deals you can use to explore the city and still keep some money in the bank.

The Columbus Insider’s Club, brought to you by the team here at Experience Columbus, highlights Columbus’ finest places to play, dine and shop.  Insiders receive a monthly e-newsletter with exclusive discounts and special offers.  Click here to register - there is no cost to join and the only information needed is your email and zip code. Past Insiders Club offers have included free tickets to COSI’s newest exhibit Titanic, a Broadway Across America Wicked pre-sale opportunity and discounts to great restaurants like Pistacia Vera and Donatos pizza.

Dine Originals Columbus – quarterly discounted certificates you can use to experience unique dining in Columbus.

Dine Originals Columbus is a community of independently owned and operated restaurants. Comprised of over 40 of Central Ohio’s favorite eateries, this group’s mission is to celebrate and support local restaurants. Each quarter Dine Originals Columbus releases a certain amount of discounted certificates that equal 30% off. The certificates range from $7 for a $10 certificate to $17.50 for a $25 certificate. The catch: When they are gone, they are gone! By signing up for their mailing list, you will receive a reminder email each quarter of when the next batch of certificates will be posted. Click here to sign up. At the time I write this, there are still a few certificates available from last quarter including Cotters, Spinelli’s Deli, The Refectory and more - click here to check them out.

Small Business Beanstalk (SBB) – money saving offers you can use 365 days a year.

The  SBB connects local businesses to neighbors in the community. Much like one of those grocery cards you have on your key chain, the SBB has their own version.  Using this card will get you fabulous discounts at independent retailers, restaurants and bars all throughout Central Ohio.  Participating neighborhoods include the Short North, Worthington, Grandview Heights, Downtown, Clintonville, Dublin and Gahanna.  To sign up for your very own free SBB card, click here .  Current offers include 20% off to The Candle Lab, 15% off food at The Worthington Inn and 10% off Sugardaddy’s Sumptuous Sweeties.

Happy saving!

Photo: The Elevator

Dine Originals Week returns!

Mark your calendar to dine out March 8-14, when the 40 locally owned restaurants of Dine Originals Columbus will offer 7 days of original menus .

Aside from being delicious, Dine Originals Week menus are specially priced at $10.10, $20.10 or $30.10. A portion of the proceeds will support the education programs of Local Matters , a Central Ohio nonprofit that works to make local, healthy food accessible to everyone in our community.

Reservations are strongly encouraged, so go on and make one. Or two. Three?

There is no better time to support the local food scene and visit an old favorite or try something new.

A giveaway! Win a $50 Dine Originals Columbus gift certificate

To celebrate Dine Originals Week, we have a $50 gift certificate to give away to one lucky reader. It’s redeemable at any Dine Originals Columbus restaurant.

To enter, comment on this post and list at least one Dine Originals Columbus restaurant that you plan to visit during Dine Originals Week.

You can check out the full roster of Dine Originals Week menus here . If you’re familiar with Columbus restaurants, I think you’ll agree that this is an amazing lineup of some of Central Ohio’s best fare.

You must comment by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26 . After that time, we’ll select one random commenter to win.

UPDATE: The entry period has ended. Congratulations to our winner, Cory (#21)!

Photo: Barcelona Restaurant & Bar

Ok, so after the holidays, maybe going out to dinner is not your first thought. But, getting out of the house and trying out a new place does sound pretty good. And, getting a deal on your meal makes it totally worthwhile to brave the elements.

Check out the 40 restaurants that are a part of Restaurant Week Columbus, Jan. 18-23.

Some of my favorites are Figlio Wood Fired Pizza , Cameron’s American Bistro , Barcelona , Mezzo and the Upper Arlington Hyde Park location, the original in Columbus.

Each restaurant is offering a fixed-price, three-course meal for between $15-$35 per person. Most give you the choice among two or three selections each for an appetizer, main course and dessert. For example, at Figlio you can have Peasant Salad, Beef Tenderloin Medallions and Chocolate Silk Pie for only $20 per person.

Pick a place you’ve never been and make your reservation now. Some restaurants will fill up. For a list of participating restaurants, visit RestaurantWeekColumbus.com . The event is presented by (614) Magazine .

Where will you be dining?

If you are looking for something to do with friends or family this weekend, I’d recommend the Taste of Grandview Heights .

Taking place on Sunday, October 4, The event features great appetizers, entrees and desserts served in sample-sized portions. They’re only a couple dollars apiece and will be served by some of the Grandview area’s best dining establishments. Add that on top of free admission and parking, and you have yourself one very affordable outing.

This year’s restaurant lineup includes Trattoria Roma, Hoggy’s, W.G. Grinders, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams and other local establishments. The Taste of Grandview also features live bands and entertainment for adults and children. The Columbus Crew will be on hand with their Crew Soccer Tour, Columbus Young Professionals will be there with cornhole games, and SegAway Tours will give free Segway rides and lessons. For the kids, there will be a free children’s area that includes music, crafts, airbrush tattoos and a bounce-house.

Did you see how many times I mentioned the word FREE?! With so much for so little, you can’t afford not to come and have a great time.

Details:
Sunday, Oct. 4
2 p.m. - 7 p.m.
McKinley Field Park
1661 Goodale Boulevard
Columbus, OH 43212