Gifting Ohio to the Non-Ohioan

One of the many Ohio-related pieces available
at Celebrate Local at Easton Town Center

Perhaps one most interesting things about Ohio, at least in comparison with California, is its size perception. While there definitely is local and/or regional pride in particular products or people, the state is still small enough such that generally anyone in the state can take pride and/or ownership in something that's Ohio-born or bred.

That's not so much the case in California, where regionalism abounds. For example, there's not much of a chance a San Francisco native would waxing poetic about someone or something emerging from the Los Angeles area just because they share the same state. And even in the same general region of the state, you have sub-regional divisions: don't ever confuse a Sonoma Valley wine with their "over-hyped" brethren across State Routes 12 and 121 in the Napa Valley.

Since moving out here, I have made it a goal to bring back a little of Ohio back with me to California to my family in the form of Christmas gifts. I must admit that, at least to my particular circumstances, searching out that one singular and uniquely Ohio tchotchke as a gift has been a tougher task than I would've thought. This year, I have sampled quite a few wonderful holiday gift guides (links of which are included below) emphasizing the local angle the past few days to try to get an idea of what piece of Ohio I could bring back to the family.

Christmas is all around, including
the Lazarus Building downtown

What makes it a bit tough is I'm pretty much the only one with a direct state connection on my side of the family. Thus, items with uniquely Ohio references (i.e. the 614 area code, the state outline, Ohio State University, etc.) have little to no personal meaning for any of my relations. Also, many things that are Ohio-related are duplicated and/or trumped by their own local versions, or are products that aren't universally enjoyed by all. For example, we have sent Ohio-styled wines, which are definitely distinct from anything California produces, to a couple of relations back on the West Coast who do appreciate wine. Ironically, due to Ohio's, uh, unique liquor laws, we had to go through an Indiana winery to get this accomplished.

In general, this promises to become a more interesting challenge as the years move onward. The first Christmas since the move, I surprised everyone with a bottle of syrup from Simple Gourmet Syrups out of Millersburg when we made the trip out to California for the holidays; last year my gift from this state was a jar of apple butter from Legend Hills Orchard in nearby Utica. Both of these products were well liked by my appreciative recipients.

This year's Ohio-based gift is currently on its way on the slow boat to California in plenty of time for this year's holiday celebration. No saying what it is yet (can't spoil the surprise) though I will say it's a vendor my spouse and I have encountered numerous times at our favorite local farmers market :-)

LOCAL GIFT GUIDES WORTH A LOOK

Breakfast With Nick 2014 Food and Craft Holiday Gift Guide

Columbus Living 2014 Holiday Gift Guide (614 Edition)

Columbus Underground Holiday Shopping Guide

Breakfast Grub Guy's Holiday Gift Ideas for Foodies (with monthly Gift Card Contest to boot!)

Columbus Parent Magazine 2014 Holiday Gift Guide (with additional links to age-related gift guides located on the page)

Capital Style's Ultimate Columbus Gift Guide

Columbus Alive's myriad of gift guides to suit all tastes and budgets', 

Columbus Crave,and Drink Up Columbus also have ideas for your adult beverage aficionados

Do the Dog: Dirty Frank's West

Long before the coffee shop came into its own as a neighborhood hangout, the local hot dog and sausage joint has and still acts in that capacity for many communities. Back in my childhood, that role was taken up by Sac's in the city of Vallejo. Another worthwhile option of the many in the Bay Area is the venerable combo of Rosamunde Sausage and Toronado Bar in the Haight-Ashbury of San Francisco. Folks can grab one of Rosamunde's tasty items and take it next door to pair with one of Toronado's excellent draft offerings.

Dirty Frank's, a member of Elizabeth Lessner's Columbus Food League (CFL) restaurant group, has been providing their versions of this American staple in the downtown Columbus area since 2009. They recently staked out a second location in the Westgate section of the hard-luck Hilltop neighborhood, and it seemed to be the perfect place for an uncomplicated but tasty late lunch on a day where I was criss-crossing through the metro.

The bar space, reflecting its 1940's-era roots, invites you to ease on up and take a seat

The exterior of Dirty Frank's West gives absolutely no clue to the colorful, kitschy interior blending artwork of mostly 80s and 90s sports and music icons (done by Lessner's brother Thom) on the walls of a bar originally built in the 1940's. Unlike its downtown elder sibling, there is a lot more space within; the space in and of itself seems to be ideal for hanging out with family or friends and settling in for an hour or two of chowing and chatting, with local music (as proudly proclaimed on the menus, Dirty Frank's ONLY plays local music) providing background rhythm.

Cold cuts? No! Just some of artist Thom Lessner's works on the walls of Dirty Frank's West

Hot dogs by nature are infinitely customizable, and Dirty Frank's doesn't skimp on the options. The basic menu offers several wiener options (including veggie) cooked up steamed, ripped (I.e. fried) or charred (butterflied and grilled) with poppy seed bun or a carbo-friendly lettuce leaf.

One can customize your own toppings or choose from a multitude of colorfully-named combos, including the "Puff the Magic Popper" with jalapeños, cheddar cream cheese and bacon bits, and the neighborhood-related "Mariann's Westgate Dog", which sports cheddar cheese over a combo of bar cheese, pretzel bites and brown mustard. All these items are priced quite reasonably from $3 to $3.50. Premium dogs with more exotic ingredients (e.g. The Hot Bollywood adds mango chutney) and/or bacon will cost you a little extra, but are still pocketbook friendly at $4 to $6.50. I went for one of the Seoul Dog ($4) in this category: the Korean Kim Chee paired up with a standard dog, bracketed with tater tots (any place with tots gets an extra check mark in my book), made for a satisfying combo.

Soothing my Seoul: the Seoul Dog with Tots, plus just a hint of your dog options

Along with tots, Dirty Frank's has standard (regular hand-cut fries, mac & cheese, sriracha slaw) and not so standard (Boston baked beans and fried leeks) sides. A focused set of adult beverages is available along with your traditional pop and related liquid refreshments, as well as dessert options from a select group of local sweet treat purveyors such as Johnson's Real Ice Cream and Food For Good Thought, for example.

Like all CFL restaurants, Dirty Frank's West has supported their surrounding community with their "Community Partner Days"; at this location, many have been centered around support of nearby John Burroughs Elementary School.

From all indications, it appears the surrounding neighborhood has embraced Dirty Frank's arrival. Whether the restaurant can be that anchor that sparks an overall turnaround in the area is still to be seen, but the fact that CFL has given the area a chance is notable in and of itself. At the very least, it allows all residents of the metro area two places to drop by Dirty Frank's and do the dog (with tots, of course.)

Dirty Frank's West
2836 W Broad St (Westgate)
Columbus, OH 43204
(614) 824-4673
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Tried and True: Mozart's Cafe

Mozart's has settled in nicely after their 2013 move to North Clintonville

Mozart's Cafe holds a very special place in the hearts of me and my spouse. At their old location in Clintonville (now occupied by Harvest Pizzeria and Kitchen - see my recent post here) and being official long-distance daters for just months, we fell into a fairly deep conversation about the type of house and neighborhood in which we wanted to eventually settle down (definitely not the type of talk you have for a passing fling of a just-because affair.) At our wedding ceremony, we bought one of their delicious carrot cakes to serve as our celebratory dessert. And there was (and still is) something simply relaxing about dropping by on a lazy weekend to grab one of their pastries with a cup of coffee accompanied by strains of music from a live pianist.

The pianist still remains, but the menu and interior
have expanded for the better

Founded in 1995 by Anand and Doris Saha (who met in Switzerland and brought the European theme to Columbus), Mozart's announced they were moving to expanded space in the more northern reaches of Clintonville that originally held the Beechwold Tavern and, more recently, a Cord Camera. This also would allow them to bring their offshoot Vienna Ice, specializing in European-styled gelato and ice cream (and definitely worth a sampling, if you're in the mood), under the same space. After a few delays, the space opened up in August 2013 and, based on our experiences, Mozart's has definitely made the most of their move.

The increased space has allowed Mozart's to expand their horizons on several fronts. Larger events can easily be handled in private dining areas; in general, larger groups can be handled a lot more easily in the common area. For warmer days, patrons can grab a seat in the patio outdoor patio area in front of the restaurant to enjoy the warmer temperatures. In addition to their traditional pianist, Mozart's now holds a wider variety of live music events. And of course, the afternoon tea tradition continues as strong as ever.

Menu options have been broadened for the better as well. Thanks to an approved voter initiative, Mozart's has acquired a liquor license which has allowed the restaurant to offer a variety of wines and beer; mead from Columbus favorite Brothers Drake is also available.

From pastries to breakfast and onward, Mozart's
expanded menu remains satisfying

Their hearty European-fare menu (most breakfast and brunch items are hover around $10; dinner-oriented items are in the $13 - $16 range) remains solidly satisfying, and has been enhanced with the addition of some select well-received items and more American-styled offerings such as Angus burgers. In addition, meal portion sizes may have actually increased a bit with no loss in tastiness: on my parents' recent visit to Ohio, we found that the breakfast sandwiches were more than enough for a meal and made for some good leftovers. Their quiches are almost always on the consideration lists of my spouse and I whenever we visit, and their schnitzel seems to have been improved compared to the past.

Of course, I can't possibly not talk about their European-style pastries. It's hard to pick a favorite, but their Plunder (especially their poppyseed variety) is one of my all-time favorite sweet treats in the area, flaky and sweet without being too cloying. They have expanded their other offerings as well, adding tortes and other delectable-looking treats to their daily display cases. It would seem almost impossible to not find anything at Mozart's that wouldn't satisfy your sweet tooth.

Perhaps the most satisfying thing I have come to know, both pre- and post-move, is the love and support that the Sahas and the Clintonville community mutually share for one another. Their annual birthday party, which corresponds with the founding of their business as well as the birthday of their namesake classical composer, now draws thousands of people and is perhaps the most definitive expression of how Mozart's has become a true local treasure.

Mozart's
4784 North High Street (Clintonville/Old Beechwold - Google Maps)
Columbus, OH 43214
(614) 268-3687
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November Travelogue: Disco in the Desert

Signage found on the highway to Palmyra

The high desert terrain of Syria west of Damascus is a lot like what one would find in the desert southwest region of the United States. Every now and then, unlike its American counterpart, you'll catch sight of a blast area where rock was harvested for buildings or foundation purposes, or spot the encampment of a Bedouin tribe, nomadic people who had to discontinue or adapt many of their traditions due to both weather (a mid 20th century drought forced many to abandon as herders) and Syrian government policies.

This particular November in the late 2000's was the longest and farthest away I had been from closest friends and family. It was certainly not anywhere I thought I would be, much less consider going, given the rather contentious history and shaky (at best) relationship between my birth and current host country. But a work opportunity came my way, and the region was about as peaceful as one could have hoped for the time of my visit.

On this day, a few of my co-workers and were crammed in a passenger van on a chartered trip to see the ancient Roman ruins in Palmyra. We really did not figure it out until much later in our travels, but Palmyra (a name derived from the city's Aramaic name of Tadmor, which translates to "palm tree") is indeed the proverbial oasis in the middle of the desert, acting as a vital resting spot for caravans traveling the major east-west trade routes in ancient time.

Traveling to where ancient Romans and trade caravans have passed through for centuries

On this day, the only caravans we saw were fleets of tanker trucks chugging to and from neighboring Iraq. They were a constant reminder of the presence of crude oil, one the more recent reasons that this area has seen so much added tumult over the past few decades. Another similar reminder was the several places that claimed to be the "Bagdad Cafe." Apparently, the one with the "66" on it is the one to visit from the limited information I have been able to read from web-based sources.

If you believe the reviews, this is the correct "Bagdad Cafe" to visit for some good eats

At the time of our trip, our group was still getting used to the sights of Damascus, Syria's capital city. Considered by some to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, Damascus had its fair share of Western influence (I learned a building with a big Sony logo was a great way to orient yourself in that part of town, and the Four Seasons was about the best place in town to get a $9 can of Diet Coke) mixed in with its more ancient aspects. On our first trip away from city limits, we figured we wouldn't get much if anything Western-culture related, especially in the middle of the desert.

Our group had been chatting at a good level as we traveled from the center of Damascus and through the suburb areas, but we quieted down as we reached the more desolate parts away from the metro. The driver, who I am certain has done this trip for folks like us hundreds of times and, if nothing else, wanted to stay awake, asked us if it was okay to turn on the radio. No one objected.

This was my first experience with Syrian radio, and it was apparent we had tuned in to a station from Aleppo, the largest city in the northern reaches of the country. However, the strains of the first song we heard woke everyone out of their semi-stupor that had overtaken us.

The 4/4 beat, orchestral strains, sultry swaying sound of a song that typified a brief and, some say, regrettable era in American pop music...we stared at each other, as if to confirm we weren't individually hallucinating from dehydration and desert heat.

The Bee Gees? "More Than a Woman"? We were all sucked in to that beat and those familiar lyrics..

Oh say you'll always be my baby

We can make it shine

We can take forever just a minute at a time

And then it happened, as a group. In imperfect harmony, we sung out:

More than a woman

More than a woman to me

More than a woman

More than a woman to me

In the middle of the Syrian desert, the Gibb Brothers were leading us on to Palmyra...

Thanks for reading, and may you all have the safest of travels and the best of Thanksgiving holidays.

Playing Their Respects: The Jimi Hendrix Tribute Show (11/21/2014:Rumba Club)

Jimi Hendrix would have turned 72 (72? Goodness, that fact makes me feel older than I am) this November 27 had he still been alive today. Columbus musical artists have been doing their part to keep this legendary guitarist's memory alive around this time of the calendar with a local annual tribute show that has now been held for eight years running.

In general, I have come to appreciate the diversity of the Columbus music scene (my appreciation of previously ignored genres like bluegrass has increased hundred-fold via the shows held at Rambling House Soda Pop) and have noticed a real camaraderie and sense of support among this area's musicians. This was no different at this particular tribute show, the last two of which have been hosted in the North Campus area music venue Rumba Café.

My spouse and I caught our first Hendrix tribute show together last year and were quite impressed by the talent displayed by the musicians who played that night. That didn't prepare us for this year's version, where every performer basically came out on top of their game and did themselves proud, keeping a nicely-sized crowd entertained and cheering throughout. These pictures are but a taste of what was more than a worthy tribute to Jimi this night.

Jeffro Jam of Playhouse and Sasafraz kicked things off with Jimi's iconic version
of the Star-Spangled Banner. He added an intriguing interpretation of what
Jimi would've done with Prince's "Raspberry Beret" and added some sizzlng
vocals to a sizzling "Third Stone from the Sun" with David Martinez and company

The crowd was warmed up nicely by a solid set by Kenny Caterer,
front man for Doctor Kenny Delicious

The energy level raised a few notches when Chris Connor, lead guitarist for local
area up-and-comers Angela Perley and The Howlin' Moons took the stage. It didn't hurt
when Angela herself joined in to belt out some Hendrix classics.

Theo Perry, of Theo's Loose Hinges and The Floorwalkers, had a tough act
to follow, but he seemed to channel Jimi himself as he delivered
soulful and sublime take on several Hendrix songs.

Midwest Dissenters' guitarist David Martinez kept things at a high
level with his spirited guitar work and a little help from his friends

Throughout it all, Nathan Smith of Theo's Loose Hinges and
local-area stalwart Maxwell Button  handled the backing bass and
drumming for all performers throughout the night with aplomb.

Rumba Café
2507 Summit Street (North Campus)
Columbus, OH 43202
614-268-1841
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