restaurants – Fervent Foodie

Eating Columbus: Breakfast Edition

May 14, 2018 12 Comments

Greetings friends! I’ve been bouncing around Columbus knocking places off my to-try list, and wanted to share some of my recent favorite breakfast spots! (For even more Columbus restaurant recommendations, check out the first post in this series here.)

Dough Mama is an adorable, cozy cafe in South Clintonville that serves modernized comfort food. Everything they serve is scratch made, even the ketchup. Their avocado biscuit is one of my favorite breakfasts in all of Columbus. It has greens, tomato, pickled onions, avocado, and an egg smashed between a cheddar scallion biscuit. I’d definitely recommend their steak-fry-cut roasted potatoes and the lemon poppy seed muffin, which happens to be gluten free and has the texture of a doughnut. They also have a vegan lentil-loaf sandwich (served on Dan The Baker bread) that I need to try ASAP.

Skillet, another favorite Columbus breakfast spot, is located in a cozy building in Merion Village (near German Village). Their steadfast commitment to local sourcing is reflected in the ever-changing menu. Each morning, the day’s menu is posted to their website for your viewing pleasure. Last summer, I had an incredible tomato salad at Skillet that I still think about. It was so very simple, but the TOMATOES. The tomatoes. Skillet’s food, including the egg scrambles and omelets, are cooked with more care and precision than you’d see at a typical daytime cafe. Recently, I tried the fingerling potatoes with cheese curds. The potatoes were crusty and salty on the outside and the skin sort of popped in your mouth when you bit into it, releasing a tiny explosion of creamy potato. Divine. There is usually a wait to get a table at Skillet, but you can call ahead to put your name on the list. Plus they have free coffee outside while you wait. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 8am to 2pm.

Trism. Continuing this breakfast trend, I found a great weekday deal at Trism in the University area. From 9-11am, you can get a breakfast sandwich on local ciabatta for only $5, plus you can throw in a coffee for $1 more! Pictured below is the Numero Uno, with local eggs, jalapeno-jack cheese, zesty black bean spread, and sriracha aioli.

Restaurants, What I ate

Eating my way through Columbus

July 26, 2017 3 Comments

As a self-proclaimed restaurant-scouter-outer, I’m always on the hunt for new, interesting places to try. As such, I’m constantly asking people for recommendations. Where’s the best Indian? Who has the best tacos? Where can a girl get a decent breakfast sandwich? Here are some of my recent favorites around Columbus, in iPhone-photo dump fashion. Did I miss your top pick? Let me know if the comments below!

Dan the Baker. The first time I stopped into the Toast Bar, I ate approximately 17 pieces of the free sample bread at the cash register. No shame. All the bread is sour dough based, and the country sour is my favorite. I try to grab some each week at the Clintonville Farmers Market! Pictured below is the wonderful mushroom tartine available at the Toast Bar in Grandview.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams! This is, hands down, the best ice cream I’ve ever had. You heard me. So rich, so creamy. My favorites include Brambleberry Crisp, Lemon & Blueberry Buttermilk Yogurt, Salted Peanut Butter with Chocolate Flecks, and Brown Butter Almond Brittle.

6-1-pho. I wanted to check this place out immediately, solely based on the punny name. I’m happy to report the food keeps me going back. Most of the dishes are based on recipes handed down from the owner’s grandmother. I love that! My favorites include the veggie pho and the cold noodle salad with veggie egg roll and tofu on top!

The Refectory. I had the privilege of enjoying an eleven course tasting menu with the #cbusfoodbloggers last month — get the drool worthy recap here. My favorite dish was the sturgeon and gambas duet with herruga caviar blinis and sun dried tomato beurre blanc.

CLT, Restaurants

Phyrefly: the new way to save money dining out in Charlotte

August 18, 2015 No Comments

I first heard about Phyrefly through social media stalking, and then again on Charlotte Agenda. Then I bumped into Phyrefly founders Kaitlin and Josh Krogh at a Piedmont Culinary Guild event, and then AGAIN at #weloveclt last month, which I took as a sign I needed to try out Phyrefly already.

So, what is Phyrefly? It’s the self-dubbed Hotwire for restaurants. Meaning you log into the site, check out the various deals available, and select one based on location and price range. The specific restaurant is not revealed to you until after the offer is selected, just as Hotwire doesn’t reveal the specific hotel until you’ve committed to the deal. You can browse Phyrefly deals by neighborhood, price point, food type, user rating, and ambiance. Bonus: these are all local restaurants. No chains.

Double bonus: unlike Hotwire, Phyrefly currently doesn’t charge you upfront—which means there is no fee if you decide to pass on the Phyrefly offer once the restaurant is revealed. (Though this will likely change in the future, once the beta stage is complete.)

This concept is exciting for three reasons. 1.) it gets diners to step outside their usual routines, 2.) it helps restaurants fill tables during off-peak hours, and 3.) it saves you money. Boom.

CLT, Restaurants

Where to eat at Charlotte Douglas Airport

August 13, 2015 No Comments

Sure, everyone complains about the parking and the construction, but after spending too much time in some straight up nasty airports the last couple of years (I’m looking at you, LaGuardia), I’ve really come to appreciate and enjoy Charlotte Douglas. After my return flight home from visiting family in Ohio last week, I stopped into the new 1897 Market and was blown away by all that they’re doing. I mean, local sourcing at an airport restaurant? Come on! That’s when it hit me. Charlotte Douglas is actually pretty awesome.

This is my third post for the #DesignCharlotte campaign, a cool program (details below) encouraging Charlotteans to share their favorite things in the Queen City. Not surprisingly, my first two posts were completely about food. Interested? Check out my Foodie Guide to Charlotte and Foodie Guide to Charlotte Restaurant Week.

CLT

Queen’s Feast – Charlotte Restaurant Week Guide

July 17, 2015 No Comments

Ahhhh it’s that time of year again. Charlotte Restaurant Week. Twice a year here in Charlotte, over 120 restaurants offer prix fixe dinner menus to the masses. Queen’s Feast, as we call it, actually runs TEN DAYS, and it can be an awesome but overwhelming experience. Don’t ye fret! I’ve got some tips for planning your best Queen’s Feast yet!

This post (and my Best Charlotte Restaurants Post) were written in collaboration with the #DesignCharlotte campaign, a cool program (details below) encouraging Charlotteans to share their favorite things in the Queen City. Of course my favorite thing is FOOD. Set let’s get to those Charlotte Restaurant Week tips!

TIP #1: SET A GOAL

First things first, we need to set some goals. What is it you’re hoping to get out of restaurant week? An incredible deal? An incredible meal? Those two don’t always go hand in hand. So, dig down deep inside and ask yourself the tough questions. Are we pinching pennies or living large this time around?

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