downtownsnob

Last chance for comfort food

There's definitely a chill in the Columbus air this morning. Gone are the strappy sandals and bare arms of the weekend. Gone, too, are the thoughts of dieting for bikini season (which, really, we are blessed not to have in the Midwest anyway). Time to relish in the last of winter with a little lunch-hour comfort food.

Three best tomato soups in Columbus:

Fancy Pants: Lindeys tomato bisque. This basily bisque is lightly spiced, full of big tomato flavor and served with what is brilliantly referred to as toasted brioche and cheddar cheese >> really, it's a mini grilled cheese.

Indulgent: Brown Bag's tomato basil. This creamy soup is full of big chunks of roasted tomato and tastes entirely homemade. Sure, it's choked with enough calories to make your skinny jeans snug, but it's so worth it.

Old School: Surly Girl's grilled cheese and tomato soup combo is a trip down memory lane. Even the brown bubbly bowls scream the Brady Bunch is coming on in 10 minutes. It's enough to make you want to dunk.

Three weird and weirdly addictive Columbus foods

Go ahead, make the shocking order. The one that will prompt everyone else at the table to say – you’re going to eat THAT? Go beyond the thai chili ice cream (easy), the deep-fried pickles (come on, anything deep fried is edible) or the vegan pot roast sandwich (close runner up). When you’re ready to try food you’ll think twice before biting into, order this:

• Mine: Okonomiyaki: Savory chicken and cabbage filled pancakes drizzled with Japanese mayonnaise at Zen Cha in the Short North. Addictively good.


• Mark Hillman’s: Mildred's sauerkraut balls at Barley's. Both fun to say and eat. There’s some competition for the best balls in Columbus, though. Natives swear by the deep-fried sauerkraut at Hey, Hey.


• Jay Schmidt’s: The turtle soup at Old Mohawk. A house specialty so special they’ve made turtles part of the scenery and the décor. Personally, I go there for Quesadilla Tuesday, but if you’re of hardy spirit – there’s no better choice than soup from a hard shell. 
  

Three new Columbus business lunch destinations

If you entertain or network during the noon hour, you probably have a favorite dish at Lindeys, a special order at Mitchells, and a seat-winning strategy at North Star. As tasty as these business lunch favorites are, sometimes you just want something DIFFERENT.

Three new places to try:

Very casual: El Arepazo. It's a little Venezuelan hole in the wall back in Pearl Alley. In the summer, lunching there is a great opportunity to stroll the yummy Pearl Alley farmers market before noshing on plantains, sopes and empanadas. In the winter, its an unexpected getaway and an easy walk through the brick backstreets of downtown.

I recommend: Patacon, a feast of pulled meat (chicken, beef or pork) and veggies over a whole, ripe plantain.

Flexible: Shane's Gourmet Market. Although they're known for grand catering, the good people at Shane's are willing to make lunch just for you, too. The space is very relaxing. A gourmet food counter, upscale deli and wine shop on the south side and a number of comfortable cafe tables on the north. The menu of meals, sandwiches, salads and wraps is enormous and they're happy to custom create just about anything you can think up. Order at the counter, but, no worries, you can get to work - they'll bring your grub over.

I recommend: Chicken salad wrap. Sure, it's simple, but they make it fresh with almonds and fruit every day. And, they're the one place that seems to have juicy tastes-like-tomato tomatoes on hand even when it's snowing outside.

Almost no one in jeans: Blackcreek Bistro. Once a dive bar, then a neighborhood destination, the eclectic space on the corner of Parsons and Oak is now home to the consummate local eatery. The owner of Blackcreek is a farmer. One who brings heirloom vegetables and herbs, locally-raised meat and all manner of seasonal favorites right from his farm to the table. The food is both upscale and homemade. Once you start going, you'll be addicted.

I recommend: The special. Extra love and care goes into their always-good featured soups and dishes. In doubt? The bistro salad with rich creamy dressing and tasty beets in always a winner.