My sister, Heather, and I have been on the road for nearly a week now. She’s making a big move from Boston, Mass. to Austin, Texas. To make the transition a little more interesting, she decided to take the long way, making stops in Columbus, Ohio, Nashville, Tennessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana. As co-pilot, I’m along for the ride, and a tatsy ride it has been. Here’s a little taste of our first stop, Columbus, Ohio.
We rolled into Columbus pretty late, but took the time to enjoy a tasty home brew created by our hosts, Emma & Scott. The couple took up home brewing several batches back, and are now serving their formulations with confidence. I love the idea of the little macro brewery they have going in their apartment.
The next morning, staying with a food writer paid off once again when Emma whipped up a tasty southwest scramble. She fried up sausage, eggs, cheese and caramelized onions with a heaping pile of spices including smoked paprika and garlic. The whole pile was served next to a slice of toasted homemade bread. Who could ask for more after a long day on the road?
We spent the day exploring Columbus. We stopped by the World’s Largest Gavel, which was, as expected, quite large. Here’s a shot of Heather admiring the gavel for scale.
Mama, That’s a mighty big gavel.
Next, we meandered over to Columbus’s North Market, a good sized produce and gourmet food extraveganza. There was an awesome produce stand that carried extra special veggies, like wild crafted ramps, and fresh plucked garlic shoots. Other foodie staples were covered, including a serious butcher, a fresh fish stand, and a cheese monger with a massive variety of cheeses. There were also a number of delicious restaurant stands, including such tasty treats as Vietnemese Noodles, Organic Soul Food, and an awesome bakery.
My favorite spot at the North Market was Jeni’s Ice Cream. This ice cream shop is a foodie dream, featuring tons of crazy flavors, like Thai Chili, and Salty Caramel.
I went for a cone with Marscapone Goat Cheese and Cognac Figs. Heather got a cup with one scoop of Cherry Lambic Sorbet, and a scoop of Pear Riesling Sorbet. Yum yum yum yum.
Later that night we went out to dinner at a Columbus land mark, Schmidt’s Sausage Haus. Nestled in the heart of Germantown, a neighborhood packed with cobblestone streets and adorable cottages, the Sausage Haus is a Columbus staple, attracting hordes of tourists and locals night after night. It’s been especially crowded since it was featured on Man Vs. Food. Check out the video here.
This place is famous for its tasty sausages, especially their signature sausage, the Bahama Mama. I ordered the Old World Sausage Platter, which featured a bratwurst, a knackwurst, and two versions of the Bahama Mama (one spicy, one mild). The whole shebang was served over a bed of Sauerkraut and accompanied by a pile of German Potato Salad.
After dinner, we hit up the CBC, Columbus Brewing Company for some beers. I had an Apricot Ale, which was really fantastic. Not too sweet, but you could still taste the apricot. All in all, Columbus was a very pleasant surprise. It was cute as a button, full of good eats, great beer, and great company. Thanks, Emma and Scott, for showing Heather and I a great time!
