Dining
The Columbus Coalition of Reason (Columbus CoR) is hosting their fourth annual “Flying Spaghetti Monster Benefit Dinner,” featuring -what else - a delicious spaghetti dinner with vegetarian, gluten-free and take-out options. The event will take place Thursday, November 5 from 6 until 8:30 pm (serving food until 8:00) at the First UU Church, 93 West Weisheimer Road in Clintonville.
Admission is $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for children aged fourteen and under, with proceeds going to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. In addition, there will be people collecting canned and boxed goods for the Foodbank. Guests can also participate in both a silent auction of handmade pieces by local artists, and a raffle for items donated by community members and local businesses.
Entertainment for the evening will include live music and brief comments from community members. For the children there will be a variety of supervised games and activities.
The Table was an exciting new discovery in vegan options located in the Short North on the south side of 5th Ave directly across the street from Brothers Drake. They have a comfortably eclectic atmosphere of with variety of mismatched dinning tables, chairs and dinner plates and interesting lighting fixtures. Friendly and informed staff, regarding vegan needs, and delicious food made a great overall experience. A friend and I went for dinner and enjoyed the squash ribbons starter, and veganized versions of the beet gnocchi and the curried chickpeas. They even made us a special dessert with a variety of apples and the entire meal was loaded with flavor.
The Duke of Fork, Chef Mark Zedella and The Duchess, Loretta Yoga Tune Up®are probably one of the most exciting and dynamic food & yoga innovations to add to Columbus’ Intelligent City (intelligentcity.org) status ratings typically characterized by technology innovations. The connection is that they are capable of empowering Columbus’ residents with one of the most critical health promoting, social justice serving and environmental sustainability yet largely untapped initiatives with the simple utensil; the fork. They work their health promoting culinary and physical fitness combo wonders at community gems such as Worthington Libraries and the Franklin Park Conservatory. They cover nutritionally robust, exciting and delicious topics such as Superfoods, Oil–free cooking, Healthy Holidays and more with their Move Well, Eat Well, Be Well program. Check out their website for more details on how to connect with them. Their next event is Sept 16 at Franklin Park Conservatory.
Walrus has distinguished itself as the first restaurant in Columbus to entice diners to the delicious and delightful, compassionate and ethically consistent, as well as healthy and sustainable delicacy of a char-grilled cauliflower steak drizzled in richly decadent balsamic “glaze” paired with sweet potatoes garnished with edible flowers. Thank you for breaking the Midwest cultural barrier on this ecologically and economically resilient plant-based alternative to disease promoting and chemical/radiation and pathogen cocktail infusion dominantly contributed to by conventional daily exposure to consuming animal-based products. In 1983 the NYT publicized the FDA’s knowledge that America’s animal products contained 500-600 toxic contaminants not listed on the labels, so one has to wonder; why have these atrocities remained a staple on menus for so long? Any critical thinker should be led to question; what part facts like this play in the health and financial crisis our nation is presently collapsing under?
Tom and Chee now located in Hilliard and Pickerington is a new, local chain that specializes in grilled cheese and tomato soups and salads and YES, they actually do provide a tasty, gooey vegan grilled cheese option. They are also conscious about how to prepare it (non shared grill surface and oil based “butter” for grilling on vegan bread). They are friendly, flexible and willing to accommodate vegan menu item modifications, and even more rare and greatly appreciated: affordably!
White Wing Bakery is an exciting new all natural, handcrafted vegan and gluten-free bakery entry into the Columbus farmer’s market scene at 400 W. Rich appearing every other Saturday as of May 9th 2015 through the summer months. The menu includes exotic and adventurous twists on some classic favorites such as: toasted almond caramel cupcakes with brown butter-cream frosting, raspberry cocoa nib flourless mocha torte, Thai lemongrass - coconut cupcakes with lime frosting, Massaman curry peanut butter cookies, lemon blueberry cornmeal cookies, lavender - rosemary sugar cookies and banana chocolate chip cookies. They do also take special and custom orders for parties and events.
Lemongrass has been a Short North go-to for me when I’m in the mood for Thai tea (iced w/coconut milk or hot) and the best chive dumplings I’ve ever had. They also distinguish themselves from many restaurants by providing a plant-based menu with several items satisfying a comprehensive dining experience (instead of a token vegan option) where most selections are vegan, with the exception of those containing the sauté dressing (it has cream in it). They are happy to make vegan substitutions as desired.
Acre is an exciting new option for socially just diners on High St. just north of the OSU campus. They have developed their “farm to table to go” platform on locally sourced ingredients, organic grains and more sustainable practices like quality service ware (as opposed to disposable) recycling and composting. Hungry people can be satisfied with an affordable assortment of fresh, delicious and easily veganizable fusion of Asian and Mexican style bowls and wraps and refreshing shrubs. No vegan dessert here yet however; their cookies have dairy. Perhaps they can contract with Nanak, Pattycake or Destination Donuts for a vegan dessert. Vegans may want to verify what has honey or dairy. The peanut and hoisin sauces are vegan and they offer tofu for those who still eat soy. Their staff is informed on vegan needs and they have a comprehensive guide on menu item ingredients for anyone who has specific avoidances for ethics, health, allergies, phobias, prevention etc. The river of denial that still runs through our culture regarding “humane,” “free range,” “grass fed,” “organic,” “meat,” (and animal products including dairy/eggs/goat products etc.) requires a reality check.
Strongwater located in East Franklinton as part of the 400 W. Rich St. renaissances transforming the industrial historical into the artisanal hip. Among their progressive innovations, they include some exciting vegan and gluten-free options for those promoting peace, seeking optimal health and supporting sustainable practices with their food purchases. If you have not adventured into the palatal pleasure that is jackfruit, Strongwater is a brave mainstream restaurant pioneer in Columbus whose menu offers this remarkable whole food plant that mimics “pulled pork”! Try the jackfruit tacos or buns; not only will your gut thank you, the animals and the environment will too since no one will have to die and since plants (compared to animals) use not a fraction of the precious water, nor pollute what is left of it with “effluence” (Hello again, contagion recalls and recurring toxic algae blooms).
\Clintonville Community Market (CCM) is a co-operative business model and has been a long-time favorite place for many vegan food options. Local Fork’s Over Knives famed Wellness Forum Foods Chef Del Sroufe’s addicting BBQ or Baked Tofu is available there. The CCM has several of Portia’s raw delights, so when I’m craving some blueberry-pineapple or lemon cheesecake or some creamy chocolate mousse, I go there. For all you mushroom lovers, CCM also has a fantastic array of fresh, locally harvested fungi. Mushrooms are the natural and unprocessed “meat” of the future and contain a myriad of sustainable and prolific crop productions that are rich in medicinal and nutritional benefits.