Barcelona

March 25, 2011

Barcelona
263 East Whitter Street
Columbus, OH 43206
614/443-3699
http://www.barcelonacolumbus.com/

I had a $15 "fudha" (http://www.fudha.com/)  that was about to expire, so Lori and I went to Barcelona for lunch.  Always a pleasant place to visit, we were greeted by friendly staff and quickly seated (next to former Ohio Attorney General Rich Cordray!).

I actually remembered to bring my camera, but forgot to take a photo of our appetizer which was the Barcelona "Fritas" consisting of french fries, fried pickles, and onion rings.  Perhaps not healthy, but very tasty indeed!

Lori opted for the Espinacas which is a baby spinach salad with fuji apple, gorgonzola, candied pecans, and sherry vinaigrette.

It looked delicious and I was assured that it was!

I chose the Bikini de Langosta which was a glorious take on a grilled cheese sandwich.  The large pieces of grilled sourdough bread were filled with lobster meat, brie, and basil and was accompanied by a charred tomato sour cream.  Since we had the fritas for an appetizer, I chose the soup du jour rather than fries.  The chilled soup included ajillo (garlic), walnut, and a few sliced grapes.  I should have asked more about the soup because it was very smooth, rich, and delicious.

The onion ring you see on the plate was a leftover from the fritas and does not normally accompany the sandwich!

Now, it's rare for me to have dessert at lunch, particularly when I have to return to the office for a 2:00 conference call...which I barely made, by the way!  However, we decided to split the creme brulee.

I have to tell you...it is even more rare for me to order creme brulee.  Why?  I am forever disappointed when the creme brulee never matches the best I have ever had - that prepared by Chef Hartmut Handke, formerly of Handke's Cuisine and now retired.  His creme brulee still is the best I have ever tasted, but I have to admit that Barcelona's version is very good.

There was a fine crust that had been blow-torched into carmelized topping on the rich vanilla custard base.  In the picture above, you can see Lori, with spoon at the ready, patiently (?) waiting for me to take the photo.  Served with a chocolate biscotti, it was a marvelous ending to a Friday lunch. 

Located in German Village, Barcelona is one of the finest restaurants in Columbus.  The service is friendly, the food is fantastic, and the ambiance is very pleasant.  Just don't park in the grocery store parking lot across the street!

Stop by Barcelona's website and Facebook page to learn more and then try it for yourself!

Market 65

March 23, 2011

Market 65
65 East State Street
Columbus, OH 43215
614/564-6565
http://www.marketsixtyfive.com/

I made my second trip to Market 65 after spending my morning at the Statehouse testifying against a bad piece of legislation and waiting for one of my expert witnesses to be given the opportunity to testify.  Alas, the committee recessed (never to re-convene...arrgghh!), so my witness, an Ohio State law professor, and I opted to have lunch at one of Capital Square's newest eateries.

Market 65 occupies the space adjacent to the Hyatt on Capital Square that was formerly held by the San Francisco Oven and long before that, the Hokey Pokey.

On my first visit, a few weeks prior to this one, I was met with a locked entrance, a particularly long wait, and only a few ice cubes left in the fountain drink ice maker.  The Blackened Cobb salad, however, was outstanding and I knew I would return.

Whereas the line was even longer this day, the experience was much improved.  The menu consists of freshly made, salads, soups, and wraps.  You place your order with a friendly staffer who starts the process by measuring out the appropriate lettuce into a large mixing bowl and placing it in queue for the "assembly line" creation of your salad.  You follow your salad as the toppings are cut and placed in the mixing bowl.  When it gets to the final stop, the bowl is dumped unto a cutting board where it is all chopped before your eyes with a double-handled mezzaluna knife like the one below.

The salad dressing is added as well as a piece of bread and it is sent to the cash register to await your payment.

I broke one of my "new restaurant rules" by not ordering something different on my return visit and, instead, ordered the Blackened Cobb salad again.  But it was so good the first time!  The salad consists of romaine lettuce to which blackened chicken is added as well as a hard boiled egg, chopped red onion and tomato, avocado, and feta cheese.  On this visit, I added bacon and had it topped off with chipotle ranch dressing.

The salad is definitely meal size and quite tasty.  I wasn't planning to have lunch out this day, so I didn't bring my camera.  Alas, no photos of the salad during its creation or consumption!

As I filled my soft drink glass, I was once again met with an icemaker that was very low on ice.  I wonder if the heavy lunch crowd might warrant a larger ice machine to accompany the soft drinks...

Market 65 has a nice patio from which I enjoyed my lunch.  It was definitely a nice, cool alternative to the stuffy, uncomfortable Statehouse hearing room that occupied the previous four hours of my morning!  The restaurant is staffed with very friendly people who make the creation of your lunch a completely transparent and fun process.  Visit their website and Facebook page for more information about their breakfast and lunch offerings.

Rude Dog Bar & Grill

March 20, 2011

Rude Dog Bar & Grill
8711 Sancus Blvd
Columbus, Oh 43240
614/847-RDOG (7364)
http://rudedogpolaris.com/

It has been two months since my last blog post (hmm, sounds like I'm about to make a confession!) and it has been the busiest two months I can recall.  As I have told a number of people who have asked about my absence, I'm not too busy to eat, but I am too busy to write!

In the last several weeks, I have been to many restaurants (including Dragon One, Genji, Da Levee, Zanzibar, La Choza, Basil, Cafe Brioso, Cap City Fine Diner & Bar, Kogen's, Lee Garden, and Mexica to name but a few).  Perhaps one day I will catch up, but for now, I am starting anew with a restaurant I just visited today.

My friend, Ed, and I have bought Columbus Clippers season ticket packages since the Cleveland Indians moved their AAA farm team to Columbus in 2009.  Each year, we get together to divide up the tickets, typically over adult beverages.

This afternoon, we met at Rude Dog Bar & Grill.  Ed had been there the previous night and offered many fine recommendations.

I selected the Black & Bleu burger consisting of a spicy beef patty topped with a generous helping of crumbled bleu cheese, thick cut bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayo.  I opted for the onion rings and a Diet Coke, an adolescent beverage!

The burger was a "man-size" sandwich that was only a bit spicy, but the bleu cheese and bacon made it much better than your ordinary burger.  The onion rings, however, were a disappointment.  I am not an onion ring snob, but do prefer a thicker coating and a larger onion slice.  These were quite possibly frozen onion rings.

I already know what I am going to order on my return visit - The Rude Dog!  Ed ordered this signature sandwich which is a quarter pound hot dog smothered with chili, cheese, and crispy jalapenos.  He topped his with mustard.  The jalapenos were covered in a very light batter, similar to a tempura, and fried.  Appropriately, the Rude Dog is served in a dog dish and accompanied by a serving of chili cheese fries.

The Rude Dog is definitely a "knife-and-fork" kind of sandwich!  I really wanted to have a taste, but I know not to get between a dog and his food!

The Rude Dog Bar & Grill is just south of the Polaris mall on Sancus Boulevard.  Next time, you're in the Polaris area, make it a point to stop in and try some of the creative menu items.