It’s a Date!

January 7, 2011 – 11:20 am Posted by Katharine Moore

Filed under: Features

Whether we are talking about on line calendars, hand held scheduling devices, organizational systems, or a calendar from your insurance agent hanging on your kitchen wall, the new year is ready to be filled in with important dates, birthday reminders, and plans to back up your resolution to see friends more often.

Dine Originals Columbus has a few dates to add to the mix.

We release discounted gift certificates 4 times a year. This limited offer provides the majority of funding for our organization and rewards our loyal followers with the opportunity to dine locally at 30% off. Since a number of the certificates sell out on the day they are released, scheduling a visit to the website is a smart move. You can note January 11, April 5, July 12, and October 11 for this year’s sales.

Dine Originals Week is when we celebrate the community of local foodies. Our chef’s create special menus and we invite everyone to experience the difference passion makes. This year we have big plans for both March 7 – 13 and November 7 – 13.

And then there is the once a year opportunity to taste a special offering from as many of our 50 members as you can manage. The Taste of Dine Originals is a phenomenal evening of offerings… seafood, appetizers, vegetarian fare, desserts, salads, and wines …oh, how the wines flow that night! Your $100 ticket is a passport to food, wine, music, and commraderie with like minded people. Plan ahead for this May 12 event …give tickets as a birthday or anniversary gift ~ bring a client or colleague who is new to town so they can map out the places they want to get to know better, and tell anyone who asks…”Sorry I’m busy on May 12th …it’s an event I never miss!” We happily share the proceeds of the event with our partners at The Buckeye Ranch and feel very proud to be associated with the community enhancing work they do 365 days a year.

So type, scan, scribble, or post them…but make a note of all these opportunities to support the local economy, to indulge your love of great food, and to recognize the layer of authenticity and creativity Central Ohio enjoys thanks to the flavors of our local restaurant scene.

Our Wish to You for 2011

December 26, 2010 – 12:00 pm Posted by Katharine Moore

Filed under: Features, Restaurants

While the mad spin of reality TV, fast food, the Kardashians, and a homogenized world of McCities seems to be gaining ground, Dine Originals celebrates the character and romanticism of scrappy small businesses that are built around connection, community, hospitality, and breaking bread.

Whether you want to salute the outgoing year and give thanks for your 365 day trip around the sun, or are looking forward to telling 2010 farewell and welcoming in a fresh start, be intentional about where you choose to spend the evening. Celebrating at a Dine Originals will feel a bit like a family gathering (if your family includes a really handsome guy at the stove and a bartender who can make you laugh till you cry). Whether you are deep in the Hocking Hills at the Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls or downtown at the Top Kitchen & Cocktails, our chefs have planned their menus, and our staffs have negotiated their schedules so that the team members who love to work on December 31st will be on hand. From a romantic French dinner at the Refectory to a raucous good time at Barrio, we can meet your appropriately high expectations! Click here to see a listing of Dine Originals Columbus New Year’s  Eve options.

In a world where diversity and originality are at risk, Dine Originals Columbus has staked its mission on authenticity. We don’t make widgets and we don’t get our recipes emailed from a corporate office. We make soups, friends, and a difference. May 2011 be a year of true blue friendships, original ideas and adventures, and one-of-a-kind experiences for each of you!

4th Annual Holiday Fundraiser benefiting Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center

December 8, 2010 – 5:18 pm Posted by Katharine Moore

Filed under: Wildflower Cafe

The 4th Annual Holiday Fundraiser benefiting Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center is being held this Thursday, December 9th at the Immaculate Conception Church on East North Broadway. Taking part in the benefit are Dine Originals Columbus members: Mozart’s Bakery & Piano and Wildflower Cafe.

Click here for complete details.

Discriminating taste buds savor 12 days of delicacies

November 29, 2010 – 10:19 am Posted by Katharine Moore

Filed under: Barcelona Restaurant and Bar, L'Antibes, Mozart's Bakery and Piano Cafe, Mozart's North Market, Restaurants

Three Dine Originals members were part of the 12 days of Christmas feature in the Columbus Dispatch.  Check out the days each member was mentioned and why!

Discriminating taste buds savor 12 days of delicacies

Thursday, November 25, 2010 02:57 AM
By JON CHRISTENSEN
The Columbus Dispatch

For the 12 days of Christmas, I would give my true love (or, better yet, my true love would give to me):

SECOND DAY Little bargains, Barcelona Restaurant & Bar: A low-priced fixed-price menu of first-class small plates is available Tuesdays through Sundays. (263 E. Whittier St.; 614-443-3699,www.barcelonacolumbus.com)

11TH DAY Wine dinner, L’Antibes: Wow your companion with the wine dinners in the intimate space, where the next event (Dec.13, $125) will feature unusually good wines (a red Sancerre) paired with very suitable foods, such as farm-sourced pheasant cassoulet and Long Island duck confit. (772 N. High St., Suite 106; 614-291-1666, www.lantibes.com)

12TH DAY Dessert, Mozart’s Bakery & Piano Cafe: Indulge in the season with a chocolate chestnut torte finished with a subtle cognac mousse; a walnut spongecake rolled with chocolate mousse, raspberry preserves and a chestnut-amaretto puree; or a traditional yule log, a spongecake rolled in chocolate buttercream and raspberry jam. (2885 N. High St.; 614-268-3687, www.mozartscafe.com)

Honorable mention:
The yule log at Mozart’s Bakery & Piano Cafe from Eric Albretch, Dispatch

Making a list and checking it twice?!

November 29, 2010 – 10:00 am Posted by Katharine Moore

Filed under: Features

Thanksgiving was a success, Ohio State triumphed, and you weren’t on the news for breaking line and causing a riot on Black Friday. Keep the lucky streak in place…do your Christmas shopping with Dine Originals Columbus from the comfort of your keyboard.

We offer a gift certificate that can be traded in for:

Dine Originals Columbus. Fifty three locations, on stop shopping. Strengthening the local economy one gift at a time, while keeping your holiday vibe in tact! Click here to Purchase Dine Originals Gift Certificates

Dine Originals Week Encore… Can’t get enough!

November 16, 2010 – 3:48 pm Posted by Katharine Moore

Filed under: Features

Demand for the Dine Originals Week specials was so great, several of our members are extending the offers into this week.

Throughout this Week

Luce Enoteca
Click Here to View Menu

Mezzo Italian Kitchen and Wine
Click Here to View Menu

The Refectory Restaurant and Bistro
Click Here to View Menu

Other Offers

Katalina’s Café Corner (Dine Originals Week specials through Thursday)

Mozarts Bakery & Piana Café (the $10 pastry deal and the $30 for 2 Austrian Affair dinner)

With thanks to the Dine Originals Community

November 15, 2010 – 5:29 pm Posted by Katharine Moore

Filed under: Features

Another Dine Originals Week has come and gone, and those who own and operate the participating 53 independent Dine Originals central Ohio restaurants would like to say, “Thank You!” Thank you to the community of like minded diners who came out to explore new restaurants or enjoyed their old favorites. Thank you to the owners, chefs and restaurant staff who offered creative menus at special prices as well as personal service to their guests. And, thank you to those who spread the word about this very special event. Collectively, it was an exciting week on the Columbus restaurant scene and the support was a great affirmation of the work we do year round.

On behalf of our restaurants, we sincerely thank Discover (the official card of Dine Originals Week) and our media partners: The Columbus Dispatch, Alive!, and the ColumbusDiningGuide.com. With their support, we were able to share with the public the many choices offered while supporting Local Matters, a local non profit organization we champion at every opportunity.

When you make the choice to dine locally, you support more than just the restaurant. You support local printers, sign makers, farmers, insurance agents, dairies, banks and other related businesses, because your dollars stay in town. Truly, something as simple as going out to dinner contributes to the Central Ohio economy.

Dine Originals Week may be over, but now is not the time to put down your fork. Our independent restaurant owners and chefs are dedicated to using local ingredients and sources that define our region, yet are always looking for ways to incorporate interesting styles of cuisine from around the world into our own brand of dining. We promise to serve you only the freshest food available.

Many of us have been serving locals and visitors alike for years and have established a culinary heritage that simply can’t be replicated in the corporate kitchens of chain restaurants. We live here, work here, and have a stake in the future. As a part of the community, we appreciate your business and enjoy being your neighbors.

Again, many thanks to all who took part and contributed to the success of Dine Originals Week!

7 Days of Extraordinary Offers

November 5, 2010 – 9:32 am Posted by Katharine Moore

Filed under: Features

Twice a year (in March and November) Dine Originals members collaborate to offer a week of creative menus at specialprices for three reasons:

1. We want to encourage guests to explore restaurants they have never tried. We have great confidence that once you’ve been in and had a terrific experience, you’ll be back.

2. To thank “regulars” for their patronage with a menu offering that showcases the strengths of the restaurant. Whether it’s L’Antibes or Katzinger’s, our talented chefs have a terrific time developing the Dine Originals Week features.

3. And to focus attention on the message behind our organization: being mindful about where you spend your dining dollars really does matter. When you make a choice to keep it local, you are not only supporting a local restaurant…you are supporting the local printers, sign makers, farmers, insurance agents, dairies, and banks that are in business with the restaurant. Chain restaurants bring materials and ingredients into Columbus on 18 wheeler trucks and ship jobs, business, and dollars out of town. Dine Originals Week is a reminder that you can contribute to the Central Ohio economy one bite at a time!

So how does it work? Each restaurant has developed a special offer for the week. You don’t need a coupon or a certificate, but reservations are often a good idea.

And because we all love the idea of developing an appreciation for fresh food and the skills to make smart choices, we are making a $5100 contribution to Local Matters for the good work they do in schools throughout the region. We really are incredibly proud of the work our compatriots at Local Matters Do, and we urge you to learn more about their programs at www.local-matters.org

We invite you to get out and about November 8 – 14; our celebration of the most vibrant local dining scene in the Midwest wouldn’t be the same without you!

Halloween Events Coming Up!

October 21, 2010 – 3:19 pm Posted by Katharine Moore

Filed under: Features

The only thing more fun than trick or treating on Halloween as a child, is making a grown up evening of it with autumnal menus, fiendishly good cocktails, and just a few tricks. Because this is Central Ohio and nobody feels obligated to observe Halloween on October 31st, you can schedule a week-long celebration.

Start at Trattoria Roma in Grandview
Trattoria Roma in Grandview has staked the holiday out as a signature event for several years. Chef Matt writes, “It’s that time of year again………….Time for Trattoria Roma’s Halloween Wine Tasting. Come dressed to thrill, as there are prizes for the “Best Dressed”. And if you don’t like to dress up, come anyway and you can help us judge the event. We will feature four wonderful wines from the Ravenswood Winery and pair them with a fantastic four course dinner prepared by myself and the Trattoria culinary team. The date is Sunday, October 24th and the festivities will begin at 6:00 pm. The cost is $50 per person. We have already started booking for the evening, so if you are interested please RSVP, as we do fill fast.”

Menu:
First Course: Our seasonal Butternut Squash Soup
Paired with Ravenswood Chardonnay

Second Course: Pumpkin ravioli with fire roasted corn and hazelnuts in a spicy gorgonzola cream sauce
Paired with Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon

Third Course: Warm farro salad with mixed beans
Paired with Ravenswood Petite Sirah

Fourth Course: Chef Matt’s marvelous meatloaf with creamy whipped potatoes and roasted green beans
Paired with Ravenswood Old Vine Napa Zinfandel

Party at Barcelona on Friday, Oct 29
On Friday, October 29, the Goblins in German Village will gather at Barcelona’s Restaurant and Bar. The entire staff will be in costume for the evening. As a Barcelona regular who has been eavesdropping on these plans for weeks…I can promise you a huge dose of outrageous! Guests are encouraged to come for dinner dressed in costume and then to stay for the party which kicks off at 11:00pm. Cash bar and light appetizers.

Alana’s Spooky Saturday, October 30
And that always wild and wooly staff at Alana’s Food and Wine are given carte blanche on Saturday, October 30. Don’t miss the scary cocktails, spectacular costumes and treats from the kitchen. They’ll be talking about it until New Years!

Hands on in the Kitchen and the Community

September 27, 2010 – 9:10 am Posted by Katharine Moore

Filed under: Features

The generosity of Dine Originals members is impressive by any measure, but especially so when you consider that these are small business owners with lean budgets, where the profit margin for the week can easily be lost to a drain explosion or a flash fire in the hood of the stove. Investing in the community, supporting anti hunger initiatives, donating to organizations linking local farmers to improved distribution systems, cooking for fundraisers, contributing gift certificates to what I swear is an epidemic of silent auctions…these gestures of bigheartedness happen as routinely as dishwashing.

Because we believe Columbus is something to be experienced, Dine Originals partners with Experience Columbus to nudge locals to make a Columbus Day weekend tradition of exploring new spots and revisiting the institutions that enrich our region. Deep discounts are offered up by COSI, Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus Food Adventures, SegAway Tours of Columbus, BalletMet, the Wexner Center for the Arts and all 51 members of Dine Originals. Utilize this website to plan your backyard adventure.

The Columbus Marathon is a weekend of inspiration ~ the tenacity and discipline of every single participating athlete contributes to a buzz throughout the city. It’s not just an event for the 15,000 runners, but a special occasion for their families, fraternity brothers, coaches, old babysitters and next door neighbors who turn out to cheer.

The Marathon is one of the top 25 largest marathons (out of more than 350 active marathons) in the United States. It has been ranked by Runner’s World as one of the top 20 marathons in the United States and by USA Today as one of the top 10 fall marathons.

With high hopes that all of the participants, visitors, vendors, and coaches have an amazing experience, more than a dozen of our members are offering Marathon specials. Nobody is going back to their hometown with a tale of “the best dinner ever at TGIThursdays” ,,,but a pumpkin risotto with apples and love at Alana’s might be a weekend highlight long remembered.

View all of the special offers here: http://www.dineoriginalscolumbus.com/columbus-marathon/

Dine Originals also partners with a number of non profit organizations throughout the year in support of their gala events. On October 29th we will be at The Celebration of Learning at the Main Library with cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres in the stacks and Irish author Colum McCann, whose newest novel, Let the Great World Spin, won the 2009 National Book Award for Fiction. On Friday, November 5, we partner with the Jazz Arts Group for One Night Only, showcasing great Columbus musicians performing distinctly American styles — with jazz, blues, funk and soul filling stages throughout the historic Lincoln Theatre. For ticket information on these events, connect here
http://foundation.columbuslibrary.org/events
http://www.jazzcolumbus.com/jazz-arts-group-presents-one-night-only/

Breaking bread with community activists, authors, athletes, visitors, donors, dancers, and arts patrons is what Dine Originals Columbus members will be doing this fall. We invite you to join us at the table!