By Bill Chronister, The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio
Jun. 24–Greg Ubert and Armando Escobar have a long history with Ohio State University and will be going back this fall, but not to study.
The founders of CrimsonCup, who met 18 years ago when Escobar was working at the old student union, will be providing products and training coffee-shop managers and employees at several venues on OSU campuses.
The new contracts will make CrimsonCup the brew you buy at the cafe in the new Thompson Library when it opens in 2009, as well as the Science and Engineering Laboratory, the OSU MarketPlace at 1578 Neil Ave. and the new Warner Library and Student Center on the Newark campus.
“Our mission is to roast the best coffee in the world and teach others how to be successful in the business of brewing and selling it,” Ubert said.
That mission dovetails nicely with several initiatives that OSU dining services tries to meet, said Thom Stevenson, director of food-service operations.
“OSU’s Eat Global, Buy Local campaign — by which we do as much as we can with local industry to support the Ohio economy –ensures that we give operations such as CrimsonCup a look,” Stevenson said. “They provide a lot of value in a number of ways.”
One is that the facilities remain in OSU’s control. CrimsonCup provides training through its sole proprietary store, at 4541 N. High St. And Ubert and his company have gone out of their way to provide special services for OSU, including creating a private-label coffee blend for the Blackwell Inn on campus.
And it doesn’t hurt that the product tastes good. The bidding process involves blind taste tests for staff, professors and students, which Stevenson said CrimsonCup’s brews regularly win.
Vito, Vito, Vito
First, there was Vito’s Italian Pub, the brainchild of John Magnacca, on Broadway in Grove City and then on Scioto-Darby Road in the Hilliard area.
For partnership reasons, Magnacca let that go so he could focus on Vito’s Italian Express on Grandview Avenue, near W. 5th Avenue. But he wasn’t pleased with the way things were running there, either.
Now, for those craving Italian Twisty Rolls or a Spaghetti Sangwich, there’s Don Vito’s Italian Bistro, which opened recently at 4015 Parkmead Dr. in Grove City.
Magnacca is the owner, but he’s installed his son Christian as executive chef, entrusting him with Magnacca’s inventions as well as the recipes for lasagna and Italian wedding soup that Magnacca’s mom used to make at Cenci’s Restaurant on W. 5th Avenue near Marble Cliff.
“I don’t care if it’s got a Don before it and Bistro instead of pub, people see the word Vito’s and they know what to expect,” Magnacca said. “All these other imitations out there are just trying to catch a ride on what we have developed.”
Don Vito’s opens at 11 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday, closing at 10 p.m. on weeknights and “later” on Friday and Saturday, Magnacca said. It’s open from 1 to 10 p.m. on Sundays. Lunch is about $8 per person and dinner about $13-$14.
Eggs at your door
Jon and Pete Nowak, owners of Cafe Corner at 1105 Pennsylvania Ave., near W. 3rd Avenue, have seen a need, and they’re frying to fill it.
Realizing that eggs — and other breakfast foods — hadn’t yet been offered for delivery, the two last week began EGGS Breakfast Delivery in the University District and nearby.
“I know people enjoy breakfast food at night,” Jon Nowak said. And now you can order a meal to be delivered to your door between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m.
“We’re trying to open quietly right now; we’re still trying to work the kinks out before school resumes in fall,” Jon Nowak said.
Pete Nowak remains in charge of the cafe, a breakfast-and-lunch operation. Jon has taken on the new venture.
The delivery menu includes some breakfast specialties, including the Horseshoe, with hash browns, eggs, meat and gravy or cheese sauce for $8.99.
Food, wine event
The Columbus Food & Wine Affair is preparing for its fifth run as a fundraiser by the Central Ohio Restaurant Association. The gala features food from 25 local restaurants, a silent auction and live music and will take place from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Sept. 5 at the Franklin Park Conservatory.
The event benefits CORA, the WBNS-TV Family Fund, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital, United Way of Central Ohio, Adventures for Wish Kids and the Ian Adams VanHeyde Scholarship Fund.
Tickets are $100 per person and go on sale starting July 1 on the charity’s Web site, www.foodandwineaffair.com.
Bar adds new twists
New to the bars at central Ohio’s four Hyde Park Prime Steakhouses: a nitrogen-charged process that allows bartenders to add a light foam garnish to many drinks, and additions to the drink menu, including sirloin “sliders” and bacon-wrapped scallops and calamari, $5 each.
Minty fresh
Dairy Queen’s Blizzard flavor of the month for July is Girl Scout Thin Mints.
On Restaurants is a weekly column about the restaurant industry. Send tips, information and news releases to: [email protected].
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Copyright (c) 2008, The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio
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