Like the moon hitting my eye...

Location:

Dough Boy’s Pizza Co.

4658 Kenny Road

Columbus, Ohio 43220

614-459-4400

Dough Boy’s is located in an old “strip mall” next to the Kenny Road Market (yay exotic beers) and U-haul rental spot.  We ordered delivery, so I never saw the inside, but peeping in through the windows a couple times led me to believe they were straight on the cleanliness – and they had a green sticker.

The man was tasting for pizza, and I had a flyer. “Anniversary special! One large pizza any way you want it with an order of cheesy bread only $9.99!” WOW! What a great deal!  They had left the door hanger about a week before that, so we called up to take advantage of the bargain… and that’s when my unhappiness began.

Upon ordering this super-awesome “Anniversary Special”, my man was told that it had ended on Memorial Day.  Wait – didn’t Memorial Day happen in May?  Why were they putting door hangers out almost two months after they expired?  So we ordered a large pizza with five toppings – extra cheese not being included as a topping but rather costing $1.50 extra, was skipped – bacon, pepperoni, tomatoes, green peppers and onions.  No cheesy bread because that was $4.95 extra and we weren’t trying to spend a whole lot.  They quoted us 45 minutes to an hour (at five o’clock on a Sunday… apparently this is prime pizza time).

The one good mark Dough Boy’s gets is in time management.  The pizza arrived within 20 minutes.  I was thoroughly shocked.  Bill: $11.49 - $9.49 + $2.00 delivery charge.  Not bad, but not as great as that tantalizing Anniversary Special that had lured us in.  The slogan at Dough Boy’s is “We load on the toppings!!” and in all fairness to my readers, don’t believe this false advertising.  If by “load on the toppings” they mean toss them about randomly in a haphazard fashion so that only some slices have 2 toppings and some have 5, well then fine.  But in my book, “loading on the toppings” means having lots of each topping on every single slice across the entire pizza.  Ugh!  There were no more toppings than any other pizza I’ve ordered from any other place.  As for the size of the large, well, it was actually the size of a Pizza Hut medium.  Seriously.

Overall, I was quite disappointed.  It was a fine pizza, not great or spectacular, and I’d really like to know exactly who voted them best new pizza in Columbus.  The menu is fairly extensive, with wings and Italian dinners and salads and all that jazz, which might be the reason why they can’t focus on an awesome pizza.

To learn more about Dough Boy’s, click here to visit their website.

Overall Scores: (1-5, 1 being lowest, 5 highest)           

Cleanliness: unknown

Value: 2

Accessibility: 4

Friendliness: 3

Menu: 5

High on the Hog

Location:

Hoggy’s (Grandview)

1416 West 5th Avenue

Columbus, OH 43212

(614) 485-4647

Last Sunday I met up with a friend from culinary school, Rich.  He had been raving for a few weeks about Hoggy’s in Grandview, specifically their gigantic mountain of onion rings that I just had to try.  We met around noon on a hot and humid afternoon, so of course the first action was to get some cold beer in our systems.  Blue Moon draught, one of my top favorites, was the choice for both of us.

After sipping the suds and catching up, we finally took a glance at the menu.  One legal-sized back and front menu held a plethora of options, from ribs to wings to brisket and chickens – yes, chickenS, for the Hoggy’s challenge involved a half chicken (and other goodies) and there is also a half chicken meal available.  We opted for a sort of sampler, with Mt. Onion Ring as our starter and Rich getting the brisket dinner and myself getting a ribs/wing combo.

Let me tell you, Rich was not kidding when he described the onion ring starter.  This beast cast a shadow over the bar as it was being carried out, and people turned in awe as it was placed in front of us.  I believe there were some tumbleweeds involved as well as the whistling of an old prairie song… or maybe I just imagined that part… either way, this thing was huge.  The onion rings were piled almost a foot high, and each ring looked like a donut.  A donut!  Made of battered onion!  It was like heaven.

I’ve been on a mission to find a tasty super hot wing here in Columbus, and Hoggy’s presented me with an opportunity to try their “hottest”.  Unfortunately, the “Texas Pete Hot” and Cajun sauces left much to be desired in the fire category; however, they were awesome in the flavor category. My combo came with five wings and babyback ribs (in original Hoggy’s BBQ sauce) and a side of celery & bleu cheese.  For $10.99 I would have liked at least one more wing, but it was filling.  As I said earlier, Rich got the brisket dinner, which was a half pound of sliced brisket and two sides – he chose tomato cucumber salad and coleslaw.  The brisket was absolutely butter!  He literally cut it was a spoon.  The coleslaw was fine, we were both a little “meh” about it because it just seemed to be lacking something, whether it was salt & pepper or some red cabbage, we just couldn’t decide.  I didn’t try the tomato salad, but Rich said it was crisp and refreshing and a good contrast to the heaviness of the brisket.  Oh! There was cornbread too.  I ate mine for dessert.

All in all, even though Hoggy’s is a chain restaurant (which I normally wouldn’t cover, but I’ve got a soft spot for franchises), it has the neighborhood feel to it.  Our barmaid/server (for she performed both duties with ease) was very friendly, prompt, and attentive and the management was helpful as well, running food out to us when the barmaid was busy so that we didn’t have to wait.  The value at Hoggy’s is fair, but in my opinion they could offer a little more food for the cost.

To learn more about Hoggy’s, click here to visit their website.

Overall Scores: (1-5, 1 being lowest, 5 highest)                    

Cleanliness: 5

Value: 4

Accessibility: 4

Friendliness: 5

Menu: 3

Summer Series #4 - Grapes of Mirth

In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage. ~The Grapes of Wrath

 
Location:

Grapes of Mirth

59 West Spruce Street

Columbus, Ohio 43015

614-221-9463

Located on the east wall of the North Market, Grapes of Mirth is your one-stop-shop for all exotic beer and wine needs.  They feature over 600 wines and 200 beers, all crammed into a teeny tiny area comprised mostly of eight to ten foot high shelves and small wooden skids with the occasional haphazard stack of cardboard crates.

David Bihn has owned Grapes of Mirth since 2003 and, according to the website, has been with the company for over fourteen years.  He’s a friendly fellow,  always ready to lead you to your favorite bottle or suggest something new if they don’t have what you’re looking for; however, if they don’t have what you want, he will gladly order it on the spot.
 

Grapes of Mirth features artisan wines as well as “commercial” wines, and they carry a plethora of Ohio wines as well.  From what I could tell, many of the Ohio wines available are not readily available in your everyday local wine shop or grocery store.  Yay, Locavores!  They have the largest selection of Belgian beers in the central Ohio area, possibly in all of Ohio, and the best part of the beer selection (and the wine selection) is that if you ask David a question, odds are he knows the answer.  Not only does Grapes of Mirth have the physical inventory, they also have the mental inventory.

When I stopped by Grapes of Mirth, I was on a mission: find Vinho Verde, my number one most favorite wine of all time.  It’s a sweeter wine, which I normally don’t care for, but the fermentation and bottling processes cause the wine to have a slightly carbonated feel about it – not as fizzy as beer or pop but definitely more tickly to your tongue than a normal white wine.  I was in luck – big time – because David had just gotten in a large shipment of Vinho Verde!  There were four inexpensive choices ranging from $5.99 to $7.99.  At the time I thought I was just getting lucky on the price, for in the past I had paid up to $15.99 per bottle at another wine shop near Dublin.  Apparently Grapes of Mirth always sells their Vinho Verde for these low-low prices!  Having worked in yet another wine shop since that day, I can tell you 100% that you will NOT find a lower price on this delicious wine.

Official tasting parties or events are not regularly scheduled, but you can arrange a “private” tasting with the owner.  Obviously Ohio laws call for a charge, but this is typical of all alcohol tasting venues and events.  Also for sale at Grapes of Mirth are different accessories, such as gift bags, wine keys, corkscrews and so forth.

For more information, visit their website here.

Overall Scores: (1-5, 1 being lowest, 5 highest)                    

Cleanliness: 3 (everything has that dusty wine-cellar feel to it)

Value: 5

Accessibility: 3 (the North Market is easy to get to, the shop is easy to get to, the bottle are definitely not easy to get to!)

Friendliness: 5

Menu: n/a but the selection is mind-boggling!

 

Summer Series #3 - CaJohn's Flavor & Fire

Location:

CaJohn’s Flavor & Fire

59 West Spruce Street

Columbus, Ohio 43015

888-703-FIRE

When you walk into the North Market from the east side of the building, turn to your left at the first intersection and you will see CaJohn’s on the right.  They are a “salsa” company, a “hot sauce” company, or maybe a “dare-you-to-try-this” company.  CaJohn’s always has samples set out, usually 5-7 of their featured salsas, complete with a pretzel stick or tortilla chip to test them out.  The samples are set up in order from mild to wild, and I’m the one who always starts at the end, trying the hottest, craziest flavor first.  I love a rush!

CaJohn's Fiery Foods was started in 1996 by John Hard, a Fire Protection Engineer by day and Gulf Coast cuisine enthusiast by night.  John’s wife, Sue, just happened to have been raised on the coast of Mississippi. It was a match made in heaven, one which lead to the beautiful marriage of Southwestern and Gulf Coast flavors and birthed the joyous bundle we call “CaJohn’s”.  The flavor profile has expanded to include Asian and Caribbean as well as Southwestern and Cajun spices.  There are 150 children in the CaJohn’s family; Salsas, barbecue sauce, hot sauce, rubs, mixes, spice blends, and mustards make up the fabric of this spicy quilt.  Names, flavors and combinations have been inspired and created by John & Sue’s real-life children, and the entire family is involved in the company to this day.

CaJohn’s assigns levels to the heat of its products, ranging from Mild (1) to Stoopinfyin’ (XXX).  They have won numerous honors, including two 2010 Golden Chile awards.  Their factory is located in Westerville, and there is a store at this location as well.  For more information, visit their website here.

Overall Scores: (1-5, 1 being lowest, 5 highest)                    

Cleanliness: 5

Value: 5

Accessibility: 5

Friendliness: 5

Menu: n/a but the selection is unbelievable!

A Few Words about Fast Food

Morgan Spurlock: What is this a picture of?

Child: I don't know. George W. Bush?

[Morgan shows the camera that it is actually a picture of Jesus]

Fast Food is so often given a bad reputation by the health mongers of the world, and more often than not, I agree with them.  I think it's sad that a kid would think that G.W. is actually J.C. and that they would be more apt to recognize Ronald McDonald than the president.  But I'm not here to wax poetic on the evils of sodium and preservative-enriched dog food; I'm here to talk about what's great about franchisees!

One of the best inventions in the fast food world was the ability to franchise.  It allows a person with the drive but not the means to open their own restaurant to do so.  Franchises come with built-in customers and demographics, well-known menus and gimmicks and histories.  It's up to the owner of each franchise to make their store their own and make it profitable.  I have to specifically mention two franchises in the Dublin area.  

First is the Burger King at Sawmill & Bethel.  I'm not sure if the management specifically targets applicants for their sense of humour and jovial attitude, but everytime I go in, no matter who waits on me, I always end up smiling.  They are SO FRIENDLY!  The menu is generic Burger King menu, however, they do one thing that I absolutely love: Everytime I order a large water, they actually give me a large water.  None of this kids-cup here's your free-freaking-water bullcrap, no.  LARGE CUP barelyfitsinthecupholder FREE WATER!  Amazing.  

Next is Dublin Dairy Queen at Sawmill & Emerald Parkway.  Dublin DQ used to be located in the richer part of Dublin on Avery-Muirfield Road.  When rent skyrocketed in that newer shopping center, owner Tim Tanner was forced to relocate to an old worn-down shopping center north of Hard Road.  He kept his spirits up though, and despite a poor economy and a shrewish wife, Dublin DQ is still hanging on.  They pay their employees fairly, even above what normal fast food kids make, and you are always guaranteed hours.  The menu is just as diverse as any other DQ, except at this one you are always able to order a BBQ pork sandwich and fried mushrooms if you desire.  Those are two local items that not all Dairy Queens offer!  I happen to love the mushrooms... just don't eat them right away - they have to sit a few minutes to cool down otherwise your taste buds will be burned right off your tongue.  The best thing about Dublin Dairy Queen isn't the food or the atmosphere or the employees - it's the owner himself.  Tim Tanner has been an essential part of the Dublin community for over 15 years.  He's a staple at the Irish festival every August, he donates time and treats to local charity events, and he provides rewards and parties in ice cream form to children in most, if not all, of the Dublin schools.  Everyone in Dublin knows Tim!

My point is, the next time you are hungry for fast food, think about "the little people" who put their financial lives on the line for your satisfaction, and try to choose a franchised retaurant.  Despite being "big namers", they are truly a part of the community and should be looked at with the same type of respect and regard as most mom & pop shops.