As Told By A Californian: Foods of Ohio!

By Kayleigh Chevrier on March 24, 2015

If there is one thing anyone should know about me, it’s that I’m a huge connoisseur of food. I love food. I’ll try anything and everything.

Living in Ohio, I’ve had the chance to try some local food chains and native delicacies! You wouldn’t think there would be much of a difference (come on, it’s not like we’re in a whole new country) but there are some things you just can’t get on the West Coast.

Here’s what I have to say about the local cuisine Ohio has to offer.

First, Ohio has a lot of chains that don’t exist in good ol’ California. Yes, I’m talking about White Castle Burgers and Skyline Chili.

whitecastle.com

I didn’t even know what White Castle was until my brother came home with the DVD “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” from the local Blockbuster (rest in peace). The first thing I did when I arrived in Ohio was go through the drive-thru at White Castle and it was glorious.

This was a nice change from the White Castle frozen sliders available only at your local grocery stores and nowhere else in the state of California. They are the perfect shape for my palm and like everything else that’s absolutely DELISH, they are extremely bad for you. Perfect.

The next food chain is Cincinnati-born Skyline Chili. Alright, I recently tried my first Skyline coney and three-way over spring break and I absolutely loved it. After my friend explained to everyone in the restaurant that it was my first time, they hooked me up with Skyline’s famous dishes and it was so good. They even gave me my own goodie bag with crackers and a bib. What sweethearts.

I loved the hint-of-cinnamon, no-beans chili. So good. But I guess everyone else who is not from Ohio never ends up liking Skyline? I don’t understand that. I apologize on behalf of the people who think Skyline Chili is the worst thing they’ve ever eaten. They are crazy and they’re lying to themselves and to you so they can seem cool.

Doesn’t that look amazing? (skylinechili.com)

I’ve also eaten at some of the Columbus native sit-down places, specifically Thurman’s and Der Dutchman.

My first time at Thurman’s, I thought I would try the famous “Thurmanator.” It was not only delicious, but it was also gigantic. I did not finish the whole thing, let alone in just 15 minutes. I don’t even think I made a dent in the burger, but I would definitely go again and try some of their other dishes like the Chicken Burger or perhaps a regular Thurman burger.

I didn’t know that Thurman’s was featured on the Travel Channel’s “Man vs. Food” but that just heightens the importance of running down there and trying one of their delicious burgers. Yum.

Yeah, I didn’t even dent this Thurmanator. (columbuscrave.com)

Amish Style Restaurant & Store (walnutcreekohio.org)

 

I’ve also enjoyed a great meal at Ohio-born restaurant, Der Dutchman. Der Dutchman specializes in Amish-style dishes.

Okay, one: I’ve never had mashed potatoes so creamy, and two: the roast beef was just fabulous.

To really set you in the aesthetics of the restaurant, the employees wear traditional Amish dresses and suits.  Everything is so good and everyone is so friendly, I definitely want to go back and try the pot pie, which I hear is sublime. A+

I also really enjoy going to international markets that aren’t “World Market: the corporate version of international grocery stores.” Over the break, I visited Jungle Jim’s, which is an international grocery store that sells almost all of the basic cultural delicacies.

My goodness, it was like walking into Disneyland: Food Park Edition. I think I spent over $40 just buying things that I’ve never tried before or that I’ve had somewhere in my previous travels. They have everything from Italian spices to Kimchi Soda. What a treat.

North Market, in Columbus, is also a great place to buy and try cultural dishes.

Overlooking just a small section of the Jungle Jim’s! (columbusparent.com)

Now, let’s talk about dessert. I am such a dessert person and I can never say no to ice cream. Why aren’t I a size 2? Because I need ice cream like fish need water. If you are one of the people out there who hates ice cream, I’m sorry your life is so sad.

Anyway, there are many places to get ice cream in Ohio that are definitely different than back in California, specifically Graeters Ice Cream and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.

Sometimes when I’m back at home I get the sudden craving for Black Raspberry Chip, and let me tell you, there is nothing like it that’s even on the same scale as Cincinnati-born Graeters Ice Cream. I’m pretty sure I’m Graeters’ number one fan. I go there so often that before I walk in the door, my faithful ice cream man has my cone ready for me to go. That is the life.

I’ve tried other flavors, too, like Mint Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon, and their fall seasonal flavor, Pumpkin (it’s SOOOO good! Keep an eye out for it next fall).

Mouth Watering (graeters.com)

If ever I’m feeling really crazy and want to throw off my taste buds, I head down to famous Columbus-centered franchise Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream. I didn’t think I’d ever like Toasted Brioche with Butter & Raspberry Jam, but it wasn’t that bad! I also like the other flavors like Buckeye State, Salty Caramel, and Pistachio & Honey.

Jeni’s is quality ice cream but sometimes I’m just not feeling the “exotic” flavors. I can only eat so much Toasted Goat Cheese & Buckwheat at one time. I don’t know if I’ll ever like the Wildberry Lavender. It tastes like the fancy shell soap that my mom put out for our house guests. I guess that’s good for someone!

Though Jeni’s can be good at times, I’m definitely more #teamgraeters.

Thai Chili? Wow. (rebelmom.com)

While we’re still on dessert, how about them buckeyes, huh?! After my first year at Ohio State, my mom and I tried to make these chocolate peanut butter beauties over the summer. It was not successful. I don’t know if our outside chocolate didn’t form correctly or what, but we can never get really good quality buckeyes unless we are actually in Ohio.

It’s also great because I can tell all the folks at home that I’ve eaten so many buckeyes that my body has become impervious to the poison. But shh! Don’t tell them it’s only chocolate and peanut butter.

Here I’ve found a great recipe for Buckeyes that is sure to impress!

Recipe for Buckeyes!

I could go on and on about the different foods I’ve had the chance to test but this would turn into a novel instead of an article. The things I’ve mentioned don’t even put a dent in the many places you can go experience good old fashioned Midwestern cuisine. I encourage you to go out and try new foods surrounding your area or binge eat the foods only available in your area.

Thanks, Ohio, for being the birthplace of many foods that I will crave for days on end when I don’t have them around me back home.

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