Dine Original on Ag Day!

All week long in Columbus we are celebrating Dine Originals week. There are 50 signature locally owned restaurants that are being celebrated March 5-11. I find it very appropriate that this week also just happens to include National Ag Day on March 8th. There is a growing sector of our population that is more in tune with what they consume and where they buy their food and fiber. Having grown up in agriculture, I have always felt very connected to where my food comes from and the farmers who produce it. I also have a passion for supporting local business, especially when we eat outside of our home. Most of you who know me well know I love to cook, so we find ourselves eating at home most of the time. You never know what we could be eating at our house and I try to keep it fun, simple and nutritious. Here are some things I hope that you will take to heart not only today but every day that you consume food, use fibers and think about career opportunities.

• Understand how food and fiber products are produced.

• Appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products.

• Value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy.

• Acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industry.

This is a great fact to remember: For every $100 you spend in a locally owned business, $68 remains in that community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures verses $43 spent in a national chain. These local businesses source all kinds of products from local producers:
Before Matt and I had children we led a much more fun and exciting dining life. While we were dating and through our first 5 years of marriage, we would pick a local restaurant and eat at new one each month, some of my favorites on the dine originals list are:

Shaw’s: (Lancaster) Go for the pork chop! (had our wedding rehearsal dinner there)

The Top: (Bexley) Ask for your salad a lettuce bowl with blue cheese crumbles (favorite steak house)

Alana’s: In the University District, her menu is all beautiful and divine (this was one of our date spots)

Betty’s Fine Food and Spirits: (Short North) Great spot for good old food and atmosphere

Tip Top: (Downtown) Love the Mac and Cheese (our hip and trendy down town friends got me hooked)

Tony’s: (Brewery District) I love their Sea Food Fettuccine

Columbus Brewing Company: (Brewery district) Great for drinks and Aaron White, one of the Chefs, knows how to cook with lamb!

There are so many I enjoy and more I cannot wait to try. At the top of my list to try are:

Black Creek Bistro
Skillet
The Jury Room
Mezzo
The Inn at Cedar Falls

If you have suggestions for any of the Dine Originals restaurants let me know!

As one of my favorite bumper stickers reads” If you enjoyed a good meal today thank a farmer!” If you do not know a farmer, visit http://findourcommonground.com/ to meet lots of them. Try to remember those who own local businesses, produce your food and work in Ohio’s number one industry, not just on special days like today, but each and every day.