The Palate of Pickerington Competition highlights cuisine of the community

IIn a world full of easily accessible chain restaurants and fast food drive-thrus, it can be easy to forget about the unique flavor of local businesses.

But for the past 14 years, the Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce and its Taste of Pickerington competition have put the spotlight back on regional restaurants.

“We do this competition every year to highlight our local businesses,” says Chamber President Helen Mayle. “It really builds up the local spirit.”

At 2011’s Taste of Pickerington, A Taste to Remember Catering took home the title of Pickerington’s tastiest establishment courtesy of its barbecue pulled and roasted chicken.

“We … have lived in Pickerington for 13 years and owned our business for four years, but this was the first year we entered the competition,” says Sabra Kershaw, who co-owns A Taste to Remember with her husband, Eric. “It was such a nice surprise to win last year. We weren’t expecting it.”

Each year’s winner, chosen by a panel of local celebrity food judges, is rewarded with a purple spatula trophy that represents both Pickerington and the element of taste. When the next competition rolls around, the winner returns the trophy and enters the competition in hopes of taking it home again.

“We are surely going to be in it this year,” Sabra says. “We’re going to try our best to come out on top again.”

Sabra notes the business’ originality and creativity as the keys to their 2011 capture of the coveted trophy.

“Everything we make is completely from scratch,” she says. “We try to provide the freshest foods for our customers.”

A Taste to Remember also hosts the wing-eating competition at the Taste of Pickerington, which pits two local football teams against each other in a feasting frenzy. Students from Pickerington High Schools North and Central stuff themselves to see who can come out on top and earn bragging rights as wing-eating champs.

The Taste of Pickerington features a festival atmosphere and is accommodating to families, Sabra says.

“People walk around on a beautiful day and try all sorts of local food,” she says. “The community really supports us. They really embrace their small business owners.”

This year’s Taste of Pickerington will be held on Columbus Street in Olde Pickerington Village on Oct. 6. In addition to the many culinary options, a salsa band will provide live entertainment. There is no fee to get into the event, but each vendor charges $1 per taste.

“There’s a large variety of food and entertainment here,” Mayle says. “That $1 could get you an entrée, a piece of pizza, a dessert or a drink. They’re all pretty big portions and it’s a part of an all-around fun time.”

Stephan Reed is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@city scenemediagroup.com.

Barbecue Pulled Chicken with Southwestern Coleslaw

Ingredients

• Whole chicken; 4-5 lbs.

• 2 Tbsp. onion powder

• 1 Tbsp. paprika

• ¼ tsp. salt

• ¼ tsp. pepper

• 4 cups barbecue sauce

• 16 oz. shredded cabbage

• 8 oz. black beans (canned)

• 8 oz. frozen corn (thawed)

• 4 oz. shredded carrots

• 1 tsp. cumin powder

• ½ tsp. chili powder

• 6 oz. coleslaw dressing

• ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)

• sliced jalapeño peppers (optional) Directions

1. Clean and rub chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper.

2. Bake chicken at 350 degrees until it reaches 165 degrees between the breast and thigh. Do not touch the bone.

3. Let the chicken rest 20 minutes. Pull meat off the bones, discarding the skin and bones.

4. Shred meat and toss into barbecue sauce.

5. In another bowl, combine slaw dressing, cumin and chili powder. Add salt and pepper to taste.

6. Mix both together.

7. Place chicken and slaw on your favorite roll and enjoy.

By Colleen Cassidy Bauman, Pickerington Public Library Community Services Coordinator

Pugs in a Bug

By Carolyn Crimi

Six pudgy pugs hop in a car and take a spin through locales from country and city to desert and beach, encountering other dogs in other vehicles along the way and teaching young readers about counting.

Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love

By Larry Levin

Oogy had been used as bait for fighting dogs when he was just a few months old. He had been left to die until the police rescued him and the staff at Ardmore Animal Hospital saved his life. The Levins, whose sons are themselves adopted, were unable to resist Oogy’s charms and decided to take him home.

Giant George: Life with the World’s Biggest Dog

By Dave Nasser with Lynne Barrett-Lee

He was the runt of the litter when Dave and Christy Nasser brought him home, but the family’s blue-eyed “baby” grew up to become almost 5 feet tall, 7 feet long and 245 pounds. The book tells the Great Dane’s tale from puppy to tallest dog in history.

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By Studio Visual Steps

Senior citizens looking to boost their tech savvy can use this book to learn more about Facebook, Twitter and all other levels of social media, with screenshots and step-by-step instructions to make things simple.

Google for Seniors: Get

Acquainted with Free Google Applications: Google Earth, Maps, Reader, Docs, Sites, Chrome

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Session 2: Oct.22 - Dec.21

Session 3: Jan. 6 - March 22

Session 4: March 4 - April 27