Pairings A COMPANION PUBLICATION TO HEART OF OHIO MAGAZINE
SPRING 2015
Wine can take you on a
Journey
Contents
0 4 |
Grocery Shopping Made Fun
0 7 |
Wine Destinations
10 |
Slantwalk Wine
13 |
Predicting a Full Moon
Giant Eagle’s Market District
3 on the Road
From Argentina to Ohio
Mill Street Distillery
SPRING 2015
15 |
The Buckeye State Embraces the Grape
18 |
Altered Eats
20 |
Wine Speak
The State of Wine in Ohio
A Unique Food Truck in Mansfield, Ohio
Wine Quotables
Say
o d I
at
Photos by Fred Ha
nsen Photography
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From the Editor In this spring issue of Pairings, we bring you a wine journey that dreams are made of: Slantwalk Wine. It’s a story of four women and their unexpected journey to owning their own wine label. I hope their story will inspire you to chase your wildest dreams as they have inspired me. Mike shares with us a wine journey you can make in your own backyard with a chronicle of the hippest wine bars in our area. Take a peek at what the Mid-Ohio wine scene has to offer with “Three on the Road”. Publishing is an ever changing journey of its own; but it is with excitement that we announce a new direction for our biannual companion publication to Heart of Ohio magazine. Our newly minted publication will feature specially selected topics of interest that will delve deeper into all that our local community has to offer, from pets to gardening to lifetime sports. Keep your eyes open as it will hit the news stands this fall. But never fret my fellow oenophiles! Pairings will not be going away. We will now feature a special Pairings section within the pages of Heart of Ohio Magazine to whet your thirst for all things wine. So sit back, relax, and let this issue of Pairings take you from Ohio to Argentina and everywhere in between.
Publisher SunGraphics, Inc. Diane K. Brown, President diane@sungraphicsinc.com Editor Adelyn Belsterling editor@heartofohiomagazine.com Sales & Marketing Mike Greene mike@heartofohiomagazine.com Diane Brown diane@heartofohiomagazine.com Contributing Writers Adelyn Belsterling Diana L. Coon Mike Greene Chuck Jakubchak Siera Marth Graphic Designer Tom Hofacre
Adelyn Belsterling, Editor
Circulation Michelle Fredmonsky-Harvey michelle@sungraphicsinc.com Becky Herrick maildept@sungraphicsinc.com Pairings is printed and published biannually by SunGraphics, Inc.
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Copyright 2015, Heart of Ohio Magazine, LLC. ISSN 2158-8732. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or pictorial content in any manner is prohibited without written permission. SunGraphics, Inc. and Heart of Ohio Magazine, LLC accept no responsibility for unsolicited material. While ensuring that all published information is accurate, the publisher cannot be held responsible for mistakes and/or omissions. Distributed through local retailers, advertisers and by subscription.
2 pairings heartofohiomagazine.com/pairings
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Grocery Shopping Made Fun Giant Eagle’s Market District Strongsville, Ohio By Chuck Jakubchak
E
arly grocery stores were small —
allowing shoppers to better utilize their
a day, and offers products and services
less than 1,000 square feet — and
valuable time. Fortunately for some
beyond the scope of other grocery stores.
sold canned goods, along with
Ohioans, the evolution of grocery stores
Market District is unlike any other grocery
took another major step late last year.
store you have visited.
nonperishable items. All goods were sold over the counter, and consumers had to
Giant Eagle, headquartered in
Your first sense that Market District is
inconveniently visit other merchants to
Pittsburgh, decided to improve the
a different type of store occurs when you
purchase meats, produce or baked goods.
concept of one-stop shopping by opening
grab the shopping cart and head into the
During the 20th century, self-serve grocery
their Market District store in Strongsville,
store. You quickly notice the two beverage
stores popped up, and they gave way
Ohio this past October. The new store
holders molded into the handle of the cart.
to “supermarkets” located in shopping
contains more than 107,000 square feet
A Starbucks coffee cup fits nicely in the
centers. Each new generation of stores
of shopping area (larger than two football
left holder, while the right one is designed
became progressively larger, with a greater
fields and double the size of a typical
to accommodate a glass of wine or beer
variety of quality goods offered for sale.
grocery store), with all of the space
that can be purchased from the in-store
Economies of scale in the new, larger
dedicated to items you use in your home.
bar. Yes, you can purchase and consume
stores reduced the cost of groceries, and
Market District employs more than 425
any one of the 12 different wines or 18
shopping trips became more efficient,
friendly people, remains open 24 hours
different beers on tap at the bar while
4 pairings heartofohiomagazine.com/pairings
SHOPPING If shopping at Market District whets your appetite, stroll over to the 107seat restaurant and place an order for your favorite food. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served each day, and their kitchen opens at 7 a.m. Specials are offered most days, and on Tuesdays, children eat free day (with paying adult). Monday is half-priced pizza night, and their stone hearth oven turns out a tasty pie that competes with any establishment. Tipping is not permitted in the restaurant, and their self-serve beverage island has more than 30 soft drink options to quench your thirst. a variety of spices, candies, nuts, olive
Market District offers the services
oils, peppers, teas and coffees in the
usually provided by other large grocery
specific quantities they desire. This is
stores, such as dry cleaning, pharmacy,
a great alternative for discriminating
floral, a fresh fish counter, deli and assorted
shoppers who prefer purchasing quantities
prepared foods that are ready to take
commensurate with their specific needs.
home. However, they have also included
While shopping, feel free to use their
other unique offerings unlike the typical
complimentary Wi-Fi to peruse email or
grocery store. The artisan cheese shop
update your Facebook page, as Market
offers more than 400 handcrafted domestic
District is e-friendly and sensitive to the
and imported cheeses and will surely have
needs of their customers. If you need to
one to suit your tastes. The in-store candy
unwind a little before or after shopping,
counter produces specialty chocolate
stop by their comfy chairs and couches
candies and is located next to the gelato
near the front of the store that are
store that will gladly sell you a scoop of
you do your grocery shopping. Should
located close to a cozy gas fireplace. The
any of the 18 flavors offered each day. In
you prefer to sit in the bar area, you can
living room setting in Market District is
the cosmetic section of the store, a unique
enjoy the flat screen television and take
appealing and a great place to take a break
soap bar allows you to select and bag your
advantage of the comfortable lounge.
and chat with a friend.
favorite scented goat’s milk body soap.
After walking through the entrance
The massive bakery located at the rear
If you are a wine connoisseur, Market
doors to Market District, you enter a
of the store offers an amazing selection
District probably carries your favorite
huge area dedicated to fresh fruits and
of gourmet cakes, pastries, cookies and
variety, as they stock more than 2,400
vegetables that are attractively displayed.
artisan breads. Baking occurs throughout
varieties of wine. Their inventory
Whether you need basic items, organically
the day, but things really pick up at 1:00
includes domestic, international and
grown or some exotic item like a stalk
am., when the staff magically turn flour
local selections, while striving to have
of sugar cane, Market District probably
and water into treats that we all enjoy.
a combination of both popular and
stocks it, if it is seasonally available.
The bakery team produces more than 30
emerging varieties. Each Thursday, they
Adjacent to the produce section is their
different loaves of artisan bread each day,
offer a wine tasting event so customers
bulk foods area. Not found in typical
including everything from basic Italian
can sample bottles from their extensive
grocery stores, Market District’s bulk food
to Black Russian rye. All are ready for
inventory. On Friday evenings, the chef
section allows customers to purchase
purchase when you arrive in the morning.
and wine steward work together to offer
heartofohiomagazine.com/pairings pairings
5
a gourmet entree in their restaurant, matching the meal with the perfect, complementary wine. If you prefer other adult beverages, Market District proudly carries about 900 different types of bottled beers and strives to stock whatever their customers want. They have also dedicated a special room within the store as a State Liquor Store, carrying 1,000 different spirits, and their inventory includes select bourbons and whiskeys, in addition to the usual offerings. Another innovative offering of Market District is their “Cooking School”, located on the mezzanine level of the store. Each month, they offer about 20 different classes for a modest fee, and classes may involve seafood preparation, ethnic foods, tailgating tips and bread baking. Their curriculum changes every month, but there are always classes tied to seasonal holidays, and they have even included classes for aspiring young chefs, starting at age five. You can learn how to properly prepare and serve anything you purchase at Market District. One of the worst parts of grocery shopping is usually the checkout lines. You never know which one to stand in, and usually your line seems gridlocked, while other lines flow freely without hold-ups due to dreaded price verifications or check approvals. Market District solved that aggravation by creating a central checkout line, where everyone flows Market District is located at 15919 Pearl
through the same line and a computer
and services that make the task of
directs the shopper to the next available
shopping enjoyable, efficient and less
Road in Strongsville, less than two miles
checkout register. Gone are the days
stressful. The outstanding customer
from SouthPark Mall. Their phone number
where you selected the slow line, and
service, quality products and unique
is 440-238-6446.
this use of technology is a wonderful
offerings make the store fun for everyone
time saver!
to visit. Market District isn’t just a
Ohio with similar offerings are located in
Additional Market District stores in
grocery store; it is an attraction that you
Solon, Uniontown, Cuyahoga Falls and the
represents the next generation of grocery
should experience the next time you travel
Columbus area.
stores, providing a vast array of products
to Strongsville. $
Giant Eagle’s Market District
6 pairings heartofohiomagazine.com/pairings
Wine Destinations 3 ON THE ROAD
There is always excitement in finding someplace new where you can dine with fine wine. With the popularity that wine is experiencing across the country and, more specifically, here in Ohio, I thought that you might appreciate learning a bit about three places that are each unique in strikingly dissimilar ways. One is in Shelby, a second is in Wooster and the third is in North Canton.
T
he first of these is The Vault, located in the heart of
70 patrons. Those who partake of The Vault’s menu of food and
Shelby, a town of about 8,000 people in northern Richland
drink should also keep apprised of the entertainment possibilities
County. That just happens to be the place where I grew
that Shelby’s only wine bar has planned, some of which will be
up. Back then, the space, now called The Vault, was occupied by a
offered outside their normal operating hours. For more information
bank, the one where I opened my first Christmas Club account.
and their current hours of operation,
After going through a couple of name changes, the bank
visit www.vaultwinebar.com .
closed its doors about a dozen years ago. It sat empty until Ben
So, for wine, craft beers, a full
and Cindy Lash, Shelby natives with a food service background,
menu and more, you’re cheating
purchased the property from the out-of-town owner. Their idea
yourself if you don’t visit The Vault
was to turn it into a wine bar. If you visit, you’ll first be struck by
in Shelby. And bring along some of
the amazing way they were able to transform the teller station
your Christmas Club savings.
area into a detailed bar with wood and several marble inlays. It preserves the overall look that I recall from my youth, as does the vault — the very same one, although shinier than I remember — that housed my Christmas club quarters. Their wine collection is just part what you’ll find to drink and eat at The Vault. When the Lash’s opened the venue in the summer of last year, they didn’t expect the food part of their business to take off as quickly as it did. So, to service the demand, the kitchen now prepares everything from pizza to short ribs which has helped to develop a loyal following. Inside The Vault there is seating for a little over 70, including the dozen seats at the bar. In the warmer months, a good-sized patio is open, and there is room for almost another
heartofohiomagazine.com/pairings
and Glenn have been concentrating on growing their family and their business. If you’ve not been to the Wooster
Along with their wines, Broken Rocks also has a good selection of craft beers which also complement their appetizers,
location, you may be surprised by the
salads, pasta, steaks and pizza, not to
size of the facility inside, based upon the
mention bakery items, including Glenn’s
unimposing entrance. It features the
signature sour dough bread.
original brick walls and high ceilings,
Soon, perhaps by the time this edition
and seating that is ample, but not to
of Pairings publishes, Broken Rocks will
the point of making you feel crowded or
have added something excitingly new
uncomfortable.
— a wine and craft beer bar in the space right next door to the main restaurant. When we spoke to discuss this article, Glenn did not yet have a name for the new establishment, but he did say that this will allow Broken Rocks to present a whole new wine and craft beer experience. On one of the online restaurant rating
A
sites, someone had written about Broken
nother wine
Rocks, “It’s the best place to see and be
destination in north
seen in Wooster.” If that’s your reason
central Ohio that
for visiting, I wish you good luck in your
is well worth a road trip is
networking efforts. If your motive is just
Broken Rocks in Wooster.
to eat, drink and be very merry, I can
The initial version of this restaurant was
Wine was always meant to play a major
opened in Loudonville in early 2000 by
role in the Broken Rocks business plan.
Lisa and Glenn Grumbling. Lisa was from
While Glenn will admit that he was not a
Michigan and Glenn from Hinckley, Ohio.
wine connoisseur, he told me that he has
They worked together at a Columbus
learned a lot about the tastes of those who
restaurant, but wanted to get close to
visit his establishment in the14-plus years
family in northern Ohio, which led to them
that they have been open.
opening their own place to dine and enjoy
In particular, he said that when
guarantee you should achieve your goals.
W
e’ve written a couple of times in past Pairings editions about the Gervasi
Vineyard complex in North Canton.
testing by tasting samples from his wine
However, we had not yet focused
providers, he always says to himself,
exclusively on the Crush House, as the
“master plan” and when they were unable
“What will this wine go with?” There are
construction had not been completed on
to obtain a liquor license in Loudonville,
many well-known wines that he does not
that industrial-style building that houses
the Grumblings decided to combine the
put on the drink menu, simply because he
a state-of-the art winery, as well as a wine
two operations, and they did that in just
can find nothing that they pair well with
bar and eatery.
a couple of months. In early 2000, they
on the food menu.
wine. The Wooster location was part of their
You can enjoy two distinct experiences
opened the Loudonville Broken Rocks.
by visiting this multi-purpose facility. First
Two months later Lisa
you can watch Gervasi wine being made
gave birth to their first
by taking a tour of the winery itself — all
daughter, and, in July, the
18,200 square feet of it . Every Saturday,
doors opened at 123 E.
there are free public tours of the winery
Liberty St. in Wooster and
facility. The Crush House produces 30,000
the Loudonville location
gallons of wine each year, which equates
closed. Ever since, Lisa
to 150,000 bottles or 12,500 cases.
8 pairings heartofohiomagazine.com/pairings
After your tour, or as the primary reason for your visit to Gervasi’s Crush House, plan lunch or an early evening dinner there. They can seat 100 inside, and, when the weather allows, another 75 outside. If you prefer, you can simply enjoy a relaxing glass of wine, or, as you might expect from the nationality that the name Gervasi brings to mind, you can also select from a list of unique Italian and local craft beers. The Crush House also offers a variety of wine experiences, including an expansive tasting bar, tasting plates and, as I mentioned earlier, both public and private tours. They also have three private dining spaces in the building: the Indoor Tower Room, Outdoor Tower Room and Vineyard Room. The bonus factor in a visit to the Gervasi Vineyard campus is that there is so much more to see, in particular, the villas and the bistro.
The message in this story is that if you have no “must-see” wine-related eating spots on your personal gastronomical list, you can quickly add the three I’ve just told you about; The Vault in Shelby, Broken Rocks in Wooster or the Crush House at Gervasi’s in North Canton. Enjoy them all… one at a time. $ MG
a n i t n
m o r F
e g r A
k l e a n i w t w n a l s
io h to O
F
or an editor of a wine magazine, I don’t claim to know very
When they arrived, their two friends from Chicago wanted to
much about wine. Neither did the “Four Chicas” when they
spend time relaxing on the beaches of Uruguay, while the chicas
purchased a vineyard in Mendoza, Argentina. I first learned
wanted to find adventure off the beaten path. Sarah Hannibal
about the Slantwalk label on a fortuitous phone call with a best
had already been to the region in a Spanish immersion class.
friend from high school. I had expressed my trepidation at writing
Through some of her local contacts, she met two entrepreneurs
for a wine magazine, “All I know about wine is what I like to drink,
and expatriates, David Garrett and Michael Evans, who were
and I like Malbecs.” To which she replied, “My cousin and her
planning on opening a wine bar in the Uco Valley of Mendoza to
friends from Miami University own a vineyard in Argentina. Their
showcase local wines.
flagship wine is a Malbec.” My first thought was: how do four girls from Ohio end up
Argentina’s wine country, while not lacking for quality, was still 20 to 30 years behind Napa in developing their wine tourist
owning a vineyard in Mendoza, Argentina? I immediately got in
industry. But Pablo Gimenez Riili of Argentina and Michael Evans
touch with Sarah Hannibal and set up a conference to talk with the
saw the potential of the region, with its great wines and rustic
Four Chicas, all of which are still involved in the label.
elegance. The pair invested in 250 acres of land to start The Vines
It all started with discounted airfare to Buenos Aires. After graduation, the Four Chicas were living in Chicago when they
of Mendoza, which it parceled out as “Vineyarditas” to private owners around the world.
found a deal on airfare to Argentina. With no kids to account for,
About a year after their trip to Argentina, Riili and Evans gave
they decided to go for it. Three weeks later, the Four Chicas, and
the Four Chicas an offer they couldn’t refuse — a chance to buy a
two of their friends, were on a 16-hour flight to Buenos Aires.
4-acre vineyardita of their own in the Uco Valley. Their answer was, “Why ever not?”
heartofohiomagazine.com/pairings pairings
11
journey
“The has been hard won with ups and downs along the way.”
the label from Chicago as their second jobs. Their wines are sold mostly in Ohio and Kentucky, but they consider themselves lucky to have found the markets they did. “Ohio has been a delight to work with.” There was a learning curve to the process of importing wines, but they had their hands on every step of the process. The management of a wine label is a
For the first three years, the girls didn’t have to do anything while the grapes grew stronger and stronger with each season. In
fits the spirit of the girls’ unconventional
lot less glamorous than jet-setting to the
journey to creating the Slantwalk label.
Argentine countryside, but the chicas
Since 2006, the Argentine wine
are very proud of the product they have
2010, the “Vineyardita de Cuatro Chicas”
tourism industry has seen a boom. The
created. Even without a wine background,
had its first harvest, and the girls made the
Mendoza region now flourishes with bars,
they have successfully managed to build a
trek back to Argentina.
restaurants, and resorts that draw in wine
fully women-owned business that resonates
lovers from around the world. The Vines
with wine lovers and admirers across Ohio.
Under the guidance of the Vines of
The journey has been hard won with
Mendoza’s vintners, the girls supervised
of Mendoza boasts a luxury resort, spa,
and learned much about the blending
and restaurants with world-class fine
ups and downs along the way, but the
and aging processes. A year after the first
dining. Argentina is a magical place, and
response they get from Miami alumnae,
harvest, they began bottling their flagship
the Mendoza valley sports the lushest of
friends, and family makes it all worthwhile.
wine, Slantwalk (named for a historic
views of the Andes mountains. The chicas
For many of us, the winemaking process
walkway through Miami University and
encourage all wine lovers to make the trip.
may seem distant, but it is far from so. The
Oxford, Ohio), and their super premium
But now that all the chicas have jobs
Slantwalk label is a true boutique wine
wine, Slantwalk 4 Barrel. They still bottle
and families, they don’t get to return to
that is only available in our region, with a
and sell these wines today, but each year
Argentina as much as they would like. It
spirit of the unexpected that will inspire
they create two additional varietals inspired
may sound easy to own a vineyard, but the
wine experts and amateurs alike. $ AB
by the unexpected. It’s a tradition that
girls manage the entire business-side of You can find out more and
The “Four Chicas” from left to right: Paula Tordella, Mara Gloor, Sarah Hannibal & Kerri Rygiel
purchase Slantwalk wine at www.slantwalkwine.com.
SPIRITS
Predicting a
Full Moon If the word “moonshine” brings to mind Daisy Duke and banjo music, you’re out of date. Today’s all-Ohio product sips like a top shelf whiskey, but mixes like vodka. Meet the 21st century moonshine from Mill Street Distillery. Three friends sitting around a table,
had access to a large variety of high-grade, locally-grown corn. In addition, the oldest manufacturer of copper stills in the United States is located in Bucyrus, Ohio. We
visiting family in Greece, were the starting
began to formulate an idea for an entirely
point for Mill Street Distillery (MSD). Paul
Ohio-based product. Then we took our
Taiganides, Carlos Ogden and Jeff
time in creating a recipe that gave us a
Thompson enjoyed each other’s company
whiskey smoother than others produced
and the rich, pleasing taste of the locally
from corn,” Hernando Posada, MSD Chief
produced Grappa on their numerous visits.
Financial Officer, said.
“The guys returned from Greece, and
From drawing board to state licensing
we talked about distilling it ourselves, and
board, the process took about two years.
that started us on a great deal of research.
“We had to have our still and system
We finally decided the strength of our
completely set up for inspection before we
being here in Ohio was the fact that we
were considered for a license. It’s a
pairings
13
Americans
“Grappa is something most have never been exposed to on a large scale.”
most Americans have never been exposed to on a large scale. It is a form of grape brandy originally from Italy, made from pomace, which is pressed skins and seeds of grapes. Comparatively, it is an expensive and complex process; from grape selection to pressing to fermentation, distillation then aging, each
laborious, extensive process; we received
it would be well received; the response has
step is delicate and can affect the quality
our license just before Christmas 2013,”
been amazing.
and high standard of our product.”
Hernando recalled. MSD is the first company to produce moonshine in the state of Ohio and hoped
“The popularity of our whiskey, and
MSD is producing two varieties of
the fact that it has such a broad appeal,
Grappa. One is unaged, which means it is
has exceeded even our expectations. We
distilled and bottled immediately, and the
discovered as we experimented with our
other is aged in American oak barrels for
product that it was much more flexible
up to four months.
than we first thought. We created some
“We make both products the same way;
seasonal infusions, and discovered that
we produce them by hand in small batches.
restaurants and bars serving our product
That limits our production, but it creates a
were receptive to them, so we taught
product we’re proud of,” Hernando said. Is
them to make drinks with juices and
there anything else on the horizon for this
fruits. The first one we tried was
boutique distillery? “We have some other
blueberry basil, then sangria. Our
things up our sleeve, but we’re not ready to
recipes are up on the website, www.
talk about them just yet.”
millstdistillery.com, and they’ve really taken off.” Now MSD is happy to bring another
Learn more about Mill Street Distillery and their products by visiting the website, or you can find them located at 10 Mill
first to Ohio. After receiving their second
Street in Utica, Ohio, or at over fifty state
license this past September, they are now
liquor stores and forty restaurants in
producing Grappa. “Grappa is something
central Ohio. $ DC
14 pairings heartofohiomagazine.com/pairings
e p a r G e h t s e c a r b Em
The Buckeye State s e n i W o i Oh f o e t a t S The
A couple of months ago, The Ohio
State University erased any doubts that they were the #1 college football team in the nation. However, when it comes to grape production (an odd comparison, I’ll grant you), where do you think Ohio ranks among the fifty states? The correct answer is 7th or 8th, depending on who you ask. I happened to ask two of the outreach specialists at OARDC, the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, in Wooster, an arm of OSU. David Scurlock is the Director of Viticulture, the study of grapes, while Todd Steiner’s title is Enology Program Manager and Outreach Specialist. For those of you who don’t know, enology is the study of wine and wine making. The OARDC
Todd Steiner
employs about 500 people, and those who dedicate their time and efforts to the wine industry is just a small part of that number. Scurlock came to OARDC in 1980 to
into wine. There are
focus on the viticulture field after spending
2,000 acres of land
time doing apple research in the state
dedicated to the
of Washington. Todd, a native of Wayne
growing of grapes
County, switched to the field of enology in
here in Ohio, and
1996, after spending his early years in the
that number has been
area of animal science.
relatively stable for the
Through the years, Ohio’s wine industry has experienced dramatic growth.
past five years. The assistance
A few numbers quickly illustrate that fact.
that the OARDC offers to the growers of
David Scurlock is a resource for those who
In 1980, we had just 23 wineries in all of
grapes, as well as those who set up and
want to know more about site evaluation;
Ohio. Today, there are approximately
operate the wine-related establishments
e.g., is the land they have in mind suitable
225 locations, where their business, to
where the finished product is sold and
for what they plan to grow? Beyond that,
varying degrees, is that of turning grapes
enjoyed, is consultant-like. For instance,
Scurlock offers advice on which varieties
heartofohiomagazine.com/pairings pairings
15
of grapes would do well in the soil and climate that is being considered. Todd’s work involves helping Ohio’s wineries set up their retail operation and the selection of the wine products that they plan to offer — creating their wine list, if you will. Even though the OARDC is an educational entity, neither Todd nor David consider themselves to be teachers in the strict sense of the word. As I mentioned earlier, they are mainly outreach specialists for the industry.
Todd Steiner
Their goal is to help those in Ohio’s wine industry improve grape quality, and thus wine quality. They are more interested
and Cab Francs. Ohio’s wineries also
events, OARDC also provides valuable
in quality than they are quantity, with
produce some red wines; most of which
advice to the winners and the runners up.
the ultimate goal of achieving maximum
comes from the southern part of the state.
production efficiency.
As researchers, Todd, David and their
a very good time for wine in general, and
coworkers are endeavoring to identify
Ohio wines in particular. Evidence of that
dates back to 1820, when the first known
wine grape varieties that will continue to
can be seen in the growth of the wineries
bottler, Nicholas Longworth, produced
develop Ohio’s reputation for excellence
or stand-alone wine bars across our state.
his product at his home near Cincinnati.
in wine making.
They are found in large cities, small towns
The recorded history of Ohio’s wines
While you have probably tasted some of
Wooster’s OARDC receives the majority
According to David and Todd, this is
and intimate villages. There are six
the Buckeye state’s wines at your favorite
of its funding from the Ohio Grape Industry
distinct grape growing regions in Ohio,
pubs and bars, you probably are not aware
Council (OGIC), and those dollars are the
and it might surprise you to learn that the
of just which kinds are the most popular.
result of taxes on all wines grown and
region that produces the most Ohio wine
For many years, Ohio has been known
consumed in our state, whether they are
is the northeast part of the state.
for wines that were sweet and pink. As
produced in state or not. In turn, David,
the production increased and matured,
Todd and their division do the research on
grown through the recent past, the
Todd said that the industry wanted
those products.
industry did experience a bit of a setback
to move into wines that were more
A good deal of Todd Steiner’s time
While the number of wineries has
due to the “polar vortex” that hit Ohio in
sophisticated. The results include what
involves work with OGIC’s Quality Seal
January 2014. There was extensive grape
Todd says are some great Chardonnays
Program, which is run four times a year
and vine damage to our state’s vinifera
and involves the judging of
(common grape vine), but the industry
Ohio wines. The purpose
enjoyed a good year due to the addition of
of these tasting evaluations
more fruit from out of state to augment the
is to increase consumer
loss of product from in-state vineyards .
awareness of the quality
David Scurlock
If what you have just read has surprised
wines produced from grapes
you — and, by that, I mean that you never
grown right here in our
realized until just a few minutes ago that
own backyards. He helps
Ohio is one of the leading wine producing
to judge wines submitted
states among the 50 — then I have done
by Ohio producers. Winners
my job. As long as David Scurlock and
are selected, and along with
Todd Steiner continue to do their work at
his participation in those
the OARDC, Ohio’s wines will continue to
professional wine tasting
flow and grow. $ MG
16 pairings heartofohiomagazine.com/pairings
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Altered Eats T
by Siera Marth
he first time I saw it I was intrigued;
Richland county natives, and they share a
and flavors she grew so fond of, flavors that
it was colorful and different and well,
passion for good food and their community.
are a major part of their business.
not something I was expecting to
see behind a bar in Mansfield, Ohio.
Massie, a Lexington High School
It is the passion for travel, food,
graduate, worked in food service during her
community and the combination of all of
high school years at Mid-Ohio Sports Car
these ideas that inspired the couple to
recommendation, I decided on the Korean
Course and Snow Trails Winter Resort. She
begin their new venture, starting a mobile
taco, and, if I am being completely honest,
pursued higher education in Sustainability
food truck.
I was quite apprehensive. “Shaved bulgogi
and Ecological Agriculture at Evergreen
beef, I don’t know what that is,” I thought.
State College in Washington state.
Then I tried it. Based on a
“I don’t really like onion and it has two
Schopp was an English Literature and
Food trucks are growing in popularity in cities and other areas, but the idea of a mobile kitchen is nothing new. Chuck
kinds.” But my curiosity was sparked by
Creative Writing major at The Ohio State
wagons followed cowboys around in the
what kind of culinary adventure a Korean
University – Mansfield, after graduating
rough terrain of the west, providing them
taco might take me on. Turns out, a
from Madison High School. He has worked
with meals. Mobile food carts have been on
fabulous one! The flavors were impeccable,
a variety of odd jobs that supplement
street corners in cities for decades. We are
each ingredient complimenting the other,
his interests of writing short stories and
accustomed to the traditional food trailers at
fusing together in one perfect concoction
poems. Currently he works at Leaning
fairs serving fries, corn dogs, elephant ears
of east meets west dining.
Tower of Pizza and Subs in Mansfield.
and all of the other usual carnival foods.
Altered Eats is finding ways to bring
Both owners share an interest for
Although the food truck is not a new
together flavors, ideas and people through
traveling, which took Massie to Taiwan for
concept, the idea of serving nontraditional
their mobile food truck.
a year to teach English. It was in Taiwan
foods seems to be the growing trend —
that she fell in love with the street food,
trucks specializing in lobster rolls, Chinese
and back in Ohio that she missed the food
food bowls and old family recipes. Altered
The owners of Altered Eats, Anne Massie and Aaron Schopp, are both
18 pairings heartofohiomagazine.com/pairings
Eats is doing the same, specializing in
the perfect word to bring their idea full-
food truck is that it’s mobile, we could go
“American classics with ethnic favorites”.
circle. Fusion was their buzzword, and
anywhere we want.”
The dream became more of a reality when an ad for a truck on Craigslist caught the eye of the couple. After contacting
altered took it on in a whole new meaning, and so, the final touch was added. With the help of friends and family,
As they prepare for the next season to begin, they hope to add some new locations to their list, as well as getting
the owner of the truck, they made a trip to
they developed their menu, trying
more experience with catering — another
Mount Vernon, Ohio to see what potential
different combinations and recipes,
service they offer.
it might hold.
gathering opinions and ideas for what
Promoting urban gardens, buying local,
would be popular. The menu can also
and being sustainable are all ideas they
problem for Schopp, who has worked
be found on their website and rotates
would like to encourage as their business
a variety of handyman jobs), the truck
seasonally; it shows the true passion the
continues to grow. They even dream of
was definitely promising. After having
couple has for food and flavor.
producing their own ingredients some day.
Although it needed a little work (no
a mechanic look at it, the decision was made, they had found their mobile kitchen. What was once an idea was shaping up quickly! Stripping the truck, making both exterior and interior renovations, adding electric and purchasing some new equipment was necessary, but it put them
“Food crosses all borders and languages; food is tradition, art and love, in its own way timeless.”
one step closer to fulfilling the dream. Choosing a name for the truck proved to be a little more trying than they
The serving window of Altered Eats
Talking with Massie and Schopp was a
expected. A name must express the vision
opened in 2014, and includes several
refreshing experience for me; it was easy
and attitude of the business. The idea
locations, but they can be most frequently
to see the love for food and community
behind Altered Eats is to serve fusion
found behind the Phoenix Brewing
they both share. Their idea of fusion food
food, food of quality using fresh and local
Company in Mansfield. The popularity of the
is complimented by their ability to work
ingredients, all the while providing a
business grew throughout the season, as the
together and balance one another.
unique gathering place for families, friends
owners learned through trial and error. But
and foodies alike.
as the weather grew colder, it was necessary
Massie says her favorite things to make
to close down for the winter, much to the
are the sauces, especially for the tacos. As
disappointment of their followers.
for Schopp, he put it best when he stated,
At first, Schopp and Massie had an outpouring of names, some of which were taken already, others that just didn’t seem
They continue to learn from their
to fit. The list of names, which can be found
customers and their experience working
on their blog via the website alteredeats.
together, finding they both have their
com, included Food Buggy, Fresh Fusion, A
strong suits.
Garlic Project and many others. After kicking around tons of names, the inspiration for the perfect title came to Schopp as he was working at the Leaning
“Anne is an excellent chef, she knows
Apart from the experience as a whole,
“I’m a grill master.” A visit to their window will prove both things to be true. I can think of no better way to close than to encourage each of you to seek them out this season and try something
her way around the kitchen and she is
that will take you on a culinary adventure.
creative by nature,” said Schopp.
When we spoke, something we all agreed
Massie returned the compliment in
on was that food is a commonality for all
Tower. A poster for the sci-fi movie Altered
saying, “Aaron is the P.R. person, and he
people and therefore a perfect starting
States (having nothing to do with food but
really knows how to connect with people.”
place for everything; so I was delighted
worth a watch according to the owners),
For now they are content with staying
when I found this quote on their blog,
hanging in the pizza and sub shop, made
in the area and are excited to be part of the
“Food crosses all borders and languages;
something click in his head. It made sense
downtown revitalization in Mansfield, but,
food is tradition, art and love, in its own
to both Schopp and Massie, altered was
as Massie pointed out, “The beauty of a
way timeless.” $
heartofohiomagazine.com/pairings pairings
19
Wine Speak Brush up on you wine vocabulary with this glossary
of wine-related terms.
Wine Quotables Is it just me, or do you find nearly every conversation that lasts more than ten minutes eventually becomes a discussion about wine? While we seem to be obsessed with the subject, we are not the only generation who has found wine to be an interesting topic. Here are twelve of the best quotes about wine from people who had a lot to say about a lot of different things:
Historic figures loved their wine: “Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.” — Benjamin Franklin “Be careful to trust a person who does not like wine.” — Karl Marx Religious leaders have certainly made their share of comments: “Men are like wine — some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age.” — Pope John XXIII “In wine, there is truth.” — Pliny the Elder “Beer is made by men, wine by God!” — Martin Luther Philosophers philosophized about the delightful liquid: “In vino veritas (In wine is truth).” — Plato “What I like to drink most is wine that belongs to others.” — Diogenes Some entertainers were famous for their consumption: “I cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.” — W.C. Fields Great writers and poets were never at a loss for words: “Wine is bottled poetry.” — Robert Louis Stevenson “I am falser than vows made in wine.” — William Shakespeare Still, the quotes of the famous cannot outshine the quotes of unknown origin: “The best use of bad wine is to drive away poor relations.” — French Proverb “Reality is an illusion that occurs due to a lack of wine.” — Unknown Enjoy! $
20 pairings heartofohiomagazine.com/pairings
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