{"id":5544,"date":"2009-05-10T11:43:53","date_gmt":"2009-05-10T15:43:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/foodembrace.com\/?p=5544"},"modified":"2009-05-10T11:43:53","modified_gmt":"2009-05-10T15:43:53","slug":"may-7th-2009-taste-of-the-independents-recap-part-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foodembrace.com\/2009\/05\/may-7th-2009-taste-of-the-independents-recap-part-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"May 7th, 2009: Taste of the Independents Recap Part II"},"content":{"rendered":"

You can find Recap Part I over here<\/a>. :)\u00a0 Recap Part II takes us out of the main building we first entered and through two sections of glorious food.\u00a0 The first section was a tent and around the perimeter of the tent the tables were set up leaving the middle area free for walking around.\u00a0 Also in the middle was a large round table where you could set down your glasses while eating.\u00a0 You have to watch them closely though or they will get taken away from you!<\/p>\n

Scott and I had to revise our plan a little bit.\u00a0 We took so long in the main area that people were already starting to clean up.\u00a0 I thought we had till 9pm before cleanup started but apparently not.\u00a0 Yikes!\u00a0 The first things we tried were from Katzinger’s Deli<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Katzingers<\/a>

Katzingers Deli<\/p><\/div>\n

They brought two samples and one that was highly interesting.<\/p>\n

\"Onion<\/a>

Onion tart <\/p><\/div>\n

The first one was a caramelized onion tart.\u00a0 It was so yummy!\u00a0 I love onions anyway and this was right up my alley.\u00a0 Unfortunately for me I picked one with less filling.\u00a0 Doh!\u00a0 I inhaled the whole thing.<\/p>\n

\"Cornbeef<\/a>

Cornbeef and sauerkraut balls<\/p><\/div>\n

The next sample was corned beef and sauerkraut balls.\u00a0 I actually picked these up for Scott because I’m not really a cornbeef fan but in true fashion I did try them.\u00a0 Oh goodness these were just awesome.\u00a0 No really, they tasted amazing.\u00a0 I ate an entire one and when Scott didn’t finish his, I ate that one too!\u00a0 YaY!\u00a0 It was so good.\u00a0 It sort of reminded me of an onion ring actually and I didn’t really get much of a cornbeef taste which is probably why I liked it so much.<\/p>\n

After this I needed to go get a drink.\u00a0 I walked over to a wine station and got the brush off because another patron was taking up a lot of space and attention.\u00a0 I didn’t get a picture of my wine but I do know what it was! A small pour of Azelia Barolo San Rocca 2003 which retails for $59 a bottle.\u00a0 Whoa.\u00a0 I actually thought it was only okay.\u00a0 Scott went over to get a drink and also got the brush off.<\/p>\n

Next in line was La Scala.<\/p>\n

\"La<\/a>

La Scala Italian Bistro<\/p><\/div>\n

They were serving two items, a chicken pesto cup and a mushroom polenta crostini.<\/p>\n

\"Pesto<\/a>

Pesto Chicken<\/p><\/div>\n

I had the pesto chicken cup which actually was just okay.\u00a0 It seemed like a very basic chicken salad and I had trouble picking up the pesto flavors.\u00a0 I did not eat the phyllo dough cup though, just the innards.<\/p>\n

\"Luce\"<\/a>

Luce<\/p><\/div>\n

Luce<\/a>, which is a restaurant we’ve been to before and love, were offering up a dessert that Scott needed to have.<\/p>\n

\"Mango<\/a>

Mango Pana cotta <\/p><\/div>\n

Mango pana cotta with coconut cream on top.\u00a0 I had a small bite of this and it was delicious!\u00a0 Very creamy rich and the mango flavor came through beautifully.<\/p>\n

Our last stop in this tent was at Due Amici<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Due<\/a>

Due Amici <\/p><\/div>\n

They were serving up a bunch of different things but only one really caught my attention.\u00a0 It was heirloom tomatoes with smoked rock shrimp and pesto croutons.\u00a0 I had a wee bit of it and it wasn’t really my thing.\u00a0 I think for a panzanella salad there was just a bit too much going on and the flavors were competing with each other.<\/p>\n

After Due Amici, we headed over to the third and last tent.\u00a0 It was slim pickings in here.\u00a0 Either places had already cleared out, were cleaning up, or didn’t have too much left of their samples.<\/p>\n

\"Thai<\/a>

Thai Beef <\/p><\/div>\n

One of the first things we tried was presented by Shaw’s Inn, Thai beef with a mango cole slaw.\u00a0 The beef didn’t really wow me and just tasted like beef.\u00a0 I didn’t care for the cole slaw at all.<\/p>\n

I was starting to rapidly fade by this point.\u00a0 Despite all the wonderful food, my body was getting cranky at the gigantic lack of rabbit food around.\u00a0 Too much protein and not enough veggies for this girl.<\/p>\n

And then I stumbled on Tip Top Kitchen<\/a>.\u00a0 They had two offerings as well.<\/p>\n

\"Corn<\/a>

Corn chowder <\/p><\/div>\n

The first one was a vegetarian corn chowder which was fantastic tasting.\u00a0 Perfectly creamy and seasoned.\u00a0 However, at this stage it was a bit too spicy for me so I let Scott finish the cup.\u00a0 I may have to get some though when we visit the restaurant.<\/p>\n

\"Feta<\/a>

Feta cheese dip<\/p><\/div>\n

Hallejueha it’s veggies!\u00a0 This is a feta cheese dip with veggies (carrots, cucumber) and pita points.\u00a0 The cheese dip was okay, I just had a few bites of that but I inhaled the veggies.\u00a0 No points for me.\u00a0 Then I went back and had TWO more plates just so I could eat the veggies and that’s all I ate.\u00a0 By that time, they had cleared out and left the remaining food.\u00a0 I should have taken another plate!<\/p>\n

Scott came sauntering up with a little dessert in his hand.<\/p>\n

This is good, you want to try it?<\/em><\/p>\n

I guess (you all know how I am with sweets). Oh my gosh!\u00a0 You like this?!! Are you sure?<\/em><\/p>\n

Yeah it’s good.\u00a0 Why?<\/em><\/p>\n

Because you don’t like butterscotch and this is butterscotch. <\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, it is?<\/em><\/p>\n

Where did you get it?<\/em><\/p>\n

From Z Cucina’s<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

I bet it’s butterscotch panna cotta!<\/em><\/p>\n

And I ran over to get a little cup for myself. :D<\/p>\n

\"Z<\/a>

Z Cucina<\/p><\/div>\n

Sorry for the flash, but this building was really dark and I had to use it.\u00a0 And there my pretties, is a wee butterscotch cup.\u00a0 So good!\u00a0 I love butterscotch but I don’t ever make it because Scott hates it.\u00a0 Or so he did, maybe he’s grown?\u00a0 It was a great little dessert and the perfect portion.<\/p>\n

I had one more sip of wine, another red.<\/p>\n

\"Cabernet<\/a>

Cabernet <\/p><\/div>\n

I believe this was a Premier Etage Cabernet Franc but am not positive.\u00a0 I couldn’t really hear the server as she poured it for me.\u00a0 It was really yummy though, very light and fruity.\u00a0 It was a nice ending wine.<\/p>\n

And the rest you’re going to have to use your imagination. :)\u00a0 I didn’t get pictures because I was too busy eating and enjoying greens!<\/p>\n

As I was walking around, at Tutto Vino<\/a>, I spotted a huge bowl of mixed greens.\u00a0 I asked the server if that indeed was mixed greens and he said yes.\u00a0 “Can I please just have a big plate of that?”\u00a0 “Sure!!”\u00a0 And then I proceeded to stuff my face on a plate of mixed greens with nothing else.\u00a0 He said there was a dressing on there but it was so light that I didn’t taste it at all.\u00a0 Then after Scott and I made sure we didn’t miss anything, I went back and asked for another plate.<\/p>\n

Guys my body was screaming at me for some veggies by this point.\u00a0 I thought I might have to go home and make a salad just to get more veg.\u00a0 I inhaled my second plate of veggies while Scott sipped on some amazing coffee.\u00a0 Stauf’s was there to provide coffee and help sober people back up.\u00a0 Well I’m not sure that was their real purpose but that was the case.\u00a0 I sipped on some of Scott’s coffee to help warm me back up.\u00a0 All he added to it was cream and that was enough, it was so good.\u00a0 I was highly impressed.\u00a0 And since it was the end of the evening and they were cleaning up, they gave us some coffee to take home.\u00a0 Score!<\/p>\n

\"Skyline<\/a>

Skyline <\/p><\/div>\n

After I finished my salad, we decided to call it a night and head home.\u00a0 I was exhausted and a little dehydrated.\u00a0 This is the view of the Columbus Skyline as we walked out of the third building of food.<\/p>\n

Things we’ve learned:<\/strong><\/p>\n