Uber Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

The other day I had a peanut butter cookie crusted in large crystals of sugar. I was instantly taken back to my childhood, and had been craving more. With every craving needing some sort of fulfillment, I set out to make a beyond chewy cookie with a deep rich flavor. The results ended up using molasses to make for a super rich dough, as well as sweetened condensed milk for that gooey  quality and notes of caramel.

1 1/2 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
 2 Tablespoons molasses
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup peanut butter
Raw Sugar for dusting

1. Preheat oven to 325
2. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray
3. Combine together the flour, baking soda, and salt
4. Stir to combine
5. In the bowl of an electric mixer- combine together the sugar, molasses, egg, vanilla, condensed milk, and the peanut butter
6. On a medium speed, beat the liquid ingredients together for 3 minutes
7. Add in the dry ingredients and stir just until combined
8. Portion out the dough into 12 equal portions, roll each portion into a smooth ball
9. Dip the balls into a small bowl of the raw sugar
10. Place the crusted balls onto the greased baking tray, and press down with a fork two times creating a "#" sign.
11. Bake the cookies for 20-25 minutes, or until the bottoms of the cookies begin to turn a deep brown.
12. Allow to cool on the pan for about 10 minutes

Makes about a dozen

Careful of how many of these you eat, they are guaranteed to hurt your stomach if you have too many. Find that balance with one or two, and poor yourself a glass of milk.

Keep Eating,

JTFussy

Turkey Chili

On cool, rainy days like this you just need a bowl of soup. In particular, a bowl of chili can warm your entire being up.

1 Tablespoon olive oil
8-12 oz ground turkey thighs
1 medium onion- diced
1 Tablespoon salt
1 cloves garlic- minced
1 (12oz) bottle hard cider
4 teaspoons chili powder
1 (12 oz) can black beans
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1 1/2 teaspoon black bean paste
2 teaspoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 Tablespoon pickled or fresh jalapeno
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 Tablespoon sugar

1. Place the oil into a medium stockpot
2. Cook the turkey over medium heat until browned all the way through, break it up into small bits
3. Add in the onions and salt, cook until translucent
4. Toss in the minced garlic and cook just until you smell it
5. Then add in the cider and chili powder
6. Cook down until the liquid is almost all gone
7. Add in all of the remaining ingredients, stir to combine
8. Simmer together for at least 30 minutes (the longer, the more cohesive the flavor will be)

A slightly spicy bowl of chili that can easily be altered to your desired heat level. The lack of  fatty meat, means you don't have to worry about all that straining nonsense. Allow the soup to sit overnight for maximum flavor.

I like to top mine with loads of cheese, pickled jalapenos and a dollop of sour cream!

Keep Eating,
JTFussy

Tommy's Diner

914 West Broad St.

(614) 224-2422

Recently mark and I found it convenient to go to breakfast. We had several options open to us, but what really sounded good, was plain simple diner breakfast. He posed several options. Several REALLY good options too, but for the simplicity we felt the situation needed we chose to travel down to the west side.

Down in Franklinton you will find more and more places popping up. This may be in part due to the emergence of the 400 West Rich Street complex. Regardless, Tommy's Diner has been a staple to landscape of the area for quite some time (At least as long as I've been alive). If you don't believe me, just take a look at all of the newspaper clippings posted on the walls. And if you don't think that's enough, turn around and see the splattering of autographed pictures from countless celebrities hung on the other wall.

Tommy's truly is the all american diner of the past, still running with basic breakfast options and a full menu of classics. Both Mark and I sat down and promptly ordered the standard two eggs, home-fries, pork product and toast. He had the bacon and I the sausage links. The order was out in no time, and the eggs were as expected- cooked perfectly. Everything was hot, and fresh, but it all lacked seasoning of any kind. Everything was bland as could be, but somehow the nostalgia combined with ample salt and pepper shakers made it ok. The sausage was tasty, nice and juicy with just enough char to add flavor.

From what I expected, Tommy's Diner was simple but good. Sometimes the classics are what you need to start the day off on the right foot, and Tommy's Diner may be that place. Yes, there are (without a doubt) better places to eat in Columbus- but Tommy's is certainly a classic.


Keep Eating,
JTFussy

Impero

849 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 294-2489

Impero coffee is a staple of the Short North scene. I can recall ever since I moved to Columbus initially that people are always meeting up for a cup of life juice. Strangely enough, I had never been (le gasp).

I have been meaning to change this for the longest time, but coffee shops really haven't been my thing. So when a few of my friends invited me out for a cup, I had initial hesitation, but I ended up deciding to go.

I knew right where it was on high street, so I headed off and found the place to be surprisingly calm and next to empty. In general it must be said that the place felt old, with a sort of crummy vibe to it. I had walked past many times and just expected more from the interior- perhaps more chic styling, a stronger smell of roasted beans, some hipster music in the background.

The standard drink for comparison in my books is the cappuccino. Simple and present across the board of most every coffee shop. My was hot, and the java was tasty, notes of citrus and nuts rang with each sip. A very enjoyable cup, but it could have used a heavier dollop of foam for me (but I am a foam fanatic). My service-ware was in good shape, however my friends scone plate had a rather large chip missing.

Besides some freshening up, and replacing a few chipped dishes- impero was a very comfortable place with good coffee. Not a single vibe of pretentiousness, instead more signs of acceptance. So if you find yourself in the area take a stab at it, probably won't replace your regular spot, but you never know.


Keep Eating,
JTFussy

Rishi Sushi

LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS!
There, now that all of that is out of the way...we may proceed.

114 North 3rd Street

(614) 914-5125

Rishi Sushi is a recently opened noodle/ sushi bar that offers a healthy selection of "Asian" inspired dishes, as well as a full bar. With that being said, I must point out how longingly I've searched for a noodle bar that is local and worth spending money at, and I may very well have found it. My main hesitation is their relative newness. Restaurants have a habit of being terrible and phenomenal during their first few months, and if they make it past that...well they still have a lot of challenges to face.

Despite knowing that they have only been open a week, my desire for a hot bowl of  real ramen got the best of me. By real ramen I mean: an over-sized bowl filled with a rich broth, delicate slices of meat, soft-boiled eggs, and none of those damn dehydrated styrofoam noodles!

Upon entering the restaurant, we were immediately greeted and obtained a seat. To traverse the field, you have to walk right pass the back of house window (The magic portal that spits out your food from the kitchen), as well as both the drink and sushi bars. Their are huge glass windows, the wall colors are comforting, and with electronic jazz playing in the background- you just feel right.

The menu doesn't take long to review, but it does have quite a few offerings. I found myself doing a double take during the appetizer sections, as the offerings towards the bottom started sounding like they could have been entrees. Their selection of ramen is pretty standard, and they have several burger options, including fish, and chicken. 

                                           

To start, Brandon and I had a yellow tail fish taco, as well as an order of the loaded fries. The taco was served wrapped in a delicate leaf of bib lettuce. A delightful take on the over replicated fried fish in a taco shell. My only complaints come from it leaking out, a bit tough to eat with much dignity. Loaded fries, not too difficult to make deliciously- however Rishi has upped the bar with theirs. a mound of still crispy, golden fries loaded throughout with their sloppy joe mix, bacon, melted cheese, loads of scallions, and topped with delightfully spicy kimchi. Delicious at every level, however, I believe the menu stated there was to be truffle in the mix- none were to be hinted at. 

Continuing at an odd pace, my bowl of ramen and Brandon's sushi came to the table. The fish in the rolls were fresh, and well executed. As for the ramen, I found what I came for in the bowl of "Live for the Moment". A hearty beef broth with sliced pork belly, pickled egg, bok-choy, and delightfully springy noodles. The entire large black bowl was hot and delicious! Although mine didn't come out as full of toppings as some other pictures that I've seen.

I was too stuffed by this point to truly consider dessert. However Brandon was interested in having some, as his meal was much lighter. Before hand, I had noticed they offered simple berries and cream, a simple refreshing offering that caught me by surprise. They had sold out of the green tea tiramisu, but the passionfruit creme brulee still spoke to us. It arrived in a much larger portion than anticipated (easy to share though). With a nice and even gold shell of rich burnt sugar, I was excited; sadly I must say it was probably the worst part of the meal. The custard was set, and fundamentally it was fine, but flavor wise...not so much. I didn't taste any of the eagerly anticipated tartness that is passionfruit. In fact it tasted of a (perhaps I'm crazy) "cakey" liqueur. My advice- add some actual puree to that custard, or drizzle some on top. 

While it may be a bit too soon to tell if Rishi will be my forever home for ramen, I can say it is most definitely worth a stop in. You will find a great atmosphere that begs for patio space to open, great food, and a very pleasing staff. They have a few menu items to work through, but these are likely just minor issues that will work themselves out.

Keep Eating,

JTFussy

Dalek soy sauce dispenser, here to exterminate tasteless food! 

Thurman's Cafe

183 Thurman Ave, Columbus, OH 43206
(614) 443-1570

From one end of the burger spectrum to the next...

I covered one of the emerging veggie burger companies recently, and have decided it was time to give you some thoughts on a Columbus staple for meaty indulgences. Thurman's Cafe in German Village, is a burger Meca for those craving a 3/4 pound sandwich.

From what I have heard, the place for a big, juicy, and delicious burger is Thurman's, or at least that is what all the reviews boast. So while in the neighborhood, Brandon and I decided to pop my Thurman's cherry and wait for a table.

The atmosphere is very family friendly. They have loads of bright neon lights and an eclectic decor that shoots out of the wooden walls. The place is much smaller than I imagined; seating is tight, and the place is relatively dark. The menus are wrapped in generic plastic sheathing, but fit in to the atmosphere of signed dollars and engraved seats.

The menu itself, is pretty extensive and covers what the general burger joint offers, while offering choices for those who would prefer a different type of sandwich or (heaven forbid) a salad. From what I saw at other tables all the offerings would come out LARGE! But seeing as this was my first time, we both had to stick with the burger. 

Frankly, I don't understand the point of food being that large. Perhaps I'm a wimp though. I do understand the novelty wrapped up in "Big Food" and can appreciate an eating competition- I just have to question it's necessity. With that being said, the burger tasted great.

I decided to play it simple, and just order a medium-rare bacon ranch burger. The patty came out medium-well, to well done, but was still juicy enough that I didn't have to choke it down. The toppings were expected, but delicious and well executed. The sandwich was served with onion straws that could have been fresher. From what I sampled of Brandon's burger, the fries too could have been fresher, and the sandwich itself wasn't cooked to the specify temperature- though tasty.

If you need a meat fix, and don't mind a bit of a wait, By all means try out Thurman's. I am quite certain that you will find something to suit you. A fun, friendly environment Thuman's Cafe will be sure to send you off with an achingly full stomach and a smile on your face.

Keep Eating,

JTFussy

Luna Burgers

There are many debates covering the existence of veggie burgers. It may not initially seem like such a huge deal, but just watch the season three episode ten version of Parks and Recreation entitled "Soulmates". It becomes quite clear that the carnivores despise the idea of a round patty attempting to be meat; and vegetarians take offence in the attack on their lifestyle choice.

Can't we all just get along?
Yes meat is delicious, but why do we need to make a fake meat substitute?

In my opinion a good veggie "burger" doesn't attempt to resemble meat. Instead, it should be a cohesive disk of tasty vegetable matter that makes a great sandwich. (Sounds tasty right?) Vegetables are delicious enough, and although it is seemingly easy enough to create a vegetable patty- it can be difficult to find a ratio that holds together and tastes great, without being dry.

Insert Luna Burger- A local company aimed at making a tasty vegetable alternative to your standard ground beef patty.

Does it taste like meat?
NO!

Should it taste like meat?
NO!

Luna burgers are simply, a compressed loaf of vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes and basically anything that isn't meat. They hold together and aren't bone dry when heated. They aren't the prettiest thing when taken out of the box, but they are a good tasting alternative to you typical sandwich filling.

You can heat them up in several different ways, although I suggest using a lower heat if you are cooking them from a frozen state, otherwise they will remain ice cold inside. Place them between some nice toasted buns and top with an assortment of healthy greens, guacamole, or pickled vegetables; add some chutney or any other sauce, and you'll have yourself a delightful sandwich. They also make an acceptable meat substitute for soups and other things where you can used cooked ground meat.

I personally prefer the kick-starter patty and the barbecue patty over the others. The kick-starter patty is delightfully spiced with high amounts of herbs and other seasonings. As for the barbecue- simply put it is sweet with just a touch of smokey tang, a great affect if you are making them indoors.

Granted, I've not tried a Luna Burger than stands close to matching the Northstar Burger, it is a good available option. While we steadily push towards summer grilling season, it is important to keep our health and vegetarian friends in mind. So put a couple boxes of Luna Burgers in your freezer.

Keep eating,
JTFussy

Explorers Club

1586 S High St, Columbus, OH 43207
(614) 725-0155

It has been awhile since I reviewed the Explorers Club's Food Truck. I've been waiting since then to finally make it down to their physical location. I'm not going to play coy at all here... it was beyond worth the wait. 

There! I said it! Explorers Club was a breath of fresh air in the worn down dining experiences I've encountered since the beginning of this project. A rotating monthly menu, that not only changes items, but changes general themes. Delicious house made sausages, among so many other items. Cheap drinks, and food well worth the prices. This month I had read to be caribbean, but upon arrival we discovered (to our pleasure) the menu was actually cajun.

I know you've probably stopped reading by now. Seriously, what reason have you- you know it's good, but there was fault to be found. Brandon and I were celebrating some good news on the night that we went down to the south side. In good spirits we found the building with ease- it's hard to miss a giant picture of a pipe smoking gorilla!

We easily found a seat in some nice wooden captain's chairs, and ordered some of the daily drink specials. He had the bloody mary, and I- the bellini. Four dollars for a large tumbler of well concocted alco-beverages, a great way to start the meal.

We perused the menu for several moments, and ordered a charcuterie board. Well composed with a selection of three house made sausages, pickles and a lamb tartar of sorts. Our favorite was the lamb, but we found ourselves fighting over who'd get the last piece of each item.

Moving on, we had our entrees. Brandon chose the catfish with a crawfish etouffee. Blackened catfish, cooked perfectly over rice and a rich crawfish sauce. Purely delightful. I chose the frog legs. Two hind quarters of slightly chewy fried legs, with that tasty fishy chicken quality. A spectacular option topped with a rich, spicy tomato sauce laden with chunks of presumably house-made andouille.

We both felt satisfied at this point, but we had to continue on. After all, we both love cajun food and who knows if the cajun menu would be around any time soon. So in the spirit of the moment, we ordered beignets and a whiskey bread pudding. The beignets were delicious, though dense and not risen to the doughnut like squares of my dreams. The bread pudding was soft, rich and delicious. I feel as though we should have been carded to eat it!

If you haven't been down to the Explorers Club yet, you should really give it a try. They have two menus, one has simple standard items that are bound to please. The other is fun and changes monthly. You may have to park a bit away from the building, but I'm sure you'll be pleased with what you'll find on the inside. Live a little and take an adventure down at this casual gem.

Keep Eating,
JTFussy

Royal Ginger Asian Fusion Bistro

1625 West Lane Avenue
(614) 488-7888 ‎

Quite some time ago, Dessie (Brandon's Roommate) requested we all go to dinner again. Apparently she had a decent enough time with us from our excursion to Barley's. We allowed her to decide the restaurant of the evening, and with that we made our trip up to Lane Avenue, next to the Whole Foods in Upper Arlington.

Generally I am hesitant of sushi places that offer discounts and "too good to be true" specials. From the website- that's what Royal Ginger was. However we still tossed caution to the wind, and ignored all guidance of Mr. Bourdain on this subject. To my own relief, after we were sat, it became clear that the menu online was completely unrelated to current business operations. This was not what we hoped for, but it would work.

The interior of the place is quite fun, ethnic in every corner. We sat next to a very large "sculpture" that appeared to be made out of lacquered sand. Continuing on the extravagance of the decor- the tables, metal in material, had autumnal leaves stunningly screened onto them,

I started off with a pomegranate martini, because every other drink I requested from their specials list, had ingredients that no longer were found in stock. In fact, this was a common trend, as a few of my options in sushi weren't available that night either. It seemed quite odd, seeing as there were no more than 10 other people in the establishment. The martini felt small, and was metallic tasting from beginning to end.

We all started with an order of Vietnamese summer rolls. Classic and tasty. Rice paper encased shrimp, vermicelli, mango and a piece or two of shrimp- served with a sweet and spicing dipping sauce. These had to be the largest summer rolls I've ever had. This was both good and bad. They tasted fine enough, but were difficult to eat. Not only that, but there was enough lettuce in it to actually fight the classic spicy fish sauce.

Moving forward, we all had two sushi rolls. Although sharing didn't seem to be in the air, the general reports on everyone's rolls were decent, some better than others. Nothing mind blowing. My first roll was called the Great Harvest. In general it wasn't a bad choice. I usually enjoy sweet potato rolls but it was topped with a sickeningly sweet artificial raspberry sauce.  

My other roll was the kamikaze. Uber meaty, fried shrimp with spicy tuna and barbequed eel. A roll that even in its worst form is bound to please. Yet it this case, the amount of siracha placed  over the top was slightly off-putting. The garnish, as you can see in the picture was a nice touch, but sloppy and not very well thought out. 

Overall I wasn't that amazed with Royal Ginger. It's clearly all show and not well stocked. They need to keep up with their menu, and create a better balance over some of their classics. Although food always tastes better with good company, it is still important to start with great food. Royal ginger isn't a total disappointment, but there are clearly better options.

Keep Eating,

JTFussy.

The Sycamore

Address: 262 E Sycamore St, Columbus, OH 43206
Phone:(614) 754-1460

I often dine "in" with my dear friend Mark, he is wise and knows quite a bit about food. He is an older gentleman who has lived in Columbus for longer than I have existed, so he is familiar with most all restaurants in the area. So when he offered to take me out to dinner, I knew I was going to be in for a treat.

Mark and I debated for a week where we should go. Several restaurants were on the table, but the ending result tossed us into the heart of German Village. I remember reading on the Underground, how The Sycamore had recently redone it's layout and was holding itself as a sort of gastropub (without the pretentious atmosphere). 

A small, long, building with very minimal seating. The Sycamore sadly doesn't take reservations, and their hour call ahead hardly seems to be worth it. If you go to the Sycamore, go early and plan to wait at the bar for a little bit, although the bar can offer a bit of a relief. That is unless you look upon the prices, the lower average of a bottle of wine holding a tag of $60. Extending the wine list, there are several by the glass offerings, a separate list with an even higher mark up. The cocktails share the same burden but are decent, and arrive at a timely manner.

When we finally obtained a table, we had to fight a crowd to get there. With tables sat so close together, I must apologize again to the poor dear that I had to crowd just to sit down. Even with adjustments to the table, I felt "in the way". A lovely leather bound menu sat atop dark wooden tables, stunning -if tight. 

The favored item on the menu appeared to be the prawns. Being found on most dishes, they promised to be tasty in every way they read. We chose one of the two special appetizers to start- grilled prawns over a farro risotto with grilled prawns and blistered tomatoes.  This has to be, to date, one of the best items I've eaten out, while in Columbus. The farro was well seasoned and the char from the soft prawns contrasted the tomatoes in a way that brought true cohesion to the dish. Unfortunately when the dish came, I found it very difficult to believe that we were being served true prawns, they just seemed  too small , and without their heads- one will never know.

Next we moved to our entrees, we opted for large plates instead of the seemingly more popular burgers. The Burgers were large and easily could have made a meal, however they lacked the elegance of the larger entrees. I had the trout, two fillets of tender, perfectly cooked trout with roasted potatoes and green beans. The trout was under seasoned but, what it lacked from salt, a preserved lemon and caper sauce was more than enough to compensate for three times the amount on the plate. Mark had the lamb shank, well cooked with an overly tangy molasses sauce. A typical parsnip puree and exceptionally garlicky kale. I believe that I had the better of the two dishes, though nothing was unpleasant.  

I would highly recommend checking out The Sycamore, the next time you end up down in German Village with an extra wad of cash. Respect the wait, as you will probably find it to be worth your while. So far, this may be one of the better restaurants that I've eaten at this year.

Keep Eating,

JTFussy