Out & About
Some well-rounded food worth a try
I liked it so much the first time I wrote it, it bears repeating: Happiness is a meal formed into a
ball.
Or something like that.
Seeing as how it's usually associated with a casual meal, spherical food is fun to eat. You can stick a toothpick in it, pick it up with your fingers or jab it with a fork. Sometimes it requires a carrier, such as a bun or soup. I always enjoy the kuey tiew at Bahn Thai, a noodle soup that has tender fish balls, or ground seafood shaped into little orbs. I've also made no secret about my fondness for the sopa de albondigas, a Mexican meatball soup, at Senor Antonio's in Lewis Center.
I'm wondering if I've never had a bad meatball sandwich, even if the meatballs are smashed down with a fork.
I never cared for Swedish meatballs and I'm not sure where to get them in central Ohio, but I suspect they're on a buffet in town. I'm not crazy about sauerkraut balls but I've ordered them at Barley's, and they're are probably as good there as anywhere. Others swear by the Schmidt's version.
Arancini, deep-fried balls of risotto, sometimes stuffed with cheese, are another favorite of mine. If memory serves me, they're outstanding at Bel Lago in Westerville and Mezzo in Gahanna. Always check to see if they're on the menu.
One of the best round items I've eaten in central Ohio was the koofteh Tabrizi, a Persian dish at Nanak Bakery, which recently moved to Westerville. It was large, as I recall, roughly the size of a baseball, composed of ground seasoned veal stuffed and served in a light tomato broth definitely more elegant than most meatballs. Served only on the rarest occasion, it's simply too much work to prepare, according to chef Fatimah Tajik. It sure appeared that way.
The fare didn't have to be perfectly round to fit in, but it had to be close. More irregular shapes, such as the deep-fried chicken karaage at Sushi Bistro Masa in Dublin, deserve attention but couldn't be classified as a ball. It looks more like a depth charge, with pointy pieces of dough sticking out. In most places, falafel is more of a disc shape, but at Pita Hut in Clintonville it's formed into little rounds, so it gets a nod. Kibbie's good, at Pita Hut and other Middle Eastern restaurants, but it's more of a football shape.
I stayed away from sweet items, but if I included one it would be the sesame balls at Sunflower on Sawmill Road. They're crispy and nutty, filled with sweetened red bean paste. Just wonderful. As you'll see in the accompanying picture, there was a savory item at Sunflower I just couldn't pass up.
Anyway, here are some well-rounded foods worth a try:
• Mielony ($5), a deep-fried ball of ground chicken stuffed with sauerkraut, cheddar cheese and garlic, North Market Poultry & Game, 59 Spruce St.
• Chinese meatballs ($3.55), very fine-grained and tender, Sunflower, 7370 Sawmill Road.
Or something like that.
Seeing as how it's usually associated with a casual meal, spherical food is fun to eat. You can stick a toothpick in it, pick it up with your fingers or jab it with a fork. Sometimes it requires a carrier, such as a bun or soup. I always enjoy the kuey tiew at Bahn Thai, a noodle soup that has tender fish balls, or ground seafood shaped into little orbs. I've also made no secret about my fondness for the sopa de albondigas, a Mexican meatball soup, at Senor Antonio's in Lewis Center.
I'm wondering if I've never had a bad meatball sandwich, even if the meatballs are smashed down with a fork.
I never cared for Swedish meatballs and I'm not sure where to get them in central Ohio, but I suspect they're on a buffet in town. I'm not crazy about sauerkraut balls but I've ordered them at Barley's, and they're are probably as good there as anywhere. Others swear by the Schmidt's version.
Arancini, deep-fried balls of risotto, sometimes stuffed with cheese, are another favorite of mine. If memory serves me, they're outstanding at Bel Lago in Westerville and Mezzo in Gahanna. Always check to see if they're on the menu.
One of the best round items I've eaten in central Ohio was the koofteh Tabrizi, a Persian dish at Nanak Bakery, which recently moved to Westerville. It was large, as I recall, roughly the size of a baseball, composed of ground seasoned veal stuffed and served in a light tomato broth definitely more elegant than most meatballs. Served only on the rarest occasion, it's simply too much work to prepare, according to chef Fatimah Tajik. It sure appeared that way.
The fare didn't have to be perfectly round to fit in, but it had to be close. More irregular shapes, such as the deep-fried chicken karaage at Sushi Bistro Masa in Dublin, deserve attention but couldn't be classified as a ball. It looks more like a depth charge, with pointy pieces of dough sticking out. In most places, falafel is more of a disc shape, but at Pita Hut in Clintonville it's formed into little rounds, so it gets a nod. Kibbie's good, at Pita Hut and other Middle Eastern restaurants, but it's more of a football shape.
I stayed away from sweet items, but if I included one it would be the sesame balls at Sunflower on Sawmill Road. They're crispy and nutty, filled with sweetened red bean paste. Just wonderful. As you'll see in the accompanying picture, there was a savory item at Sunflower I just couldn't pass up.
Anyway, here are some well-rounded foods worth a try:
• Mielony ($5), a deep-fried ball of ground chicken stuffed with sauerkraut, cheddar cheese and garlic, North Market Poultry & Game, 59 Spruce St.
• Chinese meatballs ($3.55), very fine-grained and tender, Sunflower, 7370 Sawmill Road.
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