Events, menus celebrate fresh dining

Velvet View Farms is well-represented in Northeastern Ohio, but not so much in Columbus.

Well, not yet.

Aaron and Brandi Schlauch, who own the farm in Big Prairie, will co-sponsor Farm to Plate Week, set Aug. 10-19 throughout central Ohio.

The event, founded by Crave, a sister publication of ThisWeek Community News, will feature roughly 40 restaurants celebrating farm-to-plate dining by offering special fixed-price menus, highlighting fare containing at least 70 percent locally grown ingredients. The restaurants are working with local farms to use their produce and meat as part of the offerings Friday, Aug. 10, through Aug. 19.

“I know there’s a lot of foodie people in Columbus so we need to let them know about us,” Mrs. Schlauch said.

Velvet View, located about 90 minutes north of Columbus in Holmes County, crafts the only licensed farmstead yogurt in Ohio, meaning it’s made on premises from the farm’s registered Holstein cows, Mrs. Schlauch said.

“Traceability, accountability, freshness – that’s us,” she said.

The yogurt – which uses no sugar, stabilizers or gelatins – currently is available at the Clintonville Community Market, 200 Crestview Road.

“Lots of restaurants in Columbus are dedicated to the ‘locavore’ movement, working directly with local farmers to provide diners with the best, freshest ingredients,” Crave Editor Shelley Mann said. “Other chefs and owners have been interested, but haven’t sourced local ingredients before. We’re helping match those restaurants with local farms, and they’re very excited to be buying local spices, beef, chicken and fruits and veggies.”

Farm to Plate will culminate with cooking demonstrations on the second day of 10TV’s Health & Fitness Expo Aug. 19 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The Central Ohio Restaurant Association is the lead sponsor of Farm to Plate and will provide many of the local chefs who will cook that day.

Also, Crave will collaborate with Local Matters, the nonprofit local foods organization, on a number of educational events during Farm to Plate week.

Central Ohio restaurants participating in Farm to Plate week include:

• Giorgio Italian Restaurant
• Downtown
• De NoVo
• 89 Fish and Grill
• Latitude 41

• Tasi
• Rigsby’s
• Hubbard Grille
• Deepwood Restaurant
• L’Antibes
• Basi Italia
• Haiku
• Mojoe Lounge

• G. Michael’s
• Skillet
• Explorers Club
• T. Murray’s Bar and Kitchen
• Barcelona

• Refectory
• AOI Blue Bar
• San-Su Korean BBQ
• Chile Verde
• Nicola Restaurant and Bar

• Black Creek Bistro
• OSU Campus-area
• El Vaquero
• Till Dynamic Fare
• Commonwealth Sandwich Bar

• Polaris Grill
• Fisherman’s Wharf
• Blue Agave

• Worthington Inn

• Barrel 44
• The Top Steakhouse

• 1808 American Bistro

• Tucci’s
• Mary Kelley’s

• Z Cucina

• Local Roots

• Pies Gourmet Pizza Bistro

• Cuco’s Mexican Taqueria
• Big Fat Greek Kuzina
• Gallo’s Kitchen & Bar
• Moretti’s of Arlington