Upcoming Central Ohio Races (and Meetups) 11/17-11/23

There’s not a lot going on in the Central Ohio area this week for races, but if you want something that’s a little further out, there are several events on Saturday the 22nd on Ohio Runner.

Sunday, November 23

Beat Michigan 5K

• Not familiar with this race, but the spirit of M*ch*g*n Week is always a great way to get moving!

Sources: Ohio Runner, Running in the USA, Run Ohio, Premier Races

Upcoming Meetups

Have you tried using Meetup.com to find a running partner?  I’ve joined in a few good groups, but my schedule is pretty unpredictable so I don’t get to do it as much as I’d like.  If you’re looking for a new group of folks, try these out!

C-Bus Natural Surface Running Group (Next run is: November 18 9:00am: Alum Creek Dam)

Meets Tuesday mornings at 9:00. Locations vary to parks.

Grandview Running Club (Next run is: tbd)

Meets (most) Tuesday evenings at 6:45.  Runs begin at 7:00. Locations vary to Grandview bars.  I love running in Grandview but haven’t joined these guys yet because I have to work Tuesdays!

Columbus Road Runners Club (Next run is: November 19 6:30pm: Whetstone Recreation Center)

Meets Wednesday evenings at 6:30 at the Whetstone Recreation Center.  Another group I really want to get to know.  Maybe this is my week!

Short North Running Club (Next run is: November 20 6:45pm: Location tbd)

Meets Thursday evenings at 6:45. Runs begin at 7:00. Locations vary to Short North (and Brewery District) bars.  I have joined them a few times, and had a good time when I did.  Mostly faster paced runners, I found myself running solo very quickly, but the social aspects at the bar after were a lot of fun.

Review: Double Comfort

Columbus has found itself in the middle of a fried chicken boom.  Nashville hot chicken?  Got it.  Food truck buttermilk fried chicken? Ditto.  Let’s add Double Comfort to this tasty list: Memphis style fried chicken… With a heart.

 

Double Comfort, which opened in June, brings us classic fried chicken along with an excellent philosophy of giving back to the community.  For each meal purchased, a meal is donated to a local food pantry.  Their current donation recipient is the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.  More about this partnership can be found here.

This downtown location is not usually a spot I seek out on weekends, I’ll be honest.  I’d been reading reviews for a few months, and this past weekend finally made it out for brunch.  We got there around 11am and were seated immediately, which is a huge bonus in my book.  Double Comfort has a great atmosphere; fully stocked bar and solid blues music to set the Southern tone.

The brunch menu has a great mix of sweet and savory, with chicken and waffles the understandable star of the show.  Every town needs chicken and waffles on their brunch menu.  (I’ve been spoiled by Chicagos Home of Chicken and Waffles.)  Double Comfort adds their own twist with their Three Sins Syrup – the 3 sins being bourbon, bacon and coffee.  A little sweet, a little salty, a little bitter, and the perfect cut for the crispy fried chicken.  The waffle was fluffy, and held up on it’s own… but next time I’m eager to try their macaroni and cheese waffle.

The menu has smaller bites as well, and I went with the chicken biscuit sandwich with hot pepper jelly.  It should be noted that, at least this time around, there was NO WAY this sandwich was being picked up out of the basket.  The entire bottom of the biscuit was covered in jelly, leaving it a sticky mess.  So – a knife and fork job, but still delicious.  The biscuit was a highlight, light and fluffy.  Great match for the crispy, peppery fried chicken and the spice in the jam.

Along with the sandwich, I ordered a few sides.  Brussels sprouts were tasty, but a little more breaded and greasy than anticipated.  The menu doesn’t mention how the sprouts are prepared, so I was just expecting roasted.  They were good, but overprepared.  Less impressive was the side of fresh fruit which wound up being a bowl of sliced strawberries and bananas.  Nice to have a fruit offering, but nothing exciting here.

The friendly & genuine service, the focus on perfecting their fried chicken and the casual atmosphere, along with the local food bank donations warrant a return visit, but I think I’ll be skipping the side dishes next time.

Upcoming Central Ohio Races 11/10-11/16

Thursday, November 13

Studio 35 Stache Dash

• I ran this race last year.  A lot of fun, and a great course in a neighborhood that is a lot of fun.  Course winds through Walhalla Ravine in the Clintonville area, and the start/finish is at Studio 35.  Finishers get a beer, and nighttime races are a rare treat!

Saturday, November 15

Foodbank Fresh Run 5k

• $15 entry fee, and proceeds go to providing fresh free produce in community markets!

Girls on the Run Franklin County Fall 5k

• Girls On The Run is an organization that allows girls 3rd-8th grade to train for a 5k in a fun program that keeps them physically active.  The 5k race is the culmination of their training, and race proceeds go to future trainings.  A lot of fun for a group that promotes healthy choices and confident decisions amongst young girls in Franklin County.

Sunday, November 16

Hot Chocolate 15k/5k

• Proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House.  Plus, a rare chance to sign up for a 15k race!  These races are notorious for great swag bags (including a giant fleece hoodie), chocolate at the finish line, and a whole lot of fun.  Might be our first snow of the year, but should still be a great time!

Sources: Ohio Runner, Running in the USA, Run Ohio, Premier Races

Review: Fox in the Snow Cafe

Welcome to the premier post of Eat and Run Columbus!

I have been pondering this blog for a long time, and my visit to Fox in the Snow Cafe yesterday was the motivation I needed to start typing.  Fox In the Snow Cafe is located at 1031 N. 4th St. and depending on how you divide your neighborhoods, you could say this is Italian Village or Weinland Park.  Either way, it is a winner.  When I woke up this morning, my first thought was…  Do I have time for a latte?

Fox in the Snow serves in-house baked goods, and frankly they are too good to choose between.  This, of course, leads to double pastries.  Pictured above are the hand pie and the custard filled donut.  The hand pie filling changes often (today’s option was strawberry).  The pastry crust was flaky without crumbling, and the donut was everything it was meant to be.  Doughy but not greasy, dusted with sugar but not cloying, and the custard was sweet and not too thick.

In addition to hand pies and donuts, the bakery menu also offers scones, muffins, biscuits with honey, and incredible looking cinnamon pecan sticky buns.  As we were leaving, I (half-jokingly) said to the guy behind the counter that I was coming back so I could have one of everything.  Ok, not half-jokingly.  He may have thought it was a joke, but I was close to buying one of the biscuits to take home.  Fox in the Snow is not just pastries, they do have homemade granola, and this massive beauty of a sandwich.

Egg, cheese, bacon, arugula, with a tangy dijon mustard served on freshly baked bread.  It is delicious, but be warned… it will require a massive stack of napkins, and a few seconds contemplating how you’re going to take a bite without destroying the entire thing.  Just dive in, it’s worth it.

These dishes are perfectly paired with coffee that is clearly made with care.  After years of service in the corporate coffee world, I have a major soft spot for people who take the time to make coffee well, and do it every single time.  I opted for my first drink from Fox in the Snow to be my go-to beverage of choice, a skim cappuccino.  While I would probably make it with a bit more foam, it was still delicious!

I would be robbing you of a full review without mentioning the atmosphere and service of this cafe.  Everyone working was incredibly friendly, our meals were ready quickly, and they were game for making small-talk, which I am always a sucker for.  Half of my experience in any place is based on eye contact and a genuine smile, and these guys were all about it.  The interior is crisp and clean while remaining inviting and cool.  There is a communal table, a couple 2- and 4-person tables, and plenty of space to sit at the counter and have a chat with your barista.  Another thing worth mentioning about the vibe is that all the tunes you hear inside are vinyl, courtesy the turntable behind the counter.  It looks like Saturday mornings are going to be giving us “Tunes and Jams” so you can sip your coffee to the curated sounds of a DJ.

Make it a point to stop in to Fox in the Snow Cafe for hand-crafted coffee, a “just right” food menu, and a vibe that will remind you that slowing down to enjoy yourself is always worth it.