While the Short North has long been known as an arts district, a restaurant district and a shopping district, it’s the northern end of the neighborhood that is quickly becoming an artisan production district with with mead, vodka and whiskey made on site at Brothers Drake and Middle West Spirits. The Table hopes to balance that out next year when they open their doors to sell house-made cheeses and cured meats in their charcuterie/restaurant located at 21 East Fifth Avenue.
The Table is the brainchild of the well-rounded partnership between Sang Lankhani, Jennifer Marlatt and Christen Corey. Lankhani is co-owner of Bodega and wields dual degrees in culinary arts from CSCC and arts from CCAD. Marlatt is another CCAD grad with a degree in design with restaurant experience from Rigsby’s, Basi and Haiku. And Corey is the former Head of Research and Development at Jeni’s who has also served as pastry chef at Rigsby’s, helped to open Tasi Cafe and holds a Zoology degree from OSU specializing in beekeeping.
“Charcuterie has been an interest for all of us for a long while,” explains Corey. “But it really came to light over dinner two years ago when we remarked on our frustrations of the lack of a ‘Butcher, Baker and Candlestick Maker’ here in Columbus.”
The Table will sell baked goods and breads paired with cured meats, pickles, jams and pungent handmade cheeses.
“We’ll round it out with a balanced cocktail, gracious wine or handcrafted beer,” adds Corey.
The trio of ladies have hired Donte Allen who will serve as Head Butcher and Cheese Monger at The Table, crafting cured meats and cheeses for retail and wholesale. Eventually, the basement below this new Short North restaurant will become home to a teaching kitchen space where Allen, Corey and others will host classes and events.
“We are so excited about this building and its location, as it was suggested to us by our good friend Ryan Lang at Middle West Spirits,” said Corey. “The first time the three of us looked at it, we knew we had found our home.”
The Table is slated for opening in early 2013, though a grand opening date has not yet been announced.
More information can be found online at www.facebook.com/TheTable.ForkResponsibly.