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    Inaugural Dinner next week at The Hills Market

    On Monday, January 19th, The Hills Market is hosting an Inaugural Dinner at 6:30pm. The four course meal is comprised of dishes featured at past Inaugural Luncheons: Cream of Tomato Soup with Crushed Popcorn (Kennedy), a Grapefruit and Avocado Salad with Poppyseed Dressing (Kennedy), Sauteed Chicken Breast with a White Wine Sauce and Capers (Reagan), Potato Puffs (Eisenhower) and Chartreuse of Vegetables (George W. Bush), followed by Mary Todd Lincoln’s Vanilla Almond Cake.

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    We caught up with Jill Moorhead, Marketing Director at The Hills Market to find out what else to expect at this upcoming event.

    Q: The Hills Market is a great place to shop, but I think many who have visited might not know what to expect. Can you walk us through the process of turning the store into a great place for dinner?

    A: We turn our Wine Department into an upscale restaurant, with linens, floral, great food and matching wines. Our guests will be served a four course meal with wines and coffee. Chef Jennifer Burroway will come out to talk about the menu and Wine Director Constance Begue will present and explain her wine selections for the evening. It’s definitely a food event with a historical slant for food lovers of all political beliefs.

    Q: That sounds like a lot of work. Did you have a hand in helping to plan the menu as well, or was that completely left up to Jennifer?

    A: Chef Jennifer Burroway and I researched past Inaugural Luncheon menus and she chose a balanced meal from the menus we discovered. The details of the Inaugural Luncheons of the past sixty years were far more available than the previous ones, but we tried to put together a menu that features complementary courses from recent and long ago and that fall across party lines. We found it interesting that the menus we perused were truly a glimpse of the food of the time. There is a direct relationship between the items served at these luncheons and what people were serving in their own homes even a few months later. This process truly provided a glimpse into our culture throughout the years.

    Q: Outside of the actual dinner, what does the rest of the evening entail?

    A: The evening will begin with a toast from local Inaugural history buff Jeri Diehl Cusack (snagged from The Grandview Heights Public Library). Guests will learn about previous Inaugurations and receive copies of some menus that were served for some of our Presidents in the past. A table of Inaugural artifacts will be set up in the store, and Jeri will talk about Presidential Inaugurations.

    Q: It’s been awhile since since anyone has held an inauguration dinner. What sort of crowd are you expecting to show up?

    A: We’re expecting a wide variety of people who love food and history from all over the city and surrounding area. Our events draw people from as far away as Lancaster and as close as German Village and the Worthington Hills. We get groups of friends, couples, singles. Oftentimes, new friendships are forged at these sorts of events. Wine and food bring people together.

    Q: Exactly. Many of my favorite events throughout Columbus this past year revolved around wine and food. Speaking of which… what other types of events do you have lined up for 2009?

    A: We’re currently talking with dozens of local restaurant owners and chefs about our cooking class series. There are some exciting options that will soon be on our calendar. (Our cooking classes consist of one hour in the kitchen with the chef, followed by a three-course dinner served in the Wine Department, while the chef mingles with the guests.)

    The best way for Columbus Underground readers to keep track of our upcoming events is to subscribe to our e-mail newsletter. A link to do so is provided on our website, thehillsmarket.com.

    Currently Scheduled Events Include the following: (All require reservations. 614.846.3220.)

    Ohio Wine & Cheese Tasting – January 29 @ 6.30 p.m. | $35

    This series with Wine Director Constance Begue and Cheese Director Kent Rand continues throughout the year and features 6 wines, 6 cheeses and 6 hors d’oeuvres. (Our website lists the rest of the series. February’s tasting will feature wines and cheeses from Germany and Switzerland.)

    A Taste of Pistacia – February 12 @ 7 p.m. | $25

    Spencer Budros from Pistacia Vera will join Wine Director Constance Begue as they present 6 pairings of some favorites from the shop. Expect some surprising combinations and learn what goes into making some of Spencer’s delicious desserts.

    Ladies’ Night In – February 20 & 27 @ 5.30 p.m. | $56

    The Hills Market joins forces with Rejuvenate Nail Spa for a Ladies’ Night In. Wine Director Constance Begue will pour six wines while the team at Rejuvenate Nail Spa give your feet a makeover. Cost includes pedicure, gratuity, wine and snacks. Guests will pay and pick up a wine glass at The Hills Market and then head to Rejuvenate Nail Spa (next door to the store) for the festivities.

    Wine 101 Class – February 4, 11, 18 & 25 @ 6.30 p.m. | $18 per class or $60 for series

    Have fun and learn about wine in this four-class series that covers the basics of wine tasting. You’ll try 15 different wines at each class, learn about varietals, food and wine pairings and tips to find the best values.

    Cooking class with Norman Carmichael of Maca Cafe – February 17 @ 6.30 p.m | Price TBD

    Chef Norman Carmichael of Powell’s tapas home, Maca Cafe, will demonstrate four tapas and a dessert in this class. Menu to be posted soon on thehillsmarket.com

    We’ll also still be doing our regular recurring events that include the Indoor Street Fair (March 21), the Salmon Roast (May 23), Farmers’ Market (August 15) and the Hog Roast (August 31).

    Q: Sounds like a pretty busy line-up. If some of our readers have never been to the Hills Market, how would you explain the experience to them. What essentials should they know about the Market?

    A: Simply put… we’re professional foodies. Our locally owned store has been a foodie destination in Columbus for 16 years. We work with hundreds of Ohio vendors and pride ourselves in going above and beyond for our customers. We bring in special orders on a daily basis, provide 40 feet of in-house prepared foods and will deliver anything anywhere in Columbus.

    To make reservations for the Inaugural Dinner on January 19 at 6.30 p.m., please call 614.846.3220.

    The Hills Market is located at 7860 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio.

    More information can be found at www.thehillsmarket.com

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    Walker Evans
    Walker Evanshttps://columbusunderground.com
    Walker Evans is the co-founder of Columbus Underground, along with his wife and business partner Anne Evans. Walker has turned local media into a full time career over the past decade and serves on multiple boards and committees throughout the community.
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