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    Restaurant Roundup: Festivals, Openings & Tastings

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    Festivals

    Grillmaster’s Festival

    This year, the 8th holding of the Grillmaster’s Festival takes place at the North Market on Saturday, June 15th from 8am-5pm, to happily coincide with Father’s Day. Each year, the Grillmaster’s Festival offers attendees the chance to learn all the fine nuances of grilling while enjoying live music, cooking demonstrations and tastings, and family-style fun. In addition, patrons will also have the chance to judge the Amateur Barbecue Sauce and Thrilla at the Grilla contests, and purchase fiery goodies from Black Swamp Gourmet, Chesterville Pepper Company, and Patter Fam Sauces. The Grillmaster’s Festival is a free event, and for a complete schedule of performers and vendors, visit www.northmarket.com.

    Food Truck Festival

    Capitalizing on the popularity of food trucks, Flannagan’s Dublin, located at 6835 Caine Road, and regular home to the Hungry Monkey food truck, will host its first Food Truck Festival on Saturday, June 15th, from 10am-9pm. The event will feature over ten food trucks, including local faves Paddy Wagon, Pitabilities, and The Burrito Bus, among others. The event will also feature 13 volleyball courts, and a swimming pool bar at Elly Bay. For more information about vendors and on-site activities, visit www.flannagans.com.

    Grandview Digfest

    This may be only the third year of the Grandview Digfest, but it promises to be a party the likes Grandview hasn’t seen. Grandview Digfest began as a celebration of local brewers and distillers, and this year, it will also feature local food as well. Leslie’s Creperies, Honeykiss Bakery, Whole Foods, Sweet! The Mobile Cupcakery, and Schmidt’s Sausage Truck, among others, will be in attendance to provide support for the 13 breweries, 4 wineries, and 3 distilleries, all local, to be commemorated. Entrance to the event, which will be held on Yard Street, from Goodale to Burr Avenues, is free, and for more visit www.grandviewdigfest.com.

    Openings

    Ciao Vino

    Standing at the former Mezzo Ristorante site at 121, Mill Street in Gahanna, Ciao Vino, the latest offering from the folks behind The Wine Guy Bistro, opened its doors on Tuesday, June 4th. Their menu is filled with classic Italian fare, like Carmella’s Lasagna, seasoned beef layered twice, covered in two thick layers of seasoned ricotta drenched in the house red sauce, Shrimp Pasta Diavolo, succulent shellfish atop a bed of penne tossed in a spicy compound butter, and finished with fresh pear tomato and chive oil and Blackened Scallops Risotto, thyme and onion risotto with spicy sautéed scallops and asparagus, topped with crumbled bleu cheese and pine nuts. Make your reservation today by going to www.thewineguywineshop.com/gahanna.

    Rusty Bucket Easton

    On June 6th, the latest installment of popular local chain, the Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern, opened in Fenton Square, at 4062, Gramercy Street. The newest restaurant carries the same menu of  sandwiches, burgers, and large plate specials (pastas, ribs, and fish), but a new Pizza menu is now also being served at the Rusty Bucket. Come in for The Big Sicilian with pepperoni, Italian sausage, cappicola, mozzarella and provolone, or build your own from their selection of 16 fresh ingredients, including 4 different cheeses. Rusty Bucket Easton opens every day at 11am, and closes at 10pm Monday-Thursday, 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 9pm on Sundays. For a complete menu, visit easton.myrustybucket.com.

    Bossy Grrl’s Pin-Up Joint

    Bossy Grrl’s Pin-Up, the burlesque-rockabilly-meets-coffee-shop venture opened earlier this year at 2598, North High Street, has recently added and opened a patio in the back of the spot. The new addition seats 30, and you can enjoy live music out there as you sip on their many daily and happy hour specials. On Tuesdays from 6pm-8pm (happy hour), it’s Buckles and Boots. In addition, each week, there are new seasonal offerings at Bossy Grrl’s, who you may not know serves awesome food as well as hot women. Come in to try Waffles and Grilled Pineapple, Grilled Flatbread Vegan Pizza, and the Wrapper’s Delight: a mix of grilled, bacon-wrapped goodness. They will also begin serving brunch on Sundays starting in July. For more on Bossy Grrl’s weekly specials and events, follow them at www.facebook.com/bossygrrls.pinupjoint.

    Tastings

    Katzinger’s Delicatassen & Grocery

    On Friday, June 21st, Katzinger’s Grocery, located at 475, South Third Ave, will hold a first-of-the-summer tasting featuring BBQ and beer. Beginning at 6:30pm, attendees will have the chance to experience five culinary adventures into BBQ that will be paired with the one beer made for that dish. An extensive search has yielded a collection of barbeuce and hot sauces many in Central Ohio may not be familiar with, and with these, the chefs at Katzinger’s will prepare succulent samples accompanied by a select craft beer. You may try BBQ Sliders of Mini Burgers finished with Melinda’s Habanero Ketchup and served with Messiah Brown Ale from He’brew Brewing Co. Tickets must be prepaid, and cost $25.95 per guest. All featured products that night can also be purchased at 20% discount. To make your reservation, call 614-228-3354 or visit www.katzingers.com for more info.

    Kitchen Little

    Kitchen Little, located inside the North Market, 59 Spruce St, debuted their new summer menu on June 5th. This menu is packed with picnic faves like Bison Burgers, Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, and Duck Fat Fries. In addition, they now offer brunch on the weekends, which includes dishes like Chicken & Hotcakes and Bison Hash. Kitchen Little is the restaurant side to North Market Poultry, so visitors can be assured of freshness, quality, and locality. For updates on their daily offerings and specials, follow them at www.facebook.com/kitchenlittle.

    Renaissance Hotels

    In conjunction with 155 Renaissance Hotels around the world, our own local branch at 50, North Third Street, will kick off a “Summer of Discovery” on Wednesday, June 19th, which encourages guests to discover something new all season long. The kickoff event will feature a concert on the fourth floor rooftop patio by the Salty Caramels, and food by Chef Michael Koenig. The contemporary picnic fare will include Street Tacos, Grilled Chicken Banh Mi Sliders, Mediterranean Beef Kabobs, Bacon-Wrapped Sweet Peppers, and Grilled East Coast Oysters. This event is also a simultaneous celebration of the hotel chain’s second annual “Global Day of Discovery”, so come on out to enjoy Boozy Floats made with Jeni’s Ice-Cream, Columbus Brewing Company Beer, and OYO Vodka. The  party goes from 5:30pm-7:30pm and is free. For more info, visit www.renaissancecolumbus.com.

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    Ayana Wilson
    Ayana Wilsonhttps://columbusunderground.com
    Ayana Wilson is a former staff writer at Columbus Underground who covered local restaurant industry news.
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