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New Columns appear each Tuesday. 04APR06 Doral Chenoweth writes about the business of restaurants and the food industry in the Columbus, Ohio, Metro area. Reader comments are welcome by telephone. 614-538-1822. Email the Grump: thegrumpygourmet@wowway.com Send food stuff here: iPLATE@grumpygourmetusa.com Send weird stuff here: alferd_e_packer@wowway.com E-mail messages must include name and telephone for a reply. |
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04APR06 Credit Wedlock for Bringing Kosher Bakery to Columbus Matt met Mindy. All that took place in Worcester, Mass., sometime around 2003. Matt, Matthew Cooper, an accomplished baker and a bakery and pastry arts grad from Johnson & Wales in Rhode Island, opened his own shop, Matt's Bakery in October of last year. That's the business end of this little notice. The other side of this story is that Mindy Tanenbaum is a Bexley native. Mindy convinced Matt that Columbus had more to offer than Worcester. So, they moved to Columbus and open Matt's Bakery at 3311 E. Broad St., in 2,500 square feet. While there are Kosher bagel shops here, Matt's Bakery is the only pure Kosher takeout spot. The menu offers breads (challah is the big draw), cakes, cookies, pastries, muffins and pies. The pie roster includes apple, blueberry, cherry, pecan and chocolate mousse. Also, coffee is available but for takeout only. With half the first of a five-year lease gone, the Coopers say they are doing fine. As for a first-year gross, Matt Cooper says, "We want to make enough to pay our bills." Matt's Bakery is under the Kosher supervision of the Vaad Ho-ir of Columbus. Inspections are made on a regular basis by a member of the Vaad to ensure that all ingredients are Kosher. Daylight hours are held daily except Saturday. For information call 614-237-4848. |
Photos: Vaughn Graphics  
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Motherland Grille Overcomes Roadblocks to Open A couple of years ago Frida Njunchop drove past an empty restaurant building in Reynoldsburg and saw her bright and profitable future. Always, she had wanted to own a restaurant. She's a chef with piles of family recipes. Motherland Grille opened in January at 6493 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg. But her dreams had to overcome two years of nightmares. Let's count the problems: • She's scammed out of some $40,000 when she dealt with individuals involving equipment and a then existing liquor permit. Legal actions are planned. • The building with a beautiful exterior was anything but…once inside. "Nobody, including the owners, really knew there was a ton of grease buried in the drains, the walls, even in the ceiling," Njunchop said. She worked for six months to bring the structure up to Reynoldsburg code. • The next hurdle: The building lost its zoning permit after being vacant for more than six months. Six more months were required to re-zone. • More months were lost while getting liquor permits approved. Frida's Grand Opening: After all the start-up grief, Motherland will have a formal grand opening from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday next - April 8. Part of the festivities include a buffet during those hours. No reservations required. The lady from Cameroon, here 18 years, is seeking to make back some of her investment of $460,000. Today and tonight Motherland Grille is serving a varied menu of grilled fish, steaks, chicken and fried plantains. Wings, of course, are on the menu. For restaurant history buffs, the location has a long and storied history in Reynoldsburg. Originally it was called Caesar's, thus the faux marble and columns. It was popular for coming-of-legal-age drinkers as a hang out. And later the building was turned into a format years ahead of the times. Asians installed a huge, round steel platen. They introduced Mongolian cookery. Reviews were uninviting to readers. Doors locked down in les than a year. Next came the obvious: A Chinese attempt. As the Double Dragon, it flourished and eventually moved across the street to another location. For information, hours and catering, call 614-501-9866. Motherland Grille Restaurant & Bar seats 120. Or - for details, www.motherlandgrille.com. by Doral Chenoweth 614-538-1822 |
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