Barry Rosenthal brought his affable New York attitude to the North Market some thirteen years ago. He’s been pleasing deli-lovers with his stacked sandwiches, brisket and matzoh ball soup ever since.

The dynamic duo of Andrew Brush and Paul Milligan, aka Best Light Video spent hours at the North Market interviewing our merchants and creating little video vignettes for each of them. If you’re the instant gratification sort, you can now view them on our individual merchant pages on our website. Or, if you are the patient type, wait until I post them on our blog.

Without further adieu, Ann Leonard of A Touch of Earth:

Ale! Ale! The gang will all be here for the Columbus Microbrew Festival at the North Market. The usual suspects in the Columbus craft brewing community will be present and accounted for during the fourth annual celebration of all things local ale-related.

This year’s event will take place on Friday, September 11th from 5 - 9 p.m. and on Saturday, September 12th from noon - 7 p.m. on the second floor of the market house. It’s a great place to start a stellar weekend and warm up for the rematch of the season with OSU taking on USC at home at 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 12 at 8 p.m. 

Participating local microbreweries include: Barley’s Brewing Company (Ale House No. 1), Barley’s Smokehouse & Brewpub (Ale House No. 2), Columbus Brewing Company, Elevator Brewing Company, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, Hoster Brewing Company and Weasel Boy Brewing Company. Representatives from each microbrewery will be on hand to pour samples of their signature drafts. Admission to the event is free. Beer tasting admission is $15 and includes a commemorative pint glass and ten tasting tickets. Discount coupons good for $2 off the tasting admission fee will be available at all participating microbreweries beginning September 1. Additional tasting tickets will be available for $.50 each. Tickets are available in advance online (starting September 1) at the North Market business office and at the door on the days of the event.

“The North Market is our community’s epicenter for all things local and culinary. We are home to local merchants, farmers, artisans and, this weekend, microbreweries!” said David Wible, Executive Director for the North Market. “The creativity exhibited and the quality of the beers created by our local craft brewers blend nicely with the atmosphere at our public market. The Columbus Microbrew Festival is an opportunity for our Market patrons to be exposed to our hometown brews and for beer aficionados to experience the North Market.”

Columbus Microbrew Festival
Schedule of Activities:

Friday, September 11, 5-9 p.m.
• 5-9 p.m., Microbreweries open for tasting on the second floor of the North market
•5-7 p.m., Music by Great Mad Hoax
•7-9 p.m., Music TBA

Saturday, September 12, 12-7 p.m.
•8 a.m., North Market merchants and farmers open
•9-11 a.m., Music by Slate Ridge on porch
•10 a.m.-3 p.m., Face painting
•11 a.m.-1 p.m., Music by Loosely Strung on porch
•12-7 p.m., Microbreweries open for tasting
•1-3 p.m., Music by Gipson and Fitz Trio on second floor
•3-4 p.m., performances by Majestic Belly Dancing on porch
•3-5 p.m., Music by Island Breeze
•5-7 p.m., Music by Happy Chichester

Festival hours are Friday, September 11 from 5-9 p.m. and Saturday, September 12 from noon -7 p.m., regular market hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday. For additional information on the North Market Microbrew Festival please call 614-463-9664 or visit NorthMarket.com

Thanks to all of our entrants for the Amateur Jam & Jelly contest at the Farmers’ Festival this past weekend! We ended up with SIXTEEN entries! Our intrepid judges included Jennifer Nesbitt of This Week News, Vicky Thomas of The Orchard of Bill & Vicky Thomas, Kathy Persinger of Persinger Farms and Roland Kopecky of Slow Food Columbus and recent culinary winner at Wild Goose Creative’s Bacon Camp (we hear he makes a mean pierogi).  Our first place winner was John Woods with his delectable Organic Concord Grape Jelly. Second place was taken by dynamic duo Cindy McDermitt and Alma Holbrook with their Jalapeno Jam.

A couple entrants were good enough to share their recipes to be passed along to you!

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam by Christine Rinehart and Pat Kokoczka

2 C. Strawberries

2 C. Rhubarb

Cook rhubarb with 1/2 cup of water to soften. Add crushed strawberries. Add 6 1/2 cups of sugar and 1/2 tsp. butter. Bring to a rolling roil while stirring constantly. Add pectin quickly. Return to a boil for 1 minute. Skim foam (good on crackers)…Can it!

Cherry Jam by Karen and Ernie Corsi

3 pounds cherries, stems removed, pitted & rinsed

Chop 3/4 of cherries into smaller pieces, but not minced. Leave the remainder of the cherries whole. Cook cherries in a large non-reactive pot. Add the zest and juice of 2 fresh lemons. Cook until soft, about 20 minutes. Once cooled measure the amount of cherries and juice and use 3/4 that amount of sugar. (ie., if you have 4 cups of cooked cherries add 3 cups of sugar). Stir constantly over moderate heat with a heat proof utensil (the best jam cooks quickly). Put a small plate in the freezer. Once the cherries begin to thicken and gel, test by spooning some onto the cold plate and returning to the freezer. When the plate is nudged the jam should wrinkle indicating that it is done. Add a few drops of almond extract, ladle into warm clean jars and add covers. Cool to room temperature. Place in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes to complete the canning process.

Dear North Market Shopper, 

I’m not sure that I’ve ever experienced a time where food has been in sharper focus than it is today.

This summer two very different, but very powerful films have captured our attention. In the mainstream, Julie and Julia is proving to be one of the year’s biggest hits. Julie and Julia has rocketed Julia Child’s classic cookbooks to the top of all the best sellers lists.

Food, Inc., a film from the creators of The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food, focuses on the politics of food. It’s a compelling look at the “what, why and how” we eat.

Both films are well worth your time. Educational, entertaining and inspiring. But more importantly, film reflects our culture and our mood. And it seems right now, food is on our minds.

Everywhere there are stories about eating better, fresher, more healthful food. Public school systems are looking at how we can feed our children with more nutritionally valuable lunches. Groups like Slow Food are gaining more interest and popularity. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is flourishing. All because we want better food on our tables.

At North Market we’re all about fresh, local, healthful food. We’ve been that way for more than 130 years. Here you’ll find the Smith family that humanely and naturally raises their own beef, pork, lamb and goat on their farm near Marysville. The Greener Grocer has become our local farmstand in the City with fresh locally grown produce all week long. Local cheeses, local poultry, local ice cream, artisan baked goods, high quality fresh ingredients and locally owned businesses are what we’re all about.

So this summer if you’ve found that you are having an ever-increasing awareness about the quality of what’s on your table, stop by the Market where you’ll not only find great food, you’ll get a heaping cupful of inspiration, as well.

Dave Wible