COLUMBUS OFFERS VISITORS UNFORGETTABLE CULINARY EXPERIENCES

Ohio's capital city is fast becoming one of the nation's most
notable culinary towns, with Columbus introducing travelers to a
wide variety of one-of-a-kind gastronomic experiences and
getaways. From fresh corn and wild mushroom risotto crafted by
one of the nation's top chefs to artisan ice cream and killer
barbecue, the Columbus dining scene is as varied as it is
memorable. Whether the visitor is a gourmet aficionado or a fan
of the greasy spoon, a number of Columbus food stories truly
standout, including:

ICE CREAM WARS: Columbus boasts a number of boutique ice cream
artisans. Jeni Britton of Jeni's Fresh Ice Cream creates
incredibly true flavors, combining unlikely ingredients such as
wild blueberry and lavender, cocoa with curry or cayenne and
even Roquefort ice cream to serve with a warm pear tart.

At Denise's Homemade Ice Cream owners Denise and Stan Zafran
have won many awards, including best in the US from MS
CitySearch, for flavors like Coffee Oreo, Chai Tea, Tiramisu and
Guinness Stout. Yes, Guinness. As in, the beer. Cincinnati
transplant, Graeter's Ice Cream offers factory tours, a
playground and rich French pot consistency with giant shards of
top-shelf chocolate whipped into fresh flavors such as coconut,
mint and raspberry.

BBQ BONANZA: You may not think of Ohio when you think of Q, but
the buckeye state is big on BBQ. A few local favorites include
Hoggy's, City Barbecue and Pig Iron. All are distinctively
different and fantastically flavorful. Unique side dishes are
also worth writing about, from the deeply southern greens of
City Barbecue, the sour-creamy mac & cheese at Hoggy's or the
fried pickles and onion rings found at Pig Iron.

THE BIG WINNER: Chef Hartmut Handke, Proprietor of one of
Columbus's finest restaurants, Handke's Cuisine, is also one of
America's most accomplished chefs, holding more culinary gold
medals than any other US chef. He's also the only American ever
to win the Gold Medal at Bocuse d'Or. His ever-changing menu
focuses on locally produced meats, vegetables and herbs,
featuring what's fresh and in season. A significant story in his
own right, Handke is a favorite with foodies and writers alike.

WORKS OF ART FROM THE OVEN: In 1991, Stan and Gigi Wielezynski
moved to Columbus from France to bring the city authentic French
breads baked in wood-fired ovens of their bakery restaurant, La
Chatelaine. Today their breads are baked fresh daily according
to traditions of the old masters and are among the best in the
Midwest; so light and delicate they should be eaten the day
they're baked. Napoleons, macaroons and tarts are unforgettable.
Yet another incredible bakery, Mozart's Caf, was the dream of
Anand and Doris Saha's, who bring world-class old-world-style
pastries, croissants and tortes to the city, crafted by
European-trained chefs. Mozart's beautiful marzipan peach wins
awards and acclaim for being as lovely as it is delicious.

WHAT A CONCEPT: Columbus has a long history of being fertile
ground for restaurant start-ups and new concepts, including
being the home of thriving chains like Wendy's, Max & Erma's,
Donato's and White Castle. Cameron Mitchell Restaurants has
become one of the city's great dining success stories. Launched
in 1993 with one location by restaurant wunderkind Cameron
Mitchell, Mitchell's company now has 27 restaurants in seven
states and sales that exceed $100 million. Cameron Mitchell
Restaurants has grown to feature nine very different concepts,
including Mitchell's Fish Market, Mitchell's
Steakhouse/Cameron's Steakhouse, Cameron's American Bistro,
Columbus Brewing Company, Cap City Diner, Martini Italian
Bistro, The Ocean Club, M and Molly Woo's Asian Bistro.

Columbus is a city unlike any other. Vibrant and alive, Ohio's
Capital city is known for its unique style: an uncommon blend of
neighborhoods, events, attractions and accommodations. Free
visitors guides, maps, on-line booking and complete information
about visiting Columbus are available from Experience Columbus,
formerly known as the Greater Columbus Convention & Visitors
Bureau, by calling 1-866-EXP-COLS or visiting
www.ExperienceColumbus.com., or www.MyOhioTravel.com