Farms and Food of Ohio

Cleveland has embraced the concept of farm to table whole-heartedly. Restaurants like Jonathon Sawyer's Bar Cento and Jack Bruell's Parallax have led the way in encouraging diners to eat locally grown and raised foods.

Another excellent resource is Marilou K. Suszko's "Farms and Foods of Ohio," published in 2007 by Hipprocene Books. This 230-page book is part Ohio travel guide and part cookbook. It profiles 47 Ohio farms, wineries, orchards, and other food-producing enterprises from all corners of the state.

The Northern Ohio companies include Markko Winery in Ashtabula County, Sage's Apples in Chardon, Breychaks Blue Egg Farm in Columbia Station, and The Chef's Garden in Huron, Ohio. With each profile are several recipes using the bounty of that farm. Recipes include "Crispy Maple Spareribs," "Ohio Ice Wine Zabaglione," "Raspberry Tart in Nut Crust," and lots more.

Available via Amazon and Cleveland's independent bookstores, this is one of the best Ohio food books I've seen in years.

^{(cover art courtesy of Hippocrene Books)}