The document provides information about several innovative restaurants and food businesses in Columbus, Ohio. It summarizes each business' concept and highlights aspects of innovation. The businesses showcased include Bravo Italian, Pistacia Vera patisserie, Betty's Fine Food & Spirits, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, Due Amici restaurant, Barrio Tapas, and Two Caterers event planning company. They demonstrate innovation through creative menu items, attention to detail, entrepreneurial problem-solving, and commitments to sustainability and local sourcing.

1. January 13th, 2010
12:30-2:00 PM, Mason Rotunda
A TAsTe of
InnovATIon
An event exploring innovative food
developments in Columbus, Ohio.

2. Bethel • Lennox • Crosswoods
Open 11:00 AM — 10:00 PM
www.BravoItalian.com
ABOUT
BRAVO! is white-tablecloth casual dining at its best with great tasting Italian
food and inviting atmosphere under a fun, family-friendly Roman ruin decor.
BRAVO! specializes its menu on a broad choice of fresh, made-to-order, authentic
Italian food for lunch or dinner as well as creative, seasonal specials.
INNOVATION
BRAVO! is a local favorite gone big-time with restaurants in 20 states. In the
early 1990’s, brothers Chris and Rick Doody had a concept for a new market
segment called upscale casual. They wanted to emulate the quality and
ambiance of the high-end Italian eatery Lindey’s, owned by their family, and make
it more accessible and affordable. Believing that service ultimately makes or
breaks a restaurant, the Doody brothers site generous employment packages and
a focus on promoting from within as major factors in their ability to recreate the
BRAVO! experience on a broad scale.
Bravo! Map Bravo! Menu

3. 541 South Third Street • Columbus, Ohio 43215
Open Daily 7 AM — 7 PM
614-220-9070 • www.PistaciaVera.com
ABOUT
Pistacia Vera was founded in 2004 by siblings Spencer Budros, a pastry chef, and
Anne Fletcher, a financial planner. Pistacia Vera was created as a destination for
all who love pastries and desserts in Central Ohio. Using fresh, real ingredients
and European techniques to create personal, inspiring and delicious products.
INNOVATION
Extreme attention to detail sets this patisserie apart in the dessert world.
Each item is made by hand with exceptional care, blending classic European
technique with a character perfectly unique and unmistakable. The Pistacia Vera
experience has been compared to shopping at Tiffany in Manhattan, but with
edible jewels. “To describe Pistacia Vera as a pastry shop is like calling Van Gogh
a painter—true, but hardly sufficient.” (Columbus Monthly)
Pistacia Vera Map Pistacia Vera Menu

4. 680 N High St • Columbus, Ohio 43215
Open Daily 11 AM — 2 AM
614-228-6191 • www.BettysColumbus.com
ABOUT
Betty’s Fine Food & Spirits is part of the Betty’s Family of Restaurants including
Surly Girl Saloon, Tip Top Kitchen and Cocktails, Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace and
The Jury Room. Betty’s is located in the Short North Arts District and is a cozy
neighborhood hot spot serving up heaping helpings of Ohio comfort food with
extra sides of sass.
INNOVATION
A flair for kitsch, a deeply ingrained social mission, and an entrepreneurial approach
to problem solving make the Betty’s Family of Restaurants a stand-out innovator in
central Ohio. Espousing the motto “eat our ideals,” owner Elizabeth Lessner strives to
provide a unique and fulfilling work experience for all employees, and to minimize the
environmental impact of her businesses. To address the challenges of composting her
restaurants’ organic waste, she developed Eartha Limited, Central Ohio’s first compost
hauler. After struggling to find a glass hauler to recycle thousands of empty bottles
generated at the bar, she partnered with a glass figurine manufacturer.
Betty’s Map Betty’s Menu

5. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Bexley • Clintonville • Dublin • Grandview
North Market • Powell• Short North
614-488-3224 • www.JennisIceCreams.com
ABOUT
Jeni Britton Bauer became inspired to make artisan ice creams while working at
a French patisserie. Drawing on the practices of a traditional pastry kitchen, Jeni
created her own techniques to make American ice creams that are less sweet
and more flavorful.
INNOVATION
Each batch of Jeni’s ice creams is carefully tended to; each flavor artfully
achieved with fresh ingredients found in the Ohio countryside as well as
responsibly-raised exotics from around the world. All of Jeni’s ice creams,
sauces, pralines and marshmallows are handcrafted in Jeni’s production kitchen
in Columbus, Ohio.
Jeni’s Map Jeni’s Menu

6. 67 East Gay Street • Columbus, Ohio 43215
Open 11:30 AM — 10:00 PM
614-224-9373 • www.Due-Amici.com
ABOUT
Due Amici brings an unpretentious but still upscale and hip dining and lounge
experience to Columbus. Simple, Elegant and Sexy Italian Food is the name of
the game at this downtown establishment.
INNOVATION
Due Amici is owned by entrepreneur Jeff Mathes, who Columbus Mayor Michael
Coleman has referred to as “one of downtown’s great pioneers and risk takers”
for his instrumental role in the redevelopment of the Gay Street entertainment
district. Mathes’ vision for a revitalized Gay Street and initial investment in the
building that houses Due Amici spawned the city to invest heavily in streetscape
improvements. Other businesses followed suit and Gay Street was reborn.
Due Amici Map Due Amici Menu

7. Spring + High • Columbus, Ohio 43215
Open 11:00 AM — 11:00 PM
614-220-9141 • www.BarrioTapas.com
ABOUT
Barrio is grounded in contemporary American culture, however its essence is
inspired by the smells, flavors, images, and festive atmosphere Latin American
and Spanish-speaking communities enjoy. Barrio is a true Tapas bar and lounge
that features authentic dishes from all over South America and Spain, as well as
wines from Argentina and Chile.
INNOVATION
Another example of Jeff Mathes’ visionary urban pioneering, this former Wendy’s
has been transformed into a picturesque upscale cantina with spectacular street
level windows that provide an open-air dining atmosphere in warmer months
and a cozy respite in Winter. Like many Latin American neighborhoods, Barrio
prides itself as a gathering place designed with the concept of cohesive spaces,
sharing, and diversity.
Barrio Map Barrio Menu

8. 6800 Schrock Hill Court • Columbus, Ohio 43229
614-882-7323 • www.TwoCaterers.com
ABOUT
The rockstar of the catering community, Two Caterers is known to deliver top
quality in everything they touch – or even come near. From the creativity and
quality of the food to the presentation, service, and event planning assistance,
Two Caterers lives its mission to provide clients with a level of service that
surpasses all expectations.
INNOVATION
Beyond the wildly imaginative creations that brought Two Caterers a Best Caterer
distinction from Columbus CEO magazine in 2010, is a steadfast commitment to
the locavore culinary movement – focused on sustainability and local sourcing
of ingredients – that clinched them the Best Green Company distinction from the
same publication, as well as a 2010 Environmental Achievement Award from
the Ohio Environmental Council. Two Caterers partners with Ohio agricultural
suppliers in order to obtain the freshest, best tasting ingredients, lower carbon
emissions, and keep the money here in the community.
Two Caterers Map Two Caterers Menu