The Great 3 Burger from The Thurman Cafe – Columbus, Ohio

Fall 2012

Well before I ever made a return trip to Columbus, Ohio, I was informed of a grungy little bar that I needed to frequent. Why? For one it presents itself as a quintessential Brian-Ormiston establishment: small, dark, hole-in-the-wall, randomness everywhere inside. Secondly, the menu boasts insanely good burgers and Great Lakes Brewery adult beverages.

Oh, and no matter what there will be a line. A big line.

All of this came true when I hopped in a car with my sister and her boyfriend and was driven to The Thurman Café in the German Village area just south of downtown. Located on a tree-lined street, nestled among cozy two-story Midwestern-type homes, it serves patrons who immediately discover the length they will have to wait to get a seat, however the “waiting room” calls out to be a friend who you would like to play in the sandbox with on a sunny day. We snuck over to the bar to grab a few beers and inched our way back over to a high top.

I loved this place.

Well, I may have been affected by the pinball machine and me being surrounded by mediocre Ohioans. Wait, am I describing a bar in Columbus or my daily life growing up near Toledo?

I never want to leave!

After our wait we did settle into a wooden “booth” and I struggled handsomely with the menu. Specifically, if this was place was known for burgers and that “Man vs. Food” supplied it with a little love as well, I needed meat. Lots of it. TWSS.

Deciding to stick with a rule of mine which is to get a simple burger during a first visit, I ordered up the Great 3 Burger – a three-quarter pound burger with a quarter pound of cheese. I went with American, Swiss and cheddar.

My expectations were met. And that is not easy to do. People situated all around me were experiencing how a mighty burger can overwhelm the body, mind and soul. Love is a good thing. It appeared during the time frame I sent the burger into my belly that everyone in The Thurman Café also added a nice chunk of poundage to themselves.

I need to get back. Desperately. With this place boasting the potential to entering my top three burger joints in the nation, it has become a top priority in my life to find a way to return to the crossroads of I-71 and I-70.

Lazy Chicken Cordon Bleu

June 9, 2012

Trying to determine what to make while home in Michigan, my sister and I settled on what she called “Lazy Chicken Cordon Bleu.” I really wanted to cook, but demanded food immediately. So I liked that term a lot.

Throwing chicken in the oven is an easy task, yet I wanted to add a little something to the poultry so I settled on a normal jar of Italian seasoning, covering both sides. While I waited for it to cook in the oven, I gulped down a beverage and retreated to the basement refrigerator for another. We then found a random bag of potato rounds in the freezer and tossed those in the oven as well.

I am unsure of what my favorite frozen potatoes may be, as I certainly do not mind French fries, tater tots and potato rounds. A nice ole selection of waffle fries do the trick every time, yet I adore the five-pound bag of tater tots for less than $5 at the local Super Target. Dip those babies in barbecue sauce and I got myself a cheap thrill.

Back to the task at hand, my sister plopped some ham and cheese onto the stove and placed the cover on top, letting it melt together nicely. When it blended and the chicken was cooked, we placed the ham and cheese on top and quickly obliterated the meal. For so little prep work, the chicken served as a tasty dish and the ham added a slight crunch (although not severe). However, I always will prefer cooking the ham and cheese inside the chicken.

What You’ll Need

As Many Chicken Breasts Required

Deli Ham

Swiss Cheese

Italian Seasoning

The Steps

1)      Spray pan with cooking spray and set oven to 350.

2)      Sprinkle Italian seasoning on chicken, both on top and on the bottom.

3)      Bake chicken for about 30 minutes.

4)      On the stove, spray a pan with cooking spray.

5)      Chop deli ham and place cheese on top. Place in the pan and cover for a couple of minutes, letting the cheese melt into the ham.

6)      When both are done, simply place the ham/cheese on top of the chicken.