CMH Gourmand – Eating in Columbus & Ohio

Far be it for the Explorer’s Club is get stagnant and do the same thing for too long. The menu continues to be tweaked here and there. The specials board have a broad rotation and they continue to spring new spins on Margarita’s on me. The newest experiment is Hungarian Night. On the second Wednesday of each month, the daily specials are replaced by a Hungarian menu. Each night will offer a three course meal selected from favorite Hungarian recipes for a fixed price.

The inspiration is three-fold: Chef Dan has some ethnic Cleveland roots, Explorer’s Club lies in close proximity to Hungarian Village (really) and an ode to Hungary fuels the explorers need to be different and discover. Looking at the core comfort food roots of the Explorer’s Club Menu, Hungarian is both a stretch and a no brainer. It is a bit of a reach since the Hungarian flavors lack overlap with the Explorer’s Club mostly funkadelic fusion flavors and it is a no brainer because no one else is doing it. The menu will vary each month, but this is what I tried.

Meggyleves (Chilled Sour Cherry Soup)

Chicken Paprikash with dumplings (The dumplings were really good in a spatzlesque manner supported by the chicken, tender to the bone and full of flavor)

Palacsinta (Raspberry Walnut Crepes)

If this Hungarian is not what you hanker for, have your dining companion du jour order it so you can sample and them engulf a Grilled Mac & Cheese Sandwich with Bacon and a fried egg….my current comfort food good to meal.

Explorer’s Club has also been taking it to the streets in cart form (hmm, wonder who pitched that to them?) with regular appearances at the Hal and Al’s Food Truck and Cart Fest. The next one is July 1st.

Explorer’s Club
1586 South High Street
Merion Village / Hungarian Village / Short South Side
614.725.0155