Hi, I’m Shelbi Evans, a full-time client support specialist and part-time food columnist for the Source’s new series: Bite Club (you should know the first rule of Bite Club is you always talk about Bite Club).
So, why a food column? Because when I was a kid and people asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I never made it past, “I just want to travel and get paid to eat.” Twelve-year-old me would be so proud.
Here’s some background. In 2022, my family sold our house, quit our jobs, and hit the road in a tiny camper.
We were lucky enough to live every foodie’s dream: coast-to-coast bites and more local gems than I could count. We weren’t just chasing good food, we were collecting stories, flavors, and a fresh perspective on what makes a place special. Building memories each mile and around every meal.
That trip taught me a lot, like how the same dish can look totally different from state to state, and how the most unforgettable meals usually come from the most unassuming places. But what stuck with me most was this: food is culture.
It’s creative, comforting, sometimes messy and chaotic, but it brings people together. Across tables, across backgrounds, across belief systems. It’s stories, passed down in sauce-stained notebooks. It’s memories baked into every bite. In a world that’s always rushing, local food reminds us to slow down, savor the moment, and celebrate what we’ve got in our own backyard.
So, how does this whole thing work?
Good question. First off, no one can pay to be featured. I don’t accept bribes, free tacos, or secret handshake deals behind the kitchen. Yes, this series is sponsored (thank you, Gravity Ohio and Dan Lew Exchange for funding my “research”), but where I go and what I write is completely up to me.
I’m not here to review food like I’m Gordon Ramsay in his villain era. I’m here to tell a story. This column is about celebrating places, people, and plates that make our area special.
The food spots I highlight are places I’ve been curious about, ones you’ve recommended or the kinds of mom-and-pop joints that are full of flavor and culture but get overlooked. Think fusion dishes, unlikely combinations, and family recipes. You won’t find chain reviews here. I want soul, creativity and something I’ll be thinking about long after the article is published.
Got something I should try?
Send it my way! I’ll have a survey at the bottom of each column so you can nominate and vote for your favorite secret menu item, unexpected flavor combo, or that mom-and-pop bar you visit every weekend. Think of it like American Idol, but for food. Your nominations help decide who gets the spotlight.
Let’s show some love to the places that put their hearts (and spices) into every dish. Support local. Stay hungry. And follow along as I eat my way through Richland County and beyond, one giant bite at a time.
Where Should We Eat Next?
Now’s your chance! I want to know what dish you’d drive across town for every time. Your go-to favorite mom-and-pop dish, secret menu item, best-kept food secret from a local spot in our community. Where’s the place you bring your friend from out of town?
Gravity Ohio exists to help mentor and support ambitious culinary talent to help fuel a thriving independent local food scene.