So, I have a handful of employees who are the true definition of foodie, or probably more accurately, epicureans. We’ll just name them Amber, Lindsey, Jessica, Maureen, Lauri, and Stephaine for now (for the article’s sake lol). But in a world in search of the perfect dining experience, they have reminded me that food is more about […]
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A taste of Richland County: Highlights from the 9th annual Savor & Sip
MANSFIELD — The 9th Annual Savor & Sip filled the Mid-Ohio Conference Center with tempting aromas and the buzz of guests eagerly sampling their way around the room. Vendors lined the perimeter, each offering bite-sized servings that kept plates full and conversations flowing. Rows of silent auction items drew steady attention, with more than 150 […]
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From coffins to craft brews: Haunted history lives at the Phoenix
MANSFIELD — History never really stays buried. At The Phoenix Brewing Company, it just found better lighting and a bar menu. This October, to celebrate all things spooky, I headed to the Phoenix, housed in the former Schroer Mortuary and Funeral Home. The building, once tied to the family’s furniture and casket business, carries decades […]
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From lemonade stand to soul food legacy: How persistence pays off
MANSFIELD — Long before he opened Marie’s Soul Creations at 54 Park Ave. West, Jeremiah Cline was teaching his daughters what it meant to work for a dream. It started when his two young girls wanted Jordans. Cline didn’t just hand them the money; he showed them how to earn it. Together, they got a […]
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Holy cannoli, Kimmy’s Cucina brings a taste of Italy to Lexington
LEXINGTON — Step inside Kimmy’s Cucina, and it’s like Italy found its way to 275 E. Main St. in Lexington. Owners Kim and Roger Sterry know their way around Italian food, curating a market where shelves are stacked with hand-picked ingredients, fridges brim with meats and cheeses, and the goodies in the pastry and gelato cases […]
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Opa! Step inside Mansfield’s celebration of Greek culture this weekend
MANSFIELD — I was invited to preview the Greek Festival ahead of its Sept. 5 and 6 celebration, an event blending food, music, dance, and faith. From the moment I stepped inside, it was clear this congregation values tradition; not as a rigid expectation, but as a thread tying generations. Everyone I met shared stories […]
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Pump and Grind: Where coffee meets community and dreams brew bold in Mansfield
MANSFIELD — Ever walk into a place and feel your day get instantly better? That’s how it felt walking into Pump and Grind. “I’ve just always been someone who loves to cook for people,” said Jessica Backensto, owner of Pump and Grind. “I was always told I should have my own restaurant, and I never […]
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Rebuilding more than streets: Preserving our tradition
Editor’s note: This article was written and submitted to Richland Source by Dan Lew. There’s a kind of silence that settles over a restaurant when the streets outside are torn up and the foot traffic disappears. It’s not just the absence of customers – it’s the absence of connection. And in Downtown Mansfield, that silence […]
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Mango, Tajín, and a-maíz-ing ice cream at Neveria Dulce Amor in Mansfield
MANSFIELD — Step into 1350 Lexington Ave. and you’re greeted by a burst of color, a menu full of delicious surprises and the sweet aroma of waffle cones and whipped cream. Look to the left, and you’ll find Davalos Market, stocked with groceries, drinks and sweets from across Latin America. Look to the right, and […]
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Everything but the kitchen sink: 500 Park Ave. Cafe features massive sandwich and much more
One night, while doom-scrolling, I stumbled across a review of a massive sandwich and a salad that looked too good to be true. Turns out, the place was just blocks from my office. I called 500 Park Ave. Cafe (yes, that’s also the address) to see if they’d let us stop by. Within minutes, I […]