Things Archives - James DeCamp Photography

Product and object photography by James DeCamp.

2024 Pictures of the Year Entries

Behind The Scenes, Events, Features, Images, News, People, Personal, Religious, Sports

James DeCamp has been a passionate competitor in the Ohio News Photographers Association (ONPA) Picture of the Year contest, showcasing his keen eye for storytelling through powerful imagery. With a career spanning decades, his entries have captured moments of raw emotion, striking composition, and technical excellence.

Whether documenting the human experience, covering major news events, or crafting compelling visual narratives, his submissions reflect his dedication to the craft. Over the years, his work for The Columbus Dispatch and many other publications has earned recognition and respect, standing out among Ohio’s top photojournalists. Each entry into the ONPA competition is a testament to his ability to freeze time and tell stories that resonate far beyond the frame.

News Picture Story:

A multiple-picture entry of a story, series or sequence of a spot or general news event.

Indian Lake Tornado: Tragedy, Destruction, and a Community’s Strength

Full story and images here: https://wp.me/p7sWoM-2Q3

Craig Hewitt, rear, and Butch Smith, Chaplains with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team pray for Jodi Miller Thursday, March 21, 2024, a survivor of a tornado that ripped thru Lakeview, Indian River and Russells Point Ohio killing three people and injuring dozens more on March 14, 2024. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Feature Picture story:

A multiple-picture entry of a story, series or sequence of a spot or general human interest subject.

Brigid’s Path: A Sanctuary of Healing for Newborns Affected by Addiction

Full story and images here: https://wp.me/p7sWoM-2Pw

Karen Laitzman, a mother who used Brigid’s Path services for herself and her child several years ago photographed Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at Brigid’s Path newborn recovery center in Kettering, Ohio. Founded in 2014, Brigid’s Path provides care for infants exposed to addictive substances and their mothers.

Portrait Personality:

A picture of a person that reveals the essence of the subject’s character.

The New Albany Community Foundation presents Joshua Henry and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra in concert Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at the Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater in New Albany, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

“The Doctor,” showcases John Haughwout, owner of Free Flow Plumbing and self-proclaimed “Drain Doctor”, as he prepares for a meticulous operation – on an American Standard Edgemere toilet. Taken on September 26, 2024, in Solon, Ohio, for Plumber Magazine, the portrait infuses humor and creativity into an otherwise ordinary subject, demonstrating DeCamp’s mastery of lighting techniques and character-driven storytelling. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

“Adopted,” a poignant portrait of Em, 16, as she sits contemplatively over a cup of coffee in her Chester, Vermont home. Recently adopted into a ‘Forever Family’ after enduring years of instability in the foster care system, Em’s journey to a permanent home came with the support of Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, an initiative of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. DeCamp captured this powerful moment while on assignment for the Foundation in Vermont, bringing to life a story of resilience, hope, and the transformative power of adoption. DeCamp has been working with the agency as their principal photographer for more than 9 years. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Sports Feature:

An unposed sports-related photo that celebrates the role athletics plays in the lives of amateur and/or professional athletes and fans.

Runners grab hydration at the first water stop of the 2024 Columbus Marathon photographed Sunday, October 20, 2024 in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

https://www.jamesdecamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20241017CBJ-5909.jpg

Zachary Aston-Reese poses for a 3D photo during the Columbus Blue Jackets season opener ceremonies Thursday, October 17, 2024 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Pictorial:

A picture that uses the aesthetic qualities of the subject with emphasis on composition.

Looking over the new displays of art at The Gund Gallery Spring Collection opening photographed Thursday, January 18, 2024 at the Gallery on the Kenyon College Campus in Gambier, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

A mother and daughter look at the hanging art display by Nancy Spero, Maypole: ÔTake No PrisonersÕ at the Gund Gallery Spring Collection opening photographed Thursday, January 18, 2024 at the Gallery on the Kenyon College Campus in Gambier, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

The 2024 Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival photographed Saturday, June 15, 2024 in downtown old Gahanna, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Photographed Friday, October 18, 2024 at the Gund Museum on the Kenyon College Campus in Gambier, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

General News:

A picture of a scheduled political, social or cultural event for which advance planning was possible. An assigned and/or scheduled news events. Example: demonstration, funerals, trials and promotional events.

Ohio Wesleyan University students and faculty celebrate Holi, the Festival of Colors Saturday, March 30, 2024 on Frat Hill on the OWU campus in Delaware, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

The Inauguration of Ohio Wesleyan University President Matt vandenBerg photographed Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Gray Chapel on the Ohio Wesleyan University Campus in Delaware, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

The Easton E3 Learning Lab photographed Monday, May 13, 2024 on the New Albany-Plain Local School District Campus in New Albany, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

The 2024 Komen Columbus Race for the Cure photographed Saturday, May 18, 2024 in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

The Buddy Up Day Camp photographed Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at Wickertree Tennis and Fitness Club in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

The Rose Run Fest Summer in Italy Paint Party held Thursday, June 20, 2024 at Rose Run Park in New Albany, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Canine Companions North Central Region Graduation & Matriculation Ceremony photographed Friday, August 9, 2024 at their campus in New Albany, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Kenyon College Freshman Move-in Day photographed Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Kenyon College Freshman Convocation and First Sing photographed Sunday, August 25, 2024 at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

The New Albany Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration presented by the New Albany Chamber of Commerce photographed Sunday, November 24, 2024 at Market Square in New Albany, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://www.JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Features:

A found situation with strong human interest – a fresh view of an everyday scene.

Delta Airlines de-icing crews spray down a plane on the tarmac of the John Glenn Columbus International Airport early Friday morning January 19, 2024. Winter weather moved thru the Midwest snarling traffic with cancelations and delays. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366) #JDeCampPhoto, #ColumbusAirport, #Delta, #FlyCMH, #614, #lifeincolumbus, #Columbus

The ONPA Picture of the Year contest has seen a noticeable decline in entries compared to 15 – 20 years ago. The highly competitive showcase of Ohio’s best photojournalism, the contest once featured a robust number of submissions, reflecting a thriving industry with many active photographers contributing compelling work.

Fifteen years ago, the competition was fierce, with photojournalists from newspapers, magazines, and freelance backgrounds vying for recognition. The sheer volume of entries made winning or placing a significant achievement. Today, however, the number of submissions has dwindled, reflecting broader changes in the industry—shrinking newsroom budgets, fewer staff photographer positions, and an overall shift in how visual journalism is produced and consumed.

Despite the decline in quantity, the quality of work remains extremely high, with dedicated photographers continuing to produce powerful images that capture the essence of news, sports, and human-interest stories. However, the contrast between then and now highlights the evolving landscape of photojournalism, where fewer professionals are left to document the world through a trained and experienced lens.

January 2, 2025/0 Comments/by James

The Delaware Entrepreneurial Center Collaboration

Events, Images, News

Ohio Wesleyan University, City of Delaware, and Delaware County Reaffirm Commitment to The Delaware Entrepreneurial Center

DELAWARE, Ohio – March 14, 2024 – In a demonstration of ongoing collaboration and dedication to fostering innovation, Ohio Wesleyan University President Matt vandenBerg, Delaware City Manager R. Thomas Homan, and Delaware County Commissioner Gary Merrell have signed an agreement to continue their joint operation of The Delaware Entrepreneurial Center at Ohio Wesleyan University (DEC OWU). The signing ceremony took place today at the Center, located on the Ohio Wesleyan campus.

Established in 2018, DEC OWU represents a pioneering partnership among Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware County, and the City of Delaware. The Center serves as a business incubator and educational hub, cultivating an entrepreneurial ecosystem that equips individuals with the mindset and knowledge to devise unique solutions addressing global challenges.

Since its inception, the Center has achieved notable milestones, including the graduation of 11 companies from its incubator program, the creation of 45 full-time jobs contributing to the local economy, and the attraction of over $3.7 million in investments and grants for its members.

President Matt vandenBerg, who assumed office as Ohio Wesleyan’s 17th president on July 1, 2023, emphasized the Center’s role in the university’s mission to drive economic growth and cultural vitality. He stated, “Ohio Wesleyan University is a powerful engine of social mobility, educational opportunity, economic growth, and cultural vitality.”

City Manager R. Thomas Homan highlighted the collaborative spirit that defines the Center, noting that its success stems from the shared vision and commitment of the partnering entities.

Commissioner Gary Merrell, who has served as Delaware County Commissioner since 2013, expressed enthusiasm about the Center’s impact on local economic development and its potential to inspire future entrepreneurs.

The renewed agreement underscores the partners’ dedication to sustaining and expanding the Center’s initiatives, ensuring that DEC OWU continues to be a catalyst for innovation and a resource for entrepreneurs aiming to make a global impact.

About The Delaware Entrepreneurial Center at Ohio Wesleyan University

The Delaware Entrepreneurial Center at Ohio Wesleyan University is a unique collaboration among Ohio Wesleyan, Delaware County, and the City of Delaware. Located at 70 S. Sandusky St. on the OWU campus, the Center functions as both a business incubator and an educational facility, fostering an environment where innovative solutions to global challenges are developed.

About Ohio Wesleyan University

Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is a nationally recognized liberal arts university located in Delaware, Ohio. The university is committed to providing a transformative education that prepares students for leadership and service in a global society.

March 14, 2024/0 Comments/by James

SS Arthur M. Anderson

Events, Images, News, Photos, Places, Scenics, Things

On Tuesday, October 24, 2023, the SS Arthur M. Anderson made its way out of Duluth Harbor, cutting a striking figure against the cold, gray waters of Lake Superior. Fully laden with iron ore, the legendary freighter embarked on another journey, continuing its long-standing service as one of the Great Lakes’ most enduring and respected vessels.

As the Arthur M. Anderson passed under the iconic Aerial Lift Bridge, a small crowd gathered along the waterfront to watch the massive vessel depart. The ship’s deep horn echoed across the harbor, a familiar and nostalgic sound to many who have followed its storied career. The 767-foot-long freighter, built in 1952, has become a symbol of resilience and history, known not only for its role in Great Lakes shipping but also for its connection to the infamous sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975.

With a deck lined with red iron ore pellets bound for steel mills further down the lakes, the Arthur M. Anderson navigated through the chilly autumn waters with ease, its powerful engines churning up whitecaps in its wake. The scene was a reminder of the vital role these vessels play in North America’s industrial economy, transporting raw materials that help fuel steel production and manufacturing.

Despite its age, the Arthur M. Anderson remains a workhorse of the Great Lakes fleet, undergoing regular maintenance and upgrades to keep it in operation. Its departure from Duluth Harbor was not just another routine voyage—it was a continuation of a legacy stretching over seven decades, a testament to the enduring strength of Great Lakes shipping.

The Anderson is famous for being the last ship to be in contact with SS Edmund Fitzgerald before she sank on November 10, 1975. Arthur M. Anderson was also the first rescue ship on the scene in a vain search for Edmund Fitzgerald survivors. The Anderson came out of the drydock of the American Ship Building Company of Lorain, Ohio in 1952 and had a length of 647 feet (197 m), a 70-foot (21 m) beam, a 36-foot (11 m) depth, and a gross tonnage of roughly 20,000 tons. She was second of eight of the AAA class of lake freighters. During the winter of 1974–75, she was lengthened 120 feet by Fraser Shipyards, Superior, Wisconsin to an overall length of 767 feet. On the lakes for nearly 70 years, she received a five month long survey and refitting in 2019 before being returned to service. The vessel’s namesake, Arthur Marvin Anderson, was director of U.S. Steel, a member of its finance committee and vice chairman of J.P. Morgan & Co. at the time.

A fully laden SS Arthur M. Anderson makes it way out of the Duluth Harbor Tuesday, October 24, 2023. The Anderson is famous for being the last ship to be in contact with SS Edmund Fitzgerald before she sank on November 10, 1975. Arthur M. Anderson was also the first rescue ship on the scene in a vain search for Edmund Fitzgerald survivors. The Anderson came out of the drydock of the American Ship Building Company of Lorain, Ohio in 1952 and had a length of 647 feet (197 m), a 70-foot (21 m) beam, a 36-foot (11 m) depth, and a gross tonnage of roughly 20,000 tons. She was second of eight of the AAA class of lake freighters. During the winter of 1974–75, she was lengthened 120 feet by Fraser Shipyards, Superior, Wisconsin to an overall length of 767 feet. On the lakes for nearly 70 years, she received a five month long survey and refitting in 2019 before being returned to service. The vessel's namesake, Arthur Marvin Anderson, was director of U.S. Steel, a member of its finance committee and vice chairman of J.P. Morgan & Co. at the time. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

October 24, 2023/0 Comments/by James

Kenyon College Freshman Move-in Day

Events, Images, News, People

On Saturday, August 19, 2023, Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, buzzed with activity as it welcomed the Class of 2027 during the annual Freshman Move-In Day. This milestone event marked the beginning of a new chapter for approximately 480 first-year and transfer students, as they transitioned into collegiate life on the Hill.

The day commenced with families arriving on campus, vehicles packed with personal belongings, and emotions running high. The atmosphere was a blend of excitement and anticipation, as new students prepared to embark on their academic journeys. Kenyon’s commitment to fostering a supportive community was evident, with faculty, staff, and upperclassmen volunteers readily available to assist with the move-in process. Their presence ensured a smooth transition, helping newcomers feel at home in their new environment.

A unique aspect of this year’s move-in was the “Arrival Day Playlist,” a collaborative Spotify playlist curated by the incoming class over the summer. As students entered the Lowry Center, the playlist played in the background, symbolizing the collective spirit and unity of the Class of 2027. This initiative not only provided a personalized soundtrack for the day but also served as an icebreaker, fostering connections among students.

The day’s events culminated on Sunday, August 20, with the Opening Convocation ceremony held on the Samuel Mather Lawn. New students processed past assembled faculty, marking their official induction into the Kenyon community. Acting President Jeff Bowman addressed the cohort, highlighting the skills they would develop during their time at Kenyon, including collaboration and effective communication. He assured them, “All of these opportunities you’ll pursue in an environment that is supportive, inclusive, and caring.”

The Class of 2027’s arrival infused the campus with renewed energy and optimism. As they settled into their dormitories and began forging new friendships, the foundation was laid for a transformative educational experience. Kenyon College’s dedication to academic excellence and community ensures that these students are well-equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Below is a visual glimpse into the day’s events:

August 19, 2023/0 Comments/by James

Kwanzaa

Events, Features, Images, People

Kwanzaa – A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture photographed Monday, December 27, 2021 at the Ohio History Connection in Columbus, Ohio. Kwanzaa (/ˈkwɑːn.zə/) is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day. It was created by activist Maulana Karenga, based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of Africa, including West and Southeast Africa. Kwanzaa was first celebrated in 1966.

Kwanzaa - A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture photographed Monday, December 27, 2021 at the Ohio History Connection in Columbus, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

January 10, 2022/0 Comments/by James

NASO Holiday Spectacular

Events, Images

The New Albany Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Spectacular Concert photographed Sunday, December 19, 2021 at the McCoy Center for the Arts in New Albany, Ohio.

Luis Biava, conductor

“Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays!” The New Albany Symphony Orchestra joins forces with the New Albany Symphony Chorus in a festive performance of holiday favorites.

The New Albany Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Spectacular Concert photographed Sunday, December 19, 2021 at the McCoy Center for the Arts in New Albany, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

The New Albany Symphony OrchestraÕs Holiday Spectacular Concert photographed Sunday, December 19, 2021 at the McCoy Center for the Arts in New Albany, Ohio. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

The New Albany Symphony Orchestra (NASO) is a community orchestra comprised of over 120 community, student, and professional musicians from all over the Columbus metro area who come together four times a year to present concerts from the professional classical repertoire in the beautiful Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts in the heart of New Albany.

NASO was designed by its founders to be a true community orchestra, in which students are mentored by professional musicians, talented community musicians have a stage on which to perform, and professional musicians have an additional outlet for their craft.
Founded in 2007 by New Albany resident and violist Heather Garner and founding conductor Luis Biava, the New Albany Symphony Orchestra is proud to serve the community for more than a decade.

A strong component of the New Albany Symphony Orchestra’s mission is music education, and our commitment to even the youngest student musician in the orchestra is that he or she will perform on at least one piece per concert. The orchestra offers free master classes, a sensory-friendly series for our friends in the autism and dementia/Alzheimer’s communities, and a student concerto competition, in which talented young people from all over the state compete to win the opportunity to perform a concerto on stage in front of a live audience. Additionally, the orchestra collaborates with many area arts organizations and schools. Ticket prices are kept low – even offering free tickets to our underserved partners – to ensure that the art of classical music remains accessible to the people of New Albany and our surrounding areas.

The New Albany Symphony Chorus (NASC) is an all-volunteer ensemble led by Dr. Michael G. Martin. Founded in 2019 and comprised of over 65 auditioned voices, the Chorus made its community debut this season with Mahler’s 2nd Symphony on October 6th at 3:00 p.m. and will perform throughout the season with the New Albany Symphony. The Chorus includes members of the New Albany community and surrounding suburbs, with ages spanning from high-school through retirement.

Luis Biava is Principal Cello of Columbus Symphony Orchestra (CSO), artistic director of the Chamber Music Society of Dublin (CMSD), conductor of Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra and Camarata and Music Director of the New Albany Symphony. His family represents four generations of musicians. His first cello studies were with his uncle Miguel Uribe in his native Colombia, and he performs regularly in the Trio Biava-Uribe with his aunt (Blanca Uribe, piano) and his father (Luis Biava, violin). He attended the University of Michigan, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Cello Performance. He also holds bachelor’s and master’s degree from the Juilliard School where he studied with Leonard Rose and Channing Robbins. He has also studied with Gabo Rejto, Samuel Mayes, Elsa Hilger, and Oliver Edel. He has performed solos with CSO; the symphonies of Savannah, U. of Michigan, Temple U., Bogotá, and Westerville; Upper Arlington Community Orchestra; Filamonica de Bogotá; and Antioquia Symphony of Medellin. He has performed as recitalist on the east coast, Puerto Rico and Colombia, South America as well as many chamber music concerts with CMSD and Camarata, the High Street Four String Quartet and the Canaletto Ensemble. His recordings include the Fauré Elegy with CSO, works of Antonio Maria Valencia with the Biava-Uribe Trio and as principal cello of the Spoleto Festival orchestra the Grammy nominated opera by Samuel Barber, Antony and Cleopatra. Mr. Biava is currently an adjunct professor at Kenyon College and on the faculty of FOSJA in San Juan Puerto Rico. In March 2011 he performed the Beethoven Triple Concerto with his wife Ariane Sletner and Blanca Uribe under the direction of his father Luis Biava with the New Albany Symphony. In January of 2012, Mr. Biava performed Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations with the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra. Later that he was soloist in the Vivaldi Concerto for Two Cellos and the JC Bach Sinfonia Concertante with the Columbus Symphony this past year. He will be performing the Dvorak Concerto with the Newark-Granville Symphony in March of 2013 as well as the Vivaldi Two Cello with David Finckel with the New Albany Symphony for their final concert this season. He recently received the Empleos and Employment Ohio Diversity award for Latinos making a difference. In conducting this year, Mr. Biava conducted Hilary Hahn in the Korngold Violin Concerto and was cover conductor for the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Tchaikovsky Spectacular concert in Saratoga Springs.

December 19, 2021/0 Comments/by James

Zelniks

News, People, Products

Another day, Another Zelnik 🙂

Ryan Miller photographed Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at his Columbus home making a Zelnik. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Basic ingredient board – (l-r, top-bottom) Ground pepper in mortor & pestle, salt, Butter, Ajvar Paste (made with roasted red peppers and roasted eggplant), Leeks, white brined sheep cheese (basically feta) and Eggs. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Fresh Leeks (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Ryan Miller adding egg & Sheep Cheese mixture to doughed pan. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Ryan Miller photographed Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at his Columbus home. (© James D. DeCamp | http://JamesDeCamp.com | 614-367-6366)

Except from (614) Magazine:

Chances are, you don’t know what zelnik is. Most people don’t.

But this savory Macedonian pastry is making its way into the (614) thanks to a new Columbus eatery named after the dish—and it’s this delightful mesh of cheese and phyllo dough that gave the owner a sense of identity as a child.

“Zelnik was always my favorite food growing up, and it was always fun for me to share that with my friends,” said Zelnik founder Ryan Miller of his delivery-only operation. Orders for the dish are taken through Instagram DM at @zelnik614 and are due the day before deliveries, which are currently Tuesday and Friday by Miller himself.

“When I was a kid, nobody else ever really knew what it was, but this always gave me a little bit of an identity that’s different from everyone else,” he said. “So I’ve always kind of liked it for that purpose, in addition to what it does for my taste buds.”

Traditionally made of egg, soft Bulagarian cheeses, and sautéed leek stuffed into a rich, flaky crust, Zelnik takes a hot second to make. Which is probably why, as far as Miller knows, there aren’t any other Columbus spots slinging his Eastern European pastry. And if they are, perhaps not with as much love and history as Miller.

For Miller, food has always been a passion—a form of self-expression, even—and zelnik has always been a part of this. He believes strongly in the power of food to maintain and even preserve important aspects of family life as well.

In his food blog, “Dining with DiMiller,” Miller wrote about how his children’s ethnic identities will be even more diverse than that of he and his wife, who have heritages composed of many countries.

“In time what is left of those ethnic identities? What part of each distinct culture is passed on? What is forgotten? Things that we can be sure will carry on—culinary traditions, heirloom ingredients, cooking methods, recipes. All things food,” MIller wrote.

True to his blog, the recipe for zelnik was passed down from Miller’s great-grandmother, (“Baba”) on his mother’s side (the Macedonian side of his family), even if it took an unusual path through his family tree to him.

Neither his grandmother nor his mother learned how to make zelnik; in fact, Miller’s father—who isn’t Macedonian at all—was the one who took the time to annotate the recipe. And not without a little trouble.

“My great-grandmother never used traditional measuring devices, so [Miller’s father] had to jot down and approximate things. But that’s how a lot of old world cooks are; they just kind of eyeball things. My Dad would stop her, grab the mug she was using to portion ingredients, and measure how much it held. And that’s how we have the recipe now.”

And as Miller worked to perfect the zelnik recipe for commercial sale over the last year, he also incorporated his own set of tweaks and polishes.

“It’s traditionally made in this big sheet, but not everybody’s going to buy a big sheet of something they don’t know,” he said. “ So I shrunk it down to an 8-by-8 square and kind of experimented with the ingredient amounts to get everything right.”

Zelnik offers two permanent menu items: Baba’s Original Zelnik, featuring eggs, Eastern European cheeses, and fried leek; plus the deeply savory Spiced Beef Zelnik, complete with seasoned ground beef, fire-roasted tomato, and a similarly enticing cheese blend.

In addition to these mainstays, Zelnik seasonally cooks up some inventive variations that are far from traditional, but most definitely still delicious. These include a recent pork and sauerkraut pastry for New Year’s Eve and a variant with smoked turkey offered around Thanksgiving. What’s more, Miller—an avid fan of Mexican food—plans to experiment with a Zelnik highlighted by Mexican flavors in the near future.

Every Zelnik is paired with a unique and delicious complimentary sauce. Miller’s permanent menu items come with the sharp, fruity, and subtly spicy ajvar. A relish made from roasted ajvarski pepper (native to Macedonia) and eggplant combined with vinegar, oil, and a robust blend of spices, Ajvar’s kick of bright acidity is a perfect compliment for a rich and hearty zelnik.

“A lot goes into Ajvar, and it’s a delicacy; it’s known as the vegan caviar of Eastern Europe,” Miller said.

Previous pastry pairings have included a homemade gravy for the smoked turkey pastry, and a créme fraîche and mustard sauce for the pork and sauerkraut pastry.

While Zelnik has received serious local interest after its late October launch this year, the Ohio University grad and former engineer is taking a measured approach.

“I don’t ever think this will be an on-demand kind of thing,” he said. “It takes a lot of time to make, and they’re traditionally prepared for special occasions, for holidays.”

But that doesn’t mean Zelink isn’t on a path to bigger and better things. As Miller plans his next move—be it a permanent spot, a cloud kitchen, or a shared location—it’s clear he’s doing what moves him, and sharing a huge part of himself along the way.

“I have hopes that someday Zelnik will not only be something that foodies seek out, but be a household name for everyone,” Miller said. “I’m excited to continue challenging myself to come up with fun, unique combinations that people love.”

Learn more about Zelnik at instagram.com/zelnik614

January 14, 2021/0 Comments/by James

Wild Ohio Weekend

Events, Images

January 5, 2020/0 Comments/by James

RH Columbus Ribbon Cutting

Events, Images, Things

The grand ribbon cutting of the RH Columbus: The Gallery at Easton Town Center in Columbus Ohio Wednesday, December 12, 2019. The new store is a 60,000 square foot anchor and centerpiece of a 16 acre expansion at Easton and is the first of its kind in Ohio and one of only 19 in the United States.

“RH Columbus is an extraordinary concept and we’re so pleased it will anchor this important next step in the evolution of Easton Town Center,” said Jennifer Peterson, chief executive of Easton. “It is a one-of-a-kind experience and a complete immersion into the RH brand. With the closest RH galleries located in Chicago and Nashville, we are confident this will be a strong draw for customers from throughout the region.” Easton is operated by Steiner & Associates and The Georgetown Company.

December 12, 2019/0 Comments/by James

RH Columbus Grand Opening Celebration

Events, Images, People, Things

Gary Friedman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the home furnishings retailer Restoration Hardware, Inc. hosts the grand opening celebration of the RH Columbus: The Gallery at Easton Town Center in Columbus Ohio Wednesday, December 11, 2019. The new store is a 40,000 square foot anchor and centerpiece of a 16 acre expansion at Easton and is the first of its kind in Ohio and one of only 19 in the United States.