Everybody, it seems, makes healthy—eating resolutions this time of year. How well we fulfill those good intentions depends a good deal on how much we challenge our taste buds. Cottage cheese, while a wholesome choice, is about as exciting as, well, cottage cheese.
For food that’s exciting, adventurous, delicious and undeniably healthy, think Fowl & Fodder, the Toledo eatery that has redefined good-for-you food. Founded in 2014 by Chef Scott Bowman via a Kickstarter campaign, F&F serves farm-to-plate crowd pleasers, with items that are all made from scratch, featuring locally sourced grass-fed meats, artisan cheeses, house-baked bread, and eggs from chickens that likely are known by individual names.
Historic meets industrial-chic
Visiting the F&F downtown Toledo location for lunch, the warm and inviting dining venue in an historic building blended well with industrial-chic art features. If stairs pose no problem, take a table on the second level that allows you to see the kitchen staff at work producing the restaurant’s breakfast, lunch and dinner masterpieces that showcase local harvests.
I ordered the potato soup and roasted beets with peppered goat cheese, the latter from the small plates section. How often is potato soup the color of the skins? This one, carrying the earthy essence of roasted potato, truly made an old standby new again. Likewise, the beets still wore their fresh crunch, pairing perfectly with the perky local goat cheese.
Although F&F’s avocado toast appears on the breakfast menu, it was a worthy lunchtime accompaniment, capped in nutty dukkah. Served with sweet squash compote and thick slices of maple oat bread, it was intensely satisfying. As with many dishes, gluten-free substitutions are available.
My dining partner chose the signature almond chicken wrap and was impressed as, crusted with nuts, the chicken shared the multigrain wrap with mango coleslaw, cabbage, cilantro, and ancho pepper sauce. A small plate of house-made sweet potato chips, light and sparingly salted, enhanced the entrée beautifully.
Fowl & Fodder offers a cold-pressed organic juice bar as well as seasonal specialty drinks. Tempted by their alcohol libations, I ordered a Mi’Almosta, a tall, cool splash of cold-pressed carrot and apple juices, ginger and Rheingeist Bubbles, an Ohio rosé ale, a marvel of mixology that tasted both healthy and delightful!
Fresh and unforgettable
During my visit, Chef and owner Scott Bowman was at the F&F flagship location on Central Avenue, but Tiana Holdorf, the downtown F&F manager, shared her enthusiasm for the eatery’s mission with me. Originally from Alaska, she came to Toledo and joined Fowl & Fodder when the downtown location opened.
“We get a crowd of all ages, people who appreciate the super-healthy food,” she explained. “Like when I first tasted the beef here, I was blown away. I asked, ‘What is this amazing meat? It’s so fresh!’”
Tiana left me with this thought, “It’s like home, but better. Everybody should experience what we offer.” And I heartily second the suggestion.
Fowl & Fodder
614 Adams St | 419-214-1588
7408 W Central Ave | 419-690-2490
fowlandfodder.com
Open: Monday-Saturday 8am-10pm, Sunday 8am-4pm.
