D. and I aren’t fans of chain restaurants and I struggled with whether to even try this new concoction by Taco Bell, but Toledo was the very first city in the WORLD to have this Doritos taco! After reading about it on practically every foodie blog in existence, we decided to give it a go for Toledo’s sake.

I can say it does taste pretty much like you would expect; run-of-the-mill Taco Bell taco within a large Doritos chip. It wasn’t at all “bad” but I’m certainly not advocating that everyone run out and get one. Why eat at a fast food chain when you can savor a real taco from critically-acclaimed San Marcos?

Last Friday the Original Sub Shop hosted a benefit for Toledo GROWs aptly named “Baghdad Cafe.” Toledo GROWs is the community gardening outreach program of Toledo Botanical Garden — and a really great cause!

The dinner I shared with D. started off with a bunch of darling little bowls (handcrafted by Lisa David from now on to be known as L.D.) that were filled with the yummy richness of roasted red peppers, hummus, vegetables in an incredibly fresh tasting pickle, and an unknown-until-that-day carrot dip. Have you ever had carrot dip?

We joined in at the 5pm seating (there was the 5pm and a 7pm). The windows were still fogged up… must have been all the great cooking that had been going on over the past day or two!

We indulged on a choice of two soups. D. chose the yogurt-based option but I went straight fot the one that mentioned meatballs. I was hoping to spare my tummy for the main courses so I only plated a couple of the meatballs. They were really fantastic.

And then came the motherload of deelish. I shot D.’s plate because it was much more filled with stuff than mine–look at it!!!–I don’t know enough about the names of the cuisine, but there was some little rolls of meat, chicken (shwarma?), grape leaves, pastries filled with meats and cheese, barley salads, rices… it was bonkers.

And what was really bonkers… ending with this…

Now, I don’t remember the name but it was a custard encased in filo, drizzled in honey and nuts and amazingness. No… it wasn’t baklava.

In my fantasy life I can host amazing cooks at my home to create important dinners whenever I like – and L.D. from the Original Sub Shop is at the top of my list. In my dreams… sigh. I am a huge fan of the Original Sub Shop and you should be as well!

Toledo Grows | Original Sub Shop

So much to see and do… it really does have to be split between three (3) Saturdays! The Ghost Hunt was a ton of fun – seriously do it. You can find your first clue on the second floor, at Studio Que’s space. We closed the day with live music at Bozarts and a post-post-party at the Ottawa Tavern with APB playing great record after great record. Counting the days till next Saturday!

So excited for this! The time has come once again for Toledo’s best art event of the year.

“For three consecutive Saturdays in April, more than 300 Toledo-area artists will take over two vacant buildings in Downtown Toledo, transforming them into the largest, most comprehensive and eccentric multi-media galleries in Northwest Ohio.”

Artomatic 419! is free, open to the public, and happening over the course of Three (3) Saturdays starting tomorrow–April 2nd, 9th, and 16th. Come on out! Check the website for schedules and more information!

Artomatic 419! | Downtown, in the Warehouse District | 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.