Latest news with #BJLieberman
Axios
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Best Day Ever: Chef BJ Lieberman
BJ Lieberman is about as close as we can get to having a local celebrity chef. Catch up quick: A 2024 James Beard nominee, Lieberman is known for Chapman's Eat Market (RIP 😔) and Ginger Rabbit Jazz Lounge. He also recently opened Metsi's, a new Italian concept. For the latest entry in our Best Day Ever series, here's his perfect day: 🎶 Music to start your day: In the morning, I like something peppy — maybe Vampire Weekend or '80s synthpop. When I'm preparing at the restaurant, it's always Drive-By Truckers or Jason Isbell. 🍳 Breakfast: I'm torn between two favorites: Lox and Fox in the Snow. I'll either get a sesame bagel with egg and cheese from Lox, or Fox in the Snow's classic breakfast sandwich. 🏌️♂️ Morning activity: If I have free time, I'm either spending it with my 4-year-old son or golfing. I love to wake up early and finish a round before 10am. 🌯 Lunch: Easy — Joya's. The wrap snack is my favorite food item in Columbus. My favorite dish is Speck's pomodoro. It's the reason the Metsi's menu doesn't have a pomodoro dish. It's perfect. 📺 Evening activity: Probably binging a bit of a TV show — right now, "The Last of Us" or "The Righteous Gemstones." My wife and I getting to spend time sitting near each other is pretty rare these days, so I take every chance I get.
Axios
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Metsi's joins a crowded Columbus Italian scene
Our dining scene is getting another upscale Italian option — can it separate itself from the pack? Dining the news: Last week, chef BJ Lieberman gave Columbus a sneak peek of his new concept, Metsi's, a "wood-fired Italian" restaurant in the Short North. Lieberman is a James Beard nominee and one of our most visible chefs, helming Chapman's Eat Market and Ginger Rabbit. The intrigue: He also opened Hiraeth, a short-lived fine dining concept at 36 E. Lincoln St. centered around its wood-fired oven. A year after Hiraeth closed, Metsi's is taking over the space. Yes, but: Chapman's hosted the preview, so we can't report on the vibes. What I ate: A six-course prix fixe menu ($75). The meal started with sourdough focaccia with a whipped ricotta dip and a Caesar salad. For mains, guests shared two "dueling pastas" — cacio e pepe and amatriciana — and individually portioned osso bucco with polenta. For dessert: tiramisu. Best bites: Everything was tasty, but at this price point, I was slightly disappointed to be more excited by the starters than the pastas at an Italian restaurant. The osso bucco, however, was fantastic and probably my highlight. And they made a killer tiramisu. The big picture: Metsi's joins a crowded Central Ohio Italian scene. Columbus loves classics like Martini, Moretti's, Marcella's and Basi, as well as newer options like Speck, Cento and Pelino's. 💭 My thought bubble: During its short life, Hiraeth was easily my favorite Columbus restaurant. 📆 What's next: Metsi's aims to open in June.
