"Some producer from Magnolia Network called to speak with a manager..."

Yeah, that's really how it all started! The phone rang late in the morning one day last August, where a highly-caffinated barista promptly answered & naively scribbled a quick note. It wasn't until the passing of this mysterious note to our Business Manager where everything suddenly took a heart-pounding turn. This was a once-in-a-lifetime message that would change the awareness of our family-owned & operated business for the rest of time!

In September 2022, Chef Megan Mitchell launched Road Trip Eats, a backroads tour in search of fantastic food in offbeat places and the Ørchard on Catawba Island fit into her travel plan. Her trip began right here in Ohio, her home state, where she went from eating a buckeye donut in Columbus to pancake balls in Clintonville and overnighted in a treehouse in Mohican. At a Sunoco station in Olmsted Falls, Mitchell topped off her tank and then filled up on a taste of Palestine: creamy hummus, baba ghanoush, and a spread of middle eastern foods. By the time she arrived at the Ørchard Farm Stand, Mitchell had collected some pretty delicious evidence that stumbling upon good food made by good people can be a rewarding journey.

We welcomed Mitchell on a warm Ohio autumn day with stacks of orange and yellow pumpkins, bushels of apples picked from our historic orchards and the scent of burning apple wood wafting from the wood fired pizza oven in the Farm Stand. She set her site on exploring the menu with its fresh salads boasting seasonal ingredients, shareables, smash burgers and sandwiches. But it was the pizza that got her attention. We’ve earned a reputation for some pretty unique pizza creations, but Mitchell went off-menu collecting fresh veggies and herbs from our still producing chef's gardens to create her own masterpiece.

Just like all her other stops, we brought out some of our most brag-able menu items including our Whipped Feta with Hot Honey with naan and our exceptional Hot Honey and Double Pepperoni Pizza, sweet, spicy, salty and amazing. [And yes, Henny B’s Honey is a theme here, drawn from our own hives that pollinate our apple and peach orchards.] Any of our woodfired pizzas enjoyed on our patios or in the café is a memorable experience as well, from classic Margherita pizza sprinkled with fresh basil leaves or the Burnt End Brisket pizza drizzled with our Catawba Peach BBQ Sauce. Michell’s road trip through Ohio calls attention to good food served up in some pretty special places, including our own. It’s all delicious, but add the people and the places where it’s found...well, that’s what makes it even more memorable and sharable with family and friends.

We invite you to take your own road trip to the Ørchard on Catawba Island and experience Chef Mitchell’s visit for yourself. Explore the Farm Stand, linger over dinner at our steak and seafood restaurant, Orchard Bar & Table or sip a one-of-a-kind cocktail at The Coop cocktail bar.

- off the vine -

a catawba island blog

Magnolia Network's new series "Road Trip Eats" premiered on Sunday, May 21st at 2:30PM EST and features unique corner stores to themed resorts, roadside stops offer more than places to pump gas and rest for the night. Megan Mitchell goes off the beaten path, road-tripping from one town to the next in search of incredible bites and extraordinary stays. 

Ørchard on Catawba is about an hour from Toledo and just over an hour from Cleveland. We’re on the way to the Miller Ferry and an easy stop whether you’re going or coming back. We are open daily at 8AM and invite you to join us for dining, wine, beer and cocktails, a wonderful shopping experience and a chance to enjoy the atmosphere of the grounds, from the orchard to the vineyard and all the feature we create to make your visit special. Visit us at 3350 NE Catawba Rd, Port Clinton, OH 43452.

Disclaimer: Halvo Kulinary DBA Orchard Catawba Island does not own the rights or copyright to Magnolia Network's "Road Trip Eats".