If there's anything that connects us, it's food.

Whether it’s a romantic dinner out or a quick stop for lunch, dining out tends to be an experience that we remember and cherish. It’s no wonder that, according to the National Restaurant Association, the average American adult eats a meal away from home 4.2 times a week.

We often develop an emotional connection with the restaurant as much as the food.

One of my favorite restaurants is a place that my husband, Scott, took me before we were married. At the end of the meal, our waitress presented me with “dessert,” which included a promise ring from Scott. It was a special moment in our relationship shared over a meal that to this day gives us a special connection to that restaurant — and keeps us going back.

  In this issue of About, we debut our new monthly Restaurant Guide (Page 29). The section is filled with food stories and restaurant reviews, along with tips and tidbits to enhance your dining experience. We expect to fill these pages each month with information to help you choose from the area’s many fantastic restaurants.

Each month will feature a different dining-out theme. This month we salivated over some of the area’s best appetizers. Saimi Bergmann reviewed the appetizers at the Blue Olive — and points out a few other favorite tantalizers.

The goal of the section is to give you a comprehensive view of dining in our area with the information you want to know in an easy-to-read format. We’re excited about the addition to the magazine and can’t wait to hear your feedback.



About Your Home

You might want to pull up a patio chair. This issue of About Your Home (Page H-1, after Page 34) focuses on taking the comforts of home outside. We get such a short time to enjoy the outdoors in northeast Ohio — outdoor living spaces allow us to get the most out of it. We asked local experts to tell us about trends in outdoor living spaces that they are seeing in Stark County. From living rooms and kitchens to decks and pools, there are many ideas to choose from in creating your own outdoor space.