If Simple Times Mixers are "inspired by a time when real ingredients were the only option", then we need to hop in a time machine and all go there.  Admittedly I wasn't super excited about Simple Times at first.  They were always on my list to check out, and I figured I'd get there eventually.  I mean we all know what mixers are right?  Sugar water, high concentrated, alcohol diluting, drink ruining, ice melting, corn syrup filled, glorified grown-up juice drinks right?!  WRONG!  Let me break this down for you.  I'm eleven (ELEVEN!) bottles deep at home, and the story is always the same.  I can literally count the number of ingredients on one hand.  None of them start with high fructose, red dye, or "insert flavor" added.  They started off doing 10 gallon batches.  Now they're squeezing out...see what I did there...800-1000 gallons a week!

These 'mixers' (they are so much more than just a mixer, more on that later...) are NON-GMO, vegan, organic, triple distilled water packed, magic bottles that make your favorite cocktail just two pours away.  That's right, pour Simple Times, pour your favorite bottle and start enjoying.  All that said, I think this is the first company since I started my blog that I rock with the people just as much if not MORE than the product.  Read past the break and learn a little more about Simple Times, the team behind it, and just how hard they are working to put Columbus on the Map for all the right reasons!

Vegetarian & Vegan fine dining has arrived in Columbus. SŌW represents an upscale take on the limited vegan and vegetarian options on most menus. Right off the bat, you. Notice the sustainably healthy options reign supreme on the menu. Drinks, small plates, appetizers, all focus on the core tenants of being Sustainable, Organic, and promoting Wellness. What’s not directly mentioned is the goal of locally sourcing as much as possible, whenever possible.

The space itself is beautiful, and you’re drawn to the marquis, it’s beautiful and lit, and green and vibrant and...I could go on, but it’s just simply cool to see. The layout of the space is full of clean lines and crisp elements.

The juices are cold pressed, and this lifelong hater of beets, tried the Beet Drop juice cocktail and it was really, REALLY, good. The cucumber limeade was more my speed, but I’m glad I tried it.

The vegan/vegetarian options were the stars, along with a burger made from locally sourced, authentic wagyu beef from Sakura Farms. But to read more about those in detail, you can read more below.

Donna, Donna, Donna.... These donuts are pure perfection! I recently had the opportunity to visit Donna's Delicious Dozen, located between Gahanna and New Albany on Hamilton Rd. Everything about this custom donut shop screams at you to come in and see what you're missing. And you won't be disappointed. I entered just a few minutes before they closed on Sunday, and the shop not only smelled amazing it was spotless & clean! Not just the front of house, but I peeked behind the wall to eye the kitchen, and it was impeccably clean and tidy. That's huge, because one of my biggest gripes with other shops like this (If it walks like a "duck" and quacks like a "duck"...you know who you are Duck) is how crowded and cramped they are and how messy everything looks. Also, greasy donuts aren’t appealing. It’s one thing to be fresh out of the fryer, it’s another not to cook them properly so they don’t end up drowning in greasy inside. At Donna’s, that is NEVER an issue.

I watched the team complete a customer’s order, before placing my own, and the patience and care they took with each donut really stood out. This isn't a rush job, and they aren't in a hurry for you to leave. There's a decent size seating area, but the show happens behind the glass, so I watched from the counter. Each donut is hand dipped in your choice of glazes, toppings and drizzles or you can try one of the awesome preselected combinations. $7.40 gets you a half dozen donuts, or one for $1.40. When you realize that a donut from your chain coffee shops costs anywhere between .99¢ and $1.49, you'll realize this is a better deal, and the simple coffee or iced coffee may taste better too. Now for the menu...