an Zipp is an admitted Food Network junkie.
The 22-year-old from Akron turned that love of food and drink into a family outing with his parents: John Zipp, 60, and Jan Yoder, 60, both of Akron.
It was “the perfect family trip,” Yoder said.
All three were pleased and impressed by what they saw and tasted at the Relish Magazine Food Show staged Saturday at E.J. Thomas Hall on the University of Akron campus.
The show drew a large afternoon crowd to the hall’s lobbies with cooking demonstrations, vendors and lots of food available for an estimated 1,400 people.
Relish is the national cooking magazine that appears the first Saturday of every month in the Beacon Journal.
Relish chef Brian Morris was in the spotlight for the two-hour evening show in the main hall with cooking demonstrations and audience participation.
The show was “a nice event,” said Dan Zipp, a recent Oberlin College graduate.
John Zipp bubbled about the meat balls from Stancato’s Italian restaurant in Parma and chicken from Barberton’s Belgrade Gardens. The next food stop for them was for Thai food at the table manned by Akron’s Cilantro restaurant.
Todd Wingerter, 64, of Lawrence Township admits he cannot cook. That’s why he brought his wife, Ann, to the show.
“She’s the cook. I just get the benefits,” he said.
One stop was to purchase a new cookbook from Beacon Journal food writer Lisa Abraham.
They said they were thrilled to meet the author.
Wingerter said he especially enjoyed the ribs and salad from the Galaxy restaurant in Wadsworth.
His wife said she enjoyed the pizza from Papa John’s and the cupcakes from Munroe Falls’ Cupcake Binge.
Cupcake Binge was totally out of cupcakes and other desserts before 4:30 p.m., a spokesman said.
“The show was interesting and fun with a good mix of variety,” Ann Wingerter, 67, said.
Others were also impressed by the show.
“It was a cool event,” said Ruth White, 40, of Akron. “It was something to do [on Saturday]. I was impressed and the food was absolutely delicious.”
“It was a fun thing,” said Marilyn Maximovich, 69, of Akron, who was joined by her husband, Thomas.
“The food is really, really good,” she said.
Her husband was off on his own “chowing down,” she said.
One of the longest continuous lines at the event was at the table for the Galaxy restaurant where executive chef Angus O’Hara was prepared to serve 2,000 guests flank and skirt steak with a Kickapoo barbecue sauce plus a slaw of bacon, bleu cheese and slaw. The steaks came from the Circle L Ranch near Burbank, he said.
“I like what I do,” he said of feeding that many hungry people.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com.