VITAL STATISTICS
This list is compiled from voluntary submissions by parents to hospitals.
OHIOHEALTH RIVERSIDE METHODIST HOSPITAL
Albany, Alyssa and Brian: girl, June 8
Beery, Madison and Travis: boy, June 5
Bowers, Kashairia/bradley, Diarra: girl, June 4
Bredon, Kaylyn/springer, Joe: boy, June 8
Bridgewater, Stacy/bledsoe, Martin: girl, June 8
Calloway, Jordan/wallace, Byron: boy, June 8
Cochran, Ashley/rathburn, Jason: boy, June 5
Gheetas, Fatimah/embarak, Emad: girl, June 7
Hall, Morgan and Clay: girl, June 8
Hanes, Leslie and Shawn: girl, June 6
Hicks, Anna and Phillip: girl, June 9
James, Nikki and Gabe: boy, June 1
Jordan, Linda/murphy, Timothy: girl, June 8
Kessler, Sarah and Daniel: boy, June 3
Landis, Miranda/cox, James: boy, June 10
Lippman, Ann and Ethan: boy, June 5
Michell-joseph, Angela/joseph, Douglas: boy, June 6
Mounts, Shelby and Ryan: girl, June 1
Ryavec, Holly and CJ: girl, June 2
Sheppard, Miko and Nathan: boy, June 9
Simcox, Sarah and Matthew: girl, June 9
Solli, Kelly and Dominic: boy, June 9
Stein, Devin and Steven: boy, June 8
Steven-mathews, Chanelle/givens, Deandre: boy, June 9
Steveley, Kayla/howard, Sean: boy, June 7
Valcin, Selena/lewis, Zion: girl, June 6
Weisenberg, Alison and Ben: boy, June 1
Wentz, Meghan and Patrick: girl, June 2
White, Leonna and Jack: girl, June 7
Wu, Bin/zhu, Jin: girl, June 8
Yates, Aimee and Jay: boy, June 3
BLOOD DRIVES
The American Red Cross has an ongoing need for donors of all blood types. Donors can call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or go to redcrossblood.org to schedule an appointment.
Delaware County Chapter, 380 Hills-miller Rd., Delaware, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
American Red Cross, 995 E. Broad St., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Carriage Place Blood Donation Center, 4820 Sawmill Rd., 12:15-7:30 p.m.
Blue Jackets, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Dublin Community Church, 81 W. Bridge St., Dublin, 1-6 p.m.
Mount Carmel New Albany Surgical Hospital, 7277 Smiths Mill Rd., New Albany, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Ave., Oak Creek Building, Lewis Center, 12:15-7:15 p.m.
Stone Ridge Blood Donation Center, 337 Stoneridge Lane, Gahanna, 12:15-7:30 p.m.
Westbelt Donor Center, 4327 Equity Dr., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Although Kamal Panchal has spent two years getting Gokul Cafe where he wants it, he always makes one strong personal recommendation to guests.
“The most important thing, the best thing to eat here is dosa,” Panchal said.
The variety is impressive, with Gokul offering 20 dosas.
The masala dosa ($10.99) is the signature dish at Gokul, located on the Northwest Side. Panchal is the general manager but the restaurant is owned by Nidhi Panchal, his daughter-in-law, who bought the restaurant two years ago.
The dish starts with fermented rice and lentils, which settle into a sort of batter that is grilled on the flattop with vegetable oil. The result is a crispy crepe, stuffed with curry potatoes and served with sambar (vegetable soup) and coconut chutney.
“We make the best in Columbus and maybe Ohio,” Panchal said. “It’s very popular because it’s crunchy.”
A variation is the rav masala dosa ($11.99), where semolina is used instead of lentils, creating pockets of air. This version also gets curry potatoes and has the crispy exterior.
Hakka noodles ($10.99) is one of several Indochinese dishes on the menu. Rife with vegetables, such as beans, carrots and peas, the long, thin noodles are stir-fried with soy, a bold chili sauce and ketchup for a hot-and-tangy result.
Phav Bhaaji ($10.99) is one of the few Indian dishes that uses American-style buttered buns. The filling starts with a robust mixture of cooked onion, garlic
and cayenne pepper, in which bits of potato are cooked.
“This is real street food of India,” said Panchal, who once owned Annapurna and Udipi Cafe, which have since closed.
Although most heat levels can be customized, the daring might try the chili paneer ($9.99), with thick pieces of natural Indian cheese napped with a hot chili sauce.
Similarly, the cauliflower pakora ($5.99). Deep-fried and jagged in appearance, the spicy-battered cauliflower is served with sweet and mint chutneys.
Gokul Cafe has a number of rice dishes, one of the more popular being the lemon rice ($10.99), starting with a blend of fresh lemon, oil, cayenne pepper, black mustard seeds and a number of other spices tossed with flaky rice.
In a daring move, as COVID-19 cases seem to be on a permanent downward trend, Gokul Cafe is resuming its chaat, meaning snack, buffet ($11.99) Mondays through Thursdays. A weekend lunch buffet ($15.99) is Saturdays and Sundays.
Panchal said patrons are provided gloves, hand sanitizer and plastic flatware, which they throw away after each turn to the buffet line and repeat safety features once they resume.
onrestaurants@dispatch.com