You’ll soon be able to get a sugar fix and a pizza slice near the University of Akron.
Sugar & Slice is the name of the pizza and doughnut shop that hopes to open late next month at the corner of Grant and East Thornton streets near Akron’s main post office.
This won’t be a sit-down spot. Rather, it’ll have a walk-up window, a drive-thru and delivery service.
It’s the latest effort from Dick Kanatzar, who is a partner in the Chop & Swizzle craft cocktail bar that opened this year in the old fire station at 60 Maple St. in Akron’s West Hill neighborhood.
Kanatzar also is a roving chef, operating Chef Dick’s Kitchen at events and venues including local breweries. He and his crew already are using the Grant Street locale to prepare adventurous eats for these gigs as well as for Chop & Swizzle.
“I don’t need much sleep,” the 34-year-old said late last week as a pig roasted in the oven and members of his crew were peeling sweet potatoes for a catering gig that evening.
For the new venture, pizza was a natural, he said, pointing to the ovens that were already in the building before he moved in. The property is owned by Nick Pamboukis, who is a partner in Chef Dick’s Kitchen. Kanatzar’s Chop & Swizzle partner is Daniel Allyn.
Kanatzar said he doesn’t want to do any old doughnut. He’s thinking unusual flavors, such as limoncello raspberry and Nutella s’mores. “There’s not really a crafted doughnut place around here,” he said.
“This little thing can pump out 850 doughnuts an hour,” he said pointing to the doughnut maker that he added.
He hopes to attract post-office workers, UA students and employees, and others. The place will open in the morning, when it will offer breakfast pizzas along with doughnuts.
The Grant Street kitchen is getting a workout, especially now that Kanatzar is offering a limited menu at Chop & Swizzle. The menu changes, but his signature pan-fried brussels sprouts are a regular item, as are meat and cheese plates. Buffalo Sloppy Joes were on the menu last weekend.
See the Chop & Swizzle Facebook page for menu updates; its hours are 5:30 to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Phone is 330-283-8041. There’s also a page for Sugar and Slice (no ampersand on the Facebook name).
The UA area doesn’t lack for chain eateries. But it’s worth noting that Sugar & Spice is scheduled to open up around the same time as another independent place, the Green Willow.
Akron Dish featured an item last week about the Green Willow at 388 Brown St., which will serve Chinese burgers and dumplings.
Nervous Dog turns 10
Hard to believe Nervous Dog Coffee Bar is 10 years old.
The locally owned West Akron coffee shop and its spinoff in Stow are celebrating in September. Free freshly brewed coffee (hot or iced) will be available from Thursday through Sept. 7.
All month long, customers can get a free 20-ounce logo glass — while supplies last — with any purchase from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Baristas will hand out one buy-one-get-one card per hour every day through Sept. 15, and customers who redeem them can enter the “Swag Bucket” raffle.
Nervous Dog is at 1530 W. Market St., Akron, and 4161 Steels Pointe in Stow, near Stow Municipal Court.
Michael Litt, a former management consultant, opened Nervous Dog in 2006 on West Market Street in the space that previously housed Coco’s Coffee Bar.
Food truck finale
The last Food Truck Friday of the season runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. this Friday at Child Guidance & Family Solutions at North Forge and East Market streets at downtown Akron’s edge.
Swensons, Wholly Frijoles Mexican Street Foods, Hunger Squad and Orange Trük are scheduled to roll in to the event, which benefits the nonprofit.
Cascade farmers market
A farmers market will run from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. Fridays through Sept. 9 at the Cascade Plaza off Main Street, near the intersection of Main and Bowery streets in downtown Akron.
This market is managed by the nonprofit Downtown Akron Partnership. Produce vendors are Boughton Farms, Graf Growers, Mays Farm and Western Star Farm. Other vendors include Homemade Delites (baked goods), Winkie’s Water Ice and Joe Schmo’s Kitchen (canned veggies and spices).
“Lunchtime Recess” features outdoor games on the plaza such as bocce, cornhole, Frisbee, badminton and giant Scrabble.
Fall wine dinners
• Ken Stewart’s Grille, 1970 W. Market St., Akron, will feature Italian wine pairings at a five-course dinner at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 8.
The menu includes pan-seared black bas with charred lemon and roasted vegetables, paired with Zenato Alanera, and red wine-braised duck leg with stewed heirloom tomato confit and lemon parmesan risotto, with Ceretto barolo.
Cost is $75, plus tax and tip. Reservations are required. Call Terry Kemp at 330-697-6917.
• Both locations of 750ml wine bar and shop are hosting Justin Winery tastings featuring Bordeaux-style reds, whites and dessert wines from California’s central coast.
The tasting at the Brecksville 750ml, 8903 Brecksville Road, is Sept. 14, and the tasting at the West Akron 750ml, in the Pilgrim Square plaza off West Market Street, is Sept. 15. Each runs from 6 to 8 p.m.
Cost is $65 for club750 members and $75 for nonmembers. Light appetizers are included and reservations are required. Call 440-526-8100 (Brecksville) or 330-794-5754 (Akron).
• The Acme Fresh Market at 3875 Massillon Road in the Heritage Crossing complex in Green will feature fifth-generation Napa Valley winemaker Joe Wagner at a dinner at 6 p.m. Sept. 22.
The menu will include spinach salad and smoked salmon mousse with Elouan pinot noir, and sage roasted pork tenderloin with maple dijon drizzle and mashed sweet potato brulee paired with Belle Glos pinot noir. A violinist will provide music.
Cost is $50. Tickets are available at the store’s customer service counter.
• The Bistro of Green, 3459 Massillon Road, Green, will offer a seven-course dinner at 4 p.m. Sept. 25, with wines presented by Esber Beverage Co. The $80 cost includes tax and tip.
On the menu are rosemary encrusted ahi tuna with an olive and caper tapenade and sautéed kale, paired with 2012 Starmont pinot noir; and braised pork with marsala and sage-infused butternut squash risotto, with 2013 Starmont merlot. Call 330-896-1434.
• Save the date: Regency wine bar at 115 Ghent Road across from Summit Mall will host its popular Holiday Wine Show from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 9 in Fairlawn.
Festival news
• The Square Fair, a county-fair-style baking, canning and gardening competition, returns to Square Fest in Akron’s Highland Square neighborhood Sept. 10.
Deadline to enter is noon Sept. 9 and the fee is $3 per entry. Information and forms can be found at www.akronsquarefest.org.
The city-sponsored Square Fest, along a stretch of West Market Street in Highland Square, will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 10. The Mustard Seed Market & Cafe will host after-hours activities.
• St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 3204 Ridgewood Road, Copley Township, will host its annual Middle Eastern & American Food Fair from 1 to 6 p.m. Sept. 11.
It will serve vegetarian and chicken kebab plates, meat fatayer, stuffed grape leaves, gyros and Middle Eastern pastries, as well as hamburgers, hot dogs and french fries. Music and children’s games are on the bill, and admission and parking are free. Call 330-666-7116.
• The German American Family Society Oktoberfest will run Sept. 9-11 on the grounds of the German American Family Society in Brimfield Township at 3871 Ranfield Road. German food and beer, dancing and polka bands are the stars.
Hours are 6 p.m. to midnight Sept. 9, 3 to 11 p.m. Sept. 10 and noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 11, when there will be activities for children. Admission is $5, children 12 and younger free. Call 330-678-8229 or go to www.germanfamilysociety.com.
• The Main Street Kent Oktoberfest will run from noon to 11 p.m. Sept. 17. Organized by the nonprofit Main Street Kent, it will take place on Franklin Avenue.
Local eateries will sell German fare, and beer trucks and hard cider will be available. See the Main Street Kent website or the Kent Oktoberfest event page on Facebook.
• The Greek Festival will return to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sept. 15-17. The church is at 129 S. Union St., adjacent to the University of Akron. Admission and parking are free.
Vitamix leader to speak
Jodi Berg, fourth-generation head of Vitamix, will speak at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Hudson Library & Historical Society.
Vitamix, maker of pricey blenders that have loyal fans among chefs as well as home cooks, has seen explosive growth in recent years. Berg will talk about her role in transforming Vitamix, headquartered in Olmsted Falls, into a major global brand.
Berg last visited the Hudson Library in July, when she did a demonstration in conjunction with the release of The Vitamix Cookbook: 250 Delicious Whole Food Recipes To Make in your Blender.
Register for the free program at www.hudsonlibrary.org or call 330-653-6658, ext. 1010.
The library is at 95 Library St. in the First & Main shopping complex off state Route 303.
Send local food news to Katie Byard at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com. You can follow her @KatieByardABJ on Twitter or on Facebook at www.facebook.com and read the Akron Dish blog at www.ohio.com/food.