With Central Ohio in the throes of football fever on Saturdays, the Easy Living Catering and Delicatessen on Lane Avenue helps local Buckeye fans stay satiated throughout the week with delicious deli items and tailgate food.
Former Ohio State kicking great Vlade Janakievski (No. 5 all-time scorer behind Pete Johnson, Keith Byars, Dan Stultz and Mike Nugent), has operated the Easy Living Catering and Delicatessen on Lane Avenue for 21 years. Although slightly hard to find – across the street from Tommy’s Pizza (another UA institution) in a strip center with Half Price Books – this local gem brings plenty to the hungry football fan’s table.
Janakievski, who is of Macedonian descent (formerly part of Yugoslavia), immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1967. An outstanding soccer player, he was a walk-on kicker under Woody Hayes in 1977 and held the position through 1980. Now the former player is proprietor of his own deli and catering business where the employees are all in the family. Speaking of family, Janakievski has catered the post-game dinner for the OSU football team (his Buckeye family) for 17 years.
Easy Living is the antithesis of a franchise sandwich shop. The deli’s lunch business is built around scores of “regulars” who come in three and sometimes four times per week. Portions are not weighed, but eyeballed. Ingredients are not selected by price but by quality. Prices for almost all sandwiches are $4 to$5; salads are $1.50 to $3 and desserts are $1 to $2.50.
Homemade goodies such as extra-chewy and soft chocolate cookies, pecan crispies, baklava, pizzelles, croissants and (of course) Buckeyes augment the menu’s standard deli fare. Chicken salad, tuna salad, pasta salad, coleslaw and soups are all made from scratch daily. Corned beef is cured in-house.
Easy Living has what is likely Columbus’ most complete array of southern European groceries, such as feta cheese, kashkaval, olives, spices, crackers and spreads. The deli also offers a selection of imported and domestic beer, wine and champagne to go.
The ambiance is a mix of kitchen, deli and grocery store all in a Buckeye Football motif. On Saturdays, the place is a tailgater’s paradise: catering makes up a large portion of Easy Living’s business, and football Saturdays are mayhem. Christmas is another busy season: wine and gourmet gift baskets made here are truly unique and a deal compared to traditional retailers. The deli makes ordering easy: you can call ahead, or you can download order forms from the Web site and fax them in.
Easy Living Catering & Delicatessen
1355 W. Lane Avenue
614-486-1694
www.easylivingdeli.com
Fax orders: 614-486-1635
9 a.m–5 p.m. Monday-Friday
10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
Closed Sunday