Have you heard the news? Food & Wine officially tapped Columbus as one of America's Next Great Food Cities, and Condé Nast Traveler readers ranked it as a Top 10 Food City in the U.S. On this episode, Boxer and Sarah welcome one of Columbus’ most influential chefs, Josh Dalton, and his long-time business partner, Mitch Coale to talk about the evolution of the Columbus food scene and to preview the opening of their newest concept, Amara. 

Josh Dalton is a nationally recognized Columbus chef and restaurateur known for creating distinctive dining experiences that have helped shape the Columbus’ culinary scene. His restaurants include Veritas, Speck Italian Eatery, The Citizens Trust, Rosebud's and newly opened Amara. Inspired by travel, exceptional ingredients and genuine hospitality, Josh believes every restaurant should have a soul. He's known for being deeply hands-on, the kind of owner who's in the dining room as often as he's behind the scenes, and for treating his staff and guests like extensions of his own family. When he's not traveling in search of new culinary inspiration, Josh enjoys exploring Columbus' ever-evolving restaurant scene — preferably with a great margarita on a sunny patio.

Mitch Coale is Director of Operations for Joshua Dalton's growing restaurant group, overseeing the day-to-day operations of Veritas, Speck Italian Eatery, The Citizens Trust, Rosebud's and newly opened Amara. Working alongside Josh for nearly a decade, Mitch has helped bring each concept to life while building teams known for exceptional hospitality and seamless execution. Respected for his calm leadership and attention to detail, Mitch is passionate about developing people and creating memorable experiences for every guest. A Columbus resident, Mitch genuinely loves this city's food scene, not just as someone who works in it, but as someone who eats and drinks his way through it too.