This month Urban Eats, the gourmet concession counter inside Musica, is celebrating its first birthday. In celebration, owners Jason Scala and Liz Tyran have constructed an anniversary menu for the month of February that features Urban Eats’ most popular dishes of the past year.
Urban Eats opened one year ago as a joint venture by Scala and Tyran, a couple who reside in Downtown Akron, just across the way from Musica. The owner of Musica and Mocha Maiden, Tony Troppe, is also the couple’s landlord. Troppe had wanted to incorporate food into the Musica and Mocha Maiden experience for some time, and Scala and Tyran were interested in opening their own food establishment. Together they hashed out a plan to open Urban Eats.
Troppe converted extra space inside Musica into a kitchen and service counter for Scala and Tyran. All the menu items are created without the use of a traditional commercial hood system to provide healthy and fresh American fare with a twist. You won’t find anything fried at Urban Eats, a fact the couple is proud of.
Scala, who graduated from the Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts and has been a chef for 10 years, is Urban Eats’ sole chef. He prepares items fresh upon order and crafts his weekly soups from scratch, ingredients and concept. Each month a new menu is created with eight to ten unique and new creations. There is always one breakfast item on the menu that can be ordered as early as 9 a.m. in the coffee shop, throughout lunch, and into the night at Musica concerts. Then there are the main lunch items that consist of wraps, grilled panini sandwiches and pizza. These menu items incorporate unpredictable yet cohesive flavors that have kept customers coming back for more. This is especially true of the Italian Chicken Paninis, which Scala and Tyran said are often the most popular items on the menu each month.
With a constantly changing menu, Scala and Tyran are always thinking of new concepts for dishes, whether it be from their own imagination or influenced by their travels. The couple travels as frequent as possible, and loves trying new things and testing different flavors, often channeling their experiences into menu items. Past Urban Eats dishes have showcased influences from Mediterranean, Italian and Asian culture. “We like bold flavors and spices,” Tyran explains.
In 2011, Scala and Tyran plan to get the word out more about Urban Eats and its eclectic menu. They want to add more Urban Eats signage and continue to use their website, Facebook, Musica events and word-of-mouth to share everything Urban Eats has to offer.
A recently added feature is that Urban Eats now delivers lunch anywhere in the Downtown Akron area from noon to 2 p.m. After several requests from customers, Scala and Tyran decided to offer free lunch delivery geared toward Downtown Akron workers. A catering menu has also come to fruition this year so customers have consistent options for catering a party or a meeting. New breakfast options such as Urban oatmeal, toasted bagels, muffins and granola cereal will also debut.
Scala is also still producing Urban Kanvas artwork when he’s not busy at Urban Eats. He takes requests and has art for sale at his Urban Kanvas website, www.urbankanvas.com, as well as on display at Hazel Tree Interiors.
Scala and Tyran are extremely pleased with the support they’ve gotten over the past year while opening Urban Eats. They love the eclectic mix of people that continuously drop by to enjoy their food, ranging from professionals and artsy advertising types, to medical personnel and concertgoers. “I can’t tell you how grateful we are, especially because their continued support shows that they like what we’re doing,” Tyran said. “It’s great to have that sort of encouragement your first year in.”
To help celebrate Urban Eats’ first birthday, head over and grab some breakfast or lunch during the week or treat your taste buds during a show at Musica. Make sure to check the Urban Eats website, www.urbaneatsmusica.com, where their anniversary menu is posted that features popular past dishes like the Mashed Potato Pizza.
Urban Eats is located at 51 East Market St. in Downtown Akron, inside Musica. They are open 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. weekdays and during all of Musica’s shows. Free delivery is available Monday – Friday, 12 – 2 p.m. Breakfast items can be ordered beginning at 9 a.m. at the Mocha Maiden counter, also at 51 East Market St. Call 330-310-7135 or visit www.urbaneatsmusica.com.
