Akron Life October 2022

FALL FUN: Corn Mazes

Brisk Breeze

Derthick’s Farm & Corn Maze: This longtime family-run farm offers a massive 17-acre corn maze with an intri cate design honoring veterans depicting a flag raising. Visit the pumpkin patch, ride zip lines or come for special week ends, including bringing your dog Oct. 30 and supporting the Portage Animal Protective League. Weekends through Oct . 30, 5182 state Route 82,Mantua , facebook .com/derthickscornmaze Maize Valley: The winery and brew ery also offers activities for the whole family, like a pumpkin patch, a wagon ride and an 8-acre corn maze shaped into an Americana eagle design and filled with trivia questions. Thursday -Monday , 6193 Edison St .NE,Hartville , maizevalley .com Mapleside Farms: Explore Mapleside Farms’ 7-acre corn maze, touted as one of the “best in the Midwest.” The 122-acre apple orchard also offers a 311-foot-long potato sack slide, a hay ride, beer and wine tastings in the corn maze and a different festival each week end, such as Spooky Days Oct. 28-30. Friday -Sunday through Oct . 30, 294 Pearl Road ,Brunswick , mapleside .com Ramseyer Farms: Show off your Ohio pride in the state-shaped corn maze or level up in the video game-themed mystery maze, which both offer 8 acres of winding trails. Then try out 50-plus activities including feeding goats, zipping down several slides, riding pedal carts and playing in mini log cabins. Wednesday - Sunday through Oct . 30, 4000Ramseyer Lane ,Wooster, ramseyerfarms.com Szalay’s Farm & Market: Every year, the Szalay family shapes their 3-acre through the farm’s spinning barn, a spin ning blacklight tunnel that’s included with admission. Make sure you stop by the market for pumpkins, local honey, apples and freshly pressed apple cider. Daily through Oct . 31, 4563Riverview Road ,Peninsula , szalaysfarm.com corn field into an engaging themed maze. Thrill-seekers can also walk

Ryan Marino has fond memories of helping his father serve fall clambakes since he was 10 years old. He worked up to making New England-style white clam chowder for a catering company owned by his dad, uncle and grandfather. “Clambakes are what started my culinary career,” says the now executive chef and owner of Corkscrew Saloon in Medina. “It’s a fun outdoor fall event.” Now, he serves clambakes at the restaurant and at private parties where he cooks in parks, backyards and more from late September to November. The spread is massive, with each person getting a half chicken, a dozen middleneck clams, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, coleslaw, clam broth and chowder ($36 restaurant, parties by request). Marino sources clams from Rhode Island and picks them so they’re juicy and not too small and flimsy or big and rubbery. “I stick with middle sizing,” he says, “to get that nice suc culent clam.” He starts by heavily seasoning a Medina pasture-raised half chicken in his custom fresh herb blend, steaming it and finishing it on a hardwood charcoal grill. Next, he adds corn, which is fresh from Richardson Farms in Medina, and sweet potatoes to the steamer. Then he steams the clams. Each step adds depth. “When they’re steaming, that starts to give beautiful flavor to the clam broth,” he says. That rich broth is the secret to his clam chowder, which he makes from a family recipe. It starts with cooking diced bacon, spices, garlic, clams, potatoes and heavy cream. Then he adds clam broth and simmers it together for about three hours. Choosing how to eat it adds to the experience. “I always start with the clams … while they’re fresh and hot,” he advises. Many dip the clams in melted butter, while others drink the broth and some request to take home broth and chowder in to-go containers. His retired dad helps at Marino’s private clambakes. It rekindles the ambiance and excitement of fall clambakes that sparked Marino’s love of cooking. “The brisk air outside,” he says, “we have the fire pit going, the steamer roaring, the smells going. It’s a good time.” KP 811W. Liberty St .,Medina , thecorkscrewsaloon .com

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