Five Portage County Food Stops Worth the Saturday Line.
A pantry-filling route for fresh bread, local meats, barbecue, market finds, and orchard favorites.
Some places are worth the wait—especially when the reward is a cooler and pantry filled with local favorites. These five Portage County stops make a delicious Saturday road trip.
Start Your Engines: The Five Stops
Brimfield Bread Oven
📍3956 OH-43, Brimfield
brimfieldbreadoven.com
My picks: Country Sourdough, Multigrain Sourdough, Cranberry Walnut Sourdough, Sea Salt Focaccia, and the unique Pepperoni Rolls. The bread freezes well, so stock up.
Duma Meats
📍857 Randolph Rd., Mogadore
dumameats.com
My picks: You cannot go wrong with the meat counter. I like to stock up on ground beef, breakfast sausage, bacon, roasts, and steaks.
If you like food trucks, Duma Meats has their own food truck that grills up some pretty good burgers.
Joe’s Barbeque
📍1293 Tallmadge Rd., Brimfield
joesbbqkent.com
Open Friday–Sunday from 11 a.m. until sold out.
My picks: Brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and buttermilk bacon potato salad.
Haymaker Farmers’ Market
📍Saturdays, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
April–November: Outdoor market on Franklin Avenue in Kent
December–March: Indoor market at Pierson Hall, United Methodist Church of Kent
haymakermarket.com
My picks: Barton Farms and Gardens for jams; Busy B Patisserie for delightful temptations; Goodell Family Farm for maple syrup; Heron Hill Farm and Wren Box Farm for produce; and Jo’s Kettle Corn for a great gift. Take your time and discover your own favorite vendor.
Beckwith Orchards
Seasonal stop
📍1617 Lake Rockwell Rd., Kent
facebook.com/p/Beckwith-Orchards-100064573874239
My picks: Apples, a fruit pie, apple cider, and apple butter.
Diane’s Road-Trip Game Plan
🚗 Duma Meats → Brimfield Bread Oven → Joe’s Barbeque → Haymaker Farmers’ Market → Beckwith Orchards
1. Beat the crowd. Start at Duma Meats before the Saturday rush; the lines move quickly.
2. Head north on Route 43. Stop at Brimfield Bread Oven for your bread. You can preorder and pick it up later.
3. Time the barbecue stop. Arrive at Joe’s Barbeque when it opens.
4. Continue to Haymaker Farmers’ Market. Browse the market. Find your new favorite vendors. Brimfield Bread Oven also has a vendor stand there.
5. Finish at the orchard. Make Beckwith Orchards the final seasonal stop.
Pack Smart
🔹 Bring a cooler—possibly two, depending on what you plan to buy.
🔹This is a fun Saturday road trip: discover new foodie stops while filling your pantry and fridge with local favorites.
🔹 Make it a weekend getaway. Nearby is Wingfoot Lake State Park, two repurposed churches that offer local craft beers and wines, a college-town Main Street filled with fun shops, and local foodie favorites. For ideas or to order Central Portage County VCB’s visitor guides click here.
Keep on exploring!
~Diane
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to thank Central Portage County Visitors & Convention Bureau for sponsoring My Ohio Fun. As always, my opinions are my own.
Article and photos, unless noted by: MyOhioFun.com
Diane is the owner and editor of MyOhioFun.com. Has spent the last 30+ years promoting things to do all over Ohio. When she is not on the road she is creating road trip inspiration and itineraries for group tours and individual travelers.
Editor’s note: Any use of the above article or images without prior permission, will be in violation of copyright laws.
***Disclosure: My Ohio Fun receives compensation from advertising banners. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***