The Hazel Grove Farm Bureau Community Council would like to invite you to the Aug. 19 Farm to Plate program with the demonstration by featured chef Ben Lash from The Vault in Shelby.

Junior Chefs will be Isabella Grace Carver and Eve Schwemley, who will create “Aunt Dee’s Peach Cobbler.”

Chef Ben is a Shelby resident. His interest in cooking, owning a restaurant, and food services started when he was in high school and worked at Cornell’s grocery. After high school, he moved to Florida to work in his uncle’s restaurant. He then decided that Shelby was his home and he returned. He gained more restaurant experience when he helped set up a Western Sizzlin’ Steakhouse and then served as a district manager for five Wendy’s.

Chef Ben reports that a great opportunity came to him when Paul Schrock sold him Paul’s Drive In. He owned the restaurant for 14 years and began catering.

Ben and his wife, Cindy, were looking for a new business venture. They were on vacation in Michigan, visiting Ben’s daughter, when an idea came about because his daughter took them to several wine bars in the area. When they returned home, they visited wine bars in Ohio, and looked into wine, beer, and what they would have to do to open a wine bar/restaurant. He gives a lot of credit to Cindy for “putting it all in and for pushing the project forward.”

One of the first problems was finding a site in Shelby. They settled on the former Citizens Bank property at 29 West Main. It had been vacant since 2002, but the integrity of the building had been maintained including the marble floors and the lock boxes in the vault. After a great deal of work and paperwork, the Vault officially opened on May 9, 2014. Chef Ben appreciates all the help from friends and staff in getting the Vault started.

He said that in order to have a successfully continuing business, you need great food, excellent service, a continuously changing menu and entertainment. One example is pizza; they change the special every week. He says that the flavor combinations have been different but good. The Vault also has a grill and a smoker. Grilled vegetables are new. The pulled pork is great on top of macaroni and cheese. The craft brewed beer are also widely varied. They come from as close as Phoenix Brewery in Mansfield or Millersburg. Some of the wines come from Ohio and around the world and as far away as Australia.

The Vault is more than food; it has many varied types of entertainment such as live music and comedians on the weekend. There are activities and events like music trivia games, book reviews, wine with yoga, art lessons, and National S’Mores Day.

How about a 5 course meal with a wine for each course?

Chef Ben says that the entertainment as well as the food options keep expanding to match the interest and the taste of the customers.

The Vault is located at 29 W. Main, Shelby; phone 567-292-2081.

Hours are Tuesday through Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to midnight. The Vault is closed to the public on Sunday and Monday for private parties, showers, business meetings, and catered events.