Bath chef and culinary school buddy take over Akron’s NoHi

A pair of aspiring chefs will take over the kitchen this weekend at Akron’s NoHi Pop-Up in North Hill.

The two met in culinary school and will be cooking up some street food that draws on a number of different cultures at the EMC² World Tour.

Edward “Eddy” Johnson grew up in Bath and started his love of restaurants and cooking working as a dishwasher.

Johnson said he spent every moment of his off time in the kitchen chatting with chefs to learn more about the business and cooking.

He was classically trained at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.

It was there that he met Michael Oldfield, who is from Rochester, New York.

Johnson has worked in the restaurant business in both the front and back of the house.

Oldfield has worked in New York City, Cape Cod and Chicago but moved back to Rochester when the pandemic hit and forced many restaurants to either shut down or shed staff.

He has since founded a meal delivery company that specializes in Italian cooking.

 This weekend’s menu at EMC² World Tour will be eclectic, ranging from the Twisted Cubano with herb crusted pork loin with chorizo with homemade mustard, gruyere mornay and sliced manchego to Thai Wings with sweet tamarind or spicy chili sauce.

The dessert offering is Pineapple Rum Bread Pudding with homemade  dolce de leche.

The pair say they are looking forward to serving up dishes even if it is just for one weekend only.