Last Thursday, we headed to Bar Cento for a blogger meet up. Fellow Cleveland blogger, Alexa, thought it was about time that many of the local bloggers met. It was a lot of fun to meet everyone, and even better because we were at Bar Cento and enjoyed some fabulous eats (mussels, olives, pommes frites, sunnyside pizza, salumi).
The next night, we headed to a United Way event at the Food Show at the IX Center. The two-hour event featured passed appetizers from Paula Deen, Michael Symon (the lobster pierogies were coveted by pretty much everyone) and some of the other chefs. The highlight of the evening was this champion celebrity bartender from Australia, Hayden Wood, or Uncle Woody as he liked to call himself. This incredibly witty and talented guy impressed the crowd with his mad skills (think bottles flying, glasses twirling). Jamie was so impressed, that on the way home he kept thinking of how we could bring this guy in for a party (granted he was a little over-served himself – sober I’m sure he would have realized flying a guy in from Australia for a party isn’t going to happen anytime soon…).
After the show, we were still hungry and still thinking of the great food from the night before, so we placed an order for takeout at Bar Cento. Of course we ordered the sunnyside pizza (literally Jamie’s favorite pizza – ever) and the acorn squash ravioli and a side of the beets for me. Everest also hooked us up with two wonderful desserts, the apple tart and olive oil cake. Each were so good, I almost didn’t share.
The ravioli, which was generously topped with pancetta, was flavorful, satisfying and just what I was craving. And the sliced beets with breadcrumbs were also fantastic. I liked this version much better than the beets with blue cheese, that used to be on the menu.
The long weekend of good eats continued with dinner at Momocho the next night, but I’ll post about that later. I think I’m trying to get in as many meals from my favorite places while I still can. Not that I can’t after the baby, I just know it won’t be right away.
I attended the "Fabulous" Food Show I believe the first year it came around, which was a few years ago and it was such a let down. Well, aside from the Paula Deen show, that is. However, I would have liked to see her actually cook. But, I do realize that she has a big personality and really was there to visit with the fans, so it was ok. I still would have liked to see some cooking... Which brings me to the rest of the show. Where was the cooking? Or the "fabulous" food? To me, it was like a large grocery store with just a few items I may have not seen in the Whole Foods or Mustard Seed I can go to anytime I want. The samples were mainly of frozen food appetizers and like you said, pretzels and dip. My boyfriend and I went there and expected to eat and got so hungry wondering around looking for the food. And then we finally found some food to eat... at the concession stands. They wanted us to eat nachos and corn dogs at the "fabulous" food show? We just couldn't believe it. We did take advantage of the wine tasting area, but even that was seriously lacking. I was so disappointed because I'm a huge Food Network fan, a huge fan of cooking and food, and I was so excited that this show came to Cleveland, but after that visit we just won't be back. If I find out in the future it has changed, I'd love to go, but it seems to me the IX center just wants to cater to the masses, not to the foodies in Cleveland.
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