Category Archives: Chef Interviews

q&a with grill ‘em all (plus dim and den sum news)

August 25, 2010

I almost didn’t do this interview. My first thought was not to promote those that leave Cleveland. I generally like to call out those that choose to keep their talents here and all the good happening within our city. Then I realized I was being silly. There are great people from Cleveland doing great things [...]

By Michelle V | Also posted in Grill 'Em All | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (5)

q&a with fred thaxton

July 13, 2010

I didn’t learn of Fred Thaxton of Thaxtons Garlic through the markets or his strong relationship with several local chefs and restaurants, including The Greenhouse Tavern. No, it was oddly enough through my neighbor who is Fred’s oral surgeon. My neighbor knew he’d make a great Q&A for Cleveland Foodie and went on and on [...]

By Michelle V | Also posted in Thaxtons Garlic | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (3)

q&a with sean nock, main street cupcakes

July 1, 2010

It seems like a perfect match. In the quaint and traditional Main Street of downtown Hudson sits a quaint cupcake shop by the same name, though this store serves anything but traditional treats. I’m talking about Main Street Cupcakes of course which has recently expanded to Rocky River – and the baking doesn’t stop there. [...]

By Michelle V | Also posted in Main Street Cupcakes | Tagged , , | Comments (5)

q&a with ryan santos

June 16, 2010

I first met Ryan Santos at Danielle DeBoe’s Dinner with Strangers a few months back. He was responsible for the creatively delicious meal we all so thoroughly enjoyed. You can find him at Please, the catering company he started, or at the wonderful Tartine working alongside the talented chef Nolan Konkoski.
1. What are the [...]

By Michelle V | Also posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

q&a with trevor clatterbuck

May 17, 2010

Last year I started to look into joining a CSA (community supported agriculture) and researched several options, but that was as far as I got. This year, I’m excited to say we joined Fresh Fork Market. And beginning in two weeks, a small bag of goodness awaits for me to pick-up every Friday in Beachwood. [...]

By Michelle V | Also posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (7)

q&a with melt’s matt fish

April 11, 2010

East siders, get ready to loosen your pants. The Cleveland Heights Melt is officially set to open May 21. Is it too early to call dibs on a table?
1. What’s your favorite thing about Cleveland and what drives you nuts? There are so many things about Cleveland that I love.  Putting my finger on just [...]

By Michelle V | Also posted in Matt Fish, Melt | Tagged , , , , | Comments (8)

q&a with michael annandona

April 8, 2010

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ve caught on that I’m Italian. And because of this (well, really because of my 95-year-old Sicilian grandmother), I’m incredibly picky when it comes to dining out for Italian. I still mourn the closing of Battuto in Little Italy, but that wound began to heal when I [...]

By Michelle V | Also posted in Michaelangelo's | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (5)

q&a with indigo imp’s matt chappel

March 21, 2010

I’m not a huge beer drinker (though my appreciation is growing). But when I do drink beer, I prefer craft beers. When entertaining, we often try to support local breweries – like we did for our daughter’s baptism and first birthday party. This is where I first tried Indigo Imp (Gate Keeper and Blonde Bombshell). [...]

By Michelle V | Also posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (2)

q&a with kathi hays

November 24, 2009

One of the many things I love about this city is just how helpful people are and willing to share all sorts of information and useful advice. All you have to do is ask. Case in point is Western Reserve Wines. It’s one of the places I frequent for wine, and have been for the [...]

By Michelle V | Also posted in Chez Francois | Tagged , | Comments (4)

q&a with jonathan sin-jin satayathum

October 29, 2009

There’s a joke in here somewhere about how many Jonathons does it take to open a restaurant… Well in the case of The Greenhouse Tavern - three. Jonathon Sawyer, of course, and Johnathan Seeholzer and Jonathan Sin-jin Satayathum.
I first met Sin-Jin last year at the  Brooklyn Beer Dinner with chef Sawyer. And since we’ve had a [...]

By Michelle V | Also posted in The Greenhouse Tavern | Tagged , | Comments (0)