there’s nothing to do in cleveland

We’ve all heard this, right?And I’m willing to bet all equally annoyed when someone mutters it. Regardless of the day or time of  year, there always seems to be something taking place – for families and empty-nesters to everyone in between. Our problem is that we just can’t seem to make time to take advantage of the constant happenings, especially now that we are trying to adjust to the new norm, aka the craziness of having two kids. But this past weekend was the exception. This past weekend, we did it all.

The weekend kicked off with our family tradition: Friday night pizza pie. For the past year-ish we’ve been going to Joey’s in Chagrin Falls. Now I’ll be the first to admit this is not a great restaurant, at least in my opinion. Seriously – if they made some tweaks and really focused on improving the quality of food, this place could be a gold mine, especially given its location. They could also stand to spruce up the place. But all things aside, there’s something about it that pulls us in – and truthfully, the pizza isn’t that bad, which is what we always order. Perhaps it’s because this was my family’s go-to place when I was a kid, or because we like to pretend we live in The Falls. Whatever it is, it’s become our  family place for pizza pie and my daughter can’t get enough of it.

On Saturday night we headed out, sans kids, to meet our friends at the new Crop. I’ll actually share more on this visit later via Metromix, but let’s just say each of us was really taken aback by how magnificent the space is. I’m actually quite surprised to hear some mixed reviews on its new location in the former bank. At least for us, we were in awe from the moment we stepped in. And the food was really good, too!

For once, I was able to stay up past my bedtime so we headed to the Velvet Tango Room. Ironically, this was actually the first time I’ve been to the VTR at night. Usually we go pre dinner. And I must admit, I think I like the vibe much better when it’s still light out (yes, I realize I’m part senior citizen…). It’s less crowded and the service is better (staff is more relaxed, not as tense and more friendly overall). But the one constant, regardless of time of visit, is that the drinks are still exceptionally made. One of our friends, who has never been, commented how interesting it was to watch them make each drinks with such precision and care.

On Sunday, post a slight cocktail-induced headache, we packed up the kids and hit the Yours Truly in our make believe town of Chagrin Falls for breakfast, then went straight to Patterson. This also has become a yearly tradition: pumpkins and fritters. Are they the best fritters? Not necessarily. But there’s nothing like heading here each fall to split one, while soaking in all the seasonal surroundings, hectic crowds and of course, pumpkin pickin’.

The weekend wrapped up with a family fall hike through the Metroparks, complete with Stella, our dog, who finally got to join in some fun. Every time we walk around the parks, regardless of which reservation we’re at, I am always in awe of just how beautiful the grounds are and just what a gem this system is.

Yeah, it’s a shame there’s never anything going on.

ginko. go.

When chef Dante Boccuzzi first returned to Cleveland, I remember going to his initial Sushi Blues event at his original Dante location. I didn’t know then that he opened a Nobu in Milan or even worked with the celebrated chef. All I knew was that I would make every attempt to attend these events because he knew what he was doing and I was impressed. Shortly after I would learn more about his history and it would all make sense.

I have ridiculous cravings for sushi on a pretty rconsistent basis. I’m not anywhere close to an expert in the category, just have a genuine appreciation for the craft and this type of cuisine. But I can tell you this, if you’re a fan of Dante, and appreciate Japanese food, then you absolutely need to head to Ginko and experience it first-hand. I promise that you will be impressed on a variety of levels. I certainly was. Here’s a recap of a recent visit on behalf of Metromix.

——————————————————————-

Dante Boccuzzi has been teasing Clevelanders with his sushi skills since he first arrived back to Cleveland in 2007. Boccuzzi held special sushi events when he first opened Dante in the old Lockkeepers space in Valley View before moving to his current Tremont digs. And now that tease has turned into a full-blown Japanese restaurant tucked below his signature restaurant, which could easily find a home anywhere on the streets of Tokyo and fit right in.

Food: Yes he’s Italian, but Boccuzzi knows Japanese cooking and has learned from the best. He worked for famed Nobu Matsuhisa and opened a Nobu in Milan where he spent a couple of years. Additionally, he hired Taishi Noma, who was born in Japan, as head chef.

Boccuzzi wanted Ginko to be unlike any sushi restaurant in Cleveland. If you’re looking for anything wrapped around cream cheese, look elsewhere. Prices may also be a bit higher than people are used to. But then again, the quality and cut of the fish is unlike anything found locally. He’s also flying in fish and other goods from Hawaii, New York and Japan almost daily.

The menu features appetizers, sushi, nigiri, specialty nigiri and specialty rolls plus a omakase tasting, which translates to “I’ll leave it to you.” Shabu Shabu is also available with certified angus beef or the pricier Wagyu, but only at the two booths.

On a recent visit, we started off with the blistered shishito peppers ($8) and the spicy scallop chips ($12). These chips, literally, are not to be missed. Slightly spicy chopped scallops with scallions and tobiko are served atop Pringles. It’s tasty and fun.

Our sushi, which was served less than two minutes after our appetizers came out, included the house specialty Zepplin with yellowtail, salmon and crab wrapped in cucumber ($12), Ginko roll with tuna, salmon, hamachi, avocado, kaiware, tobiko and daikon ($13), shiro maguro ($4.50), jumbo shrimp tempura ($12), and traditional soft shell crab ($8).

We are going to go out on a limb and predict early on that Ginko will very likely soon find its way as the best, authentic sushi around. Presentation, taste, freshness and quality are truly top-notch. This was quite an impressive dining experience.

Libations: Winos head upstairs because there’s none to be had down here (except a glass of plum wine). Only 15 plus types of sake, a nice variety of Japanese beers and specialty cocktails like the orange Umami ($12) with sake, vodka, oranges and ginger, or the shiso martini ($12) with yuzu, cointreau plus shiso.

Décor: Even if you’re not a fan of sushi, stop in for a drink if only to admire the space and enjoy the great playlist (plently of Vampire Weekend). Lots of bright, primary colors on a jet back canvas with tons of glass: glass tiles adorn the two mini bar booths, a reflective bubbled glass ceiling above the bar and a giant feature wall with all blown glass. Then there’s the giant horseshoe sushi bar (with floating glass fish), a flat-screen TV playing Speed Racer and vintage Atari Millipede game in the corner of this tiny restaurant that seats roughly 40.

Service: Whenever anyone steps inside Ginko, everyone from the hostess to the chefs welcome you in Japanese, a customary tradition found in any Japanese restaurant. This “Cheers”-like greeting sets the stage for the overall service. Servers and chefs are all too eager to explain the menu, make suggestions and answer any questions you may have. Food is also served rather quickly—perhaps a little too quick.

Insider tip: Lunch is served on Fridays only. Also, the space is small and they don’t take reservations. It might be hard to dine out with a larger group given that the majority of seating is around the sushi bar.

phil the fire

The first time I was offered chicken and waffles I politely declined. Silly me. Hey,  was 10 years ago – what did I know (though truthfully, I still don’t know much…).

Soon I wised up and realized this combination was pure genious. And like many of you, discovered Phil the Fire and was quickly smitten. But Phil went away for the better part of a decade – that is, until he recently reopened and is looking to make a comeback on the east side.

We went recently on behalf of Metromix. Here’s part of my review, or you can read the full thing here.

Sadly, restaurants often fail. One common fault is lack of awareness, attention and repetitive business. When Phil The Fire closed roughly seven years ago, it wasn’t a result of any of these factors, but rather some poor financial mishandlings and bad business deals. So when word spread that this well-liked restaurant was about to resurface in Beachwood inside the Fairfield Inn, Clevelanders’ mouths collectively watered for some of those locally-famous chicken and waffles.

Food: Fans of previous locations will surely recognize many of the extensive menu’s offerings, dubbed comfort food for the soul. Pages of Southern favorites, all reasonably priced and generously sized, are ready to comfort you, especially this time of the year. But it’s one dish in particular that is the most sought-after: chicken and waffles.

Complete with an 11-step guide to enjoying, this dish ($11-$20 depending on whether you order a breast to a half chicken) conjures up smiles from anyone that has tried it. While not necessarily a dish that would win any plating points on Iron Chef, this dish is just that: chicken served alongside a waffle, a thick, cinnamon-spiced Belgium waffle to be exact. And the chicken is fried to perfection (or grilled—but at this point, just go for it; you can also opt for fish and waffles), served with cinnamon butter and housemade syrup. This is their signature dish and for good reason. This is the ultimate combination of sweet and savory and one that will turn skeptics into devotees. It’s a must-try dish and worth the trip regardless of location.

Unfortunately, other options fell short of expectations. Aside from the oversized signature cornbread muffin and aforementioned waffles, other dishes did not impress. The three cheese mac and cheese ($7 when ordered alone) was served cold, which really affected the taste and texture; the collard greens ($6 when ordered alone) were over salted leaving them inedible and the half pound of butterfly shrimp ($18) also suffered from overseasoning (note: two sides accompany most dinners). An order of the signature fried green tomatoes appetizer with fried corn was a nicely spiced dished with a touch of heat that was one of the better items we tried, though unfortunately, it was also served cold and came out after our dinners.

Décor: The resurrected restaurant resides in a former Houlihan’s and much of the layout stayed the same: oversized booths make up the bulk of the space overlooking a partially-open kitchen with plenty of rich woods, warm lighting and brick to reinforce the “fire” theme.

Service: As probably deciphered from the food review, service can be painfully slow, forgetfully and not in sync with the kitchen. A near 25-minute wait before we were greeted by a server (albeit a super friendly and apologetic server), appetizers came post dinner and most dishes were served at the wrong temp.

Bottom line: While the restaurant undoubtedly has kinks to work out, their signature draw of chicken and waffles has (luckily) remained unchanged and still as good as we remember—maybe even a bit better.

 

get tickets now: 2011/2012 film feasts

The Cleveland International Film Festival, which will take place March 22 – April 1, has launched its Film (and other arts) Feasts Series. There are 10 events in total, but two, I think, will be of most interest to you:

KITCHEN STORIES

Wednesday, November, 9, 2011 / 7:00 p.m.

$50 per guest  / limit 50 guests

Hosts:  Anne Bloomberg and Carla Streep O’Day

Come slurp the night away with us at one of Cleveland’s newest and most popular restaurants – Noodlecat. Join us as Jonathan Sawyer and Amelia Zatik-Sawyer share their inspiration behind their latest restaurant venture, and discuss what it took to open a new restaurant while balancing their time with their wildly successful other restaurant, The Greenhouse Tavern.

 

WEST SIDE STORY

Wednesday, February, 1, 2012  / 7:00 p.m.

$50 per guest / limit 75 guests

Hosts:  Carolyn Buller and Nancy Callahan

Help us celebrate the centennial anniversary of one of Cleveland’s most famous and beloved institutions – the West Side Market, Cleveland’s Public Market since 1912. Laura Taxel and Marilou Suszko, writers of “The West Side Market: 100 Years and Still Cooking” (being released Summer 2012), will lead a panel discussion with some of the families that have called the West Side Market their home-away-from-home for generations.  Ohio City Incorporated and Market Management will also share a sneak peek at plans for the year-long celebration in 2012.

We’ll meet in the newly renovated lower level of the breathtaking Crop Bistro and Bar at the corner of West 25th and Lorain, and then head across the street to the West Side Market for a behind-the-scenes tour of this historic Cleveland landmark that was named one of the country’s top ten food destinations, as well as “Best Food Lovers’ Market,” by Food Network Magazine.

Don’t miss out on this night at the West Side Market full of fabulous food, sentimental stories, and hometown history that will leave you asking for a second helping.

————————-

According to CIFF, Film (and other ARTS) Feasts is a series of events to support the Cleveland International Film Festival.  The generous hosts underwrite the costs of their events and all proceeds directly benefit the organization. I’m excited about both of these events, especially the Market. Visit here for information on all the events and to purchase tickets. See you there!

my view on the chew

While my maternity leave was wrapping up, I was home for the premier week of The Chew, which  I watched daily (DVR set moving forward). I admit, I’d be a regular viewer of this show even if  it sucked (I’m a sucker for anything that has a tie to our city). Luckily for me, it doesn’t. That being said, there are some other aspects, or points of view, I’d prefer. Or at least hope come in time.

I’m really digging the hosts. Michael Symon is a given. I love that his personality really comes through and he seems to be his giddy self, complete with Slash tees and flannel. His laugh and nonstop grinning makes for fun TV. Mario, as aforementioned, is my celebrity chef crush. He’s a great teacher and I love to try many of his dishes. These two work well together. Clinton is quirky and entertaining. He’s a smart addition. As for Daphne, I wasn’t familiar with her prior to, but am taking to the healthy spin she brings and hope to see more healthy meal ideas.

The one co-host not resonating with me is Carla – and I can’t put my finger on why (though I will absolutely make this dish of hers). Instead, I’d like to see the voice of a mom being represented. Someone who can share cooking ideas and dinner suggestions for kids, talk about food-related activities and general  issues that appeal to this age group that obviously fit in with the program’s theme. Granted I’m not a stay-at-home mom (with the exception of the last three months), but I’ve got to imagine a large portion of the viewing audience is and would agree with me. I wouldn’t want the entire show targeting moms, just a slice. They do talk a lot about families, so it’s there in some ways. I’d just want it kicked up a notch.

Also worth noting is the website.  It’s user-friendly and the recipes are nicely displayed and easy to follow. And if you need further explanation, or missed something, there are videos of each dish.

In general, this is my kind of program. It’s a nice departure from the current food-related shows I watch. There seems to be good chemistry, the topics are relevant and timely, and I’m learning – which is always a good thing.

big night out

Two weeks ago I think a record was broken right here in Cleveland: fastest escape from a house, down the drive and up, up and away. My husband and I are the proud title holders. It was our first night out solo since Olivia and as soon as my sister showed up to watch the kids, we fled and were as giddy as could be.

I would have been content just about anywhere, but of course we didn’t just want to settle considering we haven’t been out alone in ages (even before the baby came, I was no peach to be around those final weeks of pregnancy & became quite the homebody). We headed to East 4th for rooftop cocktails, shopping and dinner.

I’ve had drinks on the roof of Greenhouse several times, but this was the first time I’ve been up there since they “opened” it. What a space and what views. If they served food up there, my butt would have been parked in that stool all night. Though I get why they don’t offer anything to munch on upstairs (those stairs are quite plentiful – and steep), I sure wish they did.

Post drinks, and feeling pretty good (when you don’t drink your normal share for the better part of a year, you become quite the cheap date), we headed to Chinato. As we made the short hop down the street, it was  electrifying to be downtown at that moment. Thome was back that night for the first time in nearly a decade, the weather was picturesque and it seemed like just about everyone was out in the city enjoying it.

At dinner, we ordered a variety of small dishes and feasted away. Highlights included the yellowtail and salmon crudo, fried baby artichokes (which the chef sent out) and buratta.  What I’ll likely skip next time is the involtini of eggplant with ricotta and shrimp. While I’ve never tried this before, it seemed a bit overbooked and over seasoned.

Not ready to head home just yet, we stopped in Dredgers Union which wisely stays open until 10 p.m. Jamie picked up a few shirts, I snagged some clothes for the kids and a great fall hat for myself (clothes shopping has to wait a bit for me). If you haven’t had the pleasurable experience of shopping here yet, you should go soon. It has something for everyone.

When we got home the kids were in la la land and we weren’t far behind. Unfortunately, they didn’t get the tweet that mommy and daddy went out the night before and woke up bright and early with the first one getting our attention at 5 a.m. I’ve missed the nights out, but not the mornings after…

chew on this

Two of my favorite chefs – together, five days a week. My chef crush and of course, the man with the best laugh in C-town.

Be sure to tune in or DVR The Chew, which premiers Monday at 1. This is actually my kind of program and one I’ve been eagerly anticipating. Cooking and food talk, entertaining, healthy living ideas, style – it has all the makings of a show I’ll regularly watch.

It’s truly wonderful to witness Michael Symon continue to shine nationally and get the recognition he deserves and has no doubt worked incredibly hard for. He’s talented, yes, but also a genuinely good guy who makes time for his fans (talk about embracing social media) and has never turned his back on his hometown.

Best of luck, Symon, Batali & the rest of The Chew crew. My DVR is already set.

ladies who lunch

I’ve always wondered about ladies who lunch. I have often joked that that’s who I’d like to come back as. Well, the past few months (thanks to maternity leave) that’s just what has become of me. Although something tells me the two aren’t exactly the same.

My afternoon partners in crime have been my two beautiful daughters, Natalie and Olivia. With Olivia still being carted everywhere in her car seat, this is typically the easy time to be out and about. And thankfully Natalie continues to be a pretty good diner, as long as we eat early (like as soon as the doors open), bring something to occupy her and don’t overstay our welcome.

We have fully taken advantage of having the summer “off.” When I had Natalie, it was the dead of winter so we were often stir crazy. Not so this time around. As soon as Olivia turned the ripe old age of two weeks, we fled the homestead. We called grandma, girlfriends, aunts and daddy to come meet us. We’d often hit up parks, museums, farmers’ markets and Target first, then lunch, which was often al fresco (why tempt fate – we dine outside when we can when the minis are in tow).

A favorite has been Flour. We have sat at the same corner table on their patio at least three times this summer. Natalie loves the pizza, the staff is great with her and mommy can’t get enough of their cob salad with roasted shallot dressing and cheese. However, Flour has made a little snob out of her. She now insists on olive oil (or dip as she affectionately calls it) when she has bread. Don’t  insult her with mere butter.

L’Albatros was another hit, not necessarily with the kids but with mom and dad. We haven’t been there in awhile so it was nice to head back – though I couldn’t take advantage of what I really love about this place: the wine and cheese. That will wait for a date night in our very near future. For Jamie’s birthday, we went to The Natural History Museum coupled with lunch. Jamie inhaled the burger while I had the frisee salad with poached egg, lardons and pork belly – a seriously large piece of pork belly. In fact, it was too much for me. A few bites were all I needed. We ordered the bianco pizza for Natalie with fontina and rosemary and devoured the grilled peaches with prosciutto and tomato salad that the chef sent out.

Other afternoon delights included Taza, Fountain, Umami (though you could put this one in a variety of categories – it’s my husband’s hands-down favorite restaurant and we spend a lot of family time there. They are great with kids and will make a special kid-approved stir-fry).

While being a lady who lunches has had its moments and created great memories with my girls, perhaps my favorite lunchtime excursions have been playdates with our friends over pizza pie, simple picnics in the park and Natalie helping me cook lunch in our own kitchen. She makes a mean peanut butter, yogurt and jelly sammy with a side of Cheerios.

market garden brewery in ohio city

Thanks to a recent viewing party for Hodge Podge that brought restaurant owners and fellow food trucks together to cheer on the home team, we found ourselves at the recently opened Market Garden Brewery for our inaugural visit.

It’s a brewery so I suspect you’d like to hear about the star of the most recent Ohio City opening. I won’t even attempt to try and muster some thoughts together as a hop head I am not. I’ll leave that job to my friend Kyle at Cleveland Hops. Though I did enjoy a Shoreway Cooler (and by enjoy I mean I could have guzzled four more if my kids weren’t with me). A delightful concoction of old school American Lager, housemade honey gin, lemon juice, lillet blanc and simple syrup. Fantastic.

What an impressive and surprisingly large space for the once poultry store. The decor and overall atmosphere was quite nice with plenty of warm, dark woods. The layout is conducive for the masses with a giant patio complete with killer views of the West Side Market, street seating, two large bars and several dining areas. Apparently there’s also rooftop plans in the works, too.

Another plus – bring on the minis because MGB is kid friendly! And if you are anti children eating out, never fear. Thanks to the high noise level, those little voices are easily muffled. We had our two girls with us and staff was quite accommodating. While there isn’t a kids’ menu, there are several items that would make the pickiest of diners happy (and if all else fails, opt for the delicious soft pretzel). The brewery has high chairs, too.

As for the food, the menu is courtesy of the talented chef Mike Nowak of Bar Cento, which is no surprise since MGB is owned by Sam McNulty.

If your impression of breweries is less than desirable when it comes to the food (perhaps that’s based on their neighbor – amazing beer, not so much for the grub), then you’re in for a surprise. Granted we have only been once and sampled just a few items, but we were quickly smitten. And the feedback I’ve heard from others confirms my thinking.

During our visit, we had the smoked pork tacos served on flour tortillas with salsa verde and queso plus the fried chicken sandwich with braised collard greens, bacon, gravy and tomato as well as the pretzel paired with mustard and garlic cheese. The sandwich was messy but quite tasty and hard to put down. The tacos, served in sets of three, were also quite enjoyable and could have only been a better dish if permitted to mix things up and combine a few of the taco offerings into one order (there are four different options).

The Market District has really come a long way since I was a kid. There’s lots of exciting activity and well-deserved recognition for the area. Of course there’s the historic Market which is hands-down the star and main attraction that’s now surrounded by a growing list of stores and restaurants, including one of my longtime favorites, Flying Fig and the soon-to-open Crop. This brewery seems to have found its place in one of Cleveland’s great neighborhoods.

fountain in moreland hills: the good, the bad and the weird

Build it and apparently they do come. The long-standing vacant (or so it felt) newly constructed property in Moreland Hills where Hyde Park once stood is starting to fill up with tenants. Of course there’s Paul Minnillo’s Flour, which we have enjoyed numerous times since it opened this past spring, a salon and spa and now Fountain which opened a few months back.

Dubbed a European café and wine lounge, Fountain is trying to be a little something for everyone. Perhaps it’s trying to do too much. Only time will tell. It’s a full-service coffee house that also offers smoothies and protein shakes, a rather impressive menu offering breakfast through dinner, live music and finally a wine bar. Phew.

The good. The location for starters. At least for me – it’s close to home and I think a nice compliment for the area. I’d also put the food and coffee in this group, too. We’ve been for breakfast and lunch and enjoyed both, especially lunch. The breakfast menu is the smallest of the trio but satisfying nonetheless. I liked the cured salmon plate and Jamie liked his daily strata. But the highlight may have been the German brezel (the dough is shipped in from Europe). I didn’t find out what’s so special about the dough, but they are onto something because for a pretty basic offering, this one was pretty good. For lunch, I absolutely loved my tomato bufala salad with sundried tomato tapenade. Jamie’s croquet monsieur with a fried egg was a bit on the salty side but Natalie’s chicken crepe with corn sauce was spot on – and good enough to be served to any adult.

But perhaps the best feature of Fountain is just how family-friendly they are. There’s a special part of the restaurant designated just for families and a separate kids menu that doesn’t have any of the ho-hum friend standard kids’ fare. We’ve dined there as a family twice, for breakfast and lunch, and both were successful ventures.

The bad. Fountain offers a concierge service, which is just a fancy way of saying drive-thru minus the window. You pull to one of the designated spots any day between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. and they’ll come to you. In theory, this is good. Really good in fact, especially when you are toting small kids and are sleep deprived due to a newborn and find yourself in constant need of a caffeine refuel. Which is why I have taken advantage of this service at least half a dozen times. Unfortunately, on three of those occasions no one actually came out. Some might not think this is a big deal, but when you have little ones, getting in and out of car seats and carrying an infant car seat with you while trying to corral a toddler isn’t an enjoyable past time. On each occasion, I went in and questioned the service and twice spoke with the manager. Not in an attempt to be rude, but I feel if you have a problem with something, you should let the party know so they can correct it moving forward. Each time I received a less than enthusiastic apology and a look that seemed more annoyed that I’d even question them let alone complain. If you’re going to offer this service, then offer it. You have windows everywhere. Clearly you can see people sitting out there, especially when staff is just hanging out and not overly busy.

The weird. This one especially, like opinions in general, is clearly subjective. The overall décor and staff uniforms I just don’t get. The patio, which for the most part is a nice gathering spot, features a fountain. Rather expected, right? Except it’s way too big for the space. Oddly large in fact. I found the inside to be somewhat odd, too (except the immediate coffee area which is nicely done). There are just too many knick-knacks and things going on that just don’t seem to fit. And then there are the uniforms. The staff looks like they should be working in some bad corporate hotel. The last point is small, I know, but I can’t help but question what look they were going for on every visit.