Or better yet, head to The Greenhouse and watch in person with their first ever tweet up (or tweet from the comfort of your couch and follow along #teamsawyer).There will be a special Iron Chef menu and prozes if you can guess the secret ingredient (pre show of course!). Learn more here.

Way to go chef! You make Cleveland proud!

In other GHT news, two upcoming pop-up restaurants not to be missed at Noodlecat: Lee Anne Wong (I went to he first one – AMAZING!!!) and welcome back pastry chef Corey Barrett with Sweet Streets.

****November 28 at Noodlecat, another pop-up – this time with chef Jeff Michaud of Osteria and Amis in Philadelphia. He’s creating a six-course pasta dinner which you can view here (apparently Jeff has earned quite the reputation as the prince of pasta). Michaud won a Beard Award for “Best Mid-Atlantic Chef” in 2010 and Osteria was nominated for “Best New Restaurant” in 2008 – so you know this is going to be a night of some memorable carbs. Courtesy of team Sawyer, I have two tickets to the dinner ($65 per). I went to the last Michaud dinner – worth every penny.

****November 26, enjoy local brews and grub at the Winter Wine & Ale Fest immediately following downtown’s Winterfest event. Wine and ale from more than 20 Ohio wineries and craft breweries will be paired with food selections from Parallax, Table 45, L’Albatros, Chinato, Pura Vida and more.

Tickets to the Winter Wine & Ale Fest are $50 per person and include 20 taste tickets and unlimited food from 7-10 p.m. Proceeds from the evening’s festivities, as well as a silent auction, will benefit GeneroCITY, the Downtown Homeless Fund, which supports programs and services provided by Downtown Cleveland Alliance (DCA) for the city’s homeless population.

Thanks to the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, I have two tickets for you, a $100 value.

Want in on the fun? Just leave a comment between now and November 23. In honor of turkey day, tell me what you’re thankful for in your comment as well as which event you’d like to go to – or both. I’ll pick a winner via random.org on the 23^rd. Good luck and a special thanks to the Sawyers and DCA for the opportunity to send 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.

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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!

First, a huge thank you to My Retro Kitchen, the fantastic local food and recipe blog, for including me in her ongoing Feasting with Friends series. I really appreciate her super kind words and for asking me to be a part of it. What fun!

Check out the new Peninsula Farmers’ Market at Heritage Farms. Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. until Sept. 28.

Made in the 216 + grand opening of Dredgers Union, July 8-10.  Shopping, music, food, beer & more. Over 50 Cleveland-based designers. Discount parking for $2.16 at the 515 parking garage with proof of any purchase at Pickwick & Frolic. On July 8, bands play to the street from The Greenhouse Tavern’s rooftop. Don’t miss this event – just gets better and better each year – and its new digs promises to be the best yet.

Now open: Pura Vida by Brandt Evans – breakfast, lunch & dinner and Market Garden Brewery & Distillery. Flour now serving lunch, M-F. Club Isabella is back, this time in Little Italy at the corner of Random and Cornell roads (former Goose Acres Folk Music Center). Open for lunch and dinner. I used to bartend and serve at the previous location years ago -  excited to check out its new digs and menu from chef Fabio Mota.

Fire farm-to-fork dinner: blueberry BBQ at Greenfield Berry Farm in Peninsula / July 11 at 6:30 p.m.; $130 pp. Check out the ridiculously tempting menu here.

This Wednesday, head to Happy Dog as members of the  The Cleveland Orchestra take over for the 3rd time. 8p.m. – 11 p.m. / free! Learn more here. Best dogs & toppings paired with the best orchestra – what better way to spend a Wednesday evening?

Shoes and Clothes for Kids, which provides clothing and shoes to thousands of kids in need in the greater Cleveland area free of charge, is hosting its popular fundraiser at Wendy Park on Whiskey Island, Luau on the Lake, on July 16. I’m told 500+ go and that it’s must-attend summer fun. Visit here for details and ticket info.

On June 21 at 7 p.m., Dante will welcome in summer with a five-course vegetarian menu paired with Ohio wines from Laurello Vineyards from the Grand River Valley. The cost is $69 per person plus tax and tip. The winemaker will be on-hand sharing the background and highlights of his wines and why they have been paired with each dish.  Dante regularly carries the Laurello 2007 cab franc and the sweet Genevieve. According to Dante’s GM, Phillip Hockey, the cab franc, with its little spice, is a great food wine and the sweet genevieve is a vidal blanc ice wine named after Larry Laurello’s mother.

The menu:

• Ricotta tartlet with balsamic Glazed Strawberries, arugula, lemon confit, cardamom
  2009, Josephine
• Roasted king mushrooms, pickled and seared watermelon, lemon thyme
  2009, Chardonnay
• Herb braised beets and butter lettuce, candied pecans, honeydew melon
  2008, Pinot Noir
• Summer ratatouille, potato basil gratin, roasted eggplant puree
  2007, Cab Franc
• Frozen lemon soufflé, toasted coconut, pineapple compote, margarita sorbet
  Vidal Blanc, Sweet Genevieve, Ice Wine

To make your reservation, or to learn more, call the restaurant today at 216.274.1200. This post was sponsored by The Ohio Grape Industries Committee. To celebrate Ohio’s wines, known as some of the best in the country, and their significant impact on Ohio’s economy, Ohio Gov. John R. Kasich declared June “Ohio Wine Month”.

Ohio’s 148 wineries tend to 1,600 acres of grapes that produce more than 1 million gallons of wine each year. Wineries, located all over the state, offer wine tastings, educational day trips, and tours to educate about the art of wine making and the top quality of Ohio wines.

For a limited time, consumers can also find Ohio wines at their favorite restaurants throughout Cleveland. Select restaurants will feature Ohio Quality Wines by the glass or bottle from June through August. According to a 2008 Economic Impact report, Ohio’s grape and wine industry generates more than $580 million in economic activity that supports local communities while producing a superior agricultural product. The Ohio grape and wine industry also employs more than 4,000 people, providing a payroll of $124.2 million. Visit here to learn more.

Momocho is turning 5. But hold the cards and gifts. Instead, chef/owner Eric Williams wants to celebrate the occasion by supporting his fellow chefs and the local food truck scene. On Monday, May 9^th from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., local food trucks, including Dim and Den Sum, Fahrenheit and Umami Moto will be stationed in the Momocho parking lot selling their goods. Momocho will open the restaurant and patio (hopefully!) for seating and will sell traditional margaritas ($5) and Tecate ($2) – but that’s it, the kitchen will be closed. In fact, Momocho staff will be off that night to enjoy the night with customers and the Happy Dog staff will be taking over the bar for the night.

This is a super casual, no reservations, cash only event. See you there!

Market Under Glass

This event, now in its 16^th year, is the largest fundraiser for Harvest for Hunger. It’s an evening of unlimited food and drinks from some of the area’s best restaurants and purveyors. And you may even see a few familiar faces acting as “celebrity” servers (aka local bloggers). Unfortunately, this is the second year I’ve had to pass due to work conflicts, but I’m hoping I’ll be asked aain next year as I love the idea (hint hint). Participating restaurants include: AMP150, Chinato, Mi Pueblo, Lucky’s, La Bella Cupcakes, Palate, Parallax, Umami Washington Place Bistro & Bar and a slew of others. For more info, head here. The event takes place on April 28 at The Galleria. Up for grabs: two tickets (a $170 value).

Nihonshu Night

Pronounced nee-hon-shoe, Nihonshu means Japanese sake. This special night on April 22 celebrates The Cleveland Museum of Art’s current exhibit, The Lure of Painted Poetry: Japanese and Korean Art. Attendees will taste and learn about three different sakes selected by experts at the Marchetti Company, and indulge in Japanese/Korean fusion food created by Sasa, while Beat Matrix’s Darrell Stout spins ambient, downtempo music. You’ll also have the opportunity to wander through the exhibition galleries and talk with Seunghye Sun, associate curator of Asian art, about her first exhibition at the museum. Tickets are $18 per person and available here. Up for grabs: Two tickets.

Pestival

I attended this fantastic event at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes last year and thoroughly enjoyed myself – and the surroundings. This popular and creative cocktail-style event, which will take place on April 14^th, highlights fun cuisine made from garlic mustard, an edible, invasive species pulled from the ground by volunteers and staff each year. It’s part of a growing movement to eat more invasive species, following the motto: If you can’t beat it, eat it! Participating restaurants include The Greenhouse Tavern, Fire, Spice of Life, J Pistone and Sasa. Tickets are $50 each. Up for grabs: Two tickets.

TEDxCLE is an independently organized TED event (technology, entertainment and design), an annual gathering bringing together the world’s leaders and doers discussing what they are most passionate about. The local event is organized by my friends, Hallie Bram and Eric Kogelschatz. They started this event last year in an effort to bring about change and innovation to our city. They are truly a dynamic duo and I am inspired by their devotion to Cleveland and commitment to organizing, what I think, is an afternoon not to be missed. I attended last year and didn’t want the conversation to end. I know it will be more of the same this year.

There’s an impressive group speaking nest week,  including: chef Jonathon Sawyer, Ari Maron, Jeff Siegler, Valerie Mayen, Matt Hlavin and Paul Hill, Jr. Visit here for a complete list of speakers and topics.

The conference, taking place once again at the Capitol Theater on Friday, April 15^th, is sold out. However, thanks to Eric and Hallie, I have two tickets to give away. But wait, there’s more! What better way to digest the thoughts and passion shared throughout the event than over a pint (or six) of Jeni’s Ice Creams? That’s right, I have two tickets to give away AND six pints of glorious Jeni’s! Jeni Britton Bauer is a huge TED supporter. And in celebration of her first Cleveland store opening up in Chagrin Falls in mid April (as we all happily know by now), the organizer of TEDxColumbus has agreed to sweeten the pot – literally.

To be eligible for the tickets and ice cream, just share your idea for Cleveland within the comments of this post. Specifically, if you were mayor of Cleveland for a day, what’s your big idea for the city? What would you change, improve upon, get rid of, etc.? You have until noon on Sunday, April 10. A winner will be picked via random.org. Good luck!

For this Saturday’s dinner, CVI didn’t have to look too far as the guest chef  is AMP 150′s Ellis Cooley. Here’s the impressive menu:

Small Bites

Large Bites

Gardens

Desserts

Tickets are $75 a piece and there are still a few left. And for one lucky person, you can win two right here. If you’d like to be considered, just leave a comment to this post telling me your favorite local farmer or purveyor to support. You must be available to go this Saturday and leave a comment by Wednesday, 3/9, by noon when I’ll select someone via Random.org. Good luck!

This year’s show, held November 12-14 at the I-X Center, features celebrity chefs Giada De Laurentiis, Guy Fieri, Alton Brown, Anne Burrell and of course, Michael Symon. Aside from the chefs, there are also 225 exhibiting food-related companies, the Main Kitchen Theatre and Culinary Celebration Theatre, Taste of Neighborhood Stage, Grand Tasting Pavilion, Sweet Street and 100 ongoing demonstrations on six different stages.

But perhaps what I am personally most excited about is the Sub-Zero/Wolf Culinary Classic which benefits Autism Speaks, hosted by Symon on Sunday 4pm. Myself, along with the Plain Dealer’s Joe Crea and Gary Sitton with Clos Du Bois have the amazing opportunity to judge Dante Boccuzzi, Jonathon Sawyer, Steve Schimoler paired with a few celebrity sous chefs, aka CAVS players J.J. Hickson, Joey Graham and Jamario Moon.

The competition will take place in the Main Kitchen Theatre. Each team will race against the clock to prepare: an appetizer, entrée and dessert. The not-so-secret ingredient: Ohio Apples.

Want to go to the show? I have four pairs of tickets to attend any of the three days. Just leave a comment between now and noon on November 11 telling me who would be your celebrity sous chef.