Hungry in Cleveland

Getting to know you...

2012-01-30T10:06:00.000-05:00

This is a slightly different post but since one of my favorite #DirtyRunner tweeps #TheLogo (Jess) tagged me, it seemed like a fun post to write. So here we go!

The Rules:

Post these rules
You must post 11 random things about yourself
Answer the questions set for you in their post
Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them
No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people!

11 random things about Steph

I began school a year earlier than most kids since I taught myself how to read before I was 4.
I have a younger brother named Greg. When my mom was pregnant, I really wanted a brother and told my parents if the baby was a girl, she would have to live with my grandparents.
Before I die, I want to run a marathon in all 50 states (already have 2 down, Ohio and Florida)
Until high school, I wanted to be a TV meteorologist
I don't watch much TV, but I have an obsession with the show Castle
I have gone to a Cleveland Indians game every year since I was 4, except in 1994 since MLB went on strike. My family had tickets for the week after the strike began.
My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving
I still have the same three best friends since high school
Amanda
Katie
Nikki
9 is my lucky number!
Despite being (somewhat) athletic and (very) klutzy, I have never broken a bone
I will eat just about anything once so I can have a real opinion of it. Yes, there are things I do not want to know what they are until after I eat them.

Moja's Questions for me

What are you wearing?

Green Notre Dame football shirt, black yoga pants, and my fuzzy pink slippers

What is your dream race to run?

NYC Marathon (fingers crossed for this year!!!)

Where is your favorite vacation spot?

As much as I love NYC and I am really excited for Denver this week, I am going to say New Orleans

What was your last dream about?

No clue...it's pretty rare I remember my dreams

Would you rather be too hot or too cold?

Too cold. I can keep adding layers and drinking warm beverages until I am comfortable.

If you had to listen to one song on repeat forever what would it be?

Tough question...but I guess I will go with one of my all time favs...."All You Need is Love" by The Beatles

What was your favorite school subject? (Do not say recess)

big surprise here...science

If you could go back to school would you study the same things or pick a different major?

Yes and no...I do feel my career is finally progressing and making me happy, but I often wonder what it would be like if I went into sports journalism (either writing or broadcasting)

Are you an Apple fan or Android fan?

I have a "love to hate" relationship with my Droid Incredible.

Any tattoos or piercing? Are they visible?

Just my ears only once. I am the biggest baby when it comes to needles. If I ever get over that, I would get 26.2 really tiny somewhere on my foot.

Favorite alcoholic beverage?

As much as I love craft beer and wine, I have to go with tequila (chilled Patron with a lime please)

My questions for you

What is the most adventurous thing you have ever eaten?
What would your last meal be if you had a say in it?
What is your all time guilty pleasure food?
What are you currently listening to?
What is your favorite sport (to play, watch, or both)?
One thing you are dying to try (this could be anything)
Fill in the blank: Food makes me _________
If you could have dinner with just one person, dead or alive, who would it be?
What is your "go to" restaurant for taking out of towners?
What quote sums up your life right now?
What is your favorite holiday?

And GO: Amanda, Joe, Alicia, Katrina, Brad, Crystal, Katie, Heather, Becca, Kimberly, and Sarah.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Meatless Mondays

2012-01-03T10:39:00.001-05:00

Happy 2012! I hope you all had a fun and enjoyable New Years filled with friends, family, food, and of course bubbly! I mentioned in my 27 at 27 post, I am not the biggest New Year's resolution person. Throughout the year, I am constantly setting goals and making lifestyle changes to become a better person and challenge myself. However, my latest challenge/healthy lifestyle change just happens to coincide with a new calendar year. I have decided to do "Meatless Mondays" in 2012. (side note: while I hate making exceptions to things, I will be attending Dinner in the Dark on Monday January 16. Therefore, January 17 will be Meatless Tuesday). I am looking forward to trying new recipes and the potential challenges of dining at some of my favorite restaurants and having limited options.

image source

So I have to ask you, what are your food related New Year's resolutions? Here's to a healthy, happy, and not so hungry 2012!

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

**I am still raising money for the American Liver Foundation! Donate here or purchase a cooking class from The Chubby Cook using the code ALF2012 and 40% of the cost of the class will be donated. THANK YOU for your support**

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-25T12:00:00.000-05:00

From my heart to yours

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

image source

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

The Hungry in Cleveland 12 Days of Christmas

2011-12-22T09:30:00.000-05:00

Merry (almost) Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! Yesterday morning, I received a delicious surprise from a Secret Santa (and if you are reading this, even though I have no clue who you are, thank you!)

Yes, there were a dozen LaBella cupcakes there before two hungry scientists enjoyed cupcakes for breakfast. I later realized that "12 LaBella Cupcakes" sounds like it belongs in a parody of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" which lead me to come up with this fun little variation. Enjoy!

The Hungry in Cleveland 12 Days of Christmas

12 LaBella Cupcakes

11 Types of cheese (The Melt Challenge)

10 toppings on a Happy Dog

9 Parma pierogies

8 Malley's Milk Chocolate Bars

7 fabulous food trucks

6 Lilly Truffles

5 scoops of Honey Hut!!

4 Farmers Markets

3 Michael Symon restaurants

2 Dinner in the Dark tickets

And a keg of Christmas Ale!!

Oh, and my favorite version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is John Denver and The Muppets

**Side note! The Chubby Cook has been adding more fun cooking classes to the January schedule! Remember, use the code ALF2012 to donate 40% of the cost of the class to my Liver Life Challenge fundraising effort! Or make a donation right on my fundraising page! My deadline has been extended to January 31, 2012!!**

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your (holiday) hunger!

Cooking for a Cause

2011-12-16T12:04:00.001-05:00

Perhaps you are wondering what to give that cook/food lover in your life for Christmas. There are the obvious choices of fun kitchen gadgets, restaurant gift cards, and foodie friendly gift baskets. Have you ever considered a cooking class??

Maybe you are wondering how to incorporate raw foods or vegan dishes into your diet. Or maybe you want to learn to cook some of your favorite steakhouse meals.

So what am I getting at here? Beginning in January, The Chubby Cook will be offering a variety of cooking classes ranging from raw foods to "Basics of Braising" to "Learn to Bake with the Pie Lady". There is something for everyone. I just may take the pie one myself (who's joining me??). Classes are $65 and can fit into anyone's schedule. The complete schedule and how to sign up can be found here. Also, The Chubby Cook has agreed to donate 40% of the cost of the cooking class to my Liver Life Challenge fundraising goal for any January class. When you check out, enter the code: ALF2012 by "gift certificates and coupon codes". Not only will you be giving a great gift to a loved one (or yourself) but you will be helping the over 30 million Americans and their families who are battling liver diseases.

From The Chubby Cook's facebook page

Please remember you can also donate here until January 31, 2012.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

***Disclaimer: I responded to a posting by The Chubby Cook in regards to fundraising with cooking classes. I was invited to a media preview back in the spring to see what The Chubby Cook was all about. I am participating in Liver Life Challenge by choice. All opinions are 100% my own***

Liver Life Challenge

2011-12-12T10:12:00.001-05:00

If you follow me on Twitter or know me in real life, it is no big secret I have been fundraising for the American Liver Foundation. You may have also come across my fundraising story on other wonderful CLE blogs. CLEgal finds me inspirational. Julie helped spread the word asking for support. Amanda has a personal connection to my fundraising efforts. Heather summed up how motivating running with a team can be. As I often have said, I have two goals for the Disney Marathon and only one I can achieve on my own. I have been training hard since late October to achieve my goal of beating my Towpath time of 4:24:11. Saturday morning I will be braving whatever Mother Nature has in store and running 22 miles, my last really long training run before the full 26.2 on January 8th.

Goal #2 can only be achieve through the help of others. I am committed to raising $3400. I would first like to thank everyone who already has generously donated. I appreciate every penny that has been raised for Liver Life Challenge through your kind sponsorship. Thank you to those who came out for karaoke night back in November and to those who came by Barnes and Noble last week to my gift wrapping table. (side note on gift wrapping: If you are looking for a wrapper, let me know!!). Even with all of these efforts, I am still quite a ways from reaching my goal. So how can you help??

1. The easiest is visiting my fundraising page and clicking on "Sponsor me". Just think, a donation of $26.20 breaks down to a dollar per mile I run.

2. Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for that chef in your life? Through Wednesday, 15% of all Pampered Chef items purchased here with me (Stephanie Hovan) as the host will go towards Liver Life Challenge. Contact me for more information.

3. This may be the most fun way. I have set up a college bowl pick'em group. Think March Madness only college football. The winner will receive a $25 gift card to a LOCAL restaurant of your choice. Entering is as simple as a $20 donation if you have not previously donated or a $5 donation if you already have. Once I receive an email confirmation of your donation, I will send you the group info. The deadline to do so is Friday, December 16.

Photo from wikipedia

As I mentioned before, I cannot fully express my gratitude for everyone who already had helped. I cannot wait to run through Disney on January 8 knowing this marathon is helping the over 3 million Americans who are battling liver diseases. Also, a huge thanks to Katrina for getting me involved with Liver Life Challenge and being an awesome fundraising coordinator!

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

And the winner is...

2011-11-28T08:35:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving weekend filled with good food, family, friends, and holiday cheer! I would LOVE to say good football too but yeah, well, no comment.

And the lucky winner of the Dolce Gusto Piccolo is...

#24 Brad!! Congrats!

Thanks to all who entered. I would also like to thank everyone who has donated so far to my Liver Life Challenge fundraising effort. I can only achieve one of my two goals on my own, that being running my second marathon.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Dolce Gusto Warms My Heart!

2011-11-22T09:39:00.000-05:00

First of all, thank you for all of the positive comments on my last post. I am really excited to get back into blogging once again and hopefully I can keep up with it better.

Back in September, Allison invited me and some other awesome Cleveland bloggers to Greenhouse Tavern for Nescafé's Cleveland Foodie Feed Up to introduce their Dolce Gusto product line. We also were treated to a demo by Chef Sawyer and enjoyed some of my GHT favorites, including the chicken wing confit.

Chef Sawyer preparing beef tartare

Yum!

The Dolce Gusto product line offers various single cup coffee machines and a wide variety of capsule flavors. As a thank you for attending the Foodie Feed Up, I was given the Piccolo machine and two boxes of capsules. Personally, I love the cappuccino and have made myself my own pumpkin spiced treats this fall. The single cup option is wonderful for a a little caffeine pick me up when you do not want to make a regular pot of coffee. Also, with the holiday season, Dolce Gusto machines make great gifts. Aside from searching the stores and ordering on line, Christmas will come a little early for one lucky Hungry in Cleveland reader! I was given one Piccolo machine to give away. The deadline to enter is Sunday at 11:59 p.m. Winner will be announced Monday, November 28. There are two ways to enter.

1. Comment on this post telling me your favorite holiday coffee drink.
2. Tweet the following "@HungryInCLE and @DolceGustoUS warm my heart! I want to win a Piccolo here: http://bit.ly/tT5YCP"

Win me!

Also, please remember I will be running 26.2 miles in Disney World a member of the American Liver Foundation's Liver Life Challenge team! Please help me achieve one of my two goals!

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

**Disclaimer: I was invited to attend the Cleveland Foodie Feed Up by Allison in September. At this event I was given a Piccolo Dolce Gusto machine to take home. Later, Allison reached out to me to give one away here.**

My Best Days Are Ahead of Me!

2011-11-18T09:28:00.001-05:00

Loved this cake! Wonder what will be on 27??

Once again, I am back from a blogging hiatus. Alot has happened since I last posted, some good some bad. One thing I have learned (yet again) is I must be more open about what is really going on inside. I never really have been one for making New Year's resolutions but I do have an ever growing bucket list. Sunday is my birthday which kicks off my favorite week of the year. Seriously, my birthday, then Thanksgiving (ultimate food holiday), then Black Friday (biggest shopping day of the year). I could not have been born during a more appropriate week. I have read quite a few ___ at ____ "birthday resolution" lists lately which made me think, why not. I realize some of these I already have been working on, some I have complete control over, and others I have to do my best and leave it up to God. So here it is in no particular order, Steph's 27 at 27. Enjoy!

1. Run 4 marathons. Already signed up for Disney in January and Cleveland in May.
2. Take a fun, creative class. (cake decorating, creative writing, ballroom dancing...)
3. Ragnar with the #DirtyRunner team!!!!
4. Make more time for those I truly love and mean the world to me.
5. Find a new job
6. Road trip with the Tribe. Every season I say I will go to an away game and never end up doing it.
7. Reach my $3400 Liver Life Challenge fundraising goal. (*hint*hint*cough*cough*nudge*)
8. Do the Warrior Dash
9. Do something every day to make me happy. It can be as simple as going for a run, giving into ice cream, or buying a new pair of shoes.
10. Buy a house/condo
11. Get back into yoga
12. Finally get my passport
13. Get a puppy
14. Make Nana's chicken paprikash. I have put off attempting this for way too long.
15. Finish the Tour de Bruell. Yeah, this past year I only made it to one restaurant.
16. Actually finish books I started reading.
17. Be a better blogger
18. Be more responsible and everything that entails.
19. Continue to eat healthy while every now and then treating myself within moderation.
20. Watch the sunset over Lake Erie
21. Go to the Ohio Wineries. As shameful as it is to admit, I have never been.
22. Volunteer more.
23. Find a softball team to play on this spring/summer.
24. Go to a Notre Dame football game. It has been too long since I have been in Notre Dame Stadium.
25. Host a clambake. Again, every fall I want to do it and never get around to it.
26. Go to the Southern Tier brewery.
27. Overall, be the best me I can be!

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Cluing into Fulfilling My Hunger

2011-08-29T08:52:00.001-04:00

I know I have not written on here much lately, but when Amanda from Clue into Cleveland reached out asking for guest bloggers, I happily agreed to help her. I met Amanda at an Ohio Blogging Association meetup and we quickly connected through our mutual love of the TV show Castle. Since then, we have become kickball teammates, attend many of the same events, and have become friends in real life. Here's a brief recap of how I fulfilled my hunger throughout summer 2011!

Hunger Fulfilled: Summer 2011

#DirtyRunners post Buckeye Half (stolen from Jess)

Also, if you have missed other guests posts I have written, check out Why? Tremont on Why? CLE and Foodie on the Run on Poise in Parma.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Pierogies, Parallax, and Two-A-Days

2011-07-13T10:03:00.000-04:00

So initially I wasn't going to write this post because I was not pleased at first with the end result. However, I am the type of person who loves turning a negative into a positive and that is what I did.

As many of you probably have read, this past Saturday was the July meetup of the Cleveland Chapter of the Ohio Blogging Association. We were participating in the Parma Area Relay for Life "Run for the Pierogies 5K." Lately I have been determined to run a sub-25 5K at a 8:00 pace. Saturday seemed like the perfect day to do so. The course was for the most part flat and it's always motivating to see so many friendly faces on race day! And, there were pierogies at the finish line. What more could a foodie/runner ask for?

Photo from the OBA Facebook page.
CLEgal, Morgan, Courtney, Alicia, Jess, Kali, Steph
not pictured here: Ryan, Molly, and Amanda

I woke up a little more excited for this race then most other 5Ks. I was very happy when I got into my car at felt mild temps and little to no humidity. If I only knew what Mother Nature was planning as the morning progressed. After picking up my packet and finding everyone, I noticed something...hello humidity! I was not going to let it get into my head though. I found a place towards the front/middle of the pack, set the iPod and watch, and took off as soon as the bell rang. I did the first mile in 7:55 which on a non-humid day would have been PR pace. However, by the time we reached the water stop at the half way point, I knew that second loop was not going to be pretty. I was starting to feel fatigued and starting to slightly cramp. Just I was ready to give up and walk a bit, slightly past mile 2 or so, Kali caught up with me and we made sure we both finished the race together! After crossing the finish line, I quickly grabbed water and found shade. I felt so lightheaded and the thought of food was not appealing at all. No pierogies for me. I even did not feel up to joining the other bloggers for brunch as originally planned. I felt defeated.

Since I was in Parma, I figured a stop at Honey Hut would cheer me up. Even after waiting in the parking lot for them to open, I opted to take my Blackberry Chocolate Chip home for later (sidenote: It is delish and a limited time flavor). All I wanted was water and a do-over of the race. By 5:00, I was still in a mood but finally regained my appetite. The bf and I headed down to Tremont for dinner at Parallax. Finally checking off stop #1 on my Tour de Bruell put me in a much better mood. I went with the Japanese Udon noodles since we also decided to go for a late night run too. (Blogger fail, no picture). Everything about this dish, even the melts in your mouth pork belly, brought a smile to my face. The noodles were not too heavy and they were the perfect way to enjoy the soup which pleased my excess of umami receptors. For dessert, the sorbet trio (mango, blueberry, and raspberry) was the perfect palate cleanser for a hot July evening.

Two or so hours later with our dinners properly digested, we took to the streets of Lakewood for a late night run. By this time, the sun had gone down and the humidity was greatly reduced. Maybe it was the feeling of revenge I wanted or maybe it was the determination to prove something to myself, but that 4.75 miles was one of the best runs I have had in quite sometime. I really wish I timed it too. I need to figure out how I can work a two-a-day run into my schedule now. Monday morning also brought a pleasant surprise for me. Despite my bad time and the humidity, I managed to finish 11th in my age group out of 36. Another 5K goal I have is to be in the top 10 for my age group. One passion driving another passion. I really will run for food.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Where I've Been and Where I am Going

2011-07-01T10:12:00.000-04:00

"As we drive along this road called life, occasionally a gal will find herself a little lost. And when that happens, I guess she has to let go of the coulda, shoulda, woulda, buckle up and just keep going." ~Carrie Bradshaw

This quote from "Sex and the City" pretty much sums up my feelings towards blogging and such the last month or so. I found myself lost and struggling to set myself apart from all the other great blogs out there. In the past month, I have been to many fun events, ate alot of great food, and had some crazy culinary adventures. However, as I was writing these up, I realized something was lacking. Heart. I end each post with "Follow your heart...fulfill your hunger" which I have adapted as the motto or tagline or whatever for this blog. Writing and posting something that lacks heart is just not acceptable for me. Blogging should not feel like a job or an obligation. It takes the heart out of it.

I am here to share my love of Cleveland and love of food with my own personal twist. I have two rules:
1: Give credit where credit is due
2: Fulfill my hunger to share my passions with you

There may be an occasional non-food related post every now and then but I will never forget the main concept of this blog. Hopefully, a little more of ME comes through in my posts too. It is time to go back to passions and inspirations which make me WANT to blog. I guess this could be considered my "Declaration of Blogger Independence" in the spirit of Fourth of July. Have a great weekend friends! Enjoy the food, beer, fireworks, friends, family, picnics, baseball, and just being free!

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Mangia! Mangia! NEO Food Tour through Little Italy

2011-06-02T16:10:00.000-04:00

When Amanda from Clue into Cleveland reached out to me a few weeks ago about going on the next NEO Food Tour through Little Italy, I wasted no time getting a ticket. Little Italy is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Cleveland and the opportunity to eat at four different places in one visit was not one to turn down. Little Italy has a certain charm about it that draws both Italian and non-Italian Clevelanders back again and again. From cute little art galleries to the history and tradition to of course the FOOD I cannot say enough good things about Little Italy. Our walking tour through Little Italy was the perfect way to learn about this historic neighborhood with four different food stops along the way.

Our evening began on the corner of Murray Hill and Mayfield at one of my personal favorites La Dolce Vita. La Dolce's owner, Terry Tarintino, would be our guide to the night. Once our group assembled, we were seated on the back patio to enjoy "una creazione molto particolare culinaria" according to our menu. We were presented with a beautiful caprese accompanied by a pour of La Lave, a white Terry discovered while in Key West. I love a nice caprese to start a multi-course Italian meal. The combination of the freshness of the ingredients, the unique and refreshing wine, and the warm weather set the tone for a great evening. The slightly sweet tomato and the creamy mozzarella blended nicely together while the basil and olive oil added a nice flavor. While enjoying this creation, Terry gave us a little history of the building. Originally, La Dolce Vita was the neighborhood pharmacy. Now it reminds me of what I would picture to be a small bistro on the Italian countryside (I have never been to Italy, so I would not know).

Our next stop was slightly uphill (Murray Hill) to the newly opened Murray Hill Market. We were greeted by owner Michele Iacobelli-Buckholtz who told us she opened the market after her child went off to school at NYU. She was impressed with all of the small family owned markets in Greenwich Village and wanted to bring that home to Cleveland. The shelves are stocked with the usual market fair intertwined with specialty and imported items. Murray Hill Market also offers a deli counter and fresh local produce. Here, Michele prepared for us a wonderful spread of cured meats, fresh parmigiano-reggiano cheese, prosciutto wrapped figs (my personal favorite at this stop), and turkey on pepper jack drizzled with cranberry mayonnaise. Upon exploring the store further, I found another delicious surprise, Murray Hill Market sells every variety of Jeni's Ice Cream. Between the deli counter, the fresh daily specials, and Jeni's, I know I will be back very soon to the market.

While walking to our next stop, Terry told us when he was growing up in Little Italy, family owned markets were everywhere throughout the neighborhood. Many of the houses were built over a small storefront. He pointed out where his uncle's hardware store used to he (Now Il Bacio), and where his grandfather lived (and had a dice game) all along the way to Michaelangelo's for our entree course. Upon entering, Terry mentioned it used to be a privet club and has the most unique urban patio in the neighborhood. Waiting for us was a large table in the dining room off of the bar. Sitting down, I felt as if I were a guest at a family dinner hosted by Italian friends. We were served a three cheese tortellini with parmasan, and prosciutto with peas. I would hope this dish is on the menu next time I visit Michalangelo's. The tortellini was cooked to perfection and the parmasan pulled the proscuitto and peas into the pasta component. Also, we were served a gnocchi in the house Bolognse. I would recommend the gnocchi for a future visit. They were not overly chewy or heavy like some gnocchi tend to be. However, the house Bolognese had both duck and veal in it. I would have much rather preferred a simple marinara (which was served to the vegetarians in our group) since I do not like veal. I sampled a little bit and it was just not working. For those who enjoy veal, try the house Bolognse at Michaelangelo's and let me know your thoughts!

Before heading back downhill for our dessert, Terry showed us this unique patio complete with bocci ball courts. It has a beautiful view of the RTA tracks, the Case Western campus, and University Hospital. Along the walk down Murray Hill, Terry would smile and wave at the neighbors while saying a friendly "hello". This really gave me a wonderful impression of the sense of family and community in Little Italy. Some of the places and faces may have changed over the years, but the warmth of neighbors and tradition are still strongly felt. Our final stop was another of my Little Italy favorites, Trattoria on the Hill. After being lead to the back patio, we were served two different crustinis, one eggplant and the other white bean and tuna, we cleansed our palates and satisfied out sweet tooth with raspberry and lemon sorbets. Upon leaving with full stomachs, we were given two mini cannoli from Corbo's. These may or may not have made it to my car. Afterall, for me, a meal in Little Italy is not complete without a cannoli.

NEO Food Tours have many exciting culinary adventures planned throughout the summer. Their next neighborhood food tour will be on June 22 in Tremont (my other favorite food neighborhood). Tickets will go fast and are quite limited. Pat Johnson and Todd Gauman are hoping their tours and expeditions will develop a relationship between the community and the food. They hit a home run with Terry Tarintino as our guide through Little Italy. I could listen to him tell stories and the history of the neighborhood all day, maybe on the patio with a glass of wine and cannoli. You really could sense his love and pride for his neighborhood and the food we all know and love.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Culinary Adventure #4: Teriyaki Bourbon Chicken

2011-05-18T14:27:00.000-04:00

About a month or so ago, I was enjoying a relaxing night in watching Food Network. On one show (I honestly don't remember which) an Asian inspired marinade was made for chicken wings. As many readers may know, I often joke about having an excess of umami taste receptors. Since the weather was gorgeous the next day, I knew we had to pull out the grill and test this marinade. However, since I never follow a recipe (except for Nana's) I created my own based on what I saw on TV. Here is the Hungry in Cleveland version of a Teriyaki Bourbon Marinade for chicken which can also be tried on pork, shrimp, or even veggies.

In a large ziplock bag (or if you have something reusable for marinading even better) combine 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar, 1/2 cup Wild Turkey American Honey (if you use a different whiskey or bourbon, add about a tablespoon or so of regular honey), 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup soy sauce (I prefer reduced or low sodium), rosemary, 5 nice sized cloves of garlic minced, ginger, and a dry thai chili pepper for heat. Mix everything together, then add the chicken (or whatever you are planning to marinade). Refrigerate at least an hour and a half. Then, throw on the grill and enjoy! We also prepared asparagus with rosemary infused olive oil and a cheese plate. The excess marinade was reduced down and served along with the chicken. We toasted ciabatta bread to make a sandwich. This is sure to become a go to grilling dish!

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Tuesday's Tidbits

2011-05-17T17:13:00.000-04:00

Happy Tuesday! I hope all of my fellow CLE runners are recovered from this past weekend! We all did awesome and should be proud even if it was not our best race. Next week is the perfect week for refueling since there are so many great food event going on. Here's a sampling!

*The third C-Town Chow Down will be taking place on Sunday at Lincoln Park!

*Monday May 23 a special Dinner in the Dark will be held at Amp 150 to benefit the Matthew Finkel scholarship fund. Over 15 chefs are teaming up for this event which already sounds delicious!

*The Greenhouse Tavern will be opening its NEW rooftop patio this Sunday at 6:30 with a rooftop beach party. They also will be hosting a Whiskey Dinner on May 25th for $35/person.

*Farmers Markets are opening up throughout Northeastern Ohio. Here is a list cleveland.com has put together. SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS AND BUSINESSES!

*Washington Place Bistro is holding it's May food and wine dinner on May 26. $60 will get you a five course meal with wine pairing. Also be sure to check out their new patio!

*NAKED SUSHI is back and bigger then before! Tickets for the May 26 event are available for $15 through Stove Monkeys or $20 at the door.

*May 26th is a busy day for Cleveland Food lovers! The 17th Annual Cleveland Magazine Silver Spoon Awards Party will be held on 5/26 at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown. This is the pefect chance to try that restaurant you have been meaning to go to while still enjoying your favorites.

*The Emerging Chefs are bringing the tastes and festivities of New Orleans to Cleveland! Mardi Gras en Mai featuring Chef Chris Quinn will be taking place on May 27 with the West Bank of the Cuyahoga being transformed into the banks of the Mississippi.

*A Memorial Day Weekend tradition in Cleveland will be returning again this year to Nautica Pavilion. The Marc's Great American Rib and Music Festival marks the beginning of summer May 27-31!

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Tuesday's Tidbits

2011-04-26T10:36:00.000-04:00

Remember a while back, I did this almost weekly. Well, today is the return of Tuesday's Tidbits (and hopefully less one post weeks).

Sushi anyone? Thanks for the pic Amanda!

I first want to give a huge THANK YOU to Cleveland City Council for passing legislation to allow food trucks downtown. Also, the passing Healthy Cleveland will ban trans fat in restaurants and further limit smoking in public.

There is still time to purchase tickets for Thursday's Market Under Glass to benefit Harvest for Hunger. Over fifty local restaurants will be participating. This is a wonderful opportunity to try new places and revisit familiar favorites. Tickets are $85 in advance or $100 at the door.

Having a hard time deciding what to eat tonight? Head down to Tremont and stop by Lava Lounge or Ty Fun. Tonight, 10% of all purchases will benefit Arts in August.

Speaking of Tremont, it's almost Farmer's Market season!

The third C-Town Chowdown will be held on May 22 from 11-3 (ugh...conflicts with the brother's college graduation for me).

On May 9th, celebrate Momocho's fifth birthday! Check out Cleveland Foodie's write up for all the details.

Beer lovers, rejoice! On May 13-14 the IX-Center will be hosting the International Beer Fest. Cleveland Food and Brews and The Brewer's Daughter have more information and chances to win tickets too!

The May 16 Dinner in the Dark at The Greenhouse Tavern is SOLD OUT! However, they will be holding a special DitD on May 23 at Amp 150. Also, mark your calendars for the June 20 at The Flying Fig.

Check back next week for more May events and announcements! The last week of May is a great week for Cleveland Foodies!!

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

A Palate of Spring Flavors

2011-04-18T14:50:00.001-04:00

One thing I have come to love about Cleveland bloggers is the sense of community and friendship. Through reading each others blogs and tweeting back and forth, we develop new friendships and sometimes strengthen existing ones. After a month or so of tweets, emails, and schedule coordinating, I joined my longtime friend CLEgal, and two "blends" Alicia and Brad for dinner at Palate along with our significant others.

Chicken liver pate and The Chancellor

Duck confit and pork belly

Since opening in late December 2010, Palate has been near the top of my "Restaurants I must try" list. I have read great reviews of Jeff Jarrett's culinary creations and knew I must experience them for myself. What was even more exciting about our visit this past weekend was the opportunity to try Palate's new spring menu which was released earlier last week. One great thing I must say about Cleveland chefs in general is their dedication to using the freshest seasonal ingredients available. After a round of drinks, we decided to order a few small plates to share. We ordered the chicken liver pate, wild mushroom bread pudding, braised pork belly, and duck confit. The pate was the best for a group to share and the presentation was only a preview for some of Chef Jarrett's other unique platings. The pate itself had a nice smooth texture and a savory flavor which paired well with the sweetness of the black currant jam served with it. While I am usually not a huge bread pudding fan for dessert, the wild mushroom bread pudding was excellent. I love mushrooms and there was nothing bland or dry about this bread pudding. My favorite of the four small plates was the duck confit in a hoisin glaze plated on top of Asian slaw with peanut sauce. I am beginning to wonder if I have extra umami taste receptors since I love almost all Asian inspired flavors. The duck was so tender it practically fell off the bone and the slaw had that perfect balance of sweet and savory I have come to love from Asian style food. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to sample the pork belly (I think I was too distracted with the duck and bread pudding) but the few fingerling potatoes and mushrooms served with the pork pleased my palate.

Pancetta wrapped pheasant

For my entree, I went with the pancetta wrapped pheasant breast with zucchini and bacon ragout, oyster mushrooms, and french onion puree. The deciding factor for me was I never had pheasant and I always love to try something new. To describe pheasant, I would say it is somewhere between chicken and turkey. Mine was very moist and flavorful and the french onion puree really brought out the natural flavors of the bird. The pancetta added a nice subtle crunch to the dish while the zucchini and oyster mushrooms emphasized the idea of a spring garden inspired dish. My only complaint on the dish was a clove of garlic that made its way under one of the breast pieces. Overall, I would order this again and recommend it to an undecided diner. My boyfriend ordered the flat-iron steak with mac and cheese and brown roasted cauliflower. He said it was an enjoyable dish but found the steak sauce a bit on the salty side. Also, he was more impressed with the flavors of the cauliflower (and I will agree since I had a taste) in comparison to the mac and cheese. After dinner, Chef Jarrett came to our table. We all had a great time chatting with the chef about the menu, Michael Symon's visit to Palate, and local restaurants in general. He also is very involved with Dinner in the Dark, an event which I plan on attending in the future.

I also had two of the featured libations. The bacon melonball martini was a fun liquid play on prosciutto wrapped cantaloup. It's electric green appearance is pleasing to the eye while the sweet smoky flavors from Midori and bacon infused vodka are pleasing to the palate. While I did enjoy this drink, I loved the cucumber loco which is Palate's take on a cucumber margarita. Maybe it was the cool and refreshing flavors or maybe it was the fact I love anything with Patron. Another thing I must note would be Chef Jarrett's Iron Chef-esque plating designs. Even though no one at our table ordered one, our server showed us the spring garden salad which is served in a small metal bucket. I also marveled at CLEgal and CLEguy's dirty bon bons which were served in a terra cotta flower pot garnished with a gummi work and fondant flower. Overall, Palate is a much needed addition to the Strongsville restaurant scene which is dominated by familiar chains. I would highly recommend visiting Palate next time you are looking for a great dining experience.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Hot Dog Happiness

2011-04-07T14:10:00.000-04:00

With Tribe season in full swing and summer a few months away, I find myself craving a certain food a little more so then usual. I will shamelessly admit, I love hot dogs. Off the grill, at the game, or even broiled in the oven on a cold Cleveland winter day, it really doesn't matter. I remember my first foot long way back when at Cleveland Municipal Stadium at age 4. Hot dogs remind me of childhood summers. Those long carefree days of playing outside and swimming until my fingers pruned up. Last summer, I was introduced to a place that would have made me one happy little girl, The Happy Dog.

A restaurant that serves only hot dogs (or veggie dogs for my vegetarian readers) and tater tots sounds simple right? Now, factor in over 30 different topping options and a plethora of dipping sauces and you have combinations to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. For $5.00 you start with a quarter pound all beef dog and then let your imagination and taste buds go crazy. There are suggested combinations offered, but I love any place that lets me create my own meal. I have been there many times and do not think I have had the same combination twice. In the mood for something hot and spicy? Top your dog with Happy Dog's own chipotle ketchup or Momocho's habanero sauce. If you ever wondered how a peanut butter and jelly sandwich crossed with a hot dog would taste, get Marcela's grape jelly and chili sauce with chunky peanut butter on your frank. You also can add the chips right on the dog too. From cheese whiz to smoke gouda, there are cheeses for any palate too. For $2.50 you get a giant bowl of tater tots with as many dipping sauces as you wish. This is the perfect way to try new sauces you may have considered for the dog but wanted a taste first. Personally, I recommend sharing the tots. Aside from such a generous portion, you want room for dessert which will also take you back to childhood summers. The Happy Dog's desert menu consists of frozen treats which you probably bought from the ice cream truck such as orange push-ups and Good Humor bars.

Now what to wash this nostalgic meal down with. The Happy Dog will make any craft beer lover happy boasting over 75 different brew choices. If craftbeer is not your thing, you can also opt for a PBR tallboy or other domestics. Yes, there are non-alcoholic options too. The Happy Dog also hosts monthly beer dinners with a 5-course meal for only $25. The next one is on April 12 at 7:30. On the weekends, local bands take to the stage at The Happy Dog. Be sure to check their Facebook page to stay up to date with acts coming and other fun events.

The atmosphere of Happy Dog is fun a laid back. What would look to be just another corner bar is gaining recognition throughout Cleveland and will be featured on Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" thanks to Iron Chef and hometown boy Michael Symon. It's a great spot to meet with friends for a fun meal and good beer. Just ask my kickball team.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

2011-04-04T11:51:00.000-04:00

It's TRIBE TIME here in Cleveland, Ohio! If there is one thing I love as much as food, it is Cleveland sports especially the Indians. Win or lose, I love enjoying a game at "The Jake" (yes I refuse to call it by its newish name). While enjoying Opening Day this past Friday, I notices there were quite a few new options at the concession stands throughout the ballpark. Food at the game has come a long way from hot dogs, peanuts, and crackerjack, although you can still enjoy those classic favorites and so many more!

This season, Food Network has teamed up with eight Major League ballparks, one being Cleveland, to serve gourmet grub at the games. Head over to section 172 to try he Food Network steak sandwich. If you do, let me know if it is worth $12.50.

For vegetarian and gluten free fans, check out the "spuds and suds" stand located in section 164. Here you can feast on veggie dogs, tofrurkey Italian "sausages", and some gluten free ballpark treats.

If you are looking for something not so healthy, go to the APPetizer Store in section 154. This stand is a deep fried food lovers dream and a cardiologist's worst nightmare. Fans can feast on funnel cakes, deep fried cookie dough, fried twinkies, chicken and waffles, and fried shrimp to name a few options.

Each month, Cleats, located in section 164, will be offering a burger of the month created by Tribe players.

If you are craving a twist on nachos, head to the Market Pavilion and enjoy pulled pork nachos.

For beer lovers, there are two new brew options aside from the $7.75 drafts you get from the beer guy. If you are looking for a blast from the past, or a cheaper beer option, go to "Your Dad's Beer" located in section 119. For $4.50, you can enjoy a 12 oz can of PBR, Stroh's, Blatz, Genessee, or Schlotz to name a few. There is also a beer stand featuring local brews from GReat Lakes, Hopping, Frog, and Buckeye Brewing Company.

If you still crave the classic ballpark favorite like I do, even hot dogs come in a variety of options. Super dogs, kosher dogs, and foot longs with up to 14 toppings are available throughout the park. Also note this season's Dollar Dog nights: April 15 against the Baltimore Orioles, May 13 against the Seattle Mariners , June 17 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, July 29 against the Kansas City Royals, August 26 against Kansas City again, and September 23 against the Minnesota Twins. Make sure those dogs are topped with Cleveland's own Bertman's Ballpark Mustard!

Until next time...follow your heart, fullfill your hunger!

I am still here!!

2011-03-31T09:01:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,
I first want to apologize for the lack of posts this week. Trust me, there have been some great things happening to write about from C-Town Chowdown, to Opening Day Hot Spots, to other fun upcoming Cleveland food events like Emerging Chefs Dinner by Design featuring Ellis Cooley of Amp 150 on April 13. This past week, I just needed to step back and relax a bit. I tend to overwhelm myself from time to time. Don't worry, I am still healthy, happy, and hungry in Cleveland!! Usually, blogging has been my outlet, but the drafts I have written were not up to what I want to post. I promise, I will be back next week. Be sure to check out Why?CLE tomorrow to get your weekly HIC fix. I am one of her guest bloggers. All I have left to say is GO TRIBE!!!!

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Naked Sushi in All it's Glory!

2011-03-25T14:13:00.001-04:00

Nice rolls

Going to an event hosted by Matthew Mytro and Dante Boccuzzi, one thing for sure can be guaranteed, the food will be amazing. The two have teamed up previously to host this event back in November, 2010. They also had the honor of cooking together at the James Beard House in New York City this past February. Based on the past two events of Mytro's I have attended, Aphrodisiacs and Ladies Bite Out, I knew I was in store for an enjoyable and somewhat playful evening at Naked Sushi.

Working on a masterpiece

Good food arouses the senses on all levels. You want something visually appealing that will lure you in with a nice scent and appetizing name. In your mouth, you want a pleasing texture and your taste buds to be excited and wanting more. Perhaps this is why the culinary arts are just that, arts. Sushi in itself is an art form from the placement of the fish to the rolling to the actual presentation. The Japanese art of "nyotaimori" and "nantaimori" are displaying sushi on the naked body. The sushi itself made no contact with the skin as it was placed on bamboo leaves strategically placed on the two female and one male model. The models as well as the two servers were also tastefully painted with Asian inspired works.

Sushi pops

Prior to the main event, we enjoyed spicy tuna rolls served with a pipette filled with soy sauce, Dante's sushi pops, shrimp or calamari ceviche, and Chinese steamed sticky buns filled with smoked chicken and plantains or chocolate milk braised pork shoulder. I love the concept of the sushi pop and it made me even more excited for the opening of Ginko later this year. They are a very compact and chopstick free way to enjoy sushi. However we were not lucky enough to find a server with the sticky buns. Around 9:00, the curtains were pulled and two painted women and a painted man adorned in sushi were presented to us. We filled our plates from both the women and the man with various rolls and sushi.

While getting our sushi, my boyfriend made the comment we have yet to sample the sticky buns. This comment was overheard by both the model and Dante who both smiled and chuckled a bit. However it mush have worked because once we finished the sushi, the sticky buns found us. My chicken sticky bun was the perfect blend of sweet and savory. I only wish I had it before I feasted from the human sushi landscapes. I also loved the signature cocktail for the event so much that I failed as a blogger to note the name and ingredients. From memory, it had ginger infused vodka, aloe vera, and lychee puree.

nantaimori

nyotaimori

Overall, Naked Sushi was a great evening enjoyed with my boyfriend, some of our friends, and a few of my favorite "blends" (Jessica, Brad, and Alicia). I cannot wait for the opening of Ginko and dinner one night at Dante as well as Matthew Mytro's next event.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

***Disclaimer: I was invited to attend Naked Sushi with a guest by Matthew Mytro. The thoughts above are my 100% honest opinion. The pictures were also taken by me for the purpose of this blog post***

Helping the real Hungry in Cleveland

2011-03-24T15:22:00.000-04:00

Last night I joined several other Cleveland bloggers as volunteers at The Cleveland Foodbank thanks to the Ohio Blogging Association. I felt very fortunate to have this opportunity and give back to the community. In high school, I would volunteer monthly at St. Tim's Hunger Center and was really excited to be once again helping the hungry. After a brief orientation we learned most of those who are served are the elderly, children, and the working poor. All of the food and donations stay right here in the northeastern Ohio area, specifically the counties of Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula, Ashland, and Richland. With the mission of "to alleviate hunger by providing food and support to community organizations that feed the hungry," over 30 millions pounds of food were distributed to over 600 agencies last year alone with much of the food being donated.

The main warehouse

With that being said, volunteers are needed to sort and repackage items before they are distributed. However, we were told you may end up doing something different every time you go to volunteer. Our project for the night, along with another group of volunteers, was sorting and packaging oranges. By the end of the night, we bagged and boxed 5 huge bins of oranges into 6 pound bags with each box containing six bags. Between our amazing group of bloggers (Katie, CLEgal, Amanda, Allison, Sarah, Kali, and Kevin) and the other volunteer group, time flew by and it was time to leave. I do plan on returning again though.

6.00 pounds exactly!

As I was separating the good oranges from the bad ones, I could not help but realize how fortunate I truly am. I know there always will be fresh fruit to take in my lunch or have for a snack, but there are many throughout Cleveland alone who are lucky to be getting the oranges we were bagging. I write this blog because I love food and it has become one of my hobbies. I am ashamed to admit that sometimes I forget how there are people right here in northeastern Ohio that go to bed hungry every night. Currently, the Cleveland Foodbank is participating in Harvest for Hunger which will exceed the Foodbanks 6 counties and provide for 23 counties in Ohio. I am asking you to consider volunteering or donating to Harvest for Hunger or The Cleveland Foodbank. If you are wondering what they need the most, consider making a donation of the "Super Six": peanut butter, canned veggies, tuna, cereal, soup, and beef stew. How easy is it to grab an extra of just one of these items the next time you are at the store? Also, Harvest for Hunger has partnered with Gotta Love Chevy NEO. For each like on their Facebook page, a donation will be made to Harvest for Hunger. Helping the hungry can be as simple as a click of your mouse.

I just found irony in this sign on the door to the sorting/packing area

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger (and help fulfill others hunger too).

How Sweet it is

2011-03-21T16:20:00.001-04:00

When I received an email a few weeks ago from Michelle at Cleveland Foodie to attend a special media preview of Sweet Moses Soda Fountain & Treat Shop, I happily accepted. I have been reading about Sweet Moses via their Facebook page for months and was awaiting their opening on Saturday, March 26. I kept wondering if it would have that old-fashioned corner soda fountain feel that I only experienced through Nana's stories of "the good ol'-days". The tables, chairs, and fountain itself are all restored giving the interior of Sweet Moses a nostalgic feel as if you stepped back in time. Owner Jeffrey Moreau envisioned a place where you can go after a nice dinner for a nice dessert. He believes in using the highest quality ingredients for his ice cream, candies, and baked good. However, he also believes in keeping things simple which really gives Sweet Moses that 1920's soda fountain feel.

We were greeted to samples of Sweet Moses' homemade chocolate creations. All of the chocolates are a Belgian blend created by Jeffrey. I sampled the white chocolate with almond, Tuxedo Junction bark, and dark chocolate covered pretzel bark. When I go back, I am already planning to try the Ritz bits that I spotted in the chocolate case. On each table were bowls filled with carmel corn and cheese corn, all freshly popped from an old-school popper. I already decided I had to try the ice cream. What I loved about the specialty sundae menu was the names, all Cleveland based. WhyCLE and I (along with boyfriends) are already planning on attempting the 10 scoop Terminal Tower sundae at some point this summer. As much as I love chocolate, I decided to create my own sundae with a banana split feel. I went with one scoop of homemade banana's foster ice cream topped with strawberries and (of course) sprinkles. A unique feature of all the sundaes is the pretzel garnish on the spoon. I am thinking for my next visit I am going to try the Shoreway Sundae which is coffee ice cream, hot fudge, toffee, and almonds. (yes I probably will add on sprinkles too) All of the hot fudge and caramel is made in house in a copper kettle. My boyfriend opted for something from the soda fountain, a phosphate. One great thing about Sweet Moses is you can be as creative as you want with your sundaes and phosphates. He went with blueberry syrup and chocolate ice cream which turned out very delicious. I also cannot think of many places that have true phosphates on the menu made with soda water and syrups from pure cane sugar.

Another unique menu item is the peanut butter sandwiches. If you are not in the mood for something sweet, you can build your own peanut butter sandwich. We were presented with PB & Nutella, PB & marshmallow (just like I make when I am feeling nostalgic), the classic PB & J, and my personal favorite, PB & bacon.

If you are wondering the inspiration for the name "Sweet Moses", it pays homage to the founder of the city, Moses Cleaveland. It has been noted Moses never looked happy in pictures, possibly because his name (or the city's name) is misspelled. However, if he were alive today and walked into his namesake treat shop in the Gordon Square Arts District I would guarantee he would leave with a smile. If not, I will eat the entire Terminal Tower by myself.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

***Disclaimer: I was provided a media pass to this special preview from Cleveland Foodie. The opinions and thought expressed here are my completely my own.***

Naked Sushi Winner!

2011-03-18T08:24:00.000-04:00

<p><br /> The numbers generated by this widget come from RANDOM.ORG's true random number generator.<br /> </p>

17 = mojamala2 said...Love love love Spicy Tuna!

Congrats to Jessica!!

First off, thanks to everyone who entered and retweeted about my Naked Sushi Giveaway. A HUGE thank you to Matthew Mytro for providing me with the tickets to give away. If you are still interested in Free Naked Sushi tickets, head on over to Cleveland Food and Brews by Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available for $15 through Stove Monkeys and will be $20 at the door Thursday night.

I also want to mention Green Dog Wine will donate a can of food to the Cleveland Food Bank for every comment on her latest post. This goes through noon today! Have a great weekend!

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Tuesday's Tidbits

2011-03-15T14:22:00.000-04:00

Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone is having a great week and getting excited for St. Patrick's Day and March Madness! I know I sure am. This weekend, starting Thursday, be sure to check out the numerous St. Patty's Day and March Madness events throughout Cleveland. There are so many fun events in the coming weeks too!

*First off, on March 24th at Suite Sixx, Naked Sushi from 7:30-11. Tickets are $15 in advance from Stove Monkeys, $20 at the door, or FREE to one lucky Hungry in Cleveland reader. There is still plenty of time to enter my very first GIVEAWAY!!

*Also on March 24th, The Emerging Chefs will be hosting their fifth production, The ThEATrical featuring Chef Adam Bostwick of Melange. Tickets are going fast, so get yours today! Also check out what Cleveland Food and Brews and Poise in Parma have written about this fabulous event!

*Still on March 24th, Twestival Cleveland will be taking place at Amp150 to benefit We Run this City. From 5-9 p.m., gather with some of your favorite "tweeps" to enjoy good food for a good cause. Tickets are on sale now for $10. Also follow @TwestivalCLE for the latest updates.

*Next Wednesday, March 23rd, The Ohio Blogging Association will be holding their monthly Cleveland meetup at The Cleveland Foodbank.

*On Sunday, March 27th, Lincoln Park in Tremont will be invaded by food trucks from all around Cleveland for C-Town Chow Down!

*On March 26th, the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood gets a bit sweeter with the opening of Sweet Moses. More to come on Sweet Moses in the near near future!

*Head over to Visible Voice in Tremont on March 25th for wine tasting to benefit the InterReligious Task Force on Central America. Tickets are $15 at the door.

*It's Fish Fry season.

*Finally, on April 11, L'Albatros will be holding its first beer dinner. For $60.00, enjoy a five course dinner complete with beer pairing.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Naked Sushi Giveaway!!

2011-03-14T09:45:00.002-04:00

I am excited to announce my first reader giveaway thanks to Chef Matthew Mytro of Stove Monkeys and Crisp Catering. As many of you may recall, Chef Mytro was the culinary mastermind behind the third Emerging Chefs event last January, Aphrodisiacs and last month's Ladies Bite Out. Both events resulted in a wonderful evening with great food. On March 24th, Mytro teams up with Dante Boccuzzi to give Clevelanders a unique preview of Ginko, which is set to open early this year. The two had the honor of cooking together earlier this year at the James Beard House in New York City for Dueling Dantes. Naked Sushi promises to arouse your taste buds and curiosity along with great Asian inspired food. So how can you join in the fun???

Ticket for Naked Sushi, held at Suite Sixx can be purchased for $15 at the Stove Monkeys website, $20 at the door, or FREE if you are my lucky first winner!! Chef Mytro has graciously provided me with two tickets to one lucky HIC reader. Winner will be announced Friday, March 18, giving you until 11:59 p.m. on St. Patrick's Day to enter! You have 6 different opportunities to win these tickets. Each must be a separate comment. Winner will be selected via random.org.

1: Comment on this post telling me your favorite type of sushi (mine is ugani. Eel is so yummy!)

2: "Like" Hungry in Cleveland on Facebook if you haven't already done so.

3: "Like" Stove Monkeys on Facebook and sign up for their newsletter.

4: Tweet the following: "I want FREE SUSHI from @HungryInCLE and @stovemonkeys!! Please RT daily! http://tinyurl.com/4dsqeg7" (You can do this daily. Please comment each time you do so!)

5: Add Hungry in Cleveland to your blogroll

6: Follow Hungry in Cleveland on Networked Blogs

I also realize this event coincided with The Emerging Chefs "The Theatrical" however, sushi will not be unleashed until after 9:00 p.m. There is plenty of time to support both great Cleveland foodie events and chefs. Good luck readers! Hope to see you on the 24th!

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Disclaimer: I was given two tickets to Naked Sushi from Matthew Mytro to giveaway on my blog.

(Fat) Tuesday's Tidbits

2011-03-08T17:51:00.000-05:00

Happy Mardi Gras!! I hope everyone had their share of paczki and king cake today. I know I had my fix of Mardi Gras fun last week. Throughout Cleveland, there are many ways to celebrate Fat Tuesday. Hope you are currently enjoying some N'awins style cuisine and hurricanes.

*Since today is Fat Tuesday, that means Lent begins tomorrow. With Lent comes parish fish fries. Check out local churches in your neighborhood on Friday nights for fish, pierogi, and other Lenten favorites.

*March means a new sandwich of the month at Melt. This month is a tribute to St. Patrick's Day with their Reuben Melt. Corned beef, sour kraut, dressing, and swiss.

*If you missed out on Aphrodisiacs and Sacrilicious, don't panic. The Emerging Chefs will be holding "The ThEATrical" on March 24th at the East 14th Street Theater featuring the creations of Chef Adam Bostwick of Melange. Hurry, tickets will go quickly!

*This Thursday at Lago, enjoy a 5 course wine dinner with a focus on the Piedmont region for $85. Reservations are recommended. On Friday night, enjoy a whiskey tasting at Lago.

*St. Patrick's Day is coming! Look for a new Hungry in Cleveland Top 5 for ideas on where to get your Irish on!

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Hungry in New Orleans

2011-03-07T16:52:00.000-05:00

Since we began talking about going to New Orleans, I could not decide if I was more excited to experience Mardi Gras or all of the wonderful food New Orleans has to offer. I quickly came up with things I MUST have while exploring The Big Easy ranging from fresh seafood, gumbo, and alligator. I always enjoyed cajun and creole style cooking, but to have it in N'awlins would be an experience in itself. After reading this, you may want to start looking into hotels and flights. Happy Mardi Gras from Hungry in Cleveland!!

Our trip kicked off as any trip to the French Quarter should, sipping hurricanes in the courtyard at Pat O'Briens. Pat O's is credited with inventing the hurricane back in the 1940's, when bars had a surplus of rum and shortage of other liquors. The drink itself is a mixture of 4 oz "hurricane mix" and 4oz good rum according to the cocktail napkins. The does not come from the storm, but the shape of the glass, similar to that of a hurricane lamp. However, you only need one of this sweet, fruity cocktail, or else you may feel like you were hit by a hurricane.

After walking around exploring, we worked up quite an appetite. For our first night, we decided to go a little more low key for dinner and try one of the small cafes we passes along the way. We also wanted to allow ourselves enough time to make it over to St. Charles Street uptown for the first of many parades we would see that weekend. After consulting a few tour guides, we decided on Cafe Maspero. Like many of the other bars and restaurants in the French Quarter, Cafe Maspero served local favorites in an open air atmosphere. We first decided to share an order of jambalaya, which was made from shrimp, andouille sausage, and rice. I was expecting it to be more of a soup/stew type dish and was pleasantly surprised to see there was no both or sauce. It was a great start to what was awaiting our palates over the next few days. The creole spices brought out the mild flavor of the shrimp and the andouille added a nice zest. For our entrees,I decided on the catfish sandwich, while my boyfriend went with the muffaletta, which is a HUGE sandwich with ham, capicola, salami, pepperoni, olive salad, and cheese on a large round bun. In his words, think Italian sub on a sesame seed hamburger bun. My catfish also came on the muffaletta bun. Overall, very good and very fresh tasting. I was served a side of horseradish which I mixed in with the ketchup and a dash of Louisana hot sauce. One thing I noticed about NOLA is they love their hot sauce, and I will not complain about that.

Jambalaya

Catfish

Muffaletta

Day two began with a nice work out (afterall, we are still trainingfor Cleveland Half-Marathon) which was followed by a trip to the infamous Cafe Du Monde, for beignets. Originally, I was pla forthe nning to wear a black outfit that day, but at the last minute, changed my mind. Boy was I lucky! Our little fried delights were covered in mounds of powdered sugar. As for the beignets themselves, they were a little piece of heaven along the Mighty Mississippi. As with many meals to come, we decided on sharing one order. That way, we would have room to try other foods New Orleans was famous for. As if we did not have enough sugar with the beignets, we headed to Aunt Sally's Pralines which was right next door. Hopefully tomorrow, there will be a box of pralines and a king cakewaiting on my doorstep. A king cake is a traditional Mardi Gras pastry which is very similar to a cinnamon coffee cake. The top is decorated in the Mardi Gras colors Gold, Green, and Purple which are symbolic of Catholic liturgical seasons. The Mardi Gras season begins on the feast of the Epiphany (gold), continuing through Ordinary Time (green), and ends on Fat Tuesday, the Day before the holy season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (purple). In the cake, there is a plastic baby, representative of the Baby Jesus. Whoever gets the piece with the baby must buy or make the king cake for next year. Since we were all wired up, we continued along through the French Market. Overall, I was disappointed. I was expecting something similar to my beloved West Side Market. The French Maket was more of a large flea market, having few local food stands and more souvenir and art tables. At least we were able to get rid of most of the sugar high and headed to our next dining destination, The Gumbo Shop. Here we shared two more New Orleans classics, the shrimp po boy and seafood gumbo. This was my favorite food of the whole trip and I will be attempting to recreate the po boy. The po boy is hollowed out french bread and stuffed with seafood or meat. Most have fried meat or seafood, but ours was cooked in a creole style sauce. The gumbo was simply amazing! Gumbo is a thicker soup, usually made with a seafood or meat and the New Orleans "holy Trinity" of celery, bell peppers, and onion. The perfect thickness and a great compliment to the sandwich.

Day three began with a soggy cemetery tour through St. Louis Cemetary No. 1 and the jazz brunch at The Court of Two Sisters. It was here where we filled up on more jambalaya, crawfish maison, and eggs benedict. It was here, I learned how to eat the little guys pictured to your right. Pinch the head, gently pull off the shell, and eat the tail. So delicious too! There was a jazz band playing setting the perfect atmosphere for more N'awlins favorites. Since it was set up buffet style, we managed to eat our fill and still have room for pecan pie and bananas foster for dessert. If you are ever in New Orleans, I would HIGHTLY recommend The Court of the Two Sisters Jazz Brunch. I just hope the weather is nicer for you so you can enjoy the lovely courtyard.

Nearing the end of the trip, I realized there were two more food related things we must do before we left, that being eat alligator and go to one of Emeril's restaurants. It would have been very lucky if one of Emeril's three restaurants served gator, however that was the case. By the time most of our brunch was digested, we set out to find gator somewhere in the French Quarter. Our search lead us to the Riverfront Cafe, which served multiple options for enjoying this vicious reptile, including an alligator po-boy. We opted for the blackened alligator appetizer since we just wanted a taste, and it was the right call. Our waiter explained the meat comes from the gator's tail and is either cooked or made into sausage. The blackened alligator bites tasted a little like chicken, only a little more chewy. The seasonings used to blacken the gator brought out the taste of the gator which may have not been so prominent if we had it fried. Would I east alligator again, you bet!! Finally, our night started by going to NOLA, Emeril's French Quarter restaurant. Since we did not make any reservations, we decided to go right when it opened at sit at the bar. The idea worked perfectly and we enjoyed cocktails along with crab cakes and more gumbo. As much as I would have enjoyed a full meal here, the cocktail/appetizer idea was a great experience. We had a chance to chat with the bartenders about New Orleans, Mardi Gras, and Emeril. We also met some great people also dining at the bar too. The only thing that can be said for the food was BAM! Everything one would expect from from Emeril. The tomato bacon jam on the crab cakes really kicked this dish up a notch. I also loved the corn coulis with the crab. The gumbo had chunks of ham and andouille sausage I will admit though, the gumbo from Gumbo Shop was slightly better, but only by thismuch. Maybe since I more of a seafood person?

Alligator

Emeril's Crab cake

Emeril's gumbo

Our last meal was breakfast before our flight at The Royal House of Oysters. I wish I could say I had oysters for breakfast, but I went the more traditional route of poached eggs, bacon, cajun potatoes, and a biscuit. Oysters were one thing I wanted to eat but never got around to. The other being red beans and rice. I guess I will just have to get that on my next trip! New Orleans food did not disappoint by any means. My best suggestion is to do a little background research, but just let your guidebooks and local references take you to places unplanned. Also, asking the locals for their references always works too.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Salvation through Food

2011-02-28T16:28:00.001-05:00

As I sat in church yesterday morning, I knew I had to say a few extra prayers of repentance. I didn't lie, cheat, or steal. There was no killing, adultery, or pride on my end this past week either. However, there was gluttony and maybe a slight bit of envy. Last Wednesday, I was fortunate enough to attend my second Emerging Chefs event, Sacrilicious, which featured the praise worthy creations of Chef Jeff Fisher of Touch Supper Club. Their fourth event really lived up to the motto of Emerging Chefs, "Big Flavor. Bold Venues" since we gathered together in an old Russian Orthodox church in the Gordon Square Arts District. Some of the pews were converted into tables, while others were set up in a way that reminded me of a church dinner, such as a Lenten fish fry. All of the dishes were inspired by the Bible or other religious rituals and beliefs.

Upon finding our seats, we were soon asked to line up and receive Chef Fisher's interpretation of Communion. This was nothing like the Communion wafers I was used to. This one was crispy, with one half featuring a kumquat jam and the other, a chicken liver pate. I only wish I did not eat each half separately. The jam was very sweet and fruity which would have been a nice compliment to the slight saltiness and savoriness of the pate. We also has a small cup of wine. With our souls "cleansed" and our palates awakened, we were now ready to share in the five course feast awaiting us.

Our first course was a hot tomato water with mini gnocci, grape tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and a poached quail egg. To accompany this course, was the El Diablo Ketchup Martini. We were told this course was representative of Genesis, since the Pilgrims believed the tomato to be the fruit of the devil. The egg, as Chef Fisher explained was a take on the question "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" Overall, this pairing was perfect. The flavors of the tomato water and egg were really brought out by the tomato from the martini. Chef Fisher, if you are reading this, PLEASE add the martini to the drink list at Touch. The martini may have been on favorite drink of the night. Think Bloody Mary on the level of saintliness. Maybe it is due to the fact it was made from Touch's house ketchup.

Our next course was Chef Fisher's interpretation of the Last Supper. It was a St. Germain cured salmon tartar with a squid ink tweil, savory lemon curd, carmelized sweet Maui onions, and creme fraiche. Chef Fisher said this is what he would make for his last meal on Earth, and I would have to agree with him. It was my favorite dish of the night. Any time citrus in incorporated into a seafood dish, I am won over. The subtle sweetness of the lemon curd brought out the natural flavors of the salmon while the creme fraiche added a gentile cool finish. I am not the biggest onion fan, however in this dish, the onion was not overpowering and blended well with the other elements of this course. The drink paring for this course was a St. Germain Lime Soda. This drink would be perfect on a summer day since it was cool and refreshing.

Our third course was Chef Fisher's culinary take on the Lamb of God, that being a lamb carpaccio, tempura battered egg yolk, crispy fennel and shallots, parmesan cheese and truffle oil. For not being a big lamb person, I will admit, I enjoyed the carpaccio. It was sliced very thinly and the crispy fennel and shallots went well with it. My favorite part of this dish was the tempura battered egg yolk. Once I broke it open, the yolk helped bring all of the elements of the plate together. However, there was one part of this course I did not enjoy, the drink. The Cather in the Rye cocktail, while visually appealing, may have been my punishment for overindulgence. Or maybe it was the fact it was a bourbon based cocktail and I do not like bourbon.

The fourth course was all about forbidden fruits. We were served Asian braised pork belly with forbidden rice and blood orange star anise sauce, with a five spice cotton candy. My personal interpretation of the pork belly relates to the strict Kosher diet many Orthodox Jews follow which does not allow pork. I also found the plating of this dish Chef Fisher's interpretation of the Crucifixion, with the spiced cotton candy being the storm clouds which covered the sky. Our drink pairing was called the Grapes of Wrath which was a vodka/saki cocktail with grape infusion. Maybe this was a take on the hyssop wine the soldiers gave to Jesus while hanging on the cross (or maybe my 13+ years of Catholic school are getting the best of me). Overall, my favorite part of this dish was the rice and sauce. While the pork was tender and well flavored, it just wasn't the star for me.

Finally, the dessert course which was beet foam with angel food cake, devils food cake, passion fruit coulis, with raspberry teardrops. The inspiration for this dish is final judgement. The earthiness of the beets represents the earth, in which our physical bodies will return to. The angel food and devils food cake symbolize Heaven and Hell. The passion fruit and teardrops were delicious reminders of a life filled with passion, love, and the struggle to do what is right. On the side we enjoyed two Rights of Passage cocktails, a warm, sweet brandy and a cold Grappa with limoncello.

Overall, the whole night was everything you would expect from an Emerging Chefs event. Wonderful food in a unique atmosphere. I also had the pleasure of sharing this uplifting experience with some of my favorite fellow bloggers Brad and Alicia. I also finally met Journeyman Cook and his lovely wife The Brewer's Daughter as well as a Laura whom I just started following. It was also nice to meet one of my "tweeps" Joe. Hopefully, I will be able to attend the next movie insprired Emerging Chefs event in March. By the end of my prayers yesterday morning, the prayers for repentance turned to prayers of thanks for an evening of great food in good company.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Valentine's Day Part 2: Washington Place Bistro

2011-02-24T15:56:00.000-05:00

I last left you with our couple's culinary adventure wondering where dinner last Friday evening would take us. If you follow me on Twitter or "LIKE" me on Facebook you may know the conclusion to my Valentine's Day celebration.

When the Baricelli Inn in Little Italy closed, I was quite sad since I knew I would never eat at one of my "must eat here" restaurants. I would run past the the inn this past summer into fall while training for the Columbus Half-Marathon and wonder what was going on inside. Soon, a sign was posted it was going to become Washington Place Bistro and Inn. Since opening it's doors in December, 2010, I have read nothing but rave reviews from my fellow food bloggers (Alicia, Brad, and Katrina namely). Scott Kuhn's new establishment in Little Italy quickly topped my "must eat here" list and I kept mentioning the restaurant to my boyfriend. Usually, I let him pick where we are going for special occasion dinners since we both love the Cleveland restaurant scene. Since we began dating back in fall 2009, we try to make it a point to go somewhere where one or both of us have never been. When we were discussing Valentine's Day plans, I said that I really wanted to go to Washington Place and now I am sharing our fabulous dinner with you.

Scott Kuhn broke away from the neighborhood standard of really good Italian food by offering "Classic American Cuisine, featuring produce from local growers, hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood, house-made soups and grilled sandwiches." Washington Place is open for lunch and dinner along with a 7-room inn. Once a month, they also offer wine dinners which I hope to attend in the very near future. Also, they run other promotions such as their lunch club and 2 for $40 Wednesday night. Our waitress made it a point to stress Kuhn's use of local ingredients such as veggies from The Chef's Garden and pasta from Ohio City Pasta.

Once we were seated, we offered two types of bread. One, was a cheddar bread made with Great Lakes Dortmunder, the other a peasant bread. Of the two, my favorite was the beer bread. As much as I love cheddar, the bread was not overwhelmingly cheesy. The peasant bread was very simple and I loved the crispy crust. A great opening while we selected our wine (a 2004 Niner Syrah) and decided on our appetizer, the oxtail pierogies.

As any other Clevelander, I love a good pierogi, my personal favorite being potato cheddar. I also am not a big red meat person, so I figured this would be an adventure in itself with the oxtail. I figured since it was in the ragout I could easily eat around it. We were presented with two perfect looking pierogies filled with truffled potato (you had me at truffle). To my liking, the oxtail in the ragout was mainly on one pierogi while the other had a bit more of the horseradish creme fraiche. However, being the curious foodie I am, I did try a bit of the oxtail and it was quite good. Not overly gamey and very tender. The pierogi itself was amazing. The outside was perfectly cooked, not too doughy, yet a slight crisp in the center. The truffle added a great "something extra" to the creamy potato filling. Usually, I am not one for sour cream on my pierogies, but I may be attempting to make my own horseradish creme fraiche to go with them in the future. A little of the creme fraiche really complimented the truffle potato. For an appetizer, it was the perfect portion for two. My palate was now ready for what was to come next.

Since I have been studying the menu for quite sometime, I knew exactly what I wanted for my entree. As I probably have mentioned at some point, I love seafood, specifically scallops. They are probably one of my "go to" dishes. The entree menu had something for everyone from a few seafood dishes, steaks, and even a vegetarian option. Aside from my love of scallops, the fact that they were served over a butternut squash risotto made my decision that much easier. I had 5 pnice sized dayboat scallops arranged in a star around the risotto. There were also four pearl onions on each corner of the plate. The presentation alone already made me happy. The scallops were cooked to perfection. Scallops can easily be over or undercooked leading to bad texture and consistency. Around the plate, there was a drizzle of apple cider demi which really brought out the natural sweetness of the scallop. I could have easily ate all five, but wanted to save room for dessert. Now on to the risotto. I like a risotto with a smooth texture and a flavor that will compliment the other components of the dish. The butternut squash seemed like it was made to go with the scallops. Texture-wise, I have nothing but praise for the risotto. Silky and smooth, just how I like it. My boyfriend went with the 14 oz. ribeye, which he also enjoyed.

Since we both decided to leave room for a dessert to share, we decided to go with housemade chocolate brownie. For me, a perfect meal ends with a little something chocolate. I also was excited to finally try Jeni's Ice Cream, even though it was not one of their eclectic flavors like Queen City Cayenne. This dessert will please any chocolate lover. The cool sweet ice cream is a great contrast to the warm brownie drizzled with a bittersweet chocolate. The brownie itself melted in my mouth with every satisfying chocolate filled bite. It was worth saving two scallops and some risotto for lunch (which was still awesome) on Saturday.

I cannot wait for my next visit to Washington Place Bistro. For anyone who has yet to go, just do it!! I left very pleased with my ridiculously high expectations met above and beyond. The overall atmosphere of the restaurant is cozy yet chic. We were seated in the sunroom which hopefully will be opened in the warmer months. I noticed a room off to the size that would be perfect for a gathering of 15-20 friends that had a little fireplace in it. My favorite part was how open the kitchen was to the rest of the restaurant. I loved walking past it on our way to our table watching the chefs prepare their masterpieces. It was the perfect ending to our perfect Valentine's Day celebrations.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Tuesday's Tidbits

2011-02-22T15:37:00.000-05:00

Welcome to this week's tiny helping of Tuesday's Tidbits!

*We currently are in the middle of Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week. This is the perfect opportunity to check out that place you have been dying to try. With $30 prix fixe dinners and $15 prix fixe lunches, how can you pass this up. Also make sure to check out some of the fun tasting events being held throughout the week too. I am excited to try Zinc tonight with WhyCLE and another one of our friends!

*Looking for something fun, free, and tasty to do on Thursday? Check out Ladies Bite Out at Suite Sixx, presented by Chef Matthew Mytro.

*After reading Cleveland Food and Brews Reveiw's interview with Chef Jeff Fisher, I am even more excited for Emerging Chefs Sacrilicious on Wednesday. Can't wait to hear what their March Even will be!!

*Today is National Margarita Day!

*Now through March 8th, Paladar will be holding Carnaval inspired drink and appetizer specials.

*After hearing Steve Schimoler and his crew from Crop are taking over the restaurant/bar at Whiskey Island, I am even more excited for summer Sunday Funday and sand volleyball.

*I am one of this month's Twitter 20 sponsored by cleveland.com. #CLE20

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Valentine's Day Part 1...a Couple's Culinary Adventure

2011-02-21T12:26:00.000-05:00

Happy Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week! Hope everyone made plans to enjoy the events planned around town from tastings, to $30 prix fixe dinners, or $15 prix fixe lunches. Since last week, I have decided to split my Valentine's Day recap into two separate posts so I can do each one justice and since we had two separate celebrations. Finally, an advantage to my boyfriend's crazy work schedule. Last Monday, we stayed in a decided to cook dinner together. Sunday night was spent making M&M chocolate chip cookies and putting together his gift. Instead of the traditional box of chocolate, I took a more personal spin on it and went with a box of chocolate stout, which included Southern Tier Choklat and Mokah, a four pack of Brooklyn Chocolate Stout, and (for laughs) Stone Double Bastard.

LaBella Cupcakes and
HIC cookies

Valentine's Caprese

Monday evening waiting for me, were two La Bella cupcakes, Cookies and Cream and Sealed with a Kiss. we have ran past LaBella numerous times while training for half-marathons, and I have mentioned it on quite a few occasions. I decided out menu would be Italian inspired since finding a Vodka Cream sauce recipe. For starters, we did a simple caprese salad of tomato, mozzarella, and basil drizzled with balsamic and a touch of olive oil. On the side, we made our own garlic infused butter to put over ciabatta bread, which we lightly toasted. Now, on to the entree. The sauce is very simple to make. First, sauté 2 shallots and garlic both minced. Once they are carmelized, add in basil and parsley along with fresh black pepper and sea salt. If you want an extra kick of heat, add crushed red pepper. Then, add the tomato paste and stir until all of your herbs and aromatics are incorporated. Now add the vodka. FYI, we used Three Olives, since it was we had in the liquor cabinet. Much like cooking with wine, only use a vodka you will drink. Finally, add heavy whipping cream and bring to a simmer. We served it over whole grain penne pasta. For thicker, creamier sauces, I prefer pastas such as penne.

Penne with Vodka Sauce

The whole meal came together perfectly. The candles and Frank Sinatra playing in the background were perfect additions to this romantic meal. Now, on to the cupcakes. My boyfriend bought for himself cookies and cream complete with half of Oreo on the bottom. My "Sealed with a Kiss" was a chocolate covered strawberry in cupcake form. The cupcake itself was a very moist and flavorful chocolate cupcake. The strawberry buttercream on top was the right balance of sweetness and strawberry. Some buttercreams have tendency to be too sweet, not sweet enough, or too thick. LaBella found the perfect balance of sweetness with a silky smooth texture I love in a buttercream. Overall, a perfect night with the perfect Valentine...or so I thought until this past Friday. Stay tuned for Part 2!!

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Ladies Bite Out

2011-02-17T09:25:00.000-05:00

One of the many things I love about the Cleveland food scene is the number of unique events hosted by our wonderful chefs. I became familiar with Chef Matthew Mytro after attending last month's Emerging Chefs event, Aphrodisiacs. Aside from being the founder and executive chef for both Stove Monkeys and Crisp Catering, Chef Mytro is the brains behind events like "Flavor Tripping" and "Naked Sushi". I was very happy when he asked me to help promote his latest event, Ladies Bite Out. After all, I love a good girls night that involves good food.

Next Thursday, February 24th, all ladies are invited to Suite Sixx to enjoy food prepared by Chef Mytro along with Jeff Jarrett of Palate, Chef Mia of Chinato, Parallax, and L'Albatros, and Ellis Cooley of Amp 150. There will be champagne tastings, cooking demos, and cupcakes. What a perfect way to end the night after enjoying Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week or mingling with some amazing Cleveland bloggers at this month's CLE blogger meet up. Also, did I mention the cost of this event is FREE??? So grab some of your best girls and head down to the Warehouse District around 8 p.m. for a night of food and fun.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger.

Tuesday's Tidbits

2011-02-15T14:01:00.000-05:00

Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day and is enjoying this warmer weather we are having here in Cleveland. There is quite a bit going on in the Cleveland food world over the next few weeks, so without anything further...

*Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week kicks off Monday and goes through February 27. Over 40 restaurants are offering $30 prix fixe dinners and some are offering $15 lunches. This is a wonderful opportunity to check out a new Cleveland restaurant or revisit an old favorite. Also, throughout the week, many restaurants will be holding various tastings and events. Be sure to take advantage of the $2 parking voucher.

*On February 24th, Washington Place Bistro and Inn will be holding its first wine dinner. For $50/person, you get 5 course meal paired with four different wines (the dessert course is served with coffee).

*Also on February 24th, the Thirsty Dog Brewing Company (of Akron, Ohio) will be holding The Dog Days of Winter at Wonder Bar. The tasting is free with the purchase of the Restaurant Week prix fixe, or $5 on its own.

*Speaking of tastings, every Saturday, Little Italy Wines holds a wine tasting. Selections vary by week. Stop in after dinner at one of the many wonderful restaurants in Little Italy.

*I am excited to attend my second Emerging Chefs event next Wednesday, Sacrilicious, featuring Chef Jeff Fisher of Touch Supper Club. This event it SOLD OUT.

*Great Lakes Brewing Company is tapping it's newest seasonal selection today, "The Dopplerock".

*Metromix Cleveland is currently looking for YOUR votes for their "Best of Metromix". Be sure to vote soon and vote often for your favorite Cleveland restaurants in numerous categories.

*Spring Training began today for our Cleveland Indians. Be sure to mark April 15, May 13, June 17, July 29, August 26, and September 23 on your calendar for Sugardale Dollar Dog nights!

*Lilly Handmade Chocolates will be holding it's monthly Craftbeer Ice Cream Floats on February 26.

*On March 3rd, The Greenhouse Tavern wil be holding a very special dinner. James Beard award winning chef Jeff Michaud will be teaming up with Jonathon Sawyer to prepare a 6 course family style meal. The cost is $97/person.

*If you have not heard the good news, Michael Symon will be opening his third B Spot in Crocker Park.

*I am also currently obsessed with homemade guacamole and Xochitl tortilla chips. These chips come in a variety of options including no salt, organic blue corn, and cajun. They are also gluten and preservative free.

Until next time...Follow your heart, fulfill your hunger

Romance in Cleveland

2011-02-11T14:40:00.000-05:00

I will admit, I have always liked Valentine's Day. I never thought of it as "Single's Awareness Day" or some made up Hallmark holiday, even when I did not have a Valentine. I would look forward to the classroom parties in grade school and had my Snoopy Valentines filled out by February 1. Even in high school and through college, I would still buy the box of Valentines and pass them out to my friends and, if I really felt daring, my crush of the moment. Maybe it was just another excuse to eat way more candy and treats then I should, or maybe I am just a hopeless cheesy romantic. Either way, I am looking forward to another romantic culinary adventure on Feb. 14th with my boyfriend and our dinner at a new Cleveland hot spot next Friday. With all that said, I hope to inspire you if you are still in need of V-Day plans with my top 5 most romantic Cleveland restaurants.

5: L'Albatros Zach Bruell's French inspired brasserie has provided a modern yet seductive atmosphere on University Circle for almost two years.  There is something to be said for enjoying French cuisine by the fireplace with a bottle of wine in the winter or on the patio in the spring and summer.  I also enjoyed a very romantic birthday dinner here. For Valentine's Day, Bruell is offering a prix fixe menu at $75/couple along with an aprodisiac salon on February 13.

4: Lago The only Italian restaurant in Tremont offers a wine list and menu to seduce the wine and Italian food lover in all of us. The booth's offer a cozy, intimate setting to enjoy one of Chef Fabio Salemo's interpretation of Northern Italian cuisine and a bottle of wine from a list that boasts over 100 varieties of Italian wine, many being undiscovered or hard to find.

3: Fahrenheit Rocco Whalen's Tremont restaurants provides a dimly lit atmosphere perfect for any couple looking to set the mood. The food speaks for itself, making it one of my favorite Cleveland restaurants. Whalen describes the food as "contemporary American regional cuisine". I describe it as romance for your tastebuds.

2: Lola Michael Symon's East 4th establishment can make anyone fall in love. Dimly lit and intimate tables for two are only the beginning. The menu boasts some of the Iron Chef's best creations and can satisfy any pallet. If you are looking for a "wow-factor" date, everything about Lola will fit the bill. Afterall, the wine list is on an iPad. Or just order the 6 a.m. special. Bacon ice cream = food of love!

1. Pier W. Maybe it is because I love seafood and Pier W sets the standard. Maybe it is the breathtaking view of Lake Erie and the Cleveland skyline. Maybe it is the fact that is has been a Cleveland landmark since 1965. Maybe it is because it was the setting for my perfect Valentine's Day last year. Whatever it is, Pier W tops my list. Last year, their special Valentine's Day menu was superb. This year, they are offering a chocolate bar and V-Day packages starting at $75/couple.

For more Valentine's ideas around Cleveland, check out these posts from fellow bloggers Bite Buff, Poise in Parma, and Why CLE?. I can only speak from experience with this list, so I must ask you dear readers, What do YOU think the most romantic restaurant in Cleveland is?

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Greenhouse Goodness

2011-02-08T17:02:00.001-05:00

"Tuesday's Tidbits" is taking a week hiatus since I have not had time the past few days to blog about last Friday night. I promise, it will be back next Tuesday full of juicy tidbits about fabulous food events around Cleveland. So what is so great that is causing this hiatus? CLEgal may have alluded to our Friday night in her most recent Why? Weekends post. (P.S. While you are visiting WhyCLE, enter her contest!!)

CLEgal and I always love an excuse to go to The Greenhouse Tavern. Chef Jonathon Sawyer's eco-friendly spot on East 4th Street quickly became one of our favorite CLE restaurants since it opened its doors in 2009. The eclectic atmosphere, the location, and of course, the food keep us coming back for more. With a menu that changes seasonally to ensure the freshest ingredients, there is always the anticipation of what Chef Sawyer will have waiting for you in the kitchen. Nationally, The Greenhouse Tavern has been recognized by both Bon Appetit and Food and Wine Magazines. It also has been featured on The Best Thing I Ever Ate as Iron Chef Michael Symon's guilty pleasure (the gravy frites). Last Thursday, as CLEgal and I were tweeting, we both noticed Greenhouse was offering a free Green and black organic chocolate pot du creme with any chef's tasting purchased. Free chocolate just sweetened up our Friday night dinner decision. Or so we though...

Bread and goat's milk butter

Devils on Horseback

The Chef's tasting menu allows you to select a first, second, entree, and half of your choice for $44 (yes, there are vegetarian/vegan options available too). After enjoying our first round of drinks and the bread and butter , CLEgal and I decided to share the chef's tasting menu since we both came to the conclusion, it was quite a bit of food. Afterall, we needed room for the pot du creme. For our first, we were in agreement to get the Devils on Horseback. What's not to love about dates wrapped in bacon and filled with chocolate and Fresno pepper. The perfect first course to start off the evening.

Crispy Chicken Wings Confit

For our second course we had to go with my favorite menu item, the crispy chicken wings confit. Now these are not your ordinary wings. Whatever Chef Sawyer does to the wings to make them fall off the bone melt in your mouth delicious is some sort of magic. They are flavored with jalapeno, lemon juice, garlic, and scallions which all blend so well and compliment each other perfectly. They are not greasy or lacking anything. The only problem with this dish is when they are all gone. I have been to Greenhouse and made these my meal, whether it is lunch, dinner, or a post Tribe game snack. No trip here is complete without them.

It was around this time CLEgal and I were checking our texts and tweets when we both received this:

"@HungryInCLE @whycle Glad you're here! Come say hi to the kitchen!" from @thegreenhouse.

Duck Pasta

Ohio Apples and Tokyo Turnips

Organic chocolate pot du creme

As we awaited our entree with half, we both decided "Why not!" Being the social media savvy bloggers we are, we both tweeted earlier about having dinner at The Greenhouse. We couldn't help but wonder if it was Chef Sawyer himself who sent the tweet. For our entree, we selected the duck pasta, which was strozzapreti pasta with duck livers, duck skin cracklings, Ohio apples, red onions and toasted bread crumbs. As a great compliment to the apples in the pasta, we chose the roasted Ohio apples and Tokyo turnips for our half. Don't be intimidated by the description of what is in the pasta. The crunch from the livers, cracklings and bread crumbs adds to the dish and the

apples add a subtle sweetness. Overall, I would recommend this combination. One we cleared our plate, the server brought us the black and green organic chocolate pot du creme. Very rich, very creamy, very chocolaty. It was the perfect ending to a perfect meal. Even though we were enjoying all of this wonderful food, we kept thinking about that tweet. After paying the bill, we finally headed downstairs. We went up to the kitchen window and asked who sent a tweet to HungryInCLE and WhyCLE. To our pleasant surprise, Chef Sawyer spoke up. We ended up talking with him briefly about his restaurant and food. Since he was busy in the kitchen, and we had a Salt n Pepa concert to attend, we left with his business card, fulfilled hunger, and smiles on our faces. Now, we have even more reasons to look forward to our future visits to The Greenhouse Tavern. Thank you Chef Jonathon Sawyer!

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

I "Heart" Food

2011-02-03T11:14:00.001-05:00

February is, appropriately, American Heart Month. I'm sure you, dear readers, all know someone who has heart problems or even worse, died from a heart related complication. According to The American Heart Association, heart disease is the #1 cause of death in the U.S. Whether heart disease runs in your family, or is cause by lifestyle, we can all take preventative measures to keep the ol' ticker pumping. One of the easiest ways is our diets. The other day while browsing food and health articles on Yahoo, I came across this one, The 10 Best Foods for your Heart. My only complaint is the use of the terms "good" and "bad" cholesterol. (Goes back to metabolism class in college) I also found the need to post this article on the HIC Facebook page. Since tomorrow is GO RED for women's heart health day, I wanted to share and summarize this article with you. While reading this, I could not help but notice the overlap with the seven Fuel Foods for female runners.

1: Oatmeal. I am really trying to master making oatmeal. Mr. Quaker helps lower LDL levels which leads to clear, unclogged arteries.

2: Salmon. Next time you find yourself at your favorite Cleveland restaurant or browsing the West Side Market, consider this omega-3 rich fish. Personally, it is one of my favorite seafoods.

3: Avocado. Don't feel guilty ordering the guacamole at Momocho. Avocado boost cholesterol metabolism, again lowering LDL and raising HDL. Or, make your own by mashing up fresh avocado, and mixing in minced garlic, lime juice, fresh cilantro, and peppers (I love jalapeno since I love heat). Its quick, easy, healthy, and DELICIOUS!!

4: Olive oil. This one is probably the easiest to incorporate into your diet. Use it in cooking. Mix it with balsalmic vinegar and your favorite herbs and spices for a quick salad dressing. Our body needs healthy fats and oils.

5: Nuts. Omega-3's, fiber, healthy fats. Carry walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts for a quick snack. Also, it's just fun to say you are carrying around a sack of nuts. (Pardon my attempt and humor)

6: Berries. I love mixed berried for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, anytime. Anti-oxidant rich and ready to fight disease and inflammation in your body.

7: Legumes! Such a fun word to say and I do love my legumes. Mash up chickpeas for easy homemade hummus or adde extra beans to that chili. Legumes are packed with omega-3's, calcium, and fiber.

8. Spinach. Add it to a salad, wilt it for a garnish. Spinach gives your heart lutein, folate, potassium, and fiber.

9. Flaxseed. Sprinkle it on your cereal or yogurt to add not only omega-3, but also omega-6.

10. Soy. Great source of protein. Don't be afraid to try that tofu dish or pick up the soy milk.

Check out what the Gret River Affiliates are doing around Cleveland to promote heart health. We can all be hungry in Cleveland while also being Heart Healthy in Cleveland.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger.

Tuesday's Tidbits

2011-02-01T13:37:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the second helping of Tuesday's Tidbits. Hope you are staying warm and safe on this snowy/chilly/icy day in Cleveland. Even though the weather outside may be frightful, there are plenty of delicious events coming up around Northeastern Ohio.

For starters, Cleveland's favorite food truck Dim and Den Sum will be offering in home and private cooking classes. Visit their website for more information.

Tomorrow evening, Bistro on Lincoln Park will be holding a Winter Wine Tasting event. $40 gives you a five course prix fixe dinner each carefully paired with a glass of wine. Reservations recommended.

Staying in Tremont, Parallax will be starting sushi and wine classes on February 21. Learn how to roll sushi and the best wine parings. Contact Parallax to reserve a spot.

As if Dante could not get any better, look for the opening of Ginko, a sushi restaurant beneath Dante to be opening soon.

Last thought on sushi, Chef Matthew Mytro, who prepared the tantalizing food served at last Wednesday's "Aphrodisiacs" will be holding his next "Naked Sushi" on March 24 at Suite Six.

Speaking of the Emerging Chefs, their next event will be held on February 23. "Sacrilicious" will feature the food of Chef Jeff Fisher of Touch Supper Club in a very unique venue.

For all of you craft beer lovers out there,Great Lakes Brewing Company tapped a brewpub exclusive Big Black Smoke porter this week. Looking ahead, The IX Center Beerfest will be held May 13-14. Check out the event's website or this great post from Cleveland Food and Brews Reviews.

February also brings a new Sandwich of the Month to Melt. This month's "The Dude Abides Melt" was inspired by the movie "The Big Lebowski". If you are more of a Molly Ringwald and Emilio Estivez fan, Melt will be offering "The Brat Pack Breakfast Club Melt" this weekend only to compliment their screening of the movie at Cedar Lee.

With all that being said, hopefully everyone is making their Valentine's Day plans for that special someone in your life. Cleveland has so many great, romantic places and they will fill up quickly around February 14. Some of those places will be featured on HIC next week. Don't forget to stop at Malley's or Lilly Handmade Chocolates to get some sweets for your sweet.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger.

Food to Put You In the Mood

2011-01-31T09:07:00.000-05:00

Last Wednesday, I was invited to my first Emerging Chefs event, Aphrodisiacs at the Velvet Tango Room. VTR provided the perfect setting for an evening of culinary seduction. The event, which was sold out, was held in the private backroom behind the door with the Russian crest. On my many visits to VTR, I always wondered what was behind that door. Guests were only allowed in after saying the secret pass code which was emailed hours prior to the evening. The room was dimly lit and I found a spot on a love seat by the fire. Overall, the setting alone was very intimate.

Chef Matthew Mytro of Stove Monkeys prepared a wonderful four course tasting inspired by foods considered to be aphrodisiacs. Each was paired with a cordial sized VTR cocktail. Our first course to set the mood was East Coast Oysters with tarragon, a lemon champagne granita, and chocolate bubbles. The aphrodisiacs featured in this course, oysters, champagne, and chocolate are quite common and well known. The flavors blended well and it was a perfect teaser course for my pallet. It was paired perfectly with the Aviation cocktail.

Our next course was ginseng poached duck breast served on a bed of smoked corn polenta with asparagus and drizzled with harisse buerre monte. The duck melted in my mouth and the drizzle added a little spice which is great especially considering the theme of the evening. I loved the polenta since it was very flavorful and the corn was a great addition. Also, anything infused with truffles appeals to me. I never knew asparagus was considered an aphrodisiac either. We were served VTR's Manhattan which is the only part I didn't enjoy only because I do not like bourbon. If I didn't enjoy a Manhattan at VTR, I will probably not enjoy one anywhere. However, the cherry garnishing the Manhattan was very tasty.

The third course, and my favorite, was Chef Mytro's "Poke a Dot" Scallops with gold and red beets, basil sauce, and caviar. Scallops are one of my overall favorite dishes. Chef Mytro cut the center and filled one with a gold beet puree and the other with red beet. They were served on beets and drizzled with the basil sauce with a small garnish of caviar. Again, much to my pleasant surprise, basil is an aphrodisiac. In my personal opinion, this whole course seduced me. The flavors blended so well together, my mouth is still watering as I write this. this course again, was perfectly paired with one of my favorite VTR cocktails, "The Lady in White". However, there was nothing innocent to be said for this course or the cocktail. I am lusting more!

Our dessert course featured three different mini cupcakes, one banana, one almond-vanilla, and the third, chocolate and coffee. Each flavor combination was inspired by an aphrodisiac flavor. Again, I learned banana and almond to be aphrodisiacs. Cupcakes to me are pure bliss and a very guilty pleasure. We had a choice for our final cocktail, the sweet "Lady in Red" or the bitter "Negroni". I chose the sweet "Lady in Red" and it was the perfect finish to my culinary seduction. However, like any good lover, I left VTR wanting more. I am planning on attending future events put on by the Emerging Chef and Chef Matthew Mytro.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your desire hunger.

Tuesday's Tidbits

2011-01-25T17:21:00.000-05:00

As mentioned on Twitter and Facebook this morning, I was launching a new blog feature, and here it is! Tuesday's Tidbits is a collection of random thoughts related to the Cleveland food scene and my culinary adventures. If there are any events or thoughts you would like to contribute to future "Tuesday's Tidbits" please let me know.

First off, I had a fabulous time getting to know other Cleveland bloggers last Wednesday at The Ohio Blogging Association's first Cleveland meet up at Whole Foods in University Heights. It was great to meet some of my favorite bloggers CLEgal (ok we go way back), Allison, Katie, Heather,Alicia (who did a fabulous job planning the event), Brad, Katrina,Kali and Scott, the Chubby Cook himself. I also was introduced to and now follow Alana, Michelle, Suzanne, Cleveland Chick, Carly, and Quarry Lane Farms. We enjoyed a fabulous raw foods demo by Lauren which included parsnip-macadamia rice, avocado, carrots, sweet pea shoots, and rolled sushi style in black nori, a hollowed out you thai coconut with lemon sorbet, raw chocolate infused with mandarin orange-mango preserve (my favorite), raw ginger, and raw coconut. Afterwards, we were treated to a feast of vegan friendly entrees which included General Tso's Vegan Nuggets which I am going to call "I Can't Believe It's NOT Chicken", MOlly's Asian Noodles, Emerald Sesame Kale, and grilled veggies in Asian dressing. Great time with great bloggers. Looking forward to the next one!

Great happy hour at Reddstone Friday night. However, some advice. If your business card is pulled for hosting a happy hour as CLEgal's was, make sure there is not a large party sharing the room with you, especially if that party has a tall, drunk bald guy. There will not be enough food. Luckily, I had a Restaurant.com certificate for Reddstone with me. Love their sweet potato fries.

Saturday night, I had a great time at the Winking Lizard's World Tour Party. While not a World Tourist myself, I enjoyed good food, good beer, and great company. I would like to suggest to the Lizard to put the veggie burger sliders on the regular menu if you have not done so already. While speaking of the Winking Lizard, they are sponsoring a soup recipe contest. You have until January 31 to email your recipe which , if selected, will be a part of their rotating soup selections.

I am looking forward to the latest Emerging Chef's event, "Aphrodisiacs" tomorrow night at one of my favorite Cleveland bars, The Velvet Tango Room. Kinda puts me in the mood to start thinking about Valentine's Day.

Lastly, CONGRATULATIONS to Bier Markt for being name one of America's 100 best beer bars. This concludes your first helping of "Tuesday's Tidbits" Let me know what you think! Your suggestions can only make it better!

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger

Hungry in Denver

2011-01-19T11:45:00.000-05:00

I'm baaaaaaack! For those who were not following my 4-Square tweets, I was in Denver, Colorado visiting one of my bestest friends. Now I am back in CLE and excited to share some of my food finds from the Mile High City.

Day 1: Our day begins with breakfast at Curious Coffee, a small coffee shop on the way from my friend's apartment to the Colorado State Capitol. After enjoying a "Breggo" and raspberry caramel mocha, we were fueled for the adventures awaiting us. While in the Capitol and enjoying the view from the dome, we met a very helpful tour guide (wearing a cowboy hat and other Western attire) who lead us to our lunch stop, Pints Pub, a British brewpub in Downtown Denver. After deciding on sharing an entree we debated between fish and chips or a sandwich. The Pub Club ended up winning and complimented our beer choices, the Bitchcraft Blone Ale and the Idleweiss Unfiltered Wheat. One thing about Colorado is the abundance of microbrews. I felt the need to sample one from each brewpub we stopped at. Another thing to note about Pints would be the over 250 varieties of scotch. Now off to explore Downtown Denver. We also ended up touring the Coors Brewery in the nearby town of Golden. For dinner, we decided to do happy hour at Dazzle and enjoy great food/drink specials, live jazz, and great artwork. Also, you can play board games at your table while enjoying delicious food and great martinis (I recommend the Jello martini) We ended up ordering a plethora of appetizers, two which I must note are the mac and cheese and the pizza with pesto and water chestnuts. The reason for eating a smaller dinner was our trip to d bar desserts. I am also slightly embarrassed to admit, I did NOT know this was Keegan Gerhard's restaurant. I was surprised and star struck to see him behind the bar prepping fabulous desserts. After much contemplation and discussion, I decided on the bel canto mocha, which was a chocolate coffee tart garnished with espresso brittle, and affogato served with iced Kenyan coffee. We ended up sitting at the bar and chatting with Keegan leading to getting his autograph and a quick pic.

Pub Club and Bitchcraft Blond

Breggo: scrambled eggs, cheddar, potatoes, baked into a light crust.
Think breakfast calzone

bel canto mocha at d bar

Day 2: After touring Coors Field (I love baseball almost as much as I love food), we headed across Blake Street to The Breckenridge Brewery for lunch and more great craft beer. We started with a sampler to get a little taste of everything. Since some of their brews are available in Cleveland, I wanted something that was special to Denver. To compliment my turkey chipotle club and sweet potato fries, I went with their seasonal brew, Pandora's Bock. Overall, great food and great beer enjoyed with two of my favorite people after an amazing Coors Field experience. Afterwards, we loaded up the SUV and headed three hours northwest, through the Rocky Mountains to Steamboat Springs. Along the way, we picked up a take-and-bake pizza from
Papa Murphy's.

Beer Sampler. My top three: Pandora's Bock, Thunder Stout, Agave Wheat

Day 3: After snowboarding all day in the Rockies, we all teamed up for a culinary adventure for dinner. We made fajitas complete with homemade tortillas (thanks to my best friend's service in the Peace Corps down in Paraguay) and homemade guacamole. For dessert, we enjoyed what I am going to refer to as Paraguayan Carrot Cake simply because the recipe also came from Paraguay. I did bring this recipe back to Cleveland too.

BeauJo's pizza and Tommy Knocker Maple Nut Brown Ale

Day 4: Spent mostly on the road back to Denver after enjoying our leftovers in a Mexican scramble for breakfast. On our way back to Denver, we stopped in the small town of Idaho Springs for BeauJo pizza and Tommy Knocker beer. The crust on the pizza was really crispy and thick, enjoyed with honey. Talk about an entree and dessert rolled into one. After finally making it back to Denver, we later enjoyed dinner at Vesta Dipping Grill. I love the concept of Vesta. You order your entree (great selection of various cuts of steak, poultry, and seafood) and pick three dipping sauces from a selection of over thirty varieties ranging from traditional, to Asian inspires, to Southwestern. I went with the grilled duck served on truffle farro and maple brussels sprouts. For my sauces I went with sweet ginger, peanut sauce, and tamarid chipotle. What I liked about Vesta is the variety of flavor options in their sauces. I am one who loves and appreciates many styles of food. Anywhere I can enjoy both Southwestern and Asian influences fares well with me.

Sweet ginger, Thai peanut, tamarid chipotle

Day 5: Our final day in Colorado was spent in the town of Boulder to tour the Celestial Seasonings Tea factory. After purchasing way too much tea to bring back to Cleveland, we headed to Pearl Street for lunch. I must note, if you are ever in Boulder and do not know where to eat, head to Pearl Street. We ended up at BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse for Chicago-style deep dish and more craft beer. I shared the Southwestern specialty pizza which was topped with blackened chicken, cheddar, cilantro, and corn (which I added on) while enjoying a Nutty Brewnette to drink. We then headed back to Denver to visit the aquarium, pack up, and headed to an Irish Pub called the Irish Snug for bingo. There, I shared the quesedillas and Guiness ice cream, along with another Tommy Knocker's brew, Naked Tinker Ale (which the boyfriend won during bingo).

Southwestern deep dish and Nutty Brewnette

And now I am back in Cleveland planning my next trip to Denver. I am left with many great memories and pictures. For more pictures, check out the Hungry in Denver album on Facebook. And if you haven't done so, "like" me!

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

or as Keegan would say "Make it Delicious!"

Fuel foods

2011-01-10T16:07:00.000-05:00

I recently have been reading more into "superfoods" and foods for athletes. As many of my friends, fellow bloggers, and "tweeps" may know, I am a runner. I am currently training for the Cleveland Half-Marathon on May 15 as well as a few shorter runs between now and then. Since many of us have made resolutions to eat healthier and become more active, I would like to summarize an article I recently read. I have recently came across a very interesting article about the best foods for female runners and have decided to share with you. Unfortunately, I did not bookmark the page so I cannot post it. I was surprised to see many foods I already eat and want to try are on this list. So here is the list and my thoughts on each.

1: Oatmeal. For the longest time, I only ate oatmeal in cookie form. Not because I didn't like it, but because I will admit, I fail EVERY time I go to make it. Yesterday was no exception either. You can smile and laugh at me all you want Mr. Quaker Oats guy. I will one day enjoy a nice creamy warm bowl of oatmeal for breakfast. Why oatmeal?? It has a lower-glycemic index which provides prolonged energy. Foods are measured at the rate they break down carbs and release glucose into your blood which in turn gives you energy. (I will spare the biochemistry lesson here)

2: Edamame: I was so happy to see my favorite sushi appetizer on this list! It turns out, these little legumes are packed with protein, fiber magnesium, potassium, iron, and Vitamins K and C. Just don't add too much salt to them.

3: Dried fruits: Instead of enjoying raisins, Crasins, etc. with my lunch, I have started eating them as a pre-workout snack since they are a healthy source of simple sugars which provide quick, rapid bursts on energy. Also, it was suggested sprinkling them in yogurt and oatmeal (can't seem to avoid Mr. Quaker now, can I??)

4: Green Tea: Since I already drank my 6-8 glasses of water a day, I decided to substitute my afternoon water for green tea. I use a 24 oz water bottle and fill it up at least 3x a day. When I fill it up after lunch, I throw in a green tea bag. It is a nice boost of flavor and caffeine as well as anti-oxidants (specifically EGCG) which improve endurance, increase fat burning, and boost immunity.

5: Olive Oil: Already my cooking oil of choice. Your body needs fats, just choose them wisely. Olive oil has been shown to aid in post-workout recovery.

6: Ricotta Cheese: Love ricotta already in cannoli and lasagna. However, I chose a reduced-fat ricotta and started putting it on high fiber tortillas sprinkled with a little cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. Makes a great snack or breakfast filled with protein to increase the muscle to fat ratio during training.

7: Kale: This was on my list of foods to try in 2011. Once finding out it is a great source of fiber, vitamins C and K, beta-carotene, and manganese, it quickly moved up my list. I also found this great recipe for creamed mushrooms and kale too!

8: Quinoa: Have heard many great things about quinoa and have many recipes to try. I bought a sack of it at the West Side Market over the holidays. Look for a future blog all about quinoa and how to enjoy this whole grain full of complex carbs, zinc, B vitamins, iron, fiber, and magnesium.

9: Salmon: I love seafood so this one is easy for me. Salmon is a great source for omega-3 fatty acids which are one of the healthiest unsaturated fats for you. They have numerous anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and other immune benefits.

With any food, read labels carefully and try to support local businesses. Next time you are dining at one of Cleveland's fine restaurants, look to see what they offer with these foods. I also want to mention Healthy Heddleston's fabulous blog. She is a registered dietician and her blog provides a plethora of information on eating and living a healthy lifestyle.

And last but certainly not least, Hungry in Cleveland is now on Facebook!!! How much do you "like" H.I.C.???

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

Culinary adventure #2...Crab Cakes

2011-01-04T14:35:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!! Hopefully everyone had a wonderful time celebrating the end of 2010 and all that 2011 has in store. While many of you headed out on New Year's Eve to restaurants, bars, and parties, I for once opted to stay in. Yes, there were plenty of options in Cleveland we could have chosen from, but my boyfriend and I decided we would ring in 2011 by doing one of our favorite activities, cooking together. Maybe it was the fact that both of us have been very overwhelmed between working and the holidays that we needed a night in, just us two. As I titled this blog, I also realized that I haven't been that great at including things I cook, and I apologize for that. For our New Year's Eve dinner, we decided on crab cakes, with twice baked potatoes and roasted asparagus with rosemary infused olive oil. I will take no credit for the asparagus either since all I did was eat and enjoy it.

For my crab cakes, I first caramelized onions with garlic, thyme, rosemary, and basil (all fresh). Next, I took a pound and a half of lump crab meat and mixed in breadcrumbs, 1 large egg white, a dash of mayo, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and the onion and herb mixture. After seasoning the mixture with cracked black pepper and sea salt, I ended up forming 5 large and one baby crab cake.

I refrigerated them for about a half hour while the potatoes and asparagus were cooking. Meanwhile, we found a recipe for a simple garlic aioli and put our own twist on it. If I had the link, I would have included it, but since we are both addicted to our smart phones, it is not saved in my email or recipe file. When the potatoes were fully baked, we halved them, scooped out the insides, mixed in sour cream and cheddar, and popped them back in the oven to twice bake while the crab cakes were cooking. I cooked the crab cakes in olive oil over medium heat, three at a time. The first three came out PERFECTLY and I think I jinxed myself there. The last three all fell apart and ended up looking more like crab cake hash. Finally, with about four and a half hours remaining in 2010, we sat down to enjoy this delicious meal. It paired really well with our homemade strawberry wine too.

Overall, it was a perfect New Year's Eve proving all you really need is great food, champagne, and someone to enjoy it with. And since we did not dress up and go out for New Year's Eve, tonight we will be dining at Michaelangelo's in Little Italy.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger.

Hungry in 2010

2010-12-28T10:05:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas filled with family, friends, and food. As we now look forward to they new year, I would like to take a moment to look back on 2010. I would love to do a Hungry in Cleveland Best of but since the blog is only 4 months old, I figured this would be a better option. 2010 had its fair share of downtime. We prayed for the earthquake victims in Haiti, trapped miners in West Virginia and Chile. We looked on in horror as oil spewed into the Gulf of Mexico devastating beaches and wildlife, and felt betrayal as a wannabe "king" took his "talents" to South Beach. We mourned the passings of Tony Curtis, Lena Horne, George Steinbrenner, and Cleveland Indians legend Bob Feller to name a few.

However there were moments of joy and celebration. We saw hope for the Browns when the New Orleans Saints went to and won their first Super Bowl. We cheered on victorious Americans in the 2010 Winter Olympics, and "honked" our vuvuzelas while watching the World Cup. We may have caught a bit of "Bieber Fever", went goo-goo for Gaga, and fist pumped along with the Jersey Shore. Through it all, we remained Hungry in Cleveland.

2010 welcomed many new places to the ever growing Cleveland food scene. The East Fourth Street Neighborhood welcomed Zack Bruell's fourth Cleveland restaurant, Chinato, and Zinc. Around the corner on Prospect, R. J. Bolands and the Caddyshack Lounge offered more options for a pregame drink before heading the "The Jake" or "The Q". Zdara added a bit of Mediterranean flair to the Warehouse District. Tremont became more of a foodie destination with the additions of Bac, Istanbul Grill, and the reopening of Dante. East-siders rejoiced when the second Melt opened in Cleveland Heights. Dim and Den Sum took to the streets parking throughout the city for lunch and late night eats. Little Italy welcomed Mia Bella and Washington Place Bistro and Inn to the family of great places to "mangia mangia!" The every growing and changing Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood added Roseangel and Battery Park Wine Bar, along with the reopening of the legendary Big Egg. In the suburbs, Deagan's Kitchen found a home in Lakewood, Rocky River welcomed Market, and Palate will be opening its doors in Strongsville this week. I cannot wait to see what 2011 will bring, especially in Ohio City with the opening of Dim and Den Sum's Restaurant and the addition of Market Garden Brewery. Happy New Year!!!

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger.

For the Holidays, You Can't Beat Home Sweet Home!

2010-12-20T10:18:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas Week all! Hopefully, the tree is trimmed, gifts are bought and maybe wrapped, and your holiday food plans are coming together. Christmas is a season rich in family traditions, and my family is no exception. My family's ethnic background is Hungarian and Slovak. Our main Christmas meal is on Christmas Eve before heading to Midnight (ok, 10 p.m.) Mass at St. John's Cathedral. I would have to describe the meal itself as a nice blend of both old and new traditions. The menu changes slightly with each year by taking a bit of the old and adding in something new. Dinner starts with a traditional bowl of mushroom soup, which is made from dried mushrooms and sauerkraut juice.

Nana would be so proud we are carrying on this tradition, despite the jokes and comments from the sour taste. To counter the sour soup, we have the oplatky wafer with honey on it. Oplatky are Christmas wafers usually with an image of the Nativity on them. They are very similar to the Communion wafers used during Catholic Mass. We also have shrimp cocktail with our homemade "octopus sauce". Octopus sauce has nothing to do with octopus, it is just a name I came up with as a little girl for the shrimp cocktail sauce Nana made for Christmas Eve. We have shrimp because Christmas Eve was my late Uncle Jack's birthday. Growing up, Nana would prepare whatever my mom and uncle wanted for their birthdays, but Uncle Jack had limited options since Catholics would not have meat on Christmas.
The main dish is always some form of breaded fish. In past Christmases, Nana would deep fry ocean perch, however our new tradition is making an oven-fried tilapia, coated in panko and herbs. I am looking forward to going to the West Side Market with my brother Friday morning to get the fish. We also would have homemade french fries, cole-slaw, and bobalky which are little bread balls cooked in either sauerkraut or honey and poppyseed. For dessert we have Christmas cookies and Malley's chocolates. Overall, that is my traditional Cleveland Christmas, and I would not trade it for anything, even and Italian Christmas Eve with the seven fishes.

One of many things I love about Cleveland is how we exemplify the idea of a Melting Pot. At Christmas and many other holidays, age old traditions are celebrated and made new again. And now I will take this moment to ask you: What are your family Christmas/holiday traditions?

Until next time....follow your heart, fulfill your hunger.

Pot Luck = Jackpot!

2010-12-14T16:10:00.000-05:00

Tis the season for office holiday parties! My place of employment is no exception. Every place seems to have a different take on the workplace celebration ranging from extravagant feast to a simple at home dinner. Here, we do a pot luck lunch and for the past three years, I have had the joy of organizing it. Since my place of employment has a very diverse group of people, one could only imagine the variety of dishes brought to a pot luck. I enjoyed everything from traditional Indian and Korean dishes, to Southern corn bread, and a Russian fruit cake which I was told took about three weeks to prepare. I have to thank fellow blogger The Daily Balance for my contribution,orange spice holiday cookies. They turned out AH-MAZ-ING!!!! Nevertheless, no one leaves hungry from our holiday pot luck. So now I ask you What is your "go-to" dish for a potluck or are you one to try something different?

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!

A Hidden Gem on Detroit Ave.

2010-12-07T09:15:00.000-05:00

One great thing about Cleveland and it's surrounding suburbs would be the wide variety of small businesses and restaurants. Lakewood would have to be the epitome of this statement. Driving (or going for a nice run) up and down Madison and Detroit Avenues, one cannot help but be distracted by the large number of storefronts ranging from boutiques to bakeries to bars to restaurants. When most people think of restaurants in Lakewood, two more then likely come to mind Melt and Three Birds. However, Lakewood is filled with hidden gems and I was lucky to finally try one this past weekend, that being 56 West.

Located on the corner of Detroit and Westlake Ave, 56 West is one of those places you may pass by unless you are specifically looking for it. I have heard nothing but good things about it and was very excited to finally try it. The menu is fairly simple, mostly being entree salads, sandwiches, and burgers but their is an option for everyone including vegetarians. Also, the names of all the dishes are quite fun (i.e.: "The Italian Lover", "Pure Pleasure", and "One Hot Chick"). Since I was feeling creative, adventurous, and a bit indecisive, I went with the Build your Own Burger option. This ended up being a veggie patty on a whole wheat bun, with chipotle honey glaze, wildgreens, tomato, Vermont Cheddar, bacon (yes, I love bacon on veggie burgers), and avocado. I have had my fair share of veggie burgers/back bean burgers, and I am going to say this particular one is one of my favorites. Upon asking our server (who was very friendly and helpful), I found out it was a puree of veggies, with black beans and quinoa. Quinoa is a something I have been hearing more and more about. It is a grain with a higher protein and fiber content in comparison to rice and wheat. I have been finding it to be a good alternative to using rice in recipes too. Maybe a future blog will be 101 fun delicious ways to enjoy quinoa. (Ok, maybe 10. This one will take some research). Anyways, the veggie burger was excellent and it would be safe to say it is my new standard for comparison. The portion size also was great. I like a sandwich/burger where the main ingredient is not hidden under the bread. The veggie burger and other toppings were overflowing from the just right size whole grain bun I chose. Instead of getting fries with the sandwich, my boyfriend and I shared the bucket of fries which included housemade ketchup infused with cinnamon (fabulous) and roasted garlic aioli.

I also must note, 56 West has a nice selection of craft beers to enjoy with your meal. I personally opted for the seasonal favorite being Great Lakes Christmas Ale. Another point to mention, the dinner was very reasonably priced. I would highly recommend checking out 56 West especially if you are not sure what you have a taste for. The variety and high quality of the food along with wonderful service and very reasonable prices truly makes this one of Lakewood's hidden gems.

Question of the Week: What are some other neighborhood favorites you cannot get enough of?

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger.

Raise a Glass of Christmas Cheer!

2010-11-29T16:26:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had an enjoyable fulfilling Thanksgiving shared with great food and loved ones. I was very pleased with how my feast turned out and will post pictures once I figure out how to add pics to a blog entry (yeah, the joys of being a rookie blogger) Anyways, Friday and Saturday also had their fill of good food. There was no better way to finish off a successful Black Friday shopping spree then a BLT and Christmas Ale from B-Spot. Saturday included a trip and lunch at a true Cleveland food landmark, The West Side Market. However, my holiday cheer was brought out in full force at the first annual Winter Wine and Ale Fest on Saturday evening.

This event was held as a part of Downtown's Winterfest which highlighted the lighting of Public Square. For $40/person, guests were able to sample 20 craft beers or wines of their choice from 19 different Ohio breweries and wineries. My approach was simple, do not taste anything you already had and know you like. This provided me the opportunity to sample other brewery's Christmas Ales since every time I go out, I remain loyal to Great Lakes Christmas Ale. Also, there were appetizers and deserts to enjoy with the winter libations. While tasting, we were able to rate our drinks on a scale of 1-5 (I did mine as 1 = lowest, and 5 = highest). Now, I am not going to present everything I rated, just the 4's and 5's Please keep in mind, these are based on my personal preferences.

Beers:

My overall favorite was the Cleveland Chop House's White Chocolate Brown Ale. I love a good chocolate stout (I mean, it is a combination of two things I love...beer and chocolate). I think if I had this as the first brew of the night, the remaining 19 tickets I had would have been used on this beer. It was not the bitter stout that most people would think of, and there was a chocolate flavor throughout, not just at the end. Next time I am near by the Chop House, I must stop in for a White Chocolate Brown Ale.

My second favorite is Hoppin' Frog Brewery from Akron's "Frosted Frog". This is their Christmas ale which features my favorite Christmas flavor, gingerbread. I would be up for a trip to Akron to sample their other brews.

Other beers worth mentioning: Cellar Rats "Field Rat Wheat", The Brew Kettle's "Blackjack Porter", and Buckey Brewing Company's "Witless" (maybe I should get some for Thursday's Cavs/Heat game)

And now for wines:

My overall favorite was Firelands' Pinot Grigio. Would love to enjoy with a pesto dish since I love pinot grigio with pesto.

For something easy to drink and fruity, I would recommend any of the Virant Frosts (I sampled strawberry and blackberry). They were a little thicker then most wines, but enjoyable if you are looking for a fruity wine.

I also want to mention the carephilly cheese I enjoyed from Great Lakes Creamery. If you enjoy parmesan and provalone, I would recommend looking for this particular cheese. It would be a great addition to your holiday cheese platters.

I am looking forward to many more holiday culinary adventures. The Christmas cookie list has been started, and the holiday party invitations are starting to pile up. It truly is the most wonderful time of they year. With that being said, I am going to start something new on the blog, "Question of the Week". Feel free to comment below.

What food/drink really makes it feel alot like Christmas?

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T13:08:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my loyal readers! With it being the BIGGEST food holiday and all, I decided to give you an overview of what I will be prepping and serving tomorrow. It will be my second year preparing it solo since I used to cook with my grandma. She is now my personal culinary guardian angel (amongst other guardian angels too).

Roast Turkey (of course). I don't brine. I stuff it with citrus, herbs, and butter and cover it with butter soaked cheesecloth. Now, the most important part to ensure your bird is not dry would be basting. I may have mentioned in an earlier cooking blog I am not one for timers. Roasting turkey would be my exception. I religiously baste every 15 minutes and with everything else going on, I have to set the timer. I remove the cheesecloth about a half hour prior to dinner to give the bird a nice golden glow.

Cranberry Cornbread Stuffing (I may attempt Michael Symon's cornbread stuffing recipe he tweeted earlier today and just add the cranberries)

Candied yams, complete with brown sugar reduction and marshmallows: Make sure to remember the marshmallows will plump upon roasting. If you squeeze too many on, you will have one sticky mess to clean up

Sweet potato boats: This is a family recipe not too many people have heard of. Cook the potatoes then cut in half. Hollow out and mix the potato with cranberry relish. Top with walnuts and a brown sugar cinnamon blend.

Homemade cranberry relish grinded with a 100+ year old grinder (one of my favorite kitchen tools for sentimental reasons)

Mashed potatoes, steamed green beans, steamed cauliflower, homemade dinner rolls, gravy

And of couse pumpkin pie (Nana's recipe of course)

To drink: Elena Walch, 2009 Gewurtztraminer (highly recommended for Thanksgiving by Little Italy Wines, one of my favorite wine shops) and of course, Great Lakes Christmas Ale!

So now, all I have to do is prepare this lovely feast, sit down, raise my glass and be thankful. And I am NOT ashamed to admit I ALWAYS clean my plate on Thanksgiving.

Until then...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger (and gobble till you wobble)

Bon Appetite a la Bruell!

2010-11-22T10:58:00.000-05:00

One of the big names on the Cleveland culinary scene would have to be Zack Bruell. Owner of four wonderful restaurants, Table 45, Parallax, L'Albatros, and Chinato, Zack offers Clevelanders a variety of food and cooking styles. In all of my dining adventures at Bruell's restaurants, I have yet to have a less then fabulous meal. The service and selection also is nothing short of wonderful too. If I only paid a bit more attention (or joined Twitter sooner) I would have participated in the Tour de Bruell, a promotion running through December 3 to dine at all four restaurants with the chance to win a four course meal for eight people with Zack Bruell. My most recent dining adventure happened to be at Bruell's French Brasserie on University Circle, L'Albatros.

When going to restaurants, I love to try new things. I hate falling into the always ordering the same thing rut may tend to fall into when dining out. Yes, I do have my "stand-by" dishes just in case something does not capture my curiosity and spark my appetite. When going over the extensive menu at L'Albatros, which has a large variety of poultry, seafood, beef, and vegetarian options, one thing definitely caught my eye, "sauteed skate wing". Now I like to think I am quite familiar with various poultry and seafood options, however I never heard of skate. My boyfriend clarified it was a type of sting ray but never tried it himself. I asked our server, who was very helpful and friendly, about the taste. She explained it as a very mild seafood almost like a whitefish or shellfish. That made my decision for me. I must say, I am very pleased with my adventurous pallet because I LOVED the skate. It was sauteed in a brown butter sauce and accompanied by zucchini and tomatoes cooked in cheese.

I must also mention the puree of eggplant, mushroom, and tomato soup that we had was the perfect starter to the meal. A bit of future advice for those wanting to have soup but not wanting it to fill you up. Ask if it could be split into two or more portions and share with your table. Much like Bruell's other restaurants, a basket of bread is not placed on the table, yet brought to you, as needed, to enjoy with the olive oil and herbs. I also must commend our server too for being very friendly and attentive. After asking about a huge cheese tray I saw being taken around and mentioning my love of truffle, she brought me what is now my new favorite cheese (I will tweet the name later to ensure proper spelling). It was very mild had a perfect perfect buttery texture. I was later told, this particular cheese was brought back to Italy by Marco Polo.

Overall, I would recommend any of Bruell's restaurants for a date night or night out with friends who are in town. The food and service will exceed any expectations. Bruell's restaurants, specifically L'Albatros, are worth repeat visits to truely experience all it has to offer.

I now want to apologize for not updating recently. As we all know, Thursday is Thanksgiving and I have been a bit busy preparing the menu for the big day. I am so ready to talk turkey!! Also, I would like to mention Cakes Plus bakery in Rocky River. I am a recent winner of one of their Facebook contests and will blog about the Ultimate Brownies I have won once I pick them up.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger.

Happy (early) Thanksgiving!

2010-11-11T10:17:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving dinner...the turkey, the stuffing, the cranberry sauce. Mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes (or candied yams), green beans. Finally, the pumpkin pie. In two weeks, I will be preparing this feast for my family while watching the Macy's parade in the background. Then, when the last timer goes off, the table is set, and "Grace" is said, I will indulge in my favorite holiday meal. Every year I look forward to the preparation and then the enjoyment. I dream of turkey with cranberry sauce in the middle of April. Thanks to Melt Bar and Grilled, I was able to get my taste buds even more excited with their November Sandwich of the Month, "The New Bomb Turkey".

I think I may have found my new favorite Melt sandwich, which is a shame because I may not be able to enjoy it after November 30. The sandwich consists of roasted turkey, stuffing, butternut squash, muenster cheese, and a side of cranberry dipping sauce. In other words, heaven between bread. All that was missing was the sweet potatoes, but I really did not miss them much. The stuffing was just like homemade and perfectly cooked. The squash and the cheese complimented each other perfectly. With each bite, i drizzled on the cranberry sauce adding that sweet-tartness to my dinner. And of course, the star of the sandwich, the turkey. There was NOTHING dry or bland about this bird. With every bite, I was getting more and more excited for November 25. To substitute for the pumpkin pie, I tried the pumpkin pie martini. Overall, it could have used a bit more pumpkin and slightly less Bailey's. Otherwise, it was still enjoyable. Personally, when you get this sandwich, I would recommend pairing it with the Southern Tier Imperial Pumking Ale which is still on tap. I also recommend saving room for dessert (the pumpkin cheesecake) which we unfortunately did not. I usually limit my visits to Melt to once a month, however, the New Bomb Turkey may lead me to go back once more in November, this time leaving room for pumpkin cheesecake. Another successful and delicious trip to Melt. Matt Fish, you never disappoint me.

With that being said, I would like to take time to thank all veterans on this Veteran's Day. Because of your sacrifices, we Americans have freedoms unmatched anywhere else in the world.

I also would like to inform you, Hungry in Cleveland is now on Twitter. Follow me @HungryInCLE to see where I am eating and what I am cooking.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger.

Cream of the Crop

2010-11-08T10:32:00.000-05:00

So I often wondered what it would be like to be a judge on Iron Chef America. Having some amazing chefs, both the Iron Chef and the challenger, presenting their dishes to me, explaining how they made it and their inspiration for it. Of course, there would be the evaluation of their use of the secret ingredient. Well, maybe one day I will be lucky enough to have this experience. For now, the closest I have gotten is sitting at the Chef's Table at Crop Bistro and Bar in the Warehouse District.

Recently, a friend and I were looking to catch up over dinner. She suggested Crop since she knows one of the chefs there. This made me happy since I wanted to go to Crop for some time. I have heard of some of Chef Steve Shimoler's innovative techniques and Crop's reputation for using the freshest and highest quality ingredients but never experienced it for myself. I also heard good things about Crop from other foodie friends, so my expectations were quite high. Crop is tucked away on West 6th next door to the late Dick Jacobs' favorite spot, Johnny's. Unless you are specifically looking for it, it is easy to pass up. However, this is all going to change early next year when Crop moves across the Lorain-Carnegie bridge to it's new home on West 25th and Lorain, in an old bank building.

Since I was a bit early, I had the chance to enjoy a "Spooky Spice" martini and chat a bit with the bartender about the unique martini offerings. The Spooky Spice was their take on a pumpkin martini and everything a pumpkin martini should be. I have had my share of pumpkin martini's and this one takes the cake...or pie in this case. A pumpkin martini should be like drinking spiked pumpkin pie. Crop's "Spooky Spice" used fresh pumpkin puree shaken with pumpkin liquor and rum. It was garnished with nutmeg and a cinnamon twist. Other martini's that caught my eye were the "Bloody Devil" (pepper infused vodka, and chipotle bloody Mary mix), "Anthony's Caprese Martini" (a caprese salad in a glass), and, not that I would drink it, "The NASCAR" (Wild Turkey, BBQ sauce, peanut butter, and beer...I kid you not). This also gave me time to take in the intimate, cozy atmosphere which I hope will not be lost once they move to their bigger location. And now for the food!

If I had to give this a title like an Iron Chef battle, I would call it "Battle Innovation". Waiting for us, was a basket of buffalo style popcorn. Think movie-theater meets corner bar. The popcorn was drizzled with a blend of buffalo seasoning, sriracha sauce (a personal favof mine), bleu cheese, and celery. Everything came together perfectly. Now sitting at the chef's table we were able to chat with the chefs as they were cooking. Even Chef Steve came and talked with us throughout our meal about some of his innovative cooking methods. One menu item seemed to jump out at me and I had to ask "What is Lobster Latte". I love lobster and I love latte but how do the two come together? The name comes from the method used to prepare Chef Steve's interpretation of lobster bisque. He has discovered a way to use a cappuccino machine to prepare the dish. The bisque itself is not the thick, creamy bowl of goodness you are used to. Instead, it is a lighter broth, served with a claw and foam in a latte glass. A perfect appetizer. Next, we were served braised pork belly with a tomato based broth. I will admit, I am not a huge pork person (aside from bacon), but I enjoyed the crispy saltiness of the outside and the middle was so tender, it melted in my mouth. For my entree, I decided on Crop's interpretation of a soul food classic, chicken and waffles. I knew I was not going to get the traditional Southern fried chicken on top of a Belgian waffle drenched in maple syrup. Instead, I was presented with two deep fried chicken breasts on top green beans with bacon, and a rosemary infused waffle on the side. The plate was drizzled with a maple syrup based reduction to add just the right amount of sweetness to compliment the crispiness of the chicken with the saltiness of the bacon in the green beans. I also must add, there was enough to share or have for lunch the next day (and yes, the second piece of chicken made a fabulous lunch). The presentation was visually appealing however, the dish would have scored perfect with me for taste bud appeal. Another reason I wanted to take the second piece home was I spotted pumpkin strudel on the dessert menu and just had to have it. Again, it did not disappoint and met this high expectations of pumpkininess set by the Spooky Spice martini. If you are looking for a unique experience for date night, or a night out with the girls (or guys even), I would recommend Crop Bistro and Bar. For a truly memorable experience, make reservations for the Chef's Table. Either way, come hungry, prepared to share with friends, or take home a doggie bag.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger.

The Best Thing I Ever Ate...Part 1

2010-11-01T16:07:00.000-04:00

Happy November Everyone! I hope everyone had a great Halloween full of their favorite treats and pumpkin libations. With that said, let the days get shorter, the temps get cooler, and the thoughts of TURKEY fill our minds and pallets. November is a great month for foodies. A few events worth noting before I get to the point of this blog.

*The Fabulous Food Show will be at the IX Center November 12-14. This is a wonderful time to meet celebrity chefs (Guy Fieri, Michael Symon, and Giada De Laurentiis to name a few), taste treats from local businesses, and do a little wine tasting. Tickets are $25 in advance (wine tasting is $5 extra). For more information visit: http://www.fabulousfoodshow.com/

*Christmas time is here...well, sort of. A Cleveland Christmas favorite is now on taps and will soon be on store shelves this week. The elves at Great Lakes Brewing Company have the 2010 edition of Christmas Ale ready to bring holiday cheer to all.

*Cleveland Independent Restaurant Week November 1-14. For two weeks, many local favorites are offering three courses prix fixe for $30. A complete list of participating restaurants and menus is available here: http://www.clevelandindependents.com/wp/?page_id=280

*Thanksgiving: November 25. Need I say more??

Ok, so one of my favorite shows on Food Network is "The Best Thing I Ever Ate". Each episode, Food Network personalities and other famous foodies give their best of list related to a particular topic. Every time I watch this show, I often wonder how I would answer "What is the best (fill in the blank) you have ever eaten? Some are hands down easier then others. Last week, while dining at Lola, I came across a dish that would answer that question. If I am ever asked what is the best dessert, sweet surprise, etc. I have ever had, I would hands down say the 6 a.m. Special at Lola on East 4th Street. As we all know, Chef Michael Symon loves bacon and finds unique ways to work it into any dish. When I first heard of the bacon ice cream served at Lola, it immediately topped my list of things I MUST eat. The ice cream is actually maple bacon ice cream. This combination of sweet, salty, crunchy, and creamy is making my mouth water as I type this post. It is served on top two pieces of brioche French toast and drizzled with maple syrup. On the side, it is paired with caramelized apples. I already love the "Breakfast for Dinner" concept, but the "Breakfast for Dessert" idea takes the cake. I may even recommend ordering this first just to make sure you have room for it. I was also informed this ice cream is the base for the apple bacon bourbon milkshake at B-Spot. Iron Chef, you once again succeeded at infusing bacon into a very unlikely treat.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger.

Like a kid in a candy store...only all grown up!

2010-10-25T15:18:00.000-04:00

With Halloween being a few days away, I find it very fitting to write about candy, particularly chocolate. I could have chose to write about traditional chocolate and trick-or-treat favorites but after a recent visit to Tremont, my mind was changed. Until last week, I have only heard of Lilly Handmade Chocolates but never stopped in, usually because it was either closed or I on my way to meet friends elsewhere in Tremont. However, it was well worth the wait and curiosity when I finally stopped in the little shop on the corner of Starkweather and Professor Ave. Lilly specialized in pairing wine and beer with their eclectic handmade truffles. With truffles coming in flavors such as black perigord truffle infused honey coated in dark chocolate (The Black Diamond) to rose and marigold petals with white tea coated in white chocolate (The Lilly) you can let your taste buds go crazy. There are favor combinations that can spark anyone's taste buds. While browsing the almost twenty different truffles to taste, I decided on The Red Planet 2.0 (a black pepper red wine reduction, syrah soaked strawberries, dark chocolate, sprinkled with freeze dried raspberries on top). With three of my favorite flavors (red wine, chocolate, and strawberry) in one truffle, how could I go wrong? The tartness of the berries went perfectly with the rich dark chocolate. Since it was Cleveland Beer Week when I stopped by, next to each truffle was a recommended beer. I cannot wait to go back and see what is recommended for my next chocolate and alcohol indulgence.

I would love to say I did pair this truffle with the recommended beer or wine, but I very distracted from the numerous bottles of beer on the shelves. I cannot remember seeing such a diverse and eclectic beer selection anywhere aside from a few bars. From chocolate oatmeal stouts, to fruit beers, to pumpkin ales I have never heard of, the beer selection would give any beer connoisseur that "kid in a candy store" feeling. O wait, I was in a candy shop but one meant for grown ups. There even was a breakfast stout which very much intrigues me. The wine selection was decent, offering a nice variety, but not as extensive as you would find in a wine shop. Also, the people there are so friendly and helpful. They never rushed me in making a selection, and offered their honest opinions about their products. I never felt pressured into buying something, however with chocolate, beer, and wine, I could never leave empty handed. If you are looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth in a very different way or try a beer you could only dream about, I would recommend Lilly Handmade Chocolates. Also, it would be a perfect stop to start off a girls' night out or girls' night in. If you are looking for something for that special someone, I would also recommend visiting Lilly.

Now for a few side notes, one being quite sad. This Saturday, October 30th is the last day Michael Symon's Bar Symon will be open for business. If you have not already, make a trip out to Avon Lake this week to bid a fond farewell to one of the Iron Chef's restaurants.

Today, October 25th at Great Lakes Brewing Company, it's beginning to look alot like Christmas!! Christmas Ale will be tapped tonight at 4 p.m. Also, there may be a chance to try some of Lilly's truffles made specifically for this event. Joy to the World!!

Finally, if you have not already heard, the popular Cleveland food truck Dim and Den Sum will be opening a restaurant this spring on W.25th in the Market District.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger.

Cheers to Pumpkin Beers!

2010-10-18T11:45:00.000-04:00

In honor of Cleveland Beer Week, the autumn season, and my love of pumpkin, I present to you the beginning half of my reviews of pumpkin ale. There are still some out there I have yet to try, but seeing as it is Cleveland Beer Week, I figured to blog about the ones I have enjoyed so far. On a side note, for events related to Cleveland Beer Week, check out http://www.clevelandbeerweek.org. If you have found these pumpkin ales at other locations please comment. I can only speak for where I have been and have seen them. I do not want to give false information. So now in no particular order, part one of the Hungry in Cleveland pumpkin beer review.

*Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale (enjoyed at the Winking Lizard Tavern, Lakewood. Available on tap at Winking Lizard and Melt Bar and Grilled Also sold in 4-packs at Giant Eagle, and various other locations): This was my first pumpkin ale of the season, and a perfect start. This was Winking Lizard's September Glass of the Month so I also ended up with a souvenir. The glass was rimmed with brown sugar and cinnamon which added to the strong, yet not overpowering pumpkin flavor. Very easy to drink and on the sweeter side of pumpkin ales. Highly recommended, especially if you are new to pumpkin ales. Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.0%

*Southern Tier Pumking Imperial (sold by the bottle at Little Italy Wines, Giant Eagle in Legacy Village, Lilly Handmade Chocolates in Tremont. Also on tap at Melt Bar and Grilled): So far, this one has been my favorite. I enjoyed this as the perfect kickoff beer to the Browns/Bengals tailgate I was at on October 3. This beer is like pumpkin pie in a glass. It is a heavier beer and quite strong (9.0% ABV). In my opinion, it has the perfect balance of pumpkin and spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, etc). If you are looking for a perfect kickoff to a tailgate, football party, or Halloween celebration, I recommend Southern Tier Pumpking.

*Shipyard Brewing Company Pumpkinhead (enjoyed at Lincoln Park Pub. Also available at Melt Bar and Grilled): Probably the lightest I have enjoyed to date, but still a notable pumpkin flavor. Paired well with my tacos on Taco Tuesdays at Lincoln Park Pub (Tacos $2.50 each). Would recommend if you order a heavier sandwich at Melt and want a good pumpkin ale to drink. Very satisfying on taste and drinkability (sorry Bud Light for stealing your word). ABV: 5.1%

*Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin Ale (enjoyed at Melt Bar and Grilled. Limited availability at Winking Lizard beginning October 25): In this review, I must say pumpkin ales at Melt hold a very special place in my heart after a very memorable third date in September 2009. Very fitting that a pumpkin ale was enjoyed at Melt in October 2010 with the same person. I guess what I am saying is the true way to a girl's heart is pumpkin ale and a huge sandwich. Also, just nothing that she loves pumpkin and incorporating it into an early date...but I will digress from memory lane and talk beer now. Drinks very similar to Dogfish Head and Shipyard. Again, a good pronounced pumpkin flavor and did not fill me up prior to enjoying my sandwich (The Smoky Russian). ABV: 5%.

*Buffalo Bill's America's Original Pumpkin Ale (enjoyed at Lincoln Park Pub, and available at most Giant Eagles in a 6 pack): A classic fall 6 pack. I would not go as far to say this is pumpkin pie in a glass, but there is a good balance of spice and pumpkin. No Halloween party is complete without it. ABV: 5.2%

*Harvest Moon by Blue Moon (available most places where beer is sold): Considering I enjoy most Blue Moon beers, this is not one of my favorite pumpkin ales. It is good, however I prefer a stronger pumpkin flavor. I enjoy it and have no problem buying it, unless there are other options such as those mentioned above. As far as Blue Moon goes, I will stick with the original with an orange. ABV: 5.7%

*Smuttynose Brewing Company Pumpkin Ale (Enjoyed at Reddstone): Wait...I thought I ordered pumpkin ale. The only thing that indicated this was a pumpkin ale, was the label. Very hoppy and no pumpkin or spice. Unless I just had a bad bottle, I do NOT recommend this one. ABV: 5.6%

By mid-Noveber, I hope to have Part 2 finished. I am eagerly awaiting Great Lakes Pumpkin Ale (only available on tap at the Brewpub on Market Street off W. 25th). I also discovered a few others on the menu at Melt that I must try. Overall, for a variety of pumpkin ales, I would recommend Melt. They have three different pumpkin ales on tap and at least 5 bottled varieties. On October 23rd, in celebration of Cleveland Beer Week and Halloween, Wonder Bar on East 4th will be holding a Pumpkin Party.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger.

Not just a summer treat

2010-10-06T16:13:00.000-04:00

When most people think of ice cream, they think of a cool treat on a hot summer day. While this is very true, I am one of those people who enjoys ice cream all year long. It is not uncommon for me on a cold January day, curled up in my Snuggie (yes I own and love the Snuggie) watching the snow fall, and enjoying an ice cream cone. I recently enjoyed my favorite flavor of fall, pumpkin, in two very cool ways, pumpkin gelato and pumpkin ice cream.

Now you may be wondering what is the difference between ice cream and gelato aside from gelato being Italian. Texturally, gelato is much more smooth. It has lower butterfat and sugar contents and the freezing process varies slightly from that of ice cream. Many of the restaurants in Little Italy serve gelato as well as a few smaller gelaterias throughout the Cleveland area (Legacy Village and Cedar/Fairmount come to mind). I enjoyed my pumpkin gelato from Presti's bakery in Little Italy as an end of week treat to myself. I did not go in with the intent of getting gelato, however I was pleasantly surprised as I was paying for my lemon biscottis (yes, there will be a future blog all about the deliciousness that is Presti's bakery). As the girl behind the counter handed me my small cup of chilly pumpkin heaven, she mentioned that I was the first one to purchase the pumpkin gelato which was just put in the cooler. As I noticed the small dent in the tub behind the cooler window, I could not help but feel happy and in some way accomplished.

Despite the chill in the air, football being played, and pumpkin being enjoyed, I can now officially say it is fall for me. No, not because the Browns finally got their first win this past Sunday against the Bengals, but I enjoyed Pumpkin Pie ice Cream from my favorite ice cream place, Honey Hut. I have no problem saying Honey Hut IS the BEST ice cream in Cleveland. I also would go on a limb to say in the state of Ohio, but that has yet to be determined. If you are new to Cleveland or just visiting, make the trip to Honey Hut (Old Brooklyn, Parma, Strongsville, Brecksville, Bay Village...the location does NOT matter). If you are a Cleveland native and have not been to Honey Hut, shame on you. Pumpkin Pie ice cream, or Pumpkin Pecan if you are feeling a little nutty, is available from October 1-end of season. Check with each location about end of season since this does seem to vary. I can say the Old Brooklyn location is open until November 21 and will reopen on St. Patrick's Day 2011. The pumpkin pie ice cream tastes exactly like you would think...that Thanksgiving dessert in ice cream form. True to Honey Hut's style, it is sweetened with honey giving it that "little something extra" that I love so much. Not only did I enjoy a small cone there, I took a quart home with me. Yes, of all the pumpkin treats I have enjoyed and will enjoy this fall, Honey Hut Pumpkin Pie ice cream is my favorite.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger.

Culinary adventure #1...Pumpkin Lasagna

2010-09-27T10:59:00.000-04:00

So last Friday, I had a craving for lasagna. Instead of going down to Little Italy and getting a piece from one of my favorite restaurants there, I decided it would be more fun to make my own. Afterall, it has been quite some time since I made it for myself, mainly because lasagna is not something that can be made in a single portion. I began searching through numerous lasagna recipes for inspiration. One thing I must note is, with the exception of my grandma's family recipes, I rarely stick to a recipe. For me, they lay the foundation to release my creativity through food. Recipes provide me the basic ingredients and cooking conditions. The rest, I leave up to imagination. One particular lasagna recipe that I came across jumped out at me in my search...pumpkin lasagna. Perfection for my foundation seeing as my favorite fall flavor is pumpkin (yes, I also am hard at work tasting various pumpkin beers, lattes, muffins, etc etc to blog about in the future). So here is how pumpkin infused itself into a familiar Italian favorite.

For my sauce, I made red sauce of tomato sauce, Zinfandel, basil, and various other spices. The thing I love about making sauces is they allow you to season to your liking. One herb I always find myself using in sauces and Italian cooking is basil. There is something about the sweetness that really brings out the tomato and pulls together a nice pasta dish or pizza. But enough of my basil bias and on to my cheese filling. Here is where the pumpkin and "autumn-ness" comes in. I used a blend of romano, ricotta, and mozzarella cheeses and one small can of pumpkin puree (like you would for pumpkin pie). Now be careful when buying your canned pumpkin because on the shelf right next to pumpkin puree is pre-made pumpkin pie filling. This layer I seasoned only with cinnamon. Next time, I may also add a dash of nutmeg hoping to bring out the pumpkin a little more. Now one thing I love about making lasagna is the freedom to build it however you want. I chose to also add zucchini which was sauteed in garlic and sweet onion, and baby portabella mushrooms. When you make this, you can add meat, sausage, other veggies, or just more cheese. After topping with more of the shredded mozzarella and romano and a light sprinkle of fresh basil (there's that basil bias again), a half hour or so later, my craving was fulfilled. I served it with acorn squash that was baked with butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar, and a piece of ciabatta along with a glass of the Zinfandel. The perfect comforting fall meal for a slightly chilly September Sunday evening (after a tough Browns loss too). With that being said, the leftovers I packed for lunch are calling me.

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill you hunger.

Five Star Dinner of a Five Star Friend

2010-09-21T08:37:00.000-04:00

One of my really close friends recently had the pleasure of dining at Northeastern Ohio's only five-star restaurant, Chez Francois in Vermillion. I would like to thank her for sharing this experience with me and allowing me to pass it on to you. So without anymore from me:

Ooh-la-la

I admit it. I’m a food snob. So the fact that I hadn’t been to Chez Francois in Vermilion – this region’s only 5-star restaurant – was bothering me. But Chez Francois isn’t the kind of place you just go to for no good reason. So, I got myself a new job, which gave people something to celebrate, and landed me a chance to check this place out.

First of all, I know what you’re thinking. Vermilion? What’s a 5-star restaurant doing in Vermilion? Serving amazing food, that’s what. And there’s a dress code. This is a place that is truly about the complete dining experience. It is worth the drive, trust me. But considering that you do have quite the drive to get there, I would recommend making reservations on the early side. Service is not at all rushed at Chez Francois, which allows you to linger in the rustic French atmosphere, enjoy your wine, and eat even more delicious fare.

We started our evening with an amuse bouche of English pea puree with crème fraiche. It was light, fresh, and flavorful. And it’s the perfect introduction to what Chez Francois does so well – seasonal cooking. The menu here changes every season, so don’t get too attached to any one dish.

Our round of appetizers included foie gras, coquilles St. Jacques (scallops, whipped potatoes, and cream sauce), and lobster in puff pastry with black currant sauce. I highly recommend the foie gras, not just because it’s incredibly good, but it’s incredibly different. Chez Francois gives you plenty of opportunity to challenge your palette. This isn’t fusion cooking (not that there’s anything wrong with fusion) – this is straight-up butter, cream, truffles, rich French cooking. The foie gras was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, served with cinnamon nut bread and a peach glaze and paired with a dessert wine. The black currant sauce on the lobster puff pastry was divine, even if it somewhat took away from the taste of the lobster itself.

My dinner entrée was beef Wellington – filet wrapped in puff pastry, served with (more) foie gras, shaved truffles, and two different sauces (one mustard, the other similar to a bordelaise). The beef was superb and perfectly done and the ratio of beef to puff pastry was spot-on (lots of beef, with just enough puff pastry to cover it). But what took this dish to the next level were the sauces and truffles, giving it an intense earthy, smoky flavor. The other diners enjoyed veal medallions, lightly breaded and topped with cream sauce and various seafood; veal chop; and lobster ravioli.

Dessert was raspberries Romanoff, with homemade vanilla and chocolate chunk ice cream. While it was delicious, I found myself having dessert envy over the chocolate molten cake next to me. Given the choice again, I don’t think I’d pass up the opportunity for one of Chez Francois’ chocolate creations.

Overall, it was a fabulous dining experience – from the food to the atmosphere to the service. To make your next truly special occasion over-the-top, think about taking a drive out to Vermilion.

As an aside, there is a wine bar located at Chez Francois called Touche. It’s more casual, but features some of the same appetizers as the restaurant.

Girls Night with the Iron Chef

2010-09-15T09:14:00.000-04:00

One of Cleveland's culinary high points would have to be Iron Chef Michael Symon. As this blog progresses, you will probably notice many references to him, his restaurants, book, etc. etc. I remember loyally watching the first season of "The Next Iron Chef" on Food Network back in 2007 because of him and when he won, I was almost as excited as I will be when the Browns, Cavs, and Indians bring home a championship. To me, he is what Cleveland is all about. A hometown boy who made it big, yet remains true to his roots. It is fun watching "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" when he is on since many of his choices are Cleveland favorites (pierogi from Sokolowski's, beef jerky from the West Side Market, and the polish boy from a food truck outside of Dean Supply on East 30th and Woodland). I started following his career a few months prior to "Next Iron Chef" when Cleveland Magazine named him "Best Local Chef". Next to my Snuggie, my best Chirstmas gift this past year was his book "Live to Cook". I have dined at all four of his Cleveland restaurants (Lola, Lolita, Bar Symon, and B Spot) but have yet to go to Roast in Detroit simply because I was only in Detroit once this past winter for the auto show. However, next time I am in Motown, a trip to Roast is a must. I have chose to focus my first Michael Symon related blogs on Lolita in Tremont. Maybe since it was the location of his first restaurant (Lola was first here prior to moving to it's current location on East 4th Street). Maybe it is my way of wishing the Iron Chef a Happy Birthday (September 19). Most likely, it is because I had a wonderful Girls Night there a few weeks ago with two of my bestest friends from high school and the meal I enjoyed is still fresh on my pallet.

About a month ago, one of my best friends was back home in Cleveland for a few weeks. I figured that before going back to Denver, she must eat at one of Michael Symon's restaurants. We decided to have a Girls Night at Lolita in Tremont and it was the perfect choice. One thing I love about Lolita is the atmosphere. It has that chic bistro charm and fits perfectly with the eclectic feel of the Tremont neighborhood. It has a nice blend of elegance and simplicity, much like the Iron Chef's food. After choosing a bottle of wine to share (Lucien Albrecht, Gewurztraminer) we enjoyed the chickpea dip (hummus) appetizer that probably put most hummus I have had to shame. For my entree, I had the gnocchi which was tossed with peas, pancetta, swiss chard, and ricotta. The saltiness of the pancetta perfectly complimented the sweetness of the peas, and the lightness of the ricotta salata balanced with the plump gnocchi. On the side, I had to try the fried brussels sprouts. Now you may be thinking "Fried brussels sprouts, ewww!" I now ask you to please pause for a moment here to get whatever your initial idea of fried brussels spouts (probably something drenched in batter and deep fried) out of your head. These were pan fried (no breading, batter frying, etc) and wilted with capers and walnuts. The tanginess from the sprouts went very well with my entree as well. Finally, for dessert, what girls night isn't complete without something chocolate and Lolita's Chocolate Pot du Creme fulfilled that requirement. Simply put, it is the best chocolate mousse dessert you will ever eat.

I would recommend Lolita for any occasion from girls night, to date night, to a special celebration. The menu has something to please anyone, even vegetarians. I also recommend it for Happy Hour (see their website listed above for specials). From prior visits, I also would recommend the macaroni and cheese. One thing, please promise me you will try the brussels sprouts ;)

Until next time...follow your heart, fulfill your hunger.

From the Ice Cream Man to Dim and Den Sum

2010-09-07T12:51:00.000-04:00

Growing up, one of my favorite food memories (and trust me, there are many) was buying ice cream from the ice cream truck that would come on my grandparents' street or after a softball game. I think I was able to hear the familiar tune streets away and I would drop whatever I was doing, find my grandparents, and wait on the curb. I never got the same thing twice, but my favorite would probably have to be the cherry sherbet in the shape of a baseball glove with a bubblegum baseball. Maybe it was my love of baseball, the fact that it was a shade of pink, or the simple fact it just tasted good. Those days are now only memories but I do see that same truck driving around from time to time, only now instead of white, it is school bus yellow. I have now discovered a new food truck around the streets of Cleveland that in a way, takes me back to those summer days of the ice cream man.

Dim and Den Sum is making it's way onto the Cleveland culinary map. I first found out about this truck on a friend's Facebook page, thus becoming a D&DS fan. Luckily, one of their regular stops was near my place of employment over lunch. However, until today, I finally made it a point to stop for lunch, and I was far from disappointed. They had a few different lunchtime options ranging from different types of tacos, to burgers, to a vegetarian curry, all very reasonably prices. Everything is also made to order. Since I could not decide between the three different tacos (chicken, fish, and BLT) and since they were 3/$6, I had one of each. They were a perfect lunch or snack sized and well stuffed. The first one I had, and ended up being my favorite, was the fish. I would like to consider this a Mexican-Asian fusion taco since the flavors of the catfish and slaw were distinctly Asian, while the corn and tortilla were the Mexican half. It had a very sweet and light flavor to it and next time I visit this truck, I may opt for three fish tacos. The second one I tried was the BLT taco, taking a deli favorite of mine and wrapping it on a tortilla. Again, I was not disappointed, however I would have preferred a bit more aioli on the side to add and my bacon a little more crisp (again, this is my personal bacon preference). Lastly, was the chicken taco, again following the Mexican-Asian fusion of the fish taco. I loved the teriyaki flavor and next time would consider adding a little of the Sriracha hot sauce since I love the combination of sweet and heat.

Dim and Den Sum is also a finalist to be on the next season of Food Network's "The Great Food Truck Race". They currently are in third place and there are only a few days left to vote. It would be awesome to see another Cleveland culinary star competing on national TV. So please take a moment to vote for them here: http://foodtrucks.teamdigital.com/?vty=foodtrucks#page_top.

Check out their weekly schedule and menu online and "Like" them on Facebook. Next time they are in your neck of the woods or you see them on the streets of Cleveland (their truck is very hard to miss), I highly recommend trying sum.

Until next time...Follow your heart, fulfill your hunger.

Welcome friends, neighbors, and strangers

2010-09-01T09:14:00.000-04:00

So I finally did it, something I have talked and thought about for quite some time. That is, starting this blog. Plain and simple, I love food. Everything about it, from cooking, learning about it, being obsessed with Food Network, and most importantly EATING! I am far from an expert but I still chose to share my culinary and dining adventures with you. So why listen to me? That is entirely up to you. Maybe your new to Cleveland and need advice on where to eat. Maybe you need some form of entertainment to lighten up your day and you stumbled across this blog. Maybe you are a dear friend of mine and are reading out of love and support. Or maybe, much like me, you are just hungry in Cleveland (or whatever city you call home).

You may be wondering "Why Cleveland?" and I am here to answer that. Aside from being born and raised here, Cleveland has recently been emerging onto the foodie scene over the past few years. Many of our historic neighborhoods such as Tremont and Little Italy offer numerous options to satisfy anyone's pallet. Aside from being the home of rock and roll, the Indians, Browns, and Cavaliers, Cleveland is home of Iron Chef Michael Symon, The West Side Market, Melt Bar and Grilled (recently featured on both Food Network and Travel Channel), and the Great Lakes Brewery. We made the pierogi popular, ethnic food enticing, and show nothing but love for local favorites. So move over New York, Los Angeles, and San Fancisco, Cleveland is making a mark on the culinary map.

As mentioned earlier, I am not an expert and this blog focuses on my experiences and opinions. You may agree and you may not. Feel free to offer comments and suggestions, however I ask one thing, PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL. This blog is meant to be fun and lighthearted. Anything with food should be fun and enjoyable. I look forward to sharing my adventures with you and hope they inspire you in some way.

And now a look at things to come. Since it is September 1, today begins my annual quest for "All things Pumpkin". Fall is slowly becoming my favorite season and nothing says "autumn" to me better than pumpkin. Ok, football is right up there too (GO BROWNS!). I already was tipped off on Facebook that Pumpkin Spice Lattes are in season at Starbucks. I do plan on consuming many of those and comparing various Pumpkin Lattes from both national and local coffee shops. I was also beyond excited to read my monthly "Big Cheese Club" e-mail from Melt Bar and Grilled to see that their September beer feature is Southern Tier Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale (more on why pumpkin beer and Melt hold a very special place in my heart in a future blog). Winking Lizard's "Glass of the Month" is Dogfish Head Punkin Ale. Look for another future blog all about pumpkin beers. So with that being said...I hopefully am leaving you hungry for more.

Until next time...Follow your heart, fulfill your hunger.