Tuesday's Tidbits

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

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!

(Fat) Tuesday's Tidbits

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!

Salvation through Food

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!     

Tuesday's Tidbits

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!

Ladies Bite Out

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

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

Tuesday's Tidbits

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

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.