Best Week Ever!

Ok, maybe not best week ever, but this past week has been the best week of 2013.  Do you ever have a good feeling on Sunday that the upcoming week will be a really good one?  Typically, I am always optimistic about the upcoming week or just a new day in general.  However, there was a point on Sunday where I just had a really good feeling something big was going to happen.

One of my favorites from the Stella & Dot spring line!

My week began in the early hours of Sunday when the Notre Dame men's basketball team beat Louisville in 5/OT.  I know, very minor, but I love a close game especially when my team wins.  After maybe 5 or so hours of sleep, I met up with some of the #dirtyrunners for a Sunday morning run.  I will admit, my training for the Cleveland Marathon, has been a bit off, but I felt great after finishing my long run despite falling way behind everyone else for the last few group miles and adding a few more to bring me up to where I should be for training.

Cleveland Rocks!!

While warming up from a chilly run, I set up a Facebook page for one of my latest ventures, becoming  a Stella & Dot stylist!  My good friend Julie has been one and after many conversations, and a little convincing, I signed on!  Afterwards, Brad and I headed to the Great Big Home + Garden Show.  Overall, my favorite part was the garden displays which captured U.S Landmarks.  Some really captured every detail such as the one modeled after Augusta.  As a baseball fan, I was slightly disappointed with the interpretation of Wrigley Field.  They missed the ivy covered wall and to me, it looked like any other baseball field.  After admiring the gardens and deciding we one day will be hot tub owners, we headed to Fat Heads for lunch and beer sampling.  Food wise, I recommend the smokey wings, which are whole chicken wings, rubbed, grilled, then sauced just as I like to make them in the summer.

An ivy-less Wrigley

Augusta.  Felt like we were at the Masters

For the most part, the remainder of the week was somewhat normal.  Brad and I had a wonderful Valentine's Day dinner at The Black Pig where I enjoyed roasted duck and he enjoyed the Ohio Beef entree of steak and short rib, or as Ron Swanson would say, "Turf and Turf".  After dinner, we headed to Great Lakes for dessert.  Aside from tapping the Alberta Clipper, they were offering a tasting of Alberta Clipper, Edmund Fitzgerald, Blackout Stout, and Woodtooth Porter along with a red velvet cupcake, Edmund Fitz ice cream in a chocolate shot glass, and a chocolate covered ginger snap.  In other words, a plate of my favorite treats!!

The way to my heart!

While all the above would make for a pretty awesome, yet normal, week for me, what made this the best week of 2013 so far was a phone call I received on Wednesday morning.  I WAS OFFERED AND I ACCEPTED A LABORATORY CONSULTANT POSITION!!!  I finally found a job that will fit my background, personality, and career aspirations.  Here's to new beginnings on March 4th!!

Celebratory bubbles

**Disclaimer: I was given 2 tickets to the Great Big Home + Garden Show.  All opinions are 100% my own.**

Ready...set...EAT!

As many of you know by now, I will be running the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon on Sunday.  My excitement builds more and more with each passing day as I prepare to run all over the city I love.  It is now time to begin prepping my body for race day through carb loading and hydration, especially with the warmer predicted temps for Sunday.  As wonderful as it may sound, I will not be gorging myself on every carb in site.  Carb loading involves balance and of course an excuse to enjoy some of my favorite foods.  Remember, your body still needs protein and other nutrients for performance and recovery.  Here are some of my prerace favorites!

• Pad Thai.  You have carbs from the noodles, protein from the eggs and peanuts (and if you choose to have chicken or tofu), and veggies.  My favorites include Tea House Noodles and Umami Moto

Instagramed Umami Moto pad thai

• Sushi.  The fish provides protein and omega 3s.  I also love to have edamame as an appetizer which will give me carbs, protein, vitamins, and a little salt to build up electrolytes.  As if I ever need an excuse to visit Pacific East too.
• Pasta.  This is the classic which most people automatically think of.  I would not recommend anything with a heavy cream sauce though.  Head on down to Little Italy and stop in your favorite restaurant.



My Easter cupcakes from Main Street Cupcakes

• Cupcakes.  Just because I love them.  Pre race.  Post race.  Just not during the race.

Hydration is simple...water, Gatorade/Powerade, and coconut water.  I also am allowing myself one beer a day.  Considering my bib number is 312, it is a sign I must have one of these

Goose Island 312

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

Monday Night Football Week 6: May Happy Hour

Another successful practice for Team Brunette is in the books.  While we may have not had our full team together this past Sunday, we will for sure be ready to take on Team Blonde on game day.  If you are wondering where I may be playing on the field, all I am going to say is I better start channeling my inner Montario Hardesty and Emmitt Smith!

Montario

Emmitt

If you may recall,  #BvBCLE held a very successful (and fun!) happy hour a few weeks ago.  This week, we are doing it again!  Come on out to The Boneyard in Broadview Heights for After Hours Happy Hour!  This time, we will be offering $25 all you can eat and drink.  There will be a 50/50 raffle, pool tables, and another chance to meet the BvBCLE players and coaches.  If you cannot make it out and still want to help, a $20 donation will get you a ticket to the big game on June 16th.  Remember, there is still no cure or permanent treatment for Alzheimer's.  

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

**Disclaimer:  I was asked to blog about my experiences as a player for the inaugural #BvBCLE football game.  I am required to attend at least 4 practices and reach a fundraising goal of $250.  All opinions are 100% my own.  Go #TeamBrunette!**

Monday Night Football Week 5: Let Mini Camp Begin!

Yesterday, both Team Blonde and Team Brunette met at Force Sports Rocky River for our first practice.  It was great to finally meet my teammates and opponents.  Many of both the players and coaches have lost or are supporting loved ones battling Alzheimer's which reminded me of the real reason for participating in #BvBCLE.  While it is fun to go out and play a friendly football game, raising awareness about Alzheimer's is why we are all there.  After brief introductions and a review of the rules, the teams broke off and got down to work!  We did some throwing, catching, and blocking drills along with running some routes.  Team Brunette is already shaping up to be a force to be reckoned with if I do say so myself!  We have started working on plays and sharpening our skills for the big game on June 16!  After practice, blonde and brunette players and coaches headed next door to Rocky River Brewing Company for food, brews, and another opportunity to get to know each other better.  Oh yeah...someone also brought "blonde" and "brunette" cupcakes for after practice too...a touchdown in my opinion!

So how can you get tickets to the big game??  A $20.00 donation towards my personal fundraising goal of $250 will get you one ticket.  A $100 donation will get you 6 tickets to the game.

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

**Disclaimer: I was asked to blog about my experiences as a player for the inaugural Blondes vs. Brunettes Powderpuff Football game.  I am required to attend at least 4 practices and raise at least $250 for the Cleveland Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.  All opinions are 100% my own** 

Who's Ready to Rock...and Eat?!

I was very excited to receive an email this morning announcing one of my favorite events will once again be held this summer.  Chef Jam 2012 will taking over the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Sunday, June 10 beginning at 7 p.m.

downloaded from the email

A vibrant food scene and rock and roll are two things Cleveland is well known for.  This event brings them together for one delicious and rockin' Sunday night.  Chefs from at least 19 different restaurants will create a dish inspired by their favorite bands.  Some of my personal favorites from last year were Pier W's "Yellow Submarine" sandwich and Deagan's Kitchen's "Three Little Birds" which was their interpretation of a turducken.  I cannot wait to see what everyone comes up with this year.

Tickets go on sale Monday.  For $65, you can enjoy food from ABC the Tavern, B Spot, Bar Cento, Bluepoint Grill, Bonbon, Flying Fig, Greenhouse Tavern, Melt, Momocho, Moxie, Pier W, Prosperity Social Club, Pura Vida, Sasa, Spice, Tremont Taphouse, Umami, Washington Place and Zack Bruell Restaurants while enjoying great brews from Great Lakes.  Yes, this is all you can eat and drink, but remember to pace yourself.  Last year, I made the mistake of eating at more of a 5K pace instead of marathon pace.  Your ticket also includes admission to the Rock Hall and live entertainment.  Portions will also be donated to various educational programs sponsored by the Rock Hall as well as The Ohio City Farm.  This event has sold out in the past too.  So get ready to rock and eat!!

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

Hot Dog Happiness

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!

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!

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.

Tuesday's Tidbits

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

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!"

A Hidden Gem on Detroit Ave.

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!

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.

 

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

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!

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.