Martinis, Etiquette, and a Seance!

This past Friday, I engaged in all three at the Hanna Theater.  Thanks to my dear friend Julie, I was invited to a special social media night to see the Great Lakes Theater production of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, which also included an introduction to making cocktails and an etiquette lesson.

Stirred, not shaken!

Our night began with a demo on how to properly make a martini.  Noel Coward was a huge fan of gin martinis and was often seen waving one towards the stage during a performance of one of his plats.  We learned a classic martini is made of equal parts gin (or vodka) and vermouth, chilled, stirred, and strained into a martini glass.  (Sorry James Bond, shaken not stirred is not the correct way to make a martini).  We were then given the choice to have either a gin or vodka martini garnished with either an olive or lemon.   Of course, I went with gin and a lemon garnish.

Colleen

With our martinis in hand, we then headed upstairs for an etiquette lesson by Colleen Harding of the Cleveland School of Etiquette.  Colleen's lecture focused on proper etiquette at a cocktail party.  She explained the importance of using proper wine glasses with stems, how and when to join in a conversation, and how to appropriately give someone your business card.  As cute and chic as stemless wine glasses may be, if you are going to be in a situation where you are holding your glass, they will cause your wine to warm  quickly from body heat ruining the characteristics of the wine.  Also, did you know it is not proper to hand someone your card initially, if at all.  Colleen pointed out you should only give someone your card if they ask for it.  Remember, you are at a social event, not a poker tournament.  

Hilarious and "spook-tacular"!

We then were given a brief tour and history of the Hanna before showtime.  In 2008, Great Lakes Theater renovated the Hanna to create a more intimate experience for theater goers.  I personally feel there is not a bad seat in the house.  Also, the bar located in the back of the theater is a gift from Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson.  Tom did perform for three seasons at the Great Lakes Theater.  

Blithe Spirit tells the story of novelist Charles Condomine who wants to research spirits for a novel he is working on.  Along with his wife Ruth, their friends the Bradmans, and Madame Arcati, they participate in a seance with leads to the spirit of Charles' first wife, Elvira, being summonsed to visit Charles.  Elvira is unhappy to find Charles has remarried and tries to sabotage his marriage to Ruth.  The play itself is comical and very enjoyable.  It is running currently through March 10.  You can save $10 on tickets by using the code: NEO when you purchase tickets online, over the phone (216-241-6000), or at the Playhouse Square box office.

Delish!!

Afterwards, Katie, Julie, Jessica, Chris, Kasey, and Mary head to Cowell & Hubbard for some late night treats.  I ordered the vegan pizza which was topped with a bed of arugula and balsamic.  It was perfect for a late late dinner!  I cannot wait to return and try an entree and cocktail!  Zack Bruell once again did not disappoint!

**Disclaimer: I was invited to attend social media night at Great Lakes Theater.  I was given a ticket and complimentary cocktail in exchange for blogging about my visit.  As always, all opinions are 100% my own**

Charlene's Top 3 CLE Restaurants

As a part of today's Ohio Blogging Association's All State Blog Swap, I'm happy to introduce you to Charlene from Life in the CLE. Head on over to Charlene's blog to check out my tour of Great Lakes brewery!  On this day, bloggers from around the great state of Ohio are guest posting on one another blogs as a way to help to get one another in our blogging community. For a full listing of blog swap participants, please visit Poise in Parma today.

One of the things that Stephanie and I have in common (beside both playing on BvBCLE Football Teams), is our love of Cleveland food. My group of friends and I have all decided that we all have our go-to spots and our favorite chefs in town. One of the best things about living in Cleveland? The fact that we have so many great spots in town and so many wonderful chefs. This year, I had the wonderful opportunity of getting to know some of these chefs better and also seeing them show their Cleveland pride while celebrating the West Side Market 100th Birthday.

My top 3 favorites? I selected based on food, atmosphere and staff - all three make a huge difference in a dining experience. My top three are pretty obvious choices but here are my go-to’s in town:

1. The Greenhouse Tavern - Jonathon Saywer. Reasons I love this location: It’s on the gorgeous East 4th Street. GHT has a beautiful rooftop bar where you can enjoy a great view of the city, while enjoying a fabulous mixed cocktail (my favorite is the Smartie). The food is to die for. Seriously. I recently took a client to GHT for dinner and every course, from the special Fifth Quarter to our entrees was cooked perfectly. 
2. SOHO - A newer Ohio City spot, the southern feel touches this Northern girl’s heart (even though I’ve always wanted to move south...specifically Dallas or Austin). A great brunch menu is always important and this one is a favorite. The drinks are fun and when celebrating the WSM100 with friends on a cold, rainy day, the staff went above and beyond to make sure we had warm apple cider with rum. One of my favorite brunch drinks is bourbon & bubbles - two of my faves!
3. Hodge’s Cleveland - Chris Hodgson. This spot has quickly become my home away from home. A great, affordable menu with fun spins on classics, Hodge’s is a place where you are sure to find multiple entrees that you will enjoy. The new fall menu features plenty of seasonal food and I can’t get enough of the new gnocchi dish or the spaghetti squash. If you are looking for a great drink - you cannot go wrong with the Pete Rose. My favorite thing about this restaurant though - it just feels like home. I’ve become friends not just with Chris, but also with his staff. There’s something to be said for a staff that knows your favorite drinks and calls you by name. 

Those are my three go-to’s when I have friends, family or clients in town and want to show them a great evening. What’s yours? 

Monday Night Football: The Wrap-Up

Saturday was the day I have been waiting for since Julie first told me about #BvBCLE...GAME DAY!!  Similar to race days, I knew there was nothing else I could do but show up, play hard, and have fun!  After our team dinner at Deagan's on Wednesday, I knew #TeamBrunette was was excited and ready for game day!  When we arrived at CSU Saturday morning, we were pumped up and ready to play! We took the field and played hard, but fell short.

 (Sidenote:  All pictures are from the BvB CLE facebook page.)  

We run we pass we score!  We play we fight for more!  GO BRUNETTES!!

And she's down!

Defense attack!

Congrats to #TeamBlonde!  They beat us 14-0.  However, the true winner is the Cleveland Area Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.  Together, we raised over $36,000 from this event!

Tackling Alzheimer's

At this time, I would like to thank my #TeamBrunette players and coaches.  I will be back next year ready to play...well...wherever you need me to play!  Also, thank you to everyone who came out to the game or made a donation.  Finally, thank you to everyone involved with planning and organizing this event.  I think, especially for the first year, it was amazing.  I am so happy to have been a part of it!    

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 flag football game.  I attended my required 4 practices (and a few more) and achieved my $250 fundraising goal (Thank you donors!).  

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** 

Monday Night Football Week 4: Gear up, Get Psyched!!

I will admit, I could not resist the high school cheerleading flashback with the title...except I only cheered for basketball.  But anyways...I first want to thank everyone who came out the Battle of the Bombshells Happy Hour last week.  Between the raffle tickets and guest bar tending, $1,170 was raised and will be added to the volunteers' (including my own) fundraising efforts.  It was great to finally meet Charlene and Katie in real life and I always love an excuse to hang out with Julie (and finally meet her bf Todd), Nidhi, Kimberly, and Brad.  The next BvB Happy Hour will be May 10th at The Boneyard in Broadview Heights.  More on that in a future MNF post!

Loved this pic Julie...even though you are not in it :(

Over the weekend, I finally received my practice schedule.  As I have mentioned, I am required to attend at least 4 team practices.  I could not be more excited to start either!  I will admit, I don't think I have touched a football since the days of sorority powderpuff in college.  I hope I can still catch.  At least I know I can run!  If you are still on the fence about playing, here are the team practice schedules: 

Team Blonde: 

• April 29 10:30am-12:30pm -Force Fitness 21220 Center Ridge Rd  Rocky River, OH 44116
• May 6 10am-11am -Force Fitness Rocky River
• May 16 7pm-8pm -Force Fitness Rocky River
• May 20 10am-11am -Force Fitness Rocky River
• May 31 7pm-8pm -Force Fitness East location 
  
• June 2 9am-10pm  -Force Fitness East location 
  
• June 7th 6pm-7pm -Force Fitness East location 
  
• June 10th 11am-12pm -Force Fitness East location 

Team Brunette:

April 29 10:30am-12:30pm -Force Fitness 21220 Center Ridge Rd  Rocky River, OH 44116

May 6 11am-12pm -Force Fitness Rocky River

May 16 6pm-7pm -Force Fitness Rocky River

May 20 11am-12pm -Force Fitness Rocky River (a miss for me since it is MARATHON DAY!!)

May 31 6pm-7pm-Force Fitness East location 

June 2 9am-10pm and Car Wash 10am-2pm -Force Fitness East location 

June 7th 7pm-8pm -Force Fitness East location 

June 10th 10am-11am -Force Fitness East location 

FRIDAY is the final day to sign up and play!    Remember, Alzheimer's can develop in anyone at any point in life.  Currently, there are no permanent treatments or cures.  Raising awareness is one way to help fight against this horrible disease.  

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

Monday Night Football Week 1: What is #BvBCLE

Are you ready for some football??

Yes, I am well aware it is baseball season and I am about to get into the really high mileage portion of my Cleveland Marathon training, however I also have signed up to play in the Blondes vs. Brunettes powderpuff football game.  This event is being held by the Cleveland Area Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.  On June 16th, Team Blonde will be facing off against Team Brunette at Cleveland State to raise money and awareness for the fight against Alzheimer's.   Friend and fellow blogger Julie is also involved and has asked me to blog about my experiences as a player.  Each week, I will post something related to #BvBCLE on my "Monday Night Football" posts.  Some will be related to what is going on on the field, while others will introduce you to why I am playing and why Alzheimer's awareness is important.
 Last week, I attended the players and coaches draft event and there is still a need for both players (girls only) and especially coaches (guys or girls).  There is also a need for volunteers and committee members.  For more information, check out the BVB website, Facebook, and Twitter.  Also, stop by Around the Corner in Lakewood on April 18 from 6-8 for the next #BvBCLE happy hour.  I just may be behind the bar that night too. Let's get ready to gear up and tackle Alzheimer's!

From the BvB Facebook page

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

**Disclaimer: I have been asked to blog about my experiences as a player.  I am required to fulfill all responsibilities such as attending practices and fundraising.  All opinions are 100% my own.**

Cooking for a Cause

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

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!

My Best Days Are Ahead of Me!

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

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

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!   

Mangia! Mangia! NEO Food Tour through Little Italy

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!

Tuesday's Tidbits

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

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!

I am still here!!

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!

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

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).