Cleveland favs – Page 8 – Cleveland Rocks, Cleveland Eats

Nam Wah in Berea

Growing up we never went out to eat. We couldn’t afford it, and it also wasn’t as common to dine out as it is now. We would go out to eat every six weeks to celebrate our good grades on our report cards, and my sister and I usually chose The Ground Round or Nam Wah. I don’t remember if they had Vietnamese food on the menu, but they served Chinese food. American-Chinese food (obviously). It was nothing spectacular, but most restaurants weren’t back in the 70s/80s (shhh! let’s let my age be our little secret). Back then, Nam Wah was a tiny little hole in the wall in the strip mall behind McDonald’s on Bagley Road. I remember it being dark with a lot of Asian flair. Over the years they expanded the space, making the restaurant industrial and no longer cozy, and the quality declined. I am happy to report the restaurant is under new management, and they have expanded the menu to include a lot of Vietnamese choices. There is still not a lot of ambiance (there are booths lining the wall to the right behind a little partition), but the food is definitely much improved. The new owners appear to be a couple young guys who are really friendly and enthusiastic.

Back then, I was addicted to their shrimp with lobster sauce. I never got anything else. I thought I was being so fancy ordering shrimp and lobster. I would get the combo platter with fried rice and an egg roll. I loved mixing the rice with the sauce. My sister stuck with chicken chow mein or chop suey. We weren’t that adventurous back then. Chow mein at home meant opening cans of water chestnuts and chow mein noodles and mixing it with celery and a meat. Tasteless and bland. It was different here, more flavorful.

I ordered my shrimp with lobster sauce for old times sake the other day despite the fact that I am allergic to egg and no longer like lobster sauce. It turns out I don’t like other restaurants’ lobster sauce, but the one at Nam Wah is still as good as I remember. It isn’t spicy and can be a little bland, but you can always add mustard sauce or sriracha if you like it spicy. I still love it anyway. I enjoyed making a perfect bite by mixing the pork fried rice and the sauce. The egg roll was nothing to write home about. It was pretty bland and mostly filled with cabbage.

My first visit back in probably twenty years or so was on a cold and rainy night for a bowl of pho. I am happy to report that the pho is delicious. The broth had a good flavor to it, and the meat was plentiful and a little thicker than at other pho places. I think it is even better than Superior Pho, because the broth is just deeper and richer. I could taste the cinnamon, Chinese 5 spice, and star anise in the broth. They serve the pho with the accompanying plate of add-ins, but the add-ins include an herb called culantro, which is a kind of cilantro, in addition to Thai basil. That was definitely unique. No other place I know in Cleveland serves it like that. This is definitely a great bowl of pho. I will definitely be going back and ordering this again.

They serve four different kinds of bahn mi (deli sandwich, grilled chicken, grilled pork and grilled beef) – and it comes with or without a fried egg on it. Do yourself a favor and make sure to break the egg yolk before you bite into it. Otherwise it will come shooting out and drip down your shirt and your hands. I was a mess, but it was worth every bite. The creaminess of the egg mixed with the grilled pork and fresh vegetables. All of the bahn mi include carrot, cilantro, cucumber, daikon, homemade pate, and jalapeno. The bun was soft, and the flavors melded well together. The next time I go I will be ordering the pho and the bahn mi again. I want to try their one of their Dac Biets, which I hear are fantastic.

On my Chinese-focused visit I ordered a cup of wonton soup with my shrimp and lobster sauce to warm me up, and it came served with a side of very flavorful shrimp chips. I had completely forgot about the shrimp chips we used to eat as kids. It was always served like bread or chips and salsa – as a taste teaser. The wonton soup was good. The noodles were more noodle than filling, but the shredded pork and green onions are nice additions to the broth.

I can recommend their unsweetened iced tea. I believe it is made from jasmine tea and is quite delicious. If you want soda it comes in a can. The hot tea is strong and flavorful as well and is served in metal teapots like you find at most Chinese restaurants.I’m just thrilled that folks on the West Side of Cleveland have access to a good Vietnamese restaurant. I hope they take advantage of it.

Contact info:

Nam Wah
392 W Bagley Road
Berea, OH 44017
(440) 243-8181

Buckeye Beer Engine

Buckeye Beer Engine has to be one of my favorite places in Cleveland. I’m shocked I haven’t written about it. It opened in 2007 and is located in Lakewood on Madison Avenue. It is a locally owned, neighborhood brew pub that prides itself on gourmet burgers and gourmet, award-winning beer from Buckeye Brewing Company. If you are looking for a place to explore specialty craft beers, this is one of the better places in Cleveland to do it. In addition to 27 premium draft beers, Beer Engine also features two authentic cask conditioned ales, and 100+ bottles to choose from. I like that the draft beer list tells you what glass the beer will be served in. Not enough places do this, and the shape of the beer glass really does play a role in the enjoyment of a beer. Belgian beers should be served in round glasses, pilsners in long, tall, thin glasses, etc. There is nothing I love more than a good Belgian beer. This one was the “EPIC Brainless on Peaches,” which is a Belgian blonde ale aged in French Chardonnay casks on peaches. With just a hint of peach underlying the delicious blonde ale, I was a very happy camper and savored every drop. And with an ABV of 10.80, I walked out of lunch with a very slight buzz, so be forewarned. Or be prepared to call Uber.

The food is always good. With a small kitchen they limit their menu to items that are primarily grilled or fried. And let’s face it, if you are drinking beer you don’t really care about calories. They offer lots of appetizers that are perfect for sharing, like fried pretzel sticks and beer cheese and mustard dips, wings, “beer caps” (deep fried jalapenos), battered Andouille sausage bites, mac n cheese bites. etc. They feature 20 half-pound burgers as well as sandwiches, salads, platters, many appetizers, and weekly specials. All of the burgers can be easily switched to a Portobello mushroom cap, grilled chicken breast, or homemade spicy black bean patty that makes my vegetarian friends very happy. They feature a burger of the month, a monthly “wildly improbable burger,” and frequent specials.

IMG_20170307_122839 They also have a pretty wide selection of entrees that aren’t listed on the website, such as beer cheesy cheesesteak, meatloaf, a sausage platter, a schnitzel platter, a gouda pork & gravy fries (similar to poutine), and salads. For example, for the entire Lent season they are offering New England clam chowder, conch and crab hushpuppies, linguini frutti di mare (after 5 PM), a beer battered cod hoagie, beer battered fish and chips and drunken mussels. I also saw a sign for a salmon burger.

The first time I came here I ordered the Kobe beef hot dog in a pretzel-bread bun. It’s no longer on the menu, but I loved the fact that they served Kobe beef hot dogs. They now serve Angus beef, but kudos for going for quality from the starting gate.

My absolute favorite burger is the West Side Burger, featuring caramelized onions, sour cream, cheddar cheese and one cheddar potato pierogi on top of a juicy half-pound patty. If I am in the mood for a great burger this is my go-to. The onions are always perfect and the pierogi is just such a fun addition to a burger. The burgers are served with chips, but you can upgrade to a side salad, sweet potato fries, tater tots, or other choices for a couple bucks more. The chips are light and crisp and perfectly salted, so I highly recommend trying them first before you start upgrading. Every burger is also served with a fried dill pickle spear, which is a whimsical little addition.

Their everyday soup is the Chicken Cheddar Ale soup. It is a homemade soup made with chicken-ale broth loaded with cheddar cheese, roasted chicken, red peppers, and onions and topped with crumbled bacon, scallions, cheddar cheese, and served with mini pretzel sticks. I had a bite of it the other day when they mistakenly gave it to me instead of the clam chowder. The soup is surprisingly thick and very flavorful. The roasted chicken is shredded, and the soup is loaded with it.

The New England clam chowder is a total winner, and I was glad that I didn’t just keep the cheddar ale soup. It is in the white chowder base and has lots of clams and small potatoes. I was delighted with the flavor, which was almost buttery to my palate. I almost regretted ordering just a cup and was tempted to order a bowl to go. If you love clam chowder be sure to give this one a try. I have to say it is one of the best chowders I have enjoyed in a restaurant. They comped my chowder due to the mix-up, but I would have happily paid for it. Mistakes happen, and they more than made up for it.

I could not resist the house-made conch and crab hushpuppies when I saw them on the Lent Specials menu. I told my waitress I would probably be taking them to go. She gave me a to go box before they came out, and served the dipping sauce with its lid. That’s service! The hushpuppies were perfectly fried, not too oily and with a crisp coating. The inside was soft and delicious and loaded with seafood. The filling was a mix of crab and conch meat, corn, and scallion. It was served with the Beer Engine whole grain mustard aioli, but I was perfectly happy eating them straight without the aioli. I had one and boxed up the rest.

My most recent burger was the Bob’z Big Boyz Burger, which was a nod to the Big Boy. It was a burger of the month, but is now on the regular menu. It is a 1/3 pound burger topped with American cheese, crinkle cut dill pickle slices, and their homemade Bob’z sauce on a sesame seed bun. It also seems as if it was topped with a lot of chopped up lettuce mixed in the sauce. It was a fun burger and probably better than a Big Boy is nowadays. With the soup and a hushpuppy I got full quickly and took half of my burger home for dinner. The eyes are always bigger than the stomach.

Beer Engine is open every day of the year from 11AM to 2:30AM. I hear they have a great Sunday brunch too. They have a great little patio that is very much in demand in the warmer months. I spent one lovely summer evening on the patio enjoying a West Side Burger and a couple brews with friends. I’m glad that I live so far away from it, because I would be here all the time.

Contact info:

Buckeye Beer Engine
15315 Madison Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107
(216) 226-2337

Chinese New Year at Li Wah

As most of my long-time readers know, one of my favorite meals is going out for dim sum with friends. One of the most fun events of the year is celebrating the Chinese New Year at Li Wah. Li Wah is located in Asia Plaza on East 30th and Payne Avenue. I managed to score a parking space in the side lot, but there was plenty of parking available in the back of the plaza. When we left at 12:30 people were parking along Payne Avenue and the back lot was full. It’s a very popular event.

We met this past Saturday, braving the Arctic temperatures, for dim sum and to watch the Lion Dance. My friend Nancy from Fun Playing with Food put in a lot of work trying to herd all the cats together for this, with several dates and times suggested and schedules compared. In the end, we were six people for dim sum, with three calling off at the last minute. Nancy and her husband got there right at 10 when they opened to get us a premium table. I tried to make it there as close to 10 as I could in solidarity, because there is nothing worse than being hungry and watching all the carts groaning with tasty treats go by as you wait for everyone to get there. They had a pot of tea waiting, and I had brought some fancy chopsticks for everyone to have instead of the wooden disposable ones.

I started off with some wonton soup, which in hindsight I probably should not have had because it filled me up quickly. But I love it and enjoyed every last drop. The bowl was brimming with lots of tender wonton dumplings with a nice firm pork filling. I love the wonton dumplings here because they are full of goodness. Other wonton soups have a lot of extra dumpling dough. These are obviously handmade too. The green onions and light hint of ginger in the broth warmed me up perfectly.

I also ordered a Mai Tai, because come on it’s Saturday brunch. It definitely hit the spot. Not too cloyingly sweet, it was a very nice adult beverage. I loved the apple umbrella instead of the usual basic paper umbrella. I could feel the alcohol hit me about halfway through, so that was nice. I am not a big drinker, so one was perfect.

The first round was chosen right before the rest of the group got there, but they arrived very shortly afterwards. Nancy wanted to strike while she saw the special New Year’s dim sum offerings. She also ordered a sticky rice, because they are very popular at Li Wah and tend to run out quickly. The first round was more sweet than savory. Red bean paste coins and black sesame seed rolls were definitely unique choices that will hopefully bring us luck in the coming year. The red bean paste was a creamy consistency and the whole beans were soft enough that they did not detract from the creaminess of the paste. The black sesame rolls were definitely different. They had a toothsome quality, yet Nancy’s husband equated the consistency as eating jell-o with chopsticks. They appeared to be a flat dough that was rolled out thinly and then rolled into a kind of elongated shape. I don’t know if I would order them again, but they were a fun little treat. The sticky rice was as delicious as usual. Nice and savory with some shrimp flakes added to it. I love their sticky rice there.

Things started getting more intense with the next round. Nancy just kept on ordering for us – lots of favorites, including tofu skin rolls (pork and mushroom filling wrapped in a yuba bean curd wrapper), shu mei (steamed pork and shrimp dumplings), spare ribs with black bean sauce and some other kind of dumpling that kind of looked like their shark dumplings (made with pork and shrimp – not shark). This was definitely my favorite round because I love tofu skin rolls and shu mei. One per person was just enough and we had a couple dumplings from the four piece plates that ended up sitting around to the end. There was simply so much goodness to enjoy we didn’t want to fill up too much.

Another round brought deep fried goodness in the form of deep fried taro and the most amazing dim sum I have ever tasted – a seafood paste wrapped in bacon and deep fried. The deep fried taro dumplings feature taro paste that has been mixed with mushrooms, pork, and shrimp, rolled in a breading and then deep fried until feather light and crispy. As for the bacon-wrapped seafood, the bacon and seafood flavors really melded together well and made for a delightful couple of bites that I savored. I hope I can find it again on regular dim sum days.

By 11, which was the scheduled start time for the Kwan Lion Dance, the restaurant was really filling up. They were setting up large round folding tables in the hallway to accommodate the crowds, and there were lots of carts circulating all around the restaurant. It was just a really fun atmosphere. I forgot to keep photographing, so my photos of the food from here on are non-existent.

By that point I had hit the wall of fullness (thanks, wonton soup), but a couple other notable bites were the shrimp stuffed tofu and the deep fried eggplant stuffed with pork and shrimp, which is one of Nancy’s all-time favorites. We ordered some green vegetables for some roughage – the Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce. I liked the flavor a lot, but it was a little overcooked. I didn’t mind it being a little softer, but some people prefer it to be much crisper than it was. I think it had been on the cart for a while. It still hit the spot as a veggie in a dumpling-heavy meal.

On yet another round Nancy grabbed orders of steamed taro cakes and turnip cakes, which the server graciously divided in half for our table to share, as well as potstickers. The taro cakes were slightly overcooked and fell apart rather easily. The turnip cakes were good. They are a little creamier than the ones at Emperor’s Palace, which are my absolute favorites. I can’t say anything about the potstickers. I don’t think I ate one because I was just full.

Nancy ordered two Beijing duck steam rolls when they came around at the very end, because she really wanted some roasted pork or duck from the hanging cart. At that point we were so full that the two couples enjoyed splitting the steam rolls, I watched them enjoy them, and the sixth member of our table got a nibble of the duck meat. I don’t think we could have handled a huge plate of roasted meat, although their roasted meats are delicious.

We had started winding down on the food feast when the Lion Dance started. The Kwan family has been busy this season performing their Lion Dance all over Cleveland. It starts off with firecrackers to scare away the bad spirits and then the Lion dances around the restaurant to the rhythmic beats of the drums. People put money in envelopes for good luck (any amount except increments of four, which Nancy informed us was bad luck) and feed it to the lion as it meanders through the room. I love watching the little kids’ reactions to the lion, but this photo of a cart server feeding an envelope to the lion is my favorite photo from this particular performance. The joy on her face and the playful stance of the lion make it a fun photo. Once the lion has made its way through the room it ends the performance by climbing up on some benches and pulling down a head of lettuce (and this year it was also dressed with some green onions). The lion then shreds the lettuce and “spits it out” and kicks it at the audience. I love the photo with its head bowed, because the look on the woman’s face in the middle of the photo is priceless. It’s a fun way to spend a Saturday morning.

We paid our check (with me deducting my Mai Tai before calculating the per person cost) and divided it up for a grand total of just under $20 a person. They kind of threw me, because they automatically added gratuity this time, which they normally don’t do, so the originally quoted $23 a person dropped down to $19 and change. I added the price of my Mai Tai, gave them the pile of money, and we headed out into the frigid air to go about the rest of my day. I will most likely be full until around 6 or 7 and will have a bowl of cereal for dinner. Not a bad day enjoying some delicious “heart’s treasures” with friends and fellow food lovers.

Nancy has documented the individual dishes on her Flickr feed. The photos are beautiful, so be sure to check them out.

Note: their website is pretty atrocious, so I am linking to their Facebook page in the Contact Info below. Also, be sure to check out the photos on Yelp to really get your taste buds revved up. Just point at stuff on the cart and enjoy.

Contact info:

Li Wah
2999 Payne Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44114

Black Box Fix

I have a new favorite sandwich, and it comes from Black Box Fix. It’s called the OMG Philly, and OMG is it good! People were sad when Sweetie Fry closed last year, but Chef Eric Rogers has opened Black Box Fix and it no longer hurts. The 1,200-square-foot restaurant opened this past March and serves gourmet sandwiches, soups and dishes with a Creole and Cajun flair, all served in black boxes (hence the name “Black Box Fix”). The restaurant’s name refers to the black, recycled, compostable boxes the food is served in. The restaurant also seats about 15 for customers who want to eat in. Black Box Fix was just voted Best New Business and Best New African American Owned Business in the 2015 Future Heights Best of the Heights Awards.

The OMG Philly ($13) is a chicken philly sandwich with grilled chicken and jumbo shrimp with sautéed mushrooms, onions, peppers and melted Swiss cheese on a toasted brioche roll and drizzled with yum yum sauce. This sandwich is delicious. Every bite is well-seasoned and full of flavor. The cheese is nicely melted and holds it all together. The sandwich is served with a side of garlic-parmesan fries, which were good, but I was all about the sandwich. Try one as soon as you can. You won’t regret it.

I also tried the Hibachi Burger ($13) several days later. It features seasoned beef topped with mozzarella and provolone, sautéed mushrooms, onions and peppers and 4 jumbo hibachi grilled shrimp on a Kaiser roll with yum yum sauce. I ordered it medium and it had some pink but not as much as I expected. It was a delicious burger. Again, it came with a side of the garlic-parmesan fries. The shrimp were huge and succulent and every bite of the burger was soul-satisfying.

Their Creole Soul Roll ($3) is so popular that it is only offered Thursday through Saturday. It is a deep-fried egg roll filled with smoked turkey, collard greens, andouille sausage, and jambalaya rice. It was really good. The rice was fluffy, and the “stuffing” had a really good flavor to it. It comes with a dipping sauce that is reminiscent of a sweet chili sauce.

I was less impressed by the Mr. Martin ($9), which features a fried chicken breast dipped in agave BBQ sauce and topped with sweet onion vinaigrette slaw. Despite arriving after the 15 minutes specified on the phone the sandwich and fries were a little soggy from condensation (and the bun from the BBQ sauce and slaw). If you are going to order it I would suggest eating it in the restaurant. I also didn’t love the BBQ sauce; it was sweeter than I expected and not zippy.

Chef Rogers also believes in giving back to the community. I hear $1 from every Lee Road Hobo ($8.50 – the Black Box Fix version of Cleveland’s Polish Boy) is donated to the Ginn Academy Youth Support Program, which provides programs for inner-city children in Greater Cleveland. Paintings by local artists are exhibited on the restaurant’s walls. He’s happy to be in Cleveland Heights, and we’re happy to have him.

Since it is a locally owned, true “mom and pop” store, Black Box Fix is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Contact info:

Black Box Fix
2307 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
(216) 383-8130

Tommy’s

Tommy’s on Coventry is a Cleveland institution. It has been in business since the 1970s (even the Coventry fire in 1988 couldn’t shut it down) and many of its menu items are named after its regulars who ordered them. It isn’t haute cuisine, but it doesn’t claim to be. Instead, it is a good place for vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores to get together. Because it specifies vegan, gluten-free, etc. on the menu it is a great place for those with allergies or dietary issues. They have a separate gluten-free fryer and strict gluten-free kitchen practices, so I can eat here with my mother without worrying that she is going to get sick afterwards. It’s also great if you are on a juice fast and still want to get out and meet your friends. The food can be a little bland depending on what you order, so be prepared to season it.

If there is a bit of a crowd waiting be sure to add your name to the clipboard on the counter and wait for them to call you. The place stretches pretty far back, so the wait isn’t too obnoxious.

Tommy’s is famous for its milkshakes. They are rich and smooth with a wide variety of flavors. I can vouch for the chocolate and chocolate mint milkshakes, but my favorite is the banana – made with fresh bananas and vanilla ice cream. One of my friends swears by their chocolate peanut butter milkshake. It’s best to order them in the restaurant, because you get lots of milkshake with the glass and the metal mixer full. If you order one to go you just get a small plastic cup sealed with plastic.

I go to Tommy’s for comfort food. My go to comfort food is the broccoli risso. It’s a casserole with broccoli, rice, mushrooms, and cheese. It’s served in a bowl with a warm IMAG5661 piece of pita. You can also order a cup if you don’t want a big bowl of it or want it as a side. It is just warm, comforting goodness.

I also absolutely love Tommy’s French onion soup. It is vegetarian and made with shitake mushrooms, onions, kombu, veggie broth, tamari, garlic, a slice of French bread and topped with Swiss cheese. I adore it and order it almost every time I go.

I’m not a big fan of the pita sandwiches or escarole pies, but that’s a personal choice. They certainly are unique and come with a wide variety of fillings. My sister loves the Capetown spinach IMAG5315 pie with cheese, raisins and mushrooms. I usually stick with the basics – plain grilled cheese (Judy), Sharpy Burger, burgers, grilled chicken breast sandwich or any of their delicious salads (pro tip: deconstruct it on the plate because you won’t be able to eat it in the heaping bowl it comes in). Vegetarians rave about their vegetarian choices like the hummus, falafel, tempeh and seitan.

Tommy’s was recently voted the Best Fries in Cleveland. I don’t know if I would go that far (Bar Cento gets my vote), but they were better than average. They are 12816775_812473705554691_556600846_n intentionally unsalted so you can salt them however you want.

Tommy’s also has great breakfasts. I get a kick out of seeing young college-age men stuffing their face with waffles buried in strawberries and whipped cream. One interesting choice is the Elsie Combo, which features two fried eggs, two strips of bacon, mayo, American cheese, and their homemade peanut butter made into a triple decker sandwich on your choice of toast. The first time I ordered it I was really scared, but the waitress assured me I would like it. And she was right. The mayo and the peanut butter actually went really well together and complemented the eggs and bacon. If you want to try something different, give it a try. Their omelets are also delicious and plentiful.

They also turn the restaurant over to the Heights Arts group from 10-2 on January 1st for an annual all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast benefiting Heights Arts. Volunteers serve the masses pancakes, eggs, sausage patties and links and vegetarian options as well as juice, coffee and tea for around $10. Tommy’s has been hosting the benefit pancake breakfast since 2001, when owner Tom Fello first offered to help raise funds for the Coventry Arch, located at the intersection of Coventry Road and Euclid Heights Boulevard. It’s a fun time and a good local cause. Consider checking it out this week.

There’s something for everyone at Tommy’s.

Update (2023): I really admire how Tommy’s handled the pandemic. They pivoted to curbside carryout and had three parking spaces in front of the restaurant dedicated to curbside. They also rented the patio from Panini’s across the street to allow outside dining. I took advantage of both.

20200530_174935

Contact info:

Tommy’s
1824 Coventry Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
(216) 321-7757

The Best Bites of 2015

Inspired by Doug Trattner’s The Best Things We Ate All Year in the Cleveland Scene, I decided to look back on the best things I remember eating this year. I had a lot of memorable meals this year. It was the year I had a Seti’s Polish Boy, ate at Slyman’s for the first time, and discovered the deliciousness of Eat at Joe’s in South Euclid. It was the year my friends and I did a dim sum crawl that spanned two weekends because our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. I became addicted to the flavor of blood orange and developed a serious jones for Tommy’s banana milkshakes. It was hard whittling all the deliciousness of 2015 down to these fifteen choices, but three of them are not in Cleveland (so I consider them runner-ups). These bites are the bites I will remember for quite some time.

Everyone raves about Fire Food and Drink‘s lemon souffle pancakes (and they are divine), but I was blown away by the tandoor smoked pastrami hash. It features Yukon potatoes, Emmenthal cheese, honey dijon aioli, fennel, apple, arugula and a local fried egg and is out of this world. I love how the Emmenthal cheese and honey dijon aioli work together and meld with the potato and egg. Each bite was a little bit of heaven. And oh that honey dijon aioli!!!

111 Bistro in Medina has been consistently serving up delicious meals since they opened, and my friend Tom is one of the restaurant’s biggest fans. He arranged a birthday dinner there early this past year that was delicious, but the dessert was the absolute stand-out. Each dessert was a good-sized portion and delicious in its own right, but I was absolutely thrilled with the black pepper ice cream and the salted caramel cake. That salted caramel cake was so moist and luscious, and I never thought I would like – let alone be craving – black pepper ice cream of all things. It was a revelation. The flourless chocolate cake on the left and the panna cotta on the right weren’t too shabby either! I was very glad I had had my leftovers boxed up so I had room for dessert! It’s a nice touch to add the date on the box for the diner.

Dinner in the Dark is always a dining adventure, but I still dream about this crêpinette by Tim Bando of Grove Hill in Chagrin Falls. This was my very first Dinner in the Dark, and I have to say I have not missed one since. This DITD was special because it united the powerhouse team that worked together at Moxie when it opened in 1997. With acclaimed chefs such as Doug Katz, Tim Bando, Jonathan Bennett, Eric Williams, Karen Small and Heidi Robb cooking for us, I knew it was a dinner not to be missed, and I was right. Each course was a delight, but I am still salivating over the lamb and foie gras crêpinette with polenta and a lamb demi-glace. The lamb and foie gras “meatball” was so flavorful and unique, and the polenta and demi-glace just complemented it really well. It might just have been my favorite thing I ate all year!

Graffiti: A Social Kitchen and its sister restaurant Cork & Cleaver are known for innovative, playful takes on well-known dishes. One of my favorite meals was a Cork & Cleaver pop-up at Toast while the Toast owners were on their honeymoon. It was a Hillbilly Picnic and featured some really awesome plays on “white trash” food that featured spam and french onion dip. Some of the dishes they debuted there have popped up on the Graffiti menu, so I knew I was going to enjoy Graffiti when it opened. We tried quite a few of the appetizers, such as the french onion egg roll featuring caramelized onions, Gruyere cheese and French onion jus and Hillbilly Pate, which is bologna pate served with sweet pickle relish, goat cheese whiz and white bread crostini (and is apparently no longer on the menu – bummer), but I was extremely pleased with their deconstructed Monte Cristo (thanks Yelp!). It features super-tender maple brined pork tenderloin, luscious French toast, mornay crema, and raspberry mostarda. A little bit of tenderloin and French toast dragged through the crema and mostarda made each bite the perfect bite.

I had heard many good things about Map of Thailand from enthusiastic friends and finally made it there this year. And then proceeded to keep going back repeatedly because of their amazing seafood coconut soup. It isn’t a large portion, but it is a great way to start a delicious meal. The soup is billed as “Assorted seafood in coconut cream base soup, seasoned with spices, mushroom, lemon grass, galanga, cilantro and kaffir lime leaf.” The flavor is quite addictive. The calamari rings and whole shrimp are a little awkward to eat with the soup spoon, but I have gotten fairly adept at using my knife to cut them into bite-sized pieces before slurping it down. It is good to the very last drop, which I usually pour out from the bowl into the spoon.

Walter Hyde and Scott Slagle of Fat Casual BBQ are known for their smoked prime rib (among other things). They were cooking at Sterle’s Country House this summer (in the Szemerszky beer garden), and I quickly became a fan of one of their latest innovative dishes – Polka Fries, which were spiral sliced potatoes topped with a beer cheese sauce and diced jalapeno. The prime rib and polka fries were definitely in my top meals this year. But the bite that I will remember was served at a special meal organized for a friend who was having surgery, billed as Bob’s Last Meal. They made these smoked pork belly lardons over cheesy grits and a maple sauce that were simply to die for. They gladly brought out a second serving for me when I begged for one. It was incredible.

Sterle’s also deserves a mention for their chicken schnitzel and waffle that they serve during their brunch. The chicken schnitzel is moist and not too heavily breaded, and it sits atop a crisp yet tender waffle. The whole thing is then topped with “Slovenian gravy,” spicy maple, and arugula. Brunch is served on Sundays from 11-2. There are a lot of good choices on the menu, but the schnitzel and waffle is exceptional.

Doug Katz reopened the Katz Club Diner this year and started doing pop-up dinners there instead of daily service. I have attended several dinners, but I was just wowed by his lobster rolls. The attention to detail showed from the buttery and soft roll to the perfectly dressed lobster salad. I could have eaten several more and been a very happy (but full) camper.

Black Box Fix opened this year in Cleveland Heights in the space formerly known as Sweetie Fry, and I knew I needed to check it out. I will be posting a more comprehensive review soon, but I have to say that the OMG Philly replaced the now-defunct Now We’re Cooking’s Cajun Chicken Philly in my heart (sorry, Walter). Chef Eric Rogers created the OMG Philly, which features grilled chicken with sauteed mushrooms, onion, peppers and melted Swiss, topped with grilled jumbo shrimp, and drizzled with Yum Yum sauce. It’s kind of a mix between a Cajun chicken philly sandwich and a hibachi shrimp dish, and it is divine!

Since I have been on an Asian food kick this year I knew I had to check out the latest Taiwanese restaurant, Phusion Cafe. I organized several dinners there and had some delicious food, but the dish that absolutely astonished us and had us constantly reaching for more was their crispy chicken with fried basil. It was perfectly fried and extremely flavorful. My friend Nancy described it as “Chicken-Basil Crack.” I’m not sure if it is on their regular menu, but if you see it as a special do yourself a favor and order it. It was extremely addictive and makes a great appetizer.

I love Fragapane’s Bakery for their subs and potato salad, but I was pleased to learn about Ferrara’s Imported Foods on Mayfield Road from a friend this year. Their Italian sub with sweet peppers is a delight and is one of my favorite bites of 2015. It features homemade bread, Italian cold cuts and provolone cheese. And your choice of sweet or hot peppers. I am still a bit of a wimp when it comes to spicy (although Szechuan Gourmet and several Indian restaurants have me appreciating some heat in my food now), so I went with the sweet peppers. The cold cuts and cheese are sliced behind the counter and couldn’t be any fresher. The combination of the meat, cheese and peppers and soft homemade bread is mouth-watering.

One of the best desserts I have ever eaten (let alone this year) was at the Dinner in the Dark at Deagan’s. It was a divine Warm Rocky Road Torte – molten chocolate cake in a torte shell, housemade marshmallows, honey bourbon ice cream, and bourbon and pecan Crème Anglaise by Emma Scheer from Humble Wine Bar. Unfortunately the preceding courses had all been rather filling, so I was unable to finish it and savor every bite. But I wanted to lick the plate! Everyone left the dinner raving about the dessert, and we are still talking about it months later! My camera battery died, so I am going to use my friend Edsel’s photo from his Flickr account. It’s a beauty.

20309567910_050c42bb6f_m

Runner-ups

I did some traveling this year as well and was exposed to some very interesting cuisine in Iceland. In addition to mashed fish on rye bread, meat soup featuring local lamb and vegetables, fish kebabs, dehydrated fish jerky, and fermented shark fin (pro tip: do not try it!), my most memorable meal was in a tiny little restaurant on the southwestern coast. My travel companion and I shared a lamb and a fish dish, and we were absolutely blown away by the butter and brown sugar potatoes that accompanied the pan-fried lamb cutlets. Very different — simple, yet delicious.

A trip to New York City for my birthday was not complete without a cup of matzoh ball soup and a slice of New York cheesecake from Junior’s. Junior’s is an institution, and when I posted the photo of the cheesecake several people just knew that’s where I was. I didn’t even need the strawberry topping I ordered on the side. The cheesecake was sufficiently luscious all on its own. Plus, I got the added bonus of watching a girl eat wings with a fork and knife. New York never disappoints!

I had never heard of wreckfish before, but while staying on Seabrooke Island near Charleston, SC with my family to celebrate my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary the dish at the Palmetto Room on Seabrooke Island intrigued me. I’m not a fan of succotash because I detest lima beans, but this succotash was made with butter beans and was probably my favorite part of the meal. Definitely a memorable 50th wedding anniversary dinner for the food and the company.

I’m also going to toss one in that I cooked, because I can. I learned to love squash this year, thanks to this recipe for stuffed acorn squash. I riffed on the recipe and used green onion bratwursts from Fresh Fork Market, chopped up some apple, sauteed some mushrooms, mixed in some mozzarella, and added some fennel, caraway and red wine vinegar for some flavor. I think I left out the spinach here because I didn’t have any. It was not just delicious – it was also a thing of beauty. I’ve made it several times since – most recently adding some leftover stuffing after Thanksgiving into the mix. It has never disappointed.

I wonder what will wow me in 2016. I can’t wait. What were your favorite bites of 2015?

Jack Frost Donuts

Jack Frost Donuts is consistently the Grand Prize winner in the “NEO’s Best: Donuts,” the Cleveland Hot List, and other “best of Cleveland” contests. The little doughnut shop on the corner of Fulton Road and Pearl Road in Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood has been making doughnuts since 1937. They only accept cash or checks, so come prepared. A dozen will run you $10.95, and a half dozen cost $6.95.

The doughnuts are fresh and made of quality ingredients. Some are a little sweeter than I prefer, but their pumpkin pie doughnut has made me a fan for life. They have fantastic specialty donuts like salted caramel, key lime pie, maple bacon, and other seasonal creations like said pumpkin pie doughnut (available with and without “cream”). I’ve enjoyed their Boston cream, salted caramel, raspberry, chocolate glazed, maple bacon and pumpkin pie doughnuts during my visits. The photo at the bottom features two pumpkin cream, two maple bacon, a strawberry cheesecake, and a chocolate cream. The maple bacon is a nice combination of salty and sweet with fresh bacon bits and maple frosting on a yeast donut. The chocolate cream exploded in a huge flurry of powdered sugar all over me and my car. It was totally worth it, with a big pile of chocolate cream on top. The donuts are fresh, and your teeth just sink into them. I prefer yeast donuts over cake donuts, so I can only attest to the yeast donuts here. They are not overbearing or too sweet. The toppings and donuts have a good ratio.
They sell coffee and have a cooler with milk and some sodas if you need something to wash the donuts down with. They are currently renovating their old store, but are located right next door. I can’t wait to see the new place once it opens. It’s a cash only business, so remember to bring cash.

Contact info:

Jack Frost Donuts
4960 Pearl Road
Cleveland, OH 44109
(216) 351-3638

Seti’s Polish Boys

Cleveland’s original food truck has been serving up Polish boys and grilled dogs since 2000. They have been at their current location, the parking lot of Dean Supply on the corner of E. 34th and Woodland Avenue, for the past nine years. Edit: Seti’s has moved to in front of the Thomas F. McCafferty Health Center, on Lorain Avenue near W. 42nd Street. They are parked there Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The truck is equipped with a grill, deep fryer, steam table, 3 prep tables, 2 refrigerators, 4 sinks with hot and cold running water, exhaust system, and serving window. They serve magic. Having been featured on the Food Network and lauded by folks like Michael Symon on The Best Thing I’ve Ever Ate, Rachel Ray and Andrew Zimmer of Bizarre Foods, I knew I had to try it.

The Polish Boy is Cleveland’s iconic sandwich. It features a slow-grilled and then fried jumbo style hot dog and is topped with cole slaw, french fries and BBQ sauce. Seti’s is known for having the best in town, and Food and Wine Magazine said their Polish Boy is one of the best dogs in the United States.

It was a total mess to eat, but it was worth it. I bit in and the hot dog had a great snap. The creaminess of the cole slaw, the perfect buttery french fries and the sweet BBQ sauce melded together to the perfect meal. I used every single one of the four napkins they gave me and then cleaned up with a wet wipe I had brought with me. Next time I’m bringing a new shirt to change into too.

They serve lunch Monday through Friday from 10 to 4. The service is fast and courteous, the price is right and the food is delicious. If you haven’t been there yet what are you waiting for? Just be sure to bring wet wipes.

setis_official — Seti’s various offerings – official photo by Seti on Yelp

Contact info:

Seti’s Polish Boys
E. 34th & Woodland Avenue
At Dean Supply
Cleveland, OH 44115
(216) 240-0745

L’Alabatros Brasserie & Bar

When asked what their favorite restaurant is a lot of people will answer “L’Albatros.” This Zach Bruell restaurant features fine French dining in the University Circle area. Be warned that you will most likely have to pay for parking in the lot, because street parking is almost non-existent on the CWRU college campus. It is a popular choice before a Cleveland Orchestra concert. L’Albatros offers cozy indoor seating (including by a fireplace or tucked in alcoves) as well as an inviting patio in the warmer months. You can also choose to sit at their bar and enjoy some hand-crafted cocktails if that is what you prefer. The cocktails are delicious. Try the signature L’Albatros, featuring absinthe, pineapple juice, fresh lime and mint or order a special cocktail featuring lavender or any number of delicious ingredients.

The most popular menu item is hands down the cheese board. It is legendary here in Cleveland and is now being carried on at EDWINS, where the original cheese guy now works, as well. The cheese board offers a huge variety of cheeses – from stinky, soft cheeses oozing deliciousness to cheeses studded with amazing molds to slivers of harder cheeses. There is something for everyone’s taste.

The first time I ate here I ordered the cassoulet. It was a cold wintery day, and I was craving comfort. Well, the cassoulet certainly provided it. Cassoulet is a traditional French preparation of beans, pork belly, duck, lamb, sausage and vegetables. This is L’Albatros’ most popular dish for good reason. The white beans are perfectly cooked and creamy and served as a bed for the expertly seared pork belly, homemade sausage, duck confit leg with crispy skin and softened root vegetables in a stainless steel skillet. It was filling and made some nice leftovers the next day. Please pardon the blurry picture.

I also love their mussels with pomme fries (moule frites) here. The mussels are cooked in a white wine sauce, and the French fries are crispy and drizzled with a creamy, spicy aioli sauce. This dish is always a delight – no matter how many times I have ordered it. Pure comfort – every time!

One of my all-time favorite meals here was enjoyed on their patio. Eating out on the patio in the summer is a different experience from sitting in the intimate indoor seating, but it is equally lovely. I started off with their peach salad, which featured perfectly ripe peaches, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, and heirloom tomatoes, drizzled with Zach’s amazing olive oil (I love it so much I buy it at Heinen’s!). It was heavenly. My tablemate ordered the smoked salmon as an appetizer and it too was lovely, served with some cornichons, pickled onion and lemon slices. My entree that day was a special. It was a seared trout served over a bed of fresh squash and zucchini and creamed corn and topped with microgreens. It was absolutely divine. The fish was perfectly seared and the creamed corn did not disappoint – although I would have preferred a few more corn chunks. It was more puree than the creamed corn I was hoping for.

What meal is complete without dessert? Well, L’Albatros certainly offers some good ones. You could be like the French and order the cheese board for dessert. That’s always a good choice. If you prefer something sweeter, I recommend the Chocolate Napoleon or the Crème Caramel. My photo of my Napoleon is worse than the cassoulet, so I won’t torture you with it. Trust me when I say it was divine – crispy thin wafers layered with chocolate mousse and raspberries on a pool of raspberry coulis.

Contact info:

L’Albatros Brasserie
11401 Bellflower Road
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 791-7880

Pop-ups at the Katz Club Diner

When the Katz Club Diner Bar Car burned down many of us thought that would be it for the lovely old-fashioned diner cars on Lee Road. After the arsonist was incarcerated, Doug Katz focused his energy on rebuilding. They tore down the bar car, which was a total loss, and landscaped the area. He had originally bought the cars for the spacious kitchen, so I wasn’t surprised to hear he was going to use the space for his catering gigs as well as hosting pop-up dinners. His pop-up dinners have been quite popular so far, so it seems like a great decision on his part.

He has hosted a Vegetarian pop-up, Indian Street Food pop-up and Fried Chicken and Corn on the Cob pop-up, to name a few. I have attended the Lobster Rolls & Blueberry Pie pop-up and the Clambake pop-up so far. I am also looking forward to several upcoming pop-ups including an Oktoberfest, Spaghetti & Meatballs, a French Bistro, and Dim Sum. The food is amazing from start to finish. There hasn’t been a bad choice yet. He elevates even simple smashed potatoes into something delicious.

The dinners include tax and gratuity. Beverages are a la carte, and there are several wines and beers as well as a featured cocktail and some sodas to order separately.

The first pop-up I attended, entitled Lobster Shack, featured popcorn spiced with housemade old bay seasoning, Maine lobster roll on a housemade buttered bun, smashed red potatoes, sweet and sour pickled slaw and local blueberry pie with housemade vanilla ice cream. I loved the Blueberry Thyme Collins, which was the cocktail selection for the evening. The blueberry thyme syrup was refreshing paired with gin, lemon and soda water – and I’m not normally a fan of gin. The lobster roll made me swoon. The bun had the perfect amount of butter and was an ideal carrier for the lightly tossed lobster filling. The smashed red potatoes and pickled slaw were great accompaniments. The pie – although not actually pie but more of a buckle – was delicious, as was the homemade ice cream.

The most recent pop-up featured spiced peanuts, lobster bisque made with huge chunks of fresh Maine lobster, corn bread, steamed clams, local sweet corn on the cob, pan seared potatoes, housemade chicken garlic sausage and a bittersweet chocolate whoopie pie. Although I loved every course, my favorites were the bisque and that amazing whoopie pie, but even minor sides like the cornbread and simple pan-seared potatoes were sublime. I enjoyed the sparkling clementine soda to start and a Sauvignon Blanc with my meal. We also got to enjoy an amazing sunset.

You can buy tickets for the upcoming pop-ups here and keep an eye on their Facebook page for announcements when the next pop-up is available to book. Tickets go on sale about one month beforehand and have sold out quickly, so act fast.

Contact info:

Katz Club Diner
1975 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, OH
(216) 932-3333