Category: Gone but not forgotten

Jack Flaps opened in Ohio City back in December, billed as an “urban breakfast shoppe.” The restaurant is a 40-seat eatery serving pancakes, waffles and other breakfast creations to the masses in Ohio City. It is a joint venture between Chef Eric Williams and Randy Carter of Momocho. I had heard so many good things about this place since it opened, but I never managed to make it here until one morning I read on my Facebook feed that their Breakfast Bahn Mi had just been named best breakfast sandwich from the Best Sandwiches in America for 2014. I was convinced that it was high time to try the place and headed out within a half an hour.

This place did not disappointed. The coffee is a City Roast blend, the juice hits the spot, and they serve Yoohoo. How quirky is that? The coffee is served in a to go cup, and they offer to fill you up before you leave. That is a nice perk.

As for the food, I have been back several times. I keep intending to order something sweet, but the savory side of the menu appeals to me more when I am actually there.

The Breakfast Bahn Mi is a serious pleasure for the mouth. It is a twist on a banh mi with a fried egg, kim chi, and housemade Vietnamese sausage patty. The egg was perfectly runny. The kim chi was not too spicy, not too bland, but juuuuust right. I ADORED the Everything Bagel cream cheese that came with the sandwich. I could seriously just be blissfully happy with the cream cheese and a piece of toast. It is so good! I posted a photo of the sandwich on my Facebook wall, and one of my friends in Chicago who was visiting me within the next few months said he wanted to go there and try it. He loved it just as much as I did.

I paired the Bahn Mi with the root vegetable hash. Wow, it is seriously good. Kind of like fried potatoes, but better because it is made of root vegetables. It had a nice spicy kick to it and was crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside.

On my next visit I was craving the Everything Bagel cream cheese, so I ordered the Happy Jack waffle, which has an all-beef hot dog chopped up inside the waffle and is topped with garlicky greens and the EB cream cheese. Good God almighty that cream cheese is good. The waffle itself was a little dry with just the cream cheese alone on it, and I would have really appreciated some syrup to go with it. But it was a good waffle, and I left happy.

When my friend came to visit I had just started my diet, so I stuck with The Old Standard – two eggs to order (scrambled), choice of breakfast meat (I went with the Mexican Coke-glazed pork belly), the root vegetable hash, and toast. The toast was made from homemade bread and was delicious. It was a crime to just eat the one piece and leave the other uneaten. Jack Flaps’ toast gives Lucky’s Cafe’s Como toast a run for its money in my heart. I would be hard pressed to choose between the two. The eggs were well scrambled just like I asked. As for the pork belly, it was good. I have friends who adore it. Me? I’ve come to the conclusion recently that I just don‘t love pork belly. I love bacon, but I really don’t like all the fat in pork belly. I think it’s a Virgo thing. I ordered the pork belly because I had already had the Vietnamese sausage. I should have stuck with the sausage because it is awesome.

I can’t wait to try the S.O.S. and the Deviled Egg Benedict (hopefully they will carry it again next spring or summer). The Fall pancake, waffle and eggy bread choices also sound appealing. Maybe next time I’ll actually order from the Sweet side of the menu.

Contact info:

Jack Flaps
3900 Lorain Ave
Cleveland (Ohio City), OH 44113
(216) 961-5199

Chef Jonathon Sawyer and his wife Amelia recently opened Trentina, a northern Italian inspired restaurant in the old Sergio’s location, to much fanfare this summer. They raised funds to open the restaurant on Kickstarter, and it was successfully funded in March 2014 by 206 backers. They exceeded their $21,999 goal by $18,000. The food is inspired by the Trentina Alto-Adige region of Northern Italy.

The night before I started my diet I met some friends at Trentina for one last hurrah. I can’t imagine a more perfect way to end an era. The portions are small, but 12 courses can add up. The courses change with the season, so this review no longer reflects what is being currently offered. In fact, it was no longer accurate a week later. However, several of the stalwarts have not changed. As the Cleveland Scene explained, “Trentina is not for every diner, but rather foodies with a capital “F” who seek out once-in-a-lifetime meals flush with one-of-a-kind creations.” This is fine dining at its best. The 32-seat Trentina focuses on Sawyer’s “Menu Bianco,” a daily procession of tasting courses served in small courses, priced at $100 per diner (purchased in advance and non-refundable) or $115 (if paying at time of dining) – not including beverages, gratuity and tax.

We added the wine tasting for an additional $40, but I would recommend just ordering a couple drinks as you go. We simply couldn’t keep up with a new wine with every course and at one point had four glasses each in front of us. One of my dining companions chose not to order the wine tasting and enjoyed a cocktail customized to her tastes by Trentina’s beverage director Nate. The cocktail with a coffee ice cube was divine. She also enjoyed one of my wines.

We were immediately greeted and escorted to a table. We had tried to get a reservation for 6, but the restaurant could only accommodate our smaller table at an earlier time, which necessitated some of my friends dropping out. The restaurant became packed over the night and quite loud, which is due to the interior design. With mirrored tables and bare walls there is nothing to muffle sound. We had trouble hearing the explanations of the various courses at some point, so please bear with me as I try to recreate the evening.

The first course, Primi Assaggio, featured Crusto di Polenta, Charcuterie alla Trentina and Vegetables from Larder & Fields. In our case, the polenta was flash fried to a crisp parchment wafer, the charcuterie was a house-cured meat and pickled carrots.

This course featured sumac, cucumber and puffed pasta. I didn’t so much as think “pasta” as I did the puffed shrimp chips you get at a Chinese restaurant. At this point I was thinking, “Oh, I don’t think this is for me.” I quickly changed my mind.

Next up they brought out a candle molded out of aged beef suet, edible 24k gold leaf, honey and crunch salt, which melts into a dipping sauce for the crusty baguette that is brought out later.

This course started turning me around. The crustacean (conch?) was poached and served on a bed of sea foam. The flavors that stood out were apple and citrus. This innovative dish was a lot of fun.

This next course was my favorite of the night – a white fish and foraged mushrooms in a parchment paper. The paper sacks were cut open at the table and steaming, and the sauce was then poured into the parchment. My sauce was a pea puree. I loved the flavors of this. When it came time to revisit a favorite course this one was a very close second.

The edible candle had melted down at this point and was a delicious accompaniment to the fresh, crusty loaf of bread from On The Rise Bakery. I love On The Rise. They are the best bakery in Cleveland, so it is not surprising that I loved this course.

This next course was another one of my favorites. Normally served with an Ohio farm egg, mine was served without the egg to accommodate my egg allergy (they asked at the beginning if we had any allergies or dietary restrictions, which I appreciated). The pasta is cut with a chitarra, which is a “guitar-stringed” pasta cutter. This long pasta was dressed in a very rich sauce made of egg and lentils. I don’t know what they chose instead of egg, but my pasta did not lack the creaminess of the pasta of my fellow dining companions. The pasta my fellow diners enjoyed had an egg cooked on a wooden spoon in embers, which is then carefully placed over the pasta along with a bit of the ember to the side.

This was almost everyone’s favorite course. The Strangolapreti (pasta dumpling) is stuffed with Formaggio Che Cola and coated with what I believe to remember were nettles and served with a reduction of cabbage, onion and Spicebush (a foraged berry). This seems to be the stand-out dish of the restaurant and the one everyone talks about.

This was the other Pasta Cuscino course. It was a pasta stuffed with crown tipped coral fungus.

Game birds roasted in embers was the next course. My course featured guinea fowl, foie gras, sauce of oxidized wine, and morels. There was also some kind of lentil or grain served with it. This was a nice bite of bird.

This course featured my favorite bite of the night. Although the beef was excellent and perfectly cooked, my favorite was the cauliflower puree. In fact, when it came to revisit a course I decided to just get a portion of cauliflower puree. It was that good.

This palate-cleansing sorbet was topped with a light yogurt sauce. It was a nice intermezzo before the desserts.

These three Dolce desserts were the perfect end to a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The course is billed as “fruit and cream.” My dessert was the raspberry one on the right. The berries were in season and they were accompanied by what tasted like crispy milk balls.

The meal ended with a final course, Grazie, which was a bite of gold chocolate, but I failed to photograph it. I don’t know how I did that.

Trentina is now serving lunch as well as a 7-course Pasta Degustazione tasting menu for $60 and an a la carte dinner menu that changes with the season. However, I highly recommend the 12-course Bianco menu if you are looking for something special.

We walked out of the restaurant full, happy, and, as one diner stated, “so lit” from all the wine. This is definitely a great choice for a special occasion like an anniversary. Chef Sawyer and Executive Chef Matt Danko are outstanding chefs who are passionate about serving local ingredients in a unique way. The service is impeccable and you will be pampered every step of the way.

Contact info:

Restaurant Trentina
1903 Ford Drive
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 421-2900

Closed due to arson. The bar car has since been torn down.

Doug Katz of Fire, Food and Drink and Provenance’s latest venture is a diner car – and not just any diner car, but the diner cars on Lee Road that have hosted several restaurants since I moved to Cleveland Heights a few year ago. I wanted to wait to write about my visits to give them time to settle and to enjoy a collection of their dishes. The restaurant is located in the diner car to the left, while the diner car on the right features a 1920s-style speakeasy bar that guests have to dial in to access. I haven’t made it to the speakeasy yet, but was honored to be given a tour by Doug before the place opened when dining with friends at a place down the street. The seats in both cars are luxurious, and you sink into them easily. Perfect for a relaxing meal or drink. Parking in the small lot can be tight, but luckily there is an abandoned Rite Aid across the street – as well as on-street parking.

When you walk in you are greeted by a pastry counter and espresso machine. The pastries are all homemade.

The surroundings inside the renovated dining room are warm and comfortable. Doug has installed polished steel, dark woods, gray vinyl and white tabletops. The polished steel is eye-catching and industrial. The tables feature starched and neatly folded white dishtowel napkins with a black border.

Update: They have changed the menu. The only things remaining that I talk about here are the coffee, the French toast, the adult milkshakes, the Katz Club, and the Eggplant Reuben. They may bring some of these back as specials. For example, the Matzoh Ball soup was a special during Passover. I talk about some of the newer items at the bottom.

My first visit I ordered the meatloaf and garlic mashed potatoes. I was a little leery of the tomato cream, but one bite had me wishing I had a big bowl of it. The sauce is luscious. The only thing I miss from the dish is a side of steamed broccoli to balance out the carbs and the protein, but I think that stems from my childhood when meatloaf always came with broccoli. My dining companion enjoyed her Reuben and gave me a bite. It was delicious, and everything she was expecting.

Their breakfasts are filling. The coffee by Rising Star is divine – and comes served with barista art, which made me smile. If you want an espresso or cappuccino you won’t go wrong ordering one here. I enjoyed my French toast, which came with a side of beery compote, immensely. My companion enjoyed his eggs and bacon, while another companion thoroughly enjoyed his cheesy mushroom omelet.

The Matzoh ball soup is to die for – served with chunks of chicken and veggies. Corky & Lenny’s and Jack’s Deli’s matzoh ball soup is just broth and Matzoh ball (although I think C&L has a couple carrots floating in it). I paired it with a Katz Club, which includes a fried egg instead of ham – an intriguing twist on the club sandwich. It was delicious, but I think the cold meatloaf sandwich is an even better pairing with the soup. Just because I love the meatloaf here (although I would have liked just a couple lettuce leaves scattered on the sandwich and not a hunk cut off the head and piled on top in the middle – some rearranging was needed before I could enjoy it).

I enjoyed the pan-fried chicken and spaghetti-mushroom casserole on my latest visit. The farmer’s cheese didn’t melt real well on the casserole, but I think that is more due to the consistency of the cheese rather than the cooking of said dish (because I had the same problem with the tuna melt – see photo). This ain’t Velveeta – and thank goodness it isn’t! Again, I missed some veggies, so I ordered a side salad, which rocked my world with the addition of a warm bacon dressing. If you order nothing else here, you must try the warm bacon dressing! OMG!

I have heard grumblings that the burger is disappointing, but with the meatloaf and cold meatloaf sandwich on the menu why would anyone try to order a burger here?

I also heard a complaint about the tuna melt, which is served on an English muffin. This is how I learned to enjoy tuna melts – at The Millsville Diner in Twinsburg (RIP), so I was perfectly happy with my tuna melt. There are apparently two schools of thought on what makes a tuna melt – one being a grilled cheese-like melt. Who knew? Paired with a boozy chocolate shake (The Gene Wilder Shake, which features rum) I was a happy camper.

Reviews have been mixed on Yelp. People either love it or hate it. I, for one, love it. Don’t go here expecting quickly-fixed, inexpensive, greasy-spoon-diner food. In fact, the food here is relatively expensive, though portion sizes are generous and ingredients are high quality. Most everything is locally sourced, and the attention to quality shows. I don’t know if it is a coincidence, but it seems like almost every time I’ve been here Doug has been here as well. I think it is a testament to his passion for the food and desire to make this restaurant a success. It’s definitely worth a trip.

Update: I met friends here for lunch and we shared some of the new items. I ordered the Creamy Smoked Chicken soup and didn’t share it. It was that good. It features spaetzel, great northern beans, kale, fine herbs & focaccia croutons. It was zesty and smoky and just a lovely soup. I ordered the tried and true eggplant Reuben, while my friend D. ordered the Masala Fish. It is a flavorful wrap that features house made naan, mint slaw & Indian Masala sauce. This fish wrap was amazing! Be sure to give it a try. Our other friend K. ordered the burger, and it was quite lovely. I don’t know what people were complaining about. It was moist and delicious.

Contact info:

The Katz Club Diner

1975 Lee Rd

Cleveland Heights, OH 44118

(216) 932-3333

 

I was recently on an Indian kick and met a friend downtown for lunch at the buffet at Charkha. Charkha is located on W. 9th in the space formerly housing the Waterstreet Grill. It is a family owned and operated business that recently opened in May 2012. My best friend, who is Indian, highly recommended the lunch buffet as a good value with good food. The lunch buffet is offered from 11:30 to 2:30 Monday through Saturday. They offer a wide variety of selections, including both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, with more than 8 different main courses, a salad bar, appetizers and desserts for only $9.95. The selection changes daily.

Getting there was a little frustrating due to the city repaving W. 9th. Not only was the street torn up, but there was no on-street parking available. My friend and I parked in the Bingham’s paid lot across the street and played Frogger with the lunchtime traffic while crossing the street. One friend ended up not joining us because she was so frustrated with the lack of parking (she had to go somewhere else downtown after lunch and would have to pay for parking a second time, which she wasn’t willing to do).

The buffet came with naan, which was warm and slightly charred from being freshly fired. I love the char taste and could have kept eating the naan.

The day we went they featured tandoori chicken, saag paneer, a curry dish, some lentil and chickpea dishes, and goat biryani. I had never tried goat before, but I’m willing to try anything once (as long as it isn’t an organ or the thought of it doesn’t gross me out – like chicken feet). It wasn’t bad. It tasted a bit like gamey beef and paired well with the spiced rice. One of my main complaints about Indian buffets is that the rice is often dried out. It wasn’t the case here. The rice was light and fluffy even though we arrived there at the tail end of the lunch rush.

The desserts included Kheer (Basmati rice cooked in sweetened milk) and what I think was Gulab Jamun (a tiny, sweet doughnut hole-like pastry in a sugar syrup).

The buffet is all you can eat, but we only managed one full plate, a second trip to just get one or two more things and then a small dessert. I still felt I easily got my money’s worth.

I ordered my usual mango juice and chai. The mango juice is served in a copper cup, which kept it cold. The chai was once again pretty bland. I’m starting to wonder if it’s me or if my best friend’s mother simply has ruined me for any other chai.

I found Charkha to be a lovely space with good food and an excellently priced lunch buffet. I look forward to eating there again soon.

Contact info:

Charkha
1265 W 9th St
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 574-9999

Accent recently opened on Euclid Avenue, just before the entrance to Lakeview Cemetery. It is owned by SASA’s Scott Kim, and as soon as I read about the Robata Grill and Josper Oven, which flash-cook meats and vegetables leaving them perfectly cooked yet flavorful and deliciously moist, I was intrigued and knew I needed to check it out as soon as possible.

As the Accent website explains, “Often thought of as Japan’s best kept cooking secret, the Robata Grill reaches temperatures of 1,000 degrees ensuring a crisp, outer texture without overcooking the food on the inside. This cooking technique produces the most tender and moist vegetables and meats. … The Josper Oven, originated in Spain, combines the traditional oven with the characteristics of charbroiling. Kim chose to bring this method to Accent as it reaches the perfect temperature using the highest quality charcoal, ensuring rich and textured flavor is preserved without any charring.”

Like Crystal at East*Drink*Cleveland, I usually avoid new restaurants to allow them to find their groove and work out the kinks, but I simply couldn’t wait this time. The fact that it is so close to my home was definitely a deciding factor. You can see the warm and inviting red glow from the street. The egg-shaped dining room is modern yet inviting. Word of warning: I had trouble finding the front door. It is closer to the Uptown plaza center than the valet stand. It had been a pan-Asian week for me that week, having enjoyed a banh mi and pho at Saigon Grille for lunch and the SASA happy hour for a late dinner on Monday, dim sum at Emperor’s Palace on Wednesday and then Accent on Thursday.

I ordered a hot green tea to warm myself up along with a Rosemary Lemon Drop to start and followed it up with an Uptown Cosmo. The Rosemary Lemon Drop was good, but I preferred the Uptown Cosmo. The Lemon Drop was a little sweeter than I expected, having honey vodka in it. The Cosmo was more my style, even though I normally don’t order Cosmos. My friend E. ordered the overflow sake, which was served in a bento box on a saucer to catch the “overflow”. It was a unique and whimsical menu addition.

Chef Michael Lyon recognized E. (who had already been there 3 times, but this was the first time since it had opened), and sent out some complementary kim chee as a welcome. Normally I’m not a fan of kim chee (I worked at a Korean printing company for a bit in Germany where there were several batches marinating every day, I would come home smelling of kim chee), but this kim chee was delicious. Kim chee is a traditional fermented Korean dish made of vegetables with a variety of seasoning. It is traditionally a quite spicy pickled cabbage and other vegetables like daikon, all brined in salt, flavored with herbs, garlic, ginger, and often liberal amounts of red chili peppers. The pickled vegetables in Accent’s kim chee were light and fresh and not as spicy as some I have tried. I enjoyed it, which surprised me.

We of course had to order an order of the addictive SASA fries. The fries did not disappoint, being nice and crisp yet soft inside with a nice flavoring from the seasoning and rosemary. My favorite sauce is the orange dipping sauce. I always manage to finish it off before the fries are gone. Yum!

We asked to order off the lounge menu, because we wanted to try the small plate grilled items from the Robata Grill. Luckily our server was very amenable. I cobbled together a delightful meal from the various small plates. I started off with the Pork Broth with Vegetables, Beef and Brown Rice and a side of Shrimp Yakitori skewer. The menu said you could add any Robata item for $2, but I think the server misunderstood and charged me full price. I wasn’t going to quibble over $4, so I didn’t bother mentioning it. It certainly didn’t detract from my experience. In any event, I LOVED the ramen. The broth was extremely flavorful, and the vegetables were deliciously fresh. I felt very healthy for having ordered it. The shrimp yakitori was perfectly grilled, and the four shrimp on the skewers had a wonderful grilled taste to them. In fact, the heat from the grill had fused them together pretty well.

My friend B. ordered the Accent Crudo, which features tuna, hamachi, and salmon, off the dinner menu and let us try it. It is Accent’s version of ceviche, which is raw fish marinated (aka “cooked”) in lemon or lime juice. Crudo is the Italian version of sashimi: raw fish at the peak of freshness, dressed simply with olive oil and lemon. The fish was was very light, bright and fresh and not at all “fishy”. I will definitely be ordering this next time! I’m a sucker for a good ceviche, and this one did not disappoint!

I also knew I had to order a turkey rib (not pictured, because my photo didn’t do it justice), having read about it on Crystal’s blog, and even if I hadn’t come in knowing I would order it my friend E. had also insisted we all order one. It was divine. The meat was tender and nice and smoky. Most importantly it was deliciously moist. The “rib” is actually the collarbone, and it definitely got me in the mood for Thanksgiving.

We knew we needed to finish our meal with the s’mores. The s’mores feature four marshmallows that have been skewered, rolled in chocolate ganache and graham cracker crumbs and then blasted in the Robata. Chef Lyon invited us back to the kitchen once the rush had died down, and we were able to roast our s’mores over the Josper Oven. It was extremely hot (obviously), so we were very careful not to accidentally burn ourselves and not to have the melted marshmallow fall off the skewer.

Chef Lyon explained that they leave the Josper Oven on all night, moving the coals from the Robata to the oven to keep them warm. The temperature in the oven falls to 300 degrees overnight, but quickly fires up again in the morning. He proudly showed off his kitchen, and we tried as best we could to stay out of the staff’s way. He talked about wanting to possibly add a raw bar, and we were able to give him some suggestions that might be fun to see implemented. I can’t wait to see what he does with the place and really hope it succeeds in this up-and-coming district. Now that MOCA is open, be sure to pop down the street afterwards and enjoy their happy hour or tapas, lunch or dinner menus. We left pleasantly sated – but not too full – and looking forward to our next visit. If anyone wants to meet me there for Happy Hour just say the word!

Contact info:

Accent Restaurant
11460 Uptown Avenue (Euclid)
Cleveland, Ohio 44106
(216) 721-8477

I’ve been a fan of Chris Hodgson since he started the food truck Dim and Den Sum, so I was very much looking forward to trying out his brick-and-mortar restaurant downtown, which took over the space formerly occupied by Zinc Bistro. The space is very inviting (especially the patio), but we were seated in the back room to avoid the heat of the day. We were there in early July, so the menu had some spring and summer features on it (yes, I realize I am behind on my posting…).

Our waiter was impressively knowledgeable about every ingredient in every dish. I had several vegetarians with me, and he was able to bring out a veggie-friendly serving of tater tots and warn them if they were ordering a supposedly vegetarian entree that used beef stock (for example). I was really impressed!

We started out our meal with several servings of those delectable tater tots (I used to seek out the food truck just to get some of those tots!) followed by a piping hot skillet of corn bread. As expected, the tater tots were crisp on the outside and creamy and moist on the inside. The addition of bacon and cheese was a really nice addition, and I may or may not have taken advantage of the fact that I was the only non-vegetarian on my side of the table and eaten the whole thing by myself. The corn bread was moist and delicious as well, with just a hint of kick to it. I love a good corn bread and slathered my slice with lots of butter.

I just had my appendix out a little over a week ago, and I think I was having a pre-appendicitis bout that day because my appetite had disappeared at that point. I decided to go for something small and light. I ordered the pea soup as a starter and the lobster corn dogs for my main. The pea soup was amazing. I love a good pea soup, and this one did not disappoint. The pea tendril and garnish added to the freshness of the soup. I wish I had twice as much of the soup, because I could have eaten it forever. It was absolutely delicious!

I wasn’t as thrilled with my lobster corn dogs, which came served with chipotle aioli, “tarter” sauce, smoked apple and red pepper jam to dip. I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t what I expected. They were good, but didn’t wow me. The corn dogs were lacking in spice, and I think most of the flavor came from the dipping sauces. I ended up taking them home. I’m going to blame my lack of appetite though. At that point I wasn’t feeling well, so it probably wasn’t the food.

The next time I go I will definitely order the gnudi or the fried chicken. I had bites of each, and they were absolutely delicious. My friends also raved about the French Onion Ravioli (ricotta and gruyere ravioli, french onion reduction, parsley, and gruyere croutons) and the 6 Veg (potato shards, cumin roasted carrots, stewed greens, roasted cauliflower, snow peas, and brussel sprouts). Everyone I was with raved about their food.

My friend M. was the only one to order dessert, which was delicious. She chose the coffee ice cream and Chef’s “chow” and ate every last bite. It was really good – in fact all of the desserts sounded wonderful and unique, so try to save room for dessert when you come here.

I was actually looking forward to getting the bill, which is served on a silver platter in an envelope labeled “The Damage.” Just another way Chef Hodgson’s humor shines through.

Hodge’s offers several interesting specials, including beer and a burger Mondays for $10 and a 2 for $40 special on Tuesday featuring an appetizer, 2 entree and a bottle of wine for $40. So if you haven’t checked it out, what are you waiting for? And if you’ve already been there, isn’t it time for another visit? Hodge’s is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday and serves dinner on Saturday and Sunday.

Contact info:

Hodge’s
668 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
(216) 771-4000

Carnegie Kitchen has a killer brunch. If you haven’t tried it yet you need to do so. Their brunch offerings are definitely unique and delicious, and I can’t wait to go back and try the PBJ French toast for myself!

Carnegie Kitchen is conveniently located on Carnegie right off the E. 14th street entrance ramp. Since I live in Cleveland Heights, it was a straight shot down Carnegie, which made it even better. It is only open for breakfast, brunch and lunch, from 6 AM-3 PM on weekdays and 7 AM-3 PM on Saturday, but a lot of my favorite places in Cleveland also close after their lunch service, such as Inn on Coventry, Jim’s Diner in Solon, Claudette’s in Westlake, First Watch, Slyman’s, etc. There’s something indescribably unique about a restaurant that is only open for breakfast and lunch. Carnegie Kitchen has ample free parking in the parking lot next to the building. The building itself is not much to look at, being a big brick box, but lots of large windows allow for a lot of natural light to enter.

Our brunch group met at 11 AM on a Saturday for brunch. They greeted us warmly, and we were shown to our reserved table. One of our diners had her two kids with her, and they were easily able to accommodate them. There were a few occupied tables already, but the place wasn’t packed. I honestly don’t know why not, because we thoroughly enjoyed our meals.

Our first order of business was to order a round of mimosas, but unfortunately they were out of champagne that day. They had beer and wine, but I stuck with orange juice and coffee. My friend A. ordered a glass of white wine, which made me smile. Wine with brunch, why not?

I ordered Eggs in a Nest, which features an old childhood favorite: “egg in a hole” made of French brioche toast accompanied by house-made pork sausage flavored with sage, rosemary and other herbs (you could definitely tell the sausage was freshly made, and it was divine!) and home fries made of Yukon potatoes. The traditional way for an egg in a hole is over easy or over medium, but I chose scrambled eggs that morning. I just wasn’t in the mood for a runny egg that day. The scrambled eggs were artfully placed in the brioche, making it a thing of beauty, and I enjoyed it very much.

I was able to try my friend M.’s peanut butter, jelly and banana French toast featuring raspberry preserves. Wow! It was sweet and savory, and a very memorable combination. It was essentially peanut butter, raspberry preserves and banana sandwiched between pieces of bread and lightly fried to a golden brown. It was served with a side of syrup. If you are a fan of PB&J you will enjoy this, but in my opinion the use of preserves and banana elevate it from a traditional PB&J. I put it on my list of “must go back and order very soon.”

The salmon platter was also light and fresh, accompanied by two eggs, and was the perfect choice for someone on a no-carb diet when accompanied with a side of fruit instead of the bagel.

We enjoyed a leisurely brunch and the frequent coffee refills, and then ventured out into the cold to enjoy the rest of the day. Driving home we stopped at Aladdin’s Baking Company on Carnegie for some fresh pita bread, olives, and probiotic yogurt. All in all, a wonderful way to start the day.

Contact info:

Carnegie Kitchen & Dining
1332 Carnegie Ave
Cleveland, OH 44115
(216) 862-6788

I met some friends for lunch yesterday at Palookaville Chili. Wow, we loved it. This funky chili shop on Lorain Avenue (just past Fulton) specializes in chili or (as they like to call them) “hot pots o’ soul.” If you like chili you’ll love this place. Once you see the bill you’ll love it even more.

The star here is the chili, made from hand-chopped meats, fresh chiles, and proprietary spice blends. There are five “gourmet chilis” to choose from, including Texas beef, chicken verde, hot pork, spicy veggie, and spinach paneer. The spicy veggie and spinach paneer are vegetarian-friendly The chilis are served eight different ways – in a cup or bowl, on macaroni, on nachos, on rice, on a chili dog, in a burrito or as a sloppy jose. They also offer beef & cheddar, pulled pork and BBQ chicken sandwiches, which would pair nicely with a cup of chili. It is BYOB-friendly if you want to enjoy a beer with your chili.

As soon as I saw it on the menu online I decided to try the Sloppy Jose. Being a fan of hoagie buns, this was right up my alley. I could choose from any of the chilis and then could add toppings, including cheddar cheese, red onion, sour cream and jalapenos (baked beans are 50 cents more). I ordered the chicken verde (the mildest of the chilis) with everything but the jalapenos. I was going out to dinner that night and didn’t want to have heartburn or an upset stomach. It was served with a fork, which I quickly learned I would need. I tried to eat it as a sandwich and succeeded in making quite a mess. This sandwich was delicious. The chili was very flavorful and, for being a mild chili, had a nice heat to it. Combined with a can of Mountain Dew my bill came to a whopping $5.

I also splurged on a side of cornbread, which was $1.75. It was worth every penny. The cornbread was dotted with bits of corn and jalapeno and was more savory than sweet. It was also extremely moist.

I also had the pleasure of trying my friend’s spinach paneer chili (not pictured here), which featured spinach, Indian spices, and cubes of fresh Indian cheese (paneer). Wow, that was good. Despite being a meat lover I can appreciate a good palak paneer, and this spinach paneer did not disappoint – with chunks of paneer in a spicy spinach-based chili. Yum!

This little neighborhood gem is only open for lunch and closes at 4:00 every day. It features free wifi and plays some righteous bluegrass-rock music. My friend G. was loving the old-time music. We all felt very comfortable and will definitely be going back.

Contact info:

Palookaville Chili
3900 Lorain Ave.
Cleveland, OH
216-961-4810

Jezebel’s Bayou was an authentic New Orleans-inspired restaurant located in the old Menu 6/Boulevard Blue location on Larchmere. They fly their seafood in fresh from Louisiana every day. I love New Orleans, so I was very excited to hear about Jezebel’s, and the fact that it is so close to my home is an added bonus. If I could winter in New Orleans and spend the summers here in Cleveland I would do it in a heartbeat. New Orleans is a very unique city with a very unique culture – and outstanding food. I’ve enjoyed some amazing meals there.

Our first visit to Jezebel’s Bayou started off rocky and just stayed rocky. I had made a reservation for 11 people for 1 PM several days beforehand, so it wasn’t like our big table was a surprise – or at least it shouldn’t have been. As I was driving to meet my friends on that rainy Saturday afternoon I got a call saying they were standing outside the restaurant and the door was locked (the hours on the door indicated they opened at 11, but maybe they hadn’t gotten around to changing the hours on the door). I called and was told that the chef had arrived late that morning from shopping and that they would be opening at 1 or 1:05. When I got there they were opening the doors and letting us in. They never seemed to hit their stride after that. To make a long story short, our lunch took 3 hours.

However, the drinks were potent, which made up for the long wait. It might have been the fact that we were “day drinking” on empty stomachs. Several of my friends got pretty crocked on Sazeracs while we waited, and I got pretty buzzed from my hurricane. I had to walk away from it at one point to visit the other end of the table, because I needed to slow down. My $9 hurricane was made with Myerʼs Dark Rum, Bacardi, 151, orange juice, pineapple and grenadine and was absolutely delicious. It wasn’t served in a hurricane glass, but that certainly didn’t detract from the drink itself.

The food itself was really good. I started the meal by ordering the Alligator Voodoo, which are farm-raised alligator strips served with a Jalapeno Remoulade sauce. They were pretty moist, and the dipping sauce was very flavorful. I would definitely order this again. The New Orleans BBQ shrimp appetizer seemed a bit pricey for just four shrimp, although my friend A. said they were good. I’ll probably order them as an entree in the future. The onion rings, dipped in a Dortmunder Gold beer batter and served with a warm white Cheddar fondue sauce, on the other hand, were plentiful and delicious. I couldn’t stop eating them off my friend’s plate. That fondue sauce was divine!! My friend E. also thoroughly enjoyed his raw oysters on the half shell.

I ordered the Shrimp and Crawfish Creole for my entree. Whooeee, was it spicy, which is just how Creole and Cajun food should be. I ordered it because it was served with steamed rice. I was glad it came with the rice, because the rice offset the heat a bit. The shrimp and crawfish were perfectly cooked and the tomato-based creole sauce was very flavorful.

I will also be ordering the Sweet and Crunchy Praline Salad in the near future. It is gorgeous and features mixed field greens, mandarin oranges, sun-dried cherries, white cheddar cheese, and sugar-spice pecans with a white French dressing. It was light and flavorful and the pecans were delicious.

The owner came by at some point to welcome us and make sure everything was okay. He was so sincere we didn’t have the heart to complain about the unorganized service or slow kitchen. And we were enjoying ourselves, even if several of the folks had to be in Akron at some point. I wasn’t planning on going anywhere that afternoon and just enjoyed the company, so it wasn’t that big a deal to me. I just won’t be going back again with a large group. The smaller tables seemed to be taken care of just fine, having arrived after us and leaving before us.

Several of my fellow diners were also surprised when they got their bill. It certainly wasn’t a cheap lunch, but it was a delicious and enjoyable one. I’m glad I have a New Orleans restaurant so close to home. I plan to give dining service one more try, and if it is just as slow I will simply stick to carry out in the future.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Contact info:

Jezebel’s Bayou
12718 Larchmere Boulevard
Cleveland, OH 44120
(216) 721-3877