Tea houses – Cleveland Rocks, Cleveland Eats

YYTime

YYTime opened in February 2024. It was a much-awaited addition to AsiaTown. The owner put a lot of work into renovating an old NTB tire shop located catty-corner from Li Wah and Asia Plaza at Payne Avenue and E. 30th. There’s parking in the front and the back as well in the large lot across the street. That lot is packed during dim sum hours on the weekends, but I have never had a problem getting a spot. Turnover is quick.

YYTime features Asian street food favorites and Dagu Rice Noodle soups (the owner owned Dagu and shut it in preparation for opening YYTime). Dagu was located next to Koko Bakery on Payne and was known for its Crossing the Bridge soup (more on that below). We had a nice meal at Dagu in the past, so I was looking forward to YYTime opening. Unfortunately, the first few times I tried to go I was thwarted by getting sick or some other unfortunate event necessitating me from having to bow out. I was thrilled once I finally made it.

The restaurant is quite spacious and can easily accommodate groups. They have three kitchens, so food comes out very quickly. You can either order using the QR code on the table or from one of the friendly servers, who thoroughly answered all of our questions and were very helpful.

Once I was there I was pleased to see the wide range of fresh fruit and milk teas and coffees. The Dalgona Matcha Latte (available hot or cold – I ordered it hot) was an absolute revelation to me. Dalgona is a whipped foam for coffee or tea, using instant coffee or matcha, sugar and boiling water. It is then added to the prepared coffee or tea. When mixed in with some milk, it’s honestly just an incredible and tasty experience. Any of the foam options sound fun – like the Jasmine Green Tea with Matcha Foam.

On my second visit I hosted a meal with my tea group, because I knew they would appreciate the variety of tea options. I thoroughly enjoyed my Cream Brulee Thai Tea Slush with Amber Pearl (above right – with the fun kitty ears lid). There are so many choices you could try a new one every week and spend several years with a new beverage. I also really like that you can vary the level of sweetness. I’ve found 50% sweetness is perfect for me.

One of my vegetarian friends ordered several vegetarian appetizers, and they were really tasty. I always enjoy garlic cucumbers, but the black fungus appetizer was a nice surprise. It has a nice vinegary broth and lots of roasted peanuts. If you like that kind of flavor profile I highly recommend trying it. The cauliflower under the Vegetables section was also a tasty choice – arriving grilled on skewers, but I didn’t get a photo of it. The lotus root was also a unique choice that I enjoyed. It had the same vinegary broth as the black fungus.

As I said above, YYTime is the next iteration of the Dagu Rice Noodle restaurant that used to be located next to Koko Bakery on Payne. Dagu Rice Noodle is a Shanghai-based franchise and was one of only a few here in the U.S. They offered lots of Chinese street food-style options, but the real reason to come here was/is for the array of crossing-the-bridge noodle soups. Served alongside an enormous bowl of soft, tangled noodles and a platter of uncooked add-in spices, herbs, vegetables and protein such as bamboo shoots, tofu, pork or beef slices, crab, quail egg, bok choy, seaweed, ham, corn, fish ball, etc., you can build your soup to your liking.

The soups arrive in large bowls of boiling hot broth in heated earthenware bowls. The broth of each soup is served at a boiling 300 degrees. When I say boiling I mean it. It comes out boiling and bubbling. It is a good idea to add the veggies and meats and then let it sit for a little while to cool down while they cook. Pictured below is the Original Crossing The Bridge Rice Noodle Soup. It comes to the table as a steaming bowl of pork-based broth and is essentially a hot pot for one. One of my friends swears by the tomato-flavored base soup.

I ordered the Rice Noodle Soup with Coconut Red Curry Chicken on my first visit. It was quite tasty and I ended up bringing about half of it home to heat and eat the next day. The rice noodles didn’t quite hold up, so if you plan on bringing leftovers home you might want to pack the rice noodles up separately. I’m a huge fan of the yellow curry profile, but red curry is a close second for me.

The fried dumplings were highly recommended in a reel I saw on social media, and they did not disappoint. The photo on the left is the Pork with Water Chestnut. One of my friends raves about the Vine Pepper Shrimp dumplings (right), and it was as good as she said it was. I don’t know what the crispy golden brown crust is made of, but the dumplings are fried together because you have to break the crust to eat them. The dumplings were really juicy and tasty.

I ordered the Vermicelli Scallops when I was out with my tea group. It is pricy and small, but was a nice splurge and quite tasty. The powdered spice on top is no joke – it can pack a punch of heat.

The meat and vegetables on skewers were also a highlight. I ordered the chicken skewer and loved it. The flavor was really great, and the chicken was still quite juicy. As I said, the cauliflower on skewers is also surprisingly one of my favorites. The char just complements the taste of the cauliflower. The squid skewer (squid shall?) was also quite meaty and substantial. They are served with scissors to aid you in cutting off pieces. My friend dunked them in the soup to warm them up when they got cold.

My friend was not impressed with the fried rice, but she doesn’t like and didn’t add yum yum sauce, which I felt added to it. I tried it and it didn’t wow me, but it also wasn’t a bad choice. I think if you go to YYTime you will probably be better off trying something very unique.

Another friend ordered the Crispy Chicken Cutlet and wasn’t blown away. Then again, I’m fairly sure he didn’t use any of the accompanying sauces. One of my friends ate the tea egg (top of the photo in front of the cucumber slices) that came with his entree and enjoyed it a lot. They said it was “deliciously jammy.” The flavor is a burst of salty soy with a creamy yolk.

I was also not a huge fan of the grilled eggplant. It was just mushy and didn’t really wow me taste-wise (they were pretty bland despite having ordered them with mild spice. But on a positive note, my one friend said the egg rolls were some of the best he’s ever had (and the presentation is really nice).

I am looking forward to going back soon. I need another Dalgona Matcha Latte. Whether I get it hot or cold will remain to be seen. You can’t go wrong with any of their beverages choices. And dumplings and bao as well as the cold appetizers are fantastic. And now that it is soup season, you need to enjoy their rice noodle soups to warm up on a cold winter day. Plus, any place that has large groups of Asian diners is always a good choice (even if he is giving me the side eye for taking a photo of our table). It is open from 11 AM – 9 PM every day but Tuesday.

Contact info:

YYTime
3004 Payne Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 291-7533

Miss Hickory’s Tea Room

Those who know me know that I am a member of an active tea group on Meetup that visits local tea rooms and has local tea-related events at local libraries such as informative presentations, craft projects, tea blending classes and other events such as our upcoming Chinese New Year tea. Miss Hickory’s is a favorite of our group. We have attended special tea events as well as met for tea as a group in which we’ve ordered off the menu. It never disappoints.

Reservations are required. You can’t just drop in and expect to be accommodated. The ingredients are fresh and everything is made to order each day. One of my friends preorders a quart of soup ahead of time to take home with her.

Miss Hickory’s Tea Room is located in a mid 1800’s farmhouse right off State Route 82 in Strongsville, Ohio (turn on the road is across from Camp Cheerful). Cona and Joe are the owners, and they have a passion for historical properties. They own several of them on the street. The farmhouse was originally the home of Strongsville’s first blacksmith, William Weller. They have put in a lot of work on the property. There is a ramp as well as stairs to the cozy front porch. The parking has expanded a bit, which is a welcome change.

Once you enter the tea room you are greeted by the hostess. The hostesses and servers are dressed in early 1900s attire, and it has a historical vibe. While you wait to be seated they offer a sample of the ‘tea of the day’ at the tea steeping station in the front parlor. I love this station because the light fixtures are made from tea cups. If you are seated right away you will be given a sample at your table, but be sure to admire the steeping station as you leave.

The first time I was exposed to Miss Hickory’s was for a Halloween tea in which we were encouraged to come dressed as witches. The multi-course meal was impressive – they even carved out an orange and filled it with broccoli salad! I wish I could find my photos from that tea, but it was in 2016. They also were not skimpy on the portions. The food was so plentiful that many of us took home leftovers. Their Christmas tea a few years ago had a quartet of carol singers to entertain us.

Despite being a tea room that specializes in hot teas, they also offer coffee and hot chocolate, milk, iced tea and pink lemonade as well as soft drinks. My favorite blend is their Angels Dream Tea blend, which is described as a “heavenly naturally flavored black tea with maple sweetness, blackberry pungency, full flavored Assam and a mystery green tea. We have sought the heavens to try to find the flavor befitting all the virtues of this tea’s namesake. The natural flavors of maple and wild blackberry enhance this excellent tea from the tea world’s finest regions – Sri Lanka, Formosa and Assam (India).” The Arctic Raspberry and Blue Lady Tea (with passionfruit, grapefruit, orange, and grenadine flavors) are also personal favorites. I love a good flavored black tea, but they also have tasty green teas (like their Chai Tea), white teas, herbal infusions, and an Orange Blossom Oolong tea.

The High Tea Sampler is served on 3-tier serving dish filled with an assortment of Miss Hickory’s favorite things, such as BLT finger sandwiches, chicken salad wonton cups, cucumber finger sandwiches, and egg salad club sandwiches; the Scones of the Week with Devonshire cream & homemade jam; their Lemon Tea Bread; and a serving of strawberries. If several people order the tea sampler they are all served on the same serving dish and everyone gets one serving of everything. The finger sandwiches are stunning and delicious.

I usually order off the menu. There are various “house sandwiches,” paninis and wraps. You can order the House sandwiches (chicken salad or tuna salad) on fresh Artisan bread, croissant or greens. I wish the egg salad were also available as a house sandwich, but it is only available in the tea sampler. I also enjoy their various side dishes, such as the citrus broccoli salad, strawberry pretzel salads and cups of soup. I usually order a sandwich or quiche and then add a side dish or two.

Left: Chicken stew with a half sandwich, and citrus broccoli salad; Right: creamy chicken pot pie soups with puff pastry heart and half a sandwich

Their chicken stew with spaetzle soup is delicious. It is available every day. Their other soups vary weekly. The website has all of them depicted and they all sound divine (don’t mind the security alert – they aren’t tracking you; they are simply using an outdated security certificate so the site isn’t “secure.” They run a tea site and aren’t web programmers). The Creamy Chicken Pot Pie Soup with Puff Pastry Heart is especially cute.

They offer a quiche of the day in addition to their Spinach Bacon Swiss Quiche, which is served daily. I had this quiche on my last visit and enjoyed every bite. It is made with fresh eggs and cream, spinach, crispy bacon, shredded Swiss cheese and just the right amount of spices. I was tempted to order one to go as well!

Don’t sleep on the salads either. My friend declared their most recent signature salad “the best salad [she had] ever eaten.” I ordered it to go the next time we went and loved it as well. It was their Autumn Salad, which featured assorted greens tossed with sweet pear slices & candied pecans, all drizzled with a spectacular Maple-Balsamic Dressing. The Classic Wedge Salad is available every day. They also have several other salads available, which are seasonal such as the Fruit Salad, the Honey Crisp Apple Salad and a Spinach Salad.

If you are a scone fan you won’t be disappointed. Their scones are actually scone-shaped and not too dense. The scone changes monthly.

We enjoy sitting on the front porch before and/or after event just catching up. Joe even turned on the ceiling fans for us last summer. It’s especially fun when it is decorated for Halloween, with a spooky pumpkin offering some ambiance.

Contact info:

Miss Hickory’s Tea Room
14217 Mill Hollow Lane
Strongsville, Ohio
(440) 668-3053

Quick Carol Singers video: https://youtube.com/shorts/0p5SQm6uy_I

Corner 11 Bowl & Wrap in Tremont and Poké & Ramen in Strongsville

I am a huge fan of Hawaiian poké. Poké is a great choice for people with gluten intolerances and people who have to watch their sugar and carbohydrate intake. Corner 11 was the first poké place that let customers choose their portion size, type of rice or salad greens, proteins, toppings, and sauces. And Corner 11 has great poké – at both locations. The first location is is located in the Tremont on the corner of 11th St and Kenilworth Ave, hence the name Corner 11. I met a group of friends here for the first time several years ago. The restaurant is very clean, and everyone enjoyed it. It offers poké bowls and “pokérito wraps”with an array of toppings to choose from. You order at the counter, and they will bring it to your table. The staff behind the counter at both locations have been very friendly and hard-working.

I’ve become a huge fan of Corner 11 Poké & Ramen in Strongsville and have dined here several times. One of my friends noticed it on our way to a tea event, so we decided to dine here. I have also dined here several times on my own. I have always been satisfied. The Strongsville location is a fairly non-descript storefront in a strip mall, but there is plenty of seating.

My friend, who is a vegetarian, particularly enjoyed the tofu wings. The tofu wings were nicely fried and crisp and topped with a nice spicy Thai seasoning and chili sauce. She’s looking forward to organizing a dinner there in the next few weeks for our group. There are quite a few vegetarian choices to choose from, which are indicated with “(V)”.

I ordered the ramen recently, which appears to be the big seller there. It just reminded me that I’m not a huge fan of ramen, but Cleveland Scene Magazine named Corner 11 as one of the “Top 5 Ramens in Cleveland” in 2022. It was a nice bowl of ramen, but give me a bowl of pho and I am much happier. I chose pork for my shoyu ramen and one of the pieces was quite large because I was given the end. The pork was fatty, which I am not a fan of but many people like. If you don’t like fatty pork you can choose chicken or vegetarian ramen instead. The ramen noodles, menma and boiled egg were great.

My go-to there is a medium poké bowl (which comes with 2 proteins – the small features 1 protein, the large has three). The quality of the fish like salmon and tuna is awesome, and the portion is huge for the money. One of the highlights is the unlimited toppings, allowing for endless customization and ensuring each bowl is perfectly suited to your taste. You can choose between white sushi rice, midnight (“black”) rice or mixed greens, choose raw or cooked proteins like salmon, tuna, spicy tuna, shrimp, chicken, squid or tofu, and then from a wide variety of toppings. The choice of toppings are avocado, carrot, cilantro, corn, cucumber, edamame, jalapeno, sushi ginger, scallion, kimchi, lime wedge, mango, pickled mustard greens, pineapple, seaweed salad, spicy seaweed salad, tomato, masago, and roasted black & white sesame. Certain items have an upcharge if you ask for more. I always load mine with lots of toppings and top it with Yum Yum and teriyaki sauces. The sauces are all gluten-free and include Thai spicy, tom yum, spicy mayo, sweet shoyu (V), yum yum, and teriyaki (V).

Even the beverages are special. In addition to various American and Japanese sodas, you can order a variety of juices, smoothies, milk and fruit teas as well as Thai iced coffee and tea. You can get most drinks with or without boba (tapioca balls). I enjoyed the fruit tea with passion fruit and strawberry puree (although $7 is pretty pricy for something I can easily make myself at home) and especially the Thai Iced Tea with milk. And the mango sticky rice is not to be missed! I have gotten it to go for a treat later in the day and always enjoyed it.

Contact info:

Corner 11 Bowl & Wrap
2391 W 11th Street
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 713-1757

Corner 11 Poké & Ramen
17100 Royalton Road, Unit 9B
Strongsville, OH 44136
(216) 713-1757

Ha Ahn Korean Restaurant

Ha Ahn is a small, family-run Korean restaurant in the same AsiaTown strip mall as Superior Pho. They serve homestyle Korean dishes as well as sushi. Just like with Superior Pho, I highly recommend parking in the parking lot behind the strip mall and entering through the entrance in the back. There are only a few parking spots available on Superior. The easiest way to access it is to pull onto E. 31st Street from Superior (No. 1 Pho is on the other side of E. 31st and Superior), but you can also access it from E. 30th. Just remember that E. 31st is a one-way street.

Hot barley tea is available upon request. It is served in a brass kettle. The barley tea has a unique nutty flavor and slightly sweet taste. The barley is roasted and brewed and has great health benefits and is beneficial for your skin.

Each meal starts with a half-dozen complimentary banchan (traditional Korean small plates) such as house-made kimchi, fermented bean sprouts, a fermented cucumber salad, and fermented fish cakes. The banchan are always fun and varied. You can order more for another $4.

It is one of the few Korean restaurants in Cleveland that serve what they call “Mool Nangmyun” (Mul Naengmyun or 물냉면) which is an icy cold noodle soup made with buckwheat noodles. My friend K. loves it and we went there to fulfill her craving. She gave me a taste, and I really enjoyed it. It was tasty. Cold soup isn’t usually my thing, but I can see enjoying this on a hot summer day.

I have ordered either the Dolsot Bibimbap (served in a hot stone bowl) or sushi when I have eaten there. It’s a fun place for a quick meal before a show at PlayhouseSquare. Bibimbap features marinated beef, assorted vegetables, and gochujang sauce piled atop a bed of rice. Dolsot bibimbap comes out in the hot stone bowl with all of the fillings piled in sections and topped with a fried egg. The idea is to stir it all together and enjoy the crispy cooked rice that forms along the walls and bottom of the hot stone bowl.

Korean Kimbap (seaweed rolls) have a sweeter nutty flavor that is distinctly Korean, so I was nervous when I ordered sushi here the first time. I had no reason to be nervous. The sushi here tastes just like sushi at a Japanese restaurant. The rice used in many Korean dishes is a short grain sweet rice, which is the “stickiest” variety of rice consumed in Korea. The glycemic index of this rice is very high. The different flavor also obviously comes from the fillings in the seaweed roll. Kimbap uses marinated beef bulgogi and assorted vegetables. They are very tasty and among my favorite items here.

The Japanese sushi rolls here listed in the Sushi section of the menu are the standard fish and fillings you can find at other sushi restaurants. The quality is always fresh, and the rolls are tight. I have ordered both nigiri and large rolls here and have been very pleased every time.

Ha Ahn is open every day but Sunday for lunch from 11 to 2:30 and then for dinner from 4:30 to 8. It’s open from 11 to 8 on Saturday. I try to go at off-hours to ensure I can get a seat/table. It’s really small and only has about 8 tables. There are benches in the hallway where you can sit and wait for a table.

Contact info:

Ha Ahn Korean Restaurant
3030 Superior Avenue E
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 664-1152

Dim sum at Li Wah

As most of my long-time readers know, one of my favorite meals is going out for dim sum with friends. Li Wah has been one of my favorite places because it has the dim sum served from carts. Dim sum (otherwise referred to as Yum Cha) is considered to be brunch in the Far East. Dim sum is usually served for breakfast and lunch (10am – 3pm at Li Wah). The baked, fried, or steamed goods usually come with 3 or 4 pieces to an order. Dishes are expected to be shared. Asians consider the concept of ”that plate is yours and this plate is mine” as impolite. Sharing is essential to developing a better relationship with your friends and family. Dim sum carts roll past every table throughout the restaurant, and guests can pick from different dim sum items as the carts roll by. You generally just point at what you want and/or nod if you recognize the name of the item. Shumai are always a good place to start – or the black bean spare ribs.

Tea is considered to be an essential part of the dim sum experience. The Cha in Yum Cha stands for tea. Tea is automatically served when you are seated, and you are expected to serve your dining companions before serving yourself. Li Wah carries 6 different blends of tea. The tea charge varies from .80 cents per person to 1.00 per person depending upon tea selection. I like the basic oolong they serve, but you can also order jasmine tea or chrysanthemum tea (which are made with actual chrysanthemum blossoms. When your tea pot is empty or needs to be refreshed, simply leave the teapot lid open. They also serve beer, wine, various cocktails, sodas, lemonade with popping pearls, milk tea, bubble tea and smoothies. But if you are splitting the bill in the end it might be a good idea to order them separately.

My favorite dim sum items at Li Wah are primarily dumplings as well as the steamed buns with Peking duck, the shrimp, Har Gow and tofu skin rolls. Chinese people have been raised on a diet of predominately pork, poultry (duck and chicken), and seafood. Many Asians are lactose intolerant due to the lack of cows in the region. Roast duck, Peking duck, and roast pig are wonderful meats to try, but they tend to be expensive additions. Likewise, the Chinese vegetables such as Chinese broccoli (Gai Lan), bok choy, pea pod leaves (dao mu), or Bittermelon (Foo Gaw) can be expensive additions as well and take longer to make so order them early if you want some greens with your dumplings. I can also recommend the cucumber salad.

The weekends tend to be the busiest, and they tend to roll out some of the better items later in the day like the mussels or salt baked prawns. The more adventurous eaters might want to try the chicken feet or the tripe or jellyfish, but I tend to order the less adventurous things when I am dining out with friends who are new to dim sum. It helps that I am not the biggest fan either.

If you have a larger group it is a good idea to make sure you get a table with a rotating glass lazy susan. It’s a good idea to have one of the more experienced diners be in charge of ordering and in charge of the bill, because otherwise chaos ensues. As the items are set on the table, the server will mark it on your bill depending on the price of the item.

Most dim sum are served as three or four to a plate. It’s also good to order enough so each person either gets their own bite-sized item or cut the item in half with a chopstick or fork. Knives are considered bad energy, a cutting force, in feng shui. It is not proper to eat a Chinese meal with a knife and fork. If you can’t handle chopsticks, use a spoon and a fork. Li Wah can also give you children’s chopsticks, which are held together with a rubber band. The Chinese don’t cut food on the table – although we have been brazen in the past and asked for a knife. If you want something like the turnip cakes cut up into smaller servings the server will be happy to do so for you. But using a knife to cut up the dim sum really is frowned upon.

The desserts are sweeter dim sum as shown above. It’s a good idea to order one or two items like the mango pudding, egg tarts or my favorite egg custard bun for a sweet ending. Even the sesame balls (the round balls coated with sesame seeds in the center of the photo on the right) can be considered sweeter because the red bean paste filling is sweeter than some of the savory items.

Once everyone is full (which is easy to do) you ask one of the servers to total up your bill and then you divide it by however many diners were at the table. It is best to make sure everyone has enough cash to cover themselves and then just hand the cash to the server. Too many credit cards can throw the server off their game. I have an app that calculates the tip (Li Wah is now tacking on an automatic gratuity of 18% though, so be sure to doublecheck whether the tip is already included) and divides the total by the number of diners. Most of the time we end up paying $20-25 a person (unless a roast meat or vegetable dish has been ordered, then it is more like $30). Unfortunately the price per item has risen in the last few years, and the quality has become hit or miss. Nevertheless, it’s still a fun experience that everyone should have at least once, and it’s a great way to share a meal with friends.

Contact info:

Li Wah
2999 Payne Avenue, Suite 102
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 696-6556

Fish Fry #2 2024: Ice or Rice Cafe

I’m trying something different with the photos today since they aren’t displaying properly on my end (pushing to the left and overlapping the text). I promise I am working on finding a solution!

No fried fish for me this Friday! Despite my best intentions a fish fry was not in the cards for me. Work came in the way, and I had too much on my desk to be able to clear an hour or two for a fish fry. Luckily I had made plans with a friend for lunch, and we were meeting at Ice or Rice Cafe to introduce her to the place (she lived in Japan for many years, so she needed to try it). So I still had fish, but it was raw instead of fried.

I was greeted like a regular by the owner and waited for my friend to arrive. We ordered at the counter and sat there chatting as our food was being prepared. I noticed they had several new onigiri on the menu – a crab salad and a raw tuna, so I definitely had to order them. I love onigiri, and Ice or Rice is the only place that serves them here in Cleveland. They are a must for me. Onigiri (おにぎり) are Japanese rice balls made of steamed rice that you compress into a triangular, ball, or cylinder shape and are usually wrapped in a nori seaweed sheet. The filling here is very generous – with lots of crab salad and a really nice chunk of tuna. They are individually packaged to keep them fresh, and they were still slightly warm when I enjoyed them. They were both delicious.

I was tempted to order the Seared Salmon roll again, but I wanted to try something new. I ordered a Rainbow Roll, because I am trying to eat through the sushi menu. The roll was smaller than most Rainbow Rolls in a sushi restaurant (just six cuts instead of eight), but it suited me just fine because I ordered enough for two meals as it was. A Rainbow Roll is a roll that is filled with imitation crab, cucumber, and avocado, and topped with salmon, tuna, and yellowtail. Their Rainbow Roll was fresh and tightly wrapped, draped with thin slices of raw salmon, tuna and avocado. They don’t have yellowtail on the menu so they use what they have, but I didn’t miss it. It was a tasty roll. I had half (3 pieces) in the restaurant and put the lid on the other half to take home for later. It was just as good later as a snack/light dinner instead of the fish fry.

If you want something tasty and hot (but not fried), order the shrimp okonomiyaki. Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake dish consisting of wheat flour batter and other ingredients cooked on a teppan grill and topped with okonomiyaki sauce, mayo, powdered seaweed, scallion and bonito flakes. My friend ordered the pork belly okonomiyaki and loved it. She used to make it all the time for herself and her kids, and she really liked this version. She lamented it didn’t have pickled ginger, but she really enjoyed the flavor of the cabbage, scallions, batter, pork belly, and toppings. I’ve had the shrimp version before and loved it. I enjoyed the bite she shared with me.

I ordered the lychee kumquat sparkling lemonade, which was really refreshing and had a couple full-size lychees and kumquat zest and juice in it. My friend very much enjoyed her iced boba matcha. I ordered one for myself to go and even though I don’t like boba all that much I enjoyed the flavor of the brown sugar boba they use.

If you haven’t given Ice or Rice Cafe a try, be sure to check them out! I’m looking forward to next Friday when I will be enjoying a tuna melt at Chelo’s for lunch and a fish fry! Have a great week.

Contact info:

Ice or Rice Cafe
3713 Payne Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 539-9092

Mango Mango

My friends and I are obsessed with Mango Mango, the new Asian dessert shop on Payne Avenue (just down from Wonton Gourmet). Fruity, sweet desserts and drinks are the focus at Mango Mango. The New York-based chain opened its first Ohio location in April of this year. The first location opened in 2013, and it has since expanded to have 30 locations in 13 states. It definitely fills a need that was only being filled by Koko Bakery. It has been packed since it opened.

Some of the most popular items at Mango Mango are, unsurprisingly, mango-focused: mango and sticky rice desserts, mango pancakes, mango mochi and mango Mille crepe cakes are crowd favorites. The menu is formidable, featuring cold and hot desserts, crepes and waffles, cakes, flavored (bubble) teas and smoothies. I am a huge (HUGE) fan of the quintessential Thai dessert mango and sticky rice.

That said, on my first visit I ordered the mango juice and watermelon with rice balls. I figured since it was a seasonal item I would take advantage of the fact that I could order it. I really liked it. The mango juice and watermelon were refreshing, and the rice balls were reminiscent of sticky rice but it wasn’t the same consistency and lacked the condensed milk.

My friend ordered the strawberry mango juice sago and lychee jelly with mango ice cream. I really liked this as well because the lychee jelly was simply heavenly. My friend didn’t really love the mango ice cream, but I felt it added a nice flavor profile to the dessert. I obviously ordered this the second time I visited.

A bunch of my girlfriends gathered here one Saturday evening after dinner at Sichuan Hot Pot. I had been at a luau at the Willoughby Elks Lodge, so I joined them for dessert. We all ordered a dessert each and shared them. I absolutely fell in love with the Matcha Crepe Roll. The crepe, which is soft and tender, is stuffed with a mildly sweet red bean whipped cream. It is super light and airy. Definitely a showstopper.

Cleveland’s very own Andy Ng of Ice or Rice made a video on how to make one and makes it look so easy.

I had ordered the Mango and Black Rice dessert, which tasted almost exactly like a mango sticky rice dessert. The black rice had a slightly different texture, but the flavor profile was the same.

Two of my friends recommended the mille crepe cakes and the brown sugar cream puffs. The brown sugar cream puffs were good, but tasted a little burnt. I’ll have to get them again to determine if burnt sugar is the flavor profile they are going for.

The Mango Mille Crepe Cake was also a fan favorite. A mille crepe cake is a cake made up of many crepe layers, with freshly made milk, custard, or sauces sandwiched between each layer. Flour, eggs, sugar, and milk are used to make the crepes themselves. The word mille means “a thousand” in French, and it refers to the crepe cake’s several layers. You can choose between the Mango Mille Crepe Cake, Mustang King Durian or the Green Tea Mille Crepe Cake. It too was very light and not too filling.

Another time I was there I ordered the strawberry and mango dessert with lychee jelly and a Brown Sugar Boba Milk Tea (their signature tea). The milk tea was very refreshing, even if I’m not a huge fan of boba. I definitely enjoyed it to the very end.

Mango Mango is open Monday – Friday from 12pm-9pm and Saturday – Sunday 11am-9pm. The menu is so extensive that I imagine it will take a very long time to try most everything. I’m looking forward to trying some of the hot soups and maybe a waffle when it gets colder. It definitely has something for everyone (inluding dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan choices).

Contact info:

Mango Mango Cleveland
3133 Payne Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 417-8833

Algebra Tea House

Algebra Tea House is an eclectic tea shop in Little Italy that serves beverages such as tea, coffee, smoothies and shakes, plus Middle Eastern cuisine (the owner was born in Pakistan and his family lived in Syria, Kuwait, Tripoli and Libya – he also lived in Austria for a while). The cafe is also very vegan friendly and has a large assortment of healthy menu options. Owner Ayman Alkayali is an artist and a businessman, and he created all of the eclectic cups in the shop. He also appears to enjoy woodworking and hates straight lines if the door and the shelving units are anything to go by. The front door, tables and shelves were hand-crafted by Ayman, and his paintings cover the walls. He put a lot of work into creating the shop from a bike shop with no gas or electricity. Algebra Tea House opened its doors in August 2001. It was the first non-Italian establishment in the Little Italy neighborhood.

Algebra is opened everyday from 9am – 11pm. They serve breakfast specials on Saturday and Sunday alongside the regular menu from 9 am – 1 pm. Even though he is Muslim you can smell the bacon in the air on the weekends. The smell of Middle Eastern spices also blends with citrus from the orange peel resting atop a wood burning stove.

Do not come here if you are in a hurry. Most of the time, there is only one employee working and they can only do so much. This is a place to linger and relax. There is even Bedoun seating around a low table. My knee would never cooperate with that, so I was also happy to see higher tables and chairs (there’s even a large couch). He designed Algebra to be a place for people to commune together. There is a selection of games in the back to play with and a book exchange library on the front right wall.

The first time I was here was in 2010 or 2011. I met a group of tea drinkers here and had a wonderful afternoon getting to know a lot of interesting ladies. In fact, I met a lifelong friend that day (Hi, G!).

I was last here on a Saturday, and it took an hour and a half to get the tea and kebab I ordered. I have to admit that was a little frustrating, because it shouldn’t take an hour and a half to make a tea. I probably would have ordered a second or third one to go with my food if they hadn’t waited to serve the tea with my food. The server did offer the table half a House Smoothie (a vegan smoothie with mango, strawberry and banana blended with rosewater), which I grabbed since they had all been served their food at that point. It was very refreshing! I’d definitely order it next time. They had three people behind the counter (one just doing the dishes) and were obviously in the weeds, so I do plan on giving them a third chance during the week some time. You order at the counter, and they (eventually) bring your drinks and food to the table. You pay when you leave.

I was there that Saturday with my tea group, so I was feeling more adventurous than ordering a straight Darjeeling or Orange Pekoe tea. The menu had a very wide selection of black, green, white, and ethnic teas as well as chais and “comfort blends” (basically spiced milks). Where else will you find hot chocolate made with chocolate, steamed milk, and rosewater? They also have a large selection of house roasted coffees. I decided to get the Friday Market Libyan Tea, which features black tea, roasted peanuts, mint and brown sugar. I was intrigued. It was the wildest yet one of the most delicious teas I have ever enjoyed. The mint was floating on the surface along with a good amount of roasted peanuts. The brown sugar meant I didn’t need to add any sugar. It was perfect just as it is. I also had the Moroccan Mint because my friend ordered me the wrong tea, but it was also lovely with fresh mint leaves. I had wanted to try their special tea that day, a green tea with mint cinnamon, but she must have misunderstood me when I asked.

I also ordered the Iraqi kebab, which is made of ground beef and lamb mixed with garlic, parsley, sumac and Palestinian spices and wrapped with fresh vegetables, hummus, harissa and a yogurt mint sauce in a homemade pita. I really enjoyed it. It was obviously fresh and was very flavorful. It definitely hit the spot.

Other choices include numerous salads and a falafal sandwich, shawarma sandwich, hummus sandwich, “Zoho gyro,” Cajun chicken sandwich, smoked turkey sandwich with zattar, and bagel sandwich. There are also various “plates” featuring fool madams, falafal, hummus, eggplant, labneh, sardines, or Syrian tomatoes as well as several “all day breakfast choices” that include shakshuka (Shak-shooka), a Saudi breakfast of carmelized onions, sauteed tomatoes and scrambled eggs with a side of warm pita. I’m familiar with the Israeli version. Another fellow diner had the spinach pie plate and loved it. The prices are affordable to appeal to the college crowd.

One of the people in the group who was a regular ordered the red lentil soup, and it came out piping hot in one of the coolest bowls I have ever seen. It’s round shape was intriguing, and the metal probably kept it hot for longer than a regular bowl would. The soup had fresh spinach floating on top and looked delicious. He enjoyed the soup very much.

Algebra is known for its hummus. The owner soaks large amounts of chickpeas overnight and makes big batches in an industrial-sized food processor. I know because I watched him grab the food processor from the shelf next to where I was sitting and pile in chick peas until they were almost overflowing out of the container. The hummus is smooth and creamy, drizzled with olive oil and dollops of what looks like a red pepper tapenade (but it could also be harissa), garnished with cucumber and tomato, and sprinkled with a mixture of spices on top.

The desserts also sound amazing. The Banana Algebra, featuring sauteéd fruit with rosewater, cardamom, nutmeg and cinnamon, served over ice cream, sounds amazing. As does the Chocolate Chip Deli, homemade chocolate chip cookies topped with wildberry ice cream, bananas, whipped cream, cherry and nutmeg. The desserts all feature some kind of fruit and/or ice cream and sound healthy in addition to delicious.

In short, this place features lots of Middle Eastern treats that appear to be all homemade. They have a wide choice of beverages and lots of vegan-friendly items. You can also buy loose leaf tea to make at home as well as a variety of grocery items.

Contact info:

Algebra Tea House
2136 Murray Hill Road
Cleveland, OH 44106

Kouign Amann at The Fluffy Duck Cafe

I had never heard of Kouign Amann until about six months ago when someone in one of the food groups I am in asked if anyone was making them in Cleveland. No one was. The closest bakery seemed to be in Pittsburgh. Well, we have one now at a delightful coffee shop on Chester Avenue across from the Cleveland Clinic.

The Fluffy Duck Cafe opened in December 2016. It is located on the ground floor of the Innova building across from the construction that will be the Cleveland Clinic’s Health Education Building. I had watched the building go up for a while now and was curious who the tenants would be. I first heard about the Fluffy Duck when Chef Doug Katz raved about it right after it opened. I should have known it would stand up to the expectations. I delivered my translations early this morning and could use a jolt of caffeine for the next one, so I decided to treat myself to a nice coffee and pastry. When I saw they were serving a Kouign Amann I knew what I was going to order, since I’ve been wanting to try it.

I love the format of the Fluffy Duck Cafe. All of the windows gave the cafe a bright and sunny feeling. The clean white walls and clean lines of the wooden tables and chairs and those lining the windows gave it a modern feel (you can see the tables reflected off the bakery case in the third picture). They offer free wifi, so I can see myself coming here with my laptop to translate when I need a change of scenery. The open kitchen allows you to watch the staff busy rolling out dough and making the pastries. The baker had a container full of eggs when I was ordering, and she was turning them into dough.

I wanted a coffee and checked out the list of available coffees. I was leaning towards a cappucino until the flavored lattes caught my eye. I was immediately intrigued by the orange cardamom latte. They use local whole milk and good quality coffee beans from a roaster in Grand Rapids. It is a fine cup of coffee.

I was given a plate with my Kouign Amann, and the barista whipped up my latte, complete with delightful milk foam art. I carefully carried my plates to a table and looked forward to biting in. They had been holding a Coffee with a Cop event, so when the police officer saw what I ordered he raved about his and told me what a delight it was. As he explained, it is flaky and sweet and then you hit a bit of salt. He told me I would enjoy it, and I did. I also enjoyed chatting with him as he was on his way out.

Let me tell you, he was right. I don’t know how it compares with other Kouign Amanns since it was my first one, but this one was delicious. Light and flaky with a nice crumb to it, the caramelized topping with a hit of salt really made an enjoyable pastry. I will definitely be back. The ham and cheese croissants and almond croissants also intrigue me. The menu is limited to pastries and a few lunch-type items after 11 a.m., but what they do offer they do well.

The list of flavored lattes and teas sounded nice, and I believe they might change them out since the menu is a piece of paper on a clipboard instead of a hanging board. They also offer pour overs with three weekly offerings.

So if you are looking for a nice little respite or you have been looking for a Kouign Amann in Cleveland, you need to check it out.

Contact info:

The Fluffy Duck Cafe
10001 Chester Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106

Greenbridge Tea House

Cleveland has a new tea house. It opened in October 2015. Located in a recently renovated century home in Twinsburg, Ohio, the tea house overlooks the town square. In fact, I almost missed it. It is on the southwest corner of the square. Parking is available on the street facing the square. The tea house is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11-3. It seats 25. The staff was very friendly and accommodating, and the place smelled delicious.

I came here with several members of my tea group recently. We enjoyed it very much and look forward to coming back soon. As a mostly vegan tea house I did not even miss the dairy or meat! My vegetarian friends were like kids in a candy shop. They said it was so refreshing to be able to order anything off the menu instead of only have one or two items to choose from.

You can choose your own vintage tea cup from the wall shelf. They serve fair trade, organic teas and had a nice selection to choose from, including black teas, herbal teas and tisanes, and green teas. An especially nice touch: the owner brought around samples of the Moroccan mint tea that day, which I had already decided to order. It is a green tea with a nice mint flavor. I found it very refreshing.

I ordered a bowl of the golden mushroom and potato soup with thyme because it made the place smell divine. It was as delicious as it smelled. The soup was chock-full of mushrooms and potatoes. The mushrooms were thinly sliced and flavorful, and the soup had a creamy consistency despite not having any cream in it. I was glad I ordered a bowl instead of a cup.

For my entree I ordered the quiche in a “crustless’ version with eggs, Swiss cheese with onions and chives (not vegan but oh so good). A vegan version is also available. The savory quiche was extremely flavorful and hit the spot (I especially loved the side of garlic bread). I was able to choose a side dish and I chose the broccoli salad with sunflower seeds, sweet onions in vegan mayo base. I enjoyed it a lot.My friends raved about the desserts. They loved the Twin Square Minis (above), which were little fudgey squares of goodness topped with coconut, and Lemon Tea Bread topped with a blueberry sauce (below). I was full from the bowl of soup and entree, so I did not even try a bite.

We look forward to coming back and trying other things on the menu. I need to try the trio of tea sandwiches next. The idea of tempeh salad with rosemary and sage is intriguing. Also, I tried a bite of my friend’s deviled chickpea salad and enjoyed it.

Contact info:

Greenbridge Tea House
9036 Church Street
Twinsburg, OH 44087
(330) 405-9381