Stuartblog2 » bar cento

Seven Things I Ate In May That I Think You Should Eat, Too

Stuart — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:03:49 +0000

Brushetta at Jibaro

They really called that bruschetta. I don’t get it either, but it didn’t affect the taste any.

Lamb tongue sandwich at Assad's Bakery

I’ve been back here since the tongue sandwich and I’ve been pleased with everything I’ve tried. Also, friendliest restaurant/market in Cleveland. Hands down. Most recently, I had the sojuk (I’ve seen it spelled soud jouk elsewhere) and it was fantastic. Greasy, but in a good way.

jerk chicken at Pot Roast Ethnic Cuisine

That little “donut” isn’t fooling anyone. The sauce was tomato-based and sour, which felt out of place. It was also a little overwhelming. But the chicken itself had a wonderful flavor and that’s more than enough to make the whole meal a success. Also, I’m not saying the sauce was bad, just that it may not be for everyone.

shwarma from Arabian Village Market

You don’t really get much from a picture of a shawarma sandwich, do you? It was tasty. They seem to have a varying assortment of prepared foods held in steam trays. I ordered some lamb heart. I’m not sure if I should have asked to have it warmed. I’m not sure if a microwave would reheat lamb heart well. It was just a hair under the perfect temperature. But the flavors were great. You could tell that the spices were fresh.

Cookies at J Pistone

The cookies at Pistone are simply the best on the East Side.

flank steak at Bar Cento

I don’t remember whether this is still on the menu. If not, they probably have a flank steak or a hangar steak with a different set of sides. I still recommend it. It’s about time that they put duck breast back on the menu.

doner yogurt at Istanbul Grill

House made doner, House made yogurt. I’ve had several good meals here.

Some Oktoberfestivities

Stuart — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:39:37 +0000

pork knuckle, a traditional German drinking food

September 25th : 26th, 2009 Oktoberfest Celebration at Great Lakes Brewing Company

It’s Oktoberfest time again! Festivities run Friday, September 25, 2009 starting at 4:00 PM through Saturday, September 26, 2009!

LIVE MUSIC:
* Friday Evening: Cleveland DSB German Brass Band (7:00 PM – 11:00 PM)
* Saturday Evening: The Joe Wendell Orchestra (6:00 PM – 11:00 PM)

SPECIALS INCLUDE:
* German Inspired Menu including: Wienerschnitzel, Sauerbraten, German Sausage and Franks, Fried Pickles, Dumplings, Cabbage and Pretzels!

* “Keep the Ceramic Stein” Special: new stein in 2009!

* GLBC Oktoberfest On Draft

Please note: reservations will not be accepted on or for these days.

Not so traditional but a national obsession since World War II. I assume currywurst will be well represented at Oktoberfest.

October 1st, 2009 Oktoberfest Beer Dinner at Bar Cento

Menu:

salad of belgian endive and mixed greens with juniper vinaigrette
mussel and clam soup with ohio potato
plum pierogi with smoked duck
lamb saurbraten with fall vegetables
mascarpone and white chocolate mousse with pumpkin sabayon

Oktoberfest special at Flying Fig

Locally raised organic brat, housemade chips, cabbage-apple slaw and Brooklyn beer all for $8.

July 4th plus a couple pig pictures

Stuart — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:19:03 +0000

Roasted pig (large) by vnoel

Some options for this coming July 4th:

Reddstone is throwing a free pig roast and BBQ. They’ll draw you in with the pork and get you with the alcoholic sno cones. There will be entertainment and games all day long.
Bar Cento and the Bier Markt will open early (at Noon) in observance of July 4th.
The Flying Fig is open (until 6pm) and offering a special July 4th Menu.
Fat Head’s is tapping their Christmas Ale. And of course the hardest working bar in Cleveland, the Buckeye Beer Engine, will also be open.

And on July 3rd:

Chef Krieger and Chef’s Choice Meats will have a BBQ from 4-7pm.

pig by chromewaves

photo by jikimajoja

Summer Dining

Stuart — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:37:01 +0000

Tuna tartare at Bodega. Best tuna tartare ever.

Moxie will debut an outdoor grilling menu on June 5. It will be available every Friday until the end of August, weather permitting. I know not everything mentioned in the announcement will be available the first week but I’m excited about whatever they will have. I know they’ll have the ribs and I know I’ll be back many more Fridays for whatever may not be there this week:

Monday, June 8 through Monday, August 31 – Moxie, the Restaurant
Grillin’ Out Friday Nights
The weather is right for grillin’ and Moxie begins the season on June 8th with Friday Night grilling specials. Available on the patio or in the restaurant for dinner only. Includes choice of Thai style beef tenderloin, spice chicken paillards, barbeque baby back ribs or smoked beef brisket, choice of sides and desserts. $30 per person.
Website: www.moxietherestaurant.com

Cleveland Botanical Garden - I don't know where the food will be served but I'm sure it will be pretty, too.

The Cleveland Botanical Gardens is continuing its popular Gourmet in the Garden. Every Wednesday, local chefs prepare food in one of Cleveland’s most serene venues. Stuartblog2 favorites fire food and drink, Boulevard Blue, Flying Fig and LUXE Kitchen and Lounge will be participating along with several other of Cleveland’s hottest chefs. Reservations are required. I recommend calling early.

Bodega is my newest favorite restaurant in Cleveland. The June installment of their monthly wine series will focus on summertime BBQ.

June 17, 2009 6:45 � 9:45pm : Summer BBQ Wine Tasting at Bodega

$25/$30

June 21, 2009 10 � 2pm : Father’s Day Brunch and BBQ at Bar Cento

The menu for Bar Cento’s Mother’s Day brunch looked very interesting.

Bar Cento Wine Dinner; Local Ice Cream; Wine Bar to Moreland Hills; Shinano review

Stuart — Sun, 31 May 2009 20:32:09 +0000

Chef Dante's dish at the 3rd annual Pestival

I went to the Shaker Nature Center’s Pestival yesterday. Chef Dante Boccuzzi is expecting the new Tremont location to be open in July. The old location’s sushi specials will be available and the sushi menu will be honored with its own space in the basement.

There wasn’t any garlic mustard in the desserts. One of desserts was basil ice cream so maybe garlic mustard ice cream could work, too. The ice cream was delicious and it was provided by Mularo’s Gourmet Ice Creams. They have a huge list of very interesting flavors. Chile mango, peach habenero, roasted banana and brown sugar (Haagen Daaz’s is certainly good) are all very tempting but I think the first that I would choose would be the sweet corn.

Bar Cento is hosting a wine dinner this Wednesday:

June 3, 6-9pm
Coturri Wine Dinner at Bar Cento
$40 Slow Food members / $45 non-members

Make reservations by contacting Bar Cento directly at 216.274.1010 or visit www.barcento.com/contact.13.

June 3, 2009 6 � 9pm : Wine dinner at Bar Cento

Clevelandfoodie breaks news of a coming wine bar in Moreland hills. The news comes in her interview with local blogger Heidi Robb and resolves any lingering curiosity over an off-hand remark in this coy blog post. The pictures in that post make me even more interested in checking out the wine bar but as far as I concerned, I’ll be supporting all of her projects for years based on the baked hot chocolate that she devised for Moxie.

What projects are you currently working on now? My super-talented beautiful friend and catering partner, Karen Gorman, is opening a new wine bar and carryout venture in Moreland Hills, The Nine of Cups and Nine of Cups Market. I’m consulting on recipe and menu development. There. I just spilled nine cups of beans. I’m absolutely thrilled for Karen – exciting times!

I’m also developing a slew of cooking classes with a new local farmer, Kelli Hanley of Hanley’s Homegrown, to be held out at her place. We are hoping to get started this summer.

Cleveland.com posted a review of Shinano in Solon. The review was generally positive and in particular praised the homemade sauces. The chance that there might be a local Japanese restaurant that isn’t happy to let their cooked food exist in the shadow of their sushi is very exciting.

“Wine Burger” at Taste; 3 for $33 at Moxie and the Fig

Stuart — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:14:17 +0000

The pork chop was available on Moxie's 3 for $33 menu a couple weeks ago

Taste is hosting a wine burger/wine tasting event on April 1. I’m reluctant to eat non-Beer Engine burgers but I think this one is worth taking a chance. Unfortunately, I’m already committed on April Fool’s Day. I’m going to pester them until they do this again.

Bar Cento is participating in an event to raise money for Harvest for Hunger. Tomorrow, March 25, they’ll donate 15% of your bill to Harvest for Hunger, a charity that works to provide food to those in need. Please mention the fundraiser to your server.

Bar Cento also has a Friday fish fry. I enjoyed it last Friday and I’m looking forward to having it again. The fish was delicious and perfectly fried.

Moxie is continuing its 3 for $33 promotion. They’re regularly changing the dishes available as part of the promotion and I expect them to change again today.

The Flying Fig is also offering a 3 for $33 deal. It’s timed to coincide with the Cleveland International Film Festival. And they just debuted several new spring menu dishes. On top of that, they had several appetizing specials tonight. You can get 140 character summaries of their specials and other local specials by following @clevespecials (twitter, rss, explanation). The feed is displayed in my side bar if you’d like an idea of what it looks like.