fire food and drink has five events scheduled during the next five weeks.

According to Cleveland Independents, fire is going to start serving lunch on October 2. They’ll serve lunches on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the month and continue if there’s some interest.

I wasn’t a part of Cleveland’s clam bake culture. Cleveland Foodie offers a short list of restaurants [...]]]>

Polish boy. From Seti's.

Lunch at fire food and drink

According to Cleveland Independents, fire is going to start serving lunch on October 2. They’ll serve lunches on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the month and continue if there’s some interest.

I wasn’t a part of Cleveland’s clam bake culture. Cleveland Foodie offers a short list of restaurants serving clam bake dinners. To that, I would add Little Polish Diner. I’ve never been but I’ve been interested in checking it out for a while. Their clam bake my be what finally gets me in the door. Clam bakes will be available beginning October 5.

lemon yogurt with fresh blueberry. Fantastic.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream at Miles Farmers Market

I love Google Voice. Honestly, I think it’s very exciting. Their transcription needs some work.

I’ve got a growing collection of scraps of paper in my car with notes recording the names of restaurants that I pass. It should come as no surprise that writing while driving isn’t much better than texting while driving. This tip turns Google Voice into the perfect solution. I call my Google Voice number and dictate my note. The transcription appears in my Google Voice inbox. The transcriptions are uniformly horrible, but it doesn’t really matter because I can always listen to the message if I’m totally stumped.

I went to pick up some Jeni’s Ice Cream at Miles Farmers Market. On my way, I noticed a restaurant (American Tavern) that was advertising their clam bakes. Then I saw a sign  advertising Miles Farmers Market’s big annual clam bake. So, I recorded a note to myself:

Jeni's flavors available at Miles Farmers Market. Click to make it bigger. The partially obscured label says "backyard mint."

I left Miles Farmers Market with two pints of Thai Chile. I tried it when I got home and didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as the lemon blueberry yogurt I had at Greenhouse Tavern. Many of the other flavors also sound appealing. I’m particularly interested in the corn-blackberry.

Great Polish boy from Happy Dog

Polish boy at the new Mount Pleasant Vendors Market

Also while driving, I noticed a banner announcing the Mount Pleasant Vendors Market. What grabbed my eye was the promise of bbq. I returned to get some of the details from the sign and they were open when I got there. It’s a vendors market, not a farmers market. And there were only a small number of vendors. But they’re hoping to grow and offer some fresh fruits and vegetables. The promised bbq was there but I couldn’t try it since I was on my way to dinner. I may be back to check out the other food vendor. They have Polish boys and a menu of other hot dogs/sandwiches. Happy Dog’s Polish boy is particularly good, but I’ve never had a bad one.

The market is open Friday through Sunday from 9am-6pm and is near E 150th on Kinsman.

I tried reading the garbled transcription of my first voice mail back to Google Voice. I guess I shouldn’t have been so surprised that the transcription in this case was actually fairly accurate.

Good pierogi from Happy Dog. I assume there will something similar at the St. Vladimir celebration.

August 29th, 2009 Ukrainian Festival at Saint Vladimir Cathedral

Last year, Parma designated a neighborhood Ukrainian Village and this year they renamed part of Marioncliffe Drive to St. Vladimir Drive. It coincides with the 85th anniversary of the founding [...]]]>

Good pierogi from Happy Dog. I assume there will something similar at the St. Vladimir celebration.

August 29th, 2009 Ukrainian Festival at Saint Vladimir Cathedral

Last year, Parma designated a neighborhood Ukrainian Village and this year they renamed part of Marioncliffe Drive to St. Vladimir Drive. It coincides with the 85th anniversary of the founding of St. Vladimir Cathedral in its original Tremont location. The church and the neighborhood are celebrating with a weekend of observations and festivities. The food appears to be concentrated on August 29. August 29 should also see Ukrainian dancing, polka music and tours of the cathedral. (via)

fire roasts a mean beet. All three courses sound like perfect dishes to highlight fire's strengths.

A Special Menu at fire

fire recently introduced a three-course menu that highlights local products. Of course, they do as much as any area restaurant to highlight local products on their local menu, but all three courses look wonderful so I’m not going to ask any questions.

bowl of heirloom tomatoes
ricotta salata, sweet basil, extra virgin olive oil

tandoor roasted hanger steak
beet and raclette cheese gratin, baby vegetables

peach cobbler
vanilla ice cream, sage honey

I searched my flickr archive for "chicken wings" and got 31 results. I don't think that's enough. Too bad I think I'll have to miss this event.

August 22, 2009 1 � 7pm : Lakewood Wing Crawl

$15 gets you 66 wings – 6 at each of 11 participating restaurants: Around the Corner, Harry Buffalo, Geppetto’s/Johnny Malloy’s, Kenilworth, Mars Bar, Merry Arts, Put In Bay Lakewood, Pug Mahone’s, Riverwood Cafe, Rush Inn and Screaming Rooster

fire is continuing its series of monthly wine dinners this coming June 10th. Every time I [...]]]>

This isn't on the menu at fire's next wine dinner but it is on their bar menu and it's delicious. That's house made bacon. House made lamb bacon. It's got delicious bacon essence with a nice lamb twist.

fire is continuing its series of monthly wine dinners this coming June 10th. Every time I look at the menu, I notice something else that sounds interesting – salt roasted apricots (with a crab stuffed zucchini blossom), blueberries in a halibut/pasta/mushroom dish, pork confit…

Bar Cento restored my courage to eat pizza after years of unfulfilled promise and bitter disappointment sapped my will to eat cheesy bread. Well, the courage to eat pizza at Bar Cento. I still haven’t worked up the nerve to try much else. Alan Richman, GQ’s critic, just published a list of the 25 best pizzas in the country and there’s a lot more to good pizza than just the Neopolitan style pizza that’s served at Bar cento and currently en vogue across the country. Richman’s reviews and lists are usually interesting. This one contains his argument that pizza in America is superior to pizza in Italy.

His research has given me hope. It’s time for me to trust pizza again. The list has no Cleveland pizzerias but there are three in Detroit. Six hour round trip for a pizza? Sounds reasonable.

Buddy’s pizza crust is one of the best in America. . . The interior slices on a Buddy’s pizza are light, slightly crunchy, and extremely satisfying, but the goal in any Detroit experience is those slices at the four corners of the pan, where maximum blackening occurs.

Also Niki’s and Tomatoes Apizza.

Here’s a map of all 25:

There are several new items on the Malaysian menu at Pacific East. I tried the ginger duck noodle soup. It was terrific. There are several beef brisket dishes and I ‘m looking forward to trying them.

Rojak - shrimp pancake, mango and a delicious sauce

fire's pork hushpuppy: Fantastic. I'm going to ask them how they make the chili sauce. The hush puppy was wonderfully light and tasty.

According to Cleveland Independents, Moxie has added a bar menu (really? I thought they already had one… If so,  it’s been changed):

Stop by the bar Moxie between [...]]]>

fire's pork hushpuppy: Fantastic. I'm going to ask them how they make the chili sauce. The hush puppy was wonderfully light and tasty.

Bar menu at Moxie

According to Cleveland Independents, Moxie has added a bar menu (really? I thought they already had one… If so,  it’s been changed):

Stop by the bar Moxie between 2:30 p.m. an 6:30 p.m. from Monday through Friday and enjoy wings, lump crab cakes, calamari, cheese, oysters, tuna tartar, moxie frites and more.  $5 martini specials.  $6 wine specials and $2 draft beer.

Judging from my flickr photostream, I’ve been on a wing kick recently. I’m looking forward to seeing what Moxie does with a chicken wing.

Bar menu at fire

Bar menus seem to be popping up all over recently. fire has been serving their bar menu for a couple weeks. I’ve had the pork hushpuppy and the braised short rib/tater tot. They were both wonderful. I also noticed that they made a change to the bar menu between my first and second visit. They added a mushroom sandwich. I love mushrooms so I think I’ll give it a try on a future visit. After that, I think it’s back to the main dining room. The new spring menu has lots of spring produce that I’m sure you’ve all been craving over those long winter months.

Boulevard Blue wings

Bar menu at Boulevard Blue

Boulevard Blue has their own new bar menu. I’ve already had the wings (also offered in the main dining room) and they were very good.  Boulevard Blue also earns points for having an up-to-date web site. Of the four restaurants discussed in this post, they’re the only one.  Go check out a complete list of their new items.  Several of them sound very interesting.

Brunches at fire and Felice

In addition to new bar menus, I’ve got a backlog of new brunches, too (Flying Fig and Buckeye Beer Engine mainly). Now, I’ve got to re-add fire to that list as they recently revamped their brunch menu. There are a few new items, a few modified items and several holdovers. I’m particularly looking forward to the pastry bag and the shrimp fried rice.

Felice also added a brunch menu. I think every restaurant in that neighborhood should have a Saturday brunch. The farmers market brings in a tremendous amount of foot traffic. I’m sure Dewey’s and Yours Truly benefit significantly. fire should think about extending their hours to include a Saturday brunch in addition to their Sunday brunch. I’ve been to Felice for dinner a couple times and while the food didn’t earn them a spot in my regular dining rotation, it was good enough that I’m still interested in checking out their new brunch menu. Some of the items sound like they could be delicious:

• Burrito – chorizo, rice, eggs, scallion, pommes frites, tomato jam
• steak and eggs – parsley sauce
• omelet – spanish onion, chorizo, smoked paprika chimichurri
• garlic shrimp – roasted garlic, mango, chili oil

ADVENTURES OF A DORK CHEF: Saint Patty’s Day @ Fire!!. Chef Esterly’s blog has been very active and very interesting since he started it a short time ago. In just a few days, he’s shared details of fire’s house made bacon, some cocktail [...]]]>

corned beef at fire - see Chef Esterly's post for the recipe

ADVENTURES OF A DORK CHEF: Saint Patty’s Day @ Fire!!. Chef Esterly’s blog has been very active and very interesting since he started it a short time ago. In just a few days, he’s shared details of fire’s house made bacon, some cocktail ideas that the restaurant is working on and much more. He also mentioned that the crew over at fire is busy working on their new spring menu.

Even though I think there’s a good chance that Buckeye Beer Engine’s #50000 may launch tomorrow, I’ll be at fire for their St. Patrick’s Day specials. (I’ll be at the Beer Engine tonight, just in case.) Sous vide cabbage and house made corned beef? Sounds wonderful. Also, since they’re changing the menu, I’ve got to order a couple appetizing salads before they disappear.

Fig Cleveland made a similar facebook announcement regarding the menu at The Flying Fig. Expect it soon.Grille at Bainbridge Commons seemed to really care about creative, fresh, from scratch cooking. I think they were missing something to be truly remarkable but I’m glad that  Chef Todd Mueler found a new home at Bistro 185 after the Grill closed.  I’ve only eaten at Bistro 185 once. It was very nice but it didn’t capture my interest.  Comically large portions didn’t help, by the way. With the announcement of this new partnership, I’m looking forward to a new visit to Bistro 185.

street of presidents Originally uploaded by el_rebelde.

Two of my favorite local restaurants have announced promotions that seem to be in response to the struggling economy. fire added half portions of selected entrees to their menu a few months ago. Now, they’re planning to [...]]]>

A very good pork chop with excellent roasted bacon and gigande(?) beans on Moxie's "3 for $33" menu

Two of my favorite local restaurants have announced promotions that seem to be in response to the struggling economy. fire added half portions of selected entrees to their menu a few months ago. Now, they’re planning to debut a bar menu on April 5. They’ll also start making some of their own bitters and syrups. Details on the food are limited but I remember something about truffled pop corn, fish and chips, pickled quail eggs and a pulled pork sandwich.

Moxie‘s offering is a three course meal for $33.

3 for $33 Prix Fixe at Moxie
For the rest of this month, come for dinner at Moxie any night of the week (we’re
open Monday through Sunday) and choose any appetizer, entrée, and dessert from a
special 3 for 33 menu for only $33. Appetizer choices: butternut squash panzanella
or beef tenderloin Carpaccio; entrees: pan-roasted summer flounder or pan-roasted
pork chop; desserts: choose any off the regular menu.

These same two restaurants are also hosting upcoming wine dinners. fire’s dinner on March 25, is the next in their monthly wine dinner series. (upcoming.org listing)

The menu is available on their event announcements page. You don’t see veal breast very often around here. Coincidentally, Moxie has it on their menu now. Aside from that, the only place I can think of that has it is Corky and Lenny’s. I think the veal breast alone is appealing enough to get me to go to this dinner.

Moxie’s wine dinners are sporadic. The next (after the Fool’s Frolic benefit) will be on April 20. (Upcoming.org listing)

The Incredible Banfi 5-Course Wine Dinner, Monday,April 20.

No vintner has a finer collection of Italian wines and has had more of an influence
on United States wine imports than Italy’s Banfi Vintners. Now, on April 20, take
advantage of this wonderful opportunity to taste some of the vintner’s best at a
special five-course wine dinner hosted by William Whiting, Banfi’s wine education
director. From its Fontanelle chardonnay to its Tavernelle cabernet, from Belnero
to Brunello, Moxie chefs, working closely with Whiting, will pair extraordinary
tastes with an incomparable selection of Banfi wines.

The Menu
Hors d’oeuvres:
Almond and Brown Butter Cantuccine
Chicken Liver Pâté
Prosciutto Broth Shooters
Prosecco
1st Course:
Risotto with Frutti di Mare
Fontanelle Chardonnay
2nd Course:
Pappardelle con Anatra (duck confit, breast)
Banfi Proprietor’s Reserve
3rd course:
Lamb Tenderloin with Pecorino Toscana, Stewed Tomatoes, Caramelized Mushroom Puree
Tavernelle cabernet
4th course:
Bistecca Fiorantina (black and blue prime beef) with Olive Oil and Rosemary Hashbrowns
Brunello di Montalcino
5th course:
Panforte: Sun-Dried Pear Gelato, Pistachio, Florentine, Chocolate and Honey Ganache

Price: $99 plus tax and gratuity.

Reservations recommended: 216.831.5599. Please specify Banfi Wine Dinner.