Cleveland’s Best Chili The readers have spoken and we’re proud to announce the top three in our “Best Chili in Greater Cleveland” poll. In third place, Firehouse Grille & Pub of Willoughby Hills crossed the finish line with their namesake crock of Firehouse Chili logging 11.58% percent of the vote. In second place (but forever in first place in the hearts of many) is Whitey’s Booze N’ Burgers of Richfield with 20.55%. And in first place, representing their widely appreciated “secret recipe” Tomahawk Chili is Forest City Brewery in Cleveland, which landed a whopping 49.62% of ballots cast. Best of Cleveland teammates Peter Chakerian and Yadi Rodriguez visited all three. Read their reports below. The Top 3 Whitey’s Booze N’ Burgers among top finishers in readers’ poll Firehouse Grille & Pub among top finishers in readers’ poll Forest City Brewery lands top spot in readers’ poll Taste of the Browns raises $350,000 for Greater Cleveland Food Bank The 25th Taste of the Browns on Monday, Oct. 2, raised $350,000 from ticket sales, auctions and donations. That’s up from $270,000 last year. Attendees mingled with Browns players past and present while sampling dishes and perusing auction items. The event was attended by nearly 1,000 people, up from the post-pandemic limit of 800 in 2022. Joe Thomas, Joel Bitonio and Fahrenheit chef-owner Rocco Whalen were honorary co-chairs. Cleveland.com’s Paris Wolfe and Alex Darus have the highlights. David Petkiewicz captured the foodie fun with photos. READ MORE Is Kava Safe? Experts advise awareness, caution Kava bars, which are like a cross between a coffee shop and a traditional bar, are trending. In fact, they’re among the top foodie trends in Cleveland this fall. Kava is part of the pepper plant family, and comes from the western Pacific Islands, where it is used for medicine and rituals. Recently, it’s become a popular dietary supplement in Western culture, used to address anxiety, insomnia, and more. Local kava bars serve it as a tea that looks and tastes like thin, muddy water. Or it is sometimes mixed into smoothies and mocktails to make it more palatable. Some see it as a worry-free replacement for caffeine or alcohol. But is the beverage safe for daily consumption? It depends on who you talk to. READ MORE Arby’s Big Game Burger We tried it so you don’t have to Arby’s has introduced a Big Game Burger made with a blend of venison (34%), elk (33%) and beef (33%). The farm-raised burger is topped with crispy onions, pickles and melty Swiss-like cheese. The presentation is finished with a sweet, gooey dark-cherry steak sauce. The burger is available nationwide for a limited time. Cleveland.com’s Paris Wolfe gave it a try and has taste-testing report. READ MORE Sophie’s Ghost seasonal cocktail is back at LockKeepers As the Halloween spirit grows stronger, LockKeepers is introducing Sophie’s Ghost, a craft cocktail made with Empress gin, Ambrosia, La Quintinye Royal Blanc, and a spray of Absinthe “perfume.” It honors a former proprietor who was murdered on site. Paris Wolfe has the story. READ MORE |
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Tinned Fish trend takes over Greater Cleveland Many foodies who use TikTok have probably noticed the growing popularity of people eating fish out of a can. It’s not the run-of-the-mill tuna in a can or tinned sardines. Tinned fish has become a phenomenon that incorporates several types of seafood and features an array of bright and surprising flavors. While preserving fish in oil has been a culinary method for centuries, the rising popularity of tinned fish popping up in someone’s regular has made its way to Cleveland. Cleveland.com's Alex Darus has the scoop. READ MORE Medina Restaurant Week starts Sunday Medina Restaurant Week is scheduled for Oct. 8-15. Main Street Medina’s ninth annual event will include 20 restaurants, many featuring signature fall menus including appetizers, entrees, desserts and drinks. Prices and dishes vary. Cleveland.com’s Marc Bona has the restaurant list and other details READ MORE Annual Mac ‘n’ Cheese Throwdown is scheduled W.A.G.S. 4 Kids’ annual Mac ‘n’ Cheese Throwdown is scheduled for Saturday, March 2, 2024m at The Madison. The comfort-food fest brings restaurants and food trucks together in a competition across a variety of categories. All-you-can eat admission includes samples equal to 2 ounces; non-boozy beverage ticket, mac caddy, eco-friendly reusable utensil kit on lanyard and one vote. The Madison is at 4601 Payne Ave., Cleveland. DETAILS 9 places to eat Colombian and Venezuelan arepas in Greater Cleveland Arepas are a hot pocket delight, filled with meat, beans, cheese, and more – and a beloved style of Latin American cuisine. Some people describe them as savory pancakes, but arepas are truly in a category all their own. Northeast Ohio has a growing list of restaurants and caterers that serve the dish. Here are 9 places to get Colombian and Venezuelan arepas in Greater Cleveland. READ MORE Distiller’s Ball celebrates 14 Northern Ohio distilleries Tickets to the Distiller’s Ball, created by Adam Acuff of the Northern Distillery Passport program, are now on sale through Nov. 25. The ball is a black-tie masquerade event that offers spirits, signature cocktails, food, entertainment and music. It will be held Saturday, Nov. 25, at Blue Heron Event Center, 3227 Blue Heron Trace, Medina. READ MORE |
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OPENINGS & CLOSINGS Black Market Meats brings creative vegan deli options to Lakewood Lakewood’s downtown district is gaining another tasty spot aimed at those looking to explore a vegan diet. Black Market Meats, opening sometime before the end of October, is a vegan delicatessen from Todd Kronika, known for working as head chef at restaurants like Cloak & Dagger cocktail bar and Deagan’s Kitchen. The Black Market space at 15613 Detroit Avenue Most recently housed Little Lakewood Pasta Co. READ MORE Michael’s Genuine ends Cleveland operations Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink, an upscale restaurant by James Beard award-winning chef Michael Schwartz, has closed its Northeast Ohio location. The Van Aken restaurant stopped serving customers as of September 28. READ MORE |
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EVENTS/TASTINGS Cleveland Beer Week Cleveland Beer Week continues through Sunday, October 8. The week is focused on craft beer and features several events, both ticketed and nonticketed, to benefit local nonprofits. The main event this week is the finale tasting event at Burke Lakefront Airport’s flight hangar. Various locations. Through Oct. 8. DETAILS Polish Festival and 150th-anniversary jubilee celebration The Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a weekend party for Polish culture. The festival will feature polka music, authentic cuisine, games, and more. Admission is free. St. Stanislaus Social Center, 6601 Baxter Ave. Oct. 6 – Oct. 8. DETAILS Spanish Wine Tasting Those wine drinkers who are looking to update their knowledge of Spanish variations of the libation should check out Market Avenue Wine Bar on Thursday, Oct. 5. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the wine bar will celebrate with six tastings of wine paired with light appetizers. Tickets $35. 2521 Market Ave., Cleveland. Oct. 5. DETAILS Pints & Pies includes 100 different beers, drinks – brewery-beer list Pints & Pies craft beer and pizza festival is coming up at Akron Civic Theatre. Doors open at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13. The event offers about 100 craft beers and pies of all kind – savory and sweet. Cleveland.com’s Marc Bona has a preview of the beer list. READ MORE L’Albatros Brasserie schedules Bourbon dinner featuring Kentucky Owl L’Albatros Brasserie has scheduled a Bourbon dinner. The multi-course dinner is 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11. It features Kentucky Owl Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and a representative from the distillery is slated to guide the tasting. L’Albatros Brasserie is at 11401 Bellflower Road, Cleveland. READ MORE |
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PICKS OF THE WEEK Jaja hits the spot in Ohio City Jaja is coming up on its first anniversary, and the restaurant doesn’t do anything perfunctorily. It has multiple flavorful vegetarian offerings (butternut squash en ajada is a smoked and seared butternut squash with ajada sauce, garlic chips and cilantro) as well as decadent steaks, and its seafood options are plentiful. Come hungry, check out the view from the heart of the neighborhood, sip a cocktail and enjoy a feast. It’s at 2050 Gehring Ave., near Lorain Avenue, and valet parking is available. Also: Street parking can be found on Gehring, Lorain and across the street in the West Side Market lot. DETAILS Edda Coffee The fall season is the prime time to embrace all things cozy, which is why local coffee shops like Edda Coffee Roasters in the heart of Ohio City feel like home this time of the year. The October offerings are even more of a warm hug for your mouth thanks to seasonal flavors. Specials include Chaider, which is a hybrid of warm apple cider and chai tea, and an apple crumb cake alongside other cafe treats. 2011 W. 25th St., Cleveland. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. DETAILS The Rustic Grill The Rustic Grill at StoneWater Golf Club is tucked into Highland Height’s Aberdeen community. If you know, you know. If you don’t know, you should know the from-scratch kitchen and the dining room is open to the public. Executive Chef Kathryn Neidus released her fall menu this week, including crab croquette, short rib pierogi and gnudi. Gnudi are like gnocchi, only instead of potato these soft, pillowy Italian dumplings use ricotta cheese as a base. Reservations are encouraged, call (440) 461-4653. DETAILS |
SPOTLIGHT 46 pumpkin beers from Northeast Ohio breweries It’s October and that means its pumpkin beer season in Northeast Ohio. Folks get a taste during the fall for pumpkin-flavored everything, especially in drinks from coffee to cocktails. Many local breweries get the memo and begin to offer their own renditions of pumpkin beer infused with flavors derived from gourds and baking spices. The list of pumpkin beers from Greater Cleveland breweries grows as the calendar inches closer to Halloween. Here are 46 pumpkin beers from Northeast Ohio breweries to get the season kicked off. READ MORE |
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