Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights brings back baking competition with DineDrinkCLE: The Podcast hosts The Grog Shop is returning for its third one-night-only baking competition based on television’s “The Great British Bake Off.” The Great Grog Bake Off returns at 8 p.m. on November 19. Amateur bakers will prepare 24 mini pies with fillings of their choice for the “signature bake” competition. Alex Darus and Josh Duke, the host of cleveland.com’s “DineDrinkCLE: The Podcast,” will be hosting the event. READ MORE DineDrinkCLE podcast: Cleveland Whiskey relocation, Akronym Brewing closure, best Philly cheesesteaks, more In the latest episode of “DineDrinkCLE: The Podcast,” host Alex Darus chats with Marc Bona about Akronym Brewing closing its doors and the new production and tasting facility for Cleveland Whiskey in The Flats. Marc also chats about Cleveland breweries winning big at the Great American Beer Festival this year. Finally, Peter Chakerian stops by the show to talk about the cleveland.com Best Of team's hunt for the best Philly cheesesteaks. READ MORE Edwins restaurateur says no deals in the offing to move out of Shaker Square, into Nighttown Edwins founder Brandon Chrostowski says there are no plans afoot to move his two restaurants out of Shaker Square and into the vacant Nighttown. The entrepreneur and head chef said he has kicked the tires on the former jazz club and Cleveland Heights icon, which closed in August after about nine months after an overhaul that took closer to two years. “I’m always looking to get our service under one roof,” Chrostowski said of the original Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute, founded in 2013, and Edwins Too, which opened in the former Fire Food and Drink early in the pandemic. “But I have no deals anywhere and there is no plan to move,” he said on Oct. 18. READ MORE Cleveland food truck shines at the National Fried Chicken Festival Cleveland-based food truck, Grippy’s Sauce Co., was a finalist for “Best Fried Chicken” at the 2024 National Fried Chicken Festival in early October. This annual festival, held in New Orleans, spotlights some of the country’s best fried chicken vendors. The Cleveland food truck competed with more than 40 vendors to earn a spot in the finals. READ MORE |
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Great Lakes Christmas Ale makes its 2024 holiday debut Great Lakes Brewing Co. held its annual First Pour party. It’s a festive day as fans wait for a taste of Christmas Ale, which is released for its annual 10-week run. Scores of folks lined the block at the Ohio City brewery. Each year we are moved to poetry to describe the day and the ale. Here’s our poem and photos: READ MORE Boom’s Pizza, Larder Delicatessen team up on brisket pizza Boom’s Pizza and Larder Delicatessen and Bakery have teamed up once again for a mouth-watering collaboration that you’ll want to snag a slice of. The two restaurants are bringing back the limited-edition Gorilla Brisket Pizza for the second year in a row. Starting Tuesday, it will be available for a limited time at Boom’s locations in Lakewood and Van Aken. The pie is named after the New York hardcore punk band, Gorilla Biscuits. The collaboration, created by Larder’s Jeremy Umansky and Boom’s Ben Bebenroth, features a BBQ sauce base, tender brisket, red onions, peppers and more. READ MORE Hartzler Family Dairy debuts limited-edit boozy eggnog Hartzler Family Dairy has debuted its first boozy product in time for the holiday season. The dairy producers, headquartered in Wooster, have teamed up with L’uva Bella Winery in Lowellville to debut the first-ever spiked version of its eggnog. The Boozy Eggnog contains 14% ABV and sells for $20 a bottle exclusively at Heinen’s locations. READ MORE Mason’s Creamery gears up ramen but will scoop ice cream Mason’s Creamery has announced its plans to bring back its ramen menu this winter, with great news in store for ice cream fans. The ice cream shop at 4401 Bridge Avenue has spent several winter seasons serving ramen from its location. This year, they plan on closing on October 28 to prepare for the crossover, with plans to reopen at 4 p.m. on November 1 with ramen. To celebrate the ice cream shop’s 10 year anniversary, Mason’s will continue to scoop ice cream through the winter alongside its ramen menu. READ MORE |
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OPENINGS/CLOSINGS La Pecora in Cleveland honors neighborhood legacy with new Neapolitan pizza bar La Pecora Pizzabar is the newest restaurant option coming to Larchmere, aiming to bring a different late-night food option while honoring a neighborhood legacy. The bar and restaurant at 12712 Larchmere Boulevard is the latest project from Juan Vergara’s restaurant group, which owns Barroco, Hola Tacos and Bar Amazonia in the Greater Cleveland area. He first became inspired to make Neapolitan-style pizzas at Bar Amazonia in Lakewood. READ MORE Football-themed Gridiron Gastropub opens this week (photos) When you walk into Gridiron Gastropub at the Hall of Fame Village near the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, you will know the theme immediately. OK, the name is a giveaway, but the theme carries through every nook like Nick Chubb on a good day tearing through a defense. The restaurant is set to open 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, in the former Don Shula’s American Kitchen. Cleveland.com’s Marc Bona has a preview, with photos READ MORE Sacred Vortex Teahouse to open kombucha, kava bar in former Platform Beer space The Sacred Vortex Teahouse and Kombuchery is gearing up to officially open in the former space of Platform Beer’s taproom. The Sacred Vortex, 4125 Lorain Avenue, is the latest project from David Kovatch, who owns Sacred Waters Kava Bar in Lakewood. He’s moved the Sacred Vortex from its original location in North Olmsted to the new space on the West Side of Cleveland. It’s the first kava bar and teahouse within the city limits. READ MORE Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant to open another NE Ohio location Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants is set to open its seventh restaurant in Ohio next month. The restaurant, which features proprietary wines, is scheduled to open Monday, Nov. 4, at 35351 Chester Road, Avon. The Countryside, Illinois-based winery-restaurant has a Napa Valley-style tasting room concept in its locations. READ MORE Qdoba opening 2nd NE Ohio location Qdoba is opening a restaurant in Fairlawn. The fast-casual Mexican eatery will hold a grand opening Monday, Oct. 28, at 3750 W. Market St., Fairlawn. Its menu boasts items like loaded tortilla soup, chicken tacos and queso bowls. The first 100 people in line starting at 10:30 a.m. will receive free burritos or bowls every month for a year. A ribbon-cutting with Fairlawn Mayor Russell Sharnsky is at noon. READ MORE |
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EVENTS/TASTINGS The intersection of art and beer at the Cleveland Museum of Art Love beer? Love art? There are plenty of places in history where they two meet. For great beer-meets-art stories attend The Art of Beer from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6, in the Cleveland Museum of Art’s banquet room. The presentation by art historian and brewery tour guide Amanda Mikolic will explore artworks from the museum’s collection that highlight the rich history of making and drinking beer. Her presentation will cover the ancient world to the 1700s. While she’s sharing beer stories related to art works, attendees can try five beers with food pairings. READ MORE Help Ohio City Pasta make longest noodle at West Side Market Help Ohio City Pasta make the longest noodle in Cleveland at the West Side Market Halloween festival on Saturday, Oct. 26. The festival goes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with pasta making rolling out at 11 a.m. in the space between the market hall and the north produce arcade. Ohio City Pasta founder Gary Thomas and his partner/stand manager/daughter Ruby Thomas will show how to make pasta at home using a classic hand-crank machine. “He is going to make roasted red pepper and squid ink striped pasta,” says Ruby. “We will then hand crank the pasta sheet in an attempt to make Cleveland’s Longest Noodle. We’ll need all hands to help us stretch the dough through the alley next to the market.” READ MORE Spirits and ‘Boos’ Fest to showcase unique flavors from Ohio distilleries Spirits and Boos Fest is coming to Classic Park from noon to 5 p.m., Saturday, October 26. Boos = Booze, get it? At least six distilleries will gather on the park’s outdoor concourse and pour spirits for attendees. Food will also be available. Distilleries attending include Buckeye Vodka, Four Dogs Distilling, Hocking Hills Moonshine, Lake Erie Distillery, Leather & Oaks Spirits, Seven Brothers Distilling Company. READ MORE Breweriana show scheduled The Lake Erie chapter of the Brewery Collectibles Club of America is holding a show Sunday, Oct. 27, at Blue Heron Brewery and Event Center in Medina County. The “breweriana” (all things beer-related) show allows folks to buy, swap or sell items. Cans, signs, openers, posters and just about anything representing a beer or brewery from any era is available. Even if you’re not in the market to buy or sell, it’s a fun museum-like atmosphere to check out, a slice of Americana. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. READ MORE Marble Room to hold $1,000 dinner How’s this for decadent? Marble Room Steaks and Raw Bar will hold a $1,000 dinner featuring seven courses and 12 wines. And the wines will be the crème de la crème of France’s Bordeaux region. It's Wednesday, Oct. 30. Here’s the menu of dishes and paired wines. READ MORE Tartine Bistro to hold French wine dinner Tartine Bistro is holding a four-course French wine dinner Friday, Nov. 8, at the Rocky River restaurant-wine bar. We've got the menu and wines that the restaurant on Old Detroit Road will serve. READ MORE |
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PICKS OF THE WEEK Artis Artis is Lakewood recently opened to completely elevated Lakewood’s culinary scene. In the wake of Salt+ closing just up the street, Artis provides hope for the fine-dining future of the suburb. Sharable plates like lobster bisque-filled dumplings, mustardy deviled eggs topped with fried shallot rings and a devilish sticky toffee date cake are just a few standouts on the menu. Plus, don’t miss its customizable martini menu. Artis is at 17900 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood. -- Alex Darus DETAILS Five Guys We recently chowed down on a double cheeseburger from Five Guys, which also offers hot dogs, sandwiches, fries and shakes. It’s a hearty burger and includes your choice of toppings and definitely requires two hands. The burger is truly a meal unto itself. Burgers are common at many restaurants, but it’s great to spot a tasty, mouth-watering one like this and watch it made in front of you. Multiple locations. -- Marc Bona READ MORE |
SPOTLIGHT Ranking 20 Philly cheesesteak sandwiches from your favorite chains A good Philly cheesesteak sandwich is one of those comfort food classics that, when done well, is almost a work of art. The thin-sliced beef, cheese and hoagie roll almost become a singular thing, with flavors and textures intermingling on the palate with a soft, meaty, creamy unctuousness. Add onions, peppers, mushrooms or any number of other delicious accoutrements and it just gets better. The Best of Cleveland team tasted and ranked 20 Cheesesteaks/Philly sandwiches found at local sandwich chains in the area. Will our rankings surprise you or do they align with your favorites? READ MORE |
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