Melt seeks bankruptcy protection, Stones dine at Amba, Kelce brothers get into the beer business, VegFest set for Cleveland & more

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Entertainment | Food and Drink

TOP NEWS

Melt Bar and Grilled files for bankruptcy protection

Melt Bar and Grilled, the grilled-cheese-centric bar and restaurant that has been around 18 years, has filed for bankruptcy protection. It’s been a tough year for the Northeast Ohio-based company, and on June 14 it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Here’s a look at the filing, creditors and other details. READ MORE

Chef cancels Cleveland marijuana dinner, blaming cleveland.com

Chef Travis Petersen canceled his upcoming “Nomadic Nights” cannabis dinner in Cleveland this week minutes after cleveland.com posted an article about the event. He made the announcement in an email sent to registrants, and cc’d to reporter Paris Wolfe, blaming cleveland.com for asking state and local officials about its legality. READ MORE

Rolling Stones dine at popular Cleveland restaurant

When Cleveland chef Doug Katz bought his ticket for the Rolling Stones concert slated for June 15 at Cleveland Browns Stadium, he had no idea he’d meet Mick Jagger two nights before showtime. Katz met the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer on June 13 at Amba, his Hingetown restaurant, when the band dined there. READ MORE

Cleveland Beer Week golf outing set

Organizers for Cleveland Beer Week have scheduled a summer golf outing on Saturday, June 22, to raise money for charity and to raise awareness for the annual upcoming beer week. The annual craft-beer week celebration, which is this October, has a handful of flagship ticketed events that raise money for several local charities while many other events are held throughout the week at area bars, breweries and restaurants. READ MORE

The Chef’s Garden receives state grant

The Chef’s Garden in Huron has received $2.5 million in state money earmarked for energy-efficient projects. The garden, made famous by Farmer Lee Jones, is one of several entities in Ohio receiving the grants. The Chef’s Garden will use it for solar panels. The implementation of the panels is expected to yield a solid cost-energy savings. READ MORE

Kelce brothers getting into the beer business

Travis and Jason Kelce – originally from Cleveland Heights – are in the beer business. They are investors in Garage Beer, a Columbus-based company that has a couple of beers on the market – a light lager and a lime beer. Jason is retired from the Philadelphia Eagles while Travis plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. And no word on whether Travis’ girlfriend Taylor Swift will be kicking back with the brothers and quaffing a few. READ MORE

DineDrinkCLE talks soul food for Juneteenth, West Side Market updates, POP Mustards rebrand

During last week’s episode of “DineDrinkCLE: The Podcast,” hosts Josh Duke and Alex Darus talk about their favorite soul food restaurants ahead of Juneteenth. Plus, Paris Wolfe stops by to discuss changes at the West Side Market and the newly rebranded POP Mustards. READ MORE

Harvest for Hunger totals are in

Harvest for Hunger, the multi-food-bank collaboration, raised $9.8 million and more than 29,500,000 meals from this year’s campaign. The annual initiative covers multiple food banks over several counties to offer needed relief for many people who are hungry. The Greater Cleveland Food Bank is a critical force in the effort. READ MORE

808 Shave Ice offers free ice cream promotion on 90+ degree days

We’re in the midst of a heat wave hitting Northeast Ohio, and 808 Shave Ice has a promotion to help locals keep cool. The treat shop, with locations in Avon, Fairview Park and Strongsville, is offering a free ice cream add-on to any shave ice or slush purchase whenever the weather forecast has a high of at least 90 degrees. READ MORE

OPENINGS/CLOSINGS

Oliva is open in downtown Cleveland

The sleek, well-designed 2,500-square-foot restaurant is at 408 St. Clair Ave. is the branchild of Lola Jacaj, who also runs Casa La Luna in Cleveland’s Flats and Acqua di Dea on St. Clair. It's an Italian steakhouse using a “nose-to-tail” concept. Oliva’s menu offers Italian dishes as well as five USDA Prime Certified Angus Beef cuts including Chateaubriand. READ MORE

Authentic Mexican restaurant Padrino's Tacos & Cantina opens at Westgate Shopping Center

With more than 20 years in the food industry, Gerardo Ramirez has always wanted to open his own restaurant. That dream recently came to fruition with the opening of Padrino’s Tacos & Cantina at Westgate Shopping Center. “It’s been my dream since I was a kid to bring people the experience of real Mexican food with great ambiance,” Ramirez said. READ MORE

EVENTS/TASTINGS

Cleveland VegFest

The Cleveland Vegan Society presents the largest vegan festival in the Midwest. The event at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland showcases 150 vegan vendors, cooking demos, speakers and a vegan food court. Suggested donation of $5 at the door. 300 Lakeside Ave. E., Cleveland. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., June 22. DETAILS

Strongsville City Club Rib Burnoff

This finger-licking event returns for the 38th straight year. Enjoy barbecue from some of the top ribbers in the country as well as live music and a cornhole tournament. Admission $5. Free Saturday noon-3 p.m. Strongsville Commons. June 20-22. DETAILS

Buildings and Food plans special block party

Buildings and Food, which owns and operates several different places in Cleveland as well as the Spotted Owl in Akron, is planning a special block party within Taste of Tremont on Sunday, July 21. It’s a good mix of food, wine, bands a great vantage and more, and it aims to raise money for Greater Cleveland Food Bank. READ MORE

LBM in Lakewood to host Switcheroo event

LBM cocktail bar and restaurant is hosting a one-of-a-kind event where its bar and kitchen staff will swap places to determine which crew has the harder job. The bar at 12301 Madison Avenue is dubbing the event “The Switcheroo,” which is set to take place on June 23. READ MORE

Winemaker Charles Smith to attend dinner in Strongsville

Rosewood Grill in Strongsville has scheduled a dinner featuring wines from Charles Smith. The acclaimed rock band manager turned winemaker will guide the tasting at the restaurant’s multi-course dinner on Sunday, June 23. READ MORE

Corleone’s Ristorante plans tasting of 5 wines from 5 countries

Corleone’s is planning a tasting matching dishes with various wines from around the world. Here’s a look at the menu, the wines and the origin of the varietals. The tasting is Tuesday, June 25, at the Parma restaurant. READ MORE

Blooms & Brews beer tasting is set

Blooms & Brews, an educational and entertaining beer tasting, is coming up at Holden Arboretum. Beers to be poured will come from Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. in Akron and Schnitz Ale Brewery in Parma. The tasting is Wednesday, June 26. READ MORE

Marble Room Champagne dinner is scheduled

A multi-course dinner pairing Champagne from Champagne Palmer & Co. Is set at Marble Room Steaks & Raw Bar in downtown Cleveland. The dinner is scheduled for the Vault in the restaurant. It’s Wednesday, June 26. READ MORE

Flour Restaurant to feature Quilt Wines

Flour is scheduled to feature Quilt Wines of Napa Valley, California, at a tasting Wednesday, June 26. The wines are from winemaker Joe Wagner. The tasting, which has limited seating, is at the Moreland Hills Italian restaurant. READ MORE

Beerfest scheduled at Progressive Field

The Grand Slam Beerfest is set to return to Progressive Field on Saturday, June 29. More than 200 beers will be offered at two sessions, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. A VIP ticket adds access for attendees. This is the fourth annual Grand Slam Beerfest. READ MORE

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Gather Food + Drink

Having a “Third Place” has been around a while. In CLE dining circles, the idea is just starting to pick up speed. Smaller, cozier places with a tighter gourmet menu, craft cocktails, curated beer and wine lists and an environment that feels like home inspired Matt and Julie Barnes (nee Saucy Bistro) with their new concept Gather, which is nestled into their former Gourmet Guy space in Rocky River. The Bittaker salad, Grouper sando and GG burger survived the transition; Saucy fans will note some menu echoes as well. And yes, they’re still doing Manna food trucks. A DDC feature on Gather is coming soon. READ MORE

Casa D’Angelo

We recently stopped for lunch at Casa D’Angelo in Macedonia, having a pair of sandwiches – a chicken parm and an eggplant parm. Warning: You need a knife and fork. Full pasta dishes, sandwiches and more are featured. Prices are reasonable. The strip-mall restaurant is halfway between Cleveland and Akron and close to freeways. It’s at 893 E. Aurora Road, Macedonia. READ MORE

North Coast Café

It’s easy to forget about restaurants nestled inside hotels. So, this is a reminder of the North Coast Café tucked into the InterContinental Cleveland at the edge of the Cleveland Clinic campus. The bright restaurant serves breakfast and lunch. For $24 the breakfast buffet offers a bit of everything. Or consider indulgences like Brioche French Toast with mixed berries, whipped Amish butter, powdered sugar and Ohio maple syrup or eggs Benedict or avocado toast. The hotel and restaurant are at 9801 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland. DETAILS

Small City Taphouse

Folks in the Sandusky area cannot miss a meal at Small City Taphouse at least once in their lives. The brewpub is far from your average bar and restaurant. Its home to a microbrewery called CLAG, which has some inventive brews on tap. The food menu is all Asian fusion with a robust sushi menu, noodles, entrees and more . Small City Taphouse is the kind of place you want to go hungry, ideally with a sizable group so you can share several plates. Small City Taphouse is at 202 Columbus Avenue in Sandusky. DETAILS

SPOTLIGHT

Towpath Distillery honors Akron family history in award-winning spirits

The latest stop on the Spirited Women distilling trail took reporters Paris Wolfe and Alex Darus to Towpath Distillery in Akron. The distillery may only be a few years old, but the Piscazzi family history of making booze dates back to the Prohibition days. Now with a lineup of spirits including bourbon, gin, rum and vodka, Towpath Distillery is setting its sights on a larger facility. READ MORE

Entertainment | Food and Drink

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