Weekend Bites: Anniversary Edition

Well, it's Friday, but I'm still going to fill you in on our past weekend because it was a good one! Mr. H and I celebrated our five-year wedding anniversary, and there was no shortage of celebratory moments.

On Friday evening (our actual anniversary), I surprised him by picking up Salted Caramel cupcakes (our wedding cake) from A Cookie and a Cupcake in Tremont. I topped them with our original cake topper (a joke about how he made me wait almost 8 years before we "finally" married). And I arrived home to a surprise of my own, a floral arrangement made to mimic my wedding bouquet from Urban Orchid. Mr. H is incredibly thoughtful. I'll keep him.

Then we headed out the door to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo for their new Wild Winter Lights event.

Not only is the zoo the site of our "first date" in Cleveland the first weekend I visited him from NY...

...but we also got engaged there. So it's a special place for us, and this new event was a perfect way to celebrate. The lights were beautiful, there were a lot of activities, and the weather was great that evening.

However, we were ready to warm up and fill our bellies after walking around outside. So we headed to Urban Farmer Cleveland in downtown. We hosted our rehearsal dinner there five years ago, and that experience is still one of my favorite moments of the wedding weekend.

Any meal at Urban Farmer must start with their signature Cornbread cooked in a tin can. It's some of the best I've had.

We also shared their Calamari before Mr. H enjoyed their Trout and I dove into a 21-day dry-aged Filet with tallow butter and blue cheese. It was a really lovely meal.

The celebrating wasn't over, and we jumped in the car the next morning to head to Gervasi Vineyard in Canton. More on that later!

After a wonderful night away, it was great to get back home and have Mr. H back in the kitchen whipping up amazing meals like these Pork Chops from Saucisson and a roasted butternut squash, brussels sprouts, pecans, and dried cherries mix that makes a great side dish for these colder months.

Having an anniversary smack in the middle of holiday season can sometimes feel overwhelming or not ideal, but I always appreciate taking the time to slow down and focus on celebrating with each other. This year was special--- our first big milestone, so we did it up!

Macaron Masterclass at Urban Farmer

So the day after Mr. H and I brought home the new pup, we had the exciting opportunity to attend a Macaron Masterclass at Urban Farmer (located in The Westin in Downtown Cleveland).

I put my nerves about leaving a brand new puppy home alone in a crate aside, and I was glad that I did! First, I got to get a sneak peek (and good whiff) of the famous cornbread that Urban Farmer serves in the restaurant. I love that stuff. Some of the best in town.

Our pastry chef-led session then kicked off with Kara showing us how to make macarons like a master.

From start to finish, she made it look effortless.

But, once it was our turn, I can tell you that it was indeed not. However, Kara and two additional staff aided the class of 12 every step of the way.

She instilled confidence in us, and we tackled making them from start to finish in small groups of 2-3. Look at Mr. H piping!

We walked away feeling accomplished, and with a box full of macarons, recipes, pastry bags, and tips.

Urban Farmer hosts pastry classes, in addition to bread making and even butchery classes, every few months. They are totally worth keeping an eye out for! You can follow their class availability on the website here, or on Facebook. Space is always very limited, so act quickly. I can see why, because it was such a fun hands-on and educational experience.

Did you know that macarons are best when aged? You actually age them in the freezer or refrigerator, and they get softer and MUCH better with some time. We got to sample them at different stages in the aging process, and you truly could tell the difference. Who knew?

Disclosure: I was provided with one media pass to attend the class, and we purchased one ticket. All opinions stated are 100% my own.

Urban Farmer Cleveland
1325 East 6th Street
Cleveland, OH 44114

Urban Farmer's Brunch

If you're looking for a nice brunch spot in Downtown Cleveland, they are few and far between. But, Urban Farmer Cleveland's Steakhouse is trying to change that. On Saturdays (bonus!) and Sundays, from 8AM - 3PM, they are offering brunch.

The first thing that peaked my interest was the Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary bar. I did not partake that day, and instead enjoyed a mimosa, but here it is:

I think it could use a few more hot sauce options, but it did have plenty of house-pickled items to choose from.

The menu proved to be full of tempting items, and it was kind of hard to choose. "R" ended up with the Red Flannel Hash with corned beef, beets, fingerling, ramps, and poached eggs.

Tasty, and fun way to incorporate beets into brunch food, but the portion was small for the price and the corned beef was hard to find.

I went with the Cheddar Bacon Biscuit with a fried egg, sausage gravy, crispy chicken leg, and lemon marmalade.

It also wasn't cheap, but the portion size was generous and I left very full. The top part of the biscuit was almost unnecessary. I put it aside, and schmeared some jam on it.

The brunch was certainly a treat, and it's nice to see a good option in Downtown now. Just be prepared to splurge for this meal. Not unlike their dinner service. However, I think Urban Farmer is a great addition to Downtown, and we're already looking forward to a return visit with friends for dinner next week!

Any Downtown brunch locations that you enjoy? 

Urban Farmer Cleveland's Steakhouse
1325 East 6th Street
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 771-7707

Urban Farmer Blogger Round-up

Last night, twenty lucky bloggers (including me!) were invited to Urban Farmer- Cleveland's Steakhouse for a five-course tasting of their menu. Even though I had to miss the Cork & Cleaver pop-up dinner at Toast, I really wanted to go. I've been hearing nothing but glowing reviews of the food, cocktails, and atmosphere, but I hadn't had a chance to dine there myself yet. It's been a busy summer! I'm so glad that I accepted the invitation, because the food was exceptional.

We started the evening on the patio with a cocktail and charcuterie spread. The cheeses, meats, and oysters were all very good. The Oysters are typically $4 each, and Charcuterie is $13 or $21.

Then, we moved inside to their private dining room for the five-course tasting menu. This room is available by contract, and a really fun space to host a small event. The feather chandelier and crazy animal wallpaper alone is worth the food and beverage minimum.

The first course that we received was their signature Beef Tartare with beef heart and deviled egg.

I'm kind of on a tartare kick here lately, and this one was very good. This dish you can find on their regular menu under "Chilled" First Course.

Next up, a Chilled Lobster salad with tomato, avocado, fennel, mint, and verjus sorbet.

This was a favorite course of many at our table, and it can be found on the restaurant's regular menu (also under "Chilled" section). The use of avocado and the refreshing sorbet was what really kicked this dish up a notch. I could eat an entire entree-sized plate of this.

Our fish course was intended to showcase some of the things that they are doing at the restaurant. It can't be found on the menu, but pieces and parts of it are there. It was a Seared Scallop with corn, candied bacon, and roasted tomatoes.

I'm a sucker for anything with Ohio sweet corn in it during the summer, and I'd love to know how to create this creamed corn at home. It was packed with flavor, and complimented the scallop and crispy bacon well. The creamed corn can be found on their "Sides" and they have a scallop dish under "Fish" on the menu.

Next up, STEAK! I mean, they are a steakhouse after all. We were treated to the Roasted 21 Day Dry-aged Strip Loin with boulangere potato, summer squash, and tallow.

You won't find this dish quite like this on the menu, but the 21 dry-aged is part of the New York Steak Tasting and "New York" section of the steak menu. It had an amazing crust on it, and the texture of the steak was divine. It left me wanting more, and plotting a return visit to the restaurant. "R" would love it.

We finished the meal, already stuffed beyond belief, with the dessert course. We had the Great Lakes Malted Barley Custard with malt balls and honeycomb.

This dish can be found on their regular dessert menu. I'm not a dessert lover, but this was delicious! The honeycomb in particular was a pleasant surprise, and reminded me of toasted s'mores.

We also enjoyed a few expertly paired wines with the meal, and exceptional service. It really was a fantastic meal, and overall experience. It certainly left me with a wonderful impression of the restaurant, and a craving for more. I think that was the point!

They focus on sourcing locally, building relationships with the farmers and producers, and knowing where the food is coming from. They pride themselves on wasting as little as possible, using as much of the cow as they can and often pickling local produce that would typically go to waste. They firmly believe in the relationship between land and plate, and if this is what that tastes like...then yes, please!

Based on my experience, and what I've been hearing from other diners, go check them out on East 6th/St. Clair Avenue in the new Westin Hotel. It's a tad pricey, but worth the splurge. Anyone want a steak date?

Urban Farmer- Cleveland's Steakhouse
1325 East 6th Street
Cleveland, OH 44114
216-771-7707

Disclosure: I was invited to attend this complimentary blogger round-up. All opinions stated are 100% my own.