Ode to the GHT Wing!

It was a rough week at work- filled with events, deadlines, and stress- and I was in need of a good night out to truly celebrate T.G.I.F. I quickly convinced "R" that we needed to head downtown for dinner and drinks. It really didn't take much arm twisting!

I recently purchased a gift certificate in the Cleveland Independents' quarterly sale for The Greenhouse Tavern. I jumped online and made a reservation through Open Table (thank you, thank you, thank you for being on there!). Even though the snow was coming down, East 4th didn't look like it was hurting for business. Take that Forbes!

We were seated immediately, and I hungrily started to peruse the menu. This would be my first time truly dining there- only stopping in for Happy Hour treats and quick bites before. We decided to start with the Bread and Butter- with grilled bread, goat's milk butter & sea salt ($3.5). "R" deemed this the "best bread and butter I've ever had", and he was probably right. The bread was lightly grilled, which gave it just the right touch of crisp to support the creamy butter. The butter was smooth and rich, and the salt added a nice balance. I just wish we had more than 3 pieces of bread- we had to fight over splitting the last one!

The next course demands its own paragraph. The one dish that everyone talks about is Sawyer's Crispy Chicken Wings- with roasted jalapeño, lemon juice, scallions & garlic ($11)- and rightfully so. These were hands-down the best chicken wings that I have ever had in my life and I didn't even know that chicken could fall off of a wing bone that easily. Flavor aside (which had a nice soft heat to it), the wings were beautifully crispy on the outside and the second that your lips or fork touched the tender meat it fell right off the bone. There was no work needed here! We were so excited to experience chicken wings like this that we asked the server how they were prepared. Oops Chef, she gave away your secret. Confit and then duck fat. "Everything is better with duck fat", she said. Agreed! On Saturday night we actually attempted to replicate the way that the meat fell off the bone by slow cooking wings for just over 4 hours and then flash frying them. The flavor wasn't nearly as good as Sawyer's, but the meat was just as tender and juicy, and the desired result of it falling off the bone was accomplished. Thanks for the tip Chef!

We then moved on to "thirds". I had the Oxtail Pasta- with dry cured olives, cotechino sausage, chili flake & tomato ($19). It was a cold, snowy night so I told the waitress that I was looking for a dish that was filling and would warm me up from the inside out. She was spot on in her recommendation. "R" tried the Ohio Beef Burger- with raclette cheese, preserved tomato, guss' pickle, pommes frites & house made beer vinegar ($14). I've actually read a few bad reviews of this dish before, and I probably should have steered him towards another dish. Sawyer's selections are so well thought out and executed, but this one dish seems to be missing the mark. It was a disappointing burger, and in my opinion it is not what we have come to expect from this fabulous chef. We split an order of the Gravy Frites- with mozzarella cheese curd & brown veal gravy ($8.5) from the "halfs" menu. The melted pools of cheese and thick, rich gravy was a perfect topping for Sawyer's famous fresh-cut frites on this cold evening! Even though I was stuffed, I kept going back for more.

Sawyer and his infamously fabulous wife have truly created a wonderful treat on East 4th. I think you can feel their dedication and passion for what they are doing while dining there. The atmosphere, prices, drink menu, and of course the food is setting the bar pretty high. We are lucky to have them here in Cleveland, and they make me #HappyinCLE! Thanks for turning my week around- one chicken wing at a time!

The Greenhouse Tavern
2038 East 4th Street
Cleveland, OH 44115
(216) 393-4302

Toto, Are We In A Strip Mall?

Since moving to Cleveland two years ago, I've been meaning to try Corleone's Ristorante & Bar in Parma. Our grocery store is nearby, our gym is nearby, the dry cleaner is down the street- I find myself driving past it on a frequent basis and I have always wondered what was inside. From the outside it is nothing special. Located in a strip mall with Pat Catan's, you certainly wouldn't expect what you find inside.

Upon walking in we discovered a warm, cozy yet modern bar area with beautiful wine racks and a door to an enclosed patio. I could easily picture "R" and I perched at the bar sipping a good glass of wine or tasty martini. I'll be back with the boyfriend in tow!

My group and I settled in out in the dimly lit main dining room. It certainly makes for a romantic spot, but it was a little hard to read the menu. One thing that I instantly loved about the restaurant is that it offers an Early Dinner Menu from 3-6 PM. The lengthy list of entrees is taken from the full Evening Dinner Menu but comes with soup, salad, bread, and a soft beverage for only $12 (veal dishes are $14). I thought that this would mean smaller portions of the traditional dishes and a cup of soup, but I was wrong!

We started with the Artichoke Sorrentino- lightly floured artichokes served golden brown with a side of cream cheese sauce ($9). This antipasti is from the main Evening Dinner Menu, but I don't suggest ordering this dish. The artichoke hearts were thickly breaded and deep fried, and all of the wonderful artichoke flavor was lost. Large steaming bowls of soup arrived next- wedding soup for one and vegetable beef for the rest of us. Both soups were flavored appropriately, but the slightly sweet wedding soup was the winner of the two. House salads arrived next- very standard and not worth describing. Two of my dining companions ordered the Liza- sautéed chicken encrusted with pine nuts and asiago cheese in a Romano chardonnay cream sauce. The only one of us that had dined there before swears by this dish, but I didn't have the chance to try a bite. I ordered the Gnocchi Capone- potato dumplings sautéed with mushrooms, onions and bacon in a spicy marinara cream sauce. The mushrooms, diced onions, and crumbled bacon were a nice combination of texture and flavor, and the sauce had a subtle heat to it. I was very happy with the dish.

We all know that some of the best hidden gems in our community (hell any community) are the ones that from the outside you wouldn't look at twice. So next time you are in Parma, turn in to the Pat Catan's strip mall and settle in for a glass of wine and a plate of tasty pasta. Just make sure that you take advantage of the Early Dinner Menu, because the prices seemed a little high for the Evening Menu. It's $12 good, but not $15-$39 good (prices of the Evening Menu only include entree).

Corleone's Ristorante & Bar
5669 Broadview Road
Cleveland, OH 44134
(216) 741-0220

Supporting Local (Sort of...)

When I announced on Twitter that I was headed to New York City, several fellow Clevelanders chimed in with restaurant suggestions- but two recommended the same restaurant. What are the odds of that happening in the sea of amazing dining options in NYC? I knew this meant that I needed to check it out. It also helped that the chef/owner, Andrew Carmellini, is Cleveland-born. That concept excited me- supporting "locally" while traveling. I'd love to do more of it when I'm out of town. I'll keep you posted!

I finally got my wish on our last night there. We headed into Carmellini's Locanda Verde in Tribeca with high hopes. They reserve 3/4 of the dining room but allow 1/4 for walk-ins, which I appreciate. We arrived to put our name in and were told that the wait would be about an hour and fifteen minutes- which is nothing in NYC. (P.S. World-famous chef Eric Ripert walked in just as we did- so we knew this was going to be good!) I asked when we should check back in, was told an hour, and then we happily walked down the block to a wine bar to settle in for a drink during our wait. 45 minutes passed and we headed back up the street- only to be told that another party of five had checked in before us and they had given our table away. With a little persuading I found out that they had a "drawing room" table available, so we jumped at it.

Seriously the main dining room patrons didn't know what they were missing out on! This quiet, cozy area is tucked away for special guests and included a roaring fire, soft leather couches and chairs, candles galore, and a private bar. It suited us just fine. We curled up around a long wooden coffee table and settled in for one of the best meals of my life. I can truly say that Carmellini is a genius in the kitchen, because we sampled over half of the dishes on his extensive menu. Some were slightly better than others, but all stood out as well-thought out and executed combinations of ingredients and flavors.

I won't describe each, but I'll indicate the best and provide a few notes. You would not be disappointed with any of these dishes, seriously. Here are the dishes we tried by category:

CROSTINI
Sheeps' Milk Ricotta with sea salt and herbs ($12)- perfect to share, the bread was fantastic
Blue Crab with jalepenos and tomato ($10)- best of the three
Cotechino Sausage with pickled ramps on ciabatta ($7)- weakest of the three but still very good
ANTIPASTI
Marinated Beets salad with pistachio pesto and gorgonzola ($10)- tasty but needed more pesto and cheese
Steak Tartara Piedmontese with walnuts, truffles and crispy guanciale ($17)- needed more spices but the best that we've tried
Lamb Meatball sliders with caprino and cucumber ($12)- his twist on a gyro, best antipasti
PASTA
Casarecce with spicy shellfish and toasted garlic ($19)- prefect hint of heat, well-prepared calamari, mussels, and baby shrimp included
Fonduta Ravioli with wild mushrooms and parmigiano reggiano ($19)- best pasta dish!
Penne Rigate with lamb bolognese, ricotta and mint ($19)- bolognese was very good
SECONDI
Wood-Fired Pork Chop with fagioli stufato, pepperoncini and aceto onions ($28)- crispy outside and slightly pink throughout, very moist
DESSERT
Hazelnut Semifreddo with coffee poached pear, mocha sorbetto, toasted hazelnuts ($10)
Maple Budino with candied pecans, apple butternut sorbetto ($11)- the best dessert, a house specialty
FORMAGGI
Fromagio di Fossa
Blue di Moncenisio
Pecorino Oro Antico

We thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience, which went well beyond the food. I also felt my Cleveland pride shine, because when I asked my NYC-native friend if she had heard of the restaurant she lit up with excitement. Locanda Verde is making quite a splash in the NYC dining scene and she was dying to try it. It felt good to tell her that he was from Cleveland. Now if we could only get him to come back and open a restaurant here....

Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10013
(212) 925-3797

*photo courtesy of http://andrewcarmellini.com/- Sheeps' Milk Ricotta

"Love the food, love the chef"

When "R" selected Fahrenheit as his restaurant choice for one last birthday celebration with his family, I was thrilled. I am a huge fan of Rocco and his food is typically outstanding. It helps that he is one of the nicest chefs in Cleveland and his outpouring of love for Cleveland and Tremont is infectious.

Fahrenheit is nestled in the heart of Tremont's dining district, within walking distance of several other great bars and restaurants (ex. Treehouse, Flying Monkey, Edison's Pub, Lago, Lolita, and of course the newly opened Dante). I think Fahrenheit's success is due to consistent high quality dishes and the innovation of Chef Whalen. The crowd was varied, which I think is the goal of the restaurant's warm and comfortable atmosphere. The bar was packed and the dining room was bustling. I've had the pleasure of eating Rocco's creations on many occasions, but this was actually only my second time dining from his regular menu.

On our first visit (about a year ago) I ordered the Coffee & Mustard Crusted Pork Tenderloin- Maple Glazed Sweet Potato, Garlic Spinach, Toasted Macadamia Nuts ($24). I remember that this dish was flavored well and the delicate crust of ground coffee and mustard was a surprising combination that danced on your tongue. The dish can still be found on the menu, but its presentation has changed. Last year, the dish was presented as a bed of spinach topped with a pile of mashed sweet potato and sliced pork to top it off. One of our dining companions last night ordered the same dish, but I was a little surprised to see something quite different arrive at the table. The dish is now served in a mini casserole dish- which gives it a slightly more upscale presentation. This just shows that Whalen is constantly challenging himself and his team to deliver the best food possible, even if that means taking a delicious dish and pushing it just a little bit further.

Last night, we started with the Little Meatballs- Roasted Garlic, Tomato Reduction, Basil, Parmesan ($6) and an order of the Fahrenheit Potato Nachos- Goat Cheese Reduction, Crisp Bacon, Chives, Scallions, Sea Salt, Parmesan ($12). The potato nachos were very popular, as we saw at least five orders of them go by as we dined. The house-made chips were good (although Symon's were better last week) but the real gold was at the bottom of the plate. At first I thought that the serving plate was white, but then we realized that the melted goat cheese was drizzled on the plate and we hungrily dipped and scooped the buttery goat cheese onto our chips. I had one perfect bite of rich goat cheese, crushed bacon bits, and fresh scallions. The meatballs on the other hand were nothing special- sorry Rocco. I've had better at a backyard BBQ made from the frozen bulk meatballs you buy at Sam's Club. Moving on...

Our table ordered the Fahrenheit Signature Kobe Beef “Short Ribs”- Teriyaki Lo Mein Noodles, Baby Bok Choy, Roasted Mushroom, Ginger Soy Reduction ($29), Lobster Macaroni & Cheese- Local Goat Cheese, Oven-Dried-Tomato, Cognac Reduction, Poached Lobster & Chives ($ 26), Grilled Beef Tenderloin- Roasted “Ohio City” Fingerling Potato, Roasted Asparagus, Melted Brie, Port Wine-Star Anise Reduction ($30), and I ordered a ravioli special with cremini mushrooms, goat cheese sauce, and large chunks of fresh lobster meat. The short ribs fell apart as "R's" mom slid her fork into the meat, and everyone enjoyed a small bite. The beef tenderloin received rave reviews from both men who ordered it, but each decided to leave the brie behind on their plate- which broke my heart. The only small complaint was that the anise reduction was a little too sweet. The lobster mac & cheese was served with a combination of creamy goat cheese and roasted tomatose as the sauce, which created a flavorful pink cream sauce. It was good, but not the highlight of the meal. My ravioli special was one of our crowd's favorites. It makes me a little sad to think that I can not order it again (hint hint)!

The only down side to this fabulous meal was the service. It wasn't that it was terrible, but all three of the staff members who waited on us were a little off last night. Twice they mixed up who had ordered what dishes, several of the main entrees arrived without the others, and the desserts were served without silverware and we had to sit there as our ice cream and sorbet melted. Also, we ordered three bottles of wine throughout the meal. The first was poured and then placed in an ice bucket with a serving napkin decoratively tied around the neck of the bottle. The napkin disappeared from the second bottle, and the ice bucket disappeared by the third. Not that it made a difference in the quality of our wine, but I thought that it was interesting to observe the level of service as our meal went on.

Overall, it really was a great meal and the quality of food was consistent with Chef Rocco's reputation. We'll be back for sure, and I wish him luck at the national Taste of the NFL event on the eve of the Super Bowl. Cleveland is lucky to have you representing us chef!

Fahrenheit
2417 Professor Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 781-8858

Symon Says

So we've all heard of Cleveland's very own Iron Chef and his fabulous restaurants that are popping up all over our area. I've had the pleasure of dining at Michael Symon's flagship restaurant, Lola, but experienced Bar Symon for the first time the other night.

The restaurant's atmosphere has a great casual vibe, with just a hint that you're in for something special. The waitstaff all run around in logo T-shirts, and that combined with the extensive bar on one side of the dining area helps make guests feel comfortable and casual. I loved the drop-down tin ceiling panels. The details in the decor were well thought out. There was a nice mix of people- a variety of ages, couples vs. singles, and even a family or two- there when we dined on Saturday evening.

We started with Symon's famous House Chips- three cheese fondue and chives ($6). The chips were nicely done, but I did wish that the cheese fondue had a little more flavor. It was relatively bland, and the dish wasn't a great start to our meal as first-time diners. I ordered the Duck Paprikash- duck confit, dumplings, turnips and paprika ($16). The steaming plate arrived with a bed of dumplings and rich sauce, with two duck thighs perched on top. The skin was perfectly crisp, and the rich meat was so tender that it fell right off the bone. I enjoyed my dish quite a bit. "R's" love for gyros led him to order the Zorba- lamb sausage, tzatziki, pickled onions, grilled romaine and pita ($10). The tzatziki sauce was bursting with flavor and one of the best we've had in Cleveland. Fergie's bar in Parma still holds the title. The only issue with the dish is that it is a little awkward to eat. The overflowing contents don't allow you to pick up the sandwich, but eating the dish with a fork just didn't feel like you were doing it justice. Don't get me wrong- we happily ate away, but it did take a second to figure out how to attack it. We ended the meal with the Turtle Sundae. The vanilla bean ice cream, topped with caramel and chocolate sauces, was a refreshing way to cleanse the palate and finish our dinner.

While Avon Lake isn't an area that we frequent, I think we'll keep Bar Symon in mind when we're in the area. It is worth the trek to try it at least once. Now on to B-Spot!

Bar Symon
32858 Walker Road
Avon Lake, OH 44012
(440) 933-5652