Want to Become The Next Food Network Star?

I am a terrible cook. My "cooking" consists of boxed pasta, jarred sauce, 1-minute rice, steamed vegetables, over-medium eggs, and....yup, that's basically it. That is why I dine out so much and rely on the talents of our city's fabulous chefs. But are YOU an amazing home cook? Dare to test your culinary skills on national TV?

Then this is for you:

The Next Food Network Star, the Food Network’s hugely successful culinary reality series, is holding an open casting call in Cleveland on Monday, September 20, 2010. This is the first time they are coming to Cleveland! They are looking for "people who are full of life, passionate about cooking, and knowledgeable about food". Are you interested in becoming the host of your own cooking show on Food Network? Then you should head on down to the casting call.

Monday, September 20, 2010
10am-3pm
Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade
420 Superior Avenue East, Cleveland, OH 44114

What to Bring:
1. Two recent photos
2. A copy of your resume
3. A completed application (found at www.FoodNetwork.com/star)

For more information or questions, e-mail nfns7cleveland@gmail.com or visit www.nfns7casting.com.

Now if you go on to win the whole darn thing, I'm going to expect a meal out of it! Good luck to anyone that heads down. Go show 'em how it's done in Cleveland!

Dinner In The Dark

If you haven't caught it on Twitter or Facebook yet- Chefs Ellis Cooley (AMP 150), Jeff Jarrett (North End Wine Bar), and Brian Okin (Verve) have come up with a new culinary concept for Cleveland- Dinner in the Dark. I for one think that it is a fascinating idea, and one that I can't wait to try out. So here's the idea, how it works, and when the first dinner is taking place:

THE IDEA:
An impromptu dinner designed to stimulate your palate and surprise your taste buds by offering you no idea of what you will eat or drink or who will be cooking for you.

Imagine allowing yourself to let go of your inhibitions and enjoy great food and wine from some of Cleveland's best chefs, by allowing them to indulge in their most inner creativeness and challenge your senses.

HOW IT WORKS:
Guests will make reservations for selected dates. Participating Chefs will create dishes of their whim. No rules, no secret ingredients --- just food straight from their heart and soul, however they see the beauty of food through their own eyes. Libations will be paired with each course.

WHAT NEXT:
The first one is being held on October 11th from 7-8 p.m. in the newly opened Verve in downtown Cleveland. The cost is $50 a person for the six-course meal with wine pairings. Each event will benefit a charity of choice, and the first organization selected is Veggie U. Guests need to contact Verve at (216) 664-5500 to make a reservation.

Since announcing the concept, fellow chefs Adam Bostwick (Melange), Matthew Mathlage (Light Bistro), and the Dim and Den Sum boys have joined forces to support this new series of events coming to Cleveland. I have no doubt that others will join the list of fantastic chefs getting involved with this fun dining concept. I would suggest becoming a "Fan" of Dinner in the Dark on Facebook to stay on top of what to expect next from this crew.

I just want to give kudos to these three chefs for taking the initiative to start this series, and I encourage you to attend one. I know that I will be!

Labor Day Weekend Recap

I think that everyone in Cleveland was out and about this past weekend- trying to cram every last little bit of summer into one action packed weekend. I kept thinking that "R" and I were laying low and sticking close to home for a quiet Labor Day weekend. Until I took a look at the pictures that I snapped with my camera phone. For a weekend "spent at home", my camera told a different story.

On Saturday, we were out running errands and decided to swing down Fulton Road to see the 96th Street Rocco Festival. This annual street festival is hosted by the Saint Rocco Church and School, and it spills over into the streets of this eclectic neighborhood. "R" had heard about the famous Greasy Pole Climb that takes place on Labor Day, and he finally persuaded me on Monday to actually attend the festival. Needless to say, we missed the pole climb by minutes. Just minutes. I'd like to pretend that it wasn't my fault, but I admit that I took too long getting ready and therefore we only saw the aftermath of the competition. From what we did see- it looked like it would have been quite the sight!

As we walked back to the car, we did see the gem pictured to the left. It was seriously the MOST FLOWERS that I have ever seen on one house. Another festival goer that was walking down the sidewalk commented to the owner (who happened to be sitting on the porch) that it was "very eye-catching". I love flowers, but come on. How many hours a day do you have to spend watering all of those hanging baskets and flower boxes?! Impressive. At least they were all looking healthy and fresh, which is more than I can say for my own. This brutal humidity and end-of-summer heat has driven me inside to the air conditioning, and I've been a neglectful plant owner.

During our excursions this past weekend, we also swung through one of our favorite hole-in-the-wall bars in Parma for the best gyro in Cleveland. Fergie's seriously has the best in town, and it had been a long time since I've had one- so both "R" and I were craving a good gyro. It's all in the sauce. That, coupled with a tall cold beer, was a great addition to our weekend. Monday was the busiest day- filled with a two hour motorcycle ride, watching the Air Show, lunch at Edgewater Park, and board games at home with a glass of wine on our patio. It was a perfect end to the long weekend, and overall a great Labor Day holiday! It was just what I needed before heading into a crazy week at work. What did you do over the weekend? Any last minute summer plans while the weather is still nice? I'm still clinging to the hope that we have a few nice days left for us in Cleveland before fall entirely sets in.

The $2.99 Special

I am a sucker for a good diner breakfast. Who isn't from time to time?! The eggs, buttered toast, sticky booth seats, never-ending coffee, and the people watching -Oooohhh the people watching- it's always a fun experience. "R" and I are very lucky to have a great little hole-in-the-wall diner close by. We can often be found there on Saturday morning before our refrigerator has been filled for the upcoming week. While the owner is grouchy (I think it's part of the restaurant's charm), the place is nothing to look at twice from the outside, and the crowd eclectic- I've decided that I love this diner. So I decided to share it with you...Gabe's Family Restaurant.

By no means is it worth any sort of drive. We all (should) have a version of a diner in our own neighborhood, and I am sure that there are much better out there. However, I am pretty over-the-moon that we ended up with a good one that is so conveniently located close to home. I just love the Saturday or Sunday morning experience of a diner. And, the greasy food and hearty helpings are always welcomed after a night out or before a long day of weekend activities.

While your diner might be better, I am here to tell you about the $2.99 special- my dish of choice absolutely every single time that I am there. Every. Single. Time. I don't deviate. Why bother when you have found a good dish for a great price? The $2.99 3-egg Special includes three eggs cooked any way that you like 'em (I prefer over-medium), two pieces of toast, a decent-sized portion of crispy home fries, and a choice of two strips of bacon or two sausage links. For just under $3- I think this is quite a deal! Add in unlimited coffee, and "R" and I walk away with a bill (and our bellies quite full) for just $9.68. I double-checked this weekend.

I just wanted to pay homage to my favorite local diner, and perhaps inspire you to check out yours next weekend. If you have any suggestions- pass them on. "R" and I love a good breakfast!

Dining Deals Alert- Most of the menu can be found under the $10 price point.

Gabe's Family Restaurant (no website, sorry)
2044 Broadview Road
Cleveland, OH 44109
(216) 741-4466

Having "Fun" in Tremont

A few weeks ago, Suzanne totally called me out. There was a gaping hole in my list of visited Tremont restaurants- Ty Fun Thai Bistro. Thai is absolutely one of my favorite cuisines, and "R" and I have been planning on trying Ty Fun for quite some time. We even had a reservation once, and then canceled because the weather was nice and we were craving a patio. But after she pointed out that it was missing from my review list, it lit a fire under my bottom. I needed to get there ASAP. Luckily, it wasn't hard to find some friends to happily join me.

I tweeted that I was headed there, and several people chimed in with menu suggestions (which I always love!). My friend Christina responded with "Try the Crispy Cups", and so I did. Crispy Cup ($7) (pictured above)- 6 homemade daily golden pastry cups filled with ground chicken, shrimp, corn and curry powder served with cucumber salad. These light little cups were packed with a great mix of texture and flavor. They were good, but became even better when I topped one with the vinegar-based cucumber salad served with it. You might be able to see it in the picture, but the details of the cut of the carrots and shape of the pastry cups were really creative. I was also happily sipping on a glass of Pinot Grigio as we started our meal. The wine list was small, but right up my alley. I love a nice dry white wine with notes of apple, melon, pear and a clean, crisp finish. Three selections immediately jumped out at me off their short list.

One of my favorite classic Thai sauces is the spicy peanut curry. So I am always drawn to it on a menu, and last night was no different. I found it under their "Original Thai Curry" section of the menu- Chicken Massaman Curry ($13)- sliced chicken breast cooked in Massaman curry, coconut milk, roasted peanuts, peanut sauce and potato. Now I am a seafood lover and will rarely ever order chicken out, so I requested that the dish be served with shrimp instead of chicken. They were more than willing to make the change for me. The dish arrived with the shrimp, potatoes, sliced red bell peppers, and peanuts floating in a pool of the curry sauce with a side of white rice. This was no ordinary side of white rice. It was presented in the shape of a heart- a nice touch. The dish was a very good version of the Thai classic, and I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. While the curry sauce was nothing unique, where I think Ty Fun really stands out is in their presentation.

All of the dishes are presented very thoughtfully and creatively. Tiny details are paid attention to, and the craftsmanship of the kitchen staff is noticeable. Shaved carrot and toothpicks are transformed into flowers, vegetables are cut into starburst shapes, and of course the heart rice. It really is the little things that make diners happy, and Ty Fun's details certainly enhanced my overall experience here.

The restaurant is small and cozy, with the smells of Thai curry and sweet coconut wafting from the kitchen. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that they did have a few tables outside for dining al fresco. I have driven by there many times and never saw the tables tucked away on the side of the restaurant. Our servers were attentive, and our water (and wine) glasses were never empty. I thought that it was reasonably priced for the quality of food that was served, and "R" and I will soon be back. I can't believe that we hadn't been there yet. Thanks, Suzanne- I can now add it to my Tremont reviews and cross another restaurant off of my "To Do" (or is it "To Dine"?) list.

Ty Fun Thai Bistro
815 Jefferson Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 664-1000