Holiday Shopping

I have actually gotten a jump start on my Christmas shopping for my family (and "R") this year, which never happens. In the past, I've liked to use www.gifts.com for inspiration. It still led me to some great ideas this year, but now I am also using Pinterest. Ahh, Pinterest, what did we do without you?

I wanted to share a few fun ideas for the foodie in your life...

Cocktail Buffet Plates

These are great to have at parties when everyone is standing around grazing! You don't have to worry about finding a place to set down your wine glass while you eat.

Fruit Infusion Pitcher

Personally, I love to add cucumber to water for a refreshing beverage. But the possibilities are endless with this pitcher.

Auto-measure Spice Rack

This rotating rack is idiot-proof for the foodie who may not be the best home cook (cough, cough...me), or just plain easy to use for the frequent cook.

The Sriracha Cookbook

My favorite condiment! I can only imagine all of the tasty, and spicy, recipes in this book.

Have you found any great gifts for the cook, craft beer lover, wine aficionado, or lover of all things food-related this season? Please share! I still have a ways to go before my shopping will be done.

Delmonico's Steakhouse

This weekend was relatively low-key for us, which was great. Friday, I wasn't feeling well and had to skip Alexa's event at Noodlecat. It led to some pho from Minh Anh. Soup just always makes everything slightly better when you're feeling ill. Plus, my $6.75 Large Pho Saigon gave me three meals out of it! (Dining Deals Alert!)

Saturday morning, I managed our weekly team run for the Liver Life Challenge program. I have the best team, and coach, this year! They are nine weeks into the program now, and absolutely killing the training and fundraising. The group is just awesome, and we're going to have a great time in Disney for the marathon in January. After our monthly team breakfast at Yours Truly after the run, I did some shopping with a friend (but couldn't find anything that I was looking for). By the time I got home, it was almost dinner time and we didn't have a plan (or groceries). "R" was suddenly craving a steak, so we decided to try Delmonico's Steakhouse in Independence.

Part of the Hospitality Restaurant Group (Blue Point, Salmon Dave's, Cabin Club, Rosewood), it's the closest to home for us but we've both never been. The atmosphere was exactly what I expected-- dark woods, deep red leather booths, retro furnishings and decor, and a real "old boys' club" feel to it. A classic steakhouse. We didn't have a reservation since it was an impromptu date night, but after only a few minutes we were seated in a booth in the bar area.

We decided to try the Bocce Balls with sweet peppers and herbed boursin cheese, flash fried ($7). The dish included five small balls, a marinara sauce, and some grated cheese. Personally, I though that the balls were bland and the sauce was too sweet. I couldn't find the flavor of the peppers, and the cheese had completely melted into a watery substance that squirted out the side of the ball when you tried to snag it with your fork. Big disappointment.

"R" was in the mood to splurge, and I wasn't fighting him when he encouraged me to order the Surf and Turf special of the night.

The lobster tail was one of the biggest, and best, that I've ever had. It was so delicious. The garlic mashed potatoes were very garlicky, but I enjoyed them. A standard classic. Luckily, there were only two asparagus spears, because they were incredibly boring and mushy, yet al dente at the same time. It was so weird, and I quickly moved on. The filet was cooked medium-rare, as requested, and was it was a decent steak overall. The Bearnaise sauce served on the side was creamy and rich, but I personally feel that a great steak doesn't need a sauce and should be able to stand on its own. All it needs is a little pepper or minimal seasoning to really be a great steak, in my opinion. This steak was a little under seasoned, and benefited from the sauce.

"R" ordered the Double Cut Filet with the seasonal vegetables and mushroom risotto as sides. He loved the seasonal vegetables, a medley of squash, zucchini, and roasted red peppers, but the mushroom risotto was terrible. It was watery, and bland. Notice a theme of the meal? Not worth the $6 side dish charge, for sure.

Overall, our bill was just over $125 before tax and tip. Certainly a "splurge" night for us, and we left feeling underwhelmed by the food. Which is never how you want to feel when enjoying a nice night out. I think that there are much better steaks in Cleveland, so I wouldn't recommend Delmonico's. What restaurant in the Cleveland area has your favorite steak?

Delmonico's Steakhouse
6001 Quarry Lane
Independence, OH 44131
216-573-1991

Signature Chef's Auction

On Monday, November 12th, the local chapter of the March of Dimes is hosting their annual Cleveland Signature Chef's Auction event at Windows on the River.

Personally, it's always been one charity event that I've wanted to attend. Individual tickets are $150 each, and they include signature samplings from an impressive list of local chefs (led by co-chair Rachel Spieth of Georgetown this year), the opportunity to bid on unique silent and live auction packages, and the chance to hear more about the organization and its mission.
Not only have I heard that it is a great event filled with fantastic food, but the March of Dimes is a worthy cause with an important mission to improve the health of babies. The event is at 5:30PM, and individual tickets and sponsorships are still available. Check it all out, including the list of chefs, online here.

I'm looking forward to trying dishes from AMP 150, the newly opened Black Dog Kitchen & Bar, Georgetown, Pier W, and Spice Bar & Kitchen (just to name a few).

Disclosure: I was provided with one media pass to check out the event for myself, in exchange for this blog post. The opinions stated are 100% my own. Thank you to the March of Dimes.

2012 Fabulous Food Show Giveaway

What better way to celebrate Election Day than with a fun ticket giveaway? The annual Fabulous Food Show is about to hit town at the IX Center, and one lucky reader will win two general admission passes to the 2012 event just by commenting on this post.

This weekend, November 9th - 11th, attendees will enjoy over 500 exhibitors, chef demos, food and beverage tastings, and more. Celebrity chefs this year include Michael Symon, Guy Fieri, Anne Burrell, Sara Moulton, Jeff Mauro, and Jacques Pepin. New for 2012, General Admission tickets include access to all chef shows in the Main Kitchen Theatre. They have also added "Kid Friendly" content, and a special Military cooking competition in honor of Veterans Day.

Tickets can be purchased online here, ranging from $25 - $80. Or, you can comment on this blog post for a chance to win two General Admission passes. Tickets include entrance into the show, all exhibits, features, and access to ALL stages including Celebrity Chef Demonstrations in the Main Kitchen Theatre in elevated theatre seating. Just tell me what your favorite fall comfort food is!

You can also gain additional contest entries by tweeting "I want to win tickets to the #FabulousFoodShow on @BiteBuff's blog at http://tinyurl.com/asgvbfu." You can tweet once a day. Make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. I will select the winner on Thursday, November 8th at 10:00AM using random.org.

Good luck!

Disclosure: I was provided with two General Admission tickets to use as a giveaway, and two media passes to enjoy the event myself, in exchange for this post. However, I think it's a fantastic foodie event and the opinions stated are 100% my own.

West Side Market Centennial Celebrations

This post is going to be difficult to write. I couldn't possibly capture all of the wonderful memories, food, and sightings from participating in the West Side Market's Centennial Celebrations this weekend.

It all started with the People's Party on Friday evening. Held at Crop Bistro (just across the street from the West Side Market), the event was hosted by our area's local chefs. Approximately 1,000 people flooded the lower vault level, the kitchens, and the main dining room and bar of the restaurant. Just under 30 restaurants donated their time and talent to serve up tastings, and there were quite a few good ones. Some of my favorites included the papaya salad from Tremont's Bac...

...beef brisket and polenta from Crop Bistro, pork sandwich from Flying Fig, Skye LaRae's butternut squash bisque with diced apples and bleu cheese crumbles, and the fried chicken from Mahall's 20 Lanes (a newly opened bowling alley, and the biggest surprise of the evening).

We were out until around 12:30AM, enjoying friends and feeling quite full from the food and drink at the People's Party. While I didn't agree with some of the decisions that they made about executing the event, it was quite a deal for just $25 and we truly loved kicking off the weekend celebrations at this event with our friends. $25,000 was donated from the ticket sales for this event to the West Side Market.

Saturday evening brought "R" and I to the West Side Market Gala. At $250 a ticket, my expectations were high...and the event beyond exceeded them. We got all dolled up ("R" wore a suit for the first time in the five years that we've been dating).

A giant (heated) tent was set up just outside the West Side Market, and guests wandered in between buildings and the tent to sample food from an all-star lineup of national and local chefs. I am proud to say that some of my favorite dishes of the night were from Cleveland chefs! Hodge's beef was the best thing that I had (Chris--can we get that on the menu, please?!), but I also enjoyed Lola's sweet potato pierogi, Fahrenheit's lobster tempura, and Momocho's tuna chip. Other standouts were the chicken liver toast from April Bloomfield of The Spotted Pig in NYC, and Top Chef Master Jonathan Waxman's lamb meatball.

Celebrity chefs were certainly in attendance, and I had my second "star-struck" moment of my life (first was Ruth Reichl last summer). I realized that I only really geek out over chefs or food writers. Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Will Smith...who cares? I couldn't wait to grab a photo with culinary icon Waxman...

...and Top Chef contestant and The Chew's host, Carla Hall.

After a few more bites, we headed into the main tent for the program, auction, and champagne toast.

The live band was hysterical, and really worked the crowd. Everyone was laughing, toasting, and celebrating the history of the West Side Market. About 1,000 people were in attendance at this event as well, but we never had to really wait in line for food or felt crowded. The flow of the event was great, and it ended just in time for us to grab our commemorative brew from Great Lakes, and then hit the streets of Ohio City for some more cocktails.

We rolled home around 1:00AM again, and I was certainly paying the price yesterday. I wasn't vertical for long-- I slept in, and I took an hour nap on the couch. It was so worth it. What a weekend! I am honored to have participated in the Centennial Celebrations, and to take part in the West Side Market's history. It was worth every penny, and the contact high that I'm enjoying today helps erase how tired I still am. The memories from this weekend will not be forgotten.

Cheers, West Side Market! Here's to another fantastic 100 years serving the city of Cleveland. We love you.