Saucisson Opening

The lady butchers of Saucisson opened their doors last week on their brick and mortar shop in Salvic Village!

Mr. H and I stopped by on opening day. Shoppers will find all of their classics that we've grown to love at farmer's markets.

OMG, this lamb terrine pan-fried on a breakfast sandwich was heaven.

But, you'll also now find fresh cuts, like these chops, in the shop.

I also wasn't expecting the cooler of frozen soups!

There are a few tables inside, because they will also be offering a couple of daily specials for take-out or dine in.

They will be open from 11AM - 7PM on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays for now. They use only the highest quality local meats, and have a real passion for what they do. So get out and support them!

Sauscisson
5324 Fleet Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44105

Kelsey Elizabeth Cakes

I made the mistake of following Kelsey Elizabeth Cakes on Instagram. I don't even have a sweet tooth, but I found myself drooling over their adorable sweet treats.

We found ourselves in Rocky River to pick out some paint samples two weeks ago, and I caught sight of the Kelsey Elizabeth Cakes shop across the street.

So, when we headed back to the hardware store this past weekend to purchase the final paint, I convinced Mr. H to stop in. We were instantly greeted by this gorgeous, and girly, chair.

They had an assortment of cupcakes, macaron flavors, bars, and cookies. The shop also carries products other than their own, like chocolate bars, etc.

I grabbed a Sea Salt Fudge macaron to snack on immediately. There were about five flavors that I had a hard time choosing between.

Mr. H and I took home a stuffed cookie to share later. It was a chocolate chip cookie sandwich with vanilla buttercream and cookie dough (pictured top, left below). Yes, cookie dough INSIDE of a cookie. The buttercream was a little too sweet for my non-sweet tooth self, but getting to that cookie dough in the center was worth it!

From the posts I see on social media, this shop can handle just about anything, while making it uber pretty. I love the frilly, girly look and feel of not only the shop, but most of her goods.

Kelsey Elizabeth Cakes
20033 Detroit Rd.
Rocky River, OH 44116

Dewey's Pizza

I wouldn't normally write about a chain restaurant, but Dewey's Pizza is primarily only located in Ohio, so it'll get a pass. Plus, it's just darn good.

Mr. H had never been, and I'd only been once in Cincinnati and once to the Lakewood location here in Cleveland (also in Cedar Lee and Fairlawn locally).

The Lakewood location is bright and welcoming, with a slight industrial feel.

The pizza making happens behind a glass wall visible to the dining room, so it can be fun to watch them, particularly for kids.

Mr. H and I split the small pizza half and half. We did two of their gourmet pizzas---Porky Fig with a fig jam base, proscuitto, caramelized red onions, and gorgonzola and the Green Lantern with garlic, mushrooms, goat cheese, artichokes, and pesto.

The crust is crispy, yet doughy without being too thick, and the toppings and sauces always have great flavor. Overall, a solid pie.

I still don't think I've found "my favorite" pizza in Cleveland, even after 9 year and an exhausted search. But, I do enjoy Dewey's.

Dewey's Pizza
18516 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107
216-228-2299

Medina's Thyme2

It made the To Dine Challenge List years ago, but I never did make it to Thyme2 in Medina that year, and it took until this past weekend for us to finally dine there. The 36-minute drive from the city just wasn't that appealing. But, I made sure that it made its way back on to the 2017 To Dine list.

Diners have two options--- the fine dining upstairs, or the more casual pub atmosphere (and menu) downstairs.

We were there for the fine dining, but the pub below seemed lively and they had a great view of the open kitchen.

We started with some craft cocktails, and I really enjoyed my Tropical Kick Martini with fresh lime juice, tequila, triple sec, simple syrup, fresh jalapeno, and pineapple juice. It left me searching Pinterest for a recipe.

Mr. H and I shared the Beef Carpaccio appetizer special.

The egg was cooked perfectly. We enjoyed this dish quite a bit, but I do think a pinch of salt would have made it even better.

Mr. H ordered the Roasted Rack of Lamb ($30) with a white bean and sausage cassoulet, green bean salad, and herbes de provence oil.

It was taking a very long time in between our appetizer and entrees. Turns out, the kitchen had overcooked his lamb, and the chef had them re-fire it. The chef, John Kolar, personally came to our table to explain and apologize, which was much appreciated. All it ever takes is communication, and a well prepared dish is worth waiting for.

I had the Macadamia Nut Crusted Grouper ($30) with black Chinese rice, vegetable spring roll, pineapple beurre blanc, and pineapple salsa.

I also enjoyed this dish a lot. The fish and rice were cooked well, the spring roll was crisp but not greasy, and the sauce was great. I just wanted a little more of the salsa and beurre blanc on the plate.

Service was attentive and pleasant, always refilling water quickly and checking in on us without being intrusive. I would say that the food and service at Thyme2 is on par with some of the better restaurants in the city of Cleveland. Nice to have a dining option like this outside of the city, because we're fortunate to have so many options at our doorstep. That's not always the case. So, if you live out that way or are passing through, do yourself a favor and stop in.

Thyme2
113 West Smith Road
Medina, OH 44256
330-764-4114

Old Brooklyn Restaurant Month

We're coming off of Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week, and are currently in the Cleveland Independents' Restaurant Week, but...me? I'm focusing on my own neighborhood, and supporting the Old Brooklyn Restaurant Month that the Old Brooklyn Families Group is coordinating for March.

Each week selects a different street in our neighborhood, and diners are encouraged to eat at participating restaurants on that particular street. When you're done dining, you leave a copy of your receipt with your contact information on the back in the designated ballot boxes, and you're entered for a chance to win raffle prizes.

The first week is highlighting establishments on Memphis Avenue. For a list of participating restaurants and bars, visit here. Mr. H and I headed to Dina's Pizza and Pub.

This sports bar is known for their wings, pizza, and happy hour. It is just solid American bar food in a casual setting with an expansive bar (bonus points for padded, comfortable bar chairs!), Trivia night, daily specials, and more.

This was my third visit there (and we've ordered delivery countless times), and I haven't had a bad meal. But, this visit was my favorite. I had the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich ($8.99), and it was darn good.

The chicken was extra crispy, not overly sauced so it wasn't running down my arm and all over my plate, and the bun held up well. The mild sauce had a nice zing to it, but provided the good sweet heat I was craving. The fries were also awesome-- extra crispy! That, paired with a cold beer in a chilled glass, all went down very easily.

I love that this restaurant promotion is going on in our neighborhood, and I look forward to visiting others this month. We still have Pearl, State, and Broadview.

Dina's Pizza and Pub
5701 Memphis Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44144
216-351-FOOD