Gene's Place

Today, I want to share with you the other diner experience that we recently had in the West Park neighborhood of Cleveland. A Sunday morning brought us to Gene's Place to Dine.

Upon entering, we were greeted by two things...this guy...

...and popcorn.

Genius. I was loving it already.

Another very large place, so we had no wait and plenty of different dining spaces to choose from. We were directed to the back left room, and it was a really funky space with plenty to look at.

I don't really stray too much from my classic diner plate of eggs, toast, and bacon...but every once in a while, I have a craving for French Toast. That usually happens when I see the words "Texas Toast" or "thick-cut" on the menu. Gene's listed it as thick-cut, so I had to go for it.

With two eggs (cooked your way) and a side of meat (bacon, for me), this plate of food hit the spot.

No complaints here.

Also, I loved our server's Gene's t-shirt. It said something like "You have to eat anyway, and we could use the money." We got a good chuckle out of that one.

Gene's, I'd visit again!

Gene's Place to Dine
3730 Rocky River Drive
Cleveland, OH 216-252-1741

Market at the Food Bank 2015 Ticket Winner

Thank you to everyone that entered the ticket giveaway for this year's Market at the Food Bank, taking place this Sunday to benefit the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and their Harvest for Hunger Campaign.

Using Rafflecopter, the random winner is...Margaret Gautier. Congratulations! Please check your email, and reply by 10:00am tomorrow morning or another winner will be selected.

If you didn't win, you can still purchase tickets online here for a $100 donation. That donation could provide 400 meals in a local hunger center.

The chef lineup and participating beverage purveyors is quite impressive, and the 20th Anniversary event is sure to be a good one. I encourage you to attend.

If you will be there, make sure that you say hello!

Disclosure: I was provided with four General Admission tickets from the Greater Cleveland Food Bank in exchange for a ticket giveaway and post-event review. I am a former employee of the organization. All opinions stated are 100% my own.

George's Kitchen

Mr. H and I have been on a diner kick on the weekends recently, with a quest to try new-to-us spots. Twice, recently, that quest drew us to the West Park area of Cleveland. Not by design, just simple dumb luck. One diner, we enjoyed, and one I could do without.

Our first diner trip was to George's Kitchen on Triskett Road.

Apparently, it is a popular neighborhood spot, because not only was the line quite long and the wait quite lengthy, but my Instagram posts that morning got a lot of comments/likes. I wish that we could share the same enthusiasm, but we really didn't care for it.

I ordered my standard, eggs over-medium with wheat toast, bacon, and hash browns.

The toast was hard and dry, eggs under-cooked, and the potatoes were woefully close to raw. They might have been the worst ones that I've had in a while. Mr. H's corned beef hash omelet was only average, and the meal didn't leave either us wanting more.

Two things to mention, though. Some of the lunch food walking by us looked really appealing. We were only provided with the breakfast menu; although them seemed to be serving both. Also, I had heard that the servers don't write down your order, and that they go call it out over a microphone into the kitchen. It's kind of fun to watch!

The place was huge, compared to most diners. We were seated in the smaller, front area of the restaurant (pictured below), but there was a large dining room as well.

So, it seems like many of you have been to George's Kitchen before. What have you ordered? I don't know that this experience could draw us back there, when there are so many other places to try.

Do you have a favorite diner in your neighborhood that we should visit next?

George's Kitchen
13101 Triskett Road
Cleveland, OH
216-671-0430

Market at the Food Bank 2015 Ticket Giveaway

May is right around the corner, and it's beginning to be event season in the Greater Cleveland area. That means that some of my favorite spring and summer events are coming up, and it gives me a lot to look forward to. One of those events is, of course, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank's Market at the Food Bank to benefit their annual Harvest for Hunger Campaign.

As their former Special Events Coordinator, this particular event will always have a special place in my heart. I had the pleasure of planning four for the organization, and I attribute my interest passion for the Cleveland restaurant scene to working on events like this one. Market at the Food Bank is one not to miss, because it is one of the largest, and it benefits such a worthy cause. Many of us are blessed to not have to worry about where our next meal is coming from, and we are able to indulge in meals from our fabulous local restaurants. I even made a blog out of it. For every $1 donated to Harvest for Hunger, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank can provide four meals in a local hunger center. That means that the $100 ticket price could provide up to 400 meals for people in our community that are struggling. This is the 20th annual Market at the Food Bank, so it's going to be a special one. They are trying to raise a record $200,000 for the organization.

The event is bringing together about 50 local restaurants and beverage purveyors to showcase samples of food and drink, right in the warehouse of the Food Bank itself. If you've never visited their facility, it's quite impressive, and you can truly see the impact of your donation at work.

For a full list of participating restaurants, please visit their website. Here are a few of my favorites that will be there:
AMP 150
Chinato
Edwins
L'Albatros
Melt
Spice
Strip
Trentina

The Food Bank also provided me with a sneak peek at some of the dishes that will be served:
Edwins Restaurant: Pate de Campania – Pork Terrine with Pickled Vegetables and Asparagus Quiche
Rusty Anchor at The Music Box: Lobster Bacon Apple Lollipop with a Vanilla Rum Butter
Spice Kitchen and Bar: Pork Terrine Crostini and Vegetarian Terrine Crostini
Pearl of the Orient: Peking Shrimp with Crunchy Noodles
Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center: Braised Beef Short Rib

I'm drooling already. So, do you want to join me at the event? The Food Bank has provided me with two General Admission passes to give away to one lucky reader. Just use the Rafflecopter form below. You can tweet daily for additional entries. I will be selecting a random winner on Tuesday, April 28th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tickets are still available, both General Admission and VIP ($175- special early entrance), by purchasing online here. This event typically draws over 1,000 guests, and it includes music, auctions and raffles, and more.

Good luck!

Disclosure: I was provided with two media passes and two General Admission tickets in exchange for this blog post, and a post-event blog post. I am a former employee of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. All opinions stated are 100% my own. I choose to continue to support this worthy cause that I believe in.

A New Cookie and a Cupcake

Our favorite bakery, and wedding cake designer extraordinaire, have moved, and...opened a second location! A Cookie and a Cupcake have finally moved into their new Tremont location, now situated on West 14th Street near Bac. They also opened a second east-side location in South Euclid on Cedar Road.

I haven't visited the new east-side location yet, but we popped into the new storefront in Tremont the other day. They have combined their old bakery with their Churned ice cream shop (formally located by Lincoln Park), and they are now offering all baked goods and ice cream under one roof.

It's quite a charming "roof" too. I love the soft colors and cheerful wall mural.

You can get your classic cupcakes here...

...an assortment of cookies, cheesecake, and other treats...

...and ice cream.

You'll find interesting flavors here, like: Strawberry Rhubarb, Brown Butter with Lavender Brittle, Avocado with Blackberry Jam, and Roasted Garlic.

I suggest always getting a Salted Caramel Cupcake.

I'm enjoying their new home on West 14th Street, and I hope that east-siders will visit my favorite bakery in their new location over on that side of town. The only thing that I miss about that smaller shop in Tremont is the intense smell of baked goods that hit you in the face upon opening the door. The new, larger and airier spot just doesn't have that delicious assault to your nose.

A Cookie and a Cupcake
2681 West 14th Street
Cleveland, OH 44113

13953 Cedar Road
Cleveland, OH 44118