Terrapin Bakery

Who doesn't love a morning stop at a local bakery? While ours are usually limited to weekends, we enjoy popping in for fresh pastries, bread to accompany some dish we're making at home, or breakfast to kickstart our day.

We didn't have to travel far from home recently to discover a new favorite, Terrapin Bakery.

Located on W. 14th Street in Tremont (closer to the circle by Steelyard Commons), street parking is free and we had no issue finding a spot right out front on a Sunday morning.

It is a small shop, so we waited outside for a bit as a few other customers got their orders (and the line grew after we went in, they clearly are popular). Long enough that I could stare in at their tempting case of sweets!

I was also greeted by racks of fresh donuts upon entering. Some of the flavors sounded so good, and more unusual than your basics. 

But, we were there for the Breakfast Sandwiches (inspired by our neighbor and friend Amanda's recent Instagram post). So they aren't actually listed on the website, but the shop has several different sandwiches to select from. All come on your choice of bagel or English muffin and with herbed cream cheese and cheddar. 

I had the Bacon and Egg on a Bagel. I appreciated that the bacon was crumbled so that it didn't slide out on bite one as it often can.

And Mr. H had the same (as they were out of Sausage that morning) but on an English Muffin.

Both were very good, as I did snag a bite of his as well. The muffin was almost biscuit-like.

We didn't sample anything else yet, but visit them for your cakes, cupcakes, donuts and other breakfast breads, cookies and bars, and other desserts. Just don't miss out on these yummy breakfast sandwiches while you're there!

Terrapin Bakery

3146 W. 14th Street

Cleveland, OH 44109

(216) 256-7915

Cooking with Golden Ghee

Another local product that we were recently introduced to is Golden Ghee. These organic, all-natural clarified butters are infused with immune boosting herbs and spices. Ghee is incredible versatile in the kitchen, and we were excited to try the TurmeRIC Ross ($12.99) that is infused with Turmeric, Cayenne, Paprika, and Honey.

We used it to make a batch of Butter Chicken, one of my favorite Indian curry dishes.

It was our first time making this dish at home, and Mr. H's first time trying it. The flavors were spot-on and it rivaled any that I've had in restaurants. 

If you haven't cooked with ghee before, I encourage you to do some research and try it. Golden Ghee is a wonderful brand to play in the kitchen with. Not only is it local and female-owned and operated, they are fighting hunger in our communities with every purchase.

Golden Ghee partners with Rise Against Hunger, a non-profit that provides food and aid to vulnerable populations in over 76 countries. Since 2005 they have distributed over 500 million meals, and they passionately share their goal of ending hunger by 2030. For every jar of ghee sold, they will donate four meals to this important organization. 

Disclosure: I was provided with a jar of ghee to sample and share my experience with you. All opinions stated are 100% my own.

Good Meal Jane

There's a new Detroit-style pizza joint in town...just look at those CRISPY EDGES...

...and you'll want to get your hands on some immediately.

Except you can't. Yet.

Good Meal Jane is only available by pre-order right now for pick-up in Ohio City and currently the first availability is next month. Follow them on Instagram for details. 

I was gifted a Small O.G.Roni with sourdough crust, Buffalo mozzarella, Wisconsin brick cheese, house red sauce, Ezzo pepperoni, white truffle oil, and Mike's Hot Honey. I'm telling you, that combination of truffle oil and hot honey with the saltiness of pepperoni and crispy cheese was pure umami in my mouth. 

This was unlike any pizza I've had before. It was so darn good that Mr. H and I already placed a personal order for mid-January AND he's having them cater a lunch at work next month too. This won't be "Top Secret" forever, so get in while the getting's good. 

Disclosure: I was gifted one small pizza and delivery service in exchange for an honest review and sharing my experience. All opinions stated are 100% my own.

Celebrating with Kind Stranger Kitchen

Our wedding anniversary was creeping up on us, and we were at a real loss as to how to celebrate during a pandemic safely but still feel like a special day. Only about a week out did things start to click into place.

First, the day already started off well as Urban Orchid (our wedding florist) delivered a replica of my bouquet. Mr. H gifts this to me each year, and it always earns him big husband points!

Just a few days earlier, I had learned about the new catering business, Kind Stranger Kitchen, that is specializing in curated small party dining experiences. Caroline is no stranger in the food and events world of Cleveland, and she's passionate about creating experiences for people to feel like guests in their own home. This can be curated dinner parties, drop-off dinners, or delivered baked goods. 

A drop-off dinner with reheating and plating instructions sounded perfect for the night we had planned. For $75 per person, it includes a customized 3-course meal with the option to add on courses, wine pairings, or pre-made cocktails. We worked together over a couple of days to create a menu, and she was so responsive and flexible that it was a breeze.

We decided to not do a dessert (because of the other fun activity we had planned that evening), so we settled on a Roasted Cauliflower Soup to start the meal. We both loved it.

We sat down to eat that before jumping on Zoom for a private virtual Cookie Class with Chef Adam Bostwick. We joined our family and friends for a class creating a Mint Oreo Smash cocktail, Kitchen Sink Cookies, and Italian Christmas Cookies. We had a blast, learned some new things, and felt connected during this weird holiday season. 

After the class (and a couple "test" cookies), we were able to reheat and plate the entrée course from Kind Stranger Kitchen, a Citrus Roasted White Fish with Buttered Turmeric Rice. It was so delicious, and ready in just about 15 minutes!

Now, we were a little too full that night to enjoy the Arugula Salad, but we whipped it all together the next day and it was just as fresh and tasty. I highly recommend checking out this new business for your in-home catering needs. 

This is a really difficult year, and it's hard to find ways to celebrate with the health precautions, stress, and limits we're all dealing with. But life is worth celebrating, and we can continue to make the best of it. These local companies helped us do just that. The evening felt special, we felt loved and supported, and of course it included delicious food and drink. A must in this household!

How have you found ways to celebrate those moments that need recognizing this year?

Ways to Celebrate New Year's Eve During the Pandemic

I think we are all ready to put the year 2020 in the rearview mirror. While there were moments or achievements to celebrate along the way, this year has been tougher and presented more challenges, losses, and emotions than most. So it's time to think about the new year ahead, and to close the chapter on this one in style. Here's a list of local restaurants and businesses that are providing ways to do that in what I consider to be safer ways to celebrate this year.

111 Bistro (Medina): Take Home Box. Feeds 4. 8 Courses. Deadline to Pre-order is December 23rd. Limited Quantities. Call 330-952-1122. $150. Pre-paid Required.

Salt+ (Lakewood): Dinner and Party Box for 2. $180. 4 Courses, 1 Bottle of Brut Cava, Party Favors Box, Link for Live DJ Streaming Music 10:30PM - 12:30AM. Add-ons Available. Book Through Resy.

Lago (The Flats): Option 1- Party Pack for 6 or 10 People with Food, Cocktails, Champagne, Party Favors, and Streaming DJ Entertainment. Price Varies. Option 2- Dinner for Two. 3 Course Dinner + Bread and Salad. $225. All Carry-out Orders over $100 Include 1 Bottle of Champagne. 

Fahrenheit (Tremont): Kobe Beef Short Rib Kit. All Ingredients You Need to Prepare this Signature Dish at Home. Call 216-781-8858 for information. Not limited to New Year's Eve.

Alley Cat Oyster Bar (The Flats): Four Dinner for 2 Packages to Select From, including Surf & Turf, Seafood, A Little Bit of Everything, and Shellfish. $80 - $200. Add-ons Available. RSVP on website or call 216-574-9999.

Astoria Café & Market (Detroit Shoreway): Dinner for 2 Package. $50. 3 Courses. 

Batuqui Brazilian Restaurant (Larchmere): 3 Course Dinner for 2 (Price Varies by Selections) or 3 Options for Dinner for 4 (Price Varies by Selections). 

Nora (Little Italy): NYE Take-out Special Menu Items in addition to Regular Menu and Family-style Options. Delivery and Pick-up Available between 5-7PM on 12/29, 12/30, and 12/31. Call 216-231-5977 or 330-524-5045 to Order. 

Char Whisky Bar & Grille (Rocky River): Pre-order Charcuterie Package for 4 ($40) or 6 ($60). Deadline is December 27th. Add a Bottle of La Marca Prosecco for $25 or Cocktails for $10 Each.

Der Braumeister (Cleveland): 3 Course Pre-Fixe for $30 or $40 with Duck Entrée. Price does not include tax. Beer pricing is retail, to-go pricing per can/bottle. Add-ons Available.

EDWINS Restaurant (Shaker Square): 3 Course Dinner. $85/person. Champagne Add-on Available.

edwins too (Shaker Square): 7 Course Dinner. $90/person. Champagne Add-on Available. Delivery Available. Call 216-400-6091. 

L'Albatros Brasserie (University Circle): 4 Course Dinner. $125/person plus tax and gratuity. Wine Pairings Available for $35.

Mallorca (Downtown): Carnival Style Dinner Box for 2. 4 Courses, Pitcher of Sangria, Bottle of Champagne, Party Favors, and $20 Coupon for Future Use. 

Paladar Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar (Woodmere): Dinner for 4. $50. 2 Courses. 32 oz. Cocktails Available for $25.

Parallax Restaurant & Lounge (Tremont): 3 Course Dinner for 2. $80. 

The Woods (Rocky River): Surf and Turf To-go. $35/person.

1833 The Hotel at Oberlin (Oberlin): New Year’s Barbeque To-Go. Feeds 6-8. 10 Dishes. $199 + tax on Alcohol and 18% Gratuity. Orders placed by 4:00PM on December 23rd. Sparkling Wines, Prosecco & Champagne Available. Call (440) 775-7001 to Reserve.

Tartine Bistro (Rocky River): Create Your Own Wine Dinner for 2 To-go. $110. Select Salad to Share, 2 Entrees, Dessert to Share, and 1 Bottle of Hand-picked Wine. Vegan Options Available. Call 440-331-0800 for More Information and Ordering.

Harvest Saloon (Strongsville): Prime Rib Special with Sides and 2 Bottles of Champagne. Feeds 8. Pre-order and pre-pay by 12/27 at 8PM. $199.95. Call 440-238-9464.

Bar Oni (Tremont): Purchase A5 BMS 12 Steaks (best wagyu in the world) to Cook at Home. $15/oz. and 2 oz. Minimum. Cooking Instructions, House-made Japanese Steak Sauce, and Other Garnishes Provided. Pre-order Online.

Flight Cleveland: Virtual Bubbly Happy Hour. 6PM. Free to view on Zoom with purchase of wine. Join to hear discussion on four sparkling wines from famous bubbly regions. Call 216-400-6867 or visit their website. 

Allure Bistro & Social Club (Willoughby): Virtual Chef's Dinner. Box Includes Drink Mixes, Appetizers, Wine, Champagne, Filet, Scallops and Dessert on the 30th. Facebook Portal and Facebook Rooms on the 31st. Mixologist Demonstration, Appetizer to Heat, Wine Tasting from M Cellars, Cook Entree with Chef Kustala. Party Favors. Additional Add-ons Available. DJ, Toast at Midnight. Call 216-392-3663 or 440-275-5022. $65/person. 

The Black Pig (Ohio City): Socially distanced seating with limited quantity of required reservations. New Year's Eve at the Bar Option- 3 Plates, 2 Cocktails, Champagne. New Year's Eve in the Dining Room Option- 5 Course Chef's Tasting, Wine Pairings, Caviar Service, Champagne Service. Make a reservation online.

This is intended to be just a snapshot of the offerings to give you some direction. Please visit their websites, posts on social media, or call the restaurant for more menu information and ordering details and deadlines. I will continue to post options in the comments on this post as I become aware of them. Feel free to comment below if you have any to add!