TOP NEWS

Check out the coolest tasting room in Northeast Ohio - Crafted Artisan Meadery

Crafted Artisan Meadery’s expansion to an old church has a lot of history. Kent Waldeck opened the tasting room-production facility in November, and it’s been serving customers at the bar while churning out all types of mead for distribution to 18 states. The meadery’s mailing address is Mogadore, though it’s located in Suffield Township. STORY AND PHOTOS

Cordelia's Vinnie Cimino named James Beard Awards semi-finalist

Chef Vinnie Cimino of Cleveland’s Cordelia Restaurant on East 4th Street, is a semi-finalist in the Restaurant and Chef category for the 2024 James Beard Awards. He was nominated as Best Chef: Great Lakes, which covers restaurants in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. Cimino is the only Northeast Ohio restaurant or chef named a semi-finalist. READ MORE

2024 fish fry guide: We want your details!

That tasty rite of passage is coming up: Fish frys across Greater Cleveland. During Lent, many places offer fish frys, which we round up in a weekly, updated guide. If you are an organizer of a fish fry in Northeast Ohio, we want to hear from you. Important: Our weekly listing is for non-profits only. That means churches, schools, clubs, VFW halls and other groups can submit information for the guide. Here is how to submit your listing. READ MORE

The Great Bourbon Raffle is back

Bourbon lovers rejoice: The Great Bourbon Raffle is back supporting Make-A-Wish's Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana chapter. Three main prize packages totaling 19 bottles are available. Tickets are $100. Winners will be announced May 1. READ MORE

Cleveland deli lands on Yelp’s Top 100 Restaurants of 2024 list

Express Deli in Brook Park landed at No. 13 on Yelp’s list of the Top 100 U.S. Restaurants of 2024. The longstanding deli at 5185 Smith Road is known for its corned beef, Reuben wraps and more. It was the only Greater Cleveland restaurant to make Yelp’s list for the year. READ MORE

DineDrinkCle talks new Fairfax Market, best Bloody Marys and West Side Market snacks

In the latest episode of DineDrinkCle: The Podcast, hosts Josh Duke and Alex Darus are joined by reporter Paris Wolfe to talk about the buzzy new Fairfax Market by Meijer with shelves loaded with local products. They also talk about Northeast Ohio’s best Bloody Mary cocktails and build-your-own bars. Finally, reporter Peter Chakerian reminisces on his favorite West Side Market snacks, from Frank’s Bratwurst to Steve’s Gyros. LISTEN

81st Deli honors Cleveland’s viral chicken salad with mural

East 81st Deli went viral on TikTok in August 2022 for its loaded chicken salad. The humble deli on Cleveland’s East Side memorialized the internet-famous moment with a mural quoting the video, which has more than 27 million views. READ MORE

Mike Wendt of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission screens his favorite local nosh

We caught up with the GCFC’s Production Coordinator and film enthusiast about his local food favorites. The director, producer and location manager/scout has worked on many films, including “Captain America: The Winter Solider,” “Fate of the Furious” and “My Friend Dahmer.” His picks reflect a busy schedule and a nostalgic, food-on-the-fly sensibility. READ MORE

OPENINGS

Salted Dough Bistro brings a fresh spin on the old-school Italian restaurant to Cleveland’s Little Italy

Salted Dough Bistro opened five days before Christmas in Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood. The 75-seat restaurant has taken over space occupied for four months by Campus Pollyeyes at 12308 Mayfield Road, across from Guarino’s Restaurant. READ MORE

Sunset Kitchen to open in University Circle

Charles Hansford is not a quitter. When his first restaurant, Sunset Kitchen, burned down on Feb. 3, 2022, the Richmond Heights resident picked up the pieces and rebuilt. In the same space. Rising from the ashes, Sunset Kitchen will open as a full-service restaurant in mid-February. The 70-seat dining room is at 11311 Euclid Avenue. READ MORE

Moe’s Tavern pop-up open in Akron

If you are a fan of the fictional watering hole on “The Simpsons,” check out Moe’s Tavern, a pop-up themed bar, at Missing Falls Brewery in Akron. For an admission fee, you can check out the bar where Moe Szyslak holds court, where Homer and pals hang out, where the Flamin’ Moe became famous. It's around through Sunday, Jan. 28. READ MORE

Chipotle opens in Berea

Ohioans love their Chipotle; there are more than 230 of the fast-casual eateries in the state. The newest, which opened this week in Berea, features the Chipotlane, a drive-through lane for drivers to pick up digital orders without leaving their vehicles. READ MORE

EVENTS/TASTINGS

Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Fest set for Columbus

Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” host and one of America’s favorite celebrity chefs, Guy Fieri is bringing Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Fest to Columbus on June 1-2. The two-day festival will be filled with celebrity chefs, culinary events, food features and high-powered music. Musical headliners for the weekend are rock’s Greta Van Fleet and country’s Kane Brown. MORE

Burns Night celebrates Scottish poet with food, drink

Market Garden Brewery is back with its Burns Night, a celebration of Scottish poet Robert Burns, food, drink and – of course – haggis. The brewery has been holding the dinner-feast-party for 10 years in Ohio City. Get your kilts out (or not), hosit one for RB, and partake in the feast. This year’s celebration is at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26. $50. READ MORE

Exploring Mexico at Nuevo

Nuevo Modern Mexican & Tequila Bar is showcasing the regional flavors of Mexico with a five-course dinner and drink pairing. Tickets are $75. 6 p.m., Jan. 27. 1000 E. 9th St., Cleveland. DETAILS

Related:Nuevo Modern Mexican explores three regions of Mexico in five-course dinner

Bottlehouse Babes Drag Brunch Iconic ‘80s

Bottlehouse Brewery in Lakewood will be hosting an ‘80s-themed drag brunch. The event will feature several live performances, themed drinks and more. Tickets start at $12.50. Noon., Jan. 28. 13368 Madison Ave., Lakewood. DETAILS

Edwins to hold wine and cheese tasting

Edwin’s Leadership & Restaurant Institute is having a winter wine and cheese tasting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30. It’s right up Brandon Chrostowski’s alley, considering he created the fromage cart at L’Albatros Brasserie years ago. Edwins is located in Shaker Square. READ MORE

Ice cream for breakfast? Jeni’s says yes with breakfast-themed treats

Jeni’s Ice Cream is celebrating the most important meal of the day in a big way this year on Feb. 3, or Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. Jeni’s, a Columbus-born company, is releasing limited-edition pints of its Banana French Toast flavor. The ice cream has a banana custard base and features Butternut Mountain maple syrup and cinnamon-brown sugar French toast “gravel.” The Banana French Toast pints will be available in scoop shops on Feb. 3 or online a few days beforehand, so they arrive in time to celebrate the informal holiday. READ MORE

Rosewood Grill in Westlake schedules wine dinner

Rosewood Grill has a dinner on Feb. 4 highlighting Transcendence Wines of California. One white and four red wines will be paired with dishes at the dinner, which features items like coffee-crusted beef tenderloin, smoked duck breast and tiramisu tower. READ MORE

Sapphire Creek Winery & Gardens to hold ‘Sunday School’

Sapphire Creek Winery & Gardens in Chagrin Falls has a couple of ‘Sunday School’ classes coming up to showcase its proprietary wines. They are inexpensive, casual tasting with nibbles. The first two sessions of Sunday School wine tasting are 1 p.m. Sunday Feb. 11 and Feb. 25. READ MORE

Angels on the Avenue bus-brewery tour is back on

The Angels on the Avenue bus tour of Northeast Ohio breweries is back on after a three-year hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic. The daylong tour takes place Saturday, Feb. 24, and will visit Ghost Tree, Railroad Brewing, Twin Oast, Clag and Muffleheads. It supports St. Augustine Health Ministries. READ MORE

Breweriana show is scheduled

The Lake Erie chapter of the Brewery Collectibles Club of America will hold a breweriana show – all things beer-related – at Missing Falls Brewery in Akron from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 14. The free show will include items for swap or sale. You’ll find coasters, signs, advertisements, memorabilia and a whole lot of cans. Admission is free. READ MORE

PICKS OF THE WEEK

ThìNì Thai in Oberlin

We mentioned them last week, but the truth is we can’t get Khao Soi out of our minds. The specialty curry dish from Chiang Mai (northern Thailand) is comfort food umami personified: made with a piquant curry paste, Burmese curry powder and coconut milk, then served with soft wheat noodles, crispy egg noodles, pickled mustard greens, shallots, pickled daikon and carrot. Did we say obsessed? Yep. That’s a good word for it. 18 Carpenter Court, Oberlin. READ MORE

Papa Joe’s Iacomini’s

Papa Joe’s is a long-standing restaurant in the Merriman Valley with a large menu of Italian favorites and great wine list. But its flagship menu item might be its lasagna – some of the best around. The Iacomini family has been in the restaurant business since 1932. It’s at 1561 Akron Peninsula Road, Akron. READ MORE

Fahrenheit in Public Square

Fahrenheit in Public Square received plenty of well-deserved buzz in 2023 for its ambiance and elevated menu. The upscale locale is worth the trek in the cold weather for soul-warming bites like wagyu short rib with lo mein noodles or potato nachos topped with parmesan fondue and crispy bacon. 55 Public Square, Cleveland. READ MORE

Provenance Cafe at Cleveland Art Museum

Some museum cafes cure the dgrum bellies. Others go beyond. Provenance Café at the Cleveland Museum of Art serves satisfying lunch, dinner and snacks. On a wintry afternoon visit a few galleries. Take a break with fresh bakery and caffeine. Then, finish the adventure. Bakery like fruit turnovers, chocolate chip banana bread and chocolate chip cookies are made fresh daily in the Provenance kitchen. If you want dinner Provenance Restaurant takes you upscale. DETAILS

SPOTLIGHT

Swensons Drive-in brings back original cheese

Akron-based drive-in burger spot Swensons announced the return of its original cheese, original butter, and original ketchup to their notable menu on Thursday, January 18 as a “healthy emergence” from pandemic-related supply chain issues. It comes on the heels of a change.org petition from several hundred “Swenatics,” who took to the internet with their beef. READ MORE

Entertainment | Food and Drink

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