TOP NEWS

Chef Dante Boccuzzi to open Masu sushi restaurant in Brecksville

Dante Boccuzzi is opening Masu, a modern sushi concept at Valor Acres in Brecksville this summer. Valor Acres will be a mixed-use development with housing, retail, dining and lifestyle amenities Masu restaurant will offer fast-casual rolls and bowls for lunch. For dinner service, guests will enjoy the same high-end sushi experience found at Boccuzzi’s other sushi restaurant Ginko and Goma, both in Cleveland. READ MORE

Dante Boccuzzi releases ‘Cooking in Harmony’ cookbook

Chef Dante Boccuzzi is celebrating the 15th anniversary of Dante in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood with the release of his long-planned cookbook “Cooking in Harmony.” The self-published, full-color, fully illustrated cookbook will be available in April. READ MORE

Two Friends Brewing to open soon

Two friends – of course – are opening Two Friends Brewing Co. in Cleveland. The beers will pour officially starting Friday, March 7, but you can get a taste at Saturday’s Winter Warmer Fest in the Flats. The brewery is going into the location formerly occupied by The Cleveland Brewery. READ MORE

Brews, Bourbon and BBQ Festival coming up

A beer and bourbon and barbecue fest is set. It’s at MAPS Air Museum in North Canton on Saturday, June 7. More than 25 local breweries and 15 local and national distilleries will be represented at the annual event, which previously was called the Craft Beer Fest. READ MORE

It's almost fish fry time!

Non-profits who would like to be included in our upcoming fish fry guide should check out our story about how to submit details. Our weekly guide will include details on fish frys across Northeast Ohio in churches, VFW halls and other places. Each year we have scores of places offering a variety of fish and other food during Lent. READ MORE

12 margarita recipes to make at home

National Margarita Day may have come and gone last weekend, but there’s never a bad time to shake up cocktails at home. From classic to adventurous, check out 12 margarita recipes worth trying at home. READ MORE

Paczki! Where to find the seasonal Lenten treats in Greater Cleveland

Paczkis are here! Area bakeries and stores are offering many flavors for Fat Tuesday. Here’s our annual guide, covering what’s offered at more than three dozen mom-and-pop bakeries to large stores. READ MORE

Akron ... Cheese Salads?

The Akron RubberDucks announced for one game this season they will rebrand as the Akron Cheese Salads. It’s part of the team’s annual Only in Akron series, a food-theme-based promotional initiative the team holds a couple of times a year at Canal Park in downtown Akron. READ MORE

22 must-try Cleveland restaurants that open on Mondays

Lots of restaurants are closed on Mondays, giving workers a day off as after a busy weekend. That can make finding a place to dine out on Mondays a little problematic. Cleveland.com’s Alex Darus has your back. Check out her guide to great restaurants that are open on Mondays. READ MORE

OPENINGS/CLOSINGS

All-day cafe Trust Coffee Co. opens in Bay Village

Trust Coffee Co. is bringing European vibes to the suburbs with its new cafe in Bay Village that almost always has a line out the door. The all-day cafe at 27225 Wolf Road opened on Feb. 10 from owners Tess and Mike Smith, who also own Thyme Table in town. Trust Coffee Co. occupies the former Java Bay and Andy’s Shoe Repair spaces in the shopping center. It took them about a year to renovate the space to its now adorable vintage aesthetic. READ MORE

Paris Baguette to open first Greater Cleveland location in Avon

Paris Baguette is set to open a new location in Avon, its first franchise location in Greater Cleveland. Paris Baguette’s Avon location will open at 35705 Chester Road near the Walmart in town. The official date has yet to be announced. READ MORE

Serenite temporarily closing

Serenite Restaurant, which is located in the Recovery Center of Medina County, is closing for a “refresh” of its culinary institute. Serenite, which has operated since 2018, offers a culinary-training program for folks to go through to learn about the industry. Sérénité’s menu included an array of dishes, many with a French base. READ MORE

Beachwood Truck Park closes

Beachwood Truck Park is permanently closed after two years of operation, according to operator Dan Deagan. The truck park was at 24619 Chagrin Blvd., Beachwood. The now-closed space opened in July 2022.with an onsite bar and a rotating schedule of food trucks. Planning started in 2020. It took longer than anticipated as the pandemic delayed the conversion of a former firehouse on the property. DETAILS

Crocker Park adds restaurant, multiple retail stores and businesses

Crocker Park is adding several tenants, including Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodle. The Monterey Park, California-based Asian eatery is going into the former Zoup in The Promenade at 30187 Detroit Road, Westlake. Target opening date is this summer. It is billed as offering “authentic, vibrant and speedy” Asian cuisine. Yunnan can refer to spicy, sour and flavorful dishes that draw on regional ethnic cuisine. The menu has multiple variations of soups. The shopping-dining center also announced additions of several retail stores including Vera Bradley, Arhaus and Lucky Shoes. READ MORE

EVENTS/TASTINGS

Mac ‘n’ Cheese Throwdown set

The annual Mac ‘n’ Cheese Throwdown, a tasting event of the classic comfort food, is noon to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, March 1, in Cleveland. Restaurants put their spin on mac and cheese. Many use three cheeses in their recipes. Attendees vote for their favorites. The panel of judges include Cleveland.com’s Paris Wolfe. It’s also a benefit for charity. READ MORE

Ice Wine Festival back for 22nd year in NE Ohio

The 22nd annual Grand River Valley Ice Wine Festival is coming up. The festival, a progressive tasting, is scheduled for March 1 to March 30 at six Northeast Ohio wineries and a distillery. Ice wine can be made only when grapes are left on vines at the end of the harvest season. Once temperatures drop below 17 degrees, grapes are picked and pressed immediately before they have time to thaw. Many of the participating wineries have drink lists that include specialty cocktails, and the varietals used to make Ice Wine are expanding, too, organizers said. Tastings are available noon to 5 p.m. daily, though attendees should check on hours of wineries; not all are open seven days a week. Marc Bona has the details. READ MORE

Market Garden Brewery + River Roots Barrel Co. Team up

Market Garden Brewery in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood is having a tasting of beers aged in River Roots Barrel Co. barrels. The beer and whiskey tasting is this Friday, Feb. 28, at Market Garden. Here’s what’s being poured. READ MORE

Cleveland Restaurant Week: Here are the participating restaurants

The next Cleveland Restaurant Week is coming up in March. About 30 locally owned Cleveland Independents’ restaurants are slated to participate in the promotional event, which is set to run Monday, March 3, to Friday, March 14. Three-course prix fixe dinners will be priced around $39. Specific menus will be posted soon, but we’ve got the list now. READ MORE

Corleone’s schedules Mardi Gras-themed dinner

Corleone’s Ristorante & Bar in Parma has scheduled a Mardi Gras-themed Fat Tuesday dinner for March 4. Five Creole- and Cajun-based courses will be accompanied by French wines. The festive night will include beads and more. READ MORE

Wild game dinner coming up

Gandalf’s Pub in Valley City is scheduled to hold its annual wild game dinner, which will be featured with beers from Great Lakes Brewing Co. in Cleveland. It’s Monday, March 3. Here’s a look at the menu. READ MORE

2nd Anthony Bourdain-inspired dinner is scheduled

StoneWater’s The Rustic Grill scheduled a special Anthony Bourdain-themed dinner in March. It was so popular it sold out, so the restaurant added another night. Here is the menu and how the dishes relate to Bourdain, the noted foodie, chef, author and traveler who died in 2018. The new night is Thursday, March 6. READ MORE

Ritz-Carlton Cleveland to host International Women’s Day Afternoon Tea

The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland is celebrating International Women’s Day with an Afternoon Tea at 11 a.m., March 8. The event offers fine teas, pastries, savory bites and one glass of Champagne. The menu is being curated by Chef Manikandan “Mani” Ramalingam and Executive Sous Chef Jesus Caperon. READ MORE

StoneWater plans annual Seder dinner

StoneWater is planning its seventh annual Seder dinner. It’s Saturday, Apri 12, and features 14 dishes over four courses. The Rustic Grill has dine-in and carry-out options. Here’s what to know about the meal and when to order from the Highland Heights restaurant. READ MORE

Learn to craft the perfect Manhattan at Cleveland’s La Ville Lumiere

La Ville Lumiere is hosting an event designed to teach guests everything they could possibly know about the classic Manhattan cocktail. The restaurant at 10427 Clifton Blvd. in Cleveland will host its “Build your own Manhattan Night” at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 26. For $35 per ticket, attendees will learn everything about the history and components of a basic Manhattan. READ MORE

Cleveland Taco Festival returns to Jacobs Pavilion this Labor Day weekend

The Cleveland Taco Festival returns to Jacobs Pavilion this Labor Day weekend, featuring more than 40 local vendors serving tacos, margaritas and more. The second annual festival is set for August 29 through September 1. Aside from offering tacos from vendors like Barrio, Cousin’s Maine Lobster, Poppy’s Tacos and beyond, live entertainment and other activities are slated throughout the weekend. READ MORE

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Flight Cleveland

Flight in Gordon Square is the ultimate way to make any regular date night or catch-up with friends into a special event. The wine bar and shop offers a dine-in menu of unique wine flights and pours to find your next favorite bottle. The bar snacks menu includes charcuterie boards and Sweet Bean chocolate bonbons to pair with different varietals. Flight also often hosts pop-up events from vendors like FrankieLynn Hot Dogs. Flight Cleveland is at 5712 Detroit Avenue in Cleveland. - Alex Darus DETAILS

Peppermint Thai Cuisine

Everyone needs a go-to to-go restaurant on their way home from work. Peppermint Thai Cuisine is one of those dining spots with a comfortable dining room and a robust carry-out business. It’s easy to get addicted to the Pad Thai dishes and to the mango curry which includes chicken AND shrimp as well as mango and vegetables in a yellow curry. All dishes can be prepared vegetarian and spice levels can be adjusted to taste. – Paris Wolfe DETAILS

BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse

There’s something about bellying up to the bar at B.J.’s Brewhouse, gazing at the long line of tap handles while you watch a game on one of the many televisions. The menu has something for everyone, with creative noshes. Bartenders hustle. But the best part might be dessert for those who are so inclined: BJs offers its famed Pizookie (think big honking cookie + ice cream). Northeast Ohio locations are in Canton, Fairlawn, Mentor, North Olmsted and Orange Village. - Marc Bona READ MORE

SPOTLIGHT

Five must-try soul food restaurants in Greater Cleveland

Northeast Ohio’s soul food scene might not be as robust as it is in the Southern United States or other major cities, but it sure is mighty. Local soul food offerings have something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a quick takeout bite, a formal dinner or even vegan versions of classics. Reporters Alex Darus and Paris Wolfe visited five soul food restaurants in the region in honor of Black History Month to highlight its offerings. READ MORE

Who are the James Beard Awards semifinalists from Cleveland?

Hollywood has the Oscars, football has the Super Bowl, and the culinary world has the James Beard Foundation Awards. The non-profit organization that champions our food culture annually honors those who create meals and run restaurants. This year, a quartet of Cleveland chefs were named semifinalists in their respective categories. The food-and-dining team at Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer are profiling all four: Cordelia’s Vinnie Cimino, Amba, Zhug and Kiln maestro Doug Katz and Larder Delicatessen & Bakery’s Allie La Valle and Jeremy Umansky:

Entertainment | Food and Drink

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