Comments on: cleveland rocks!

By: Heidi Robb » Beer me a Season

Heidi Robb » Beer me a Season — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:53:07 +0000

[...] goodness to praise: Claudia of cook eat FRET is in town, so on to what she missed from her prior Cleveland visit: Breakfast was flaky, buttery, Paris-worthy croissant from On The Rise Artisan Breads. Karen caught [...]

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:23:40 +0000

I do not recommend going to Fire Food and Drink for dinner. Or any meal. Ever. Most of their food is unquestionably sub-par. However, I do highly recommend Bodega in Coventry for a light dinner. It is a tapas restaurant and I have never had bad food or bad service there.

I have lived within an hour of Cleveland nearly all of my life, and I have to say that it is one of the best cities I’ve ever been to. There is a place for everyone there. I do hope you come back and check more of it out.

(Michael Symon also happens to be opening Bar Symon soon in Avon Lake. I hope you make it there once it’s open!)

By: furlinedteacup

furlinedteacup — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:50:01 +0000

I am a huge fan of Lola Bistro as well. Well worth a trek to Cleveland!

By: We Are Never Full

We Are Never Full — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:20:37 +0000

WONDERFUL post! my dad lived in Cleveland for years before i was born and loved it. when i moved back east from colorado, he flew out and we drove my car together home and stopped in cleveland for the night. he showed me around what he remembered and we did the R&R hall of fame (which i LOVED). cleveland is a great town, that’s for sure. You def. did it justice.

ruhlman is hot. usually i try not to reduce myself to talking about food-related people as if they are brad pitt, but seriously, that guy is SEXY hot. i love that you showed a bit of shoulder on your date w/ him – you work it girl!

great post. i’m hungry.

ps: why is the font so small in the comment section? maybe it’s my computer but i need glasses to read them now!

By: democommie

democommie — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:55:11 +0000

Claudia:

Welcome home!

I was in NH and MA about the same time. Not nearly as much fun as you had, although I did get to see some friends.

I spent a few days in Cleveland some years ago and saw lots of possibilities. I usually wind up driving through there at about midnight on my way to or from Omaha–the “Jake” is usually lit up like something from “Close Encounters”.

A few more weeks and I’ll have my stove in ( I had to go with something less than I wanted, but compared to a hotplate it will be heaven), then I can start making strange dishes on four burners instead of one!

By: Francis

Francis — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:06:43 +0000

Long time lurker here. Thought I’d say hello and that this was an inspirational post. I just read Ruhlman’s Soul of a Chef and loved it. What a cool book. I’m absolutely putting Cleveland on my go-to list.

By: Daniel from Chi-Town

Daniel from Chi-Town — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:54:01 +0000

I came across this quite by accident while googling something entirely unrelated (funny how that happens) and boy am i glad that I did. My wife and I will be in C-Town next month and now I know exactly what we’ll be doing and what we’ll be eating. I like your web site. Very nice design. Rock ON!

By: fluffernutter

fluffernutter — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:10:12 +0000

You met Feeding maybelle’s mom? I wish I’d known — tell her Fluffernutter from Tupperware Avalanche wishes she had been along for the eatin’.

By: yveala

yveala — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:12:24 +0000

how could rock and rolling on the shores of lake erie be bad?!?
add in “the next iron chef”, ruhlman, the ants, that vip treatment and yes, even the melons looked outragious, wow! when you go again, take me..and have my vanilla pear ginger martini waiting…and iphones rock.

By: jodycakes

jodycakes — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:28:52 +0000

This is EXCELLENT info about Cleveland…and love all your pics, even if on iPhone!!!

By: Brittany

Brittany — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:42:25 +0000

Please come to Seattle sometime. You are a girl who I am dying to get drunk with

(your first negroni EVER? or just the first of the night? Negroni is my total fave).

That tripe dish looks seriously scary. And I actually kind of like tripe in that Mexican soup- the name of which is escaping me…Does that make me gross?

By: Hillary

Hillary — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:11:38 +0000

Sounds like a wonderful trip. I’m surprised to hear the shrimp and bitter melon dish was boring – it looks anything but! Thanks for the trip recap, I’m jealous of the company you keep

By: The Urban Eater

The Urban Eater — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:20:38 +0000

PLEASE tell me that is ice in your wine tumblers!

I absolutely enjoy the picture of the produce vendors. You can see their happiness and I love that you cropped your own face out of the Symon shot b/c my dear, I have done the same thing with my Keller shot b/c well, I did not look as spectacular as I am and I am not ready for the world to know my imperfections.

LOVE u, honey and when are you coming to Tampa?

By: Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:06:12 +0000

I bet maybelle’s mom is right and you looked as beautiful as ever. And I’m sure you were a charming drunk. ;P

Cleveland is definitely not somewhere I have ever considered going. You certainly highlighted some wonderful reasons though. Glad you had a nice time with good food, good art and great friends.

By: Tina

Tina — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:08:42 +0000

I am a huge Ruhlman fan and never even knew he had a blog. I have read 6 of his books and I look to him as my food guru. I don’t have a blog but a friend of mine told me about yours and THERE WAS MICHAEL RUHLMAN. Too cool. I don’t have the nerve to comment on his blog but I will be reading his and yours and Carol’s too!

By: robin @ caviar and codfish

robin @ caviar and codfish — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:24:16 +0000

Gawd, those paintings are horrid. But looks like you had a wonderful time despite them.

Love living vicariously through you on all your vacations, Claudia!

By: Lesley

Lesley — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:49:43 +0000

Little did I know I was clicking into vegetarian hell!
You know, I don’t know where Cleveland gets the bad rap. I’ve even been there in the snow and loved the place.

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:39:14 +0000

Certainly sounds like you had the grand tour. Cleveland sounds great. I’ve never been but I have a large soft spot in my heart for aging industrial cities so I’m sure I’d love it.

By: lisa

lisa — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:16:46 +0000

Cleveland’s coolness is going to ruin the midwest’s bland reputation!

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:05:20 +0000

This looks like mission accomplished. A yummy visit to Cleveland, and the uplifting of Michael Ruhlman’s spirits. Thanks Carol and cookeatFRET!!

By: Jack

Jack — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:03:34 +0000

Well I�ve never been to Cleveland
But I kinda like the Beatles�
Looks like you really painted the town! That must have been some itinerary to see, drink and eat so much in one visit. I�m sorry, I�ve eaten live baby octopus and giant clam, but tripe is something that will probably never grace my palate- not even to impress three hot looking women! And Heidi with those lamb tongues for pickling? No buzzard eggs?!! Wow! Get away! Hearts and livers and brains Oh My! You are scaring me with food and Halloween isn�t till the end of the month. Seriously, what a fun-filled adventure and so well written. The Ohio dept of tourism should pay for a link.

By: jim voorhies

jim voorhies — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:43:27 +0000

Heather, you can (or used to be able to) find that here – it’s called three-way chili and it combines spaghetti noodles, chili and tamales (both straight from CANS!). It was “featured” as a special at Varallo’s restaurant.

I think I just set a new low for culinary comments on ceF.

By: lifeinrecipes

lifeinrecipes — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:05:04 +0000

To Caroline: I really, really wanted to get to Bar Cento as it’s become somewhat of a weekly habit for me….and I keep Lolita near and dear to my heart. However, there was a lot of ground to cover; schedules, timing, convenience, and fatigue to consider. Hopefully, when Claudia returns (hear that, missy!), Bar Cento Chef Jonathan Sawyer’s Greenhouse Tavern will be open.

By: chefectomy

chefectomy — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:44:08 +0000

Fantastic post Claudia. The petal shaped noodles look extremely cool. You look lovely in the last photo, stop fretting!

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:59:53 +0000

I’m glad you enjoyed Cleveland, but seriously, I get so tired of all the “Cleveland?? Really???” comments from people. Not all of the U.S. is contained in NYC and LA (I should know. I live in LA and would rather be in Cleveland). People, step off your front stoop more often. There is a whole world out there and most of it is “flyover.”