Why? Jamaica!

I’m back, I’m rested, I’m tan, and I’m geared up for spring in CLE!  I hope you enjoyed the fantastic guest bloggers over the last week or so.  And to thank you for being such wonderful readers, I brought someone a present from Jamaica.  Read on for my trip recap and a READER GIVEAWAY!

CLEguy and I spent just over a week at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  There’s something about leaving a town where there’s snow on the ground and going to a warm, sandy beach that is just good for the soul.

The resort was all-inclusive, which meant lots of rum drinks by the pool and lots of yummy Jamaican cuisine.  One of my favorites was called “When EE Done EE Done,” which was a daily special that was always some different kind of Caribbean food.  We enjoyed lamb curry, jerk chicken stew, and Caribbean lobster.  We didn’t get to try the curried goat, which we were really hoping to get to sample.  I guess we’ll just have to go back!

CLEguy and I also went on several excursions, which were a great way to see more of the country.  We spent a day in Negril, where we went to Margaritaville, checked out the white-sand beach, and ended the day at Rick’s Cafe where you can watch the world-famous cliff divers as the sun sets.

CLEgal and CLEguy at Margaritaville Negril

We also climbed Dunn River Falls, which was the favorite excursion for both of us.  Dunn River Falls is a tiered waterfall.  Starting at the beach, you climb up the different tiers, ending up 900 feet above sea level at the end.  The water was freezing at first, but you quickly adjust.  And our guide made it a lot of fun…pointing out natural “waterslides” and pools to swim in.

Continuing on the nature theme, CLEguy and I also went ziplining.  I think I had too many rum drinks when I signed us up for this one and I was pretty nervous the morning we went.  But it was incredibly exhilirating and I would highly recommend it.  Don’t count on getting too many pictures, but the views of the ocean and the mountains were breathtaking.

Finally, we spent an afternoon on a catamaran snorkeling cruise.

Hi from Jamaica!

Like almost everything else in Jamaica, this included rum punch and Red Stripe.  The snorkeling was amazing…crystal blue water and coral reefs.  And we got to see this sunset on the way back…

So, if you like sun, beautiful beaches, spicy food, rum, amazing culture, gorgeous natural landscapes, and well…have I convinced you yet?  Check out Jamaica…just come back to CLE!

And, to give you a little taste of our vacation (and since you’re all a huge reason Why CLE? for me), here’s the READER GIVEAWAY!  I brought back a chocolate Tortuga rum cake, 8 ounces of world-famous Blue Mountain Coffee, and a kitschy Jamaica shot glass, all for one lucky reader.

The giveaway will run until 8am on Sunday, April 17, when random.org will choose a winner from the comments.  Here’s how to enter.  Each comment gets you one entry:

1. Leave me a comment telling me your favorite vacation spot and why (CLEguy and I want to plan our next trip!).

2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following: I have no problems, mon! I want to win @WhyCLE’s Jamaican treats giveaway!
http://wp.me/p1fb9r-8U

You can tweet every day until Sunday.  Just leave one comment per day letting me know you tweeted.

3. Follow me on Networked Blogs or subscribe to the blog via the email subscription button on the blog.  Leave a comment letting me know.

4. Put Why CLE? on your blogroll.  Leave a comment letting me know.

Good luck!  Cheers!

Why? Bruno’s!

***Thanks to Beth for guest blogging for Why CLE? while I’m on vacation!  I love finding out people’s unique answers to Why Cleveland?***

So this isn’t the blog that I had told CLEgal that I would write, but I think it’s more interesting and fun!

A little bit about me as an introduction—I am a self-proclaimed foodie, but a nurse practitioner by profession.  I am not a native Clevelander, I was born and raised in Dublin, Ohio, outside of Columbus, but have come to love this city and call it my home.  I am engaged to a wonderful first-generation American with a strong Italian heritage and in the midst of planning a large Italian wedding.   CLEgal is my closest friend and, as you have witnessed, also an excellent writer.  ***CLEgal note: Blushing!  Thanks!  Your current guest blogger is the best friend a CLEgal could ask for!***

As a person who has studied the sciences through most of my schooling, my creativity is a bit rusty, but I would love to get back in touch with that side of myself.  I initially had told CLEgal that I would write about fitness in Cleveland, and will likely do so in the future, but wanted to try to stretch myself a bit further for this guest blog.  My fiancé and I went to dinner last night at one of our favorite places and I think it is definitely blog-worthy.

Bruno’s Ristorante is located at 2644 W. 41^st St. in Cleveland and unassuming from the outside.   It is small and therefore requires a reservation, but it is one of the best places to get Italian in Cleveland.  It is family-owned and very unique. ( The number of places in Cleveland that fit that description, by the way, is a testament to its uniqueness and one of the many things I love about this city.)  You can tell from the moment that you walk in the door that it is a beloved home to lovers of Italian cuisine, whether they are families, couples looking for a romantic night out or out for a corporate dinner.   The size of the place and décor infinitely adds to its charm.  The first thing that hits you after you park your car is the seductive smell wafting from the restaurant.  When you walk through the door, the antique bar and authentic gold espresso machine catches your eye.  The dining room is quaint and intimate and tantalizing with the food selections seen at neighboring tables.  Portions are quite large as you will see from the photo of my half-portion of Veal Milanese Caprese, our entrée.

We started out with the appetizer special called “Clams Oregano”.  As a lover of shellfish, but not always clams, I was a little hesitant at first, but won over by the flavorful tender and large clams brought to us in steamy garlicky wonderfulness.  (Yes, so good that grammar must be compromised and even made up).  The warm crusty on the outside and soft on the inside Italian bread was a wonderful complement to the appetizer as was the wine that I ordered.  The featured wine on the menu was a Sauvignon Blanc from a vineyard called Tin Roof and one of the best Sauvignon Blancs that I have had.  The complexity of flavor, citrus undertones, and light crispness was a perfect complement to seafood.

After our appetizer, we had choice of soup or salad.  This is going to be a difficult choice after having tried both.  The salad was fresh with perfectly ripe tomatoes (not an easy feat in Cleveland in the winter), pasta, and a light tart garlic balsamic vinaigrette.  The Italian wedding soup was full of vegetables with homemade pasta and meatballs inside.  The best Italian wedding soup I have ever had—flavorful, savory and comforting.  I ordered a glass of the featured Cabernet Sauvignon to go with dinner which a very robust, full-bodied, dry red which perfectly complemented our veal entrée.

Our entrée was the Veal Milanese Caprese.

The veal was crispy and tender, very thinly sliced and lightly breaded, with fresh tomatoes and slightly melted fresh mozzarella on top.  The whole plate was then drizzled with a sweet balsamic reduction sauce that brought out the flavor of the other ingredients beautifully.  With the entrée we also received a side of homemade linguine and marinara sauce.  As the fiancé of a very Italian individual, I have tried my share of marinara sauces, and used to think this was a pretty basic staple without much pizzazz.  This sauce puts others to shame.  It is obviously made with fresh tomatoes rather than canned stewed  tomatoes, and is tart and tangy without being overly spicy.

We finished dinner off with Bruno’s signature tiramisu.

I am a huge fan of tiramisu and could eat it every day of the week.  My fiancé also makes tiramisu that is out of this world, so I’m a bit of a tiramisu snob.  While I love the liqueur and espresso-laden classic masterpiece that my sweetheart makes around Christmas, this was also delicious and very different from ones I have tasted in the past.  It was light, fluffy, and creamy with a light spongy cookie layered in between and no overwhelming coffee flavor.  The spongy cookie that was used instead of the traditional lady fingers had a nutty flavor to it which gave the tiramisu an almost “torte-like” feel.   My fiancé informed me that this was actually a quite authentic take on a traditional Italian tiramisu, despite being different from what most of us think of as tiramisu.  We did not get coffee with our meal as we were already so full, but Bruno’s also makes incredibly cappuccino drinks for those who favor coffee.  As far as service, the meal was served efficiently but not in a rush, and service was friendly and excellent.  I look forward to another great experience at Bruno’s soon!

Why? Road Trip to Columbus!

***Thanks to Angela for guest blogging for Why CLE? while I’m on vacation!  I love finding out people’s unique answers to Why Cleveland?***

Hello, I’m Angela, Executive Director of the Ohio Blogging Association and the blogger of many hats on Pretty in Orange.  When CLEGal put out the call for guest posts, I was more than thrilled to volunteer.   She’s a heckuva gal and I have really enjoyed getting to know her through blogging.

I love that CLEGal is writing a blog about why she loves Cleveland.  My blog covers many topics, but I do get a chance to indulge in my love for Columbus from time to time.

I grew up in Northwest Ohio but consider Columbus my home.  I’ve been here for 21 years now, ever since I came to go to college.  No, not to Ohio State (yes, there ARE actually other colleges and universities in Columbus!)  I went to Capital University, which is a small private university in a suburb (Bexley) of Columbus.

After college, I decided to stay, rather than move back.  Columbus was still the Big City to this girl from a small farming community.  Also, I had made a lot of great friends at school and wanted to be near them.

It turned out to be a great decision.  Columbus has so much to offer.  Oh sure, we get called a Cowtown from time to time, but I don’t mind.  I love it here.

Why Columbus?

It’s pretty.  We have gorgeous places like the Park of Roses, Franklin Park Conservatory, and more.

 

We have the number one zoo in the country.  Right now it’s 82 acres, but after they finish with the expansion, it will be 250 acres, making it the largest zoon in the world.

We have tons of great shopping at Easton Town Center, Polaris Fashion Place, and independent stores.

Yes, if you like them, they’re here.

And a bunch of Ohio bloggers are here!

A Day in the Life of a Grad Student’s Wife	http://snyder1418.blogspot.com/
A Mommy Story	http://www.amommystory.com
Amy Around the Corner	http://amyaroundthecorner.blogspot.com/
And then your mother said	http://andthenyourmomsaid.wordpress.com/
cBus Mom	http://www.cbusmom.com
Columbus Food Adventures	http://columbusfoodadventures.com/blog
Columbus Foodie	http://www.columbusfoodie.com/
Columbus Rides Bikes	http://columbusridesbikes.com
Columbus Socialite	http://www.columbussocialite.com
Columbus Underground	http://www.columbusunderground.com
ColumbusBestBlog	http://www.columbusbestblog.com/
Condo Blues	http://condo-blues.blogspot.com
Cookerati	http://cookerati.com
Doing Life Being Tiff	http://www.doinglifebeingtiff.com
Erika Pryor	http://erikapryor.com
Fat Fighter TV	http://fatfightertv.com/blog
Girls in Tech Columbus	http://columbus.girlsintech.net/
Gluten-Free Is Life	http://www.glutenfreeislife.com/
Healthy Glow and Go	http://healthyglowandgo.wordpress.com
Hounds in the Kitchen	http://houndsinthekitchen.com
Inspiring You to Save	http://www.inspiringyou2save.com
Joe Chapman	http://centralohioagent.wordpress.com
Khola’s Kloset	http://www.kholaskloset.blogspot.com
Life After I “Dew”	http://butterfliesandheaveneyes.blogspot.com/
LIFE, LOVE, AND MARATHONS	http://lifeloveandmarathons.blogspot.com/
Little Plastic Spoons	http://littleplasticspoons.blogspot.com
Lovin’ My Life	http://lindseyatlovinmylife.blogspot.com/
M42 Designs	http://www.m42designs.com
Momofali	http://momofali.com
Namaste_Heather	http://namaste-heather.com
Off Her Cork	http://offhercork.com
Pluck	http://www.pluckathome.com/blog/
Pretty in Orange	http://prettyinorange.com
Prevention RD	http://preventionrd.com
Restaurant Widow	http://www.restaurantwidow.com
Road Called Life	http://roadcalledlife.blogspot.com
Running in Stilettos	http://runninginstilettosblog.blogspot.com/
Sara Barton	http://sarabarton.wordpress.com
Simple Frills	http://emilywickham.blogspot.com/
Snapdragon Ink	http://www.snapdragonink.com
Sweet, Sassy and Oh So Classy	http://sweetsassyandohsoclassy.blogspot.com/
The Healthy Hostess	http://thehealthyhostess.com
The Lean Green Bean	http://theleangreenbean.blogspot.com/
The Metropreneur	http://www.themetropreneur.com/columbus/
The Naked Redhead	http://www.thenakedredhead.com/
Thrifty & Chic Mom	http://www.thriftyandchicmom.com
Thrifty Décor Mom	http://thriftydecormom.blogspot.com
Tiny Mantras	http://tinymantras.com/
Trehops Blog	http://trehops.com/
Vegalicious	http://vega-licious.com
Webblog	http://dwwebblog.blogspot.com
Weekend Retreat	www.weekendretweat.com
What matters Most?	http://breebee.com/

So come and visit. We have tons of great restaurants for you to check out.

Why? Polish Cooking!

***Thanks to Diane for guest blogging for Why CLE? while I’m on vacation!  I love finding out people’s unique answers to Why Cleveland?***

I realize this is the Why CLE? blog, not the Why DOESDIANNECOOKWHATSHECOOKS? blog. You come to this space to read about what is fabulous about Cleveland, not to learn about what sort of gluttonous thing I cooked or baked last week. As such, when I volunteered to guest-post for CLEgal while she is away on vacation, I had to refocus what I usually write when I write a blog post. More Cleveland goodness, less of my own recipes. You see, I blog over at A Stove With A House Around It, where I write about food, people and places that have great meaning to me, and the stories that connect all three. Most often those places include Cleveland, but not always.

Even so, I figured I could shoehorn my own voice into the Why CLE? aesthetic – after all, I was born and raised here in good old Northeast Ohio. I have plenty of reasons to love Cleveland. I spent the majority of my college years in Chicago answering the incessant question of “Why CLE?” usually uttered by friends from bigger cities, often incredulously. I had no problem explaining what a great place Cleveland really is, and considered myself somewhat of an ambassador for the city back when we had a good baseball team but before we had our very own Iron Chef. So. Demonstrating enthusiasm for the Cleve is not a challenge for me.

But I have to do it through the lens of food. What can I say; most everything I view, I view through the lens of food. I can’t help myself.

Rather than spill more ink on the growing and top-rate food scene in Northeast Ohio – full of James Beard nominees and Food & Wine Best New Chefs and delectable craft breweries and inventive menus and a historic food market so excellent and relevant that it can draw an international conference on public markets – I thought I’d focus on home-style Polish food, something that Northeast Ohioans know well and cook with pride. Potatoes, pierogi, noodles, sour cream, cabbage. My mother is Polish, and as such has never met a plate of Polish cooking she didn’t like. I called her up the other day. “Mother,” I said, quite seriously. “You are going to Babushka’s with me.”

“OK,” she hastily replied, with the gravitas appropriate to discussion of Polish food. “Should I get the gołąbki?”

Gołąbki, if you don’t know, is stuffed cabbage, dense torpedoes of seasoned meat and rice wrapped in cabbage leaves and drowning in a rich tomato sauce. You might know it by its phonetic pronunciation, “go-lump-key.” It’s one of many home-cooked specialties on the menu at Babushka’s Kitchen, an unassuming but growing Polish food enterprise situated in Northfield, with new locations in Independence and Columbus.

Mom and I had lunch there on Saturday, a good day to visit, incidentally, as the restaurant has infamously limited hours (they close at 7:00 p.m. but are open until the late hour of 8:00 on Fridays for those of you who like to party at week’s end).

After a lengthy study of the menu – which includes such wonders as “The Warsaw,” which is a pork sandwich ON POTATO PANCAKES INSTEAD OF BREAD, chicken paprikash and, of course, smoked kielbasa – I ordered Grandma Olga’s Special: two potato and cheddar pierogi, grilled onions and sour cream with a choice of two sides. I chose mashed potatoes with pork gravy and chicken soup with homemade kluski noodles as my sides, which is a little like having beef Wellington with a side order of steak. Potatoes in the pierogi, potatoes next to the pierogi.

Babushka’s takeout menu proclaims: “REKINDLE YOUR MEMORIES AND REUNITE YOUR FAMILY.” They’re not kidding. Within moments of placing our order and sitting down at a table underneath the Polish flag, Mom started talking about her mother’s recipe for lady locks, a delicate pastry filled with cream that my grandmother used to shape around a set of forms she made herself from disposable pie plates. I asked if Mom still had the recipe. “No, I don’t, but Aunt Dolly might.” She picked up the phone and called her sister, who has not only the recipe, but also the original handmade forms my grandmother used. Memories, rekindled; family, reunited. Well, reunited with old disposable pie plates, anyway.

Why CLE, for me? Because of places like Babushka’s. If there’s one thing Cleveland does well (and we all know there’s more than just one thing), it’s Eastern European ethnic meals and the enveloping security the pleasure of such food brings. We ate a great deal of that comfort food on Saturday, then bought two sweet lady locks to polish off the Polish lunch. We left Babushka’s, drove about three miles down the road, then realized that it would be courteous of us to take some carryout back for Dad. (He is Italian, but that’s no reason to deny him pierogi.) So we turned around. And while we were back inside, Mom proceeded to order four dozen pierogies for Easter Sunday. There are six adults in my family. You do the math.

Babushka’s Kitchen is located at 9199 Olde Eight Road in Northfield Center. You can visit them at www.babushkafoods.com or call 330-468-0402. They also cater, and make a mean kolachky.

Why? Vermilion!

***Thanks to Kimi for guest blogging for Why CLE? while I’m on vacation!  I love finding out people’s unique answers to Why Cleveland?***

Hi everyone! I’m Kimi from A Slice of Kiwi. I’m guest blogging today here on Why CLE? When CLEgal asked for guest bloggers, I asked her if I could write about my beloved town of Vermilion and she obliged. Some of you may be wondering… ‘um, where?’

Vermilion resides on the line of Lorain and Erie counties. The Lorain portion of this city of approximately 11,000 is part of the Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor Statistical area so it is indeed ‘part’ of Cleveland!

Vermilion sits right on Lake Erie and the Vermilion River which results in a very busy recreational boater scene in the warm months. Many homes in town are summer homes and there is a tangible difference in the population and activity level of businesses between on and off season.

Vermilion is home to some really great attractions so here are my top five stops when you trek out here!

Brummer’s Homemade Chocolate – One of my favorite places in Vermilion. This chocolate and candy haven will make you feel like a kid again. Chocolate made right there for you to see with their family recipe in use for over 100 years. If chocolate isn’t your preference they stock a huge array of classic candies. In addition to all those goodies they have a unique gift selection.

Decidedly Different Coffee & Gifts – Another favorite of mine (see the theme yet?). When I first moved to Vermilion I thought my life of good coffee would come to an end. At the time the nearest Starbucks was 25 minutes away. Thank goodness for this little oasis. I can always count on a delicious latte from their friendly staff and I frequent it for my own supply of beloved Pirate’s Brew coffee. They also have a really great assortment of gifts which saves me a trip to the mall on many occasions!

Inland Seas Maritime Museum and Main Street Beach – I feel very lucky to route my regular walks and runs up to Main Street Beach and stop to take in the beauty of Lake Erie. For someone who grew up with a fear of water, living in Vermilion has been my cure. You can walk around the beach and up and around the Vermilion Lighthouse and the Maritime Museum and take in the splendor that is the north shore!

Main Street Soda Grill – after you finish your walk around the beach, lighthouse and museum get a cozy booth or bar seat at the Main Street Soda Grill. It’ll be the best burger and cheese fries you’ve had in a long time! Be sure to get your favorite ‘shake, malt or phosphate drink too! They were even named the Best Shake Shop by Ohio Magazine.

Chez Francios / Touché Martini Bar – Chez’s is the usually recognized place people associate with Vermilion. It’s no wonder why. Their food and atmosphere is divine and work the cost. You can drive your boat right up as it sits on the quaint Vermilion River overlooking the gorgeous lagoons. Top rated food, great staff and winos will be impressed with their wine list. My favorite piece of this Vermilion gem is the upstairs wine and martini bar aptly named Touché. Visit this upstairs joint for a little less money spent and formality required.  ***CLEgal note: check out the guest post I did for Hungry in Cleveland on Chez Francois!***

There is so much more a day trip to Vermilion can offer, but you’ll have to see for yourself! Hope to see you around this summer and stop by A Slice of Kiwi to say hello anytime! Thanks CLEgal for letting me guest blog!

Why? Tremont!

***Thanks to Stephanie for guest blogging for Why CLE? while I’m on vacation!  I love finding out people’s unique answers to Why Cleveland?***

Hi CLEers!  It’s Stephanie from Hungry in Cleveland!  While CLEgal and CLEguy are enjoying the warm sunny beaches of Jamaica, I am here along the gorgeous shore of Lake Erie enjoying our crazy Cleveland weather and getting ready for my favorite day in Cleveland, OPENING DAY on Friday!!  Go Tribe! When CLEgal asked me to do a guest post, I wanted to do something that would be a great blend of both of our blogs.  I decided to focus on my favorite food neighborhood in Cleveland which was a very hard decision for me to make.  While Ohio City is home to the West Side Market and some great bars and restaurants (Great Lakes Brewing Company, Momocho, Bar Cento/Bier Markt to name a few), and Little Italy is filled with tradition, charm, and some of the best Italian food in CLE, my go to food neighborhood would have be Tremont.



Tremont has something to please every palate, atmosphere, and occasion you are looking for.  From a dressed up night out with your significant other to a laid back night with your friends, head over to this historic neighborhood tucked between the Flats and Ohio City.  From Italian to Asian to Contemporary American cuisine, the restaurants of Tremont have something for everyone.  If you are looking to enjoy a romantic night out, check out Lago or Fahrenheit.  The ambiance and menus at both will set the mood for a perfect evening with that special someone.  Dante and Parallax are two of my go to destinations for good seafood and sushi.  If you are feeling a bit exotic, check out Ty Fun, Bac, or Istanbul Grille for favorite flavors of the East.  Nothing beats a night out with the girls in Tremont starting with dinner at Lolita and continuing on for martinis at 806.

For something a bit more casual, check out Taco Tuesdays at Lincoln Park Pub.  What can be more fun then ordering a taco (beef, bean, or combo) with morning after sauce while enjoying a good craftbeer?  Edison’s Pizza would rank on my Top Five pizza places in Cleveland.  Sokolowski’s University Inn takes Cleveland food back to it’s ethnic roots with the best pierogi and Polish favorites you will ever eat.  ***CLEgal note: Check out my guest post on Sokolowski’s on Cleveland Food and Brews*** Both Grumpy’s and Lucky’s are hot spots for a weekend brunch.  If you are looking for good food and good drinks, head to the South Side.  For the sweet tooth, check out Lilly Handmade Chocolates for the most unique and delicious truffles you will ever eat, A Cookie and a Cupcake, or Tremont Scoops.

Beer lovers will be delighted with the offerings of the Tremont Tap House while Lava Lounge offers chic surroundings to enjoy cocktails with friends.  In my opinion, there is no other place in the summer to enjoy drinks with friends then the patio at The Treehouse.

Festivals also highlight summers in Tremont.  To enjoy a little of all the restaurants in the neighborhood, check out Taste of Tremont in July.  Alefest at Lincoln Park is another fun way to spend a summer afternoon in Tremont.  Just recently, the first C-Town Chowdown brought Cleveland food trucks to Lincoln Park to allow hungry Clevelanders to sample their tasty menus.  The Tremont Farmers Market allows local farmers and artisans to sell their products to the community providing a link between the grower and the consumer.  There are still old favorites I have yet to try and always seems to be someplace new.  To truly experience Tremont for yourself, you must spend a day there.  Trust me, you will be back.

Until next time…follow your heart, fulfill your hunger!