13 Egg-cellent Easter Brunches

Whether your youngsters are hopping out of their seats to meet the Easter Bunny or you're looking for a swanky spot to get you out of the kitchen and out on the town, we have a Easter brunch for you.

Easter brunch at The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland

DOWNTOWN

The Ritz Carlton
1515 W Third St, Cleveland; 216-623-1300; ritzcarlton.com
Add a touch of glam to your Easter celebration with the Easter Ballroom Brunch at the Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland. With seven stations including fine cuisine ranging from sushi to wild mushroom pasta and Easter-themed desserts such as Coconut Bunny Tails, foodies and kiddies alike will leave satisfied.

Nautica Queen
1153 Main Ave., Cleveland; 216-696-8888; nauticaqueen.com, 1-3:30 p.m.
Set sail with the Easter Bunny for a family cruise and brunch. The Nautica Queen’s first cruise of 2016 will take you under historic bridges and along the city skyline. Depart at 1p.m. and enjoy a special Easter meal topped off with unlimited coffee and tea.

Table 45
9801 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland; 216-707-4160; tbl45.com
Eat your fill into an ocean trance to the sounds of live Caribbean music. There will be children’s face-painting  and breakfast drinks, including Champagne cocktails and bloody marys, for adults.

Cleveland Chop
824 W St Clair Ave., Cleveland; 216-696-2467; clevelandchop.com; 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; $30 for adults and $12 for children ages 5-12, 4 and under free. 
If you’re looking for sugar and spice on your Easter morning, Cleveland Chop is the place to be. Made-to-order omelettes, a carving station and freshly baked cinnamon rolls add variety to your plate. While drinks are not included, there are plenty of inventive options to tempt us such as the house-infused chipotle bloody mary.

Urban Farmer
1325 E. Sixth St., Cleveland; 216-771-7707; urbanfarmercleveland.com; 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; $48, for adults, $20 for children under 10.
Local favorites await you and your family with Urban Farmer’s impressive spread. Action stations include an omelette and a carving station, and be sure to visit the deviled egg bar. Breakfast breads and sausages are made in house, and your youngster won’t want to miss the kids' buffet featuring mini grilled cheese and other fun-sized bites.


EAST

The Lodge at Geneva on the Lake
4888 N. Broadway (state Route 534) Geneva-on-the-Lake; 440-415-1546; thelodgeatgeneva.com; 10:00 am-3:00 pm.
Hop over to the Lodge Easter morning and enjoy one of three Easter egg hunts at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., or 2 p.m. Treats and prizes will be awarded alongside a delicious spread of springtime brunch foods.

Valenti’s Ristorante
3365 Richmond Road, Suite 130, Beachwood 216-464-4665; valentisitalian.com, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; $39.95 for adults, $15.95 for children under 12, under 5 free
Add some Italian flavor to your holiday with Valenti's antipasti created by Milo Valenti himself. This family-friendly setting will offer both omelet and carving stations. Don't fill up on the main course though. With bread pudding, cakes and cookies, you'll want to save room for dessert.

Forest Hill Kitchen
3099 Mayfield Road, Cleveland Heights; 216-505-1345; foresthillkitchen.com; 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
With banquet-style seating, an a la carte menu, and a bloody mary bar, this pop-up Easter brunch in the old Rockefeller's space is difficult to beat. Try the popular Orange Cardamom French Toast ($10), made with challah bread and creme chantilly. While there is no children’s menu, don’t despair — the chefs will happily prepare a smaller portion of any dish for your youngster.


WEST

Deagan’s Kitchen & Bar:
14810 Detroit Ave., Lakewood; 216-767-5775; deagans.com; 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
If you need to take a break from binging on Peeps but still want something to satisfy your sweet tooth, try Deagan's blueberry waffles spread with lemon curd and lavender meringue. There's savory here too such as the white asparagus bisque or the beet and hamachi salad.

100th Bomb Group
20920 Brookpark Road, Cleveland; 216-267-1010; 100thbgrestaurant.com; 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Toast the holiday with the Champagne buffet and comforting breakfast foods as you and your family visit the Easter Bunny. Brunch is served until 2:30 p.m., but the feast will continue through the afternoon featuring prime rib, ham, chilled seafood, sushi rolls and more.

Luxe Kitchen & Lounge
6605 Detroit Ave., Cleveland; 216-920-0600; luxecleveland.com 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
If you’re over all the pastel bunnies and  egg-shaped candies, escape to Luxe for a sophisticated brunch. Try the poached eggs ($15) with crab, potato cakes, cheddar and herbed hollandaise. Fans of ricotta you want to miss the lemon ricotta pancakes ($12) or the house-made ricotta gnocchi with Gorgonzola cream sauce ($21).


SOUTH

The Taverne on Richfield
3960 Broadview Road, Richfield; 330-659-0610; taverneofrichfield.com; 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $26.99 adults, $13.99 children under 8, children under 2 free. 
Get your fill of breakfast items such as the homemade pastries with your choice of toppings including bourbon walnut syrup or hearty lunch items including the veggie lasagna Alfredo at Taverne of Richfield’s diverse Prime Rib & Brunch Easter Buffet. A maple and brown sugar ham awaits you at the carving station and kids can finish up with dirt cups.

111 Bistro
2736 Medina Road, Medina; 330-952-1122; 111bistro.com; seating 10 am, noon, 2 p.m. $26 adults, $7 for children 10 and under. 
Feast on carved sirloin roast with spinach and artichoke risotto, or indulge your taste buds with petite four desserts from Dancing Desserts. Kids can munch on anything from white mac n’ cheese to chicken fingers and fries.

Additional reporting by Madeline Sweeney

The Wait for Michael Symon's Mabel's BBQ Continues

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've likely been part of the crowds trudging past the still-shuttered former La Strada storefront on East Fourth Street sniffing the air for a hint of barbecue.

Cleveland sweetheart chef Michael Symon claimed the empty restaurant next to Lola Bistro last year, promising to turn it into the go-to spot for Cleveland-style barbecue (and if that's not enough to warm your belly, you might like to know it's named for his late pooch, Mabel, a bullmastiff).

We reported in our July issue feature on Symon by managing editor Kim Schneider that Mabel's "coming soon" sign would be replaced with "now open" by the end of summer. In a recent press release, Symon confirmed the long-anticipated location will open its doors by fall.

According to Symon, who is famed for his love of all things four-legged, barbecue has its own regional flair, meaning brisket from Texas isn't quite like the mutton in Kentucky or the pulled pork sandwiches in North Carolina. His goal is to put Cleveland on the map, drawing out our local preferences for applewood smoke, ballpark mustard and maple syrup.

And we've been hearing about the scrumptious goodies to come ever since, but repeated delays have foiled our plans for smoked meats slathered in sauce, burnt ends and beans, trays toppling with brisket.

It's been a long wait, but we'll go to great lengths for Symon's signature carnivorous cuisine.

Five Stars and Full Stomachs

Talk about a gut-buster.

This weekend saw the year's biggest influx in culinary talent with the annual Five Star Sensation food and wine celebration on Saturday, June 27, held in three giant tents on the grounds of Tri-C Eastern Campus. A benefit for the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center (raising more than $2.3 million), this is perhaps the most exciting event for attendees since its inception in 1987, and among the busiest for restaurateurs. 

Guests waited as long as an hour to try
Symon's famous beef-cheek pierogies.

Hosted this year by Cleveland sweetheart Michael Symon (Lola), the event always draws lots of "oooohs" and "mmmms." But it's difficult to appreciate just how much work goes on behind the tents.

"There were [more than] 2,000 tickets sold," said Karen Small, chef and owner of the Flying Fig in Ohio City, who served burrata with caponata and garlic and jambon beurre (a delightfully rustic French ham sandwich). "We probably made too much."

About 2,300 people attended the 2015 Five Star Sensation.

Behind the smiles and crisp white chef jackets were rows upon rows of food warmers, portable ovens, stovetops and prep tables stacked with pans of every shape and size, and each chef came with an entourage to help grill, sauce, assemble and serve each meticulous plate.

Matthew Mytro and Paul Minnillo of Flour in Moreland Hills echoed Small's sentiments. Quickly, Mytro said over his shoulder, "It's been so busy. There are just so many people," as he continued to hand out his crispy-coated eggplant and zucchini meatballs.

Chef Douglas Katz's spring pea panna cotta
with smoked salmon, radish and pea tendrils

The star-studded event featured many of Cleveland's heavy-hitters — such as Rocco Whalen, Eric Williams, Douglas Katz and Jonathon Sawyer — but the event drew nearly 50 chefs in total, from Honolulu to Dallas to Boston, not to mention another three dozen vintners and importers of wine, Champagne and port. Know your stuff? Get ready for some name-dropping:

Traci Des Jardins (Jardiniere, San Francisco), Marc Forgione (American Cut, New York), Paul Kahan (The Publican, Chicago), Hubert Keller (Fleur by Hubert Keller, Las Vegas), Ken Oringer (Toro, Boston), Charles Pan (The Slanted Door, San Francisco), Aaron Sanchez (Paloma, Stamford, Connecticut), Francois Payard (Payard Patisserie & Bistro, New York), Daniel Skurnick (Buddakan, New York). The list goes on.

We're used to seeing the headliners milling about, directing their teams from afar, mingling with fellow chefs and trying some of the other dishes of the evening. Not so this night.

As the crowds thinned and the cook tents began packing up, Small took off her apron and looked around at all the tastes she'd missed. 

"The Slanted Door is probably one of my favorite places in the world, and I've traveled a lot," said Small, a little wistfully.

Hop to It: Easter Meals to Try

Step away from the stove. You deserve a holiday off kitchen duty. So taste something new at one of these culinary Easter meals that put a new twist on the standard ham and green beans fare.

DOWNTOWN

1890 Restaurant
420 Superior Ave., East, Cleveland, cleveland.hyatt.com/en/hotel/dining/1890restaurant.html, 216-776-4576,  $35, children under 12 $15, 10 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Here, you can toast Easter Sunday with a glass of Champagne. Partake in the pecan- and maple-glazed smoked ham carving station, and save room for a dessert buffet. But if you’re cutting back on calories, try the farmers market options including Amish cheese boards. Reserve your seat online or call ahead.

InterContinental Hotel Cleveland

North Coast Cafe and Table 45, 9801 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland, 216-707-4045, hotelsclevelandclinic.com, tbl45.com, $50, children 6-10 $21, 11 a.m. -3 p.m.
A complimentary children’s egg hunt and mimosas make this brunch a no-brainer. Chefs Klaus Happel and Donna Chriszt offer a twists on favorite world cuisine dishes. Savor your gourmet brunch to the sounds of the Cleveland Institute of Music jazz trio.

Pickwick & Frolic
2035 E. Fourth St., Cleveland 216-241-7425 pickwickandfrolic.com/2015/03/easter-brunch-2, $34.95, children 3 and under free, 10:3 0a.m.-4 p.m.
With the Easter bunny hopping over to East Fourth Street for photo ops, your kiddies will love this one. Plus the more than 50 artfully prepared dishes will please parents too.

Sans Souci
24 Public Square, Cleveland, 216-902-4095, sanssoucicleveland.com, 6 -10 a.m. breakfast buffet, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. full buffet
Moms, chef Michael Harp has got this one covered. An upscale carving station offers smoked espresso-crusted leg of lamb with quinoa and kale salad, and strawberry and black pepper nectar. Desserts include a crème brulee cheesecake and triple chocolate mousse. Reservations suggested.

The Spread Buffet
100 Public Square Cleveland, 216-297-4777, caesars.com/horseshoe-cleveland/restaurants/the-spread-buffet, Total Rewards members $29.99, non-member, $31.99, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Go global with cultural dishes from Italian and Asian stations that will make you feel like your taste buds hit the jackpot. There’s no need to make tough choices here; so sample it all from corned beef hash to Mongolian beef to spring vegetable risotto.

Urban Farmer
1325 E. Sixth St., Cleveland 216-771-7707, urbanfarmercleveland.com/happenings, $46, children under 12 $19, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
The focus here is farm fresh and build your own. Try organic carved meats and omelets or get creative at the waffle bar or eggs Benedict bar. Wash it all down a concoction from the bloody mary bar. Reservations recommended.

WEST

100th Bomb Group
20920 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, 216-267-1010, 100thbgrestaurant.com, $40.95, $19.95, 9:30 a.m -4:30 p.m.
Take in historic memorabilia along with a view of the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport runway while sipping Champagne and indulging in gourmet delights from Easter kielbasa to seafood Norwegian pasta. The Easter bunny is expected to make an appearance. 

EAST

Flour
34205 Chagrin Blvd., Moreland Hills, 216-464-3700, flourrestaurant.com, $11-16, 10:30a.m. -3 p.m.
Bottomless mimosas will help deal with the inevitable family drama while a la carte eggs Benedict, shrimp and grits, and breakfast paninis will satisfy your tummy.

Moxie
3355 Richmond Road, Beachwood, 216-831-5599, moxietherestaurant.com, $34.50, children 4-12, $17.50, children 3 and under are free, 10:30a.m. -2:30p.m.
Traditional dishes get elevated here with options such as chef-carved ginger- and brown sugar-glazed ham, chef-carved black pepper- and herb roasted-prime rib with au jus and horseradish, and creme fraiche. Carrot cake and lemon pound cake with mixed berry compote make for a sweet ending.

Valenti’s Ristorante 
3365 Richmond Road, Suite 130, 216-464-4665, visitbeachwoodohio.com/events/valentis-ristorante-easter-brunch, $32.50, children 4-12 $16, 11:30 a.m.- 6 p.m., last seating at 4:45p.m. 
Taste unique culinary offerings such as blueberry sausage along with options from the carving station and antipasti station. Plus, if you are in the mood for Italian, chicken picatta is on the menu.


SOUTH

One Red Door

49 Village Way, Hudson, 330-342-3667, onereddoorhudson.com, 10 a.m. -3 p.m.
Lemon ricotta pancakes, breakfast pizza and house-made sausage provide a sweet and savory start to your holiday. The a la carte brunch goes beyond a.m. fare with pizzas, sandwiches and salads, but it also offers the most important element to a morning meal out: a make-your-own bloody mary bar.

Additional reporting by Aziza Doleh

Give a Little, Get a Lot

Donate to Veggie U between now and Dec. 23, and you'll be doing more than helping to keep the fourth-grade Earth-to-Table curriculum alive in Cleveland schools — you'll also have a chance to win more than $2,200 worth of gift cards to restaurants and shops around Northeast Ohio.

The promotional fundraiser, run by Cleveland Foodie blogger Michelle Venorsky, raised $3,820 for the nonprofit arm of the Culinary Vegetable Institute last year. These funds saved the program in Cleveland schools. Here's how it works: Just call 419-499-7500 and reference Cleveland Foodie while making a donation. For every $5 you donate to Veggie U between now and Dec. 23, you'll be entered to win (Venorksy will pick a winner at random on Dec. 23). Read more about the fundraiser and prizes on Cleveland Foodie here.

Not familiar with Veggie U and it's great cause? Read Cleveland Magazine's July story about Farmer Lee Jones, here. He's the inspiring man behind Veggie U, the Culinary Vegetable Institute the Chef's Garden, which provides veggies, micro greens and herbs to some of the world's best chefs.

So, what are you waiting for? Give a little to help kids learn how to make better food choices, and enter for a chance to eat great all year long.