The Cleveland-Philly Connection

There are those among us who think nothing of driving 10 hours for 10 courses — you know who you are — but most of us tend to dine closer to home. On Thursday, March 3, Team Sawyer shortens the distance between Cleveland and Philadelphia by hosting Jeff Michaud, chef/partner at Osteria and one of that city’s finest young culinary talents, at the Greenhouse Tavern. Instead of traveling east for 400 plus miles to taste his food, all you have to do is get yourself downtown to East 4th Street.


Michaud is preparing an Italian inflected pasta-centric tasting menu that’s paired up, plate for plate, with Jonathon Sawyer’s distinctive French-inspired, locally flavored fare. My sneak peak at the particulars for the family-style, six-course feast made for a seriously mouth-watering read: Ohio chevre salad/shrimp with guanciale and zolfini bean ragout; salt roasted sea bream with sauce menuiere/capon ravioli alla Genovese; pan braised quail/ rabbit porchetta. The extraordinary beverages — wine, beer, cocktails, grappa, and cheeses — some making their Ohio debut straight from Michaud’s own affinage (aging cooler) are alone worth the $97 per person price.

Chefs from different restaurants and different cities joining forces to create one-of-a-kind eating experiences has become something of a trend, here and around the country. I posted a piece last July about what I called a staycation dinner at Moxie featuring a Turkish chef from NYC.

This is quite a match-up. The James Beard Foundation named Michaud “Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic region” in 2010. Last week, Sawyer, already crowned by Food & Wine Magazine, was among the semifinalists for Beard’s “Rising Star Chef of the Year” award. With a duo like that there’s no doubt it will be a meal and night to remember, and one that provides conversational fodder for a long time.

I’ll be there. Forks lift off at 7 p.m. Reservations and prepayment required.

Pre-order for Scott Raab's LeBron Book Begins, Title Announced

Veteran Esquire writer and Cleveland native Scott Raab (left) certainly has a catchy title for his upcoming book about LeBron James. The Whore of Akron: One Man's Search for the Soul of LeBron James was made available for pre-order at Amazon.com today.

Raab announced the name of his book on Sirius/XM's Mad Dog Radio following the Cavaliers' Feb. 11 win over the Los Angeles Clippers to snap the team's 26-game losing streak. We wondered at the time if Raab was just having fun, but it appears the title is real.

The book will be released Nov. 15, 2011 and is available for $17.15, according to Amazon's pre-order page. If you want to keep up with Raab's constant antagonizing of LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the meantime, follow him on Twitter at @Scott_Raab.

Time to Eat

Two little words never fail to get our stomachs growling: Restaurant Week. Why? First, it means an entire week of discount dining at some of the best area restaurants. Second, it’s the perfect excuse to visit that eatery you’ve been dying to try (or maybe just sample something new at your favorite downtown spot).

Starting today through Sunday, Feb. 27, the fourth annual Downtown Cleveland Restaurant week is in full swing with more than 40 participating Cleveland restaurants including The Greenhouse Tavern, Chinato, Crop, Mallorca and XO. Deals range from $15 lunch specials and $30, three-course, prix fixe dinners. Depending on the restaurant, deals may apply to the cost per one diner or two diners. So there's a plan to fit any budget. For a full list of participating restaurants and menus, visit the Downtown Cleveland Alliance here.

And as if our appetites weren’t whet enough, new this year are featured tasting and education events at different restaurants throughout the week. Be one of the first 20 table seated at Bricco tonight, and you’ll receive a complimentary copy of The History of PlayhouseSquare, or head to the Corner Alley from 4 to 6 p.m. for a vodka tasting at the Martini Bar. There is also a sake tasting, champagne special, and a dessert and martini buffet. For full details, check out the event listing here.

If you’re one of those diners that avoids the downtown rush because you hate to pay for parking, you’ve got no excuse this week. Several lots are offering $2 parking after 5 p.m. to Restaurant Week diners. Just be sure to print your parking voucher off the DCA website.

Rockin' It at Rockefeller's

A new Cleveland Heights restaurant has just opened in what just might be the grandest space this side of the Cuyahoga. It’s called Rockefeller’s, in honor of the building’s name and the property’s original owners and developers. The sprawling second floor room was designed to look like the hall of a medieval castle, and much of that remains: dramatic arches, a huge stone hearth, iron chandeliers, and coffered ceiling with hand painted beams.

Though it was most recently an event center, I used to go there to make deposits and withdrawals. Signs that it was once a bank are still in evidence: the vault door opens into the kitchen and a raised seating area is set off by the half wall and grill work that delineated the tellers’ booths.

Together all these unusual architectural details create a truly unique backdrop for eating, drinking and socializing. Turn left at the top of the stairs and you’re in a spacious dining area. Go right for a lounge outfitted with couches, banquettes, hi-top tables and a bar.

Owner Mike Adams, a lawyer by training, is manager and schmoozer in chief. Jill Vedaa, a talented young chef I’ve been following since I discovered her in 2006 at Saucy Bistro, is in charge of everything related to food and beverages. I am so excited to see what she’ll do now that she has a chance to run the show.

photos courtesy of Cleveland Memory collection

I’ve only had the opportunity to try selections from the lounge side menu, and I liked every bite and sip I sampled. The husband and I shared bruschetta topped with roasted squash, fried sage, and shaved parmesan. It’s a winning combo and taste was great-my only gripe was that the toppings fell off in the trip from plate to mouth- maybe those cubes of squash should be smashed into a spread. Homemade ketchup made an order of sea-salted fries disappear fast. We gave the ribeye carpaccio with blue cheese wasabi cream and a scoop potato salad the same treatment. But best of all was a bowl of mussels and chick peas in tomato fennel broth, served with crostini made from Stone Oven’s olive bread. I’d like to mention the excellent glass of malbec I had and the two unusual microbrews my partner downed, but we were having such a good time that I neglected to note down the requisite info- a serious professional lapse for which I apologize. But let it suffice to say that there are some great choices on the beer and wine lists.

The regular menu promises adventuresome Latin/Asian inspired fare, suitable for grazing or full on feasting; duck confit taquitos with ancho lime cream; shrimp fritters with sriracha tartar; short ribs chimichurri; cumin crusted pork chop; hanger steakand malanga mash.

Adams and Vedaa what Rockefeller’s to be the kind of a place come often and regularly, early and late. I think they’ve got all the right ingredients to pull it off. I know I want to head back there soon and I predict other’s will feel the same after a first visit. No website yet. But here’s what you need to know: 3099 Mayfield Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-321-0477. Tuesday-Saturday dinner only. Tuesday-Thursday dining room 4-10 PM, lounge till 11, Friday and Saturday dinning room till 11 and lounge till 12.

Joe Tait bobblehead for first 5,000 Monster fans

The good people over at the Lake Erie Monsters gave us a preview of the Joe Tait bobblehead they'll be handing out to the first 5,000 fans through the gates Saturday night when the Grand Rapid Griffons come to town for "Cavs Night" at The Q. (Joe has since taken his rightful place alongside the bobbleheads of George Washington, Brad Daugherty and a Jawa on my filing cabinet).

There will also be a free pregame autograph session with the Cavaliers' Daniel Gibson, Manny Harris and Christian Eyenga. FoxSports Ohio play-by-play man Fred McLeod and analyst Austin Carr (read our February 2011 "Life Lessons" with him here) will also be on hand to greet guests and sign autographs. Plus, there will be appearances by Moondog, the Cavalier Girls, the Scream Team and more. Tickets start at $10 and are available at lakeeriemonsters.com or any northern Ohio Discount Drug Mart location.

Heaven's Rain cast attends Solon Cinemas film screening

Solon Cinemas played host to several Hollywood actors this past Tuesday during a screening of the new film Heaven’s Rain. Based on the true story, the film recounts the story of Brooks and Leslie Douglass, whose lives were irrevocably changed one evening 30 years ago when their parents were killed by drifters Steven Hatch and Glen Ake in a home robbery.

“The responsibility to get it right kind of falls heavy on your shoulders,” explains actor Mike Vogel, who played Brooks. “I couldn’t have done it if he himself [Brooks] hadn’t sort of opened up Pandora’s Box.”

A Philly native, Vogel came on the scene several years ago with a role in the 2003 reboot of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. These days his career is progressing nicely, bringing him roles in Cloverfield, as well as the awards-season darling Blue Valentine. But Vogel gained more than just experience working with Brooks.

“Brooks has also become a close friend and a brother,” Vogel says. “I hope I did him proud, and I hope that the message comes through in the story. Brooks is a remarkable guy. … He’s been able to turn the story on its head and really use the adversity to accomplish change.”

The idea of the movie first took shape when Brooks decided to explore his long-held passion for film and moved to L.A. After meeting writer and director Paul Brown in a screenwriting class, Brooks decided he wanted to try to write about his family’s story.

“I never thought I would write this story, but it was actually Paul that talked me into it,” Brooks explains. After describing the tale to Brown in class, Brown asked where the story came from and was floored to find it was a true story.

“I said, wait a minute, this is a real story?” Brown remembers. Though it was painful for Brooks, the men worked together to craft a screenplay based on the Douglass’ life.

Brooks even raised $2 million in order to finance filming. “All this energy was created around a story that had real emotional power,” he says.

For more information on the film and to request a screening in your area, visit www.heavensrainmovie.com

Make a Date with a Cold Fish

The title of this post reads like some seriously bad advice, especially this month when thoughts — and ads — turn to romance and hanky panky. But trust me and read on. I wouldn’t steer you wrong.

Zack Bruell and his team at Parallax in Tremont are holding their first ever sushi and wine class. It’s a three-part series that begins Feb 21. On consecutive Monday nights, from 6-8 p.m., participants learn the basics of wrapping and rolling vinegared rice with slices of raw tuna, salmon, eel and octopus. Carmen Paponetti, the restaurant’s sushi chef will lead the hands-on sessions, and everyone eats their own creations. Drinking is also involved. General manager and certified sommelier Damir Terzic offers pairing guidance and his pours will focus on new world wines. Feb. 21 is for sparkling wines, Feb. 28 features whites and March 7 is all about the reds.

$135 per person (plus tax and gratuities) gets you the whole shebang — three evenings out with food, wine and guides. Reservations are required and space is limited. 216-583-9999. Could be a nice thing to do with someone you love, (assuming they aren't squeamish about uncooked seafood), or an opportunity to acquire some new skills for future wooing.