TASTE: FOOD and WINE NEWS

Cleveland dining news, reviews, recipes and more

Brewer opening Fat Heads saloon in North Olmsted

by Scott Stephens/Plain Dealer Reporter

Tuesday January 06, 2009, 10:50 PM

One of Ohio's best and most innovative beer makers will soon be opening his own brewpub.

Brewer Matt Cole filled the walls of the Rocky River Brewing Co. with banners noting his many awards during his 11 years there. Now he's taking his magic touch to North Olmsted, where his Fat Heads Brewery & Saloon will open in mid-January.

The new place, in the former Danny Boy Farm Market at 24579 Lorain Road, will mark the first franchise of Fat Heads, for years Pittsburgh's best beer bar.

Continue reading "Brewer opening Fat Heads saloon in North Olmsted" »

The perfect month for gathering around the fondue pot

by ">Joe Crea/Plain Dealer Food and Restaurants Editor

Tuesday January 06, 2009, 10:01 PM

"Holiday withdrawal" can be tough to shake. Sure, you may grow weary from weeks of gatherings and entertaining -- but sometimes you yearn for the warmth and companionship of close friends and family. Especially as the dreary months of winter darken the sky and spirits.

So how about a bit of simple bon homie? bonhomie? Invite a few close friends for an evening of laughter, and maybe a few hands of cards, around the fondue pot. It's an easy and reasonably affordable way to satisfy appetites and share an intimate yet casual meal.

Here are four recipes from author Peggy Fallon's new book, "Great Party Fondues" (Wiley, 2008). The comments that follow are excerpted from Fallon's book.

Continue reading "The perfect month for gathering around the fondue pot" »

A food co-op and Martha Stewart kudos: Five Things to Chew On This Week

by Debbi Snook/Plain Dealer Reporter

Tuesday January 06, 2009, 9:11 PM

1. There's a new CSA in town, otherwise known as Community Supported Agriculture program. Sign up, pay in advance, and during the growing season you get weekly deliveries of organic or conventional farm-fresh food. The newest sponsor: Cleveland Food Co-op (11702 Euclid Ave.; 216-408-7719). Stop in to meet growers from Geauga Family Farms, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, and 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24.

2. Looking for some quick and dependable recipes on TV? Tune in to the fifth season of Martha Stewart's "Everyday Food" at noon Saturdays on WVIZ Channel 25. Studded with tips for saving time and ways to please kids and adults, the series features five cooks, none as cute as Rachael Ray but all as hauntingly plain-spoken as Martha. Kudos to the hot and cold, make-ahead kid snacks this week and the herb-crusted snapper next week.

3. Hankering for some local beef? Fresh Fork Market, a group that connects local farms with local restaurants, is offering public sales of Ohio-grown natural and grass-fed ground beef, steaks and roasts from its new offices at 775 Starkweather Ave. (near Professor Street) in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood. Order in advance at 330-421-0730 or online at www.myfreshfork.com.

Continue reading "A food co-op and Martha Stewart kudos: Five Things to Chew On This Week" »

Sweet! Toffee bars bake up fast and easy: Take Five

by Plain Dealer staff

Tuesday January 06, 2009, 8:00 PM

Funny how your sweet tooth manages to trail you into the new year. This easy combination of graham crackers and a buttery topping, briefly baked, may be just enough to satisfy your craving without a whole lot of effort.

Toffee Graham Cracker Bars
Makes 6 servings
20 graham crackers (individual squares), regular or chocolate
1½ sticks butter (6 ounces)
¾ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup chopped pecans

Preliminaries: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a jelly roll pan (10-by-15-inches) with foil; coat lightly with cooking spray.

Procedure: Arrange graham crackers in the pan in a single layer. Combine butter and sugar in a heavy medium-size saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Boil for 2 minutes; stir in vanilla and pecans. Pour hot mixture over crackers; spread evenly. Bake 10 minutes. Remove at once from pan to a flat surface to cool.

Variation: After you've spread topping over the crackers, scatter ½ to ¾ cup chocolate chips over the crackers, then bake as directed.

Presentation: When cool, break into smaller pieces.

Source: Adapted recipe from www.southernfood.about.com.

The perfect month for gathering around the fondue pot

by ">Joe Crea/Food and Restaurants Editor

Tuesday January 06, 2009, 3:01 PM

"Holiday withdrawal" can be tough to shake. Sure, you may grow weary from weeks of gatherings and entertaining -- but sometimes you yearn for the warmth and companionship of close friends and family. Especially as the dreary months of winter darken the sky and spirits.

So how about a bit of simple bon homie? bonhomie? Invite a few close friends for an evening of laughter, and maybe a few hands of cards, around the fondue pot. It's an easy and reasonably affordable way to satisfy appetites and share an intimate yet casual meal.

Here are four recipes from author Peggy Fallon's new book, "Great Party Fondues" (Wiley, 2008). The comments that follow are excerpted from Fallon's book.

Continue reading "The perfect month for gathering around the fondue pot" »

Italian, Australian wines on the agenda among Northeast Ohio tastings, food events

by Plain Dealer staff

Tuesday January 06, 2009, 1:03 PM

Taste of Australia. Royal Park Fine Wines, 17608 Pearl Road, Strongsville, offers an Australian wine tasting from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. Cost: $10. Call 440-878-8463.

Italian wine tasting. West Side Market Cafe, 1979 West 25th St., Cleveland, presents an Italian food and wine tasting. Chef Matthew Pells will prepare several dishes from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14. Cost: $35. Call 216-579-6800.

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CULINARY CALENDAR

Guilt-free gourmet. So your New Year's resolution, yet again, is to eat healthfully, right? The Loretta Paganini School of Cooking offers a chance to make good on your goal by signing up for a class that gives simple, quick and nutritious ways to eat well. It's at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16. The menu includes Mushroom Salmon Hamburger With Roasted Vegetable Fries, Ribollita Soup with Cannellini Beans and Spicy Enchiladas With Corn Salsa. The school is at 8613 Mayfield Road, Chesterland. Cost: $45. Registration required. Call 440-729-1110.

Tart Cleebourg Pinot Blanc goes well with fish, cheeses

by Donald Rosenberg/Plain Dealer Reporter

Tuesday January 06, 2009, 10:45 AM

The bottle: Cleebourg Pinot Blanc Auxerrois 2006.

Price: $13.06.

Varietal: Auxerrois, a cousin of pinot blanc.

Where it's from: France's Alsace region, north of Strasbourg, where Cave de Cleebourg focuses on gewurztraminer, muscat, pinot blanc, pinot gris, pinot noir, riesling and sylvaner.

Where we found it: Heinen's in Shaker Heights.

Tasting notes: Light gold in color, the wine has floral and citrus elements on the nose. Apple flavors begin round and go nicely tart, ending in a long finish. It's an intriguing and delectable sipper.

Pairings: Fish, poultry, salads, soups and appetizers. Its tart qualities make it an ideal match both for creamy and robust cheeses.

Each week, Donald Rosenberg highlights a moderately priced wine well worth trying. Listed retail prices are based on state of Ohio minimums; you might pay more.