A good week to be (locally) wined and dined!

This has been a flavor-intense week. If there is any wonder why I look like a 10-pound overweight Midwestern slob in Vegas at the pool next weekend, I will know why. Hot AND un-tanned. I will fit right in…

Don’t you hate when early Sunday afternoons feel as though it’s already prime time? I hope this weekend is not like that. After a delicious breakfast wrap at Waterstreet Grill, we packed to move. And by “we,” I mean, I’m not moving, but helping. Well, kinda… I’m “moving” some of my things to a new closet space. Anyway, what felt like hours was like one-and-a-half.

After spending a few trips logging mileage for future bike rides to Steelyard Commons, and packing up an apartment (and ahem, cheese for lunch), I/we/he craved sweetness (I am most definitely not sweet). Mitchell’s ice cream does it to me every time. And by “it,” I mean when I eat it, I want it again the next day (apparently I’m not the only one).  No matter which scooped concoction I eat, I add marshmallow creme. (Heaven!) I need to quickly get back to my sugar-free vanilla love before I break a bike axle with all that lingering winter hibernation weight. Oooh, doesn’t Winter Hibernation sound like the perfect ice cream creation? Mitchell’s, call me.

Monday Happy Hour was spent with a refreshing cucumber martini at Fairmount before heading to Tommy’s in Coventry for a little mix-up on the East Side. Must order: Spiked Homos for a starter. I also had the Donovan Falafel. Tommy’s is always a great meal. I did not have a root beer milkshake this trip. Oh, there will be another trip for lunch soon. Continuing on the Coventry 4-20 adventure (oh, the irony), we picked up our West African Taste Berry for Flavor Trippin at b-sides. While the event itself was very anti-climatic, it was something to be tried. The “Miracle Berry” (after being grossly chewed to a pulp) tricks the taste buds to think everything sour or salty is sweet. Let me tell you about taking a bite out of the yummiest green tomato… Ever. Like candy. (And even sour candies tasted like, well, nothing). The blackberries and strawberries were so deliciously sweet. I can’t even begin to describe what the salt & vinegar potato chips resembled. This is how adults “trip” for 4-20.

Earth Day was an excuse to rid the world of excess wines, apparently, as we scheduled an eco-friendly wine flight school at the Wine Bar Rocky River. The first, an Austrian white wine, Gruner Veltliner (2007) was a bit too sweet,(maybe because I began with a full glass of Clos La Chance before school. (Some things never change). I also could not have the first two courses (fish soup, then oysters). Giving the oysters to my date was strongly encouraged at the table.

The third pairing was pork tenderloin (which I thought was cooked perfectly) and a 2005 Jumilla (Spanish). I have never tasted or HEARD of Jumilla. We ordered two bottles. I absolutely loved how smooth and tasty this wine was. The courses were rounded out with a lamb kabob (very meh and dry) with a Dasche Zinfandel (also a great red). Dessert was a terrific dark chocolate panna cotta (infused with some sort of chili pepper) and a mediocre Syrah. I liked it for an “every day”, but nowhere near my favorites list of Syrah.

Most social peoples’ asses would be kicked by the time Thursday rolled in. Nope. I need to… eat (??) for Harvest for Hunger at Market Under Glass at Galleria. Probably the most interesting of charity events planning (let’s see… so we eat to raise money for those that cannot. Sure).  My favorite almost right out of the gate was the chicken liver with fois gras from L’Albatros (yes, I already know what it is). FAVE! We (my female date for the evening) shared shots of Slovenian brandy with an ethnic spirits gentlemen… from Parma (Ohio). Yes, we all laughed together at that after my asking where he was from. Many, many peach martinis courtesy of Absolut. The wines… surprisingly, I think I was “wined” out. I didn’t really like anything. That being said, I DID love the Grassroots Ale from Great Lakes Brewing Company. It is PERFECT for Spring drinking. And the guys who worked the Kahlua/Malibu Rum get gold stars for noticing we were very, very thirsty behind their table. They concocted some blueberry drink (no clue what was in it) and something with Kahlua mocha and Sprite that resembled an old chocolate phosphate. So delicious.

Few food favorites: the taquito station courtesy of Marigold Catering (Hello again, Greg!), the veal and chorizo-stuffed banana pepper from Cafe’ Sausalito (HUGE portion sizes — yes! We love this!), the super fantastic fudge cake from the girls at Cream-n-Sugar Bakery on Noble Road, Mike Polensik shilling out potato cabbage soup from Muldoon’s (strange public endorsement and too late in the food tour for such a hearty Irish soup), .and the risotto dish with goat cheese from the Wyndham (I believe) was also a favorite. The food dragged me down at a certain point. It was like meat sweats…

Two trends I noticed: restaurants are LOVING apps with beets (not a fan) and goat cheese (mouth orgasm).  Even the Orlando bread company’s goat cheese on its bread with honey… simply divine intervention of my taste buds! Secondly, Cleveland people are OBSESSED with the Melting Pot! Poor Potpourri (in Mentor) was there too, and I felt as though they just blended in with all the excess napkins and forks. The Pot’s line was insanity, and if you have ever attempted to wait for a table at one of their restaurants, you know why. And? AND! They are so grossly expensive for a place where you have to cook your own food (no chefs even on staff!). Just saying. If I’m spending $200 on a meal, I’m going to make sure it’s local.

All that being said, each person staffed at the individual restaurant’s tables was AWESOME for entertaining me in all my “are you sure there is no fish in this?” repeating query. Yes, even you, Mr. Stancato. And I now know that they DO sell sauces without anchovies. Good to know that I just need to stay away from the marinara…

More drinking contributions for charity tonight at Blind Pig for all those cute little fuzzies at the animal shelter.

Then, another Greenhouse Tavern Dinner with people that are not my parents, but somebody else’s… Already will be my fourth time there. Love. This. Place.

Brunch, picnic and… perhaps bikes on Sunday? I pick up the B’s bike from Century Cycles tonight. I best get a ride in before it rains again next week. Since we’ll be in Akron, maybe Towpath…

Anyone else hungry?

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