TOP NEWS

15 creative food and drink flights on Northeast Ohio restaurant menus

Restaurant and bar menus that feature flights feel like hitting the jackpot for indecisive foodies who want to try everything. It’s customary for breweries or wineries to offer drink samples for sale. But the popularity of flights has expanded well beyond the world of alcoholic drinks. It’s not uncommon to see flights of food and non-alcoholic beverages on menus these days. Every meal from breakfast to dessert can be enjoyed in flight form in Northeast Ohio if you look hard enough. Here are 15 dining locations in Northeast Ohio with creative food and drink flights on their menus. READ MORE

Honey Hut fans start petition to keep ice cream shop in Brunswick

When locals found out last week that the Honey Hut Ice Cream franchise in Brunswick is closing at season’s end, many were upset about losing their frozen favorite treat. Its replacement by the Rosati’s Frozen Custard brand in spring 2024, owned and operated by the same family, wasn’t comforting. Chuck Resnik of Lafayette Township, near Brunswick, was one of those people. He and his grandson, Carter, have started a petition aimed at reversing the decision. READ MORE

Five Star Sensation raises $1.4 million for UH Seidman Cancer Center

The biennial Five Star Sensation food and wine benefit was held under soaring white tents at Cuyahoga Community College in Highland Hills on Saturday. About 1,300 attendees and myriad sponsors raised more than $1.4 million for the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center. Donations are still being made. The total raised by this signature event, since 1987, to $23.4-plus million. Cleveland.com’s Paris Wolfe has the story. More than 30 top savory and pastry chefs showed off their skills while guests enjoyed wines from around the world. READ MORE

P.J. Marley’s serves up Medina County’s best milkshakes

We regularly ask Yelp users where we can find the very best of a category. While trying to beat the summer heat, we asked where we could find a great milkshake and P. J. Marley's -- on Medina's town square -- came back with rave reviews. Cleveland.com’s Best of Cleveland team of Yadi Rodriguez and Brenda Cain visited recently to see what all the fuss is about. READ MORE

Taste testing Taco Bell’s Grilled Cheese Dipping Taco

Birria tacos are having a moment. The Tijuana-inspired street food -- typically made with simmered, shredded beef and served with broth on the side -- has been popping up on the menus of local Mexican restaurants for several years now. Dipping, after all, is fun! Recognizing an opportunity to take advantage of a hot food trend when it sees one, Taco Bell recently introduced a birria-style taco of its own. It’s called the Grilled Cheese Dipping Taco and you can find it now at your local Taco Bell for a limited time. But is it good enough to satisfy discerning taco-loving hipsters or is it simply a shameless, cultural appropriating cash grab? Cleveland.com’s Joey Morona recently ordered one to find out. READ MORE

OPENINGS

A.J. Rocco’s expanding to bar, event space, Airbnb rental

A.J. Rocco’s, which has been closed since 2019 in the Gateway District, is looking to open this year as a bar-restaurant with a full kitchen, event space and a possible Airbnb rental. A. Brendan Walton ran the bar at 816 Huron Road and is making the jump to a bigger space with more offerings at 828 Huron. Cleveland.com food writer Marc Bona has the story. READ MORE

EVENTS/TASTINGS

Cleveland Oktoberfest

Cleveland’s Oktoberfest, on the first two September weekends, is more than food and beer. You’ll get plenty of both including knackwurst, bratwurst, Wienerschnitzel, goulash and pierogi. But the musical acts on three stages – from polka to popular to German -- are impressive. The headliner is Wish You Were Here – The Sight & Sound of Pink Floyd. The 28-year band is North America’s largest Pink Floyd stage production. They will start at 8:30 p.m., Sept. 9. Sept. 1-4, and Sept. 8-9. Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, 19201 East Bagley Road, Middleburg Heights. DETAILS

Hungarian Festival in Parma

Ohio’s largest Hungarian Festival is Sunday, Sept. 3. Attendees can enjoy food, music, dance, and activities. The “café” opens at noon with chicken paprikas with dumplings, stuffed cabbage, Hungarian sausage, grilled pork steak, jam-filled crepes, and “lángos” (fried dough) as well as tortes, pastry, strudel, and espresso coffee. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. German Central Park, 7863 York Rd., Parma. DETAILS

Cleveland Pickle Fest to celebrate all things pickles, beer to pizza

Cleveland Pickle Fest is coming up. The rain-or-shine fundraiser – which benefits Greater Cleveland Volunteers – is noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at Mall B in downtown Cleveland. The event showcases pickles, pickled food and volunteerism. Local and regional companies will have all things pickles available - pickle and other flavored beers, desserts, drinks, candy, pickle pizza, plus sandwiches and other food. And of course pickle-themed merchandise from more than 50 vendors will be available. READ MORE

Gibbs Butcher selling limited Bloody Mary drinks topped with lobster

Gibbs Butcher and Brews is kicking off Labor Day weekend with a one-of-a-kind brunch cocktail. The Olmsted Falls restaurant, which touts itself as butcher-to-table, is taking the loaded Bloody Mary trend to the next level. The bar is selling the savory brunch cocktails garnished with an entire lobster. Each drink is topped with an entire 1 ¼ lb. Maine lobster and loaded with fresh lobster meat. READ MORE

Bourbon-vs.-whiskey showdown set at Music Box Supper Club

Music Box Supper Club has scheduled a bourbon-vs.-whiskey showdown dinner. Dinner is 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1. The four-course dinner will aim to describe the differences between the two and how to pair them with food. Danielle Yasenchack of Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirts will guide the dinner. Afterward, the private-room doors will be opened for folks to watch the Cars tribute concert. Music Box is at 1148 Main Ave., Cleveland. READ MORE

Annual Corks on the Concourse is coming up

The annual Corks on the Concourse is scheduled at the International Women’s Air & Space Museum. The event is 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1. It takes place the night before the official start of Cleveland National Air Show weekend. The benefit includes a wine-tasting experience featuring Ohio-based wineries, trivia with lightning-round prizes and a lifetime-achievement award presentation to pilot Sarah Byrn Rickman. READ MORE

Tartine Bistro sets summer wine dinner

Tartine Bistro has scheduled a summer dinner featuring European wines. Dinner is at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8. The restaurant is at 19110 Old Detroit Road, Rocky River. Featured wines include 2021 Carpinus Furmint, Tokaj, Hungary; 2020 Bernard Baudry Les Grezeaux Chinon, Loire Valley, France; 2021 Domaine Remejeanne, Cotes Du Rhone, France; and NV Warre’s Tawny Port, Gaia, Portugal. READ MORE

10th Sips and Swigs fundraiser supports West Side Catholic Center

The West Side Catholic Center Associate Board is holding its 10th annual Sips and Swigs fundraiser from 2 to 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 9. This year’s event will be held at the St. Ignatius Carfagna Family Magis Center at corner of West 32nd St. and Chatham Ave. in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. Sips and Swigs is an afternoon of craft beverages, food and live music. About two dozen craft breweries and distilleries will pour samples. READ MORE

Woofstock dog, family festival returning to NE Ohio in September

Rescue Village’s 30th Woofstock, a giant celebration of dogs, is coming up. What is billed as Northeast Ohio’s largest outdoor dog and family-friendly festival and fundraiser is set to return Sunday, Sept. 10. Rescue Village, the Novelty-based humane animal shelter, organizes the fest, which is at Cleveland Metroparks Polo Field in Chagrin Falls. It benefits the shelter’s efforts to care for homeless animals. There will be a variety of food trucks at the event. Appropriately enough, Four Paws Brewing Co. of Columbia Station is sponsoring the beer garden. DETAILS

Duets! launches Sept. 14 in downtown Cleveland

After a hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic, Our Lady of the Wayside is back with a fundraising event. The Avon-based non-profit, which serves developmentally disabled individuals, is launching Duets! The strolling event combines food, wine, craft beer, music and more. It is 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14. Spice Catering Co. will provide food for the 21-and-older event, which will be at Gordon Green. READ MORE

LockKeepers to feature Pride Mountain Vineyards in dinner

LockKeepers has scheduled a five-course dinner featuring Pride Mountain Vineyards. Reception is 6:30 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21. The northern California winery bottled its first vintage in 1991. One white – Chardonnay – and four reds will be served. LockKeepers is at 8001 Rockside Road, Valley View. READ MORE

Celebrity chef Eric Ripert plans Cleveland stop for seafood book tour

The Cuyahoga County Public Library is offering Northeast Ohio foodies the chance to meet one of New York City’s most celebrated chefs at a book signing and speaking event at its Parma-Snow branch on Thursday, Oct. 5. Eric Ripert’s name has become as synonymous with fine dining as his Michelin star-earning seafood restaurant Le Bernardin in Manhattan. Ripert is visiting Northeast Ohio on a book tour to promote his upcoming cookbook, “Seafood Simple,” which will be released on Oct. 3. READ MORE

NE Ohio wine club to hold 1st pairing dinner

The North Coast Wine Club is holding its first wine-pairing dinner. Cash bar opens at 6 p.m. Dinner will be 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the club in Solon. Nestle’s in Solon will provide the dishes, the club said. It’s at 30700 Bainbridge Road, Solon. DETAILS

PICKS OF THE WEEK

East Coast Original Frozen Custard

Summer might be coming to an end, but there’s still plenty of time for one last ice cream cone from East Coast Original Frozen Custard. You’d be hard-pressed to find a frozen treat with a consistency nearly as rich and thick as the custard from the local chain, which has been around since the 1980s. East Coast Custard has five locations across Northeast Ohio in Lyndhurst, Mentor, Painesville, Parma Heights, and Fairview Park. The menu always features rotating flavors of custard, but it’s never a bad idea to stop for the classic chocolate or vanilla options. Treat yourself and add hot fudge on top of your scoop — you won’t be sorry you did. DETAILS

Rockne’s Pub

Rockne’s has the name “Pub” in its title, but the restaurant that bills itself as “casual dining” balances two segments of the dining audience: Bargoers who want a drink and a meal and watch a ballgame can enjoy it as much as a family seeking affordable options for kids. Rockne’s delivers a consistent across-the-board menu at its eight locations across Northeast Ohio. From salads to sandwiches, entrees and more, it hits the spot. DETAILS

Ridgewood Kitchen & Spirits

Looking for a patio in the far eastern ‘burbs? Ridgewood Kitchen & Spirits, 9853 Johnnycake Ridge Road, Concord, has fenced, cozy, treed nook behind its strip plaza location. If the weather cooperates there’s still time to enjoy it. The kitchen serves up a satisfyingly balanced crabcake with plenty of remoulade and biting arugula. Go casual with a sandwich, salad or pizza. Or dress it up with an entrée. DETAILS

SPOTLIGHT

19 bakery/cafe hybrids for the ultimate pick-me-up
Bakeries are ideal stops for sweet treats while cafes provide many people with a caffeine boost. Here are 19 cafe/bakery hybrids in Greater Cleveland that provide a simultaneous experience. READ MORE

Entertainment | Food and Drink

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