Best tacos in Northeast Ohio, Oat Haus relocates to Cleveland , Barrio coming to Hudson, Roa r ’n Pour at Akron Zoo and more

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Entertainment | Food and Drink

TOP NEWS

‘Best Tacos in Greater Cleveland’

We wanna taco ‘bout the top three finishers in our Best of Cleveland team’s Best Tacos contest. Monarca in Medina, La Plaza Taqueria in Cleveland and multi-spot Blue Habanero make up the winners. We’re done with our visits and have profiles of each.

Ohio Distillery Trail launches May 22

The Ohio Distillery Trail officially opens on May 22. Created by The Ohio Distillers Guild, the trail spotlights 24 distilleries and introduces consumers to the depth and breadth of craft spirits made in Ohio. More distilleries may join the roster soon. “The Ohio Distillery Trail is a celebration of the exceptional craftsmanship and innovation within our state’s distilling community,” Joe Bidinger, Secretary of the Ohio Distillers Guild and CEO of Echo Spirits Distilling Co. said in a press release. “Ohio distilleries make international award-winning whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, and more. READ MORE

He smells Sfogliatelle seashells by the lakeshore

Our latest installment of “Classic CLE Eats & Drinks” gives a very special Italian pastry item its due. Call them lobster tails, seashells, or “3-D printed topographic gingko pastry leaves,” sfogliatelle are a Cleveland classic and Little Italy – namely Presti’s and Corbo’s – is where to find them. READ MORE

Meet Peter Chakerian, part of your Cledotcom ‘Dine Drink CLE’ team

Every week for several, we’ve introduced you to the DDC team at Cleveland.com with our “5 for Friday” columns. The team’s self-described Swiss Army knife (Peter writes about everything!) is a born-raised-lifelong Cleveland guy who has opinions on his favorite watering holes and dining spots. He took a break from the puns and Dad jokes to share them in his own words. READ MORE

Cleveland-area restaurant makes Yelp’s Top 100 national brunch list

Blue Door Café & Bakery in Cuyahoga Falls ranks 6th in Yelp’s Top 100 Brunch Spots in 2024. For the list, Yelp’s data team analyzed review volume and business ratings. Blue Door averaged 4.5 stars in 1249 reviews. It is the only Ohio restaurant on the list. Restaurant owner Michael Bruno started the restaurant as a micro bakery in 2009. At that time, he had French-based pastry arts training from L’academie de Cuisine, an oven and a mixer. Bruno has continuously grown the staff and the service in the past 15 years. Today, Blue Door is a full-service restaurant, serving breakfast and lunch. On Wednesday through Saturday, dinner is served as well. READ MORE

Rising tequila sales in Ohio prove that spirit surpasses Cinco de Mayo celebrations

Cinco de Mayo might be over, but Ohioans don’t need a holiday for an excuse to drink tequila. In 2023, tequila overtook vodka as the second-best selling spirit in Ohio behind American whiskey. With the variety and quality of tequila improving, it’s garnered a large interest among Northeast Ohio drinkers READ MORE

Oat Haus relocates to Greater Cleveland with indulgent allergen-free granola butter

Oat Haus is an allergen-free spread that rivals peanut butter and Nutella with its indulgent flavors. Founder Ali Bonar recently moved the business production to Cleveland as it continues to become available nationwide in stores like Whole Foods, Target and beyond. READ MORE

12 Ohio distilleries win medals in San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Twelve Ohio distilleries brought home 39 medals from the esteemed 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, a program of The Tasting Alliance. Ten of those medals were the coveted double gold honors. Founded in 2000, the San Francisco event is considered the oldest and largest spirits competition. Entrants include well-known international distillers as well as small-batch producers. READ MORE

Ohio breweries win 'Crushies’

Four breweries in the state – inlcuding two from Northeast Ohio – have won Crushie awards for label design and packaging. The awards are sponsored through the Craft Beer Marketing Awards. These were the fifth annual awards. We’ve got a list of the local winners and what they won. READ MORE

Four Northeast Ohio makers win national Good Food Awards

Cleveland Chocolate Company, Fuego Fermentations, Old Brooklyn Mustard, all of Cleveland, and Seldom Seen Farm in Montville (Geauga County) were among 215 companies nationally that received 2024 Good Food Awards. More than 1,700 products were entered. The awards, which were presented in Portland, Ore., have been called the “Oscars of the food movement.” In fact, these four companies swept the pantry category for the broad Central U.S. division. READ MORE

Celebrity Chef Rocco DiSpirito dishes motivations and trends

“Paul Stanley of Kiss wrote ‘Love Gun’ and now I’m a chef,” Rocco DiSpirito told guests at Cuyahoga County Public Library Foundation’s annual fundraiser event Books & Bites: A Culinary Literary Affair. DiSpirito is a James Beard Award-winning chef, healthy lifestyle expert, and author of 14 books. He has appeared on numerous culinary television shows. DiSpirito was at the May 2 fundraiser talking with Cleveland chef Rocco Whalen of Fahrenheit about his life and his new book “Everyday Delicious.” The book, which was released April 20, is a collection of 100 weekday meals that should take 30 minutes or less to prepare. READ MORE

Take chance on a trip to Italy or Iceland from Rita’s Italian Ice

Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, which has five locations in Northeast Ohio, celebrated its 40th birthday on May 4. To observe the milestone, they’re launching a sweepstakes through May 26. Each week, 10 entrants from select states will win Rita’s Italian Ice for a Year. That’s 52 small ice rewards for a year. One grand prize winner, announced May 28, will receive a six-day trip to Reykjavik, Iceland or Rome, Italy. These trips include airfare, hotel for two and more. READ MORE

OPENINGS/CLOSINGS

Barrio expanding to Summit County for first time

Barrio is bringing its famed tacos and tequila to the heart of Hudson. The eatery, which will be located in a busy area at Park Lane, will be run by Katie Polevacik, who is director of operations for the company. Polevacik is the franchise owner and knows the company well: She started with Barrio as a bartender. READ MORE

Melt Bar & Grilled won’t return to Cedar Point this summer

Melt Bar & Grilled is not reopening its restaurant at Cedar Point. The full-service outside vendor model, which was introduced to the amusement park seven years ago, no longer fits operations for either company, said Matt Fish, owner of Melt. “Our contract with them was a seven-year contract,” he said. “We met earlier this year and decided the relationship didn’t make sense anymore. They’re moving away from that type of operation. We’re a smaller company now and don’t have the manpower and facilities to assist them with their operation.” READ MORE

Bop Stop taps well-known, local chef for food service

Skye LaRae Culinary Services took over the kitchen at The Bop Stop in Ohio City, on May 3. Skye LaRae is a 20-year-old private chef company owned and operated by Chef Eric Wells. The Cleveland-based company specializes in creating culinary experiences like intimate dinners, dinner parties, cooking classes and catered events. READ MORE

EVENTS/TASTINGS

Roar ’n Pour coming up at Akron Zoo

The Akron Zoo is holding Roar ’n Pour, putting lions in the spotlight at its latest beer and wine tasting that also features food trucks. The event is Saturday, May 11. All of the beer, wine and food vendors are from Ohio. READ MORE

Mai Tag Beer fest raising money for community garden

Schnitz Ale Brewery’s second annual Mai Tag Beer Fest is coming up Saturday, May 11. Nine breweries are participating in the fest, which will be held at, and supports, Ben Franklin Community Garden in Cleveland. Music and kids’ activities will be included. READ MORE

Want to ‘Drink Like a Mother’?

Der Braumeister has scheduled an affordable wine tasting themed “Drink Like a Mother.” The tasting will feature three wines Friday, May 24, spotlighting wines from Australia and Argentina. The restaurant-bar is usually known for its European beer, but also has a solid wine selection. READ MORE

The Grand Resort bringing in winemaker for tasting

The Grand Resort in Warren is bringing in Robert Foley, namesake of Robert Foley Vineyards, on Thursday, May 23, for a tasting of six wines from the California winery. Foley has been making wine in Napa Valley since the 1970s. READ MORE

Hall of Fame Ribs Burnoff is scheduled

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is holding the three-day Hall of Fame Ribs Burnoff. It will include a judged competition for half a dozen rib joints – local and out-of-state. The fest, which has free admission, is set for May 24-26. The Hall of Fame is bringing back the fest, which had been on a 10-year hiatus. READ MORE

North Canton Beer Festival is coming up

The fifth annual North Canton Beer Festival is coming up Saturday, June 1, in a cool venue - MAPS Air Museum. This year it is adding a neat component – Bourbon tasting. The fest will include samples from 20 local and reginal breweries. READ MORE

Flour Restaurant to feature Quilt Wines

Flour is scheduled to feature Quilt Wines of Napa Valley, California, at a tasting Wednesday, June 26. The wines are from winemaker Joe Wagner. The tasting, which has limited seating, is at the Moreland Hills Italian restaurant. READ MORE

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Sweet Pork Wilson’s

Barbecue, in general, depends on personal opinion. People have their favorite styles and meats depending on the restaurant. Sweet Pork Wilson’s makes delicious “Cleveland-style” barbecue for everyone. The meat is smoked fresh daily. The restaurant’s signature sauce is like a blend of every regional style of BBQ sauce mixed into one. Plus, sides like collard greens and cabbage, mac and cheese and baked beans rival the decadent meats. Sweet Pork Wilson’s is at 11634 Madison Avenue in Lakewood. DETAILS

Hofbrauhaus

If you’re parking and walking to the ballpark for a game, or heading to Playhouse Square for a show, a bite and beer at the centrally located Hofbrauhaus hits the spot. The beers might not be crazy styles, but they are well-made and pair wonderfully with the dishes at the restaurant. You’ll have plenty of items to choose from, from pierogi to pretzels and much more (knusprigeschweinshaxen anyone?) at the brewery-restaurant, which is located at 1550 Chester Ave., Cleveland. READ MORE

Warren’s Spirited Kitchen

The weather has been prematurely nice, perfect for a country drive for those so inclined. The patio at Warren’s Spirited Kitchen in Burton is open weather permitting. And the menu goes far beyond mom-and-pop smalltown fare. Courses are handcrafted with local produce when in season. And craft cocktails are on the bar list. The nine-year-old restaurant is open daily. It is at 14614 East Park Street, Burton. READ MORE

Brewnuts Donuts & Beer

Last week, they sported a menu that unabashedly declared love for ‘90s pop culture (witness these Super Mario Bros. 1UP lemon frosted stars!) and this week, it was all about May the Fourth and Star Wars. They had T. Swift dones and drinks for her birthday that were pure poetry, too. There are plenty of fish in the donut sea – and yes, the three you voted for in our “Best of Cleveland” readers’ poll are all amazing, too – but credit where it’s due, Brewnuts rocks. They’re located at 6501 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. READ MORE

SPOTLIGHT

Meet Ben Bebenroth, the marathon man behind Spice Hospitality Group

Ben Bebenroth – the restaurateur who operates a food-based non-profit that encourages healthy eating for kids, runs a catering business, pizza place and other ventures – is training to run the half-marathon in Cleveland. Here’s a look at how Bebenroth embraces his healthy lifestyle. READ MORE

Six-pack of beers to sip in May

Our monthly beer review has a six-pack worth of beers to try this month and a 12-pack of news items from breweries local and out of state. Our review this month checked out a pair of Double India Pale Ales, an Amber Ale, a fruited ale, a lager and an IPA. READ MORE

Entertainment | Food and Drink

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