EVENTS/TASTINGS Lago's July 4th meatball-eating contest offers tasty challenge Amateur competitive eaters can showcase their skills at Lago East Bank's annual meatball-eating contest during the restaurant's rooftop fireworks party on Friday, July 4. Alex Darus reports the winner will receive meatballs for a year and a $150 gift card to Sora restaurant. The event includes food, activities and prime views of Cleveland fireworks. The Judith café celebrates Bastille Day with French feast The Judith will host a ticketed Bastille Day feast on July 13 featuring French classics like oysters, sardines and pissaladiere. Alex Darus reports the $80 per person event includes a family-style dinner with seasonal dishes and live music in the garden. The celebration commemorates the historic storming of the Bastille prison in 1789. Holden Arboretum hosts brewery tasting event Holden Arboretum will feature a Brews & Blooms event with Saucy Brew Works and Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. Marc Bona writes about the July 9 tasting where participants will sample six summertime beers and receive a mixed six-pack. The event includes access to the Forest Forms exhibit and showcases two local breweries. Music Box offers riverfront wine tasting experience Music Box Supper Club is hosting a wine tasting party on the riverfront with downtown Cleveland as a backdrop. Marc Bona highlights the July 10 event featuring sommelier Traci Ezzo guiding tastings followed by a Nighthawks concert. Attendees will enjoy 2-ounce tastings and light hors d'oeuvres with full glasses available for purchase. Alley Cat Oyster Bar hosts annual Oyster Olympiad Alley Cat Oyster Bar will host its 5th annual Oyster Olympiad on July 23, offering an all-you-can-eat seafood experience. Alex Darus reports the $125 event featuring raw and grilled oysters from both U.S. coasts, wine pairings and live music. The restaurant will also donate a portion of proceeds to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Mahall's and Rood Food team up for carnival-inspired adventure Mahall's is hosting a one-night-only kitchen takeover featuring elevated carnival-style cuisine on July 10. Alex Darus reports that Rood chefs Josh Erickson and Annabella Andricks will collaborate with Parky's chef Parker Shaffer to create unique dishes like black garlic ribbon fries and a plant-based kielbasa corn dog. The menu promises creative takes on fair food from two Madison Avenue restaurants. North Union Farmers Market celebrates 30 years of local food The nonprofit market will commemorate three decades of connecting Northeast Ohio communities with fresh local food through a celebration and dinner series. Marc Bona highlights the July 12 party featuring family-friendly activities and a farm-to-table dinner at Edwins restaurant on July 21. Proceeds will support food access initiatives and small farm support. Valley's Edge hosts tropical dinner experience MGM Northfield Park's Valley's Edge Steak & Seafood will transform into a Hawaiian paradise for a special luau-themed dinner on July 16. Paris Wolfe highlights the five-course event featuring island-inspired dishes and cocktail pairings. Guests will receive a lei upon arrival and enjoy a culinary journey through tropical flavors. Edwins to celebrate Bastille Day with French flair Edwins Restaurant in Cleveland Heights will host its annual La Bastille celebration on July 12, featuring French cuisine, Champagne and live music. Alex Darus reports about the event that supports the restaurant's culinary training program for formerly incarcerated individuals. Tickets range from $75 to $225, with founder Brandon Chrostowski recently winning a James Beard Foundation Impact Award. Buildings and Food hosts charity block party The Buildings and Food restaurant group will host its second annual block party raising money for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Marc Bona highlights the July 20 event featuring live music, multiple restaurant brands and a goal of raising $30,000. The party will include food, drinks, raffles and entertainment. Collinwood neighborhood welcomes Food For All Friday Market Alex Darus reports about the return of the Food For All Friday Market to Cleveland's Collinwood neighborhood, providing weekly access to fresh local produce under the Euclid Beach arch. The market runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Fridays through October 31, offering locally sourced produce, eggs and pantry items. Marble Room to host Spanish-themed wine dinner Marble Room Steaks & Raw Bar will host a six-course Spanish wine and food pairing event in their opulent vault. Marc Bona reports the dinner will feature wines from Bodegas Muriel paired with dishes like charred octopus and seafood paella. The event is scheduled for July 15th with tickets priced at $330. Taste of Tremont returns for 21st year Marc Bona reports on the upcoming neighborhood food festival. The event will feature over 25 restaurants, food trucks and artisans along Professor Avenue on July 20. More than 25,000 people are expected to attend this free celebration of Tremont's culinary scene and community spirit. St. Vitus summer parish picnic brings traditional Slovenian feast The annual St. Vitus summer parish picnic will take place on July 13 at Slovenska Pristava in Harpersfield. Marc Bona reports the event features a traditional dinner, live music from the Jeff Pecon Band, and various raffles. Proceeds will support church improvements, with dinner tickets priced at $20 for adults and $15 for children 12 and younger. Rosewood Grill hosts unique dining and shopping experience The Westlake restaurant will host a Dinner & Diamonds event on Friday, July 18 featuring a four-course sparkling wine dinner. Marc Bona writes about the event that includes a pop-up jewelry boutique with a curated menu of gourmet dishes paired with premium wines. Tickets are $99 for this upscale dining and shopping soirée. Great Lakes Brewing Co. Announces Christmas Ale in July Event Great Lakes Brewing Co. will host its annual Christmas Ale in July celebration featuring their popular seasonal beer on Thursday, July 24. Marc Bona highlights the midyear event at the Ohio City brewpub, which will include a pig roast, toy drive for Providence House and a special Hop College beer and doughnut pairing. The event offers a unique opportunity to taste the brewery's top-selling Christmas Ale before its traditional October release. Ritz-Carlton Cleveland hosts premium tequila tasting Paris Wolfe highlights an upcoming Don Julio Tequila Tasting at the Ritz-Carlton. Guests will sample five tequila expressions including Blanco, Reposado and the premium 1942, paired with chef-prepared small plates. The event on Saturday, July 26 offers a unique opportunity to explore different tequila varieties in a luxurious setting. Taste of Black Cleveland 7.0 set Taste of Black Cleveland 7.0 will return to celebrate the city’s Black-owned culinary scene on Thursday, July 31, at Rocket Arena, Marc Bona writes. The annual event features restaurants, caterers, food trucks and private chefs, with attendees voting for their favorites. Each year the tasting draws folks to try a variety of tasty appetizers. Autism fundraiser scheduled Cleveland Chef Gala will be held July 31 at Hilton Downtown Cleveland to benefit Autism Speaks. The event pairs local chefs with individuals on the autism spectrum to create inspired dishes. Anthony Scolaro of 111 Bistro in Medina is among three honorees recognized for contributions to the autism community, reports Marc Bona. Ritz-Carlton adds third wine dinner to summer series The Ritz-Carlton is expanding its wine dinner series with an Italian-Inspired Culinary Journey on August 21. Marc Bona highlights the event featuring five Italian wines paired with regional specialties. The dinner is part of a series that includes a Spanish Soirée in June and an Evening in Veneto in July. The cost is $185. 2-day Crocker Park Wine Festival scheduled this summer Crocker Park’s two-day Wine Festival is set for Sept. 12-13, via Marc Bona. The festival will feature more than 150 local, national and international wine producers, along with beer, spirits, local vendors, food vendors and live music. Attendees can stroll through Crocker Park while enjoying tastings. Fieldstone Farm hosts annual Chefs Unbridled fundraiser Marc Bona writes about the upcoming fundraiser at Chagrin Valley Hunt Club Polo Field on September 13, supporting the farm's equine-therapy programs. The event will feature a tasting menu from chef Chris Hodgson, cocktails, wine pull, live music, and carriage rides. Fieldstone Farm, one of the nation's largest equine-therapy centers, serves 1,000 students annually with 35 horses and 15 certified instructors. James Beard Award-winning author Samin Nosrat coming to Parma Paris Wolfe reports James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Samin Nosrat will speak about her new book "Good Things" at the Parma-Snow branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library on September 21. The Berkeley-based chef, known for "Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat," will discuss her new collection of 125 favorite recipes including comfort foods like ricotta custard pancakes and yellow cake with chocolate frosting. Tickets are $40 for general admission or $150 for VIP access with a pre-show reception. | 