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WHAT'S COOKING -- KATHY CARR
Chefs prepare for the big stage

Blog entry: August 30, 2010, 1:19 pm     |     Author: KATHY AMES CARR



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ABOVE: Jonathan Bennett, executive chef at Moxie and Red The Steakhouse, both of Beachwood. BELOW: Jonathon Sawyer, chef and owner of The Greenhouse Tavern on East Fourth Street in Cleveland.

  • As the James Beard Foundation appropriately states on its web site: “All performing artists deserve a great stage. Musicians have Carnegie Hall. Opera singers have the Metropolitan Opera House. Chefs, winemakers, and other culinary artists have the James Beard House.”

    Two of those artists are Northeast Ohio chefs who will serve their cuisine paired with wine in November at the historic James Beard townhouse in Greenwich Village in New York City.

    Jonathan Bennett of Moxie in Beachwood on Nov. 6 will prepare a multi-course “Autumn in Ohio” dinner, and Jonathon Sawyer of The Greenhouse Tavern on Nov. 23 will serve a “Midwest Bounty” multi-course meal.

    Mr. Bennett's showcase includes maple braised pork belly steamed bun; peppered and thyme-basted rainbow trout; caramelized brussels sprout; and crisp salt pork with apple-fennel butter. Dessert includes a glassed pear tart with salted caramel ice cream and an ice wine from Harpersfield-based Ferrante Winery.

    Mr. Sawyer's menu includes: walleyed pike quenelles w/ outdoor Ohio tomato coulis, tomato butter and parmesan; roasted fall endive tart tatin with bitter caramel and Lake Erie Creamery goat cheese; and fatted calf crepinette in consume w/porcinis and poached preserved cherries.

    The James Beard House hosts more than 20 dinners, lunches and workshops each month to showcase culinary talent from around the world.

    Dinners are $130 per person for James Beard Foundation members and $170 for nonmembers. For more information, call 212-627-2308.

    The flavor of Northeast Ohio in Saveur

  • Northeast Ohio's great food will be featured in the October issue of Saveur, according to Karen Shimizu, associate editor of the food magazine with a circulation of 400,000.

    “The piece emphasizes, but is not limited to, the eateries that showcase the area's Eastern European heritage,” she said.

    The story will include a recipe from Babushka's Kitchen in Northfield Center. Saveur will run a slideshow of the restaurants on its web site.

    Executive food editor Todd Coleman recently was in Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Parma and Cuyahoga Falls taking photos for the story written by contributing editors Jane and Michael Stern, who have written numerous Roadfood books, Ms. Shimizu said.

    The issue should hit newsstands in late September. People wanting the issue can subscribe to Saveur at saveur.com, or pick up a copy at a local Barnes & Noble bookstore.

    Committed to a cause

  • Dante in Tremont is providing each month for one year fresh, nutritious meals to feed 200 homeless men at the Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry's 2100 Lakeside Men's Shelter. This is the first time a restaurant has made such a commitment, according to a story that appears in the ministry's fall newsletter.

    “The donation not only impacts us financially but provides the men with the added benefit of having a restaurant quality meal rather than the industrial style cooking we provide — an experience they might not otherwise have,” said Michael Moguel, director of operations at 2100 Lakeside, in the article.

    The money the shelter saves will be reallocated to support other services.

    Mauricio Rocha, Dante restaurant staff member, and chef/owner Dante Boccuzzi coordinated the effort.

    “The restaurant is doing so well, so I talked with Dante and we decided to give a little back to the community,” Mr. Rocha said.

    “It's my duty to help the needy, and I'm in the position to bring some comfort and relief to the people that need it,” Mr. Boccuzzi said.

    Growing pains

  • Check out in this week's Crain's the challenges Cleveland-area urban farmers face, and how a unique collaboration of entrepreneurs, city and Cuyahoga County government and nonprofit agencies are working together to advance the fledgling sector.

    Rockin' the food trucks

  • Cleveland Foodie posts an intriguing interview with chefs Ryan Harkins and Matthew Chernus, the dudes and heavy metal enthusiasts behind Grill 'Em All, who are former Northeast Ohioans and are carting their culinary cuisine around Los Angeles on a food truck.

    The guys speak of their envy of Northeast Ohio's food scene and the possibility of returning. They also give a shout-out to a local chef and good buddy.

    Also check 'em out on Food Network's Great Food Truck Race.

    How tweet it is

  • What some of the local chefs and other Northeast Ohio foodies have been saying lately on Twitter:

    @chefsymon (Michael Symon, chef of Lola, Lolita, B Spot and Bar Symon): Fabulous Food Show Nov 12- 14...food celebs invade Ctown...gonna be insane this year

    @clevelocal (Cleveland Independents, a group of locally owned independent restaurants): Did you know that Cleveland Independents is now the largest organization of local, independently owned restaurants...

    @indigoimpbrewer (Indigo Imp Brewery in Cleveland): Is thinking that we need to share the open fermented love with Canton and Columbus...

    @LuchitasOnW117 ( Mexican restaurant in Cleveland): We're introducing a new BAR MENU. Tequila infused queso fundido, grilled mussels in tomatillo salsa & more.

    @CleveGarlicFest (new Cleveland Garlic Festival): "Shallots are for babies; Onions are for men; garlic is for heroes." ~ Unknown

    @GRCWine (Grand River Cellars in Madison): Wine fact - White varieties pinot blanc and pinot gris are actually mutations of pinot noir, a red variety.

    @StoveMonkeys Cleveland-based chefs and makers of chef apparel): En route to Rose Angel (taco rest) to discuss biz plan for coming soon taco truck for cleveland!!! Eating tacos while talking about tacos

    @MeltingPotCleve (fondue restaurant in Legacy Village and Westgate Mall): Work caused stress. Chocolate relieves it.



    To submit business news about Northeast Ohio restaurants, breweries, wineries or agriculture industry, please e-mail me. You also can follow me on Twitter.



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