Market Under Glass '09

While we are on the topic of local food... A few months ago I was lucky enough to attend Market Under Glass. Local restaurants from across the city take over the Galleria downtown and set up precious little samples of their best dishes and drinks. Big thanks to my fabulous friend Amanda who got me the VIP hook up from her company (and her sister who backed out last minute, leaving room for me!) All proceeds from ticket sales went to Harvest for Hunger.

I found a great sustainable catering company, Spice of Life. They had by far the best looking table, and the food was outstanding. Not only are they loyal to using regional and seasonal foods, they are committed to getting the community involved in the local farms. My favorite thing they do is Planted Landscapes, where they set up a 'traveling' restaurant at a local farm, right in the fields! It's like a beautiful outdoor wedding reception.

Other highlights (besides hanging out with the exquisite Mrs. Jess Cahoon) were the martini and wine bar in the VIP section, and of course Great Lakes Brewery was there introducing their Grassroots pale ale to the market. Until this year, the ale had only been served in the restaurant, but now it's in any local grocery store that carries GLB brews.

The only place missing at the event was The Greenhouse Tavern,

the first Green Certified restaurant in Ohio. Not only do they practice the farm to plate philosophy, wood used in the restaurant has been salvaged from an old church, and they have a rooftop garden. The spring pasta (sans pork) is outstanding. I loved the fern spirals in the dish, that were picked by hand in the woods of The Cleve. Perfecto.

Fresh, Local Food Fridays!

Locavore (someone who eats food grown or produced locally or within a certain radius such as 50, 100, or 150 miles) was the 2007 Oxford American Dictionary's word of the year. Turns out, it's pretty to be a locavore in The Cleve., which was ranked the #2 city in the country by Sustainlane for our local agriculture. It's even easier when that food is delivered to you while you work! My fabulous colleague Emily has partnered with Fresh Fork Market, a start-up that has up until now, been supplying restaurants with fresh, local produce for their menu. Now, they have expanded their services to Dealer Tire, complete with an online ordering system that opens a whole world of heirloom produce, bread, cheese and fresh pasta... all from within 75 miles of where I live... and I never have to go anywhere! Order before midnight on Wednesday through the website, and the food is delivered to work by 3 on Friday. I got my first delivery last Friday, and it looked fabulous. When I got it home, I filled my kitchen sink with cold water and rinsed all of the produce so it was ready for whatever I decided to make!

- Heriloom Black seeded simpson lettuce (great in salad)

- Organic spinach (used for quiche)

- Red bulb green onions (used for quiche #1)

- Rappini (meh, was expecting more broccolini, not all leaves)

- Organic sourdough 12 grain and seed bread (realllly good)

- Organic rustic Italian bread

- 1/4 peck of Melrose (the Ohio) apple (sweet without the grit)

- Tiny little strawberries (I've never seen cuter strawberries)

- Fresh spinach pasta (fresh pasta is totally different than dry)

- 12 pasture raised/antibiotic free eggs (outstanding)

Sunny side eggs over a fresh piece of toast, doesn't get much better than that... I also made 2 quiches with all the eggs I had.. First was OK, but the second was outstanding! Thanks to Rob's caramelizing skills, my use of a less gritty flour (this time I used a brown rice flour) and full-fat Feta (as opposed to the reduced fat I used in the first), it really turned out well... Time to get rid of that 'Domestically Disabled' mug an old friend gave me...

A nice night out

I had a great dinner and drinks meeting Wed. night at Bar Cento. I had never actually eaten there before, aside from ordering a pizza to go with my beer next door at Beir Markt. (recently voted one of the Best Beer Bars in America in 2009). I will say Bar Cento is not VVF (very vegetarian friendly) so I ended up with wild ramp pizza with leeks, provolone & pepperoncini. I'd go back though, maybe even to sample some meat... Their cuisine is based on Roman recipes and utilizes the freshest local, natural, and organic ingredients. It's a great place to eat good quality, locally raised meat if you're going to eat it at all. That whole area is one of my favorite spots in the city, a delicious pocket of local food. Aside from Bar Cento and Bier Markt, you also have The Great Lakes Brewing Co. home of the famous Christmas Ale (watch out, it really packs a drunk punch). My favorite pint there though is the Grassroots ale... 'Pint Size Farm', ha!

And let's not forget about the fantastic West Side Market right across from Great Lakes. I think this weekend I may scope out what they have for gardening supplies. (or at least fresh cut beautiful flowers) Rob just brought home a topsy turvy I'd like to set up on my balcony this weekend.. mmmm fresh tomatoes...