Melt

14718 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107
(216) 226-3699
www.meltbarandgrilled.com


Ok, so I get it...People love Melt.
Melt is the Lakewood restaurant that is known for its over stuffed grilled cheese sandwiches. People go crazy talking about this place. Now, don't get me wrong. I love, LOVE grilled cheese sandwiches. I have always loved them since I was a child, and now that I am an adult, it is no different. But each time I have been to Melt, I have left disappointed.
Yes, the menus are awesome in that they are printed on old record covers, and yes, they have a superb beer menu, and yes, I had a Bloody Mary the other day that was pretty good, but...But, I am sorry people, but the bread is too thick on the sandwiches, the bread is too dry, and I went for brunch this past Sunday and even the waffles were dry!
I ordered the Chicken and Waffles. The possibilities of flavors and expressions are endless with a Chicken and Waffle dish, but Melt's version was just uninspired, flavorless, and did I mention dry?
The young lady taking care of our table asked me if I liked hot sauce, I said yes to which she replied, "Good, they are really good with hot sauce", without the Sriracha sauce they would have had no flavor at all, thank goodness for the hot sauce.
I know some might not like what I am writing here, but I don't understand what the deal is. The space is great, and the service is great, but I don't get why they receive such praise for the sandwiches. One would think if you have a restaurant with a menu of cheese sandwiches, it would be so wonderful you couldn't stand it, but I just don't get it. I mean, I guess it IS that wonderful to most, because I think I am in the minority here. Oh well, what can ya do?
Enjoy!

Frank Sterle's Slovenian Country House

1401 E 55th Sreet
Cleveland, OH‎
(216) 881-4181‎
www.sterlescountryhouse.com


AKA Sterle's.
Sterle's is a German restaurant that has been around for over 40 years and is complete with live polka music. I finally got the chance to go the other night, and I was not quite sure what to expect. I had heard mixed reviews of this Cleveland institution for some time and had to check it out for myself.
The walls of the hallway entrance are painted with small town scenes and you could hear the sounds of laughter, conversation, and an accordion as you continue to approach the expansive dining room. I felt as if I were walking into someone's cousin's wedding. The room was packed with people of all ages and the dining tables flanked the dance floor as the band played waltzes and polkas throughout the evening. We were seated right on the edge of the dance floor, and our server came over and asked if we wanted something to drink. We asked what draft beers they had, and she replied, "American or German". We asked what kind, to which she said, "Miller Lite, or German". We opted for the German.
The room was full of activity, from servers in German style dresses, to family's celebrating birthdays, to cute little old ladies all dressed for a Saturday night out.
We ordered our meals and started out with the Noodle soup with liver meatballs. The soup arrived in a large metal bowl filled for the four of us and our server put it in front of me and said, "you look like you have steady hands, don't drink too much", and put the soup bowls next to the bucket of soup. The soup was a simple chicken broth and egg noodles with chunks of liver. It was exactly what I had expected and was a very nice start.
I ordered the Sterle Schnitzel. Pounded veal smothered in a mushroom and sour cream sauce, and potatoes on the side. The veal was nice and tender and the savory sauce was quite tasty. The potatoes were a cross between hash brown and mashed potatoes, also very good.
Other dishes ordered were the Weiner Schnitzel and the Breaded Pork Chops, both served with the potatoes. The Pork Chops were ok, nothing too special there. The Schnitzel was also good but nothing too outstanding.
We ordered the Strudel and the Cheesecake for dessert, I found both dishes to be lacking in flavor and freshness.
Although the food was not outstandingly wonderful, having a live Polka band more than made up for it.
We danced the Polka and we waltzed and I don't know why it took me so long to come to Sterle's.
All four of us had a great time during our visit at Sterle's and next time, yes there will be a next time, I will be sure to try all the other menu options that we did not get to that evening. Sausages, sauerkraut, stuffed cabbage, mmm mmm.

La Brasa

6110 Denison Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44102
216-319-0500

La Brasa, located in the Old Brooklyn area of Cleveland is one of those tiny and unassuming neighborhood restaurants. La Brasa specializes in Ecuadorian and El Salvadorian cuisine. The five table restaurant is situated so that I probably wouldn't have even noticed it if I hadn't been specifically looking.
The first thing I noticed were the bars on the windows as we entered the small space. As soon as I crossed the threshold into this hidden gem, the smell of the grilled meats from the long charcoal grill at the back of the open kitchen wafted over me.
The menu was written on a dry erase board to the right of the counter where you place your order. I really liked the place settings on the tables; what more would you need?
In addition to the dry erase board menu, there are also photos above the counter that depict combination meal options complete with descriptions in Spanish and English. The nice young lady behind the counter explained which was Spanish and which was English...
There were eight of us for dinner, and the three of us at my table ordered three appetizers and three entrees. We started with the Tamale, the Pepusa, and the Enchilada. I believe they called it an Enchilada but it was open faced like a Tostado. The Enchilada was one of my favorite items of the meal. The crisp tortilla was dressed with thinly sliced radish, grilled onions, lettuce, sour cream, cheese, and cilantro. I loved the radish in the dish. It was sweet, crisp, and the accompanying cilantro brought the dish together perfectly.
The Pepusa was a dough pocket filled with refried beans that you top with cabbage and a mild red sauce. This also was quite tasty and flavorful. Next, the Tamale. Ohh, the tamale. Sweet, soft corn filled with meat and chilies, delicious.
For the entrees we ordered the Beef Stew served with beans and white rice, the half roasted Chicken served with French fries and spiced rice, and the Grilled Steak served with beans, white rice, Plantains, and salsa. The Beef Stew was flavorful, tender, and succulent. Even the white rice was delicious, perfectly cooked with a mild sweetness.
The roasted chicken had a spicy rub that left it with a very nice and unique flavor when combined with the smokiness of the grill. The French fries were perfect; hot and crispy.
Finally, the grilled Steak. I would not recommend this dish. The steak itself was so rubbery, I could barely cut it with the knife, and I could hardly bite into it. Fortunately the Plantains were wonderful, very sweet, and had a slight char from the grill. Once again, the rice was very good and the beans were tasty, it is unfortunate that the Steak was so tough.La Brasa ended up being quite a pleasant surprise. If I happen to be in the area again I would definitely stop in to savor their flavors.

Larchmere Tavern

13051 Larchmere Blvd
Cleveland, OH 44120

Get Directions

(216) 721-1111

The Larchmere Tavern has been around for years now. In fact the last time I went was six years ago, and I can't really remember what dishes I enjoyed or didn't. Well, we gave it a try the other night. There were six of us, and we wanted to go some where we haven't all been yet.
Big Mistake.
Not only did we spend a ridiculous amount of money on such ( I want to say slop, but I feel that is too harsh, so we will go with) dishes, the service was ridiculous as well. I don't have a problem with spending money on good food, but that is the difference, GOOD FOOD. I wished I had spoke up and suggested after the three appetizers that we pay the bill and move on, but I didn't so we endured the uninspired fare that we were served.
Now, before I continue the company was wonderful and the occasion was fabulous, it is just unfortunate that this place gets away with serving this sub par fare. Maybe this is what some people like, maybe this is what people are into, so be it.
I only took one pic of the meal. I was trying not to focus on the food, but on my companions and the wine that I seemed to be drinking just a bit faster than the rest. And speaking of the wine, we started with a bottle that four of us were drinking. We finished it, so we ordered another of the same bottle at the same time we ordered our entrees.
We were served the salad course, no wine.
The salads were cleared, still no wine.
Not only were our wine glasses empty, so too were our water glasses. The place had maybe three other tables, with what I could see, at least, three individuals taking care of the room. Hmmm. So I asked the gentleman taking care of us for another bottle of wine, when he exclaimed, "oh, yea! The wine." We all forget things, I understand, that is just fine, but so far this isn't going well for the old Larchmere Tavern.
The appetizers we ordered were the Calamari, the Chicken Taco "Stackers", and the Roquefort Cheese Fritters with Granny Smith Apple Puree. Needless to say I was not impressed in the least. The "Stackers" were some taco mix on chicken with what tasted like cinnamon. The Calamari; I just don't know what was going on there. The Cheese Fritters with a "puree", were so doughy, and the "puree" was chunks of apples that obviously had been sitting in the hot kitchen for some time.
Ridiculous.
Here we go with the entrees: I ordered the Chicken Paprikash. There is nothing like a good Paprikash, and let me say this presentation was nothing near to a GOOD Paprikash. First of all there were both green and red peppers in the sauce, the sauce was thick and the spaetzle were obviously pan fried so they were chewy and brown on one side. Two of my companions ordered the Beef Short Ribs of which I tasted. The Mashed Potatoes that were served, were piped onto the plate and had the consistency of wet sand paper. The sauce on the ribs was gooey and reminiscent of a canned demi glace.
It is unbelievable that people actually come to dine here and apparently continue to come back, because they have been there forever. If that is what people are into, go for it, but I have no reason to return. Thanks but no thanks.

Vine and Bean Cafe

12706 Larchmere Blvd.
Cleveland, OH
216-707-3333
www.vineandbeancafe.com

The owners of Lucky's Cafe in Tremont have opened up a new cafe in the Larchmere district and I finally got a chance to go check them out the other weekend. Vine and Bean Cafe has taken over the old Cafe Limbo house and serves up the same delectable menu items as Lucky's. They day I visited there were two individuals working the front counter and serving the outside patio that had two other tables seated when we arrived. They have not been open too long so they are still ironing out the details of staff and hours. They seemed to be a bit disorganized as whom was doing what, i.e. menus/delivering food/drinks, etc. That is one of the good details about Lucky's in Tremont, you order at the front counter and then someone brings the food to the table. Nice and easy, there is no question of traditional table service, but at Vine and Bean, there was definitely some confusion of table service or no table service. I am just fine without the traditional, but they need to decide which works best for them and just go with it.
We ordered cappuccinos which were delicious. I opted for the Lemon Waffles with honey whipped cream and a Blueberry Compote. The waffles had a great Lemon flavor, but I wasn't all that impressed with the texture of the waffles. You can't go wrong with Honey Whipped Cream and I am not usually a huge fan of the Blueberry, but the compote was delicious. The blueberries lent a perfect tartness that paired well with the sweet cream.
My companion ordered an egg, ham, and cheese croissant sandwich. He seemed very pleased with his selection, and said it was exactly what he was looking for.
The space of the new Vine and Bean Cafe is very comfortable and the outside patio is a great place to relax on a late morning or early afternoon. I look forward to sipping a glass of wine on their patio, as they advertise live music sometime in the future.
Vine and Bean Cafe is definitely a place I will return to if not for the delicious cappuccino, for the beautiful surroundings and relaxed atmosphere.

Bar Jules

609 Hayes St
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 621-5482
www.barjules.com

Ok, last post about San Francisco...This will not be a long post, but I have to mention Bar Jules in the Hayes Valley of San Francisco. Again no pics because of how much I enjoyed the experience. Which is kind of a funny thing I guess, but no pics.
We were wandering around the Hayes Valley one evening during our stay in San Francisco and happened upon Bar Jules. As I have mentioned, I had done the research in preparation for our journey, Bar Jules was a place I did take notice of, but that night I had not realized we were in the vicinity.
We entered into a small room full of people chatting, laughing and eating everywhere we looked. Bar Jules seemed to have a special air that surrounded you as soon as you crossed its threshold. We grabbed seats at the bar which overlooked the prep counter of the open kitchen. The menus for Bar Jules are written on chalkboards, one on the back wall and one on the side wall by the entrance.
The daily menus are limited to what the chef gathers at markets or receives from their farmers for the night. A small selection of appetizers and a soup and then about three entrees and a few desserts. That is it. The wine list is small too; one wine of each varietal they have for the evening. We selected some glasses of wine and started with the seared scallops appetizer which was served with greens beans, carrots, and a lemon tarragon butter. We conversed with one of the chefs that was preparing our scallops no more than a foot away from us. He and one other gentleman were running the kitchen that night with swift movements, not once becoming flustered from the multiple orders that were coming in from the dining room.
The scallops were perfectly cooked and the tarragon butter was delightful.
The simple yet superb menu, the warmth you feel when you enter, and the delicious offerings of Bar Jules should definitely be commended.
We moved on after that delicious tease, but I will certainly make a point to return to Bar Jules the next time I am in the Hayes Valley.

Clover Coffee at the Coffee Bar

1890 Bryant St
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 551-8100
www.coffeebar-usa.com

The Clover Coffee experience has been around for a few years now. I got wind that a coffee place called The Coffee Bar in the Mission District of San Francisco serves this rich coffee, so I had to go give it a whirl. The Coffee Bar is located in a somewhat industrial strip of the Mission. The Coffee Bar is a sleek and simple space with no nonsense menu and patrons. Really, I came specifically for the Clover Coffee.
The Clover Coffee machine is a single cup brewing process that is similar to a reverse French Press process. Hot water (of which the temperature can be regulated) is poured in the top of the machine from its own spout. The per order measured grounds are then raised up and down within the machine. The brew is extrapolated down and the grinds rise up to the top of the machine where they form a perfect disk and are then discarded. This Clover Coffee machine can cost between $8,000 and $20,000. The coffee I purchased was $3.
The Clover coffee was definitely rich. The flavor was deep and a sheen of coffee oil danced upon the surface of the brew. I would get the Clover again in the future if I happened to be somewhere that served the luscious brew, but I would not go out of my way again to find it.
Also, as of recent the Starbucks Company has purchased the Clover Coffee Machine Company. Now, I don't know how you feel about Starbucks, but I have never really liked the taste of their coffee. Nor do I support their attitudes about "venti", "grande" and the like. I much rather support a mom and pop coffee shop instead, or at the very least, a coffee establishment that has a better cup of coffee.
This is the quote from the Clover Equipment Company regarding "What's Next" for the merger:
"Starbucks is uniquely positioned to change the way the world thinks about brewed coffee with its coffee heritage and tremendous passion for the industry. Working together profound change is possible." (Clover Coffee Equipment)
Now yes, I am sure "profound change" is possible, but do we really want someone that makes bad coffee to take over something that makes good coffee? We shall see I suppose. I am just glad I was able to try it before the buy out.

The Slanted Door

1 Ferry Building
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 861-8032
www.slanteddoor.com

Still talking about San Francisco...As I have mentioned, I had been doing research for a spell before embarking on the West Coast excursion. The Slanted Door kept coming up. I asked people from the San Francisco area as well as other online sources, and all said that the Slanted Door was a must. So, who am I to argue, and it IS Vietnamese cuisine, so of course I had to go check it out.
The Slanted Door is located on the Embarcadero, which is the strip of piers in downtown San Francisco just Northeast of Union Square where we were staying. So, in the afternoon I set out through the business district to the water.
As I walked soaring buildings and cabs screeching around corners surrounded me. As I began to get closer to the Embarcadero I could smell the faint scent of the water. It grew stronger and stronger as I approached and then finally the buildings fell away and opened up to the beautiful sparkling bay. Sounds of cooing Seagulls came from all directions. I will never get tired of the sound of Seagulls. I know when they are overhead I am going in the right direction: towards the water.
A short stroll along the water and I arrived at the Slanted Door around 2:30. I had seen on their website that they offered a limited "Afternoon Tea" menu between 2:30 and 4:30, it sounded like exactly what I was looking for.
I entered the glass doors and requested a table for one, the young lady behind the desk said, "well we have a limited menu and you can sit at the bar" as she handed me a menu and motioned with her eyes towards the bar. I headed to the bar and took a seat in the middle. The sleek decor of the dining area stretched around to the left and was full with the lunch crowd finishing up their meals and there were a few of others at the bar and lounge area behind me.
I sat there at the bar for at least 10 minutes if not closer to 15 before any one of the three people behind the bar said anything to me. Yes, of course I could have said something, but I wanted to see exactly how long it would take for them to do anything...Finally one of the individuals came over to me and said, "do you have any questions?" I said that I did not have any questions, but a few requests. I asked for some ice water and some Chrysanthemum tea. I was given the water and he walked away. A few minutes later he came back and I ordered the Slanted Door Spring Rolls with shrimp, pork, mint and peanut sauce and the Prather Ranch beef Carpaccio, with roasted peanuts, rau ram, (Vietnamese cilantro) and lime juice.
I again sat there for about 15 minutes, then a young lady brought out my tea, and I turned around and a gentleman placed both of my dishes down in front of me. All three items arrived at exactly the same time. Hmmm.
The tea was delightful, I also very much liked the presentation with the loose tea in individual pots. As I steeped my tea, I looked around and realized I had no set up, and when I say set up, I mean no napkin, no chopsticks, no fork, nothing. I looked around to try and get the attention of one of the three people behind the bar, but I looked and saw that they were busy sipping martinis at the end. Now don't get me wrong, I understand that the lunch rush was over, and it is now a quieter time of day, I get it. But as I sat there a few others came to sit at the end of the bar closer to the sipping employees and were given a drink menu and a food menu right away.
Another gentleman appeared with glassware from the back, which I would assume was a bar back or busboy, but HE looked at me and promptly gave me the napkin, fork and chopsticks, I told him how much I appreciated it, he deserves a raise.
Let's continue on to the food at the Slanted Door. The Spring Rolls were good. The thin rice paper wrapper was soft and the shrimp was crisp. The peanut sauce was pretty good, it was nice and thick and had a great salty finish.
The Carpaccio was thinly sliced and was adorned with a crispy black sesame seed rice cake, which added a wonderful crunch to the dish. The food was good, but it wasn't great. I am a firm believer in good service in a restaurant that is of this supposed caliber. It's not that I am a perfectionist or demanding, but I have been in and out of the service industry, and I know what is good and what is bad. Sipping martinis when you have customers at the bar with no menus or no utensils is bad.
I sat there with empty plates for a littlw while, and finally a young lady behind the bar came by and asked if I wanted anything else, I was pretty discouraged with the place at that point but I still wanted something sweet and to give them one more try. I asked to see the dessert menu, and I ordered the Vanilla Bean poached Rhubarb, served with Blackberries, yogurt, and Black Tapioca.
The dessert was definitely tasty and the Rhubarb was soft and sweet. The yogurt lent a nice creamy contrast to the blackberries and the tender Tapioca.
The Slanted Door. The food was good, that is to say it wasn't spoiled, although it was nothing to write home about. Even though I did not try every one of their offerings, the lack of attention and service really left a sour taste for me. As I mentioned above, there are different ways to do things. The way the staff executed their daily operations, was pretty disappointing and I definitely will not be in a hurry to return.

Kiji Sushi

1009 Guerrero Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 282-0400
www.kijirestaurant.com

Continuing my culinary adventure in the beautiful San Francisco, it was time for some sushi.
I had been doing research for weeks before our trip attempting to find the off the beaten path spots. One of the places I found was Kiji Sushi between the Noe Valley and the Mission. It was a warm sunny afternoon when we set out on our trek from Union Square to the Mission District. Of course we stopped from time to time at a cafe for an espresso or a bar for a libation, so we finally arrived just around six in the evening.
As early as it was, we were the only two people in the place. We sat at the sushi bar that was situated to the right of the restaurant. There was a small dining area to the left, and the walls were decorated with deep reds and blacks. The space extended to the rear to another dining area that was slightly secluded and would be a perfect place for an intimate gathering. I enjoyed the feel of the place very much, the dark colors were offset perfectly with dim lighting, and a nice display of Sake bottles adorned the back wall.
We ordered the two Sake flight options, one filtered and one unfiltered. All six selections had distinctively different flavors and aromas, and were a great start for our meal at Kiji Sushi.
We began with the Kanpachi Carpaccio (Amberjack fish which is the name of a pair of species of fish of the Carangidae family, which includes the jacks and the pompanos) served with thinly sliced Jalapeños, sea salt, and olive oil. The fish was paper thin and sweet. The flavor reminded me of a sweet Yellowtail, and the Jalapeños gave it a slight kick that was perfect. Next, we ordered the Potstickers. The dumplings were so light, flavorful, and the pork that was tucked inside was seasoned wonderfully.
Next we opted for a special that evening which was also a thinly sliced fish. This time it was Halibut dressed with Tobiko, Japanese Cilantro, and Truffle Oil. The sushi chef was masterful again with the presentation of the paper thin slices of fish, and the combination of the salty Tobiko, the earthy Truffle oil and the sweet and peppery flavor from the Japanese Cilantro was fabulous.
As we spoke more with the Chef, we discussed sushi places we had been to and items we enjoyed. He then informed us how Kiji Sushi had been there for about two years and apparently was named one of the best Japanese restaurants in the city according to the Zagat's guide, of which he promptly offered to show us their listing in the book. So much for off the beaten path and hidden gems of the city. Either way, I am glad that Kiji Sushi has received such praise because they certainly did from me.

1550 Hyde Wine Bar and Café

1550 Hyde Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
Get Directio(415) 775-1550
www.1550hyde.com

I have mentioned that San Francisco is a wonderful place. I think either I have lived there in a past life, or am destined to. Either way, every time I am there, it gets better and better. Whether it is the weather, the food, or the people it just keeps calling me back.

This trip was superb. I will first discuss 1550 Hyde Wine Bar and Café.

(I must tell you, I did not take this pic which will be explained later...)

1550 is located in the Russian Hill neighborhood and was about a one mile walk from where we stayed near Union Square.
The San Francisco night air was crisp and cool, and as we climbed up and down the hilly streets our anticipation grew for what was awaiting us behind the glass door that read "1550".
We entered into a lively candle lit room, full of positive energy, so far so good. My eyes scanned the small packed dining room and were immediately drawn to the ceilings which were adorned with wine corks arranged in the shapes of flowers.

We were greeted by a gentleman that told us there would be at least an hour wait for a table. We spied two seats at the end of the six-seat bar and promptly grabbed them. The bar was tiny, but pleasantly cozy, and the gentleman that originally had greeted us was now telling us the evening's specials as he handed us menus. We ordered some wine and started with their Antipasto Plate offering.

(Now before I continue, I have to say because I enjoyed this whole experience so much, the camera stayed tucked away in my bag. I am sorry, but the place was that great, pics were momentarily forgotten about, my sincere apologies.)

Anyway, the Antipasto came complete with about six different types of olives that had been warmed and dressed with just a bit of oil, a locally farmed and cured Salami, a warm beet salad, a beautiful Porcini Mushroom Crostini that I could have eaten all night, and finally a nice mix of roasted nuts.
It was a perfect selection of items. On the menu that evening were also a selection of cheeses. We selected the Toma Piedmontese, a cow' s milk cheese from the Piedmont region of Italy, which arrived with slices of walnut bread. The cheese was divine. Since returning to Cleveland we have been scouring the city to find it, no such luck yet. (I may just have to order it online, it was THAT good.)
As we continued to nibble on our lovely items, the gentleman informed us about how the restaurant has personal relationships with food suppliers and farmers all local to that region of California. Because of these relationships the menu changes often as menu items are dependent on the fresh harvests and the availability of various cured meats. We wanted to try some of the entrees next, but we decided that something sweet was in order after all of the salty choices.

We were given the dessert menu, and everything sounded fabulous. We were then informed that the evening special dessert was a Brown Rice Pudding with Sauternes macerated Strawberries. That clinched it. We ordered the rice pudding and the Scharffen Berger Bittersweet Chocolate Pot de Crème with Straus whipped cream and shortbread cookies.
Holy $#%@! The Brown rice in the pudding had a perfect texture; not mushy and not stiff, right in between, the pudding itself was not overly sweet, and the Sauternes with the Strawberries was an exquisite compliment.
Now onto the Pot de Crème. This was absolutely delicious. The consistency of the chocolate was so smooth and creamy we fought over whom got to lick the dish. The Straus whipped cream was also a perfect addition and the crisp shortbread cookies lent a delightful crunch.

1550 Hyde Wine Bar and Café was such a wonderful neighborhood find in the Russian Hill district of San Francisco. If it were my neighborhood, I know I would be there all the time.

Posting Pause

As some of you may know, I was out of town for a spell on the West Coast; San Francisco specifically. Therefore, I apologize for the temporary pause in my posts. Very soon, I will be giving you the heads up on my culinary adventures in the city that I love more each time I visit.
Thanks and here is to reveling in flavor adventures!

Sun Luck Garden

1901 S Taylor Road
Cleveland, OH
(216) 397-7676
www.sunluckgarden.com

I have passed this little restaurant located in a strip mall many times and never thought anything of it. It is located in such an unassuming area that you wouldn't expect to find such a beauty as Sun Luck Garden. A fellow Cleveland food blogger, clevelandfoodie, mentioned this little spot awhile ago and I realized that something was hiding behind those covered windows. What that something was, I had to find out.
About a month or so ago we decided to give it a try. As you enter you are surrounded by a perfectly dimly lit small space, with dining areas on either side of the entrance. We were warmly greeted and seated. The menu was extensive. Choices from many styles including Szechwan, Cantonese, and Mandarin, as well as great vegetarian options were on the menu. They have a large wine list that one would not expect from such a small place and a nice beer menu too. I started with some warm sake, and we ordered the Egg rolls and a Halibut appetizer that was a special for the evening. The Egg rolls were crisp and fresh, and you could tell were hand rolled and not frozen. The Halibut appetizer was such a pleasant surprise. Thinly sliced Halibut rolled with ginger and scallion and wrapped in a crisp shell and tied with thin strips of scallion on the ends. The Halibut dish was perfectly well rounded with bursting flavors.
Next, we ordered the Egg Flower and Wonton Soups. The Egg Flower Soup is basically an Egg Drop Soup but not as heavy. The Egg Flower was delicious; the egg strands floated in the rich broth and had just enough sweetness. The Wonton Soup was savory and the wontons had a great texture.
Finally, we ordered the Beef Chow Hawphen, which was from the "Pasta Dishes" area of the menu. The Soft wide rice noodles served with beef, bean sprouts, pea pods, and tossed with a hot Szechwan chili sauce. We were asked if we wanted the dish mild, medium, or hot. We chose the hot since we both enjoy spicy and it couldn't have been any better. It was spicy but did not overpower the flavor of the dish.
I am so glad I finally got to peak behind the curtain and discover the pleasure of Sun Luck Garden. I can't wait to return to try more of their fresh and flavorful offerings.

Il Bacio

2181 Murray Hill Road.
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 231-5977
www.ilbaciorestaurant.com


Il Bacio has been around for a year or so now. I have to say I was extremely disappointed the first time I dined there shortly after their opening . The other night I gave Il Bacio another try, and I heard that they switched chefs, so I was ready.
I absolutely love the petite space of the restaurant. With its dim lighting, light colored walls, and the dark wood bar, it is just perfect. The night we visited they had a gentleman playing the Mandolin the whole time we were there, which added to the comfortable surroundings.
The service was perfectly attentive and not pushy or overbearing at all, this can sometimes be the case in smaller restaurants.
We started with the Prosciutto di Parma and fresh Mozzarella appetizer. The Prosciutto was nice and thinly sliced as were the disks of Mozzarella, served with a light drizzle of Olive Oil and crushed Oregano. We then chose to split the Arugala Salad, simple and refreshing. The salad arrived dressed with just Olive Oil and a pinch of salt, and a lemon on the side. Once we gave the lemon a squeeze, the salad came together perfectly.
Next, I ordered the Veal Scallopine served with roasted potatoes and Asparagus. The Veal arrived as thin medallions that were grilled wonderfully with just a simple citrus and natural jus. The potatoes were crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and seasoned just right.
My companion ordered the Linguine with Roasted Salmon, which was served with chopped tomatoes and a light cream sauce. The linguine was perfectly al dente and the sauce was just the right consistency, not too heavy and not too light.
We finished with the house made Tiramisu that we were told was the owner Antonino Calandra's mother's recipe. The Tiramisu was creamy and sweet, although the dusting of the cocoa I thought was a little heavy handed. It was served with little cookies and chocolates at the base of the footed glass. The Tiramisu was the sweet finish we were looking for to complete our delightful dining experience.
I am so pleased that Il Bacio worked out its kinks from the last time I dined with them. I am looking forward to sitting out on their sidewalk patio this summer, sipping on wine and nibbling on their luscious offerings.

Momocho Update

1835 Fulton Road
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 694-2122
www.momocho.com

I am not usually one to mention chefs or drop names of individuals involved in the establishments where I dine, but I had to mention this.

Chef Nolan Konkoski has left the building!

(He might not like that I am posting this, but he deserves some props never the less.)
Many may not realize that Nolan has been the "Go-To" guy of Momocho for the past few years. Yes, we all know who owns the place, but sometimes the one in the spotlight is not the one whom actually is keeping the place going. Nolan has been the behind the scenes guy who makes sure the restaurant has food to eat, and GOOD food to eat for some time now. Nolan has been the brains behind most of the tasting menu items as well as the regular menu. Most of you have probably seen him working his A#@ off in Momocho's tiny kitchen upstairs for some time, but no longer.
It has yet to be determined if Nolan will continue to offer part time work or consulting services to Momocho in the future.
All I know is, Momocho has a very interesting road ahead of them in order to keep up the high standards that Nolan has been dishing up since the opening of this Ohio City gem.

Good Luck!

Li Wah

Revisited:

2999 Payne Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 696 6556

Since I have returned from the West Coast, I have been slightly obsessed (just slightly) with finding the best Dim Sum in Cleveland. I just can't get enough, and I can't wait to go to San Francisco in a few weeks to dive into their Dim Sum offerings.
In Cleveland the Dim Sum options are limited. As far as I knew, there were three to choose from; C and Y, Bo Loong, and Li Wah. In the past I have tried C and Y Chinese restaurant and their Dim Sum was quite tasty. In retrospect, they were my first encounter with Dim Sum, and I still think that they were very good after experiencing Dim Sum at other places. Unfortunately, C and Y is now closed. The next option, as I have mentioned in the past, is Bo Loong. Bo Loong's Dim Sum was very good, but Li Wah is even better. I wrote about Li Wah before as well, and I wasn't impressed or pleased in the least, but their Dim Sum has made my return worth it.
Since returning from the West Coast we have been back to Li Wah three times just for the Dim Sum, and it is now our favorite in the city.
We have been on Sundays so far, and they are packed. Our most recent visit we had to wait for a table, and the place is huge. The servers keep coming around with the carts full of steaming options to choose from. It still is a bit overwhelming as they continue to bombard you with tasty options, but I am starting to grow accustom and even restless if they don't come at me from all angles.
Of course we got our now usual selections, Har Gow (steamed shrimp dumplings), Siu Mai (steamed pork dumplings), fried Taro Root, (which I still love oh so much), and steamed shrimp with green peppers. As always, we order some type of Tofu, fried or stuffed with either pork or shrimp. We are really getting the hang of ordering the items we like and being able to recognize the ones we don't. We did try a new sweet offering, which ended up being preserved egg on top of a Lotus Seed and ginger paste, stuffed inside a petite sesame seed bun. The flavors were hard to pin point at first, but they were quite unique and had a delightful sweet finish.
After indulging in all of the delicious morsels my companions and I couldn't possibly have another bite. We asked for the check and prepared to leave full and satisfied. That was until a nice young gentleman came over with plates full of Crispy Roasted Pork with a Cucumber Slaw. At first we said, "oh, no thank you", as we were so full, but after a short conference with my two equally intrigued companions, we couldn't resist. It was a good thing we changed out minds and got this fabulous dish. The Pork skin was so crisp and salty I could eat it alone as a snack. The meat was so tender and juicy and the layer of Pork fat underneath was a guiltily sumptuous finish. We couldn't possibly finish the Pork dish, but all three of us were glad that we decided against our initial response.
Li Wah has now proven to me that sometimes first impressions can be wrong. I will continue to return to lavish in their Dim Sum offerings and to satisfy my newest addiction.

Old Town Cafe

4288 Dublin Boulevard
Dublin, CA 94568
(925) 833-8300
www.otcafe.com

During my West Coast culinary adventure we visited The Old Town Cafe, another Asian restaurant in Dublin's Ulferts Plaza. Ulferts Plaza is a multi-leveled outdoor mall with several restaurants (including previously mentioned Koi Garden), markets, and stores. The Old Town Cafe serves Singaporean cuisine. Singaporean cuisine is a delightful mix of influences, from Indian to Chinese.
The Old Town Cafe occupies a small square open space consisting of about thirty tables. It was early in the evening when we arrived and the place was not too busy, but as we continued our meal Old Town Cafe began to fill up with people of all ages.
Our meal began with the Roti Canai appetizer, which is a multi-layered Indian style flatbread served with a curry dipping sauce. As one of my companions put it, the flatbread was like an "Indian Croissant". The layers were buttery and flaky and the dipping sauce, similar to a South Indian Sambar, had just enough spice.


Next we ordered the Herbal Pork Rib Soup to share. The soup is stewed with 17 Chinese herbs, and served with Chinese Donuts, and crispy Tofu Skin. This soup was quite delightful. The broth had so many flavors from the different herbs, and the Pork was falling off of the bone. The Chinese donut, which was similar to a fried wonton, added the perfect amount of crunchy texture.


We then ordered three dishes to share: Butter Prawns, Singapore Old Town Tofu, and Singapore Noodle.
The Butter Prawns arrived lightly coated with a crisp batter and lying upon a bed of lettuce and Cilantro. The Shrimp were cooked perfectly, still adorning their edible shells. The fresh Cilantro added a great zest.


The Tofu dish was seriously delicious. The Tofu was also lightly coated with a batter, pan fried, and dressed with mushrooms, shrimp, and a satiny brown sauce.


And finally, the Singapore Noodles were perfectly cooked, savory, and presented with a cabbage slaw on the side.
All of the dishes we enjoyed were wonderfully prepared. The bustle of all the families that were also dining at the Old Town Cafe that evening added to the positive energy, creating a very welcoming atmosphere.
The Ulferts Plaza has so many tasty offering; one could eat three meals a day for days without getting bored. The Plaza is definitely an asset to the area, and I can't wait to return to continue the culinary adventures.

Koi Garden

4288 Dublin Blvd
Dublin, CA 94568
(925) 833-9090
www.koipalace.com


I am addicted to Dim Sum. My significant other and I cannot get enough of the little steamed and fried dumplings. We have been on the hunt for the best Dim Sum we can find. We have had a few adventures here in Cleveland, but our recent trip to the West Coast has opened our eyes and just made us want more and more.After getting off of the plane, we headed to get Dim Sum. We went to a restaurant called Koi Garden that was assured by our hosts to be the place to go in the Livermore area (specifically, Dublin) for Dim Sum.
So far, as I have mentioned we only have had Dim Sum in Cleveland before this, and Cleveland has nothing on Koi Garden. I don't know whether it was this place specifically or if it was the fact the West Coast has entirely different approaches to it's Dim Sum. Either way, we were in heaven.
Everything from the standbys of Steamed Pork Dumplings and Steamed Shrimp Dumplings, tasted lighter and much more fresh. We of course had to get the Taro Root dumplings, but we were surprised that they weren't as good as the ones we had enjoyed in Cleveland.
At Koi Garden we tried items we had not had before. For example we had a delicious mushroom cap stuffed with Ginger and Shrimp. It was served with a slightly sweetened glaze, and the mushroom had a nice earthy flavor. We also really liked the Cilantro and Shrimp dumplings. The flavor of the Cilantro melded perfectly with the shrimp, and you could tell they were made fresh and not too long before being served.
I always try to get some type of Tofu dish when ever we go, and this time we got the fried Tofu. The Tofu was served with a crust that was crispy, but a bit dense and cardboard like. With the dipping sauce, I kinda of enjoyed it, although my companions didn't really care for it.
We also ordered a dish of the Peking Duck. This duck was so tender and juicy, it was worth gnawing on the chopped bones.
We finished with the Sugar Egg Puffs. These babies are right up my alley. Light, sugary sweet, moist on the inside, and yet crisp on the outside. I had not seen these on any other Dim Sum menu as of yet, and will surely be looking for them from now on, they were that good.
Dim Sum is an addictive flavor adventure. I just can't get enough. Since we have been back from the West Coast we have already gone twice and I am sure we will continue to search for more savory or sweet selections no matter what city we are in.

California

I have just returned from a trip to the West coast so keep a look out for some posts of the tasty places that I visited while there. Specifically, Livermore, California and surrounding areas. The California sunshine just makes me feel good. It gives me that feeling of taking one of those all encompassing deep breaths that energizes and invigorates you. All the wine tasting didn't hurt either.
Also, I will be returning to Cali. again in a month or so, so there will be places from the San Francisco area coming soon.
Bon Appetit!

Momocho

1835 Fulton Road
Cleveland, OH
(216) 694-2122
www.momocho.com


I do not know where to start when it comes to Ohio City's Momocho. I have been there many times, and have always loved it. The music, the lighting, the service, and the food make you feel comfortable and looking forward to the next time.
Knowing we were in for a good meal, we were excited to attend Momocho's latest tequila tasting dinner. I have attended a wine tasting dinner and a tequila tasting dinner there so far, so I couldn't possibly miss the last of the season. We sat at the bar, which was a perfect spot to be able to see all the activity around us. Not everyone was there for the tasting dinner; many chose to order off of the menu. Their menu choices are wonderful, but if there was a delectable tasting menu being offered, why wouldn't you get in on that!? To each his own I suppose.

First, we were presented with a "play on soup and salad". A bowl was placed in front of us with a dollop of chopped rock shrimp and a basil pesto sauce nestled in the bottom.

Over the rock shrimp and pesto sauce, they poured in the Tomate Amarillo Soup. The soup had just enough spice to wake you up but not to knock you out. The consistency of the soup was of a smooth puree and it was a perfect way to set the stage for the following courses.

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Patron Silver was the tequila partner for the first course. Although Patron Silver is not my favorite of tequilas, it definitely fit well with the spicy soup and tender shrimp.
The second course offering was the Sweet Corn Fritters, served with roasted chilies and Queso de Urgell Fondue.

The corn fritters were served on skewers over the bed of chilies. The Urgell Fondue was on the side for dipping or pouring. The Urgell was just the right accompaniment for the corn fritters. The creaminess of the queso brought out the sweetness of the corn and the smokiness from the roasted chilies beautifully. Herradura Reposado tequila was served with the fritters.

This tequila also brought out the sweetness of the corn and cut through the queso nicely.

The third course was the Tuna Cebiche Taquito, served with Watermelon Pickles and a Sour Orange Crema. First of all I love cebiches. The citrus denaturing the fish is just a lovely frolic for the tongue. This cebiche presentation was no different.

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With the squeeze of lime served on the side, the tuna was bursting and the Watermelon Pickles I could eat all by themselves. With the drizzle of the Sour Orange Crema the dish came together superbly.

The cebiche was accompanied by Don Julio Anejo tequila, and with its honey undertones was absolutely perfect.
Next was Momocho's intermission course. I love this unique offering. The intermission includes a flavorful little selection to cleanse the palette before continuing on the culinary journey.
Served in a shot glass was Guanabana Punch with a Vanilla Bean Nieve, topped with thinly sliced Strawberries.

This was perfect. The guanabana, which is a sweet tropical fruit, with the vanilla bean and a bit of sorbet was delicious. The thin strawberries added just enough texture to the little shot glass of sweet heaven.
Next, my favorite course, was the Pork Confit served with Baby Ramps, Coconut Foam, and Mango Salt.

This dish was so good that I felt drunk after finishing it. I love discovering dishes that just intoxicate you, or immediately give you that euphoric feeling, this dish accomplished both. The sweet fatty pork belly was exquisitely spiced and the lightly sweetened foam danced on the surface before it melted and surrounded the saltiness that lay beneath it.

The mango salt sat on the plate tormenting you, as if it knew, after a bite of the pork, you wanted that extra sweet and savory addition. Served with this was Corazon Anejo tequila. This tequila has a hint of spice to its finish, and complimented the fattiness of the pork well.
As if that weren't enough, the fifth and final course was dessert. The dessert was a Latin Crepe Cake, with Milk Chocolate Mojo and a Tequila Spiked Horchata.

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Thin crepes were stacked upon one another and placed on the Milk Chocolate Mojo, with a shot glass of milky Horchata for sipping, shooting or pouring. I opted for a few sips then the pouring. My companion opted for the complete pouring over the sweet crepes. The Mojo was wonderful and was perfect with the thin crepes. The mild sweetness of the Horchata was very nice sipped or cascading down the layers of the thin crepes.

Momocho has never disappointed, and this trip was no different. The tasting menu and it's pairings were perfect and thoughtfully executed. Unfortunately, the season is over for the tasting menus, but now that the weather has changed their beautiful patio will be open. I will surely be visiting them again soon, very soon.