Sad news that specialty grocer Chandler and Rudd on Chagrin Boulevard closed earlier this month. The market has been included in a decade’s worth of editions of Cleveland Ethnic Eats, but it’s much much older than that, with a history that goes back 145 years. I used to buy cookies and candies from England there as gifts for a Brit-born friend, and loved all the products from Germany,Italy, and France because they were things I ate when living in Europe as a teenager. A fascinating article by reporter Janet Cho in Sunday’s Plain Dealer charts the rise and fall of this culinary landmark.
November 4, 2009
Thai in Akron
I want to share this email that came to me yesterday.
“Last night we went to a new restaurant in downtown Akron, Cilantro
Thai and Sushi Restaurant. It is wonderful! The food was great – 4
of us shared a sushi/shashimi “boat.” As good to us as the area’s
best. We finished the entire boat. Very friendly and helpful staff.
Very comfortable restaurant.
Also, I am severly salt restricted, so Asian restaurants pose real
challenges. They were extraordinarily helpful. They not only
suggested meals that they could make without salt, soy sauce, etc.,
but were actually willing to create curries to order that were
without most salt. They were even willing to use ultra-low sodium
soy sauce or hot sauce that I could bring. As accomodating as any
restaurant I’ve found. We chose to go with the sushi/shashimi this
time, but we’ll be back to try more from their menu.
You can learn more about them at http://www.cilantrothai.com/“
The sender gave me permission to post his message here. I encouraged him to share more of his restaurant finds on this blog. Hope other will do the same.
November 3, 2009
Mexican Goes Mainstream
“Mexican cuisine has become so mainstream in American food culture that it is hardly even considered ethnic anymore, says a new report. Now, Asian and Indian cuisine is driving the ethnic tastes.”
Read the rest of this interesting article on FoodNavigator, an online news service.
October 28, 2009
Free Birthday Eats
Did you know that Akira Hibachi and Sushi, a terrific Japanese restaurant in Solon, has a birthday club? Sounds like something for kids but this is definitely aimed at adult sake sippers, sushi lovers and fans of udon and edamame. You must go there in person to sign up. Once you’re in the club, owners Hank and Anna Saito will mark your special date every year by mailing you a gift certificate during your birthday month for $15 off your next dinner. This is one present you definitely won’t want to return, and in my opinion the savings add an extra bit of pleasure to the whole cake and candle thing.
It’s a lovely place, just right for a celebration, but casual and affordable enough to be an anytime destination. I have enjoyed every bite of every meal I’ve ever had here and the artful presentation of the food makes it is as beautiful as it is good.
The restaurant does not have a website. Here’s what you need to know: 6025 Kruse Drive (in a shopping center), 440-349-6850. Open seven days a week.
October 22, 2009
A Day of Cooking
Wonderful piece by Russ Parson’s in yesterday’s LA Times called Stop and Smell the Ragu. It describes the special pleasure of spending a day assembling and tending to a simmering pot of real Italian “gravy”. Made me hungry and eager to get into the kitchen and start cooking, the two benchmarks of a great food story.
October 20, 2009
More French Fare
Thyme in Medina is not a French restaurant and is not in Cleveland Ethnic Eats. But for one night in November chef and owner John Kolar is turning to the land of baguette and Burgundy for inspiration. I’m a big fan of his culinary talents and have no doubt that he’ll put together an incredible evening of food and drink.
For details, click on the link, then click again on the page image.
October 16, 2009
Le Bistro du Beaujolais
Le Bistro du Beaujolais, the wonderful French restaurant in Olmstead Falls is reopening on Tuesday October 20th . Owners George and Claudie d’Arras tell me they are already booked up for that night. For those who don’t know, a devastating fire last January destroyed the interior of the historic building. But the renovations are at last complete- I hear the new space is even lovlier than before- and they are ready to welcome back friends and fans, and show off what they can do to newcomers. The first week they’re open only for dinner from 5:00 pm to close. If all goes well, they’ll also start serving lunch from 11:30am – 2:00pm the following week.
I can’t wait to get out there and have already started making plans for a couples dinner with a friend. The four of us have wonderful memories of a meal shared there last year that featured duck breasts in an incredible cherry port wine sauce and an amazing bottle of wine that Georges selected to go with his wife Claudie’s food. In the meantime, I’ll be dreaming of their onion tarts, coq au vin, sweetbreads, and beef bourguignon.
October 15, 2009
Interest in Eating Ethnic
Got this press release today about the increasing interest among U.S. consumers in ethnic food. Of course, for many of us it’s nothing new.
Americans dish on ethnic fare
Mintel research shows ethnic food sales to reach record high in 2009
Chicago (October 15, 2009)—With an expanding ethnic population calling the US ‘home’, a new Mintel report shows sales of ethnic foods have climbed steadily since 2004, set to reach a record high of $2.2 billion in 2009. In addition, Mintel forecasts solid growth of nearly 20% from 2010-14.
Mexican/Hispanic foods represent the largest segment of the ethnic foods market with nearly two-thirds (62%) of sales. In fact, Mexican food has become so mainstream, it is hardly considered ethnic anymore. Nearly six in 10 respondents say they have cooked Mexican food in the past month. However, it’s the Asian and Indian food segments that are driving the market’s growth, with 11% and 35% growth, respectively, from 2006-08.
“Since 2005, there are over one million foreigners becoming legal permanent residents in the US each year,” notes David Browne, senior analyst at Mintel. “This escalating group is influencing the American palate and piquing Americans’ interest in new cuisines.”
According to Mintel, income is one of the strongest predictors of ethnic food cooking. Ninety-two percent of respondents with household incomes more than $150k have cooked ethnic food in the past month. Young adults are also among the most adventurous when it comes to global cuisines. Some 91% of respondents aged 18-24 have cooked ethnic food in the same timeframe.
In addition to the growing diverse population, a resurgence in cooking and product innovation are helping to drive sales. Due to the economic downturn, the growing popularity of cooking shows, and a rise in international travel, more Americans are classifying themselves as ‘cooking enthusiasts’ and are having fun with cooking and experimenting with new flavors and foods.
About Mintel
Mintel is a leading global supplier of consumer, product and media intelligence
October 11, 2009
Laura’s List
I went to Athen’s Pastry on Lorain Saturday to stock up on some Mediterranean staples. It was another great shopping trip: brought home good things to eat, at much less than grocery stores prices for the same or similar products, and sourced a few items I can’t get anywhere else. Here’s the List:
1 liter (33.8 oz) Canola Oil $3.59
3 liters Extra Virgin Kalamata Olive Oil 25.99
1 lb almonds 5.66
1 lb dried apricots 4.49
14 oz dried figs 3.99
1/2 lb Kefalotiri cheese 4.98
1 lb French feta 6.75
1 lb Kalamata olives 3.99
4 heat-n-eat spanakopita pies 7.00
2 bottles Mark David white wine, a blend of Chardonnay, Semillion, Sauvignon Blanc 20.38
