Carnival on Shaker Square

Sérgío´s Summer CARNAVAL! Saturday – July 17, 2010 Doors open @ 8:00 PM PARTY UNTIL 1:00 AM at Sérgío´s SARAVÁ BAR It’s hot, it’s sexy…It’s a taste of BRASIL! Let yourself escape as you savor the nightlife of the streets of Bahia: taste delectable street food like Churasco, and Acarajé while sipping the best tropical cocktails to the pulsating music of Salvador. Marcus Santos, master percussionist from Bahia will lead a Bateria Drum Line with Tati Souza and beautiful Samba dancers and keep you going through the night! Bahian Street food stands throughout the restaurant Tropical Drink Specials SAMBA JOIA, traditional Carnaval percussion line DJ FELIX keeps you going between sets $15 Cover charge, 21 and over CASH ONLY FOR DOOR, FOOD, AND BAR Don’t miss the Party! No reservations accepted…just show up!

Sérgío´s SARAVÁ BAR on SUNDAY, JULY 18th Ju Marciano The Best Brazilian singer from Boston! LAID BACK SOUNDS OF GREAT BOSSA NOVA with MOISES BORGES AND KENNY DAVIS on the patio from 5-9

Top Chef Hungarian Style

The committee behind the Hungarian Cultural Garden of Cleveland is hosting the second annual Goulash-Gulyás Cookoff.  20 enthusiastic chefs are participating in the fundraiser. Your role is to eat and vote for your favorite version of this traditional and tasty stew. The competition takes place on Sunday, June 20, 2010 (Father’s Day) at St. Emeric’s Church, 1860 W.22^nd Street, near Cleveland’s West Side Market. Fun starts at noon and continues until 5 pm.  Tickets are $12 per person at the door. For more information: gulyascookoff@gmail.com , Bill Kolosi 330-998-0124 or  John Megyimori 440-871-2796.

Food News

Some shuttered restaurants, some new ones, and a few updates.

In the sadly gone column, Henry’s at the Barn in Avon has closed. Hoping Chef Paul Jagielski finds another location where he can serve up his wonderful Low Country fare. Another one to bite the dust is Maria’s Italian in Lakewood.

Spotted these two,  but haven’t tried them yet: Mia Bella in Little Italy (in the former Corbo’s Bakery…which moved down the block); Zdara, on W. 9th (Mediterranean)

Wandered through the huge new Asian superstore called Park to Shop, behind Li Wah.  If you’re in the market for live frogs, duck tongues, pickled sour mustard, or other obscure ingredients, they’ve probably got it here.

Blogger Tom Noe recommends Taqueria La Loma and Supermarket in the Akron area for excellent and authentic food.  Another Akron restaurant, this one suggested by a Cleveland Ethnic Eats fan is Cilantro Thai and Sushi on S. Main downtown next to the Areos ball park.

Starting this week, Michaelangelo’s has added lunch hours, 11:30-2, Tuesday-Friday. Definitely a way to add some excitement to the work week!

Centering in on Asiatown

It’s taken seven  years for the Duong family to turn the massive old manufacturing facilty on 38th and Superior into the Asiantown Center  . There’s still work going on inside this two story urban mall and many empty spaces waiting for tenants, but the place is already destination-worthy.

The public spaces are gorgeous- renovated and redesigned with a kind of gritty elegance  infused with Asian aesthetic, and decorated with orignal pieces of art.  And a 20,00 square foot grocery store, stocking products from China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philipines- replacing the Asia Food Market on St. Clair which closed in April-is now open for business. There’s live fish, fresh meat and produce, bbqed pork and whole roasted ducks, and an in-house bakery, plus an in-store cafe. 

After my guided tour yesterday courtesy of Alexandre Duong and his sister Angela,  I polished off a wonderful Vietnamese lunch of rice paper rolls and a cold chicken and rice noodle salad, and headed home with a container of shrimp noodle soup and savory meat and bean paste filled buns for supper. 

This Friday night, June 4, is a great time to check it out. Asiantown Center is hosting an art festival from 7-11 PM with works by local talent on display, live music, and good things to eat.

The project began because the Duongs needed a larger space for the market, but  quickly grew into something much bigger. They had a vision of the possible, hung in during the recession and have brought something exciting to the city and the neighborhood.  This family venture is the kind of development and the spirit Cleveland needs, and they deserve our praise and support.