Cooking Fun

Think Gallucci’s is just a place to buy cheese, olives, pasta and other wonderful things to eat? Think again. On February 9th, from 6:30-8:30 PM, owner Ray Gallucci and his sidekick Chuck Masterpaul, who owned and operated Noggins Restaurant in Shaker Heights for 27 years, are hosting an Italian cooking class in the store.  It’s a  learn and dine event with a focus on winter comfort foods. The evening begins with Ray’s guided tour of an antipasto platter followed by lessons in how to prepare Tuscan beans, great as a side dish or a sauce for pasta; truffle risotto; braised  lamb shanks and roasted vegetables; and balsamic syrup for a strawberry dessert.  First you watch, then you  have at it with fork and spoon. Though there ‘s no drinking of wine, pairings will be recommended for each dish. Buy bottles after the meal to take home along with anything else that captures your fancy during closed store  shopping.

Seating’s setup in the aisle in front of the bakery counter. The small space can only accomdate 24. Chuck told me that if they have a sell out crowd and more who want to come, they’ll schedule a second session.

Cost is $50 per person. Reservations required. Call 216-881-0045 and ask for Chuck (be sure to tell him you read about the class on this blog), or email ray@tasteitaly.com

Greenhouse Goes Gallic

BEST NIGHT {on the} TOWN AROUND

The Nighttown Academy of Poetry & Letters is a purely fictional invention of two award-winning Cleveland Heights residents: local Irish actress Derdriu Ring and her good friend, Regina Brett, Plain Dealer columnist.  Less Harvard or Hogwarts and more James Joyce meets Monty Python, this not-so venerable faux institution is a fundraiser at Nighttown on the top of Cedar Hill in Cleveland Heights, Sunday Oct 4, benefiting the Friends of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library.

And I’m happy to say I’ll be part of the fun.

The event, called Wise Up !!, featurea a local cast comprised of celebrities, literary greats and friends of the arts, each of whom will read and bring to life a short poem or piece of prose, interspersed with musical numbers with literary themes. 

The all-star cast for Wise Up !!  includes Afi-Odelia Scruggs, Barbara Bisantz Raymond, Brendan Ring, Carlo Wolff, Carolyn Jack, Dan Chaon, David Giffels, Debra Adams Simmons, Dee Perry, Derdriu Ring, Derf, Dick Feagler, Ed Kelly, Gail Bellamy, George Bilgere, Hector Vega, Joan Southgate, Judith Mansour, Karen Long, Karen Sandstrom, Kathleen Cerveny, Kathleen Fairweather, Kevin McGinty, Kris Ohlson, Laura Taxel, Les Roberts, Loren Weiss, Mansfield Frazier, Margaret Bernstein, Mark Dawidziak, Mary Doria Russell, Mary Weems, Meredith Holmes, Michael Heaton, Michael Ruhlman, Mike McIntyre, Nancy Levin, Natalia Rodas, Peggy Spaeth, Peter Lawson Jones, Philip Morris, Regina Brett, Ron Wilson, Sarah May, Scott Lax, Steve Presser, Stuart Warner, Tony Brown and Thrity Umrigar.  

There will be two separate shows, each featuring half the cast, at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.,
with a separate $20 per person admission charge for each 90-minute show.

{I’m reading in the 5 o’clock line-up}

To make reservations,[HIGHLY RECOMMENDED] call Nighttown at 216-795-0550

  
 Come eat, drink, listen, and help us support our library!

Lights, Camera, Action

Just got back from filming a segment about Cleveland Ethnic Eats for Golden Opportunities, a show that airs at 11:30 Sundays on WKYC Channel 3. (Not sure when it will actually air). Host Armond Budish and I chatted about the book, but what we really wanted to be doing was diving into the platters of food that were spread on the counter in front of us. Chef Michael Annnandono of Michaelangelo’s sent down a sampling of some of the cured meats, chesse, olives, and grilled vegetables that regularly show up on his antipasti cart. There were two big trays from Aladdin’s Baking Company on Carnegie: filled with miniature meat and spinach pies, hummus, stuffed grape leaves, tabouleh, and baba ganoush. Baker Michael Feigenbaum of Lucy’s Sweet Surrender on Buckeye had put together a selection of his European specialties including bite size strudel squares and cream cheese pastries.

The smell of all this good stuff was tough to resist, and once we were done taping, I noticed some of the crew eyeing the feast longingly as they swept it off the set to make way for the next guest. I left (but not without popping a few bites into my mouth on the way out the door)  but I’m guessing that later in the afternoon, some people enjoyed quite a lunch.  

Heading home, I stopped at the top of Cedar Hill to get fresh bread for Saturday and Sunday morning from Zoss the Swiss Baker. They still had some of my favorite seeded rolls left, so I bought a dozen (they freeze well and taste great when I sprinkle a little water on top and reheat in the oven) plus brioche and croissant.

All in all, a good day because I got to spend so much of it thinking about ethnic eats!

Get a Little Eastern Europe in Tremont

I just found out that Perla Handmade Delights,the  Romanian/Russian/Polish prepared food market and bakery in Parma, now has a stand at the Tremont Farmers Market. So if you don’t want to go to Parma for their wonderful pierogies, stuffed cabbage, and pastries, you can head to Lincoln Park on Tuesdays from 4:30-7:30.   Makes it even easier to eat ethnic and that’s always good news. The store is one of 58 new listings in the 2009 edition of Cleveland Ethnic Eats.

Spaghetti and Reggae

 

The Taste of Tremont’s Patio Party at Lago!          2nd Annual PATIO PARTY at LAGO!   Patio opens at 1pm Featuring great food & drink specials all day! Steel Drums begin at 1pm    FREE CONCERT featuring… Outlaws i&i   Lago Restaurant & Wine Bar 2221 Professor Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44113 216-344-0547 www.lagotremont.com

Autographs and BBQ

Kris Krieger’s throwing a party at Chef’s Choice Meats, his  butcher shop, sausage center, and gourmet-to-go store in Berea, this Friday afternoon, July 3. He’ll have live music, a wine tasting, and barbecue to eat from 4-7 pm. The timing’s perfect- you can get dinner plus food for the July 4 holiday. I’ll be there from3-5 pm, signing copies of Cleveland Ethnic Eats. Come see us. If I don’t say hello when you step up to the table, it’s probably because I’m chewing something delicous that Chef Kris cooked.

Larchmere and Loganberry

I’ll be signing copies of my book from noon to 1 tomorrow, (Saturday, June 27) at Loganberry Books, as part of the store’s celebration of local authors. Stop by and say hi.  There’s lots of other  things going on too- details below. 

LoganberryBooks.com
13015 Larchmere Boulevard w Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120 w  216-795-9800
The Local Author Book Fair features three dozen authors this year (complete list here!).

 

Larchmere Flea Market & Festival
Saturday, June 27th, 11am-5pm

The Larchmere Flea Market & Festival returns for a third year of bargains and goodies, of neighbors, festivities, workshops and camaraderie.  Tucked into corners and lots up and down the 10 blocks of Larchmere Boulevard are dealers of vintage goods, antiques, art, collectibles, and a special community flea market lot.  And food, of course!

The Passport Project Global Dance & Music Collective will perform 1-3pm at Felice Urban Café, and the Euclid Beach Rocket Car will ride the Boulevard 1-4pm.  Workshops and demonstrations enliven the festival, including face painting, drumming, and spinning wool.  Important information like health screenings and home ownership resources will also be available.  

This year, we have more than 50 vendors of antique, vintage and handmade goods, including Boar’s Head Antiques, Intuition by Leah, MZ Beads, and Jenny’s Sweets, to name a few.  The bricks-and-mortar merchants on Larchmere will also be in a festive mood, many with sales, specials, workshops, and special offerings.

Happenings

Some events to add to your calendar.

Come see me tomorrow and say Hi. I’ll be autographing books at the Barnes and Noble Fairlawn store in Montrose (4015 Medina Rd) Friday night, June 19 from 7-8 PM.

Two wine dinners next Thursday night, June 25. Both sound wonderful so choosing will be tough. I’ll give you all the info and mouthwatering menus but you’re on your own deciding which one to attend.  If you go to either, please post about your evening here.  

 Michaelangelo’s, 2198 Murray Hill Rd. · Cleveland, Ohio 44106 · Tel. 216-721-0300 · Venetian Wine Dinner, Thursday June 25, 2009 7:00 p.m.   Featuring wines from producer Vignalta. $50.00 per person does not include tax or tip. Reservations required.

Antipasto:Pan-fried eggplant roulade, asparagus, ricotta and parmesan reggiano. Pinot Nero Bianco ‘07

Primi:Char-grilled langostino, baby arugula, and extra virgin olive oil. Chardonnay ‘07

 Pesce: Char-grilled yellowfin tuna, fennel salad, spicy red pepper coulis, and micro greens. Rosso Riserva ‘04

Secondi: Venison tenderloin, cracked pepper, rosemary, and rainbow swiss chard. “Gemola” ‘03

Dolce: Almond pastry, citrus glaze, candied citrus. “Alpian” Moscato NV

 

Lago, Tremont,  Spann Vineyards winemaker’s dinner.

1st Course – Betsy’s Backacher
Scallop and cucumber cheviche
2nd Course- Chardonnay-Viognier
Grilled Maine Lobster Salad
3rd Course – Betsy’s Backacher
Roasted Beet Ravioli with Lamb Ragu
4th Course – Charbono
Cherry Lacquered Pork Belly with Rosemary Risotto 5th Course – Dualing Cabs
Elk Tenderloin au Poivre with Truffled Gaufrites
6th Course – Port
Trio of Choc Truffles 

$70 per person (+tax & gratuity)

Reservations Required ~ Limited Seating

Call 216-344-0547