Big Night

First there was the movie. Now there’s the dinner.  The cinematic story in 3-d with you as a character and real food to eat. Don’t miss it. 

                                               Michaelangelo’s Italian Restaurant and Wine Bar

                                                                     presents

                                                                   Big Night

Thursday April 28, 2011 6:00p.m. 

“In love and life, one big night can change everything.”

Chef Michael Annandono presents “BIG NIGHT“.  Based on the movie about two brothers who attempt to revive their restaurant by inviting a famous musician and putting together a menu for the ages. Chef Annandono recreates this menu for our friends and patrons.  Come join us for a fantastic evening.

 Passed hors d’oeuvres

Zuppa

Minestrone soup and broken pasta

Risotto

Tri-color risotto (tomato, basil pesto, seafood)

Timpano (Pasta pie)

Penne rigate, meatballs, cheese, hardboiled egg and pastry shell

Pollo

Roasted Cornish game hen and grilled asparagus

Pesce

Baked Alaskan halibut, red pepper polenta, lemon, and white wine

Suckling Pig

Roasted suckling pig, spinach, sausage and herbs carved tableside

 

Dolce

Tiramisu

$75.00 per person

Price does not include alcohol, tax or tip

 RSVP at www.mangelos.com or call 216-721-0300

Michaelangelo’s is located at 2198 Murray Hill Road Cleveland, OH 44106

A French Afternoon in Olmstead Falls

French wine tasting and light aps at Le Bistro du Beaujolais in Olmstead Falls on Saturday March 12 from 1-4 PM.  If you find a pour you like bottles are available for sale. You can also purchase photos on display by the restaurant’s owner, Georges d’Arras. $25 per person to eat, drink, and look. What a nice way to spend a weekend afternoon.

New Years Chinese Style

The Lion starts  dancing, courtesy of  two guys inside a costume, at 11 AM on Saturday, January 29th at Asia Town Center (3820 Superior Avenue). It’s just part of the festivities on the schedule to celebrate Chinese New Year. There will also be traditional music and dance performances, kung fu demonstrations and not so traditional presentations of Asian hip hop and an eating contest.  When you’ve had your fill of firecrackers and food, check out the big Asia Food Company supermarket and the Bai Wei Herbal Store, both part of this up and coming urban mall.

This is the Year of the Rabbit, according to the Chinese astrological calendar. So there’s also a contest for best homemade bunny suit- winner takes home a $100 prize.  You still have time to whip up some cute floppy ears.

I’m Talkin’ Food

I’ll be presenting a program about holiday food traditions and where to find seasonal ethnic treats around Cleveland on Thursday December 16 at 3:00 p.m. in the ballroom at Judson Manor. The event is free and open to the public.  My talk is not the only attraction. First on the agenda is a tour of the Manor: built as a luxury residential hotel in 1923, the unique and elegant apartments are now part of Judson’s Smart Living continuing care retirement community.  My speeches typically make people hungry.

 Luckily, after you listen to me,  refreshments will be served  including assorted European style cookies from Lucy’s Sweet Surrender and one of baker Michael Feignebaum’s chocolate and chestnut Yule Logs.

RSVP required. Call (216) 791-2004.  Judson Manor is located at 1890 E. 107^th Street in Cleveland’s University Circle neighborhood.  Free parking is adjacent to the building

Polka with a French Accent

If you have a taste for something out of the ordinary, make a reservation for the Oct. 9 prix fixe dinner at Le Bistro du Beaujolais in Olmsted Falls.  Along with a fine French meal from Claudie D’Arras’ kitchen you get accordian player Steve Hegedeos fingering and squeezing-out tangos, polkas, waltzes, and Hungarian cseras, this last a dance I’ve never heard of before. And speaking of dancing, if Mother Nature cooperates you don’t just have to tap your foot or nod your head because there will be dancing under the moon on the patio.  It has the makings of a memorable night.

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.

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.

Year of the Tiger

The husband and I  went to Sun Luck Garden in Cleveland Heights last night for Annie Chu’s special Chinese New Years menu.  She always prepares special, not-to-be missed dishes. We had a a lavish meal that began with delicate wintermelon soup, turnips cakes laced with bits of Chinese sausage and shiitake mushrooms,  and curried beef puffs.  I chose what she called a pinwheel stir fry for my entree- a melange of lotus root slices, chicken and fresh vegetables stir fried in a gingery sauce. BT had her Peking Duck wrap- a preparation similar to Moo Shoo park, that features shredded duck and julienned vegetables inside a soft warm pancake.  More than satisfied but unable to resist her incredible desserts, we shared a square of mango bread pudding with caramel sauce.

Among the things we didn’t try- but we wish we could- are steamed Longevity Buns, Lion Head- a combination of chicken, turkey and napa cabbage, fired milk, and lychee sorbet. The Year of the Tiger menu will be offered just two more evenings, Tuesday and Wednesday, February 23 and 24. Unfortunately I have other obligations and won’t be able to get there. But I encourage all who read this not to miss out. And if my opinion isn’t enough, consider this; the first people I saw when I walked in were Sergio Abramof and his wife Susan, owners of Sergio’s and Sarava , and later in the evening Zach Bruell, the man behind Parallax, Table 45, L’Albatros, and Chinato (surprised the guy even has time to eat) stopped by our table to say hello. What better endorsement for a restaurant  than the fact that two of the best local chefs are customers?

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.

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