Dreaming in Meta

After reading Amelia’s awesome post on Chef’s Widow about her favorite things in Cleveland, it inspired me to do the same. My wife & I are big fans of shopping locally when possible, so here’s our list. It’s very food heavy, but hey, we like to eat…

The Greenhouse Tavern & Noodlecat - If you haven’t been to these restaurants, you NEED to go. Both locally owned & operated by the perpetually awesome Jon & Amelia Sawyer, these are easily some of our favorite restaurants. I have a feeling that with Winter coming very soon, I’ll be at Noodlecat a LOT more often.

The Olive Scene - We just started shopping at this local purveyor of Olive Oils & Vinegars, and boy, are we glad we found them. Super high quality, fantastic customer service and you can sample EVERYTHING before you buy. Prices are comparable to buying at the grocery store, so why not get higher quality stuff?

LaBella Cupcakes - These are seriously the best cupcakes in Cleveland. Yes, they use real buttercream. Yes, they use real ingredients. Yes, you need some NOW. Trust me. Your taste buds will thank you.

Pure Enchantment - Locally made soaps and lotions. Natural ingredients, very knowledgable staff and great service.

Deagan’s Kitchen & Bar - Quite possibly, our go-to joint these days. We’re there a good 3-4 times a month, if not more. Constantly changing menus, great beer list and friendly staff. Taco Tuesday specials are EPIC - have you ever seen another place with Unicorn Tacos on the menu? I think not.

Flower Child - My wife has singlehandedly bought most of their Temporama collection. Great place for all things kitsch and whimsy.

West Side Market - Man v. Food’s Adam Richman described WSM as a “Food Fantasia.” I wholeheartedly agree. While you’re there, make sure to get some Beef Jerky from Czuchraj Meats. You’re welcome.

Miega Korean BBQ - I agree with Amelia on this one: Recently opened, this new Korean spot is fantastic. If you walk out of here hungry, it’s your own damn problem.

Battery Park Wine Bar - Probably one of the best wine lists I’ve seen in the area. Then again, would you expect anything less from the former Wine Buyer for Heinen’s? Great cheese plates and seriously amazing flatbreads.

The Sausage Shoppe - There aren’t many of the little shops like this that make encased meats the old way…the GOOD way, as Anthony Bourdain put it. This shop originally opened in 1938, and has been going ever since.

Heinen’s - Anyone who says that Heinen’s is expensive hasn’t been there enough. They’re on par with Giant Eagle, and often cheaper because their prices aren’t falsely inflated to cover FuelPerks. Even many of their store brand items are Certified Organic. Many, if not all of their locations now sell Growlers of beer. Why send your money to Pittsburgh when you can keep it right here, get higher quality products AND get great service?

Cleveland Magazine - I’ve seriously found out more about my awesome city from this mag than any other publication in Cleveland. They’re always running great deals on subscriptions (12 issues for $15, for example), so there’s no excuse not to subscribe.

Cleveland Ethnic Eats - Laura Taxel has done an AMAZING job with this series. Now in its 8th Edition, this is a must-read, must-own Encyclopedia of all things Ethnic Food in Cleveland. If you don’t already have this book, get it NOW.

Want to win a FABULOUS local prize package, with TONS of gift certificates? Head over to Chef’s Widow to enter!

Most popular posts over the last few days:

Cleveland’s Little Italy makes Top 10 list.

Spiced Lime Fried Chicken.

Can your Burger Joint bust a move?

Modern Vegetarian TV Dinner.

Zingerman’s Magic Brownies.

Make your own Yogurt.

Monkey Picked Tea.

Super Immune System-Boosting Soup.

Christmas Gifts For Foodies.

Brussels Sprouts Gratin With Caramelized Shallots.

Bacon, Gruyere and Cheddar Mac & Cheese.

Pan-Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

Got a Twitter account? You can make money with it. Head over to Sponsored Tweets to learn how.

If you’re a raging foodie like me, the only things you want for Christmas are food-related. Here’s a few gift ideas for the aspiring chef in your life (okay, it’s pretty much my Wish List.)

Ad Hoc at Home - Thomas Keller is, for lack of words, a Culinary God. Good Luck getting reservations at The French Laundry, his flagship restaurant.

Live To Cook - Michael Symon: Iron Chef. Quintessential Clevelander. Culinary genius. (Oh yeah, and his food is awesome.)

Soul of a Chef - Written by renowned food critic and fellow Clevelander Michael Ruhlman, this book pulls back the curtain and gives the reader a fly-on-the-wall account of what goes on in the kitchens of Thomas Keller and Michael Symon. The first part of the book gives an excellent account of the grueling Certified Master Chef exam. Required reading for any foodie.

White Heat - Written by Marco Pierre White, the legendary chef that made Gordon Ramsay cry. ‘Nuff said.

Cleveland Ethnic Eats - If you live in Cleveland and love to eat, you need this. You’ll learn about restaurants you didn’t even know existed.

The Zingerman’s Guide to Good Eating - Zingerman’s Deli, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has grow into a $35+ Million empire from 2 principles: The best food on Earth, and giving legendary Customer Service. Co-founder Ari Weinzweig is a food authority, but his writing style is conversational, making it essential reading for anyone interested in food and its origins. If you’re ever in Ann Arbor, make sure to pay them a visit. (You may also be interested in the Zingerman’s Guide to Better Bacon as well.)

Bacon: A Love Story - Love Bacon? Get this book. You’ll love it even more after reading.

Shun Classic 8” Chef’s Knife - Every foodie and aspiring chef needs at least one good knife. Shun knives are made like handheld Samurai swords: light and super sharp. Get one - you can thank me later.

Got a Twitter account? You can make money with it. Head over to Sponsored Tweets to learn how.