Focus on Foodies: Joe Gramc



Happy New Year!  For our first Focus on Foodies of 2012, we sat down with Joe Gramc.

Joe, who ventured out with us on last Spring’s tour of Tremont, is an avid explorer of Cleveland’s restaurants, neighborhoods and night life.

You can follow his adventures on Twitter @JoeG2001, where you may see a tweet or two about the unusual but delicious dishes found in many of Cleveland’s restaurants.

 

What’s your favorite food or local restaurant?
There are so many great restaurants spread throughout Cleveland it’s hard to pick just one. I love the creative and unique. The restaurant I most frequent is the Greenhouse Tavern, which is home to my favorite dish, the Fifth Quarter. Next time you are in there, ask about it.

Why do you love Northeast Ohio’s food scene?
Many of the chefs and restaurants in the area recognize and appreciate the bounty of goods available to us locally. There are tons of local farms within 100 miles of Cleveland, growing not just fruits and vegetables but producing pork, beef, and all kinds of food products made with local ingredients. I also find many of the chefs very passionate about their work. They are often very willing to share their experiences and their passion for food, just ask.

How do you spread the “culinary gospel” of Northeast Ohio’s great food scene?
I love Twitter, it is a great tool for both finding and sharing information about everything from great restaurants to breaking news. Some people seem to enjoy when I share the food I’m eating and the restaurants I go to, probably because I’ll try just about anything. Think
of it as a version of the TV show from the Travel Channel Bizarre Foods, but my
own Cleveland edition.

What’s your favorite Northeast Ohio neighborhood?
Ohio City is becoming a great night life spot. And East 4th is home to my favorite restaurant but I’d say that Tremont to me is the best mix of restaurants, shops, and walkable space with a neighborhood feel. Hopefully soon my place of residence as well.

What’s your favorite non-food aspect of Northeast Ohio?
The weather, believe it or not, and the history. As nice as it might be to live in San Diego, the change of seasons is always something to look forward to. I wouldn’t mind a shorter winter but I enjoy the snow.

Cleveland was once a great city and has many great historical landmarks to prove it. While I don’t expect Cleveland to ever return to being one of the 5 largest cities in the country again there are plenty of great things happening and hopefully it will get Cleveland off the bottom of all those ridiculous lists Forbes likes to put out.

Friends   

Battle for Battery Park – February 20



Reddstone and Battery Park Wine Bar Face Off in Cleveland’s First-Ever Comedy Food Fight

CLEVELAND, Dec. 27, 2011 – The gauntlet has been thrown, the stakes raised as Reddstone and Battery Park Wine Bar prepare to go plate-to-plate on Monday, February 20 in the Battle for Battery Park.

Presented by NEO Food Tours, Cleveland’s first-ever comedy food fight will help decide who wins bragging rights as “Best in the ‘Park” and the coveted Amazing Technicolor Spatula (because gold is so passé!).

Ramon Rivas II of Cleveland’s Chucklefck Comedy Show joins NEO Food Tours’ Founder and President Todd Gauman to emcee this evening of delicious hilarity featuring: 

  • Three 3-oz. courses at each restaurant – trios of appetizer, savory and sweet dishes designed specifically for the fight.
  • A beverage pairing with every course and NEO Food Tours’ signature “End of the Trail” cocktail.
  • Performances from stand-up comedians Maria Borgio and Danny Kallas.
  • A behind-the-scenes look atGordon Square’s resurgence as a nationally recognized arts district.
  • Q&A Meet and Greets with Reddstone’s Chef Jeff James, Battery Park Wine Bar’s Chef Dimitri Ragousis, and our panel of local celebrity judges.

Rivas is excited to be joining forces with NEO Food Tours for this event. “We’re glad to expand our base and partner up with NEO Food Tours,” said Rivas. “I met Todd a while back and we both have a desire to highlight what makesClevelandgreat – food and entertainment!” 

Rivas is also looking forward to switching things from his usual gig. “This is going to be a bit different than our normal shows; I’m going to format it like a tiny talk show and interview the chefs/guests,” he said. “We’ll have one featured comedian for each location – Maria Borgio (Cleveland) at Battery Park Wine Bar and Danny Kallas (Chicago) at Reddstone.” 

Tickets are $55 each or $95 for two and can be purchased by visiting: http://batteryparkbattle.eventbrite.com.  Cost is all inclusive so tax and gratuity are covered, in addition to food, drink and entertainment.

The festivities will kick off at 7pm on February 20 at Battery Park Wine Bar (7524 Father Frascati Ave.).

 

NEO Food Tours is a Northeast Ohio based organization dedicated to spreading the gospel of the region’s dynamic culinary industry as a viable and sustainable economic engine.  Our mission is to engage and promote the relationship of local neighborhoods and restaurants for both visitors and residents. We do this through diverse guided food tours and events in Cleveland and the surrounding areas.

NEO Food Tours is presented and managed by Mandala Collective. For more information, visit www.neofoodtours.com, call 216-586-4214 or email info@neofoodtours.com.  Follow us on Twitter @NEOFoodTours and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/neofoodtours.

Media contacts:
Elizabeth Grepp, Elizabeth@neofoodtours.com
Amanda Hicken, Amanda@neofoodtours.com

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Conni’s Avant Garde Restaurant at Cleveland Public Theatre



NEO Food Tours is happy to belong to a supportive community of local businesses. And so, from time to time, we like to bring you news from some of our neighborhood partners:

Onstage now until Dec. 18, Cleveland Public Theatre presents the wildly fun and delicious Conni’s Avant Garde Restaurant: Home for the Hollandaise.

This unique theatrical-culinary event mixes the ingredients of fine food, wine, and ensemble theatre together in a loving send-up of avant-garde pomposity.

Throughout the show, enjoy a 5-course, locally-sourced meal prepared by Cleveland’s own ChefChef BonBon while taking in the spectacle that is Conni’s Avant Garde Restaurant.

It is safe to presume that you’ve never before experienced anything like Conni’s— unless you had Thanksgiving in an asylum for schizophrenic Iron Chefs…a wacky cure for the bah-humbugs.” – Tony Brown, The Plain Dealer

Tickets are regularly $60, which includes all of your food, beverages and entertainment. Use code C40 for a $40 ticket on Thursday Dec. 8th or Sunday Dec. 11th.

For more information and tickets, visit Cleveland Public Theatre online.

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Focus on Foodies: Alicia Hansen



This month, NEO Food Tours is happy to spotlight Alicia Hansen from local lifestyle blog Poise in Parma.

Her site chronicles her journey to maintain a healthy balance while enjoying all that Cleveland has to offer. After learning more about Alicia in this month’s Q&A, check out her review of our recent tour of Public Square.

What’s your favorite food or local restaurant?
Since I’m gluten intolerant, dining out can be tricky. Because dietary restrictions are something restaurants are dealing with more regularly, the higher awareness makes it easier to find options without much hassle. Several places like Deagan’s Kitchen & Bar and Aladdin’s Eatery have gluten free menus on request.

I also find properly trained servers are an even better resource than a printed off menu. The good ones are willing to find out whatever information you need to have a successful meal. I’ll never forget our server at Dante who guided me to one of the best dishes I’ve ever eaten – the Black Quinoa Risotto with confit tomato and rosemary toasted pine nuts – completely gluten-free!

What’s your favorite Northeast Ohio neighborhood?
I’ll always have a soft spot for my hometown and blog namesake, Parma.  It’s a quirky, random, magical place: where churches and bars share street corners and patrons within the same day, where pierogies are the town’s customary tool for spreading joy, and where you can access other parts of Greater Cleveland within 30 minutes or less. Plus my having my family so close by is important to me – my dad’s side of the family all live less than three miles away!

Why do you love Northeast Ohio’s food scene?
There is truly something for everyone as their culinary tastes and dietary needs change.  Growing up as a child of a caterer, I was introduced to an array of dishes that might have scared off your average kid. All my mom asked was that we try one bite and I found there were rarely things that I would never eat again.

Now that I’ve been eating gluten free for the past year and a half, I feel like a kid again as I’m exploring new-to-me foods that weren’t in my wheelhouse before. I’m also learning new techniques from other NEO foodies – the community is so supportive and full of knowledge.

How do you spread the “culinary gospel” of Northeast Ohio’s great food scene?
It’s one thing to just blog about what the area has to offer – it’s another to get others out there and enjoy it. I try to take my non-foodie friends to my favorite culinary spots whenever possible.

They have gotten used to me providing a list of options for our dinner dates! Getting them to try a new spot usually gets them interested to try more hidden gems.

What do you do when you’re not enjoying food?
I enjoy leading an active life as I work to maintain my weight loss. I’m a team member at Nishkama Yoga in Independence and hope to complete yoga teacher training in 2012. As a “part time runner,” I plan to participate in my 3rd half marathon in Spring 2012.

When not working out, I spend my free time with my husband Hans, my golden retriever Grady (AKA the PIP VP of Fuzz) and my loved ones. Staying connected to my family and friends is an important part to my overall happiness, so I do my best to make it a priority.

What’s your favorite non-food aspect of Northeast Ohio?
The insistent “anything is possible” attitude. One of my personal mantras is “what you believe, you create” and I feel that Clevelanders embrace that fully. Hard times come and go, but we don’t let those define us. Now we just have to start believing that we are champions on the football field!!

***

NEO Food Tours understands the challenges that Alicia and others face due to a gluten intolerance. Because of this, we’re happy to announce that our 2012 season will include a Gluten-Free Tour.

Keep an eye out in your inbox or follow us on Facebook and @NEOFoodTours for more information about our upcoming events!

Friends   

CLE Heights Holiday Tour: Bigger and Better…for Less!



Our shop-and-dine holiday tour of Cleveland Heights’ Cedar Lee District is right around the corner.

We’re excited to partner with some fantastic local retailers and restaurants who will be bringing a fantastic tour to the neighborhood on Dec. 8.  And as our holiday gift to you, you can now take advantage of a great deal off the original price!

This unique food tour will feature:

  • A guided neighborhood tour of the Cedar Lee District’s history, architecture, and development led by Cleveland Heights Mayor Ed Kelley.
  • 7 stops at neighborhood retailers and restaurants, including a unique pop-up dining experience hosted by Spice of Life, Abrash Gallerie, Heights Arts Gallery, Lopez, Revive Boutique, The Wine Spot, Sweetie Fry, and Taste.
  • A 3 oz. food course and 3 oz. beverage pairing at each stop, that are selected specifically for the event.
  • Meet and greets with the chef or retailer who will talk about their local business and how they got started in the industry.
  • Specials and discounts at all retail stops.
  • Complimenatry gifts from local retailers at the end of the evening.
  • A chance to win a HUGE gift basket made up of local products.

We’re now offering a special deal of $75 for one ticket (a $20 savings off the original price) or a ‘Twice as Nice’ pair of tickets for $140.

Ticket price includes everything above, as well as tax, gratuity and a $5 donation to the Heights Emergency Food Center.
 
Purchase your tickets here: http://cedarleeholidayhop11-eorg.eventbrite.com!

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