442 replies to this topic

[NancyH]

I'm roughing out the restaurant schedule - any thoughts on other types of activities for Thursday and Friday between lunch and dinner, and/or Friday morning? I'm thinking a Polish Boy tasting crawl and visit to The Sausage Shop on Friday. If we tour Polish Boys, we could also build in time to shop at Dean Supply, a fabulous restaurant supply store that hosts the Seti's Polish Boy truck.

Tom - would you be willing to do a bread workshop, and when?

Edited by NancyH, 11 January 2011 - 08:52 PM.

[NancyH]

Can I get a sense of whether people will be in Cleveland for dinner on Sunday? We must have a meal at Crop, and if folks can't stay for Sunday Dinner, I'm thinking Friday or Saturday lunch.

[tino27]

NancyH -- I'd be happy and honored to do a bread workshop whenever it fits best into the schedule.

[Kerry Beal]

Can I get a sense of whether people will be in Cleveland for dinner on Sunday? We must have a meal at Crop, and if folks can't stay for Sunday Dinner, I'm thinking Friday or Saturday lunch.

Sunday breakfast for sure - but not dinner for me.

[rockandroller]

I'm late to this thread but am glad people are coming back to Cleveland and I hope to attend at least some of the festivities.

Various comments - I def. think a visit to the sausage shoppe on memphis is worthwhile. Do NOT bother with Maha's restaurant on 25th. Outside of the falafel, their food is awful, awful, awful, which is too bad as the owner is a nice guy. I've tried it 3 times and every meal was a bust.

Love the idea of something at Greenhouse Tavern and Sterle's, and I vote for B-spot over Lolita if we're going to a MS place, though I think Lolita has a private room upstairs which could be very helpful; either one is probably fine. I most strongly vote for Chinato to be part of the weekend (a Bruell restaurant), they are just fantastic. As to Crop, I'm not sure that they're open for lunch on Saturday so if you do lunch there, it would have to be Friday. I know I probably wouldn't be able to do sunday dinner there and I'm local - I can only play around so much on the weekends with a 19 month old baby and a FT job to tend to.

[Chris Hennes]

I can't be there for dinner Sunday, and may be iffy on lunch (depends on flights).

[tino27]

NancyH -- I'd be happy and honored to do a bread workshop whenever it fits best into the schedule.

I should've been more precise in my answer. I'd be happy to put on a bread workshop, but would need a kitchen (professional or otherwise) in which to hold the class and bake the breads. Also, if we can manage to locate a space for the Saturday event that had an available kitchen in the morning (Tammy's co-housing complex was perfect for this!), I could bake the breads on location instead of having to bake them prior to my arrival on Saturday afternoon for the beginnings of our communal dinner.

[prasantrin]

Aug 4-7 is ok for me!

Dinner on Sunday is a no

sausage crawl sounds interesting

[tino27]

Aug 4-7 is ok for me!

Is your mother coming, too? I miss my biggest fan.

[prasantrin]

Aug 4-7 is ok for me!

Is your mother coming, too? I miss my biggest fan.

If possible, we'll both be there (but no guarantees for either of us).

If she is there, don't be too great, though. She gets super annoying when she raves about you.

[tino27]

Aug 4-7 is ok for me!

Is your mother coming, too? I miss my biggest fan.

If possible, we'll both be there (but no guarantees for either of us).

If she is there, don't be too great, though. She gets super annoying when she raves about you.

I'll attempt to be less inspirational. Ain't gonna be easy though.

[boagman]

NancyH -- I'd be happy and honored to do a bread workshop whenever it fits best into the schedule.

I want in on this. That bread that you brought to the Feast in A2 was just unfair...I haven't had its equal since.

You don't do French pastries as well, do you? ;)

[tino27]

NancyH -- I'd be happy and honored to do a bread workshop whenever it fits best into the schedule.

I want in on this. That bread that you brought to the Feast in A2 was just unfair...I haven't had its equal since.

You don't do French pastries as well, do you? ;)

Thanks for the compliment. I actually baked that bread on-site last year. I started the pre-ferments in my hotel room the night before, brought them with me to Tammy's co-housing unit on Saturday morning, and baked off the bread right before everyone returned from the Saturday morning shopping at the farmers markets.

As for French pastries? While I certainly love eating them, I'll leave the making of them to those with much more adept skills.

[David Ross]

Can I get a sense of whether people will be in Cleveland for dinner on Sunday? We must have a meal at Crop, and if folks can't stay for Sunday Dinner, I'm thinking Friday or Saturday lunch.

I will most likely be heading back West on Sunday.

[jsmeeker]

The early august dates should not be a problem for me.


As far as picking a Michael Symon spot.. What if it were possible to arrange for a pig roast over the weekend at Lolita? Greenhouse Tavern sounds good too. When I was in Cleveland in 2009, the plan was to go there for some pre-dinner snacks and drinks before dinner at Lola. But they were closed for a private event. I was really bummed!

[NancyH]

As far as picking a Michael Symon spot.. What if it were possible to arrange for a pig roast over the weekend at Lolita? Greenhouse Tavern sounds good too. When I was in Cleveland in 2009, the plan was to go there for some pre-dinner snacks and drinks before dinner at Lola. But they were closed for a private event. I was really bummed!

I could ask Matt Harlan about doing a pig roast for us at Lolita - but I really think that having Friday dinner at Greenhouse Tavern would get our pig on in just a little better way. I'm going to ask Chef Sawyer to do a tasting menu, with his Roasted Pig Head as the featured item. Greenhouse's food is a little bolder than Lolita's (Pig Head, beef tartar, clams with foie gras sauce, the ever-changing "5th quarter", which was pig tongue the last we were there). Chef Sawyer (who's been on a number of Iron Chef episodes as Michael's sous, as well as Dinner Impossible when Mike was hosting it) has been getting a lot of well deserved national attention and GHT is a real food enthusiast's place. If we have Pig Face at GHT, would people also want a separate pig roast meal in the same weekend?

[tino27]

I agree with Nancy on GHT getting you your porcine quota for the day. I was with Nancy (and Edsel, too) during the last visit where we pigged out

Here's a link to the write-up of our experience.

When A Pork Chop Simply Won't Do

[rooftop1000]

I now have the finishing touch to answer the question...

"hey where are you guys going for vacation this summer"

I can now answer "Cleveland", and when they say "Why?"

I can answer "Roasted Pig Head"


tracey

[Chris Amirault]

Finally, after years of trying and failing to attend the Heartland Gathering, I've blocked out August 4-7 for the event. I won't be able to be there for a Sunday night dinner, probably, but could possibly arrive early to help with whatever needs helping. Just me right now, though I may have a kid or two along.

[NancyH]

Ok, time to start the headcount. This is what I have so far - please chime in to add companions, or your name to the list!

Definite for part or all:
NancyH +1
Ronnie Suburban +2
Edsel
Tino27
torakris
Kerry Beal
Chris Hennes
rooftop1000 +1
Jeff Meeker
David Ross
Boagman
RockNRoller
toolprincess

17

Maybe:
Fat Guy
prasantrin +1
CaliPoutine

4

[NancyH]

Updated:

NancyH +1
Ronnie Suburban +2
Edsel
Tino27
torakris
Kerry Beal
Chris Hennes
rooftop1000 +1
Jeff Meeker
David Ross
Boagman
RockNRoller
Chris Amirault
toolprincess

18

Maybe:
Fat Guy
prasantrin +1
CaliPoutine

4

[Chris Hennes]

My wife will be there as well, so put me down for a +1 (and her down for a vegetarian meal when we do the pig head roast...).

[NancyH]

Updated:

NancyH +1
Ronnie Suburban +2
Edsel
Tino27
torakris
Kerry Beal
Chris Hennes +1 (1 veg)
rooftop1000 +1
Jeff Meeker
David Ross
Boagman
RockNRoller
Chris Amirault
Connie Hayashi +1 (1 veg)
toolprincess

21

Maybe:
Fat Guy
prasantrin +1
CaliPoutine

4

[NancyH]

Here is the tentative schedule I'm working up:

Thursday Lunch: Sterle's Slovenian Country House

Thursday Dinner: Tremont! Pizza and Apps at Lolita followed by 2 or 3 courses at Dante across the street. Maybe after dinner cocktails at Fahrenheit or the VTR (for those who just can't wait for tomorrow). Hopefully, a nice night to walk around and experience Tremont.

Friday Lunch: Crop - Chef Steve Schimoler is the mad food scientist of Cleveland and his food must not be missed. I'm thinking of 11am, so we have a good amount of time for the afternoon activities (and noshing) before Happy Hour/Dinner. The restaurant should be relocated to Ohio City by the time this event happens.

Friday afternoon: Polish Boy sampling and/or visit to The Sausage Shop.

Friday Happy Hour: Velvet Tango Room

Friday Dinner: The Greenhouse Tavern

Saturday shopping: West Side Market and a local farmers' market

Saturday Lunch: Near or in the markets - so many choices!

Bread Making workshop at times Saturday to be determined by the host, locations tbd.

Saturday Dinner: The FEAST (location tbd)

Sunday first meal: Brunch at AMP 150

Sunday dinner - only if enough interest - I've got lots of ideas!

Is there interest in a food photography workshop if I can locate a suitable teacher? Where might that fit in time-wise?

Comments? Questions?

[jsmeeker]

I'm not *quite* a definite yet, but I really am gonna try to make this happen. Been hoping this gathering would return to Cleveland. Nothing on my calendar keeps me from going, though. So, once I start looking into travel details, I can become a definite!

[NancyH]

Updated:

Attending all or part of weekend:

NancyH +1
Ronnie Suburban +2
Edsel
Tino27
torakris
Kerry Beal
Chris Hennes +1 (1 veg)
rooftop1000 +1
David Ross
Boagman
RockNRoller
Chris Amirault
Connie Hayashi +1 (1 veg)
Kasw (Karen) +1
toolprincess

22

Maybe:
Fat Guy
prasantrin +1
CaliPoutine
Jeff Meeker

5

Any thoughts on the itinerary I proposed in my last post?

[Chris Hennes]

I like the itinerary, esp. the Sunday brunch at the airport Marriott (very convenient for those of us flying out right after). As I've already mentioned, I can't make anything Sunday afternoon or evening, so no opinion on that option. I'm also game for whatever workshops etc. others are interested in.

[jsmeeker]

AMP 150 is at the Airport Marriott? Or did I miss some other post?

Gotta think if I want to fly out there on a Thursday or fly out on Friday. I have plenty of vacation, so either works. Just gotta look at flights and hotels and see what makes sense. Speaking of hotels, any suggestion on a place that would be convenient? I've been to Cleveland a few times, but I didn't do any driving myself. Was driven around by a friend or took the transit and used my feet.

[NancyH]

AMP 150 is at the Airport Marriott? Or did I miss some other post?

Gotta think if I want to fly out there on a Thursday or fly out on Friday. I have plenty of vacation, so either works. Just gotta look at flights and hotels and see what makes sense. Speaking of hotels, any suggestion on a place that would be convenient? I've been to Cleveland a few times, but I didn't do any driving myself. Was driven around by a friend or took the transit and used my feet.

AMP 150 is indeed located in the Airport Marriott. Sounds amazing that this would be an actual foodist destination, but trust me, it is.

Once I have a sense of numbers, I will try to work out a discount room rate with both Marriott and the Holiday Inn next door. Since I don't know where Saturday will be yet, it's hard to recommend lodgings, since most folks want to be close to that. Stay tuned!

[jsmeeker]

Ok..I looked at the website and it didn't seem to indicate it was in an airport hotel. Just gave a street address that I didn't bother looking up.

I just wasn't sure if it was better to stay "downtown" or in one of the neighborhoods where we will be spending a lot of time cruising around. I just know from my rusty memory that the airport is out away from the downtown area (where GHT is) and also Treemont area. But as long as there are people willing to drive people around, that would be great.

I know everyone has there own preferences for hotels. I am somewhat of a "marriott whore", though less of one these days now that I don't do business travel like I used to. I have some points with group Holiday Inn is part of too.