PLAN: 2011 Heartland Gathering

[torakris]

How do you guys know your schedules a year in advance??

I don't know my exact dates for next summer but any weekend between 7/23 and 8/20 would work for me.

[David Ross]

So can we come to a consensus about place/dates? I vote for Cleveland the first week of August. Anybody else?

[Kerry Beal]

Cleveland first week in August would work for me.

[Chris Hennes]

Last weekend in July is much better for me, but I can make first weekend in August work if need be.

[Darcie B]

I would so like to be able to go to a Heartland gathering for once - I might be able to do the last week in July. The weekend before that would be even better as I am scheduled to be in Ohio anyway.

[nakji]

I can never make it to the Heartland, but I always enjoy reading along with these topics; both the planning and the actual event.

[NancyH]

I hope we're agreed on Cleveland, because I'm actively looking for a kitchen for Saturday's feast! I am running down a few leads.

Does anyone want to pitch out which restaurants they really, really want to visit? I've got a list that is way too long for the amount of time we'll have, so I'd like some feedback to help narrow it down.

In my opinion, "can't miss" options include Restaurant Dante, Crop, AMP 150, and a Michael Symon restaurant (perhaps Lolita, since we went to Lola the last time). And perhaps a Zack Bruell restaurant (there are 4: Parallax, Chinato, L'Albatros and Table 45).

Restaurants that we visited last time but which remain worthy are Sun Luck Garden (though I'd love to get Wonton Gourmet or Superior Pho on the EG radar, and Dim and Den Sum may be open by then), Light Bistro, and Lola.

AMP 150 is located in a Marriott, and I'm talking to them about doing a deal - there is also a decent Holiday Inn right next door to it that I have a relationship with.

[judiu]

Restaurants that we visited last time but which remain worthy are Sun Luck Garden (though I'd love to get Wonton Gourmet or Superior Pho on the EG radar, and Dim and Den Sum may be open by then), Light Bistro, and Lola.

What a WONDERFUL name for a Chinese restaurant! Brilliant, I tell ya!

(Bolding added.)

[prasantrin]

I don't have concrete plans to go, but is there any chance instead of a Chinese meal that something like Middle Eastern or Mexican could be done? It might be nice to have an "ethnic" meal that's not Chinese (especially for those of us who eat a lot of Chinese). I'm also interested in Mallorca, but haven't heard much about the food quality there. Good Spanish food is hard to find, so if it's good, I'd welcome a visit there.

Nancy--do you think it will be the last weekend of July or the first weekend of August?

[NancyH]

prasantrin - the predisposition towards Chinese started in Cleveland with Fat Guy - he staged with Annie at Sun Luck Garden and really wanted to have a meal there last time. The fact is, Cleveland has more outstanding Asian restaurants than it does Mexican or Middle Eastern - but if others also want this, we can certainly look for it. Momocho is fabulous Nuevo Latino, but isn't open for lunch, or great for large groups and the main dining room(and both of the restrooms) aren't handicapped accessible. Maha's new restaurant might be a great choice for Middle Eastern, but I haven't been there yet (her falafel stand at the West Side Market is my favorite falafel in the world - sorry Mamouns).

Mallorca isn't worth a special trip - large quantities of decent, but not exceptional food. Food service seafood.

I also forgot to include in my "must" list, above: The Greenhouse Tavern.

We won't be able to nail down a date until we hear from torakris; I believe she is en route to Japan today.

[prasantrin]

Ah. I thought she had already stated her range of dates, but maybe her plans have changed.

[jsmeeker]

Cleveland in 2011?? Hmm.. I didn't make it up to C-Town in 2010, but I did the three years prior. I need me a Velvet Tango Room fix!!

[Marmish]

I won't be able to join you all this year

BUT, it is for a very good reason: I'm pregnant! Due June 30.

[ronnie_suburban]

I won't be able to join you all this year

BUT, it is for a very good reason: I'm pregnant! Due June 30.

Congrats! That's great news.

At this point, the family Suburban (party of 3) is planning on attending. Either weekend is workable for us, though the later weekend is slightly preferable.

I'm not at all current on Cleveland's dining scene but I'd very much like to hit a Michael Symon restaurant (preferably not Lola, since we went there last time). For me, the Velvet Tango Room is an absolute must (at least once, maybe more) but I'll get there on my own if no 'official' group activity gets planned in that direction. I also feel compelled to check out some of the places mentioned in this missive by my friend Rene G. If anyone else has any interest, we'd love some company.

Looking forward to seeing everyone!

=R=

[torakris]

Best dates for me are late July into mid-August.

I think adding VTR is an absolute must, other than that I'm pretty much open, though I'd love to get back to Crop and also visit Dante.

Ethnic wise Chinese/Asian is probably the best we've got, our choices for Mexican are awful and most of the Middle Eastern places are nothing to rave about.

[boagman]

My birthday is on July 30, so I don't know if that makes that weekend busier or less busy for Donna and myself than the following weekend. I suppose I'm fine with either. Having never been to Cleveland, it's actually one of the few places in Ohio ("The Armpit of America!" ) that I'm actually partially intrigued by.

With regard to restaurant choices, I'm categorically uninformed on the Cleveland restaurant scene with the exception of the Symon restaurants, as we've got Symon's Roast here in Detroit. I quite enjoy it, too, but that just sort of makes me want to try something altogether different if I'm coming to a different city. It's been quite a while since I did an exceptional Chinese place (which can really be a lot of fun if it's done in pass-the-dish style), and our Middle Eastern choices and quality up here are probably far better than anything Cleveland has to offer, just because of the local populace.

So yeah: good Chinese or Asian would be fantastic, and other than that, I just don't want to go to "Bob's Cheese Wheel" or something like that. I still almost universally hate cheese. Being that Cleveland is basically directly on Lake Erie, what's the local fresh seafood selection like? It's probably akin to Detroit's, but to me, that ain't half bad!

[CaliPoutine]

Congrats Beth. Thats amazing news.

I vote for August. I'm taking the California Bar Exam in July and the trip would be a great reward for the months of study I'll be putting in.

[santo_grace]

I won't be able to join you all this year

BUT, it is for a very good reason: I'm pregnant! Due June 30.

Very exciting! Congratulations!

I will be unable to attend. I was hoping to attend this year since I have family in the area, but we'll be in Seattle eating and wishing my brother well before he climbs Mt. Rainier.

[NancyH]

Shame on me for not suggesting VTR! It will be included.

Last time we did it here, it was the end of July and some thought produce was still pre-peek, so I'm leaning to the August dates if that works for folks.

@Ronnie - as far are Rene's tips go - last time we shopped only at West Side Market and some were (rightfully) not pleased by produce; I'm thinking simultaneous excursions to WSM and a farmer's market if folks prefer that for produce. But I personally think WSM is a culinary treasure not to be missed.

For a short weekend- honestly, none of the Jewish Deli/Corned beef places are worthy of displacing other food choices. Would folks be interested in visiting an old world sausage/charcuterie shop? We have several that are EG worthy and I'm sure that could be arranged. Perhaps the one Tony Bourdain visited when he was here - when the owners retire or pass, it will be gone, as it has been out-zoned with no grandfathering possible.

Farkas Pastry is most excellent and there are others that are EG worthy if we want to work such a stop into the weekend.

The Polish Boy concept is intriguing - I will work on that (maybe a tour of several places?)

Sterle's Slovenian is actually a great place - that might be a great choice for an "ethnic" meal if we choose one, and give a break from the Asian choices.

Jeepers, I'm getting hungry!

[NancyH]

I'm leaning towards Greenhouse Tavern for Friday dinner -I can talk to Chef Sawyer about doing a tasting dinner for us featuring his most food forward dishes such as the pig's face and beef tartar. Happy Hour at VTR before dinner.

Do we have a consensus as to which Michael Symon option is more appealing: Lolita or B Spot? Lolita is only open for dinner, B Spot lunch and dinner.

Do people think they would stay in Cleveland long enough to do Sunday Supper at Crop? It is an amazing culinary value - one of the best in C Town or anywhere. And Chef Steve Schimoler is the mad scientist of Cleveland Chefs. He won the Great Food Show cook-off among himself, Jon Sawyer and Dante.

Dante for Thursday night? If you saw my blog post of our New Year's Eve dinner there, you have a good idea of why I think it is immensely worthy of a visit.

AMP 150 for either Thursday lunch or Sunday brunch? Marriott actually allows Chef Ellis Cooley to garden on its premises, and the results are simply wonderful!

Tell me what you think? Too many places, not enough time!

[NancyH]

Of course, we could do a progressive dinner crawl in Tremont Thursday night - Dante, Lolita, Parallax, Fahrenheit, Ty Fun, Bac - and I'm sure I'm missing someone in this list!

[Fat Guy]

That sounds very cool.

As usual, I will make every effort to attend. It's a little early for me to know my summer plans but if I can come I absolutely will.

[ronnie_suburban]

Shame on me for not suggesting VTR! It will be included.

Paulius, Paulius!

@Ronnie - as far are Rene's tips go - last time we shopped only at West Side Market and some were (rightfully) not pleased by produce; I'm thinking simultaneous excursions to WSM and a farmer's market if folks prefer that for produce. But I personally think WSM is a culinary treasure not to be missed.

I agree that it's a culinary treasure -- and a personal favorite -- and I'd feel a bit odd coming to Cleveland and not visiting it. But I like the idea of combining it with a farmers' market or two. No reason not to aim for the best of everything!

For a short weekend- honestly, none of the Jewish Deli/Corned beef places are worthy of displacing other food choices. Would folks be interested in visiting an old world sausage/charcuterie shop? We have several that are EG worthy and I'm sure that could be arranged. Perhaps the one Tony Bourdain visited when he was here - when the owners retire or pass, it will be gone, as it has been out-zoned with no grandfathering possible.

I'd love to make such a visit but will happily do it on my own if it doesn't sound appealing to anyone else.

Farkas Pastry is most excellent and there are others that are EG worthy if we want to work such a stop into the weekend.

See my comments directly above.

The Polish Boy concept is intriguing - I will work on that (maybe a tour of several places?)

I'm always up for a multi-stop culinary crawl but again, if that doesn't sound good to anyone else, I'll hit as many places as I can on my own.

Sterle's Slovenian is actually a great place - that might be a great choice for an "ethnic" meal if we choose one, and give a break from the Asian choices.

Sounds great but I'm sure I'll be happy with whatever decision gets made.

Even though I'm not local, I'm happy to provide any assistance I can in setting up activities. So please, let me know how I can contribute.

=R=

[prasantrin]

@Ronnie--I'd join you, for sure! I love the idea, and am still very jealous that I didn't get to go to the one in Chicago.

@santo_grace--Not again!! You tell your brother that Mt. Ranier will still be there next year, so he should postpone his climb!

@Marmish--I was hoping you'd still make it out, baby and all! Darn! One month isn't too early for a baby to be exposed to gluttonous eating, is it? All they do is eat when they're not sleeping, anyway, so your little one will fit right in!

[NancyH]

So yeah: good Chinese or Asian would be fantastic, and other than that, I just don't want to go to "Bob's Cheese Wheel" or something like that. I still almost universally hate cheese. Being that Cleveland is basically directly on Lake Erie, what's the local fresh seafood selection like? It's probably akin to Detroit's, but to me, that ain't half bad!

Unfortunately, fresh fish and seafood are hard to come by in Cleveland.