Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Cleveland Veg Gala

The Cleveland Veg Gala, held Sunday October 14, 2012 was one of the best food events we've ever been to. Sure there were a few snags, but in its first year, this event exceeded expectations. And we LOVE that a vegan event in Cleveland SOLD OUT!

Over 28 restaurants, bakeries, and other food vendors showcased their finest vegan cuisine (usually two items at each station), and the results were just delicious. Really, if you didn't think about, you might not have even noticed that everything was meat and dairy free. Some highlights were Deagan's Kitchen's mushroom-potato "Meatballs" with spicy Marinara, Root Cafe's Raw Lasagna (zucchini layered with marinara, hazelnut-walnut pesto and cashew-based 'ricotta'), Pura Vida's Chili with such an intricate level of spices and seasoning, Lion On Lorain's Cubano Vegano with steamed seitan, vegan ham, and vegan cheese, Luxe's Chick Pea Patties, Orale Kitchen's Potato Empandas and Enchiladas, and Grovewood Tavern & Wine Bar's Ohio Black Bean Ragoƻt served over polenta cakes.

And then the desserts! Decadent creations from so many sweeteries. Tremont Scoops' buckeyes, Vegan Sweet Tooth's moist cake pops covered in dark chocolate, and those amazing deep dark chocolate truffles covered in toasted coconut from Grovewood were stand-outs. But seriously, the selections were abundant and overwhelming.

There were some outstanding beverages as well. Muddy Paw Wines were fabulous. This local winery in Grand River Valley donates proceeds to the Geauga Humane Society. Love it!! Dandy Blend Herbal Coffee Substitute, a tasty caffeine-free herbal coffee substitute served with rice milk was perfect with dessert. And E-3 Live, such a healthy concoction that aids with digestion, was a great idea after indulging all night on plentiful vegan fare!

We applaud the effort of many participants who went the distance to show off really creative vegan fare that surprised and delighted. We overheard a few people saying "And the best part is, we can eat everything here. We don't even have to ask about the ingredients!" Indeed.

The Veg Gala was rounded out with a wonderful cruelty-free silent auction, and live music throughout the evening. Proceeds are going toward the upcoming Cleveland Veg Fest this summer. Surely an event not to be missed!

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Monday, October 15, 2012

Istanbul Grill in Tremont

We've been meaning to check out Istanbul Grill in Tremont for a long time, and finally, thankfully did! From the tasty authentic Turkish cuisine, to the charming decor and friendly, accommodating service (thanks Andrew and Greta!), this will be a new regular spot for us.

The ambiance is cozy and inviting with lovely Turkish ornamentation throughout. A beautiful brick archway leads you to a raised up dining area, where all the tables feel very private and intimate. The patio out front would be the perfect people-watching place for dessert and a cup of coffee.

We started at the bar with a couple of appetizers and wine during happy hour. We had Hummus (rich and creamy - yum!) and Ezme (a fresh tomato dip) with the most amazing, warm and delicious grilled pita bread. The Sigara Boric were really good – delicately deep fried phyllo rolls with house-made feta cheese inside. We will probably order these on every visit!

For entrees, he had the Chef's Chicken Burger which had great flavor and was served with a yoghurt dill sauce. Next time he would order the burger on the pita bread, because it was so amazing. The deliciously crispy fries tasted like they were battered in a little chick pea flour, giving them extra flavor and crispness.

I had the Kuru Fasulye Pilav (white bean stew with rice), which was mild in flavor but nice, and healthy-tasting (in a good way!) There were tons of vegetarian and vegan options on the menu. It will take a while to work my way through it!

Note: If you check it out on the website, don't let that mislead you. It does not do the setting or intimacy justice, and the food imagery on it looks sort of cafeteria-like, when it is actually quite delicious.