Tuesday, November 27, 2012

‪Jocko's Bar & Grill‬

If you haven't been to Jocko's Bar and Grill lately, you owe it to yourself to go. It is the same great sports bar – big and open with plentiful well-located flat screens, and upbeat friendly service – but there's something new. The CHEF and the MENU!

Jocko's kitchen is now powered by Chef Charles, who comes straight from Fahrenheit in Tremont. This young, talented chef who was mentored by none-other-than Rocco Whalen, has elevated typical bar food to a culinary experience. The food is simply delicious, with complex flavors and a special attention to detail that makes a statement. We went in a few weeks ago and so enjoyed our entrees that we went back and ordered the exact same dishes. (Next time we will be sure to venture further into the menu because there are a wealth of choices!)

I had Four Cheese Blend Tortellini with abundant, sauteed vegetables and basil cream sauce (skipping the shaved pancetta since I'm a vegetarian). Savory and so creamy with large, perfect al dente Tortellini. Along with the bites he kept stealing of my Tortellini (!), he enjoyed an 8oz. Pan Seared Salmon accompanied by edamame mashed potatoes, garlic spinach, and wasabi aioli. Not only was it delicious, healthy and beautifully plated – it is priced so reasonably that you could go there and have it every day for dinner.

With the addition of Chef Charles, Jocko's is bringing some amazing food to Broadview Heights. The owners' vision and his culinary leadership have taken Jocko's from 'bar food' to 'dining' in a sports bar setting where you feel right at home.

Unity Design is a print and online design firm that specializes in the restaurant and culinary industry.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Rosewood Grill

I have to say that it is fabulous to see a non-chain restaurant in Strongsville that is so packed all the time. Rosewood Grill picked a perfect location to bring its concept.

The interior is spacious, sleek and very open, but the decor makes it warm and intimate. On our visits it's been too chilly for the patio, but I cannot wait to dine there at some point. It is huge and has a great vibe with a cozy firepit.

The menu is seasonally inspired with fresh, creative offerings. I was thrilled to find a cashew-crusted tofu on the menu. It came with a sweet potato hash that is out of this world, and snow peas and chili sauce. All of the flavors worked so well together. He had the cedar-planked salmon with grilled asparagus, and said it was perfectly cooked and delectable. They have a very nice wine list, and glass pours at every price range.

Definitely a welcome addition to this side of town

Unity Design is a print and online design firm that specializes in the restaurant and culinary industry.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Vegan Sweet Tooth

We had the opportunity to try Vegan Sweet Tooth - once at a birthday party where we sampled many different flavors and types of cupcakes, and again at The Cleveland Veg Gala where we sampled cake pops and brownies. We were so impressed that we decided to have them make our wedding cake. Let me tell you, we made the right choice! We got a chocolate cake (rich, dense and moist), with raspberry filling (WOW), espresso simple syrup (adding to the moistness and rich flavor), and vanilla bean frosting (YUM). The flavors all worked so well together. There were a million other combinations we could have tried, too, making it hard to decide! They were so great and simple to deal with too. I emailed them a color swatch and picture of a cake's decor that I liked, and our cake was made in a similar motif and it was beautiful. The best part was that our guests could not believe the cake was vegan. Everyone raved about how delicious it was. We are so glad we went with Vegan Sweet Tooth for our special occasion!