CLE Foodcast

Prohibition was a dark time for alcohol drinkers but a lack of booze fueled innovation in the beverage category. And that, friends, is where NORKA's story began.

In this episode, entrepreneur Michael Considine tells a great story of how he went down an Akron history rabbit-hole to learn about the city's signature soda that was produced from 1924 through 1962. Without ever tasting the original NORKA, using knowledge gleaned from records and family members of the original producer, Michael recreated the soft drink and even improved it to appeal to today's modern palates.

NORKA is currently available in four flavors and is sold as far away as Australia. We also learn how the brand has the potential to expand to other flavors and product lines.

This episode is presented with support from Kate's Fish at the West Side Market and Chef Douglas Katz.

Clean up on Aisle 112! That's 112 years of the historic, beloved and hopeful West Side Market. This iconic structure, and the human ecosystem within its walls, have survived plenty of turmoil—from the Great Depression to wartime, a global pandemic and a beleaguered city bureaucracy.

Rosemary Mudry became the Executive Director of the Cleveland Public Market Corporation about six months ago. Tasked with taking the West Side Market into the future with a newly created nonprofit management structure, she and her small team are calmly and carefully making changes that improve the shopping experience, fortifying the 100+ year-old infrastructure, and addressing the concerns and needs of around 70 independent vendors.

In this episode we get an idea of the short- and long-term priorities for the market, how the new nonprofit structure supports growth and change, and what the upcoming holiday season might look like for regular customers and visiting tourists.

This episode was made possible with support from Ohio City Inc. and the Ohio City Street Festival.

It's hard not to sit across from Flora Grk (pronounced "Gerk") and be uplifted and inspired...not to mention, you might wonder if you've ever worked as hard as she has.

Flora opened Tita Flora's, last year in Independence, Ohio, a place that is definitely NOT a hotbed of mixed cultural cuisines. She's serving up filipino staples in this small, homey spot that will have some similarities to other Asian foods you might have had. Listen to this episode to find out about the ingredients and flavor profiles that are hallmarks of Filipino food, how Tita Flora's came to be (and almost didn't happen), and how Flora's tenacity drove her to fulfill a dream.

Thank you, listeners and supporters for three years and 100 episodes, and building a lovely community of people who cherish local food, and the people who grow, cook and share it., and thanks to Bill Conners, my sound engineer through it all.

The American dream looks a lot like this. A young man from Ghana arrives to the US to attend Hiram College. Misses home. Duplicates a family recipe that goes back six generations. Becomes an entrepreneur with a product in Ohio grocery stores.

Nana Kwamena Takyi-Micah is that guy and Ghana Supreme Sauce is something we can all grab from the international foods aisle at the grocery store. His company is Micah Specialty Foods.

I know you will enjoy this unlikely story and along the way you will be learn a little about the African continent and the food differences therein. If you are an entrepreneur, you'll be inspired by Nana Kwamena's determination. All of us who appreciate the flavors of cultures different than our own will be reminded that the world is big and there is much to learn and discover.

This episode was made possible by All Cleveland Coffee, locally roasted whole bean coffee that gives back to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank with every bag.

Rocco DiSpirto has been on the food scene for more than 20 years...in fact, you will usually see his name preceded by "Celebrity Chef" and I guess that's true. But I enjoyed a fun and meaningful conversation with Rocco, an easygoing, friendly approachable guy (but I was still nervous!) who just published his 15th cookbook, Everyday Delicious. We talked about food, life, how the business has changed, and how his recipes and books have evolved with him and his interests before he stepped into a spotlight at a special dinner for Cooper's Hawk Wine Club Members (I was invited as a guest).

Also appearing at the dinner is Chef Matt McMillin, Chief Culinary Officer and head of food and beverage for Cooper's Hawk and he might have my dream job! In addition to planning menus and developing the direction of the growing restaurant's culinary offerings he can be found leading wine club members on trips to places like Tuscany and Croatia, and making appearances at dinners around the country like this one here in Cleveland.

Food brings people together and that's the reason for this double "BOGO" episode that was made possible by Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurants! Thank you, Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurants for the opportunity.

I wanted to call this episode Ice Ice Baby, but I was concerned that many of my listeners would not get the reference. If you DO get the reference you are truly among my people,

This episode is presented in partnership with the Ashtabula County Visitors Bureau and it is all about Ohio's Grand River Valley, a premier wine-making region. We're talking ice wine, a variety of wine that allows for creativity and that appeals to all types of wine drinkers. Ice wine is the focal point of the Grand River Valley Ice Wine Festival which is happening all through March. Seven locations on the "ice wine trail" offer pairings and difference experiences for the ice-wine-curious.

In this episode I speak to two winemakers and you'll learn how ice wine is grown, harvested and produced, and you will get a taste of what awaits you in the nearby Grand River Valley. (For more Ashtabula information, try episode 88).

Thanks to Chef Douglas Katz for being a supporter of the CLE Foodcast and to the Ashtabula County Visitors Bureau for the collaboration.

Put down your Timbits, and head to one of Banter's two locations for a pile of poutine! Banter recently reopened in Gordon Square and the combination bottle shop, sausage haus and poutinerie is the place to be for hearty fare inspired by the Quebecois (sometimes called the less dignified-sounding "Quebeckers."

Plenty of research went into Banter, which also has a second take out shop at the Van Aken District. Owner Matt Stipe wants you to think about the poutine, which takes some liberties from the traditional brown gravy and curds variety, but he also takes great pride in being a wine and beer shop, with curated selections he chose himself.

Trust me on this, the fries alone are worth the visit. But, considering that you can top them in a myriad of ways, with squeaky Ohio-made cheese curds, well you've got something close to paradise, friends.

This episode is presented with support from Chef Douglas Katz. Partners include the Cleveland International Film Festival, April 3-13, 2024, and the Ashtabula County Visitors Bureau.

After roughly 10 years associated with Saucisson, the artisan butcher shop she built with former partner Penny Tagliarina, Melissa Khoury knew the time had come to walk away. Earning and plenty of local and national notoriety, including coverage in Food and Wine and Oprah's magazine, and the chance to "Beat Bobby Flay," the little Slavic Village butcher shop that could DID IT ALL.

Penny left to pursue a career in hospitality in Arizona and Mel continued to run the shop, hoping for a Slavic Village revitalization that still hasn't arrived. After facing, and surviving, other life-changing things like a pandemic, a health scare, and turning 40, Melissa decided to close Saucisson at the end of 2023.

I am truly honored to have heard her story and to bring it to you.

This episode is presented with support from Chef Douglas Katz and the Ashtabula County Visitors Bureau.

Kevin Kane is the general manager of Marble Room Steaks and Raw Bar in downtown Cleveland—no small role given that the 30,000-sq.-ft. restaurant is housed in a restored historic landmark and offers some of the most elevated food and service in the region. The opulent restaurant is a place for grand celebrations, high-powered business dinners and celebrity sightings as much as it is a place for intimate dinners for two and almost nightly marriage proposals.

A restaurant of this caliber comes with big expectations and a high price tag to match, though it also comes with a promise...to be one of the best experiences of your life. That's where Kevin and his management and culinary team come in.

Having had the opportunity to dine here several times, I was always curious about the vision behind the experience, especially the approach to exceptional service. Kevin gives some insight into how everything comes together at the Marble Room, including the origins of his own approach to hospitality, and just how many people have to work together in concert to deliver on the promise of a memorable meal.

Let's get something straight. For the purposes of this conversation, it's "Chutni" not "chutney," ya'll!

Entrepreneur Sahithya Wintrich developed her unique line of products during the pandemic. She wondered if she could bring some of the umami-packed flavors of her home country to the mainstream. The result is Chutni Punch, a trio of condiments designed to "punch up" dishes with flavors and ingredients common to Southern India cuisine.

Beloved by local chefs and avid cooks, these sprinkle-on condiments have flavors of chickpeas, peanut, sesame, curry leaves, and chili peppers, all in subtly different combinations that add complexity and interest to things like eggs, avocado toast, popcorn and even some pizza or pierogi! As Sahithya explains, most Indian food we think of is different than Southern Indian cuisine. These are a great way to experiment with newer flavors on the full spectrum of Indian food.

We talk about how her previous tech-oriented career helped to guide the research and development of Chutni Punch, the three flavor combinations (and I taste them!), and the holistic vision for her emerging brand.

Available at many local stores or check out her new gift packaging at Chutnipunch.com.

This podcast is made possible with support from Chef Douglas Katz, The Van Aken District, and Cookin Genie.