Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

Today's Hidden Gem: Michael Symon's B Spot

If you've read any of the entries in SBAS or have paged through a sampling of the Hidden Gems, you know that I am a huge fan of not only Iron Chef Michael Symon, but delicious cuisine, the Food Network, C-town, and the thriving Cleveland Restaurant Industry.

So it was only a matter of time before I made Michael's new restaurant, B Spot, a Hidden Gem.

And I give it two thumbs up, a 'three cheers,' and a 'high five.'

What can I say? When he shared the concept behind B Spot, he said he was putting together some of his favorites: Burgers, Brats, Bologna, and Beer!



I say he's hit on many people's faves, right out of the ballpark!



I was lucky enough to partake of the B Spot experience last weekend for my birthday dinner. The whole family went along and every single person loved it!



There WAS something there for everyone!



One in my party took a picture of the great chandelier. Another person took a picture of the great wall of beer cans. I took a picture of the juicy food!

Just going around the table: Various cheeseburgers to each person's tastes, fried bologna, any type of beer you can imagine and the famous Lola Fries. I must admit, on this visit, we did not try a Brat but we all love them. Gotta save something for next time and the time after that!

I tried the 'Symon Says' which consisted of a burger with bologna, cole slaw, whip sauce and American cheese. Medium Rare. It was PERFECT!

My Aunt and Uncle both ordered the 'Old School' bologna sandwich. We all jumped out of our skin when it arrived. This is no 'thinly sliced' bologna sandwich. Holy cow! The slice of bologna must have been at least 2 inches thick!



My Uncle had to take 1/2 of it home. He NEVER takes a doggie bag.



Michael's hilarious humor comes through even on the menu:

'Why?? vegie burger, blue cheese, pickled onion, arugula (add bacon...free of charge!!)'



B Spot is at ETON on Chagrin Blvd. It's closer to the eastern portion and you can enter via the Mall or the outside of ETON.




They do not take reservations so there may be a short wait. But there are chairs in the mall area just outside the B Spot entrance.



They try to please everyone. They do not sit you until your entire party has arrived. They serve the everyone all at once. The best part which many restaurants don't do anymore is that they serve any where from RARE to Well Done and everything in between. The service was very good and there was hardly a wait from the time we ordered until we received our food.


Another masterpiece by Michael Symon. I will be going back. I'm fairly confident everyone in my party will be making another visit.

The new spot in town appears to be Michael Symon's B Spot. I give it an 'A' and I guarantee if you dine there, you too, will see why it is this week's Hidden Gem!

Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

Today's Hidden Gem: The Fabulous Food Show

I am a huge fan of The Food Network and the bevy of shows they air on a daily basis. It seems I can not get enough of their competitions and their culinary delights.

So you say you are not as enthusiastic as I?

That's quite alright. But I would like to share why whether you are a fan of food or not, having the Fabulous Food Show in Cleveland, Ohio is a win-win situation for Northeast Ohio.

The Fabulous Food Show people term this event as the "Midwest's largest taste try and buy culinary celebration."

This show does not happen in every city. For the last number of years Cleveland, Ohio has been chosen as the host and on their website they are already planning for the show coming back in 2010.

It's an extremely huge honor.

As Michael Symon explained during one of his demo's, Cleveland is one of the leaders in culinary excellence. If you look at cities with our same demographics, size, or even bigger, Cleveland by far has many more local, thriving restaurants. Local is the key word. Who cares about chains? We have so many local chefs who have turned their dreams into reality.

The celebrity chefs who come into town each year LIKE Cleveland and enjoy their visit.

How could they not enjoy their trip this year with the added bonus of 70 degree temperatures!

The 2009 show featured Bobby Flay, Guy Fieri, Tyler Florence, Sandra Lee, Jason Roberts, and of course the Ambassador for Cleveland, Iron Chef Michael Symon.

Bobby Flay absolutely LOVED Cleveland. He could not stop talking about how wonderful the people were everywhere he went. Symon took him to the Cleveland Cavs game Saturday night and he had a terrific time (especially seeing his friend Shaq!). Flay said the Knicks fans really need to get as revved up as the Cleveland Cavs fans! Flay and his wife ate at Lola's and could not say enough about Michael Symon, his talent, his staff, the hospitality, and Symon's influence on Cleveland.

When you go to this show, it's similar to others at the I-X Center in the respect that there are booths up and down each aisle. This show, however, doesn't tout floor tilers or hot tub retailers (though a hot tub is not a bad idea) but local food distributors, restaurants, and everything food and drink!

One local woman sold the most amazing Ultimate Brownies. Another stand sold Frappe Vino.

Though these distributors are trying to sell their fares, they all give out free samples. I've never seen so many people lined up from booth to booth just to get a small taste of pasta, a meatball, or a cannoli.

I must admit, I don't stand in those lines. I'd rather see the cooking demos with the stars and walk around to get a glimpse of the stands.

Someone said 'if you go home hungry from these shows, it's your own fault.' Well, I must admit, by 6pm Sunday night, I still had not had a lick of food all day but totally enjoyed my visit.

It was a real treat for me to see my co-worker and friend Jacquie Chakirelis. Jacquie runs our "Momlikeme.com" website. They had a stand at the show and said it was a complete success. There were so many people in attendance all weekend. If you have not logged on to this website yet, please do. It's not just for Mom's, though that is it's focal point. They help Moms with every aspect you can think of, including feeding a family on a budget. There are some pretty hot topics we all get involved in on the website. It's really an interesting site. I suggest popping on some time.

I just can not say enough about the show. They have home made food, they have demonstrations, live music, celebrities, tips, and so much more.

I was lucky enough to attend the Bobby Flay Show and the Michael Symon Show. Not only were both entertaining but they each cooked up three meals to absolutely die for! They offered tremendous tips, especially with the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, and again, could not say enough good things about Cleveland.

If you've never been to the Fabulous Food Show, I strongly suggest hitting it in 2010. And if you have attended the show and been tantalized by the tremendous tastes, then you too, know why I've chosen The Fabulous Food Show as this week's Hidden Gem!

Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

I'd like to take a stroll down memory lane with updates on a number of past Hidden Gems!

Good news to share one and all!

First and foremost, please tune into the 4th annual Q-104 Pledge for Pets Radiothon to raise money for the APL! All the money stays right here in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Radiothon kicks off Friday, May 8th and goes thru Saturday.

For background on last year's Pledge for Pets, please CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE!!!

My very first Hidden Gem was about Our Lady of Peace Church and their Run for Peace.

Well, this year's Run for Peace was the biggest yet. Over two hundred and twenty four runners took to the streets in the Buckeye-Woodland-Larchmere neighborhoods raising nearly thirteen thousand dollars in scholarship funds for the children of the city of Cleveland who attend Our Lady of Peace Catholic School. A big thank you for all the generous participants and sponsors who pounded the pavement and made this event come to life. Words can not describe the gratitude expressed by these children, their families and teachers. Please keep your eyes and ears open next year for the annual Run for Peace which usually falls in the middle of March.

Another update on an event at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church. The Night of A Thousand Dinners exceeded all expectations ever imagined. This event, aimed at raising money for the elementary school over one weekend, expanded to the entire month and is a true testament that even in hard economic times, caring people open their purse strings. The school's pastor envisioned raising maybe five thousand dollars. To this day, the money is still rolling in but at last tally, a Night of a Thousand Dinners was 'the most successful fund raising effort in the long history of Our Lady of Peace School' raising almost thirty thousand dollars!

Pastor Chmura was speechless (and that's hard to believe if you know him, just kidding!). If I may read an excerpt from his thank you letter:

'I don't even know how to begin to thank you. I only wish that each of you could spend a day in our school to pray with our children and watch them grow in faith and wisdom and grace. You may not realize it, but in touching the life of a needy child you have touched the very face of God...'

This Sunday is Mother's Day. Malley's Chocolate covered Strawberries and Raspberries go on sale Friday at NOON until they sell out. Remember Mom, Gramma, Auntie or a loved one with a delicious gift from locally owned Malley's Chocolates!!

This year's International Film Festival was a smashing success--the largest ever! The Development Director at the Cleveland Film Society says 66,476 people attended the festival --figures up 27 percent from last year and up 89 percent from 2003.

The House of Swing will be celebrating their 32nd anniversary on May 30th, 2009. They are located at 4490 Mayfield Road in South Euclid. Owner Linda Kallie puts on a great party every year thanking all her patrons for their support. Pop in for Linda's delicious buffet, giveaways, live music, and a toast to Linda's husband, Lou, who got the whole thing rolling 32 years ago! This year Allan Greene with Mr. Stress will dazzle you as they rock the joint all night long! Stop in and dance the night away.

The 2nd World Alpaca Conference is being held right here in Cleveland, Ohio from June 3rd thru the 7th at the I-X Center. Believe it or not, Northeast Ohio has a number of Alpaca Farms. Last year I featured Alpha Omega Alpacas. I learned some interesting tidbits about the Alpaca world! I can only imagine how exciting and amazing the upcoming conference will be!

And last, but certainly not least, our very own Iron Chef, Michael Symon received a tremendous honor this week: The James Beard Award. It is the "Oscar" of the cooking world. He was named best chef in the Great Lakes Region. Something we ALREADY knew!!! Congratulations Michael!!!!

I hope you enjoyed my trip down memory lane highlighting and updating some of my more memorable Hidden Gems of the past...which keep making history in the here and now!!! THAT is why these are Hidden Gems near and dear to my heart! Hopefully yours too!!!!!

Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

Today's Hidden Gem: The I-X Center

I've chosen a handful of Hidden Gems in the past where I'm sure the curious elocutionist asks, 'how could that be a Hidden Gem? It's huge or it's so well-known or I've known about that for years?!?!?'

True, true, and true again!

I still believe that the I-X Center offers a number of new adventures and outlets to northeast Ohioans and beyond.

I hate to say it but I do have friends who will not cross the border! Eastsiders who will not venture west....westsiders who refuse to cross over into the land of the circular intersections....and southerners who, well, I just don't know about them!

We've done stories in the past on the future of the I-X Center....on the battle between Cleveland and Brook Park over the I-X Center....and how Cleveland's visions of a new Convention Center may affect the I-X Center.

The infamous 'they' say that the I-X Center is one of the largest convention centers in the country, which was constructed back during World War II for building bombers and tanks. In 1985 it officially re-opened as what we affectionately know as our I-X Center.

All I ask is for anyone who has not been there in a while or ever to jump out of your box (and cross the Cleveland borders)! There are some wonderful shows scheduled in the coming weeks.

If you are a chef or just a connoisseur of tantalizing tastes, I'm guessing you attended last week's Fabulous Food Show. Our very own Michael Symon highlighted the event along with some of his friends including Paula and Bobby Deen and Guy Fieri.

(photo Courtesy wkyc.com)

This weekend we have the always popular Cleveland Christmas Connection November 21-23. I am a big fan of this show. I can not tell you how many Christmas gifts I've gotten through the years by popping in on this seasonal showcase.

Because the complex is so expanse, there are oftentimes multiple shows at once. This weekend, there is also the 1st Annual Ohio Family Pet Expo which runs November 22-23rd.

Shows already scheduled for 2009 include the I-X Indoor Amusement Park which is set to run from March 27, 2009 through April 19, 2009. And you don't have to leave Cleveland to explore your romantic side and sample French fare when America's Largest Home & Garden Show rolls into town February 7-15, 2009.

An amazing memory for me occurred a few years back at the Home and Garden Show. My youngest niece was away at college. My Mom, sister, and I headed out to the show hoping to get a glimpse of Thom Filicia, well-known decorator and member of the Queer Eye cast. Not only did we get a glimpse of him BUT we met him, got his autograph, and called my niece at school WHILE we were speaking with him. My sister put Thom on the line to say hello! What a hoot! We'll never forget that moment!

If you make the trek to the I-X Center, you too, can make a memory and see why it's this week's Hidden Gem!

Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

(photo Courtesy wkyc.com /channel 3 videographers)

Today's Hidden Gem: Michael Symon

Michael Symon is my first 'individual human' Hidden Gem. And he is far from being hidden. He is all over the airwaves these days.

Michael continues using his magnificent craft to showcase the city he loves. He hopes to enlighten as many folks as he can and open up eyes around the world to Cleveland's culinary excellence!

For those of you who do NOT know Michael Symon, he is the owner of two fabulous restaurants in town --Lola and Lolita.

He battled long and hard to become the newest 'Iron Chef' in "Iron Chef America," which airs on The Food Network.

Now you can add "Dinner: Impossible" to his long resume list! "Dinner: Impossible" pushes Symon to the ultimate limit. Basically, Symon does not know his mission until he arrives on site. At that time he will be told who he is cooking for, how many, what he needs to cook, how he needs to cook it, and how much time he has to pull this off.

The most recent "Dinner: Impossible" was shot right here in Northeast Ohio. It was great! Michael Symon had to cook up a Passover meal for the members of The Park Synagogue. I believe he was given about 6 or 7 hours. Michael admitted during the show numerous times that this was a first on many fronts. He had never made kugel. He had to cook totally kosher. There were many foods within the menu he had never cooked or eaten.

The show was a hoot and extremely entertaining. You knew he'd succeed but he was up against 'you know what' until the end! Symon and his staff were briefed by Rabbi Skoff on what was expected. He laid the ground rules, including the fact that all the food had to be kosher. There were certain items that were no-no's. They had to cook with certain pans and equipment, being Passover. They had a woman from the Synagogue who was their guide, reminding them of the rules and offering helpful tips. She was great! What a joy to watch.

The countdown clock began. While his staff started in the kitchen, Michael went to a nearby grocery store for some last minute items. When he returned, the Rabbi had to check all of his groceries before he even entered the building. There was one non-kosher item that had to stay in the car. It set him back, but he rebounded well.

Michael Symon, a talented chef, good-hearted human being, and perfect ambassador for the City of Cleveland!

Visit one of his restaurants, tune into one of his shows, and you too, will see why Michael Symon has been chosen as this week's Hidden Gem!!!!