CLEVELAND — The table is set for Cleveland Eats, a culinary festival organized by the Hospitality Management Center of Excellence at Cuyahoga Community College.
Thirty-one restaurants, caterers and treat makers will dish out their mouthwatering specialties when Cleveland Eats returns Sept. 15 to the Mall B outdoor event space above the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.
Each establishment claimed a spot in the festival’s Culinary Village, where meandering foodies can conquer their hunger by purchasing small plate selections for $5 or less.
“Deciding what to eat may be the toughest decision people make all day,” said Michael Huff, the College’s dean of hospitality management. “I recommend coming hungry, because you’re going to find some of the tastiest food available in Northeast Ohio.”
The list of participating restaurants — and their claims to fame — includes:
Adega — Mediterranean-inspired cuisine
Bloom Bakery — Socially conscious bakery offering artisan-crafted goods
Coquette Patisserie — A one-day return of the popular University Circle destination
Edwin's Leadership and Restaurant Institute — French cuisine and a second chance
fire food and drink — Global-inspired dishes built from locally sourced ingredients
Hard Rock Rocksino — Culinary tour de force of five restaurants
Heck's Café — Gourmet burgers
Irie Jamaican Kitchen — The spice of the island in the CLE
Lucky's Café — Hip Tremont eatery featured on the Food Network
Luna Bakery & Café — European-style pastries
Melt Bar and Grilled — The restaurant that reinvented the grilled cheese sandwich
Ninja City Kitchen & Bar — Asian street food packing a kung fu punch
Nomad Culinary — Kitchen-style cooking brought to your doorstep
Pier W — Coastal dining with a menu straight from the seas
Pierre's Ice Cream — For 86 years, the reason Clevelanders leave room for dessert
Pura Vida/Blue Canyon — Creative approaches to traditional fare
Red, the Steakhouse/Moxie — Sibling restaurants that share a taste of excellence
Salt+ — Culinary adventures built on small plates, cocktails and unique wines
Saucisson — Boutique butchery specializing in spiced sausages and hand-cured meats
Skye LaRae's Culinary Services — Serving great food and a personal chef experience
Stack'd — Outrageous hot sandwiches, street tacos, burgers and all-day breakfast options
Table 45 Restaurant and Bar — A new take on modern American cuisine
The Burnham Restaurant — Signature Cleveland experience featuring Ohio-sourced products
The Burntwood Tavern — Straightforward menu with smoked, planked and wood-grilled food
The Campus Grille — Caribbean cuisine served on the North Coast
The Pierogi Lady — More than 100 varieties of pierogis
Xinji Noodle Bar — Pan-Asian hot spot starring ramen and dumplings
Wild Thymez Personal Chef Service — Personal chef to Cleveland’s sports stars
Zack Bruell Restaurant Group — The work of Cleveland’s most prolific restaurateur
In addition, the culinary stars of tomorrow will represent Alere, Tri-C’s student-run restaurant, and the Westfield Culinary Apprenticeship program, a collaboration between the College, Westfield Insurance and the American Culinary Federation.
Admission to the festival starts at $5, with children age 12 and under admitted free. For more information, or to purchase advance tickets, visit www.cleveland-eats.com.
More than 8,000 attended the inaugural festival in 2017.
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