Guys, I know what you’re thinking. Who goes to Cleveland…on purpose?
Well, no one really. Despite their really awesome marketing campaign here:
And here:
So you might have some preconceived notions of what Cleveland is like…I mean, yes, both times I went it was rainy and gloomy and miserable…and cold. Very very cold. BUT! But I believe misery breeds creativity. And cold miserable weather breeds the desire to eat. So creativity + food = some seriously fine food.
And we all know how serious I am about food.
So you can credit Cleveland’s surprisingly thriving food scene to crappy weather, the desire to eat, and of course Iron Chef Michael Symon.
I mean, have you BEEN TO LOLA or LOLITA or THE B SPOT?? I have, I have been to all three and this is what I have to say about that.
Michael Symon revolutionized the food scene in Downtown Cleveland, and now between the hours of 6:00 and 9:30 on any night, you had better have a reservation somewhere or you’re not eating. Because people are serious about their eating there. And they don’t have time for your out-of-town notions of just walking in somewhere and getting seated because, “seriously, this is Cleveland, how busy can it be?” Well, it’s busy. Real busy. So plan ahead or you’ll be driving around really strange places outside that few mile radius that feels charming wondering if you should maybe drive through that red light to avoid, I don’t know, perhaps being car-jacked. (Just kidding, Cleveland! Sort of.)
So now that you have your dinner reservations for every night you’re in town, you probably want to start planning your days. There is a lot to do in Cleveland and you want to be sure to fit it all in.
But you do want to make time to go to The West Side Market. Because it is glorious. And you must go directly to J and J Meats and immediately order the beef jerky. Because its not really beef jerky, it’s more like a juicy steak that you can carry around with you and bite into anytime you feel like it.
Now, if you aren’t going to drop your vacation plans in the Bahamas to fly immediately over to Cleveland, you can actually order this beef jerky ONLINE!!.
I know, I know.
GO HERE. DO THIS. EAT THAT. 