The Ritz-Carlton launches a new Fresh Market culinary experience

Foodies seeking a one-of-a-kind Cleveland dining experience can reserve the Fresh Market package at the Ritz-Carlton Cleveland.

This hands-on, chef-guided exploration of the West Side Market is being offered from May to November, 2016.

The Fresh Market experience begins with an overnight luxury stay at the hotel, followed by a morning breakfast with a Ritz-Carlton chef who will review guests' food preferences and favorite menu items. Then, it is off to the market, as the guests and chef embark on a shopping tour of the West Side Market. Strolling from vendor to vendor, guests will survey seasonal flavors, sample foods that pique their interest, talk one-on-one with purveyors and discuss preparation methods with the chef. After the market tour, the guests can send their purchases back to the hotel with the chef, as they continue to explore the market neighborhood.

Once back at the hotel, the guests are invited to suit up in Ritz-Carlton aprons and help the culinary team prepare their customized Fresh Market lunch, to be enjoyed in Muse restaurant. The three-course meal will feature the items purchased during the morning's market visit, accompanied by Muse specialties and complemented by select wines. Prior to departing the hotel, guests will have the rest of their market purchases washed, wrapped and ready to take home to enjoy as well.

The Ritz-Carlton's Fresh Market package is priced from $439 and includes transportation between the hotel and the West Side Market. Phone 800-241-3333 to reserve the package, or visit www.ritzcarlton.com/cleveland. 

Plated Landscape Dinners offer a unique fine dining experience

Enjoy an evening of fine dining in the fields at the Plated Landscape Dinners, Northeast Ohio's "farm-to-table" dining experience.

This season, all five-course dinners, expertly paired with wine, will take place at Spice Acres farm in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

The Plated Landscape calendar begins with a hog roast on June 23 and June 24, followed by a vegetarian dinner on Aug. 4 and Aug. 5. The late summer forage on Sept. 8 and Sept. 9 will feature ingredients you may have picked yourself. The season ends with a fall harvest dinner on Oct. 13 and Oct. 14.

Chef Ben Bebenroth and staff craft from-scratch, multi-course meals for 50 guests from a pop-up field kitchen, so there are no menu substitutions. Cost for the dinner is $150 a person, or $125 for food and beverage professionals. Phone 216-432-9090 for reservations. Credit cards are required to reserve a seat at the table, with cash or check accepted the day of the event.

Spice Acres farm is at 9570 Riverview Rd. in Brecksville, OH.

Hard Rock Cafe celebrates Leap Year birthdays

Hard Rock Cafe guests born on Leap Day get more than just the privilege of being a quarter of their age this Feb. 29.

This year, leaplings who celebrate their birthday at the Hard Rock Cafes in the the United States will get a free entree from the Hard Rock's "Leaplings Eat Free"menu. The approximate 200,000 leap day babies in the U.S. only get to celebrate their real birthday once every four years, so the Hard Rock Cafe is prepared to reward them for their patience.

Selections on the "Leaplings Eat Free"menu include the Hard Rock's signature Legendary burger topped with smoked bacon, cheddar cheese and a fried onion ring, and the Veggie Leggie topped with grilled portobello mushroom, squash and roasted red pepper. Other offerings are Twisted Mac, chicken and cheese, the hickory-smoked pulled pork sandwich, honey mustard grilled chicken sandwich and grilled chicken Caesar salad.

The long-standing Cabin of Willowick gets a fresh start

A long-standing culinary institution in Willowick is getting a fresh start.

Carmen Paponetti, The Cabin of Willowick's new owner, has unveiled his plans for breathing new life into the eatery, beginning with a full redesigned menu featuring locally sourced ingredients and scratch recipes.

"This is where we return The Cabin to its roots and grow some new traditions," Paponetti said. While some changes are more subtle than others, from a new water system and streamlined back of the house to fresh linens and modern tableware, Paponetti insists, "It all matters."

The menu includes a lineup of appetizers and small plates in the bar, as well as seasonal specialties.
"We're not trying to do what's trendy, but we're also not stuck in the past," Paponetti said. "We cure and smoke our own pork belly in house, for a specific flavor profile. We can't get that from buying it from someone else."

Some of the new menu items are ancho tacos with mango salsa and a signature slow-roasted pork loin Cuban sandwich. Every section of the menu now offers vegan and vegetarian options like the roasted eggplant and falafel entrees and Burrata cheese board.  An all new dessert menu will be released later this month.

A graduate of the Cordon Bleu Program at the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute, Paponetti has spent the past decade learning the restaurant business with Chef Zack Bruell at Parallax and Kafeteria, before taking the reins at The Cabin of Willowick.

The Cabin of Willowick, established in 1931, is a member of Cleveland Independents. Visit www.thecabinofwillowick.com.

Celebrate the local food scene at Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week

Celebrate Cleveland's thriving culinary scene at the ninth annual Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week, Feb. 19 through Feb. 28.

The event features $15, $30 and $40 lunch and dinner specials at select restaurants throughout downtown. Over the course of the week, more than 55 restaurants will prepare tasty fixed-price menus.

A kickoff cocktail party on Feb. 18, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at The Arcade at the Hyatt Regency Cleveland gets the festivities started. The kickoff includes a cash bar and free menu samplings, giving you an opportunity to preview restaurant week selections.  Visit www.downtowncleveland.com to register, or to get more information about Downtown Cleveland Restaurant Week 2016.

Celebrate Mardi Gras with New Orleans feast at Salmon Dave's

Laissez les bons temps rouler.
Mardi Gras is this coming week and Salmon Dave's Pacific Grille is letting the good times roll by introducing its annual Taste of N'awlins menu, available from Fat Tuesday to Easter.
The menu includes traditional New Orleans fare like crawfish jambalaya, fried green tomatoes with blue crab etoufee and the popular gumbo ya ya.
Hellfire crawfish salad is topped with spicy fried crawfish and buttermilk parmesan dressing.
Voodoo salmon is served over crawfish risotto with andouille cream sauce, while bronzed red fish is accompanied by red beans and rice and garlic buerre blanc. Bourbon shrimp and scallops are in a chunky tomato cream sauce over dirty rice, with a side of jalapeno corn bread. Other specialties are blackened sirloin with Cajun cream sauce and cheddar shrimp and grits.
The highlight of the annual menu promotion is the Taste of N'awlins Feast for $34.95. It includes portions of Cajun sirloin, Bourbon Street shrimp and Voodoo salmon with confetti rice, fried greeen tomatoes and jalapeno cornbread. The feast is offered for $10 less on Sundays.
King cake bread pudding and pecan pie top off the meal.
The Dave Kasper Quartet plays in the bar on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 9.
Salmon Dave's Pacific Grille is at 19015 Old Lake Road in Rocky River. Phone 440-331-2739.

Progressive Field welcomes HappyDog, Ohio City Burrito, Cleveland Pickle

The Cleveland Indians announced today that Happy Dog, Ohio City Burrito and Cleveland Pickle will be serving up fan favorites at Progressive Field in 2016.

The trio will be located in the ballpark's newly renovated Infield District, which is being renovated to enhance the fan experience this season.

Happy Dog, located in the Gordon Square neighborhood, offers unique hot dogs, veggie dogs, french fries and tater tots, with an extensive list of toppings, all made in-house.

Ohio City Burrito offers its customers a burrito bar and a variety of Mexican favorites including burritos, tacos, salads and nachos. Homemade guacamole and a variety of fresh and original salsas are made daily.

Cleveland Pickle is a uniquely Cleveland sandwich experience with handcrafted sandwich creations and Cleveland names. Its downtown shop also serves creative salads, daily soups and a retail line of housemade pickles.

Following the rebuild of the Right Field District, this second phase of the project focuses on incorporating more local flavor into the ballpark.