When we think of restaurants our minds tend to go right to the food on our plates, but they are important ecosystems that contribute so much more. Restaurant owners Karen Small and Jillian (Jill) Davis created restaurants that became our favorites—Flying Fig in Ohio City, and Toast, in the Gordon Square district.

Less talked about are how these successful destinations spurred neighborhood growth around them, contributed to tourism, and put Cleveland on the culinary map.

Their joint venture, Pearl Street Wine Market and Cafe closed unexpectedly earlier this year prompting introspection about the last few, very hard years. Karen still owns the very successful Juneberry Table, but prioritizes time to be with family and travel. Jill practices law and is focused on spending time with the people who matter most.

The theme of this episode? Life happens. Good friends help.

This episode is presented in partnership with Edgewater Hospitality and Kate's Fish.

Friends don't let friends drink bad booze. And that's the premise behind River Roots Barrel Co, an intimate tasting room and storehouse of curated spirits, including some of the best whiskey, bourbon and rye you'll find in the US. Inspired by a love for whiskey and seeing the need for a high-quality Midwest brand, the group set out on a journey to find the best spirits in the world to satisfy any whiskey enthusiast’s palate.

River Roots bottles and sells exceptional "orphan barrel" spirits— largely higher proof, single barrel statement products from big name, familiar producers that will surprise and delight casual drinkers and collectors alike.

This episode is presented with support from Edgewater Hospitality and Kate's Fish.

As October 31 approaches the majority of us are evaluating if we have enough candy for trick or treaters and planning the perfect pumpkin carve. Those of Mexican origin, here in the US and throughout Latin countries, are gearing up for Dia de los Muertos, a celebration that honors the deceased and welcomes them back home for a few special days each year.

Veronica Tomaschek remains connected to her Mexican heritage and celebrates Day of the Dead with her family and has participated in the annual Die de los Muertos event in Gordon Square, presented by Cleveland Public Theatre and Dia de Muertos Ohio, which will be held on Nov. 2 this year (in 2024). Day of the Dead celebrations include an elaborate procession, costumed and painted figures representing La Catrina, sugar skulls, colorful decorations and music.

In this episode Veronica shares her traditions including creating a memorial ofrenda (altar) and the foods that are part of the celebration.

This episode is presented with support from Edgewater Hospitality and Kate's Fish.

Turns out, seasoned restaurant owners still get a case of the nerves before they open a new place. That's just one of the many things I learned talking to Chef Douglas Katz and Edgewater Hospitality business partner Todd Thompson as they get ready to open Kiln, the third restaurant for the team.

Kiln will slide into a highly desirable spot in the Van Aken District as a modern American bistro with European, and even global influences, adding another layer to their delicious restaurant cake that includes highly-regarded spots Zhug and Amba.

In this episode we get the "nuts and bolts" of the restaurant—the environment, decor and food. But we also talk about the ideation and development process, their teamwork, and the pressure from reviews (professional and otherwise) and how it can affect mental health.

Those who are restaurant biz wonks like myself will have their curiosity satiated about all that behind-the-scenes stuff we don't think about as we sit before a plate of food. And, be sure to listen to the end to hear a fantastic story about a famous rock group that dined at Amba recently.

This episode is supported by Kate's Fish and thanks to Chef Douglas Katz for being a sponsor of the CLE Foodcast (and also totally worthy of an interview!)

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.