Honeymoon Grille

Mr. H and I had to head down to Akron to receive our first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination (thank you, Acme!). So, why not make more of an excursion out of it and pick up lunch to eat in the car? 

After doing a quick search online, it looked like Honeymoon Grille was just down the street from the grocery store and it had a good rating and reviews on TripAdvisor. Maybe that should have been my first clue...

The inside was nothing special, but big, bright, and properly spaced for the pandemic. 

The menu looked very diner-esque but up a notch, with breakfast and lunch served all day. So Mr. H went with the BLT & Egg Wrap ($6.99) with egg, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and your choice of cheese and wrap. 

I ordered the Crab Cakes ($5.99) and Basket of Fresh Cut Fries ($3.99). Dining Deals Alert!

First, no way those were fresh cut fries. Cleary a frozen product, and very close to my potato nemesis...the shoestring fry. The small, skinny fries were unseasoned and left a lot to be desired. 

As did the food overall. It was certainly fine, but just average at best. I think there are much better restaurant options in Akron, so this one is a pass.

Honeymoon Grille
3458 Manchester Road
Akron, OH 44319
(330) 644-4355

Date Night at Visible Voice Books

We hadn't been to the adorable Visible Voice Books in Tremont prior to the pandemic, but when they started offering a Create-Your-Own-Night package that provided a private 90 minutes of browsing the book store, one large two-topping pizza from Crust (located just below), and a bottle of wine for just $50...we knew it was the perfect pandemic date night that we needed.

We had such a wonderful time in November that we immediately booked a second date for March. They are full about two months out, but have since added a weekend Brunch and Browse option as well with pastries from nearby Leavened, coffee and two mimosas per person, and 100 minutes of the store to yourself for just $40 (for two, $15 each for additional guests). 

In addition to checking out the "local" section of the store, we spent quite a bit of time in the Cooking section. If you've been following along on my Instagram for my adventures in learning how to cook, a lot of the recipes I've been using since December have been from Alison Roman's Nothing Fancy. Highly recommend! 

Then we settled in for our pepperoni, mushroom, and diced garlic pizza. 

Yes, we travel with our own Mike's Hot Honey.

You also have access to ordering anything additional from Crust or Proof BBQ, so we couldn't resist trying the Pork Belly Steamed Buns ($9). 

They needed more pickled items for brightness and crunch, but overall were tasty.

The private bookings have been successful for them, so they are considering keeping them post-pandemic. My vote is YES! This is totally something we'd love to do even in a "normal" world again. But in case we don't have the chance, book your own now before they are gone. 

Visible Voice Books
2258 Professor Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 961-0084

Celebrating Easter in 2021

For those that celebrate, Easter is almost here. With vaccinations becoming more available to adults, it feels like the "end" of the pandemic is near. But, if you're like us, spending this holiday at home and without a large family gathering still seems like the right thing to do. Below is a list of carry-out options. It is meant to be a snapshot of their offerings, and you should check out their websites and social media for menu and ordering details. 

Fat Cats (Tremont): Easter Dinner. Call 216-579-0200 by Friday, April 2nd to place order. Pickup on April 4th 11AM - 3PM. Curbside service and phone payment options available. Easter Plate with 7 items ($15 per person) and Bunny Plate with 5 items ($14 per person) for vegetarians. 

Billy's- A Cappelli Martini Bar (Mentor): Your Easter Curbside. Your choice of meat, choice of strata, with waffles and homefried potatoes. Pick up on Saturday and reheating instructions included. $55 for 4, $95 for 8, and $120 for 10. Call or text 440-585-8815 by Thursday, April 1st to pre-order.  

111 Bistro (Medina): Easter Take Home Box. Heat and Serve, Feeds 4-6 People. 9 Dishes Included. $120. Pick up available Friday or Saturday. Pre-paid orders must be placed by March 24th at 8PM. Call 330-952-1122 to reserve. 

Square Scullery (Akron): Easter Dinner for Four. $100. Pre-order online. Choose between Glazed Ham or Quinoa Cabbage Rolls, and 5 sides included + dessert. Pick up on Saturday, April 3rd between 12-5PM. 

Chimi (Cleveland Heights): Easter Holiday Menu. A la carte. Menu items are intended to be shared between 3-4 people. Pre-order online by March 31st. 

Farmer Jones' Farm at The Chef's Garden (Shipped): Order an Easter at Home Box, offering farm-fresh ingredients and delicious Easter recipes curated from The Culinary Vegetable Institute: Arugula Salad; Honey Glazed Carrots; Roast Baby Potatoes; and Lamb Leg Roast (you can choose to add petite leg roasts to your order from Pure Bred Lamb). $140 for Vegetables Only or $220 with Lamb. Recipes and a pantry list will be sent the week prior to shipment. Serves 4-6; pre-order for delivery during the week of 3/29. Shipping is included.

Sully's Irish Pub (Medina): Easter Carryout Dinner. Pickup Sunday 11AM - 4PM. Cider and Apricot Glazed Ham Meal with six sides. Single $18, Family Style for 4 $65, or Family Style for 10 $150. Online ordering. 

Hungry Bee (Chagrin Falls): Easter Menu a la Carte. Pre-order by March 31st. Selections of Appetizers, Starters (feeds 4), Entrees (feeds 4), Sides (feeds 4), and Brunch items. Saturday pick up from 11AM - 2PM. 

Gourmet Guy (Rocky River): Prepared Easter Dinner. Pre-order online by March 31st. All dishes serve between 2-4 or 6-8 guests. Saturday pick up between noon and 4PM. Choice of Ham or Prime Rib. 

Terrapin Bakery (Tremont): Easter Weekend Preorders. Order online or by calling 216-256-7915 during business hours until 3/28. Take and bake Cinnamon Rolls, Cheddar Bacon Quiche, Layered 6" Carrot Cake, or Dozen Donuts. All Feed 6. Pastry case will be filled with additional treats for walk-ins.

Nomad Culinary (Broadview Heights): Easter Menu of Items that Serve 4. Pre-order by April 1 at 12PM by email at nomadculinary@gmail.com. Pick up on April 4. 

I will continue to add to this list through the comments section, so make sure to check that out too. Feel free to add any that I missed!  

Mason's Creamery Ramen and Shamrock Shakes

Did you know that you can get some of the very best ramen in our city from a very unlikely source? An ice cream shop, to be exact. That's right, for the last couple of years Mason's Creamery in Ohio City converts to a ramen shop during the winter months and you can find versions like Pork Tonkotsu ($13, pictured below), Chicken Shio, Veggie Tonkotsu, and creative specials such as Flamin' Hot Cheetos-crusted Chicken. I usually get two meals out of it. 

But through St. Patrick's Day, you can also scoop (pun intended) up this minty treat...a Shamrock Shake!

It was my first one, and you all can keep your Golden Arches! 

The season is coming to a close soon, so don't wait. Sunny, warmer days are on the horizon, and it will be transformed back to a full ice cream shop. Their online ordering system on the website couldn't be easier to use, and you can pre-order days in advance if you'd like. They do tend to run out of specials or certain items, so I definitely suggest pre-ordering if you want a specific thing. The pick-up window is outdoors and very COVID-safe. 

Mason's Creamery
4401 Bridge Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 762-1095

Marchant Manor Cheese Shop

We first discovered locally-made Marchant Manor cheeses at Old Brooklyn Cheese Co. and Ohio City Provisions. Instantly, we were hooked. 

So we were over-the-moon when we heard that the maker, Kandice Marchant, was opening a cheese retail shop on the east side in 2021. We made it over to Lee Road this past weekend, and it was everything I had hoped for.

The inside is just charming (I mean don't those walls just look like creamy, decadent butter?!)...

...and FULL of all kinds of locally-produced goodies that complement cheese. We spotted some of our favorite crackers, rillettes, kimchi, and jams, just to name a few. Don't miss the curated snack plates of cheese that you can easily grab-and-go just inside the door. 

In addition to all kinds of treats to accompany your cheese, there's also a large cooler of other fine cheeses to select from. We spotted several of our favorite brands. 

But you are greeted by a cooler of Marchant Manor's cheeses first. Some of which we have grown to know and love, but there were several new ones for us to try as well. We picked up the Paneer, Thames Herb, High Heaven Applejack-Washed, and Petersham Pollen Goat Cheese.

This isn't just a fantastic shop to pop into for your cheese board, date night platter, or girls' night in goodies. Check out some of the cheese-themed gifts for any hostess, birthday or holiday gift, or just to express your love of cheese in your home with quirky and practical items like boards, aprons, cookbooks, knives, and more. 

I fell madly in love with this shop, and while it's well worth the trip across town, I'm actually glad there's a bit of distance between us. Can I move in?

Run, don't walk to check this place out! The "Cheese Doctor" is in, and I need a prescription (read about her fascinating story here). 

Marchant Manor Cheese Shop

2211 Lee Road

Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118

(216) 860-1862