Inside my newsroom, I surprised people with my plans to visit Cleveland on my 2-week vacation.
They thought I was crazy. I rattled off some places worth visiting, like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They nodded, but I don’t think I changed any minds. Screw it. I had fun. This city by Lake Erie has amazing food, great drinking spots and compelling cultural institutions.
Plus – it was sunny in Cleveland. That was a welcome change from our soggy days in Western New York.
Cleveland also introduced me to the joy of pierogies. I fell in love with these Beef Cheek Pierogies at Lola. One bite was filled my mouth with savory, rich goodness. I almost ordered seconds.
I wanted to make a foodie pilgrimage to this bistro because of Chef Michael Symon. I followed his TV career on “The Next Iron Chef.” On top of that, Anthony Bourdain added his snarky approval to Symon’s bistro.
“…a dizzying, post-modern riff on traditional Midwestern fare.” – Anthony Bourdain, No Reservations.
For travelers on a budget, Lola’s lunch menu has plenty of dishes under $20. This lunch in Lola’s was my favorite gourmet experience of our vacation. We even had a taste of home from the wine menu. Marked ordered a glass of Pinot Noir from Lodi.
From the pierogies to the Walleye fish – Lola’s offers clean, straight-forward flavors with decadent flourishes. For example, goat cheese transforms the Mac-n-Cheese dish from comfort food to a grown-up entree that satisfies any gourmand’s palate.
On my next Midwest vacation, hopefully I can carve out more than 24 hours for Cleveland. I missed a lot and I can’t wait to see what else I can explore in this city.