Eat Out: Sushi Rock

Eat Out, Rice

Courtney, Sophia and I braved the malls yesterday afternoon to return a couple of things that we have been putting off all week.  Sean and Claire were going to Sushi Rock to use up a Groupon so we invited ourselves to go along with them. (Thanks Sean).

Sushi Rock started with a place on West Third in the 80’s and opened a place in La Place in Beachwood probably ten years ago or so.  I think we have been there once.  We got there around 8:00 and our reservation wasn’t until 8:30.  We sat in the lounge and had a beer and Sophie had a shirley temple.  (When I ordered the Shirley Temple at the bar the bartender asked what kind of grey goose I wanted in it…really??)

Claire and Sean arrived at 8:15 and we sat down at 8:30.

We had calamari for an appetizer and then ordered four different kinds of sushi.  Sophie had an order of fried rice.  The calamari was perfect – good crunch, just the right spice served with a nice sweet spicy sauce.  Even Sophia tried one.  Sophie’s fried rice was good…tasted different with sushi rice but was tasty.  All the sushi rolls were good, we had a deep fried one which I never had before.

Aren’t Sophie’s new glasses cute?

Eat On Edgecliff Rating:  B+  -food was good, atmosphere a bit run down, cheesey/dated and the service could be better, but definitely a good place to go for sushi.

Eat Out: Chinato

Eat Out

My parents brought all the adults out to dinner on Wednesday for their Anniversary.  48 years! How lucky are we?  We went to Chinato on E.4th and Prospect.  Chinato is Zac Bruell’s newest restaurant that opened earlier this year.  We love all of his restaurants: Parallax, Table 45, L’Albatros, and Chinato.  It’s hard to decide which is my favorite as they are all so different and each of them are awesome in their own way.

We started out with cocktails, wine and beer and ordered 4 different appetizers to pass around: scallops crudo, fried artichoke leaves, mussels with wine and fennel,  and eggplant involtini stuffed with shrimp.  We then split a few order of gnocchi which were tender as can be in a butter and garlic sauce.  mmm mmm.  Everyone ordered their own entree.  I had porchetta which was pork belly wrapped around  braised pork shoulder over greens.  Awesome.  Courtney has braised beef served over polenta and greens.  Everything was excellent.  For dessert we ordered 5 different desserts and passed them around.  Lemon cornmeal cake with lemon ice cream, chocolate mousse cake, panna cotta, tiramisu, and the gelato sampler which was chocolate, vanilla and cherry.  My pick for the winner was the lemon cornmeal cake – which I just found a promising recipe that I will try – but everything was great.

We talked my parents into going across the street after dinner to the irish bar and have a Guinness to wash down all the good eats.  It was a fun night and great to celebrate with everybody.  (sorry no pictures)

EatOnEdgecliff rating: A

Eat Out: Market Garden Brewery

Eat Out

Courtney, Sean, Claire and I went out for a late dinner to Market Garden Brewery on Tuesday night after Grace’s swim meet victory.  Katie Maxwell and Joe met us there also and had a beer with us.  The Market Garden is next door to the West Side Market where the old live chicken store used to be.  It opened earlier this year and this is the second time we have been there.  We went late summer after the ingenuity fest and had a Sunday afternoon beer in the sun.  Pic below from then…they have an awesome patio with an outdoor fireplace.  Also have a great Sunday brunch menu.

On Thursday Claire and Sean had a sampler where they tried 6 different beers and then each picked one.  I had their brown ale and forget what kind of beer everyone else had.  We ordered a meat board for appetizers which came w pork pate, different sausages, ham, turkey, house made pickled vegetables and different sauces.  Tasty meaty treat.  Claire and Sean split a cuban sandwich, Courtney had shrimp tacos and I had their chorizo chili.  All were very good, especially the shrimp tacos.  When we were here in the summer we had the pulled pork tacos which were good as well.  For dessert…more beer of course.

EatOnEdgecliff rating: A

Christmas Eve

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Christmas Eve menu:

  • Assorted Cheese and Crackers
  • Hanky Pankies
  • Shrimp
  • Phyllo triangles – spinach and feta & mushroom and goat cheese
  • little dough wrapped hot dogs – for the kids
  • Cream of garlic and onion soup
  • Crab Cakes
  • Steamed Mussels
  • Meringues with fresh berries
  • Santa brownies and other goodies.

Owen won the prize for eating the most shrimp.

Kirsten trying some cheese and crackers.

Beautiful cream of garlic and onion soup with heart shaped croutons because we love Christmas Eve (and garlic and onions).

Kathryn made these beautiful crab cakes that were just as good as they look.

Dad showing off the mussels.

Kirsten made the meringues with berries and whipped cream.

Emily presenting her masterpieces.  A chip off the old block.

The santa hat brownies definitely won the prize this year.

Claire’s College Graduation

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Hard to believe but Claire is officially a college graduate! She graduated two quarters early earning a B.A. in English – cum laude from Ohio State University.  Below is a pic of Claire just after receiving her diploma and going to shake hands w OSU president.

Yeah.  I’m a college graduate.

We didn’t really know what to expect being an off-quarter graduation.  We weren’t expecting so many people.  But with all things Ohio State it was bigger than life.  There were over 3,000 people receiving diplomas.  We didn’t get there early enough so we were in the nose bleed seats.

Proud family.  Did you know Claire is the 6th or 7th female of her generation on Courtney’s side of the family to earn a college diploma?

Cork Wreath

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Me and Sophie went and bought a glue gun a few weeks ago.  This led to playing with all the corks we have collected over the past few years.  Sophie made some cork reindeers and I made this fun cork wreath.

I think it looks pretty cool.  Mom – you need to help me make a better bow.

How many corks do you think there are?

Eat Out: West Side Market Brats for Breakfast

Eat Out

Me, Grace and Sophie went to the West Side Market on Saturday morning to get supplies for Claire’s graduation lunch which means only one thing….

Brats for breakfast.

Nothing better.

I like mine with no kraut on a hard roll with lots of brown mustard with a black coffee.  Sophie and Grace like theirs on a soft roll with no mustard and hot chocolate or mocha.

Grace and Sophie also always get a crepe from the crepe stand…strawberries with nutella.

Enjoying the scenery.

Eat Out on Edgecliff Rating:  A+ all the way!