There are a lot of great ice cream places in town...I should know, as I frequent most of them! One of my favorites has always been Mason's Creamery. Not only is their ice cream delicious, but their shop/outdoor area is adorable and the owners are two of the nicest people you'll ever want to meet or interact with on social media. Despite summer being such a busy time for the shop, Helen and Jesse, the owners of Mason's Creamery, were kind enough to take the time to let us get to know a little bit more about them and their business. What gave you the idea to start Mason's Creamery? We'd … [Read more...] about Mason’s Creamery
Restaurants
Irie Jamaican Kitchen
In 2011, I went on vacation to Jamaica and fell in love with the flavorful cuisine. Thanks to Irie Jamaican Kitchen, I can experience authentic Jamaican food right here in Cleveland. With two locations (East and West) you can easily enjoy the delicious offerings no matter where you are. Omar McKay, the owner and executive chef of Irie, was kind enough to answer some questions so that you can get to know him and his business a bit better. Tell me about how your business first started and how it's grown since then. The physical brick and mortar business or the business I’ve had in … [Read more...] about Irie Jamaican Kitchen
EDWINS Leadership Institute & Restaurant
Do you ever think you know what a place (or a person) is about and then realize that you've barely scratched the surface? After spending a morning with Brandon Chrostowski getting a tour of the EDWINS campus, I am even more inspired by the depth and breadth of the organization than I was before. Many of us are familiar with EDWINS Restaurant on Shaker Square, which has been serving fine French cuisine since 2013. The restaurant provides a 6-month training program in culinary arts to formerly incarcerated adults that allows graduates to go on to success in the hospitality industry. EDWINS … [Read more...] about EDWINS Leadership Institute & Restaurant
Nora
As restaurants begin to reopen, I found myself craving not just a dinner out, but a nice dinner out. A get-a-bit-overdressed, eat-some-really-good-food dinner out. Which is why when Nora in Little Italy invited me to come sample the new menu, I jumped at the chance. Not only was the food fantastic, but the whole experience made me feel comfortable with venturing back into the upscale dining scene. Nora is an intimate restaurant and the tables have been well-spaced to allow for proper social distancing. When you arrive, you receive a QR code that links to the menu to minimize a … [Read more...] about Nora
Boss Ladies of CLE
While I was still writing Why CLE?, Maggie Sullivan approached me about a book she wrote called "Boss Ladies of CLE." I already had the idea for Authentically CLE in the works and this seemed like a perfect place to delve into this book and the Boss Ladies that it features. "Boss Ladies of CLE" profiles 20 diverse, amazing, accomplished Cleveland women, who tell their own stories in their own words. These woman are of different ages, races, sexual orientations, abilities, and avocations. Each has blazed her own trail, not only for herself, but for those around her and after her. Included … [Read more...] about Boss Ladies of CLE
Pope’s Kitchen
One of the purposes of Authentically CLE is to highlight some of the amazing folks behind the local businesses we love. Pope’s Kitchen is one of those businesses that not only creates amazing products, but also has a true Authentically CLE story behind it. I can remember the day I went to my friend Clark’s house for his 40th birthday party and he told me he was quitting his teaching job to take his food production business to the next level. A lot of years later (number redacted to protect all our ages), Clark has a wildly successful and delicious line of cocktail syrups, sauces, and … [Read more...] about Pope’s Kitchen