This Friday was the official start of Mystery Ethnic Dinner. Brendan had the honor of choosing our restaurant. The group included Joe, Alexis, Brendan and myself. As usual I was assigned the position of designated driver (thanks Brendan).
Before we left I asked Brendan for the general direction and distance of the restaurant. The helpful response I received was, "ahhh around 30 minutes maybe." We picked up Joe first. As soon as he entered the car he proclaimed his unease with the mystery element to his meal that night. During the car ride there was a lot of sighing and huffing coming from back seat, and was Brendan clearly enjoying our agony over the surprise.
After picking up Alexis on Roanoke Road we followed the GPS, drove down the hill onto Euclid and made some turn. As soon as we passed St. Clair, Joe perked up and said that he knew exactly where we were going. Apparently a friend had pointed out the restaurant while driving past it a while back. Alexis and I asked what the name or kind of food it was, but of course Joe didn't remember. All he knew was that it was up the road a bit and on the right. Helpful hint.
We found ourselves on East 185th Street. I recognized the neighborhood from going to the 185th Street Festival several summers ago. The street looked different in the winter without the food stalls, music groups and cheery crowds. We made a right into the lot next to a dimly lit building (similar situation to last week's adventure) and parked.
In the parking lot Brendan announced that the mystery restaurant was the Lithuanian American Club. My parents had talked of the club before, apparently my grandfather used to go with his good friend Julius who is a member. My grandfather was serious about food- so I got excited.
The dining room didn't look like a restaurant at all but more like a museum. It was nearly empty and we questioned to whether or not we seat ourselves or wait for a host/hostess. The dining room had lots of pictures on the walls and Lithuanian artifacts around the parameter of the room. The hostess came to seat us and handed us folded up paper menus. Our eyes lit up after seeing that all dishes were $5 that night.
The waitress came out to take our drink orders. Joe order a Bombay on the rocks (a staple drink for him) and my brother asked for the beer list. However, their hearts sank minutes later after learning that due to their liqueur laws drinking was only permissible while accompanied by a member of the club. We were then invited to join at a $35 annual fee and received a membership form. This was the only low point of the adventure- not bad.
After a quick deliberation everyone ordered Doons and the Lithuanian Reuben. The Lithuanian Reuben came out first, and I determined that it was the best sandwich innovation ever. It is a typical Reuben, however, instead of bread it is sandwich between two huge, pan fried and delicious potato pancakes with sour cream served in lieu of thousand island on the side. I came to the table starving so I demolished a sandwich which could easily feed two people. The Doons came out just as I hit my food coma. However, at that point in the meal the Evan Knoblauch mentality kicked in and it was sink or swim.
Doons are similar to perogies, basically dumplings. I ordered half potato and half mushroom. They were sprinkled with bacon and of course served with a side of sour cream- fabulous. I think starch encased in starch is my new favorite food.
During the meal the president of the club came out and introduced herself. She invited us to their weekly $10 Sunday lunch buffet. I have a feeling that this will occur in my future plans. We left the club stuffed and with boxes of Lithuanian leftovers which would serve as great late night snacks.
After another successful dinner, I am excited about next week which will be my turn to chose. I am still mulling over ideas. The only hints that I can give is that the restaurant will be located in the greater Cleveland area and it will serve a cusine from one of the seven continents... well it probably won't be Antarctic food- so that should narrow it down for you!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
The Invention of Mystery Ethic Dinner
It all started about a week and a half ago when my brother Brendan and his friend Joe tried an Ethiopian restaurant in Cleveland. On their way home they discovered Sterle's Slovenian Country House, and quickly decided that they had to go. Soon after I received a text message that I was going out to dinner Saturday and the destination was a surprise.
Saturday came and it was a typical freezing Cleveland winter night. All I wanted to do was drink hot chocolate, get under my double fleece blanket and watch feel good movies of the Love Actually variety. However, I made a commitment and knew that if I didn't follow through not only would I hear about it from Brendan, but he would never ever let it go. So like a good sister I showed up at my parents house. Upon my arrival I learned that I got to play designated driver for the evening, a role that I typically star in when I go out with my brother. I love to driving places where I don't know the route or destination.
We picked up Joe and his friend Danielle to accompany us on this supposedly surprise dinner. Well it turned out that I (the driver) was the only one in the group who had no idea where we were going or what we were eating that night. We drove down the hill, merged onto Carnegie and made a right onto East 55th. As we crossed Chester, we entered into the sort of neighborhoods that my father would prohibit me from going to as a teenager. After a few minutes of driving deeper into this questionable neighborhood Brendan instructed me to make a right into the lot next to a dim, virtually windowless, red brick building.
Before entering the restaurant I had no hints or clues to what the meal would be; it was a complete mystery. We walked down a long corridor, through a set of double doors where we were first welcomed to polka music and then to a server wearing what I assumed to be a traditional Slovenian dress. The dining room was large, complete with a dance floor, murals of Slovenian scenery and most importantly (for Brendan and Joe) a full bar.
After a short wait we were seated and handed laminated mint green menus. We promptly order a pitcher of Slovenian beer, which was delicious and refreshing. We decided on the set menu which was $17.95 per person. The meal included wedding soup, salad, bread, sausages with horseradish, wienerschnitzle, sauerkraut, veggies, pork in gravy, mashed potatoes, cheesecake and coffee. The dishes were served family style and they were delicious. There is nothing like a having a dinner which consists of starch, pork prepared two ways and fried breaded veal.
The stand out on the table was the mashed potatoes, which were chunky and had a yummy caramelized crunch to them. Danielle and I were also big fans of the cheesecake which was completely enrobed whipped cream, a decadently delicious dessert. The portions were huge; Brendan and Joe took home about five boxes of leftovers to eat the next day as NFL Sunday snacks.
At this meal the idea of Mystery Ethnic Dinner was conceived. Every week we will go to a new ethnic restaurant in the Cleveland area. We we will take turns choosing the restaurant weekly and it will be a mystery to everyone else (other than the chooser) in the group. Restaurants that include the word "fusion" in either the title or description are prohibited nor are we allowed to chose restaurants owned by Food Network stars (no Lola). However, restaurants which are featured on Food Network shows will receive bonus points.
I enthusiastically introduce to you Mystery Ethnic Dinner, an activity which combines both drinking and eating with a cultural twist.
Saturday came and it was a typical freezing Cleveland winter night. All I wanted to do was drink hot chocolate, get under my double fleece blanket and watch feel good movies of the Love Actually variety. However, I made a commitment and knew that if I didn't follow through not only would I hear about it from Brendan, but he would never ever let it go. So like a good sister I showed up at my parents house. Upon my arrival I learned that I got to play designated driver for the evening, a role that I typically star in when I go out with my brother. I love to driving places where I don't know the route or destination.
We picked up Joe and his friend Danielle to accompany us on this supposedly surprise dinner. Well it turned out that I (the driver) was the only one in the group who had no idea where we were going or what we were eating that night. We drove down the hill, merged onto Carnegie and made a right onto East 55th. As we crossed Chester, we entered into the sort of neighborhoods that my father would prohibit me from going to as a teenager. After a few minutes of driving deeper into this questionable neighborhood Brendan instructed me to make a right into the lot next to a dim, virtually windowless, red brick building.
Before entering the restaurant I had no hints or clues to what the meal would be; it was a complete mystery. We walked down a long corridor, through a set of double doors where we were first welcomed to polka music and then to a server wearing what I assumed to be a traditional Slovenian dress. The dining room was large, complete with a dance floor, murals of Slovenian scenery and most importantly (for Brendan and Joe) a full bar.
After a short wait we were seated and handed laminated mint green menus. We promptly order a pitcher of Slovenian beer, which was delicious and refreshing. We decided on the set menu which was $17.95 per person. The meal included wedding soup, salad, bread, sausages with horseradish, wienerschnitzle, sauerkraut, veggies, pork in gravy, mashed potatoes, cheesecake and coffee. The dishes were served family style and they were delicious. There is nothing like a having a dinner which consists of starch, pork prepared two ways and fried breaded veal.
The stand out on the table was the mashed potatoes, which were chunky and had a yummy caramelized crunch to them. Danielle and I were also big fans of the cheesecake which was completely enrobed whipped cream, a decadently delicious dessert. The portions were huge; Brendan and Joe took home about five boxes of leftovers to eat the next day as NFL Sunday snacks.
At this meal the idea of Mystery Ethnic Dinner was conceived. Every week we will go to a new ethnic restaurant in the Cleveland area. We we will take turns choosing the restaurant weekly and it will be a mystery to everyone else (other than the chooser) in the group. Restaurants that include the word "fusion" in either the title or description are prohibited nor are we allowed to chose restaurants owned by Food Network stars (no Lola). However, restaurants which are featured on Food Network shows will receive bonus points.
I enthusiastically introduce to you Mystery Ethnic Dinner, an activity which combines both drinking and eating with a cultural twist.
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