Coffee Talk

Around the time I turned 50 my husband Daniel got me hooked on coffee.  In the few years since then I've become a coffee connoisseur and a bit of a purist.  But when these popped up deeply discounted for Amazon Prime day I decided to give them a try.  Big mistake.  Click here to read my review.  

BRGR9 - Excellent Burgers and Service

It’s not often one can become enthusiastic about a hamburger joint, especially in Cleveland which has an overabundance of red meat eateries, but BRGR9 has much to appeal to the burger lover. First is the locale, right on West 9th Street in the middle of the warehouse district and proudly amongst higher priced restaurants. Second is the immaculately clean interior which contrasts nicely with the “come as you are” vibe.

I had the Land & Sea burger, featuring lobster scallion roulade, chive butter, and lemon crème fraiche over a half-pound patty cooked to a perfect medium rare. The flavoring was complex and interesting, best enjoyed slowly to avoid overloading one’s senses.

My dining partner had the Local, which featured Ohio cheddar, caramelized onions, bratwurst, and a pierogi on top of the patty. The mix of the salty bratwurst and the sweetness of the onions made for a taste that was like a trip to the West Side Market.

By the way, the menu is ala carte, meaning sides are not included (fear not, fries are available for a mere $1.99 extra). As an alternative to fries, we split an order of Sweet Potato Tater Tots, served with two varieties of mayonnaise: orange and cajun flavored. Delicious!

Although the burgers and tots were filling, we still had room for a split dessert. We chose the Deconstructed Peanut Butter Cup. The name does not do justice to the subtle taste and texture, more mousse-like than one would expect. It was satisfying without being heavy.

When weather permits, BRGR9 has outdoor seating available, and they are dog friendly.

Service was excellent in every respect, from the timing of the orders to the refilling of drinks (even my dog’s ice water).

Fitness quest: January 5, 2012

A new year has begun. Instead of reviewing the details of my latest workout or changes in my body, I’d like to review the most important factor in fitness: proper diet. Most fitness instructors will tell you that eating the right foods in the right amounts is 75% of the battle in becoming and staying healthy. Think of all the athletes who may be sidelined by injuries and unable to workout – the proper diet is the critical factor between staying in shape and dissolving into a puddle of jelly. There is also the fact that what we eat has as much impact on the environment as what we drive. With that in mind, I’ve put together:

Hank’s non-Mammalian, ecologically responsible, yet very tasty diet.

Foods to avoid:
Any food derived directly or indirectly from mammals. This includes:
Red Meat & Pork (replace with Poultry & Fish)
Dairy products, including Milk, Cheese, and Butter (replace with Soy milk, Vegan cheese and margarine)

Other foods to avoid:
Potatoes (including baked, fried , chips and sweet potatoes), white bread, white rice – replace with wheat bread and brown rice
Sugared or Diet soda – replace with Diet Snapple or Green Tea. These will give you the energy and provide superior hydration.
Salt – use a salt substitute instead

Tips for Healthy Food Preparation:
Poultry or fish can be baked or cooked in a pan.
When cooking food in oil, avoid products like Wesson oil or Crisco – use Olive or Sunflower Oil. Check the labels to avoid hydrogenated fats.
Vegetables can be stir fried or steamed – avoid overcooking as this removes nutritional value and taste.

Food Allocation
40% of your calories should come from Breakfast & a mid-morning snack
35% of your calories should come from Lunch & a mid-afternoon snack
25% of your calories should come from Dinner – no snacks after dinner, which should take place no less than four hours before bedtime.

Healthy Meal examples:
Breakfast: Egg beaters (can be made omelet style with onions, peppers, vegan cheese, etc); oatmeal; fruit juice (a tall glass mixed ½ & ½ with water)
Lunch: Chicken breast with two servings of vegetables.
Dinner: Salmon burger on wheat bun with a large side of vegetables

Exercise:
You should get at least 30 minutes of Cardio exercise at least 3 times per week
You should get at least 30 minutes of Strength training at least 2 times per week.

Control your portions: stop eating when you’re no longer hungry, don’t wait until you’re full! Avoid all-you-can-eat buffets. Remember, there is always room for exceptions such as special occasions – but the important thing is to practice restraint and moderation.

My weight varied over the holidays, and by January 1, my weight had ballooned to 216#. But reapplying myself at the gym and in the kitchen has worked out and my weight is back down.

1/5/2012 212 1/2#

Verna's Veggie Dip

Here's a dip I grew up with, yet I didn't know the recipe until I was nearly 30. My grandmother's veggie dip brings a piquant but not overwhelming flavor to raw vegetables.

The recipe:
* 2 parts mayonaise or Miracle Whip
* 1 part mustard (preferably Cleveland Stadium brown mustard)
* Liberally season with curry
* Mix in a small dipping bowl
* Garnish with curry for a decorative touch.

Crostatas = Heavenly Pizza

I have no real explanation for why it took so long for Dan & me to check out Crostatas, a pizzeria on the corner of Highland and Bishop in Highland Heights. Before we bought our home in South Euclid, we lived within walking distance of it. Now, I drive by it every day on my way to/from
work.

The building itself is not recognizable from its last incarnation, an Arabica Coffee House. Exterior and interior have been redesigned in an appropriately Italian style.

When we stopped at Crostatas Saturday afternoon, we were greeted at the entrance by Barbara, who was also our waitress.

We began with a beautifully prepared Caesar’s Salad, with the Parmesan cheese lovingly flaked over the greens. For a rarity, the dressing was an accoutrement and not an ocean drowning out the rest.



We decided on the Classico Pizza, which comes with Buffalo Mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, and caramelized onions – all cooked in a handmade, hickory wood fired oven. I must confess here, I am not normally a pizza fan. I don’t react well to all that grease and cheese, and chain pizzas (which, let’s face it, accounts for most Americans’ taste experience) are usually overwhelmed by salt. But the Classico was a revelation. (In musical terms, it was like hearing Toscanini’s crisp and vibrant Brahms after only hearing stodgy Germanic performances.) The caramelized onions were the perfect contrast and complement to the tomato sauce and Mozarella – all the ingredients were in perfect balance – none overwhelmed the other. It was also beautifully presented, with Oregano leaves forming a perfect trinity.

No diet of mine (thanks to which I have lost 15 pounds since December, and which I broke on Saturday) was going to keep me from the unique dessert: a Nutella Calzone. Huge enough that there was extra to bring home even after Dan & I split it, it was surprisingly unheavy. The bread was sprinkled with powdered sugar, and the delicate flavor was contrasted with the bolder
Nutella filling.

Dan & I will definitely be returning to Crostatas.

Rating the area’s grocery stores

Clevelanders love to eat, and it’s not for nothing that we have one of the highest obesity rates in the USA (a nation not exactly known for svelteness). There’s no shortage of places to shop for food in Cuyahoga County, from standard supermarkets to health food, ethnic specialty stores to wholesale outlets. Here are a few with my opinions on each.

The list here – in no particular order - is not comprehensive, but rather representative – and it’s primarily geared toward the east side. So if I didn’t mention any place you either love or hate, don’t pillory me for missing it – but by all means comment and let me know.


General Markets:

Heinen’s: Cleveland’s premiere family owned grocery chain, currently with 17 stores. Slightly higher prices are more than made up for by the freshness and variety of produce and meats. The stores are beautifully designed with spacious aisles and intuitive layout, the grocery carts are well maintained (no stuck wheels here!), and every location I’ve been to is invariably spotlessly clean. Heinen’s is one of the rare chains that has bucked the unfortunate trend toward self-service checkouts – and curbside pickup is not just an option, it’s standard.

West Side Market: A Cleveland staple for over a century. Two decades ago, WSM had seemed to fall on hard times, but now seems to be undergoing something of a renaissance – as is the surrounding area. Simply put, when it comes to fresh food, WSM has nearly everything, from fruit & veggies to hand-made pierogis, rare cheeses to whole pigs (and I mean whole – head to tail). WSM stubbornly holds onto its 19th Century heritage – and is closed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. We just went there this past Saturday – in additional to the usual whirl and rush, a band was performing on the upper balcony. Go early to snag a decent parking spot, be prepared to haggle – and bring cash.

Whole Foods Market: Sometimes called Whole Paycheck market, America’s largest “health-food” chain came to Cleveland a few years ago. It’s true the prices on many items are on the high side – particularly premium items like venison. However, for more ordinary fare WF has its own store brand, 365, which includes everything from pop, milk, and cereal, to frozen veggies and pizza, to household items like detergent. A few years ago, WF’s CEO John Mackey caused a stir when he was caught making negative comments about competitor Wild Oats Market on an internet chat board (using an inversion of his wife’s name – not too slick there, John). WF eventually acquired Wild Oats – and that company’s former location on Chagrin Boulevard has been converted to WF. There was also a boycott of WF stores after Mackey, a strict Libertarian, penned an op-ed opposing President Obama’s health care plane. But that boycott never gained traction locally: Business is never less than brisk at the Cedar Center location – and it’s not advisable to shop there on Friday evenings when the store hosts social events. While there are now two WF locations on the east side, west siders have to commute or go to the next company listed.

Trader Joe’s: In my opinion, TJ’s is overrated. Both the Chagrin Road and Crocker Park locations are small and uncomfortable to navigate. Because of the small physical space, TJ’s cannot carry a broad selection of brands or items. Some would state that shopping, like art, can thrive on limitations, but I’m not buying. Others consider TJ’s the more politically correct alternative to Whole Foods. While I understand those who take issue with WF’s CEO John Mackey’s business practices and politics, need I remind anyone that Trader Joe’s is owned by ALDI’s? Despite that, items there are in the same price range as WF.

Giant Eagle: Currently the dominant supermarket chain in northeast Ohio, many branches are open 24/7. In terms of quantity, SUPERmarket does apply here. GE carries just about any food imaginable, including a generous selection of “ethnic” foods and brand names, like Goya. Most locations also have a formidable selection of alcoholic items – and I’ve even seen lawn furniture and local high school T-shirts for sale there. But the quantity does not always extend to quality: most GEs I’ve been to are only indifferently cleaned, the staff is unhelpful, and those self-service checkouts guarantee a long wait in line. Truthfully, I seldom go there unless it’s after hours.

Dave’s: Priced like Giant Eagle, Dave’s stores have a happier vibe. The chain is locally owned by the Saltzman family. Staff seems to enjoy working there, rather than just relieved to have a job. Good selection at reasonable prices. Dave’s has taken over many former Tops locations, (including the Hilltop Plaza location, which was briefly owned by Zagara’s). They currently have 13 stores.

ALDI’s: Cheap uber alles, this German owned chain is strictly for the budget minded who think price over value. The produce is not optimal. Brand name items are not available. Cash only – bring your own bag or pay extra for theirs, and bag it yourself. Bring a quarter for the privilege of using a grocery cart. Previously confined to more downscale neighborhoods, in recent years they’ve infiltrated Lyndhurst and Westlake.


Italian food stores:

Ferrara’s: Italian-American specialty grocery in Mayfield Heights. The selection is fair, the prices are a bit high – and they don’t accept plastic payment of any kind. Whenever I’m there, which is seldom, I half-expect to see Don Corleone looking for oranges.

Alesci’s: Locally owned, their South Euclid branch has a better selection than Ferraro’s. Very friendly staff, and great deals on pies. Not the place to go if you’re on a diet, but definitely the location for those who love food.


Wholesalers:

Costco: What can be said of the world’s largest members-only wholesale chain that hasn’t been said? Sam’s Club and BJ’s may be cheaper at times, but for selection, they are not in the same orbit. One either loves Costco or hates it. At times, for me, it’s both. I love shopping there – my pulse rate increases whenever I approach their doors – but hate braving the long lines and self-checkout when leaving. Costco has everything and then some. But for now, let’s concentrate on the food: Costco carries name brands for most types of food, usually packaged in bulk sets: frequently there are coupons for 8-packs of Progresso or Campbell’s Soup. These guys are master marketers: They send out a booklet of coupons every month, cannily timed. Expect to see a coupon for four 8-packs of hotdogs as the summer starts, for example. Their own brand, Kirkland Signature, offers excellent value on everything from oatmeal, canned veggies, soup, frozen items including hamburger patties, veggies, and pizza, even beer, ale, and wine. (Recently, Costco stopped carrying Nature Made brand orange juice, retaining only Tropicana – which I despise – and the KS brand, available in condensed only. I hadn’t had condensed OJ in decades, but tried it and love it – and expect to save about $15/month.) KS also makes non-food items including batteries, clothing, shampoo, conditioner, bar and liquid soaps, cleaning products, and that cookware I’ve had my eyes on. Often, the KS value is superior even when there’s a coupon for the big brand names. For those with large families or who frequently entertain, Costco’s value is indispensable. Even though it’s usually just Dan & me at the dinner table, our membership pays for itself with the savings on gasoline alone. One note to those who’ve never been there: Costco does not accept Visa, Mastercard, or Discover credit cards. They do accept debit cards, American Express (Costco has a program where you get a rebate coupon for a percentage of your AMEX purchases) checks (who even pays via check anymore?) and, of course, cash.


The Departed:

Tops: This chain took over Finast, which had been going downhill for years. A cheaper and more downscale version of Giant Eagle, all local stores closed a few years ago. Not missed.

Catalano’s: RIP. My market of choice when I lived in Lyndhurst, one of the last family owned grocery stores went downhill after it was taken over by Giant Eagle. Sales plummeted and the Catalano family briefly took over again before closing for good around 2007. The very simple store layout could be overlooked on account of their stellar bakery and deli. One of the rare grocery stores where bag stuffers wore ties in the 21st Century.

Hank’s Top 5 Culinary Pet Peeves

Overcooked vegetables: Steaming veggies until they’re mush kills the flavor and removes many of the nutrients.

Overcooked meat: It’s already dead. There’s no need to cook it so long that all the flavor is depleted. If one prefers a charred surface (which is potentially hazardous due to carcinogens), then quickly broil/flame the meat, leaving the inside tender and juicy. (Of course, no one should serve or eat meat which is dangerously underdone.)

Gargantuan portions: Few things turn me off to eating in a restaurant as when I face a huge plate overloaded with food. Not only does it make consuming the meal seem more like a chore than a pleasure, but it dampens the prospect of dessert.

Miniscule portions: The ultimate in culinary pretense, and often parodied, is the expensive restaurant that serves a tiny wedge of food, surrounded by empty plate surface. Skimpiness is not desireable.

Misuse of spices: The purpose of herbs, spices, and the like is to supplement the natural flavor of food. It’s not to drown out the flavor and bring attention to itself. Nor is it to overwhelm people’s senses and cause them physical distress (not only when the food is entering the body, but as it exits as well). A good indicator of whether food is too spiced is whether you want to take another bite, or you become desperate for a glass of ice water. Any restaurant that boats of serving chicken wings so hot that a customer is required to sign a release form before consuming them should be shuttered by the health department.

Thoughts on veganism and America’s addiction to meat

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has named Bill Clinton as their Person of the Year. The former President made headlines this year when he announced that he had been living on a diet largely consisting of “beans, legumes, vegetables, fruit…a protein supplement every morning… no dairy”.

It’s more than a bit disingenuous to promote Clinton as a champion of veganism: First, he still eats fish (which PETA fails to note); Secondly, Clinton has undertaken this restrictive diet out of medical necessity. For decades, he abused his body with cholesterol laden junk food, paid the price with quadruple bypass surgery in 2004 and has since had to have two stents placed in his coronary arteries. The former President represents an extreme case, where there is no alternative but to go “virtually vegan”.

I’m amused by the reactions of the pro and anti vegan crowd to this news. The vegans crow with vindication about Clinton’s late-life change, and the carnivores counter that all vegans are smelly, weird people. Then carnivores inevitably drop the Hitler bomb, even though Hitler was not, in fact a strict vegan or even a vegetarian. (By the way, I listen to Beethoven and Wagner and am not going to stop just because Hitler happened to have good taste in music.) While the vegans claim that Clinton looks astonishingly fit, the carnivores complain that he looks like a feeble old man. For my part, I do believe that Clinton looks somewhat gaunt, although he appears better than he did immediately after his bypass surgery, when his pallor reminded me of late-life photographs of Franklin Roosevelt. Clinton’s voice has also lost much of its projection, and there is a noticeable reduction in his legendary vigor.

As is often the case where both camps are convinced of their absolute correctness, reality is somewhere in the middle.

Fact is, humans are driven by evolution and biology to crave and eat meat (by which I mean all kinds of meat, including pork and poultry). That’s why we have incisors and canine teeth, unlike herbivores which have mouthfuls of molars. Early humans ate meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, and nuts. They did not, however, eat bread (which is a human invention). Neither did they drink milk (once they were weaned from their mothers’ milk) or consume other dairy products such as butter and cheese.

Most Americans, however, eat too much meat, particularly so called red meat. This is for several reasons: historically, Americans have been meat eaters since before our founding: There was a bounty of game animals on the continent that exceeded Europeans’ grandest dreams; in modern times, factory farming has kept meat available in plenty, and at prices most Americans can easily afford. Very few of them care, or are even aware, that the vast majority of meat and poultry is filled with growth hormones, antibiotics, and was raised in conditions that our 19th Century counterparts would have considered indecent. The overconsumption of meat and dairy products and reliance on processed foods (like bread and products made with High Fructose Corn Syrup), combined with the under-consumption of fruits and vegetables and our sedentary lifestyles have placed the American peoples’ health in jeopardy. What happened to Bill Clinton is a sample of what’s in store for many of us if we don’t change our ways. (And overconsumption of certain kinds of fish can lead to mercury poisoning.)

There is also the ethical question. I grew up with foods such as pot roast, steak, burgers on the grill – along with the veggies my parents made me eat. I never gave a thought as to where the food came from or how it got to the kitchen table – and I’d venture to guess that few of my classmates did either. But over the last few years, I’ve become increasingly uneasy with eating red meat and pork. I now try to keep myself limited to one helping of red meat per week – but even that has started to bother me, especially since watching The Cove. For what is the difference, after all, in eating meat that comes from a cow or pig, as opposed to a whale, dolphin, or even the family dog? They are all mammals, and all share the same evolutionary history. It may be irrational or false equivocation, but I do consider mammals to be a higher form of life than fowl, which are essentially reptiles. There is also the environmental impact deriving from the raising or so many cattle, which have to be fed and housed before they are slaughtered. So the struggle I face is between my body’s cravings for red meat, and my growing guilt in consuming it. Last summer, I totally gave up dairy for several weeks, and that combined with my reduction in red meat intake produced some unexpected results – in the form of dreams about cheeseburgers covered in ice cream. I don’t think I will ever be able to give up mammalian meat completely.

In the end, the answer is, as it has always been: moderation in everything. If President Clinton had observed that mantra in his younger years, he wouldn’t have to resort to extreme measures today.