Superstar Chef Michael Symon’s Insider Cleveland

Iron Chef, co-host of ABC’s The Chew and a Food & Wine Best New Chef 1998, Michael Symon is the meat-loving chef behind four Cleveland restaurants, including the flagship Lola Bistro and B Spot Burgers. Here, he names the must-visit stops in his hometown. Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Photo courtesy of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

“You have to go to Rock Hall. It represents so much of Cleveland now. We fought hard for it, since everyone thought New York should get it. I’m a huge music buff, but even if you’re not one, there’s so much history, there’s something for everyone there, from classical music to hip-hop.” rockhall.com

“It’s celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and there’s not an Eastern European market like it in the country. When I take New Yorkers there it takes their breath away. It shows you what Cleveland culture is all about. I love J&J, I think they have the best jerky in the world. Ohio City Pasta makes fresh pasta all day. If you want to get some cool, unique spices, Urban Herbs grinds them daily.” westsidemarket.org

“It’s a cafeteria-style Polish restaurant where you can get pierogies and stuffed cabbage and kielbasa, all of those delicious things.” sokolowskis.com

“I love this shop in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood. They smoke their own meats, they make their headcheese. They have the best bratwurst and kielbasa you’ll ever find.” sausageshoppe.com

“This little store next to Lola sells great unique clothing, art and jewelry. It’s gotten me out of trouble many times. I’ve gotten my wife, Liz, a lot of purses, scarves, hats, earrings; it’s where I do the majority of my Christmas shopping for Lizzie.” shopbanyantree.com

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Superstar Chef Michael Symon’s Insider Cleveland

Iron Chef, co-host of ABC’s The Chew and a Food & Wine Best New Chef 1998, Michael Symon is the meat-loving chef behind four Cleveland restaurants, including the flagship Lola Bistro and B Spot Burgers. Here, he names the must-visit stops in his hometown. Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Photo courtesy of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

“You have to go to Rock Hall. It represents so much of Cleveland now. We fought hard for it, since everyone thought New York should get it. I’m a huge music buff, but even if you’re not one, there’s so much history, there’s something for everyone there, from classical music to hip-hop.” rockhall.com

“It’s celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and there’s not an Eastern European market like it in the country. When I take New Yorkers there it takes their breath away. It shows you what Cleveland culture is all about. I love J&J, I think they have the best jerky in the world. Ohio City Pasta makes fresh pasta all day. If you want to get some cool, unique spices, Urban Herbs grinds them daily.” westsidemarket.org

“It’s a cafeteria-style Polish restaurant where you can get pierogies and stuffed cabbage and kielbasa, all of those delicious things.” sokolowskis.com

“I love this shop in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood. They smoke their own meats, they make their headcheese. They have the best bratwurst and kielbasa you’ll ever find.” sausageshoppe.com

“This little store next to Lola sells great unique clothing, art and jewelry. It’s gotten me out of trouble many times. I’ve gotten my wife, Liz, a lot of purses, scarves, hats, earrings; it’s where I do the majority of my Christmas shopping for Lizzie.” shopbanyantree.com

View the original article here

Barcelona Holiday Trip: Superstar José Andrés Eats Cake, Prefers Spanish Pasta to Italian

José Andrés is known for his innovative, Spanish-centric restaurants, like Washington, DC’s phenomenal Minibar as well as spots in Las Vegas and Beverly Hills. Here are his top picks in Barcelona, which he often visits with his family during the holidays. Chef José Andrés shares his favorite places to visit in Barcelona.

“This is one of the greatest bakeries in the world. On January 6, they sell something called the Three Kings Cake, a kind of brioche that looks like challah bread with candied fruit. Inside, there are three figurines or coins and one dried fava bean. Whoever gets the coins or figurines are the kings, and whoever gets the bean is, well, the loser—they have to do the errands for the day, or the dishes.” escriba.es

“Carles Gaig makes some of the best modern takes on traditional Catalan food, particularly a stuffed pasta dish traditionally served on December 26 called canelones. They’re somewhat like cannelloni, but I’m sorry, no place in Italy gets close. They’re almost always stuffed with pork, sometimes with chicken, cooked with onion, sometimes a splash of brandy. The meat is finely ground and cooked very soft, to give it an incredible velvety texture. It’s always topped with béchamel and cheese.” fondagaig.com

“The Christmas market at the Barcelona Cathedral sells all kinds of things for your Nativity scene. It will also give you a good idea of Catalan culture. Not that Catalans aren’t respectful—they’re typically very Catholic—but in their Nativity scene they typically have a character in a corner named Caganer doing his thing—taking a dump. It’s hard to explain, Catalans have a unique sense of humor.” en.firadesantallucia.cat

“I always walk around here, only because that’s what you have to do. You’ll see all the families buying their foods for the holidays there. You’ll see how festive Christmas in Spain is, and how much importance we place on the food we eat.”

“This is a great place to get lost. It was designed by the architect Gaudí at the beginning of the last century, and it’s an astonishing place. Not many tourists get to it in the wintertime, so you may get lucky and have the place to yourself.”

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