Cleveland, OhioSwensons DriveFor limited-edition menu items influenced by Ohio’s culinary tradition, Inis is collaborating with another well-liked Greater Cleveland restaurant.
The 90-year-old Akron drive-in company is partnering with Lader Delicatessen and Bakery, located at 1455 W. 29th St., for its August special menu, following partnerships with Cordelia and Black Cap Hot Sauce. Jeremy Umansky and Allie La Valle own the James Beard Award-nominated eatery in Cleveland’s Hingetown district.
Customers may sample the Larder Deli Burg and Loaded Deli Fries, which combine Swensons’ traditional drive-in cuisine with Larder’s artisanal approach, at all Swensons locations in Ohio starting on August 1.
Umansky stated, “I’m really excited about it,” noting that his father is from Akron. I believe that this is what he is most proud of out of all I have done in my career.
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Charles Craig, Swensons’ senior vice president of cuisine, approached Larder this year about collaborating with businesses in Northeast Ohio, which led to the creation of the partnership. Umansky declared that he was immediately on board.
We consumed a lot of food. We discussed what we could change. Regarding Craig, Umansky remarked, “The man is such a consummate professional.” Simply put, everything has gone extremely smoothly.
Umansky characterizes the Larder Deli Burg, the collaboration’s focal point, as a “natural fusion of both establishments’ specialties.” He mentioned the Reuben burger, which sounded like a fairly simple spot for us to meet and mix up.
The burger is served on a toasted bun with Swiss cheese, Cleveland Kitchen beet kraut, caramelized onions, 1,000 Island dressing, spicy mustard, and Swenson’s famous Quarter Pounder seasoned with Larder’s pastrami spice blend.
About the beet kraut component, Umansky stated, “This is just another level of inception.” There is nothing more Ohio than this burger.
42 gallons of Umansky’s pastrami spice were hand-mixed for the partnership. He stated, “We take great pride in that spice.”
Swensons’ crispy fries are topped with Cleveland Kitchen beet kraut, 1,000 Island dressing, spicy mustard, melty cheese, caramelized onions, and Larder’s deli flavor in the Loaded Deli Fries.
Additionally, Swensons is launching two new beverages for August: a Chocolate Cherry Whip made with Dr Pepper, which Umansky acknowledges he’s also enthused about, and a Pineapple Upside Down Shake with angel food cake.
The partnership is reciprocal. Throughout August, Umansky suggested that Larder, which is well-known for its constantly shifting menu, will impromptu serve Swensons-inspired dishes, such as fried mushrooms, which he describes as one of his favorite Swensons dishes, and potential variations on Galley Boys.
These kinds of local collaborations are crucial to Umansky, who is renowned for his farm-centric, foraging approach to cooking. No one can do it perfectly. He suggested it’s acceptable if we bring our families to Swensons once a month.
According to Umansky, this relationship is unique because of its local focus, in contrast to the usual collaborations between huge national companies such as Taco Bell and Doritos or Mountain Dew. He complimented Swensons for keeping it entrenched in Ohio, effectively sending the message: If you want it, you’ll have to come here. He remarked, “You just don’t see this type of collaboration.”
I’m excited to see how this can encourage others in Cleveland, Akron, or Ohio to truly demonstrate that our tiny businesses are just as significant and influential as any of the large organizations present,” he continued.
All Swensons locations will carry the partnership items during the month of August. You may discover the complete list of locations at swensonsdriveins.com/find-your-swensons/.
