Ohio’s Cleveland With the Classic CLE Eats & Drinks series, I’ve had the pleasure (and the calories!) of delving deeply into Northeast Ohio’s culinary heritage over the last few years.
These tales have been as much about memories as they are about food, from the salty tower of a Polish Boy to the crunchy, flavorful bite of a sauerkraut ball from Akron.
We have discussed how the unassuming creamed shredded chicken sandwich from Sloppy Bird, Ohio, subtly gained recognition as a staple of Midwestern comfort food.
More
classic cle eats drinks
-
Summer s already gone to the (hot) dogs: Classic CLE Eats & Drinks
-
All hail Il Rione s Speck Pie, the best pizza bianco in The Land: Classic CLE Eats & Drinks
-
P.O.C. is the G.O.A.T. of Cleveland s nostalgia beers: Classic CLE Eats & Drinks
-
Add these 10 (more) essential Cleveland dishes to your Classic CLE Eats & Drinks tour
We examined how a coconut lemon cake can transform any of us into a time-traveling, sci-fi hero in an H.G. Wells book, and we deconstructed the multi-layered genius of our corned beef fixation. The West Side Market, Higbee’s Chocolate Malted frozen custard, chicken paprikash, pierogi, Romanburgers, and Christmas Ales are just a few of the things we’ve thrown our weight behind!
To top it all off, we’ve included must-try local classic guides that shout Cleveland louder than a Browns tailgate. What comes next? We are assembling our list for the second half of 2025. What’s the next stop? Bagels for pizza.
It’s your time now, though. Time for a story!
If this series has taught me anything, it’s that Clevelanders cherish their culinary heritage.
Everyone has a favorite, whether it’s the first pierogi they ate at Grandma’s, the iconic fish fry, or the dive tavern serving the greatest CLE specialty in town.
I’d also like to know about yours.
Which regional cuisine should be included in the upcoming Classic CLE Eats & Drinks column? Where in the neighborhood has provided generations of food for your family? What obscure beverage or food merits a little attention?
The better, the more distinctive and micro-regional. Anything that has to do with a place, a time, friends, family, or a bizarre tale. Something that is difficult to find elsewhere that is tasty, evocative, and distinctive.
Please contact me at [email protected]. Give me a recollection. Even better, if you have a photo, email it. I’ll share one of yours when I’m not telling one of my Classic CLE stories or bringing up the time machine to discuss one of those delectable, region-only delicacies you can’t get enough of!
Imagine it as The Moth radio hour, but for foodies. It’s also in print, with lovely illustrations. Well, whatever.
Because this series is about telling tales, not just about eating my way through the city and sharing my childhood experiences of being born, reared, and raised.
Some of the better ones, I’m sure, haven’t been shown yet.
The fine print now: 1) I must have your explicit consent to use the text and images (and your photographer’s consent if you did not take the photo); 2) I will get in touch if we need to meet for fact-checking; 3) Crazy stories and tall tales are okay, but whenever feasible, shield the innocent; 4) Be at ease with being condensed and made clearer through editing.
The final one is crucial. I could certainly eat a War & Peace-sized piece (about three pounds in hardcover print) and write a book about Kiedrowski’s Snoogles! But eventually, as the kids say, you’d tap out. Aim for about five hundred words.
Cool?Cool. Let’s continue, then. Together, let’s savor the tastes that have molded this city and spread the word that CLE eats and drinks with passion.
I’m thirsty for that next story and hungry to hear about your favorite. Together, let’s put it in the record. Contact me at [email protected].
