Childhood Hunger

Latest News
Michael Symon Fundraiser Food for Life to Welcome Nation's Finest Chefs

Summary:

MICHAEL SYMON HOSTS “FOOD FOR LIFE” ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010 AT THE STATE THEATRE IN PLAYHOUSE SQUARE (OHIO)

July 12

Michael Symon Fundraiser Food for Life to Welcome Nation's Finest Chefs

Cleveland Plain Dealer Online
by Joe Crea
July 6, 2010


Much as I’d love to fly into New York City for dinner at Jonathan Waxman’s remarkable restaurant Barbuto, then out to Santa Monica, Calif., for a bite at Mary Sue Milliken’s sublime Border Grill, then head up to San Francisco to sample the succulence of Traci Des Jardin’s acclaimed Jardiniere before swinging through Chicago for meals at Koren Grieveson’s Avec and Michael Sheerin’s Blackbird — well, funds are tight.

But you and I will each have the rare opportunity to dig into all their creations, and those of at least 10 other chefs from restaurants across the nation, several of them here in Northeast Ohio. They’ll be in town for a culinary spectacular planned for Sunday, Aug. 1, at the State Theatre in PlayhouseSquare when Michael Symon hosts "Food for Life."

For years, Symon has hosted dinners to benefit Share Our Strength, an organization that fights hunger. This year, Cleveland’s "Iron Chef" has broadened his mission with the goal of generating funds for two other nonprofit organizations he supports: Autism Speaks and Urban Community Schools.

Cleveland chefs represented include Rocco Whalen (Fahrenheit), Jonathon Sawyer (Greenhouse Tavern), Paul Minnillo (the former Baricelli Inn), Scot Jones (Vegiterranean) and Eric Williams (Momocho), as well as Symon (Lola).. Other notable chefs from New York City, Miami, Philadephia and Los Angeles also will take part in the event.

A fresh take on Irish …

Breaking cultural perceptions can be a big hurdle. Perfect example: What do you think of when someone mentions Irish cuisine? OK, OK, sure, wiseacre answers include "oxymoron" or "a pot of potatoes" — but even if you’re thinking corned beef and cabbage, you’re way off the mark.

"For me it’s all about freshness and good quality and ‘clean’ food," says Karen Murphy, the new co-executive chef for Claddagh Irish Pubs. She has been working out of the chain’s Cleveland area location in Legacy Villagein Lyndhurst. Cary Erway shares co-exec duties.

Murphy, 36, knows a lot about Irish fare beyond her corporate perspective. She hails from Schull, a tiny fishing village on the southern tip of Ireland. Murphy says she grew up in her parents’ pub. "The pub floor was our own living room and we played there until they sent us upstairs to bed," she says. "I went with my parents to the dock each day to look over the catch to decide what to buy for the day’s meals. It’s where I got my appreciation for preparing restaurant food that tastes like it could be a home meal."

After coming to the United States and spending 13 years working in Boston, she went back to Ireland to study at Ballymaloe Cookery School, her homeland’s most famous cooking school, in Shanagarry, County Cork. Now back in the States, she oversees the 15 restaurants in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota that make up the Claddagh chain.

Currently, Murphy is supervising the rollout of an updated menu. A decidedly light, summer-friendly tone has overtaken the stereotypical "heavy" fare of time-worn tradition. Global influences — Latin, Asian, Mediterranean — have made marks on the new bill of fare. If you order the meatloaf, you’re served a wonderfully moist and subtly seasoned chicken meatloaf coated with coarse-grained Dijon-style mustard.

Yes, Bass Ale-battered fish and chips remain a staple, but the chefs have added a virtuous yet delicious alternative: cod baked with a light walnut-and-cilantro pesto over a refreshingly tangy portion of fresh ratatouille. The traditional soda bread is coarse, chewy and fragrantly wheaty, and the mashed potatoes are wonderfully earthy.

By the way: Yes, I’m a big fan of independent restaurants. If you’re grumbling about the spotlight on a chain, note that Claddagh is based in Solon.

 

If you liked this, please help us spread the word by sharing it with others.