Monthly Archives: February 2008

Brennan’s Colony

February 9, 2008 | by Ben 2

Sarah and I recently got takeout from Brennan’s Colony (ph: 216.371.1010), a family-friendly pub on Lee Rd. and Meadowbrook. We’ve been there numerous times before, but there have been a number of changes over the last year or so. First, they’ve expanded their menu to include more vegetarian options, including this Portabella Ciabatta:

The flavor was outstanding. The combination of balsamic aioli, bleu cheese and carmelized onions make for a very tangy, satisfying sandwich. The Ciabatta itself (basically an Italian sourdough) contributes as well.

Their salads are excellent as always. Sarah ordered the grilled chicken:

The chicken had a nice grill flavor and the greens were crisp and fresh. We hadn’t picked up the new menu yet when we ordered, and Sarah was a little sad she didn’t try the Buffalo Chicken salad. My personal favorite is the Blackened Tuna Salad with balsamic dressing–they’ll also cook it rare if you ask.

Other changes include putting their wraps on … continue reading

Buckeye Beer Beer Engine

February 3, 2008 | by Sarah 4

This Saturday we went to the Buckeye Beer Engine in Lakewood. Ben was interested because they have a large selection of beers and the menu looked pretty interesting. We were both surprised at the number of vegetarian options on the menu–they were even noted with a smiley face so they were easy to find.

The restaurant itself is pretty small: the max occupancy is only 88 people according to the sign by the door. While we were there fairly early on a Saturday evening. The restaurant was fairly full, but it did not appear that anyone was waiting for a seat. The atmosphere is the typical small bar scene, and we also noted that there was another couple with a small child there, although the restaurant doesn’t have a kids menu.

The menu however is kid friendly, with at least 4–5 different options. Jonathan decided on the hummus and pita. He really enjoyed the hummus and ended … continue reading

Grilled Broccoli and Cheddar w/Hash Browns

February 2, 2008 | by Ben 0

Broccoli, believe it or not, is in peak season right about now. And grilled cheese tastes good any time of the year. I didn’t know this when I made the sandwich below–it just sounded good at the time:

Sarah loved this recipe, and Jonathan was even fine with the Broccoli. Don’t be afraid of the cayenne–the butter and cheese mellow its intensity significantly. If you don’t want this at all spicy, you can reduce the quantity, but I’d strongly suggest not cutting it out. The almonds are also absolutely essential to the flavor.

Grilled Cheddar and Broccoli with Cayenne Butter(frm Laura Werlin’s Great Grilled Cheese: 50 Innovative Recipes)*

Makes four sandwiches–very easily halved or doubled.

1/2 lb. broccoli crowns2 TB. butter, at room temperature1/2 t. cayenne1/4 cup (1 oz.) sliced almonds8 slices whole wheat, sourdough or Italian bread8 oz. coarsely grated cheddar cheese, ideally at room temperature (use your food processor if you have … continue reading