Day 1: E-ville to Cleveland

Day 1: E-ville to Cleveland

QOTD: For you fans of rock n roll, one of THB’s faves has gone past knockin’ on heaven’s door, he’s there now

Lou Reed:
White light, When I moved in me intween my brain
White light, White light goin' makin' you go insane

Weather: cool on arrival, overcast and from high 40s to low 50s in Cleveland and intermittent rain on the way to Pittsburgh

Pics: Dollar rent a car, home of the Indians, Greenhouse Tavern, “The Loft” at Inn at Brandywine Falls

An easy travel day, United flight leaves on time and arrives early. Only item of note: in the main cabin, the flight attendant handling the drinks also was responsible for selling food and a tad slow he was handling both. We’re in the 7^th row back and a half hour after the carts rolled down the aisle to the front of the main cabin, we still were without water (let along soda). Begging appeared to work with the third attendant, the second attendant told THB that protocol came before thirst.

Picking up the rental car also had its quirks. It’s not often THB gets to take two shuttles to end up in a huge barn of a rental agency to successfully rent a Hyundai. Turns out the rental places are off the airport, and that Dollar/Thrifty was thrown out of the main site after Hertz bought them, and thus when you depart from the first shuttle, you move your bags to a smaller shuttle that retraces the steps of the first shuttle to bring you part way back to the airport. THB did not make this up.

From the airport, we head downtown to a small hip street near the ballparks (see pic of the home of the Indians, where the locals had a banner year). Greenhouse Tavern is known for its locavore intentions and the use of the entire animal when compiling the menu. THB opts for the four course meal, sharing three of them with DB, and DB orders her own entrée.

First (courses are labeled Firsts, Seconds, etc.)…oops, first is Minus-one, local bread (verygood) with a smoked meat schmear and (yogurt based?) dip. Zero is an amuse bouche of smoked fish on a small crouton-like cracker. First (the real first) comes at the same time as the real Second: Chef’s garden beets (didn’t ask if this was literal) with bbq smoked apple, crispy red grain, fermented beans (these ingredients appeared to have been turned into crispy seasoning) and a barley risotto with parts of the turkey leg that don’t end up on a plate, both excellent.

Thirds: THB has a properly butchered (their words) rib steak ($10 upcharge) with scalloped potatoes (not what they wre called, THB’s words now), very tender; DB has a terrific lamb burger with smoky cheese fondue (THB, who doesn’t eat regular beef burgers, rates this a TOP CHOICE!) and more fries than either of us can eat.

Fourth: you can either have “halfs” small plates of salads or frites or buy the kitchen a round of after-service canned beer (their words, THB would never buy canned beer unless it was the only choice, and here it wasn’t) or dessert. THB and DB Black Sesame Custard (the chef has recently opened a Japanese place after spending 6 months there) and it is an ever smaller portion of dessert than “halfs” implies: concord grape, rice paper, sorrel, orchidea no. 34 (what is orchidea, let alone that there are least 34 versions of it?).

Things we did NOT order:  fois gras steamed clams, blood fettucine, Fred Flinstone Beef Short Rib (4 #s), Roasted Pig Head, “invisible” beef tendon ravioli with braised oxtail, gravy frites (poutine????)

With vodka gimlet, very large glass of sangiovese, a local brewski served in a snifter glass because of the “high alcholol” content (THAT’S what THB would like to treat the kitchen staff to), $131, plus $10 to have the car parked (there’s really no choice, it’s jumping downtown even with the Indians, Cavs, or Browns playing tonight).

In the dark, we have no trouble finding the Inn at Brandywine Falls (which is really a B&B - sort of like in Japan staying at the Route Inn Hotel).  We’re in “The Loft” room, which is in a two unit building next to the inn and is really a loft: the living room is downstairs and the bedroom is in the loft and the bathroom is in the mezzanine. The next-door room neighbors appear to be really enjoying themselves based on their noises and how loud the xmas music is turned up.

Not to worry, George the innkeeper, who after showing us to The Loft sat down in our room with us at 10pm and was appearing to settle in for the evening to explain the books he co-wrote that are sitting on the chicken coop coffee table, gets the neighbors to quiet down, and THB and DB manage to sleep through until 8:20.