A Taste of Black Cleveland held its sixth showcase Thursday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The event recognized Black-owned restaurants, food trucks and online businesses across Northeast Ohio. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland NAACP, Black CoLabs, and Aramark partnered as hosts for the event.
Around 200 guests were able to taste samples from more than 25 different chefs and restaurateurs all offering a variety of dishes including desserts. Guests were also able to vote on which food businesses should be crowned as winners for different categories.
The event shines a spotlight on the diverse culture, cuisine and live entertainment in local Black communities.
Black-owned restaurants to try in Northeast Ohio
After two hours of tasting lamb chops, seafood, mac and cheese, and mini sandwiches, I had found my winner − and gained about 25 pounds.
Hooked Restaurant, located at 23091 Emery Road in Warrensville Heights, had the best food and vibes when I approached their table. Chef Devin Jefferson was dancing to the music while thoroughly explaining to people what was in the samples. He handed out fun beaded necklaces and gave people high-fives and fist bumps.
His table gained the most attraction, and I saw people come back for thirds and fourths. I'm not even a big fan of lamb, but his fried lamb chops blew my mind. The way they were seasoned, I had to question if they were really lamb chops because they didn't have that typical taste of lamb. I told several people to try it right then and there.
"This is my first time coming back to the event as a full restaurant," Jefferson said. "Last year I came as an independent chef going against some of the big restaurants in the city. I'm overwhelmed by the support; it's letting me know that the people around me are able to see my growth."
Jefferson and his team wound up winning first place in the carryout category and received a monetary prize of $1,500 from the Cleveland NAACP.
Now, for Akron foodies, luckily all the food trucks at the event travel down here. The Cleveland Fish and Seafood Company had mini fried fish sliders, and man, were they good. They were fried to perfection, and I was full even off a miniature piece.
For my vegan eaters, Squash the Beef is the place for you. Located at 1400 East 105th in Cleveland, their mashed potatoes were blended just right − they weren't too creamy, and they weren't hard as rock. They were very smooth and seasoned like no other. Along with that, what I thought was pulled pork was really a mixture of vegetables. I'm a meat eater, and I was genuinely surprised how close in flavor and appearance it was to pulled pork.
And finally for my dessert, The Sweet Fix Bakery had the best, and I mean the best, cheesecake. It had edible gold flakes on top, and the flavor made me feel like a kid at a candy shop. I was tempted to ask for the recipe, but I knew it was a chef secret. Sweet Fix Bakery is located at 2307 Lee Road in Cleveland Heights.
Businesses featured at A Taste of Black Cleveland
Full service
- Zanzibar Soul Fusion
- House of Creole
- Doc's on Harvard
- It's a Must Cafe
- Grille 55
- Floods
Carryout
- Whitmore's BBQ
- Hooked Restaurant
- Fresh Lyfe
- Rockin’ Robyn’s Takeout
- Bite Creole Kitchen
- Comfort CLE
Food trucks/caterers
- Feeed Myyy Bellyyy
- The Cleveland Fish and Seafood Company
- Blasion Fusion
- Carter's BBQ
- Gourmet Gent Culinary Services
Vegan
- Juicy Vegan
- Squash the Beef
- Vegan Vybez
- Koncious Kuisine
- The Vegan Club
Dessert
- The Sweet Fix Bakery
- Le’ Scoop Dessert Boutique
- Gourmet Girl Custom Cakes
- Cupcake Mama216
- Nina Lau'Rens
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Taste of Black Cleveland event highlights Black-owned restaurants. Here are ones to try
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