Dinner in the Dark: A Benefit for VeggieU

I don't have time to do a full post on this awesome event, but I wanted to make sure you all heard about the latest great idea from the great chefs in Cleveland.

Dinner in the Dark will be a once-a-month dining event in which local chefs will cook a no holds barred, anything goes, "open mic, jam session for chefs" that will benefit the chef's charities of choice. For the first Dinner in the Dark, Chef Jeff Jarrett (North End, Hudson), Chef Brian Okin (Verve Restaurant, Cleveland), and Chef Ellis Cooley (AMP150, Cleveland) will prepare you a 'mystery' dining experience and all proceeds will support VeggieU.

What: Dinner in the Dark
Where: Verve Restaurant, 1332 Carnegie Ave
When: October 11th at 7pm
How: Tickets $50 call 216-664-5500

I am really bummed that work will prevent me from being able to attend the first Dinner in the Dark but I definitely hope to attend one soon. If you go, please let me know all the details and feel free to rub in how good it was!

Eat Local Challenge

Did you know it's Local Food Week in Cleveland?

 
Local Food Week is being put on by Local Food Cleveland, an action network for everyone who is passionate about growing a thriving local food economy and culture around Cleveland. It includes a lot of great events including farm tours, movies, potlucks and restaurant dinners just to name a few.

I try to support our local restaurants and farmers everyday. If you've been reading my blog from the beginning you probably know I buy most of my meat & produce from local farmers markets, auctions or directly from the farmers. What I can't get from farms, I buy from Heinen's, a local grocer that also happens to sell a lot of local products. Whether I'm in Cleveland or traveling for work, I always try to seek out restaurants with farm to table menus. One of the goals of my blog is to encourage all of you to do the same!

I encourage you all to take the Local Foods Week "Eat Local Challenge":

1. Eat at least one local meal each day of the week and post photos and recipes on Local Food Cleveland
2. Attend at least one Local Foods Week event
3. Support your local farmers markets, restaurants and retail shops

Looking for more ideas how you can participate in addition to these events? Mike over at Dad Cooks Dinner gave a bunch of suggestions of how he will be "competing" in the Eat Local Challenge.

How will you bring home the gold medal in the Eat Local Challenge?