Challenge Accepted! In search of the best soul food in CLE

Ah the powers of Facebook.  Not only did a social media network bring the Original Asian and I back together after a four year hiatus, but Facebook is where I get my news AND new challenges.  Yesterday I ate at Angie's Soul Cafe truck that was parked downtown near the Galleria on East 9th Street.  Angie's Soul Cafe has a store front in three locations, but none are close enough to walk for lunch.  www.angiessoulcafe.com/
The food is pretty good for coming out of a truck.  Not too mention living in Cleveland does not yield that many soul food establishments.   It nice to roll out of the building I work and get a decent smothered pork chop and greens for a reasonable price.

After lunch, I posted on Facebook that I am a soul food freak...which is completely true.  The Husband and I plan our vacations according to where we can get good Southern cooking.  So, we have pretty much vacationed in the south exclusively.  Heck, I decided I am moving to Savannah, GA the week after I retire with or without my family.

Living here in CLE, the soul food we eat, I cook myself: shrimp and grits, greens, black eye peas, cornbread.  Yesterday, a friend from high school asked me via Facebook where is my favorite place to get soul food in Cleveland.  For a split second, I was going to answer her...but then I realized I couldn't.  I do not have a favorite place to get soul food in Cleveland.  I have not tried enough establishments to give a recommendation on the best soul food restaurant in my opinion.  So, Christina, in the words of Barney Stinson: Challenge Accepted!  Because I am putting the kolachky caper to rest, I will be actively seeking out the best soul food in Cleveland.  Yum.

I'm not the only person having crazy adventures in Cleveland

Several weeks ago, the stupid newspaper in Cleveland ran a story about a blogger who formerly loved Cleveland, but has since moved part time to LA and has created a blog about how much he hates Cleveland.  It's ironic since the article I read stated his wife still lives here and loves Cleveland.  This is exactly why I created this blog.  Here we have a Cleveland hater who does nothing to help the situation.  Complain about the politically leadership?  Well, do something about it!  Get out and vote, sway other voters, help on a campaign.  My other source of angst is the newspaper itself.  Why is the focus to always put down Cleveland?  Do you feel you get more readers when you dog the City and promote laissez faire individuals who hate the City?  My goal, no lie, is to make a competitive news media outlet for Cleveland.  How that goal will be achieved.  I have no idea...yet.

Anyway, through the amazing powers of Facebook, a friend of mine posted a link I want to share.  This person is drawing 100 drawings of Cleveland and puts a short little blurb under each picture.  Here's the website http://juliaincleveland.tumblr.com/   You can also purchase a print of any of the drawings on Etsy.  I found the website fascinating and I really appreciated someone else's positive outlook of Cleveland.

Life really is too short to hate Cleveland.

I have thought of starting a blog for quite some time.  Why?  Two reasons: 1) infuriating print media and 2) kolachkis.  Don't worry, I will explain.

First, I am not a fan of the print media here in Cleveland.  I find it one-sided, biased, and usually wrong.  That's right, I believe all the fact checkers were the first to be laid off when the economy fell in the downward spiral.  Several months ago, for no good apparent reason, I was called out by name in an article regarding my job.  (I guess now is as good as time as any to let you know that my alleged full-time job here in Cleveland is attorney.  Really, it's being a mom though.)  For some reason, all the media negativity has continued to trickle down to those who post on the internet.  I used to read everyday how horrible Cleveland is and what a terrible waste of space it is and we should bulldoze the entire place...etc, etc, etc.  I cancelled my subscriptions, stopped reading blog posts, and refused to watch the news.  I've been much happier.  So, instead of having everyone cut off the internet to avoid Cleveland haters, I thought why shouldn't I create my own space to show those who care how cool Cleveland really is.

The second reason is Kolachkis.  For those of you who do not know, it is a pastry type cookie that my Grandma used to purchase from one particular Croatian bakery for Easter.  It is Holy Week this week to those who are Christians, such as myself, and I wanted to track down some kolachkis to bring to Easter dinner on Sunday.  I am having a hard time finding "Cleveland's best kolachkis" on the internet.  Then I came across another blog who posted a recipe for making your own kolachkis.  I go all over this City, east, west, and south for food, fun, work, and entertainment.  For example, I will probably try out 3-4 bakeries throughout Cleveland this week in search of my favorite kolachki.  I thought it was about time I shared my crazy expeditions for anyone who would like to read about them.

Life is too short to hate on Cleveland.  My wonderful mother died of cancer when I was 20 years old.  She was a life long Clevelander.  My grandmothers were as well.  I loved their traditions and stories of Cleveland past and I try to keep them alive as much as possible.  I want to share my loves and excitements to in turn, help others stop hating on Cleveland.