News Bites (33)

Simple, he’s not. Chef Michael Symon, the city’s best-known food export, has several new pots on the stove. Plans are under way for Hush, a swank lounge on East Fourth Street near his flagship restaurant, Lola. Having resigned from Parea, the New York City restaurant he and a business partner opened last year, Symon recently found time to return to the Kitchen Stadium of “Iron Chef.” He will compete against seven other chefs to join the pantheon of Iron Chefs America: Mario Batali, Cat Cora, Bobby Flay and Masaharu Morimoto. The show, which premieres on Food Network Oct. 7, boasts another Cleveland connection — author Michael Ruhlman (who wrote our 2006 profile on the opening of Symon’s Lola) will be one of the judges. We already have a feeling we know whose cuisine will reign supreme.

Although Lockkeepers is getting a complete makeover and a new name this month with its new owner. Dante will graciously continue to accept Lockkeepers gift certificates.

Former Lockkeepers executive chef Ky-wai Wong will be part of new owner Dante Boccuzzi’s staff. Wong’s ailing daughter was the recent focus of an outpouring of support from fellow chefs around town. Amelia’s Feast raised more than $27,000 to be split between the family’s medical bills and Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

McCormick & Schmick’s, an upscale national seafood eatery, is set to open its first Cleveland location Sept. 17.  Included as part of the multimillion-dollar renovation at Beachwood Place, McCormick & Schmick’s will be near the mall’s front entrance, next to Maggiano’s Little Italy. M&S specializes in fresh-daily international, national, regional and local seafood, served on an ever-changing menu of about 85 dishes. David Walker, formerly of Charley’s Crab, will serve as general manager, with Doug Fulton as executive chef. A Brecksville native, Fulton worked for M&S in Seattle, before returning to help open Blake’s Seafood and Hyde Park in Crocker Park. “Our menu is flexible,” Fulton says. “Thirty [percent] to 40 percent of the core menu doesn’t change, but we can use local ingredients.” Look for Ohio-raised beef and Lake Erie perch and walleye.

Two eateries recently opened in adjacent neighborhoods bearing strikingly similar names. To dispel any confusion, here’s the dish on the two Dishes. Ohio City now hosts Dish Global Deli, which opened in July in the former Opa! spot on West 25th Street. “It’s a deli format in the way I serve salads and sides,” says co-owner Heather Campbell, “and globally influenced and health-minded.” With seating as well as takeout, Dish Global Deli offers cuisine influenced by Indian and Asian flavors. Seek out the “Guilty Pleasure” sandwich of brie, bacon, avocado and tomato ginger jam. Over in Tremont, local restaurateur Donna Chriszt opened Dish Deli & Catering in May on Kenilworth Avenue. Sandwiches, homemade salads and other treats are available for takeout, with catering available.