News Bites (42)

The 11th Annual Taste of Cleveland returns to Tower City Amphitheater Sept. 1 through 4, featuring a melting pot of the city’s flavors. Expect offerings from The Saffron Patch, Battiste & Dupree Cajun Grille, Mi Pueblo Restaurant, Brio Tuscan Grille, Hot Sauce Williams, Pierogi Palace, Cowboy Food & Drink and more. Admission is free Friday before 4 p.m., $10 Friday evening with headliner 3 Doors Down and $6 Saturday through Monday.

If Labor Day Weekend at Tower City Amphitheater doesn’t sound like enough tasting for you, the Ninth Annual Taste of Little Italy will be Sept. 17 from 3 to 7 p.m. in the Holy Rosary Churchyard, 12009 Mayfield Road. Tickets are $60 in advance and include all food and drink samples, with tastings of 200 wines. The event benefits the Montessori School at Holy Rosary. No one under 21 admitted. (216) 421-0700

Our comment in the August issue that Velocity American Bistro was moving into an ill-fated location was unfortunately prescient: By the time the issue hit newsstands, the Clifton Boulevard restaurant had suffered a major fire and remains closed. No word yet if chef-owner Gregg Korney plans to rebuild.

Chef Pamela Waterman of Lockkeepers and Park City Diner is leaving her position at the Valley View eateries after 13 years there. Waterman’s resignation from Lockkeepers follows that of sommelier Christopher Oppewall, who left for another position this spring and has since been replaced by Cyrus Davarpanah.

Chefs Brandt Evans of Blue Canyon, Matt Barnes of Saucy Bistro and Walt Wirth of 55 Degrees are teaming up to host a private fund-raiser to kick off the Browns’ regular season. Steak and Lobster Tail-gate will take place Sept. 10 in front of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame before the Browns take on the New Orleans Saints. Proceeds benefit Three Trackers of Ohio, a nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of adaptive recreational sports for people with or without physical disabilities.

Summer isn’t over until the patio closes, and Saucy Bistro plans to continue its Saucy Wednesdays patio parties through the end of the month. The $10 hors d’oeuvre buffets and accompanying drink specials are themed: Sept. 6 is Italian and vino; Sept. 13 is Creole and Smirnoff Lime Vodka; Sept. 20 is seafood and Ciroc vodka; and Sept. 27 is American and Bulleit Bourbon. In case of inclement weather, the parties will move into the restaurant’s Cellar Lounge. 24481 Detroit Road, Westlake, (440) 835-3559

Openings:
Machu Picchu Restaurante, 850 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, (216) 664-9712
Jac’s, 1303 West Sixth St., Cleveland, (216) 298-4125.

Closings:
Bella Moon, 8188 Brecksville Road, Brecksville
Cowboy Food and Drink, 9570 Mentor Ave., Mentor
Passage to India, 30610 Detroit Road, Westlake