Taste the Season Through Clevelanders' Favorite Traditional Holiday Dishes

Editor's Note: This story originally published in our December 2025 issue, "A Very Cleveland Holiday." Read the rest of those stories of nostalgia and cheer.

Cassava Cake 

Tita Flora’s serves up the holiday spirit with its creamy cassava cake, made from grated cassava root and topped with a rich leche flan and ube drizzle. “When people try it for the first time, it melts their heart because it’s not something many people can find outside of the Philippines,” says employee Zoe Flores. In Cleveland, cassava’s rarity in regular grocery stores makes this dessert a treasured taste of home for the Filipino community. 6531 Brecksville Road, Independence, 216-232-4303, titafloras.com

Feast of the Seven Fishes 

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a beloved Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition featuring seven or more seafood dishes, often including baccala (salted cod), smelts, calamari, shrimp, clams, mussels, octopus or even eel. For many Northeast Ohio families, Euclid Fish Co., a fourth-generation seafood business, has become the go-to source for fresh, traditional holiday specialties. “Some people only come once a year for these products. They bring their lists and their kids along. It’s an experience,” says Terrie Young, wife to store owner John Young. “We see the same families come back year after year. The names are familiar, and now a new generation is walking in saying, ‘My grandmother used to make this,’ or ‘My mom always cooked this — how do I do it?’ We keep recipes on hand, and I always enjoy sharing how I like to prepare things myself.” For many, the feast is less about formality and more about gathering in the kitchen and keeping cultural ties alive. 7839 Enterprise Drive, Mentor, 440-951-6448, euclidfish.com

Kwanzaa Feast 

Celebrate Kwanzaa with a feast rooted in tradition and community. Prime Meats, Cleveland’s trusted family-owned butcher of 15 years, has everything you need to honor the holiday with flavor, from lamb shanks and smoked turkey to tender beef for stews and spices for any marinade. “The city is very diverse in its cultures and neighborhoods, so we try to make sure we’re catering to all our customers,” says operations manager Dana Thomas. “We want to make sure everyone can get what they need.” Various locations, primemeatsllc.com

Hanukkah Latkes 

At Larder in Ohio City, chef Jeremy Umansky brings his family tradition to the menu every Hanukkah season with larger-than-life, freshly fried potato cakes. You can eat them plain or use them as a vehicle for a variety of toppings ranging from smoked fish and caviar to classic garnishes like sour cream and applesauce. “Growing up, my mom and dad always made the latkes, and it was a whole family process grating the potatoes and everything,” Umansky says. “Granted, the way we make them here at the restaurant is drastically different from what I grew up with, the whole spirit is still the same.” 1455 W. 29th St., Cleveland, 216-912-8203, larderdb.com  

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