Victor Searcy has always wanted to help others. When he graduated with a master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, he thought he would become a social worker or a therapist. Instead, he went back to the restaurant industry, where he'd worked in various jobs since he was 16. While still in college, before he even had a business, Searcy was making sauces from scratch. Seeing how his flavors resonated with his peers, he became obsessed with continuing to expand their potential. Now 34 years old, Searcy is the proud owner of Sauce the City, located in University Heights and at an outpost at Re:Bar in Downtown Cleveland. From wings, french fries, cheesesteaks, and most famously the Cleveland Hot Chicken sandwich, his sauces have certainly met their matches in the food world, as he’s attracted awards galore and customers from across the country. Yet, he’s never lost sight of where he started. His selflessness and love for the craft of cuisine brings him to frequently support other Cleveland chefs. Here are some of his favorite local joints.
Cocktails: Re:Bar. They batch everything fresh. All the drinks are unique and refreshing. My favorite is a seasonal one – the smoked apple with Patrón Reposado. You’ve got to do smoked the right way. This one has just a hint.
Latin: Mofongo [Latin Grill] (now closed) has some of the best rice and beans in the city, and their margaritas are fire. The staff is like family, and you can see the teamwork in what they do.
Pizza: Ohio City Pizzeria. I love their cheese. It tastes authentic and heavy, and they don’t skimp on the sauce or the toppings. And it’s a classic crust. They have one style, and they rock out with it.
Related: Dining Guide: Ohio City's 28 Best Restaurants, Cafes and Bars
Cold Weather Favorite: Chicken Paprikash from Souper Market is the best for a winter day. It’s like your grandma cooked it.
Related: 21 Best Places to Get Soup in Cleveland
Date Night: Depends. I like Flour for something intimate, different, and away from everything. Or, go to Blue Point, midday, for their happy hour, and you can stuff up. In Chagrin Falls, she’s going to fall in love with you if you take her to JoJo’s (Bar). It’s classy.
New Favorite: The Flavor Grille in Akron is soul food. They’ve got some good jerk chicken. Out of this world! And oxtail. It tastes just like short rib. I know (owner) Jay (Hussle). We’ve been in constant contact since I tried his food.
Dessert: Chef Karen [Gordon] of KG Home Baked Goodness. What drives people crazy is the sweet potato pie. And the cakes: red velvet, cassata, German chocolate. She’s on-the-go, so she’s great for personal parties.
Beer: I’m a huge beer guy. Bookhouse Brewery is my favorite. The owner still batches and brews himself. My favorite, the Double Whoops!, is a citrus IPA, but it’s not bitter like an IPA. It’s fruity.
Game Day: “I’m at Tailgate Sports Bar on Euclid Avenue. Or Panini’s (Bar & Grille). It’s slept on! They’ve got some of the best wings. I’ve never made wings as good at home. I have no idea what they do.”
Related: 25 Best Sports Bars in Cleveland
Joining the Melting Pot: “I was raised under many different cultures of food. I’ve traveled across Latin America for inspiration in my own cooking, exploring different cuisines. Clevaland has such diverse foods and super talented chefs, and every chef has their own identity. You can go to 10 restaurants and never get the same taste profile.”
One Dish You Could Eat Forever: I’m Nigerian, so I grew up with egusi soup. It’s a bunch of meat, fish, vegetables and spices mixed together. You eat it with fufu, which is a starchy dough, like a dip. It looks terrible. It took me a while. It smells like a lot of flavor, though. Just don’t look at it! Primo’s [African Quisine, now closed] egusi soup reminded me of my aunties’.
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