There’s a science to which wines pair best with pasta, or the beer that will best compliment the palate of a barbecue. Alcohol seems integral to a dinner plate, and the need for it in social settings is ingrained in our culture. That’s the cycle that Sober in the City, hosted by Fleurish and Verbena Free Spirited, aims to interrupt.
“When I stopped drinking, I loved attending these types of dinners, but when the intention is to pair the food with wine, you're kind of missing out,” says Emily Tanski, founder and event manager at Fleurish. “So we wanted to create an elevated dining experience that hits those same marks, but just didn't include alcohol.”
RELATED: Non-Alcoholic Bar Trend Catches on in Cleveland with Verbena
Feeling part of the whole is the essence of Sober in the City, an outdoor dining experience commencing on Sept. 7 along Cleveland’s West 29th Street with a communal seating style. Situated intentionally outside of Larder Delicatessen and Bakery, Jeremy Umansky will be the chef behind the dinner.
“We talked to Jeremy about the celebration of this late summer harvest in Cleveland, the bouncing abundance,” says Molly Cheraso, owner and founder of Verbena Free Spirited. “He has this one-of-a-kind tandoori oven and will be cooking outside for people on the street to see.”
Providing the drinks will be Woody Hambrecht of Woody’s non-alcoholic wines. Sold specially at Verbena but crafted in California, Hambrecht will be on-site to speak on the offerings alongside Umansky.
“They’ll guide us through each of the courses and pairings,” Tanski says. “Guests will also have the opportunity to purchase wines that they enjoyed.”
Though the high-end food, wine and decor will set the tone, Tanski and Cheraso are dedicated to the community that the event will foster, creating a comforting social space where you don’t need to drink to have fun.
“Guests will be able to experience the Ohio City neighborhood in its prime,” Tanski says. “There's not going to be a specific seating arrangement, so it's going to be really organic.”
“I always come back to the words ‘celebration’ and ‘inclusion’,” Cheraso says. “There's a lot of people that don't drink alcohol for a lot of reasons, and I don't see why they shouldn't be fully included in every celebration.”
RELATED: Voices of Hope: Profiles of Sober Clevelanders
A second event is already in the works for Cleveland Heights, as Tanski and Cheraso hope to cement this as an ongoing series of dinners celebrating sobriety and local culture.
Sober in the City is open to anyone, whether or not they are sober. Tickets are currently available online.
For more updates about Cleveland, sign up for our Cleveland Magazine Daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox six times a week.
Cleveland Magazine is also available in print, publishing 12 times a year with immersive features, helpful guides and beautiful photography and design.
