Tinder Moments: Michael Fleming

Hidden talent: Looking at me you wouldn't know that I'm an accomplished chef, but cooking, architecture, it's all the same part of the brain.

Biggest fear: I recently saw an image of the Brazilian banana spider — that scared the crap out of me.

My bad habit: While I'm an excellent cook, I'm also very messy in the kitchen.

My guilty pleasure: I would say red wine, but I don't really feel that guilty about it.

You'd never guess: I was a Cleveland garbage man the summer after my freshman year in college. It was actually one of the more interesting experiences of my life, because you get to see the city from absolute anonymity.

I can't live without: Large brown eggs. They're just so useful!

My hero: My father. He passed away a few years ago, and he was so well-liked that it's basically an unattainable goal to be as well-liked as Ken.

On my bucket list: The Camino de Santiago. It's a pilgrimage across the north of Spain, hundreds of miles long. You take a month on foot or a bike or a horse, but you can't use a motorized vehicle. People all over Europe do it to mediate.

Biggest accomplishment: Taking a neighborhood that's always been the city's "next neighborhood" and pushing it over that hill.

When I'm not working: When would that be? The neighborhood doesn't stop because it's five o'clock. When it is a day off, I move as little as possible. Chilling out, reading, doing those crosswords.

Find me here on a Saturday night: My family owns a building on Lorain and West 44th Street where I live, as well as a bunch of like-minded professionals around the same age. The space is an old ballroom, so people always end up coming over to our place instead of us having to venture out.

If I had one wish: I would love it if the nonprofits in our community had more access to unrestricted funds. There is always a struggle for money.

Once-in-a-lifetime moment: Going to Spain for the first time when I was 15 was a realization of cultural identity. My mother's side is Spanish. On the stairs getting off the plane, I could smell orange blossoms and see grandmothers who looked like my grandmother — it clearly felt like where I was from.

If I won the Mega Millions, I'd spend it on: I want to figure out a way to set up an X prize, one of those annual prizes that communities apply for with a project idea. I would basically become a foundation of one.

My No. 1 dating rule: They have to be open to trying new foods.

Deal-breakers: People who are not passionate about something, particularly about what they do. My interest drops off when someone is just along for the ride.

The perfect date: It's a surprise. We just point to the map and figure it out along the way. Food will probably be involved!

I'm a sucker for: Architects and designers. There is something about the design mind.

Most romantic thing I've ever done: I once made a paella and brought it to the Toledo Museum of Art, meeting someone from Detroit halfway. After the museum, we had a picnic. He told me that I restored his faith in people.

What I look for in a significant other: Style. People who take care of themselves. Of course there is more to it, unless you have a good foreign accent — then nothing else is required.

I always, sometimes or never make the first move: Sometimes. I feel clumsy when making first moves, but sometimes I do it anyway.

Would you like to be famous?: No. I like talking about our work, which does end up with people shining a light on me and saying what I'm doing, but I'm focused on St. Clair Superior.

Do you rehearse what you're going to say before making a phone call?: No, I wing it every time.

Last time I sang to myself: Daily in the shower. Last time I sang to someone else: I have very musical uncles, so when the family gets together for holidays, everyone is singing.

If could gain one quality or ability, it would be: I would love to be in two places at the same time.

I wish I had someone with whom I could share ... : Coffee in the morning. Hanging around reading The New York Times — there's something about that informality, when you've gotten through the part where you're nervous about being presented to somebody else.

Celebrity dream date: On a level of conversation and interest, Jon Stewart. That guy reads a book an episode.

Celebrity look-alike: I get Harry Connick Jr. a lot. I don't personally see it but wouldn't take it as a slight.

Dogs or cats: Can't we all just get along? Really, I love them both.

Beach or mountains: Neither. I don't mind hiking, but I'm not really into lying on a beach.

Signature dish: I love to make the tortilla espanola. It's just five ingredients — eggs, potato, onion, flour and olive oil — and takes some mastery to make.

How I stay healthy: Running. I try to run between 3 and 5 miles every day. I like running on the street, through neighborhoods and across the Detroit-Shoreway and Lorain-Carnegie bridges because of the views. But I pick out new paths too, so I can explore a new part of town.

My favorite ... book: Books about cities, their history and why they came into being. I love this book about Berlin called Berlin. I'm a German Marshall fellow. They send 25 Americans to Europe twice a year to tour different cities, and Berlin is one of the five cities I'll be visiting when I go next year. ... TV show: All Aaron Sorkin shows are great: The West Wing and The Newsroom. From the funny side, Arrested Development is one I'll watch again and again. ... movie: I'm into sci-fi and Marvel stuff. The Avengers has been super appealing. ... music: I like listening to other people's iPods. It's like a mixtape. I really like hearing what other people like because it tells a story. ... restaurant: There is a clam stew at Hog Island Oyster Co. in San Francisco. For baked oysters you have to go to a place in New Orleans called Cochon. ... app: The New York Times crossword app. I've even completed a Saturday.

What I'm reading: We are reading about food policy right now because we recently received a grant to address health disparities in a food desert.

IPod embarrassment: "Somos Novios," an Andrea Bocelli and Christina Aguilera duet. My friend Meg and I were in Bogota for her birthday. It's midnight, we're the only people in the bar and we just started dancing to it. The whole staff watched and swooned.

I'm so over: Driving! I wish that this was a more walkable city.

Dream job: I'm doing my dream job!

Dream vacation: For vacationing, I do favor major metropolises. I just returned from Mexico City.

My take on Cleveland's single scene: It's tough. People are pretty coupled up. Frankly, I'm not interested in going to Bounce to meet someone. I want to meet someone in a casual place, like a coffee shop or a relaxed bar and with friends.

Are you on tinder?: Are you kidding? I went on, and there were two dudes — literally! Two people. And that was a 100-mile radius.

Best thing about being single: Messiness in the kitchen — it's totally legit in my apartment.

Worst thing about being single: Being messy in my kitchen. I don't take certain things seriously, and when you're with someone, you're more thoughtful about things like that. It'd be nice to care for somebody so much that you're willing to adjust your own way.

Best date I've been on: There was a moment  — which was not by any stretch a date — when I was at the food bank for a meeting, and a guy comes down the stairs and we looked at each other. You know, those microexpressions where a world of romanticism happens in a moment? That led to a number of really interesting dates, but that moment was what everything stemmed from.

Worst date I've been on: All the bad ones are when there isn't anything to talk about, which is usually because people haven't opened themselves up to anything new.

Do you hope to settle down in the next five years?: With somebody, and in Cleveland most likely. I still want to have my flat in Paris, but I guess that's my version of a snowbird.