Cleveland Archives - My Halal Kitchen

Culinary Delights at Northeast Ohio Farmers’ Markets

by Yvonne | Sep 17, 2010 | Fall, Halal-Certified Products

This year during my stay in Ohio I tried to visit as many farmers’ markets and produce stands as possible so that I could get a grasp on the local food buzz- who’s who in local farming and vending and what’s the trend for organic and sustainable products.

The Tremont Farmers’ Market & the tower at Cleveland’s West Side Market located in the Ohio City Neighborhood

Boy, was I ever amazed at how much is going on in the local food scene here. People-vendors and consumers alike- are informed and active in buying local, producing local and sustaining a healthy food production environment for the future. Doesn’t that set the stage for some pretty tasty meals?

Yam & Walnut Pierogies from Posh Pierogies

I started out my beginning with a trip to Cleveland’s oldest and most well-known indoor farmers’ markets, the West Side Market. Last year I wrote an overview of some of my favorite vendors; this year I thought I would tell you about a couple vendors (including a Muslim-owned produce stall) at the market, as well as what has to be one of the best falafel sandwiches I’ve ever had.

Samah Produce is Muslim-owned and run. They sell fresh fruits and vegetables and are friendly, allowing customers to try samples of fruits before purchase. Look for them at the covered, semi-outdoor stalls 19, 21, and 23.

Ohio Concord Grapes from Mena’s Produce

Mena’s Produce was another place I stopped to take photos of these gorgeous Ohio Concord grapes, ones I grew up on and that simply must be sampled. They are so packed with flavor that no supermarket grape can compare to its intensity. These grapes are particular to the Lake Erie region due to the incredibly unique micro-climate we have here in northeast Ohio along the shore, where the air is moist and the soil highly acidic.

Now on to seriously the best falafel sandwich I’ve ever had. I have to say, I’m always skeptical of places that are touted as ‘the best’ of anything- says who, right? I ordered with regular expectations, nothing out of the ordinary. Then, with my first bite I was elated to a level of falafel happiness like never before. You see, I don’t like crunchy falafels- those that have been fried so long you can barely break into them. I didn’t know they could be cooked so well. masha’allah. And, if that wasn’t enough…there’s the sauce. They’ll ask you if you want the hot sauce (which I rarely turn down)– that just takes the already-delicioso sandwich to another level of falafel happiness.

Maha’s Falafil

1979 West 25th Street (inside the West Side Market)

Cleveland, Ohio

216.696.6999

The West Side Market

corner of West 25th St. & Lorain

Cleveland, Ohio (Ohio City Neighborhood)

Mondays & Wednesdays, 7am-4pm

Fridays & Saturdays, 7am-6pm

Now on to another small and precious gem of a farmers’ market that Clevelanders are proud about: the Tremont Farmers Market.

Apple Farmers of Woolf Farms and Posh Pierogies Stand

The Tremont Farmers Market is a five-year old weekly outdoor market located in one of Cleveland’s hip, urban centers. The market hosts space for vendors of cooked foods, local produce, purveyors of organic products and even cutlery sharpening.

Heirloom Tomatoes from Por Bar Farms

Our first stop at the market was to check out the beautiful, locally-grown organic produce. As farmer Kevin Leamer of Por Bar Farms replied when I asked him if his good were organic, it’s way beyond pesticide-free and organic. He grows the stuff himself and ensures absolutely no chemicals touch his heirloom tomatoes, peppers and berries (among other things he grows).

Organic Berries & Tomatoes at Por Bar Farms

Por Bar Farms

11136 Holshoe Rd.

Homerville, Ohio 44235

(330) 625-2121

contact: Kevin & amy Leamer

Next stop: Morning Side Farm, a lovely, bustling stand full of vibrantly colored produce so beautiful I couldn’t resist the chance to capture nearly all of it in photos. The owners were friendly and busy talking with customers about every type of produce for sale, answering questions and providing knowledge about what to do with things like the beets or kale.

Purple and Green Okra from Morning Side Farm

Organic Carrots from Morning Side Farm

Morning Side Farm

1075 State road

Hinckley, Ohio 44233

216.406.6621

Garth Proctor, Professional Cutlery Sharpener

Garth Proctor is one of the individuals that comes to market twice a month, sharpening tools in tow (those are must-see in and of themselves), ready to bring back to life things like kitchen knives, food processor blades, kitchen or sewing shears. And if you ask just about anything related to purchasing, caring for and maintaining your kitchen tools, Garth is the person to ask. He went to school for this. Yes, there is a school for this (only four world-wide), the art of professional cutlery sharpening, something that is now somewhat of a lost art.

Stop by and meet him- he’s more than happy to share what he knows. If you can’t get to Cleveland to meet him, check out his really informative website.

Garth Proctor (the man who ‘likes to sharpen things’)

ga**********@***il.com

216.262.3168

Here’s where & when you can find him in person:

Tremont Farmers Market: Tuesdays, 4pm-7pm

Lakewood Farmers Market– Wednesdays, 10am-1pm

Kamm’s Corner Farmers Market– Sundays 10am-2pm

Crocker Park Farmers Market– Saturdays 9am-1pm

Homemade PIEROGIES & 100% APPLE CIDER

I haven’t had pierogies in a very long time, so as the wonderful aroma of fried onions wafted through the fall air begging me to try one of their unique flavor combinations, I concluded I’d probably never see a yam & walnut flavored pierogie again, or at least not for a long time. The vendors over at Posh Pierogies were cooking out on an open grill, so we tried a few- 3 for $5, as an appetizer before dinner.

Delicious and unique, these homemade pierogies are worth every bite:

Posh Pierogies 330.608.0683

To drink, we were spoiled with some of the freshest, best-tasting apple cider I’ve had in years. Talk about memory lane. The last time I tasted apple cider so good was as a kid on a hayride during the fall months somewhere in the farmlands of my Ohio childhood. Now, I can’t help but think of the amazing health benefits of this drink, as well as the economic benefits to the local farmers this provided. In support of today’s local farmers, I absolutely recommend the apples and apple cider from the humble folks over at Woolf Farms, which you can find at local northeast Ohio farmers markets or by contacting them. You can also click on the link to find a complete listing of their vending locations.

Woolf Farms 330.525.5128

It does take a bit of research time to find sources of local produce and even artisanal services, which is why seeking out farmers’ markets is a great way to efficiently shop- everyone is congregated in one area for your convenience and theirs. I did this when coming to Ohio, but you can do it anywhere you visit or travel. Alhamdullilah, these days farmers’ markets are popping up all over the place.

Not feeling it’s worth your time or money? Trust me when I tell you that the flavors of the food, the people you meet and the overall experience of getting out into fresh air to eat healthy, real food, is something you’ll want to experience everywhere you go. Insha’allah.

Find a Farmers’ Market Near You

Cleveland’s West Side Market is a Must-See

by Yvonne | Aug 20, 2009 | Halal-Certified Products

One of the things I try to never miss when I go back home for a visit to Ohio is the West Side Market in Cleveland–even if I’m not looking for anything in particular to buy. It’s so much more than a farmer’s market, although much of the fresh produce comes from local growers; it’s also a variety of specialty and gourmet item stalls, mini-restaurants and stand-up coffee shops. Just about anything you want to consume can be found there- and that’s a lot of stuff!

I recently visited the market with a new set of eyes and a whole lot of time. Having scoped out many of the wonderful local Chicago area outdoor farmer’s markets, I have a new appreciation for the parking lot variety markets with a small amount of vendors selling high quality products. The West Side Market, however, is exciting. People of mixed ethnicities and ages gather to buy and sell. Vendors leave out fresh samples of fruit to prove theirs is the sweetest, and they actually talk to customers as they walk by, making the human connection that’s totally absent in a supermarket transaction.

It’s like a European outdoor market minus the foreign languages…well, minus some foreign languages.

Be sure to physically visit the market the next time you’re in Cleveland–or just make a special trip to see it and more of Ohio’s culinary delights. In the meantime, just enjoy the eye candy below (pun intended):

Maha’s Falafil Stand: This place is famous for its falafels, but I wanted to try their spinach pies instead. They were absolutely delicious- warm and soft, the dough perfectly baked-not soggy; the spinach wasn’t bitter, either as it can be if improperly cooked. Lines are long, but go quick. The owner told me Rachel Ray visited, too, when she was doing ther show about eating while traveling on $40 a Day for the Food Network. How exciting!

Maha’s Falafil Stand is located at Stands G-13 and H-13. You can also reach them by phone at 440.829.0819.

Ohio City Pasta: Pasta just doesn’t get fresher than this. The stall’s display is beautifully set, showcasing the pastas’ unique shape and variety– but you must have a taste. After visiting the market, I also went to the actual location where the pasta is made fresh, just outside of downtown Cleveland. Owner Gary Thomas was gracious enough to give us a spontaneous, full-blown tour of the operation where his pasta is truly homemade.

A small, two-building operation allows him to maintain keen oversight of the quality products, which include seasonal items to keep costs down for consumers without sacrificing an ounce of taste. I was able to try the Spinach Ravioli and the Whole Wheat pasta made from local, Amish-grown, natural wheat. Each of these pastas was delicious in its own right, without need for a heavy sauce for fear of masking the delicious taste of the ravioli or pasta. The next time I’m in Ohio, I’ll be trying the Saffron Pasta, or maybe the Lobster and Cheese Pasta…hmm…..how will I decide? I think it best if Ohio City Pasta comes to Chicagoland to give our locals the type of pasta we simply dream of.

Ohio City Pasta is located at the West Side Market at Stand E-3. For custom orders, call 216.696.3388 or go to their website: www.ohiocitypasta.com.

Urban Herbs: This is another stand I really loved because of their unique and hard-to-find herbs. The vendor was quite knowledgeable about the items and their uses, so it was a warm relief when she not only told me they carried the Mexican herb, epazote, but also knew what it was used for. She also enlightened me about a fascinating display item called a Himalayan Salt Plate, a type of salt brick coming from Pakistan that is used for variable kitchen endeavors like salt-curing meats or plating up sorbets and ice creams. They can be heated or frozen in order to produce the desired effects on your own culinary endeavors.

Althought they do have a website, I found many more items to be available at the stall itself (Stand E2). Besides, you’ll learn a lot from the vendor if you just ask.

You can buy a variety of unique herbs from Urban Herbs online orcall their office at 216.651.4500.

Cake Royale: Your sweet tooth deserves a bite from this place. The owner is a self-taught pastry chef who produces beautiful, edible artwork. If I could, I would have tried one of everything in the showcase. I simply groveled over the Pistachio Cake, a unique cake concept with a green frosting that reminded me of creamy gelato. The Strawberry Cake was my other temptation, seeming to talk to me through the glass window to convince of its health benefits- just because of its bright red color. Mom and I decided to go easy and ask for a cannoli we would split. Lucky for us, there weren’t any left…or so it seemed. The pastry worker behind the counter creatively decided she would put one together with the very last bit of cannoli filling they had and filled it right on the spot. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted a more fresh and perfectly made cannoli–and I’m a Sicilian. That’s gotta mean something. Right?

Cake Royale is located at Stand D-7. You can also call the owners Michele & Denise Kahwagi at 216.351.3553.

I met so many great vendors and scoped out some wonderful-looking stalls at the market, but unfortunately I couldn’t taste everything I wanted. Enjoy these pics below to give you a glimpse of a few more not-to-miss specialty shops. Back in Chicago, I’m here already looking forward to my next trip back, insha’allah…

Narrin’s Spice and Salt: Stand E-11. Call 216.861.0626

Crepes Deluxe: It’s worth it just to see the largest container of Nutella perhaps in the whole world! Nutella fans unite here! Located at Stand C-2. Call 216.916.9336

Keep in mind some of these helpful tips for when you go to this or any large market:

Check out the market’s website, if they have one: If not, try to find out what type of vendors and/or items for sale they have and jot down the ones you’d like to visit.
Map out the place and make a plan: Figure out which stalls you’ll visit first, second and so on, including any places you think you’d like to stop for lunch or a coffee break.
Take plenty of cash: Although many stalls are set up to process credit cards, produce vendors are often only set up to take cash. You don’t want to be short on cash when you find the most beautiful purple figs that are perfectly in season!
Bring your own large shoulder bag. Not only is this eco-friendly, but you’ll fit a lot more in one large bag and won’t be annoyed with half a dozen small bags dangling from your wrists.
Go With Someone You Know Will Enjoy It, Too: Outdoor markets are a chance to enjoy God’s bounty, even if you’re just there to look. Enjoy the experience by bringing a friend or family member with a similar interest. Who knows, you may end up cooking together, too!

The West Side Market is located at 1979 W. 25th Street, Cleveland, Ohio and is open Mondays & Wednesdays from 7am-4pm; Friday & Saturday 7am-6pm.