The long awaited episode of No Reservations, where Anthony Bourdain dines in Cleveland, aired last night. It was funny, it was clever, it made Cleveland food, quite rightly, look very tasty.Even though the West Side Market segment was a wee bit shorter than I would have liked.
And there were a few too many shots of Decrepit Cleveland.
And they didn't go to our two Cleveland favorites, Slyman's and Stevenson's.
And ... Skyline Chili?!? Really? I had to side with Michael Ruhlman here and grimaced at the spaghetti-weak chili-cheese dish. And correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that more of a Cincinnati thing, and not a Cleveland specialty? And Cincinnati is completely different from Cleveland. One is in Ohi-uh, and the other is in Ohi-oh. See? Not the same city at all.
But we are plotting a visit to the Sausage Shoppe soon.
I thought it was a good episode of "No Reservations", but I didn't think they made my city look good. This is Cleveland not Detroit or Pukesburg! All those shots of empty factories.... ekkk.
ReplyDeleteBUT, Mr. Bourdain, how come you didn't go to Slyman's? It’s like going to Rochester and not getting a garbage plate or passing up sushi in CA. Corned Beef is the embodiment of Cleveland and Slyman's is BY far the best. Heck even (our) President had lunch there.
Skyline Chili? REALLY????
Hot Sauce Williams??? EKKK
Next time, get some better guides- I know a really good Cleveland Foodblogger who could show you around :)
(That Chicken Paprikash looked pretty bad- I bet it had garlic in it).
Most of the blogosphere agrees with you, including non-Clevelanders. It just didn't portray us in a very good light. Yes, we have a gritty side, but there are a LOT better places in town to eat than Sokolowski's, Hot Sauce Williams and grody Skyline Chili (which, yes, is a Cincy dish). Nobody I know who likes good food EVER eats at any of these places.
ReplyDeleteI was born and raised in Cleveland, but I've spent the past 15 years in the Cincinnati area. I Can't stand Skyline -- but what I really can't stand is that swill being lumped into a show about Cleveland. I never tasted Skyline before I came down here for college. ICK!
ReplyDeleteSkyline is an acquired taste...once acquired, it hits a very specific spot when consumed at the right time. It IS a 'Nati treat--not sure why he mentioned it while in Cleveland except that he probably will never return to Ohio and had to fit everything into one stop.
ReplyDeleteLong live the 5-way!
You need to be eating Gold Star, not Skyline ;-)
ReplyDeleteSo I just caught the rerun of this. Seriously, they went to Skyline, gross, that is so not Cleveland!
ReplyDelete