Jumping in the Lake – Lakewood, OH

Living near a large city and its metropolitan area has its disadvantages and advantages. The city and its environs are the heartbeat for cultural, shopping, sporting and culinary adventures. I’m lucky in this aspect, I live in a large metropolitan area during the week (Detroit) and close to another on weekends (Cleveland). Recently we made a spur of the moment trip into Cleveland, on the way we were googling and searching out a new and unique lunch spot, something local and something offering local flavors and something farm-to-table. That place was found in the near westside suburb of Lakewood at Lindey’s Lake House. Lakewood is one of those up and coming neighborhoods and was one of the original streetcar suburbs of Cleveland, located about six miles west of downtown bordering Lake Erie to the north, I-90 to the south, the Rocky River to the west and W. 117th Street to the east. Lakewood is home to many restaurants, bistros, bars, galleries, and specialty shops most located along what is considered its main street or downtown on Detroit Avenue from Bunts to Arthur Avenues. Lakewood is also home to the “Gold Coast” an affluential neighborhood of luxury high rise apartments and condominium on the shore of Lake Erie, with spectacular views of the lake and of the Cleveland skyline. On the southeast corner of Westwood and Detroit is where we discovered Lindey’s Lake House. The name grabbed our attention as we had seen their downtown/East Bank of the Flats location (used to be Coastal Tacos). Always up for a culinary adventure it was decided to eat here. The exterior is stark white trimmed in a nautical blue with a non-conspicuous sign and it blends in well with its neighbors, nothing flashy just clean and crisp in appearance. Inside the décor is that of a lake cottage with reminders that you are on a lake beach. The staff was very attentive as we started with big bowl of Mexican Street Corn that was chargrilled, with cotija cheese, chipotle and lime crema with cracker thin chips made from their pizza dough, it was gooey and delicious with just a bit of a heat kick to it. Entrees that day included two ordering the Walloon Chopped Salad with chicken, the salad was a mixture of Arugula, Kale, cabbage, red onion, apple, bacon, pecans, goat cheese and topped with a pear vinaigrette. Another dish ordered was the Sibling Revelry Ale Battered Fish and Chips, which was just par for the course Fish and chips with a warm slaw and fries. I ordered the Double Stacked Smash Burger made from Ohio beef, American cheese, lettuce, tomato and topped with a special house sauce (think Mac sauce) and served with fries. It was a good and flavorful burger, quite large and could have been served with just a few more of those salty hand-cut fries. Of course we had our hearts set on the Key Lime Pie, but when we saw our server return pie-less, needless to say we were disappointed – but the restaurant took the corn off of the bill as a gesture for not having the pie. Would I recommend Lindey’s Lake House, definitely. Lindey’s Lake House has three Cleveland locations: Lakewood, Beachwood and the Flats.
Walking back to the car along Detroit Avenue I happened upon a small pasta store, named Little Lakewood Pasta Company – with a storefront of no more than 10 feet by possibly 10 feet – but their main commodity, is homemade pasta made like the Italian grandmothers have been making forever. Within this wonderful find were shelves loaded with their different flavors of fettuccine. Flavors such as Traditional, Garlic Lovers, Italian Herb, Garlic Chive, Cajun, Roasted Red Pepper, Italian Stallion, Black Pepper and Thai Yellow Curry with many different flavors depending on the season. Megan Manning started the business and I asked her permission to use the following from her website:
Megan Manning, Chef and Owner of the Little Lakewood Pasta Company learned the art of making pasta at ICASI in Chesterland, OH, where she felt an immediate connection with pasta making as though it was what she was born to do. After working in various restaurants in Cleveland, one day she decided to follow her dreams and thus created the Little Lakewood Pasta Company which started out of her home and sold her first bag of pasta at the Lakewood Farmers Market. Starting at one farmers market a week to two and then eventually 5 a week, she needed a bigger kitchen, and thus opened a brick and Mortar in Lakewood OH. (2012) We here at the Little Lakewood Pasta Company believe that pasta should be fun, healthy and above all delicious. This is why we use all fresh ingredients from the local flours we source to the ingredients we put in our pastas from local farms. Also, we don’t add any preservatives or additives in our products because after all, this is fresh pasta! Really! Even, our “dried” pasta cooks up in just a few minutes and you get that true fresh, al dente bite! We pride ourselves in having a solid offering of vegan options and offering our customers a solid variety of delicious flavors each week. We hope you enjoy our pasta!

I purchased a bag of the Italian Herb and others purchased the Cajun and traditional along with a couple packages of their sausage ravioli. Megan also sells her homemade sauce in the store as well. Their byline or slogan is “ Eat, Live & LOVE Pasta” It was an unexpected but wonderful find that day. Little Lakewood Pasta can also be purchased at other locations including the Olive Scene in Vermilion and Kate & Klohe in Norwalk. The day was wrapped of with some shopping and ice cream at Malley’s Chocolates– I opted for a bag of their seconds, which I truly love! The next day I couldn’t wait to try the pasta and made homemade turkey meatballs to go with it (recipe will be posted soon) the pasta is simple, yet delicious and best served al dente! Life is all about adventures and finding new places that you can’t wait to tell the people you love about – that day in Lakewood, Ohio was one of those great days and it was too cold to jump in the lake!