12 Northeast Ohio Food & Drink Events in August You Shouldn't Miss

Vintage Ohio Wine Festival - August 5 – 6 http://www.visitvintageohio.com/ Drink Ohio-made wine along the rolling hills of Lake County, sampling world-class wines like chardonnay and pinot gris and fruit wines made from fresh strawberries, blackberries, peaches and raspberries. Shop artisan vendors, watch cooking demonstrations, listen to live music and watch spectacular Friday night fireworks.

Cleveland Choktoberfest - September 10 https://www.facebook.com/events/1815097535437001/ Local beer? Check. Chocolates? Check. The two indulgences come together for the perfect pairings at the first Cleveland Choktoberfest.

Taste of the Browns - September 19 http://www.greaterclevelandfoodbank.org/give-help/taste-of-the-browns If there are two things Cleveland loves, it’s sports and food. The annual Taste of the Browns lets you mingle with Cleveland Browns football players at the Club Lounge at FirstEnergy Stadium while you sample bites by local restaurants for a good cause, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

Roots Conference at the Culinary Vegetable Institute - September 19 https://www.facebook.com/events/230487110634519/ The annual Roots Conference brings in movers and shakers in the global culinary scene to talk about ways to make the food system better. The highly regarded gathering, which always boasts big speaking names on its bill, has workshops, talks and panels to discuss the future of food. And it’s all right in our backyard at the Culinary Vegetable Institute.

Autism Speaks Chef Gala - August 6 http://events.autismspeaks.org/site/c.djJTLcNOJjL8H/b.9171177/k.BEE6/Home.htm Always one of the premiere culinary events of the year, the Autism Speaks gala gathers more than 20 of Cleveland’s most renowned chefs for tastings. Michael Symon and special guest Bobby Flay will treat guests to an interactive dinner demonstration. Read more about it in Scene here: http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2016/02/29/symon-and-flay-team-up-to-host-autism-speaks-chefs-gala

Cigars and Bourbon at Edwins - August 8 http://edwinsrestaurant.org/restaurant/upcoming-events/ If the stellar mission of Edwins isn’t enough to get you in the door, maybe cigars and bourbon will do the trick. Hors d’oeuvres and live music round out the sophisticated evening at the Shaker Square French restaurant.

Feast of the Assumption - August 12 – 15 http://holy-rosary.org/ During the Feast of the Assumption – or just “The Fest” as the locals say – the streets of Little Italy are packed with samplings from the best in Italian dining.

National Hamburger Festival - August 13 https://www.facebook.com/events/1113663282006464/ One of the best reasons to take a trip down to Akron: Hamburgers as far as the eye can see. The National Hamburger Festival hosts a hamburger eating competition, hamburger samplings and live music. When it’s all over, make sure you stop at Swenson’s on the way home.

Pork and Cork - August 20 https://www.facebook.com/events/251801181866616/ Join the Hispanic Business Center for dishes prepared over open flames and wine. It’s all paired with live music, dancing and a pig roast.

Dazed & Confused: High ABV Flavor Infused Beer - August 26 https://www.facebook.com/events/1381157568567499/ Celebrate the ABV cap being removed in September by tasting a flight of ABV beers that begin at 7.1% and make their way up to 11.5%. The chocolatier behind the artfully designed Lilly Handmade Chocolates has concocted four truffles to pair with the brews, which include 5 Rabbits ChocoFruit Pineapple Chocolate Stout, Founders Mango Magnifico, Revolution Blue Gene Blueberry Bourbon Barrel Aged Porter and Avery’s Botanicals & Barrels Vanilla Bean Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout.