There are few better events than Five Star Sensation, a
benefit for University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center. The biennial
event, headlined by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, assembles 35
great chefs and 40 world-class wineries for a matchless night of eating
and drinking. In addition to Puck, participating chefs include
Gordon Hamersley (Hamersley’s Bistro, Boston), Shawn
McClain (Spring, Chicago), Charles Phan (the Slanted Door,
San Francisco), Susan Spicer (Bayona, New Orleans), Jonathan
Waxman (Barbuto, New York) and many more. Wineries include some of
the best that Napa and Sonoma have to offer, including Girard, Frog’s
Leap, Patz and Hall, and Alexander Valley Vineyards. Since 1987, the
event has raised more than $10 million. This year’s Sensation begins at
7 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at the site of the future University
Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center at Chagrin Highlands in Beachwood. To
purchase tickets, which start at $300, visit uhgiving.org.
Cleveland Heights has become well known for its restaurants. On
Wednesday, June 3, 18 of those great restaurants will team up to raise
money for the Heights Youth Club, which provides a safe place
for kids to hang out. Taste of the Heights will take place from
6-9 p.m. at the HYC building at 2065 Lee Rd. Chefs from Anatolia
Café, Marotta’s, Lopez, Pacific East, Nighttown and many others
will be dishing up tastes of their most popular items. The all-star bar
will be tended by Kathy Simkoff (Grog Shop), Declan
Synnott (Parnell’s Pub) and Jim Brennan (Brennan’s Colony).
Entertainment will be provided by the kids. Cost is $50. Cash bar.
“You know how many times I’ve been to the Beachland and had a couple
of Maker’s Marks and said, ‘Man, I could really go for something to eat
right now?'” asks Billy “Blitz” Madansky rhetorically. Rather
than simply bitch, Madansky is doing something about it. By mid-summer,
he intends to open Blitz Barbeque (15710 Waterloo Rd.) in the
old I-90 Diner space across from the Beachland Ballroom. The mostly
carry-out joint will specialize in slow-smoked pulled pork, baby back
ribs and Jamaican jerk chicken. Madansky perfected his craft at home
before going commercial at the Waterloo Arts Fest and Coit Road Farmers
Market. “The first time I set up a stand in public, I sold out of
everything,” he says. “I was walking around with the money in shock.”
Other items will include barbecued grilled meatloaf and burgers topped
with pulled pork, fries and slaw.
This article appears in May 27 – Jun 2, 2009.
