Why don't they ever ask us? . . . September's issue of Bon Appetit reports on hundreds of American restaurants favored by the magazine's writers and readers for all sorts of occasions, from just hanging around to a special night on the town. Two Cleveland restaurants showed up on the lists: fun-loving little Fat Cats (2061 West 10th Street, 216-579-0200) in Tremont in the "neighborhood favorites" category, along with a recipe for chef and co-owner Ricardo Sandoval's Linguine Primavera; and Tutto a Posto, Gary Lucarelli's former spot just off Shaker Square, in the "trattoria" listings. Hey, better late than never: Tutto a Posto closed in July after losing both its chef and sous chef. Predictably enough, the only other Ohio restaurant to score a berth was Maisonette in Cincinnati, listed among "special occasion" favorites.
Brain food . . . Wednesday, August 30, would be a good day to eat a burrito, doncha think? And if you get it at one of the seven local Chipotle Mexican Grills, you won't be feeding just the inner child, but you'll be helping a Cleveland student, too, since 100 percent of all sales on that day will be earmarked for the Cleveland Scholarship Program. (The nonprofit organization has been providing millions of dollars in scholastic aid to thousands of qualified students and adult learners since 1967. Find out more about them at www.cspohio.org.) Not entirely coincidentally, the fund-raiser also marks the opening of the area's two newest Chipotles, one in Coventry and the other in Mayfield Heights. The Denver-based "quick service" chain has built its reputation on hefty gourmet burritos, fajitas, and tacos, made to order with fresh ingredients, following the recipes designed by founder and chef Steve Ells. Other participating Chipotle locations are in South Euclid, Parma, Strongsville, Independence, and Kent.
