On this edition of Beyond the Dish, we stop by a restaurant where the owner's passion for art is above the front door. Barocco Grill. As in Baroque Art!
And Beer! It's been in the spotlight lately. There's the recent news of a Hofbrauhaus coming to Playhouse Square; The World Beer Festival recently wrapped up as part of the Fabulous Food Show at the IX Center; and this year, the Great Lakes Brewing Company, Ohio's first "craft" brewery celebrates its 25th Anniversary. Also, as you may know, not long ago Great Lakes released a seasonal favorite, their Christmas Ale. Now, according to the Beer Institute, a leading organization that represents the beer industry, Ohio is the 7th largest exporter of beer in the country. The industry employs some 44,000 people, and has an economic impact of about $3.9 billion. Within our broadcast area, there are dozens of craft brew manufacturers who are part of northeast Ohio's long history of making beer.
And with The Hofbrauhaus, a German institution, coming to the Playhouse Square's theater district in 2014, the future of beer making in Cleveland looks as promising as its past. Recently, ground was broken for the Hofbrauhaus' 1,000 seat Beer Garden, theater, restaurant and brewery - but not everything about the complex will be brand new. The design will wrap around a century old Tudor Mansion, located behind the State Theater, which serves as the clubhouse for the Hermit Club. The Club members have agreed to allow the Hofbrauhaus to incorporate their clubhouse into the design, in exchange for having the building renovated. So who are these crafty Hermits? Some secret group of industrialists, CEO's, civic leaders and deal-makers... not quite.Juan Vergara, Owner Barroco Grill
Rick Armon, Akron Beacon Journal
Pat Conway, Owner, Great Lakes Brewing Company
Robert . A Musson, M.D., Author of "Brewing Beer in the Buckeye State"
Jim Balaguer, The Hermit Club
Nancy Hancock-Griffith, The Hermit Club
Robert Finley, President, The Hermit Club