Matter Of Taste - Cleveland

If cookies are one of life's great joys, then this time of year is a bonanza of sugary love. Christmas cookies stir nostalgic feelings for many foodies, and like ugly sweaters and Hallmark movies baked goodies get elevated status in December. While it is possible to pick up these deliciously decorated delights at a bakery or grocery store, there's nothing quite like making them at home. This week's episode is the result of years of testing and tasting. Figuring out which expert to interview for an episode on Christmas cookies quickly became obvious... we couldn't think of anyone better to interview than our moms.

It's been called the most wonderful time of the year. Drinking adult beverages is so associated with the month of December that we are routinely encouraged to grab a cup of cheer. So what libations come to mind when it's your turn to make spirits bright? This week ask Joe Deluca to rattle off some of his favorites. Ever had a Tom & Jerry? How about that punch Grandma Molly used to make with lime sherbet? Listen and learn. Cheers!

What's the secret the the 'best damn grilled cheese you ever had'? Roasted Garlic Cheddar on rye bread. That's according to Lisa Seppi, from The Cheese Shop in Cleveland's Westside Market. For more than a decade Lisa has been slinging over 200 kinds of cheeses from all over the planet at this popular stand. Wanna do a fondue but not sure where to start? Lisa tells all.

Any beverage that was once known as "mother's ruin" hardly seems like something one might reach for as refreshment. But, this same elixir has also been hailed as "Dutch courage". What is it about gin that sets it apart from other spirits? How come no one ever orders gin shots, for instance? Well, Joe Deluca knows what happens if you do, and he explains why it's a bad idea. Plus, find out why London Dry doesn't have to come from England and which cocktail to order next if you want to move beyond gin & juice.

What's your caffeination situation? Recent studies have shown that for most adults coffee consumption is 3 cups a day, costing us each about a thousand dollars every year! And Americans spend more than $18 billion each year on these blasted beans. In this week's episode of Matter Of Taste we're talking with Charlie Eisenstat, the man behind one of this town's favorite java joints: Pour Cleveland.

You know the phrase 'like a kid in a candy store'? At RocketFizz in downtown Cleveland you get to experience that feeling times ten as soon as you walk through the door. It is a worldwide candypalooza, and no matter your age or country of origin prepare to be knocked out by nostalgia. Join us for a confection conversation with store owner Susan Hale who walks us through the store to discover some new fuel for your sugar buzz.

With football season now in full swing, we thought we'd dig in to a dish that is near and dear to our hearts.... Buffalo Wings. The Greenhouse Tavern does their wings a little differently than everywhere else, and the way they make them is a game changer. For this episode we headed down to the rooftop of the restaurant for a conversation with Chef Dennis Veverka about how they do that voodoo that they do so well with wings. We also go on a tour of their kitchen, and learned how you can get a front row seat to watch the chefs in action.

By U.S. law, vodka is supposed to be odorless, tasteless and clear. But don't you dare call this liquid boring. Joe Deluca from Dr. Drink's Traveling Apothecary Show gives us a history lesson on the gigglejuice that accounts for 30% of all alcohol sales in Ohio. And find out why Joe thinks it's ok to 'bend your knees' a little when shopping for vodka. Turns out top shelf may not be where it's at!

If you had a really great meal and you didn't post a photo of it on social media... did it ever really happen? On this episode of Matter Of Taste - Cleveland we sit down with Nicole Steffen who's turned food photography into a profession! Her @EatLocalOhio Instagram account is downright delicious. Want #foodporn tips from a pro? Dig in.

There's a frozen treat that Clevelander's love, and if you lived here in the 1950's there was only one place to get it... Higbee's Department Store. Their frosted malt is legendary, and with the store long gone two places in the area say they've recreated the exact recipe. We went for a taste comparison and got a bonus lesson in ice cream, custard and everything in between.

If you agree with the statement that bacon is like a high five to your mouth, then this is the episode for you! In today's edition of Matter Of Taste - Cleveland we sit down with Emma Beno from West Side Market's Pork Chop Shop. Hear how one of the market's youngest owners got her start, what flavored bacon you've got to try next and get surprising details about what goes on in the market's underbelly.

Rosé is having more than "a moment"... for the past few summers it's been consumed in increasing numbers. There are a lot of reasons why this "summer water" is filling our glasses and instagram feeds, and friend of the podcast Joseph DeLuca joins us to fill us in.

Since 1972 Tommy's Restaurant on Coventry has been serving up vegetarian dishes that keep Cleveland residents coming back for more. General Manager (and Tommy's daughter) Stephanie Gruber sits down with hosts Chris Cantergiani and Dorsena Drakeford to tell us how the business got underway and shares with us why listening to what the waitstaff is whispering might open up a whole new culinary world for you.

This edition of Matter Of Taste is one we're calling A Quick Bite. From time to time we'll roll out short episodes following up on your suggestions of places to try. Today Chris heads down to the food truck gathering in downtown Cleveland known as Walnut Wednesday to try the tequila lime chicken nachos from the Wholly Frijoles truck.

They say you can't buy happiness. But we say you can buy donuts, and that's kind of the same thing. With the recent demise of City Girl Donuts in Rocky River, we asked their former pastry chef Maggie Downey about the secret to making them at home and why it can be so hard to sell something everyone seems to love.

Everyone loves discovering an unexpected treasure... in this episode we discuss a taqueria well worth tracking down... and a bowling alley that has the best fried chicken you've ever had. Mahall's 20 Lanes: http://mahalls20lanes.com/?page_id=34 La Plaza Supermarket -https://www.facebook.com/La-Plaza-Supermarket-170618169644880/ Hot Dog Shoppe: https://www.facebook.com/The-Hot-Dog-Shoppe-111809872189727/