Local Author Takes Readers Into Michael Symon's Private Kitchen

Join author Maria Isabella at the Strongsville Library as she presents her book, "In the Kitchen with Cleveland’'s Favorite Chefs: 35 Fabulous Meals in About an Hour."

Next month, Maria Isabella will present her book, In the Kitchen with Cleveland’'s Favorite Chefs, at the Strongsville Branch Library. During her presentation, the author will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the private kitchens of 35 local culinary greats, including Michael Symon and Jonathon Sawyer, according to cuyahogalibrary.org. In her book, Isabella posed the challenge for each chef to share their favorite dishes for entertaining friends and family that could be prepared in an hour or less. Isabella will showcase some of the chefs' best recipes and tips at the library on May 1 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.  Click here to register or call 440-238-5530 for more information.

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And the Winner of Strongsville's Favorite Burger Is . . .

See if your choice got the most votes in our poll

So where's the beef? At B Spot. Michael Symon's restaurant at the Greens of Strongsville snared first place in our Best Burger competition, narrowly beating Five Guys Burgers and Fries. "Does drooling on plate give you an idea how good they are?" wrote Marge Pauch, who picked B Spot over 13 other contenders. "It's amazing what a genius like Michael Symon can do with something as simple as a burger," agreed Michelle Norton. Final results show B Spot snared 36 votes, while Five Guys got 27. "Made with the toppings you want except doneness is always medium well. Too bad since the meat is exceptional but the flavor is cooked out. Great value, fast service and all the peanuts you can eat," one reader commented about Five Guys. Other results: …

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Best Bites

The Best Fries in Strongsville

Best Bites

For the longest time I have been bored with fries. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a tasty deep-fried potato as much as anyone. It’s just that over time I’ve discovered most places don’t even try to do anything to jazz up this all-American side dish known as French fries. Still, in my many jaunts to the many restaurants in town, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at just how good their spuds here really are. My faith and hunger for them has been reignited in the almighty potato and its rightfull place as the supreme side dish. I hate to say it, but for the longest time it seemed like McDonalds had been the go-to place for quality, tasty fries. Yes, they may be fast food, but dang if Ronald and his team haven’t nailed it in perfecting the art of …

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Best Bites

B Spot is Grade A All the Way

The Strongsville Gourmet is very happy the Iron Chef has brought his burgers, brats and bologna to town

As I arrived to the B Spot, 18066 Royalton Road, my fellow luncher was already snuggled in a roomy booth sipping on a large beverage. “What are you drinking ?” I asked. “A mikshake,” she answered. Oh man. A thick, creamy milkshake sounded so good. “I walked a few miles on the treadmill earlier today,” I said aloud, as if I really needed to justify ordering a shake. I’m an adult, after all, and can order what I want without any qualms. (And I really did do time on the treadmill that morning. Really. R-e-a-l-l-y.) So, I ordered one. And . . . it was so-o-o-o-o good. I mean, seriously good, as in the best-shake-I-ever-had good. I can’t tell you the number of times I have been dying for a frosty thick shake only to receive a thin, sugary …

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Crowd Welcomes B Spot, Michael Symon on Opening Day

Iron Chef makes an appearance at his new burger restaurant.

At 10:30 a.m., a half-dozen people were outside the door of B Spot, Michael Symon's new burger-brat-and-beer restaurant in the Greens of Strongsville, waiting for the grand opening at 11. "We always like to be at a new restaurant on the first day," said Joe Kaderabek of Strongsville, who was at the head of the line with his wife, Linda. "When Don's Pomeroy opened, we were there. We got a free lunch -- I told the waitress if I'd known, I'd have ordered dessert." Behind them in line, Tom Firment waited patiently with his daughter, Alyssa, 10. "We always go to the latest and greatest in Strongsville," Firment said.  By 11 a.m., when general manager Brian Deibel swung open the door and said, "Welcome to B Spot," the line of lunch customers had…

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Rick Uldricks

7:53 pm on Saturday, April 9, 2011

Love Chef Symon's Supersuckers shirt!   more ›

Michael Symon's B Spot to Open April 6

The Iron Chef's new burger-brats-and-beer restaurant is in Greens of Strongsville

The eagerly anticipated B Spot restaurant will open in the Greens of Strongsville on April 6. The eatery, which features Iron Chef Michael Symon's signature burgers, as well as brats and beer, starts serving daily at 11 a.m. Symon, who owns the acclaimed Lola in Cleveland and who gained national fame by winning the Food Network's Iron Chef competition, looked at several communities for his second gourmet burger-and-bratwurst restaurant before picking the location at 18066 Royalton Rd., local officials said. Construction crews are almost finished converting the former Bombay Company into a 120-seat eatery.  The 3,300-square-foot restaurant will feature Symon's gourmet hamburgers and bratwurst and a variety of hand-crafted beers on tap. It …

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B Spot To Be Open By Mid-March

Renovations wrapping up on Iron Chef Michael Symon's gourmet burger restaurant

It'll be just a few more weeks before Iron Chef Michael Symon's new B Spot restaurant opens in the Greens of Strongsville. A firm opening date has not been set, but Economic Development Manager Brent Painter said it "will be opening soon." "I'd say the first half of March," Painter said. There are also rumors that Symon will make an appearance there as part of a grand-opening celebration. Symon, who owns the acclaimed Lola in Cleveland and who gained national fame by winning the Food Network's Iron Chef competition, looked at several communities for his second gourmet burger-and-bratwurst restaurant before picking the location at 18066 Royalton Road.  Construction crews are now turning the site of the former Bombay Company into a 120-seat …

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And the Winner of Strongsville's Favorite Restaurant Is . . .

Don's Pomeroy House takes top honors in Patch contest

The people have spoken -- possibly with their mouths full of Fishmarket Salad and lobster tail -- and named Don's Pomeroy House their favorite restaurant in Strongsville. "Hands down my favorite place to eat," said Tina in her nomination. "You can count on two things -- the food will be great and so will the service." Other voters said Don's, located in a renovated historic house at 13664 Pearl Road, has a "terrific patio" and "excellent food." "(General Manager) Dan Stroemple and his staff go out of their way to make your meal enjoyable and relaxing," Ruth Brickley commented. Also receiving praise were Mad Cactus, Cleats, Italian Village and Shinto Japanese Steakhouse. A restaurant that hasn't even opened yet -- Michael Symon's B Spot -- …

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Iron Chef Michael Symon Bringing Gourmet Burgers to Town

B Spot to open in Greens of Strongsville

Facebook helped bring a new B Spot to Strongsville. "(Celebrity chef) Michael Symon and his business partner asked on Facebook where people would like to see another B Spot," said Brent Painter, the city's economic development manager. "A lot of the people responded with Strongsville." Symon, who owns the acclaimed Lola in Cleveland and who gained national fame by winning the Food Network's Iron Chef competition, looked at several communities for his second gourmet burger-and-bratwurst restaurant before picking the location at 18066 Royalton Road.  "They found a place they liked here in the Greens of Strongsville," Painter said.  Construction crews are now turning the site of the former Bombay Company into a 120-seat eatery slated to open …

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