Eating Well in the City: West Side Market

One thing is for sure; the city offers some amazing spaces, great architecture and interesting places.  We live only 40 miles away from Cleveland and manage to go downtown every once in a while.  When we do, discovering the food it has to offer has to be top on our list. 

The food doesn't have to just come from a restaurant either.  As a matter of fact, visiting its city market is one of my favorite places to go.  With roots going back to the 1840's - this market boasts of not only great food, but is full of history as well.  I end up feasting with my eyes as well as my appetite.

 

It is home to over a hundred vendors and believe me, they sell everything.  It's an eater's paradise.  The variety is endless and begs of repeat visits to at least get a glimpse of all that is for sell.

This leads me to my next thought...Eating well in the city is actually easier than I would have thought.  Sure, you have to walk past all the racks and displays of cookies, pastries, cakes, and candy (it's really ok to nibble along the way) to find some vendors that offer artisan breads, cheeses, and produce.   

A city market does so much for the local economy.  It provides small businesses great opportunities to thrive and grow.  It provides an outlet for small farmers and gardeners who need to sell produce.  It encourages artisanal foods and recaptures old world methods of growing, baking, cooking and eating. 

 

 It also is a vast artistic display that encourages creativity not only in food but in the way we think about food.  There's no way I'm thinking about french fries and pizza here...too many other great foods to discover and explore.

It really is a center and a gathering place for young and old alike to celebrate ethnic heritages, great food and learn new traditions.

 

With this constant traffic flow of produce and food from the burbs and countryside, it ensures the quality of food for many urban dwellers.  I am almost thinking that it's a bit easier for them to eat well at least when it comes to having more healthful choices.  

 

 

I know we ate really well that day and came home with some prizes too.  With new vendors selling Black Tuscan Kale and other organic produce, I felt as if I was walking through a garden. Looks like city pavement owners have their own bit of livin' in the green as well.

 

What's your favorite town or city market space?  Blessings!



For more info on the West Side Market, click here.

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Cleveland: A Day in the City

Even though I'm a "girl from the burbs," I love to explore this city that is located only 40 miles west of us.  It's like a new frontier to me and even though it lacks somewhat in the color "green," it explodes with symmetry,  textures, and shapes that entice me to want to explore.

I have a few shots that I edited to capture the feel of some of the places we visited in the month of February of last year.  We were attending a ministry school then and were in the Cleveland area every weekend.  We spent one Saturday touring different sections of the city and learning about its history and getting to talk to a few people there as well.

One of Cleveland's historical colleges

  
One of my favorite stops was at the Baldwin-Wallace College.  It's a small campus but has the most amazing old buildings that make you stop to look and contemplate.

Cleveland was founded in 1796 and named after one of its directors, founders and surveyors - General Moses Cleaveland.  Surely not as old as our east coast cities and a real babe when compared to Europe; it still makes the city even more interesting as we realize that we're glimpsing back at our own historical beginnings.
 

The best place to take a break from a day trip...a local coffee house in the historic section of Tremont in Cleveland.  The woodwork was rich and dark; reminding me of the deep colored oaks of my grandparent's house.  Oh, and the coffee was pretty amazing too.
 

After a pretty great lunch at Mama Santa's , a simple place but one with award-winning Italian cuisine, we took a stroll outside to soak in the local atmosphere of this immensely charming neighborhood.  Full of cafes, art shops and bakeries; you could easily spend a whole day here alone.
 

In the heart of the industrial section of Cleveland, right by the Cuyahoga River.  Not only is Cleveland located right along Lake Erie, but the river runs through it as well making it a logical place for industry and transport.  It quickly grew in the 1800's.

Sorry I have no shots of the downtown area, but we didn't go there that day.  However, it was fun being able to see some of its neighborhoods and checking out some local places instead of heading only to a museum or play.

Overall, Cleveland has had its ups and downs economically through the years, but it continues to grow and revitalize as many of the districts are slowly being rebuilt and restored.

A very enjoyable glimpse into another "world."  

Blessings!

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