The Cleveland neighborhood of Tremont has, over the last several years, been at the white-hot center of the rise of Cleveland's culinary scene. This old, once Eastern-European-heavy, working-class neighborhood has quickly been morphing from an often-overlooked extension of Downtown Cleveland (it's located just across the river), to an important seat of the city's chef-driven food renaissance.
And for one glorious day, just about all of the major players line Tremont's historic Professor Avenue, ready to sell you sample-sized portions of their greatest hits during the Taste of Tremont. Grab a craft brew from the beer garden and enjoy live music and DJs both on the street stages and in several of the neighborhood establishments themselves.
It's About the Food
First and foremost, declare the Taste of Tremont as your "cheat day" from whatever Oprah-book-club lifestyle improvement plan you happen to be trying this summer. The temptations will hit you early and often, and they're too powerful to ignore.
And oh, the temptations. The dishes, which typically range from $3-15, include offerings from Tremont's big guns - think chefs Dante Boccuzzi and Rocco Whalen, for starters - as well as other exciting taste experiences from local stalwarts, like spicy noodle dishes from Tremont mainstay TY FUN Thai Bistro. Much like Cleveland's restaurant explosion of the last decade, Taste of Tremont highlights flavors from all corners of the world.
Okay, It’s About Other Things, Too
Restaurants aside, Tremont is a vibrant community with locally owned shops, laid-back bars and art galleries - all of which open their doors for festivalgoers. Even if you're looking simply to get out of the hot sun, it's worth putting down your plastic cutlery for a bit to embark on a little art- or shop-hop of your own.
As with most food festivals, Taste of Tremont has turned into a must-see event for live music lovers. The main beer garden features live music all day long, as do a number of bars and restaurants along Professor Avenue. Both local and national acts provide the soundtrack for the lively event.