My Own Personal Best of CLE(veland Magazine)

Cleveland Magazine's Best of CLE issue is out now, & it's always been my favorite issue of the year - first as a reader & now as a freelancer for them. It's just so much fun, & it's the perfect way to discover new products, people, & places with which you weren't yet familiar.

This year's issue features three of the CLE's own bloggers on the cover, photographed by the talented Angelo Merendino. From left to right, they are: Shibani of Bombay Taxi Boutique, Romance of Hey, Curlie, & Kimberly of Modern Musings. Lookin' good, ladies!

As much as I like seeing local bloggers on the cover, though, the inside of this issue is pretty personally important to me, too, because I did a lot of writing for it - all different, all interesting, all a privilege. Inside this issue, from me, you'll find:

1. Four write-ups: Best of CLE
From the Best of CLE landing page, you can click out to find all of the award-winners, including four interviewed by yours truly:

• OJ Tonic from Caffeine Lakewood: This two-toned concoction is made with espresso, soda water, & orange juice - & really packs a punch!
• Coração de Galinha from Cello's Grill: Downtown's Brazilian steakhouse specializes in skewered meats - like kebobs of tiny, tasty grilled chicken hearts.
• Spritzes from Craft Collective: Shaker Heights' newest cocktail bar puts a creative, usually-Aperol-less spin on classic bubbly faves.
• The Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich from Lox, Stock and Brisket: Chef Anthony Zappola's Jewish-style deli has perfected the art of the crispy chicken sandwich.

2. Package: World Mental Health Awareness Day 

It was such an honor to be asked to work on this full-page package, which includes a few different elements:

• Q&A with Kevin Love: The Cavs' all-star opened up about his own mental health struggles & how his foundation is helping other young athletes through theirs.
• Local voices: Three Clevelanders - including fellow blogger Alicia Hansen - shared how they stay focused on their own mental health.
• Mental health itinerary: A rep from NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, talked about what's best for "mental health days," which I paired with spots around Cleveland. 
• Choosing a therapist: A Cleveland Clinic psychiatrist shared his top tips for finding the right therapist.

3. Dining Review: Good Company 

This is my fifth dining review for the magazine, & man, I love writing them - especially the research portion, which involves eating a lot of food! For this review, I interviewed Chef Brett Sawyer, owner of The Plum, about his newest venture, Good Company, in Battery Park. Let's just say he's done a lot of research of his own when it comes to burgers - & he's done a damn impressive job of translating it all into this concise but creative menu.

Want more from Cleveland Magazine? Eat, sip, & play your way through Cleveland’s best at the magazine's Best Of CLE Party, taking place at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Oct. 25.