So, here’s the second half of the weekend…

CIAO! Cleveland

On Saturday, I dropped by a new Cleveland festival: CIAO! Cleveland, put on by NOIA Foundation to kick off Italian Heritage Month.

I described this festival to a friend as a smaller, less crazy version of the Feast of the Assumption and I stand by that description. Held on the East Bank of the Flats, there were tons of food vendors, music, merchandise, and beer and wine.

I couldn’t resist a serving of Luca Italian Cuisine‘s amazing sacchetti appetizer, which is truffled perfection!

Then, I headed over to the demo tent to watch Chef Fabio Salerno of Lago East Bank prepare their most popular pasta dish: lobster gnocchi.

With lobster, heirloom tomatoes, corn, truffle sauce, and homemade gnocchi, it’s easy to see (and taste) why this dish is the restaurant’s most popular one.

Chef Salerno made cooking it very approachable too…I may have to try making it myself one of these days!

CIAO! Cleveland was such a fun celebration of Italian food and heritage! I definitely hope it becomes an annual tradition!

***Disclosure: I was asked by NOIA Foundation to help promote CIAO! Cleveland. In exchange, I received a complimentary press pass to the demo tent events. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.***

John Carroll Homecoming

This weekend was also John Carroll University‘s Homecoming weekend. I got to spend some time up on campus twice: for my first meeting as a member of the John Carroll Alumni Association Board…

…and for the Homecoming Mass and Brunch on Sunday.

It’s always so nice to be back up on campus and especially when I can have Jeffrey there with me!

So, that was my weekend! How was yours?