CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As Yelp Cleveland’s Community Director, Lauren Kotmel is at the helm of a vibrant, buzzing community of locals who drink, shop and play their way through the city via peer recommendations on Yelp. Summer is here and Lauren gave us the scoop on the food and drink trends taking over Cleveland. Embrace the season with these local favorites from small businesses in the Greater Cleveland area.
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Ube ice cream
Ube is an antioxidant filled purple yam originally from the Philippines. With a mellow vanilla-like taste, it’s commonly used in desserts to sweeten up the flavor profile and add a beautiful pop of color. Cool down with the ube ice cream from Mason’s Creamery and Nipa Hut Oriental Mart or ube gelato from Rosso Gelato. You won’t regret it!
Elote
Commonly referred to as Mexican street corn, Elote is grilled corn smothered in a creamy mayo sauce and topped with chili powder, cheese, and lime. Elote is heating up around Cleveland, with cobs from Cilantro Taqueria and inspired dishes from Sabor Miami Cafe & Gallery and El Arepazo Y Pupuseria.
Mega milkshakes
Why have a bland milkshake when you can have one loaded with toppings, sweets and other goodies? Local businesses like Addicted Coffee Bar and brand new brick-and-mortar businesses Kake Kutters and Sprinkles & Milk are all serving up over-the-top mega milkshakes worthy of photographs. Go ahead, we won’t judge you for having a full-size candy bar in your milkshake.
Fruity margaritas
Margaritas for summer? Groundbreaking, we know. But this year, 36% of all cocktail mentions on Yelp are about this beloved, refreshing drink that’s on the rise with robust fruity flavors. We recommend the refreshing cucumber margarita from Momocho, peach margarita from Blue Habanero, and the pineapple margarita from Cozumel served in an actual pineapple.
Loaded hot dogs
This intergenerational all-American food is getting very creative this summer. The flame dawg from Scooter’s World Famous Dawg House is topped with creamy cheese sauce, crunchy Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, jalapenos and a drizzle of ranch. At Dynamite Dawgs, you can’t go wrong with the BLT dawg, topped with crispy bacon, diced tomato, crisp lettuce, and housemade zesty sauce.
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