Today we have more news about restaurant happenings in Akron’s Merriman Valley, and we offer morsels about ongoing Girl Scout cookie sales.
You may have trouble finding the new S’mores cookie, but other varieties tempt. More on that later; first let’s go to the Valley.
I learned shortly before press time that after 26 years, Michael’s A.M. at 1562 Akron-Peninsula Road is expanding into space next door.
The popular breakfast and lunch spot in the Valley Centre Plaza, across from Papa Joe’s, is enlarging its kitchen as well as seating, to relieve congestion and waiting times for Saturday and Sunday brunch, Jen Porto told me.
She’s the daughter of Gary Porto, who bought the cheery place in 2015. Michael’s A.M. is his first foray into the restaurant industry; he previously worked in development at Kent State University.
Jen Porto, who works in advertising in Maine, said her father plans to add a dining area/function room for up to 50 people and an outdoor patio dining area. The work is expected to be complete this June.
We’ll have more soon on the expansion, as well as Gary Porto’s homemade menu items — including made-from-scratch cakes and muffins — and his work to find locally sourced ingredients.
Michael’s A.M. is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. seven days a week. Phone is 330-929-3447. Website is www.michaelsam.net.
News of Michael’s expansion comes about a week after the popular Mexican restaurant La Loma opened its second location in the former Monica’s at 1682 Merriman Road. Phone is 330-836-1167.
Owners of da Bayou — a new Cajun and Creole restaurant planned for the Valley — hope to open soon. They posted on their Facebook page that they are awaiting permits; also on the page are pictures of the restaurant taking shape.
One post shows the restaurant’s shiny commercial-sized “boil pots” for its seafood boils. They will offer a choice of crawfish, shrimp, crab legs, scallops or lobster, prepared and served “New Orleans style,” by the pound, accompanied by andouille sausage, red potatoes and corn on the cob.
Da Bayou will open in space that previously housed Max McQ’s sports bar, in the same shopping center as Michael’s A.M. Go to www.da-bayou.com to check out the menu.
Girl Scout cookies
On to the cookies!
Local Girl Scouts are well into their annual cookie sale, and the new S’mores cookie proved to be so popular that it may be tough to find.
Booth sales run through April 2 at malls, grocery stores and other locations. Those who want S’mores “need to find a cookie booth sooner rather than later,” said Kimberley Graves, spokeswoman for Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, which includes troops in Summit, Portage, Medina and Stark counties.
S’mores, as well as Toffee-tastic cookies, are no longer available via the online platform because of a higher-than-anticipated demand, Graves said.
The S’mores, a graham sandwich with a chocolate and marshmallow filling, and Toffee-tastic, with crunchy toffee bits, are new to the lineup. The gluten-free Toffee-tastic was introduced on a limited basis last year.
The two new varieties cost $5 a box, compared with $4 for the old standbys: Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-si-dos, Trefoils and Savannah Smiles. Thin Mints kept their title last year as the top-selling cookie in the region with 834,674 boxes sold.
Girl Scouts have a long history with s’mores, the campfire snack featuring graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows: The Girl Scouts published a recipe for s’mores in a 1927 handbook.
Local troops get 17.5 percent of the sale of each box, and 30 percent covers the expense of producing the cookie. The remainder goes to the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio council for administrative and programming costs.
Go to www.gsneo.org to find locations of booth sales. An app to find booths by ZIP code is available for Apple and Android phones.
This is the 100th year of Girl Scout Cookie sales. A troop in Muskogee, Okla. began the tradition, selling cookies they had baked at home.
Tiki Underground
A new tiki bar and restaurant is open in Boston Heights. The Tiki Underground, 5893 Akron-Cleveland Road, will hold its official grand opening at 4 p.m. March 25 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5 p.m. with Mayor Bill Goncy and a concert at 7 p.m. featuring the Kahuna Kings.
It serves Polynesian cocktails and food. Owners Sean and Jessie Coffey say it’s only the third authentic tiki bar in Ohio, joining the Grass Skirt Tiki Room in Columbus and Porco Lounge & Tiki Room in Cleveland.
The dining menu includes coconut shrimp, edamame, tropical habanero wings and a Maui burger with teriyaki and grilled pineapple. It also offers bar favorites like wings, wraps, jalapeño poppers, fried pickles, tacos and quesadillas.
Tiki Underground is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; and 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. For details or reservations, call 234-380-5398.
Culinary clash
Culinary student Vincent Delgross, 24, of Richfield, will take over the kitchen at Table 45 in Cleveland on Saturday in hopes of advancing to the “Ultimate Culinary Clash” in San Francisco May 18.
He and two other Cuyahoga Community College students will each prepare three-course meals over successive Saturdays. The meals will be rated by judges and dinner patrons.
Delgross will prepare scallop ceviche, roasted red pepper-crusted lamb shank and strawberry and crumb panna cotta.
Seatings will be from 6 to 8 p.m. for each meal. Cost is $40 plus tip and tax; a wine pairing costs extra. To find out more about the dinners and to make a reservation, call Margaret Gilgallon at 216-707-4045. Proceeds go to a scholarship fund.
The “Ultimate Culinary Clash,” in which culinary students from North America compete, is sponsored by Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts. Table 45, a Zack Bruell restaurant, is inside Intercontinental Hotel Cleveland.
High & Low Winery
Sunday sippin’. That’s what the High & Low Winery on state Route 18 in Sharon Township offers now.
The winery, which opened in 2015, is now open seven days a week year-round. Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Food is available throughout the day, and Sunday activities for patrons are being scheduled, said Matt Snyder, who owns the winery with his wife, Kate. Balloon tosses — outside, of course — are being planned for warmer weather. A listing of events is at www.searchhighandlow.com.
The menu includes standard winery fare such as meat and cheese boards, as well as paninis and flatbreads.
When they opened the place, Matt and Kate Snyder — both lawyers — said their idea was to create a casual spot that would appeal to residents of the many new homes that have sprouted up in the area. The two invested $1 million in building High & Low, including vineyards and a production area.
The winery building features the Low Tasting Room downstairs and the High Tasting Room upstairs, both with views of the vineyard planted with La Crescent vines.
Church fundraisers
Here are two food-focused fundraisers this Saturday:
• Family of Faith United Methodist Church at 800 E. Market St. in Akron is bringing back its Swiss steak and creamed chicken dinners Saturday and April 29.
Several members of the women’s and men’s groups are coming out of culinary retirement to help the Youth Group raise money for a summer mission trip to Louisville, Ky.
This Saturday’s dinner will run from 5 to 7 p.m. The dinner is $9 and includes made-from scratch Swiss steak or creamed chicken over biscuit and green beans, coleslaw or applesauce, mashed potatoes, pie and a beverage. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
Another dinner planned for April 29 will benefit the Christ Camp, which services youth and the neighborhood surrounding the church. For information, call 330-376-2141
• The United Methodist Church of Uniontown in Stark County’s Lake Township hosts its St. Patrick’s Day Cabbage Roll Dinner Saturday.
A meal with two homemade cabbage rolls, mashed potatoes, salad, roll, beverage and dessert is $10. Children ages 4 to 12 pay $5. Cabbage roll six-packs are $13. Carryout will be available.
The church is at 13370 Cleveland Ave NW. The phone number is 330-699-3587.
Papa Joe’s wine dinner
Limited space is still available for the five-course Montepulciano Wine Dinner at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Papa Joe’s Restaurant, 1561 Akron-Peninsula Road, Cuyahoga Falls.
The dinner will feature Franco Passetti, with Contesa wines of Italy. The menu includes sea scallop crudo, mixed greens with roast chicken, wild mushroom ravioli with roast pork and lamb chops.
Cost is $85. Call 330-923-7999 to reserve.
Irish fare in Akron
• Got word from Ken Stewart’s Grille in Akron that Irish band Callahan and O’Connor will be playing from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday (yup, St. Patrick’s Day) at the restaurant at 1970 W. Market St.
Guinness cheese soup, house-made corned beef and cabbage, Guinness glazed salmon with sautéed spinach and lemon buerre blanc and more Irish foods will be available all day long.
Reservations are encouraged. Call 330-867-2555.
• D’Agnese’s, the Italian restaurant in West Akron, will feature its annual St. Patrick’s Day specials through Sunday. Chef and co-owner Joe Gallagher is from County Mayo, Ireland.
The restaurant’s multicourse Jameson dinner will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $45. Wine will be available for those who don’t want whiskey. D’Agnese’s is at 566 White Pond Drive. Call 234-678-3612 to reserve.
Send local food news to Katie Byard at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com. You can follow her @KatieByardABJ on Twitter or on Facebook at www.facebook.com and read the Akron Dish blog at www.ohio.com/food.