BruceZ's Photo Musings & Things

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Another Annual Event

Earlier this week, Aaron & I as well as my brothers and their sons attended The 250 annual to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters locally and nationally. This was a tradition started by our dad, attending with the three of us and we have continued with that tradition by taking our sons. It’s a night of tons of food and fun including a reverse raffle, to which I think coincidentally, a lot of the same guys win since I’ve been attending for about nine years.

It’s odd that Jimmy Dimora, the once powerful Cuyahoga County commissioner who is accused of corruption and is set to go on trial later this year, won for the majority of years he attended and that so many judges, legislators and 25o committee members in attendance win. I will say the odds of that happening for so many years are amazing and of course I know it is totally by the luck of the draw because our dear brother Jerry has won three times. I have theories about that too.

The bottom line though, it benefits a good cause – The Big Brothers Big Sisters organization of Greater Cleveland and it IS a charity event and raises gobs of cash for the organization. They do give everyone a great doorprize and this year was no different – a really cool Parker Pen.

Once again, this tradition is a tribute to my father, who started something we think is important and will continue for many years to come with our brothers and sons. Bryan – your time is coming too…

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Chez!

Chez François that is! My brothers and our wives have been making the annual trip there for over five years now and each time is a culinary treat. It has made the top of the Zagat list in Ohio a couple of times and we have been going there on and off for over twenty years. Sometimes with just the six of us and before, when my Dad was around with kids and grandkids. Now we go as a special treat to ourselves every spring.

So that’s where we spent last Saturday night.

The service is impeccable, the wine list unending and the food is some of the best food we’ve ever had. I have been to Del Posto and Jean Georges and in New York, Scaramouche in Toronto, Joe’s Stone Crabs in Miami and many other fine restaurants around the country and abroad. I remember the old English Oak Room in Cleveland’s Terminal Tower when I was a kid and Giovanni’s Ristorante (still there) on the east side of Cleveland. All unique dining experiences.

Chez Françios is right up there with the rest of them, especially when the English Oak Room was in business. Unfortunately the Oak Room is is no longer in business but Executive Caterers still uses it as one of their venues.

The place we come back to over and over is Chez François. Jackets are required and it is a welcome relief to know that everyone will be dressed well for a fantastic dining experience.Try the Boeuf Wellington dinner, Escargot or Homard et Saint André en Croûte (you’ll have to look that one up) appetizer.

All in all, a great time with my brothers and their wives. Thanks for family.