Lots of restaurant news to talk about this week.
Zack and Lisa Hirt soon will be opening Nuevo Modern Mexican and Tequila Bar at 54 E. Mill St., in the Gothic Building spot that used to house All-Ohio Sports in downtown Akron.
The restaurant has been in the works for two years and after much planning the couple hope to have the Nuevo open by November at the latest.
Hirt used to cook at Crave, also in downtown Akron.
• Chef Matthew Mathlage, owner of Light Bistro in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood, and his business partner Eric Dietrich will be opening Peachtree Southern Kitchen & Cocktails at the spot of the former Old Whedon Grille, 200 N. Main St., Hudson.
Mathlage, the chef, and Dietrich, the businessman, opened Light Bistro six years ago in the space that had been Parker Bosley’s acclaimed restaurant, Parker’s. They have been mulling a second restaurant ever since.
Taking over the Old Whedon space is a bit of a homecoming for Mathlage, who helped to open the restaurant in 1997.
Peachtree will serve Mathlage’s take on traditional southern fare. “It’s always been in my head. It’s what I love, what I know best,” Mathlage said in a release.
The two hope to open by mid-November, but will push back until after the holidays if they can’t make the November time frame. Peachtree will be open for lunch and dinner daily and will serve Sunday brunch.
The dining room seats 45 now, another 50 after a planned expansion. There’s seating for 15 to 20 more in the bar and 30 upstairs.
Mathlage said he will be previewing Peachtree’s menu at Flavors of Northeast Ohio, a Sept. 23 event in Independence that benefits the American Liver Foundation. Learn more about that event by visiting http://go.liverfoundation.org and following the links to Flavors Culinary Events.
• Vaccaro’s Trattoria, 1000 Ghent Road, Bath Township, has a new executive chef.
Dick Kanatzar is now in the kitchen, and he’s hosting four-course chef’s tasting menus every Wednesday and Thursday. They include wine pairings for $35. Reservations are required. Phone 330-666-6158.
• Congratulations to Michael Trecaso of Mary Coyle Restaurant, 780 W. Market St., Highland Square. No sooner has he resurrected his pizza, after a 17-year absence, than he’s winning awards with it. He took first place for best sauce, best crust and best pizza in the recent Square Fest in Highland Square.
• Chef Tala Epperly recently debuted a new menu at Frank’s Place, 549 W. Market St., Akron, that includes a homemade veggie burger. Owner Frank Horvath said other new menu items include calamari, shrimp and several wrap sandwiches. The kitchen at Frank’s opens at 5 p.m. weekdays, 11:30 a.m. on Saturday and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
• It’s an exciting time for chef Eddie Tancredi. The Solon native was recently named the 2013 USA Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation and he recently accepted a job as chef de cuisine at the Zack Bruell restaurant Table 45 in Cleveland.
Tancredi, 30, won the national recognition at the American Culinary Federation convention held in Las Vegas in July. His winning menu included duck rillettes, seared scallops, pan-roasted duck breast, and chilled peach soup.
Tancredi previously served as sous-chef at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.
Middle Eastern food fair
St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 3204 Ridgewood Road, Copley Township, is hosting a Middle Eastern & American Food Fair from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the church.
Middle Eastern favorites being served include kibbeh, meat pies, spinach pies, stuffed grape leaves, tabbouleh, hummus, chicken and beef kebabs, and kafta. There also will be gyros, hamburgers, hot dogs and french fries, as well as a bake sale featuring Middle Eastern pastries, cakes and cookies. The day also will include music and children’s games.
Clam bake time arrives
Ido Bar and Grill, 1537 S. Main St., Akron, will be serving its clam bake from Sept. 16 to 21. The meal includes a cup of New England clam chowder, one dozen littleneck clams with broth, roasted chicken breast, corn on the cob, roasted redskin potatoes, bread and butter and crunchy cream pie. It’s $16.99, $33.99 if you want to add a lobster tail. Extra clams are $8.99.
The clam bake will be served beginning at 4 p.m., and reservations are suggested.
We’ll let you know about others as we hear about them.
New digs for cake business
Custom Cake Creations has a new location, at 2075 Graham Road, Stow, next door to Executive Coin Co.
Owners Jennifer Jacobs and Donna Swanson specialize in tiered and sculpted special occasion cakes. Cakes are made to order and are not available for carryout sales. Visit www.customcakesonline.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/customcakesstow to view their cake gallery. Phone 330-688-0330.
Wine event in Canton
Vintage Canton takes place from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 19, along Central Plaza North in downtown Canton.
The event will showcase local wine and wines from around the world and food from local restaurants, along with live music and art displays. The event also includes a beer garden featuring craft beers. Nearly two dozen wineries, distributors and restaurants will be taking part.
Tickets are $25 before 5 p.m. Sept. 18, and $35 the day of the event and at the gate. Groups of 20 or more are $20 per ticket. Tickets include eight wine or beer samples, a variety of breads and cheeses, a souvenir wine glass, and a chance in a jewelry raffle. Wine-free spectator tickets are $10.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.vintagecanton.org, at any Fishers Foods location and at the Canton Regional Chamber offices, 222 Market Ave. N, Canton, 330-458-2072.
Hungarian event in Hiram
The Hungarian Cultural Center of Northeastern Ohio will host its annual fall festival on its club grounds at 12027 Abbott Road, Hiram Township, from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Hungarian dishes for sale include stuffed cabbage, pork, Hungarian sausage, potatoes and pastries, and there will be ethnic music and dancing.
The event is open to the public. Admission is $5, under age 16 free. For more information, visit www.hungarianclub.com.
Afternoon tea to be held
Reservations are available for an afternoon tea to be held at the Tudor House, 655 Latham Lane, Akron, at noon on Sept. 21.
The menu includes corn and crab soup, spinach salad, scones and tea breads, finger sandwiches, hors d’oeuvres, cookies, tarts, desserts and tea.
The event is $30 and is provided by Tea and Thyme. Register by Saturday by calling Patti White at 330- 701-5010 or by visiting www.teaandthyme.com.
New tea shop in Akron
The Wishing U Well Tea Shop recently opened at 15 Broad St., Akron. The shop will offer loose teas, gifts, cards, art, vintage tea ware and baked treats. Owner is Gwendolyn Blackshear. Phone 330-634-5911 for more information.
Coupon books available
Smith’s Dairy in Orrville is offering Smith’s Cash Cow Coupon Books for schools, clubs, sports teams and other organizations looking for a fundraiser.
For more information on how groups can sell the books, visit www.smithdairy.com or phone 330-684-6528.
Lisa Abraham can be reached at 330-996-3737 or at labraham@thebeaconjournal.com. Find me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter @akronfoodie or visit my blog at www.ohio.com/blogs/lisa.