Traditions worth savoring

Merry Christmas, Medina Weekly readers! Before I settle down to carve the roast beast, I wanted to give a shoutout to a few great Christmas traditions right here in our area.

The first goes to Valley City’s annual Christmas in the Valley celebration, held this year on Sunday, Dec. 14. If you’ve never attended, put it on your calendar for next year. Despite daunting weather – complete with impressive snow and cold – the event not only went on, it was bustling. I was there to judge the chili competition alongside two fantastic fellow judges: Scott Totten of Brunswick’s Great Scott’s Bakery (home to the best strudel around) and Ari Vandendriessche of Totally Gourmet Catering.

More than 300 people stopped by to sample the 10 chilis entered in the contest. Congratulations to all the contestants, and especially to the winners. The Judges’ Choice awards went as follows: first place to Amy’s Arbors, second place to Cat Keller of Keller Meats, and third place to Tony Bianco of Parlour Farms. The judging was done blind, and all three winning entries were outstanding. I was particularly happy to see Tony Bianco’s “Whistlepig Chili” crack the top three. In Tony’s words, “Our groundhog chili showcases a vegetarian apple- and peach-fed animal harvested at the perfect seasonal moment. The meat is lean, clean and surprisingly elegant, with no gamey flavor and a rich, beef-like finish.” And yes – it was tasty. Bianco is often referred to in the Northeast Ohio culinary world as “the maestro of meats” thanks to his exceptional charcuterie, making this a fitting and memorable chili entry. The People’s Choice award went to Liz Zacharias.

The second shoutout goes to Mark and Dana Klaus of Castle Noel for the recent opening of the Starlight Room, a full-service restaurant located within Castle Noel. This new dining experience adds yet another layer to their already magical, Christmas-forward attraction. They continue to expand something truly special for our region, and this new space brings even more joy to the community. Thank you for making Medina even more of a destination – and for putting smiles on so many faces.

I’d also like to sing the praises of all the area restaurants that work so hard, decorate so beautifully, and sacrifice time with their own families during the holidays to make the season bright for the rest of us. It’s no small task, and their efforts deserve our appreciation.

As Christmas arrives, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for being part of the Medina Weekly family of readers. Enjoy the holidays, eat some fruitcake, sip some eggnog, and spread a little joy as we head into the new year.

As always, I urge you to eat fresh, dine local, and be happy!