Romano's in Cleveland, Ohio






Courtyard Marriot Hotel, North Olmstead, Cleaveland, Ohio

  

Arriving in Cleveland, Ohio from St. Louis, Missouri, I am in search for a new resto to try. I didn't have to search very far --- a stone's throw away from Courtyard Marriot in North Olmstead where I was statying, is Romano's Macaroni Grill.

The interiors of Romano's

Despite the dubious name, Romano's is a casual dining restaurant that offers traditional italian and mediterranean cuisine and gives their patrons the option of creating their own pasta by selecting through a list of available ingredients! Pretty neat, right?

Romano's

They provide complimentary bread that you can dip in olive oil with black pepper. 

The place is dimly lighted. One side of the restaurant is occupied with shelves of table wines to choose from. Italian music is playing in the background.

I got a glass of chardonnay. Yes, it doesn't exactly go well with the eggplant parmigiana I wanted but heck, i need something chilled today. Spring is just beginning and I'm having my first-hand experience with Missouri/Ohio humidity. 



Eggplant Parmigiana @ Romano's

The Eggplant Parmigiana is the best one I've tasted thus far. Eggplant is covered with mozzarella, baked, topped with lots and lots of cheese, sauce is sweet and a bit tangy. Im not usually a fan of angel hair pasta but in this case, I made an exception. Definitely worth the 25 bucks!!

The Red-Shoed Dorothy in the Land of Oz

After I recovered from the catatonic phase that Will Schuester's version of "Over the Rainbow" in Glee's season finale brought about, it occurred to me that this whole US trip thing is like the story of Wizard of Oz!

Iwas like Dorothy who was dreaming of a place over the rainbow and got sucked into a whirlwind/tornado-like adventure, finally landing in the land of Oz (or better known as the land of America).

I didn't put on any silver slippers (or ruby slippers, depending on which version you followed) but I had been really crazy about the marked-down red Franco Sarto shoes I got.

There is no Wicked Witch of the East nor Good Witch of the South and I didn't meet a Scarecrow looking for a brain, a Tin Man looking for a heart, and a Cowardly Lion looking for courage.

But while in Cleveland, I got to meet with one of the top guys handling one of our divisions. The supposedly 2-hour meeting stretched for the whole day, where we actually spoke the same language and the discussion felt like a real exchange of ideas, a discourse, even at times, a debate, and where I ultimately earned his respect (and the right to wear their company shirt...).

And while in Arizona, I got to see the most stunning skyline. Mountains jutting out of the plains, forming silhouettes in bluish purple horizon. The great outdoors is really where my heart is.

And while in Chicago, I got to explore the city by myself, braving the subway and the crazed pedestrians, the chill of the wind blowing over the Chicago River and the glass-floored ledge at Willis Tower.

Cleveland, Arizona, Chicago --- the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion in my story showing me that I have the Brains, the Heart, and the Courage in me all along.

One more stop: LA (or the Emerald City, if we follow the storyline?). One final detour before this Dorothy taps her red shoes together and say, "there's no place like home. there's no place like home. there's no place like home..."

One more leg until she wakes up (from an incredibly long flight) back in Manila...

jet lagged but otherwise ready for more adventures. ^_^