Our first trip to The West Side Market.

The boyfriend's brother came and went. The second day he was here, we started our day at Melt. We sat at the bar because the place was packed and the bartender entertained the hell out of our visitor. She told him about so many great places to go, he wanted to do them all. Oh, we were also interviewed for The Today Show which definitely made the trip memorable. Unfortunately, we haven't seen it air yet.

After Melt, the plan was to stop by Sokolowski's. Sad to find out, they weren't open for lunch on Saturday. So it was between B Spot Burgers (the Melt bartender said there was an Apple Pie & Bacon Milkshake with Bourbon in it that was to die for) or The West Side Market (which she also raved about).

We convinced him we'd go to The West Side Market. I first heard about it on Anthony Bourdain's show No Reservations before we moved to Cleveland.

They had fresh pasta that we will definitely buy one day. 

Scrumptious looking fresh bread.

And other delicious assortments.

(The dessert in the top center is called a Monk - get it if you're ever in the area. Fresh raspberry flavor with heavenly tasting chocolate. Mmmmm.)

Anyway, that place meets highest expectations. It's now a bi-weekly trip for us.

We have a house guest to entertain.

So the boyfriend's brother arrived today to stay with us this weekend. He's attending a wedding nearby in Geneva. The two days he's here, he wants to hit up some of the hot spots of Cleveland he's seen on TV.

Thus, we conquered Lola for lunch today the moment he got into town. Delicious, by the way. Must mention: the pear martini, fried bologna sandwich, and the chocolate pot de creme we shared for dessert. Now they're off to the rehearsal dinner.

For tomorrow, it's Melt for lunch (he saw it on Man v. Food and Diners, Drive-ins and Dives) and then stopping by Sokolowski's (which he saw on The Best Thing I Ever Ate with Michael Symon) for some pierogis. Then time for the wedding.

I'd really love to take him to momocho (went there for the first time the other day - delicious take on mexican food) or The West Side Market, but there's only so much time. He's leaving early Sunday morning.