Dame du Jour: Beth Segal

By Maria Isabella, Interview by Beth Davis-Noragon

Freshly armed with a degree in film production from Northwestern University, a few years’ employment at the Kranzten Studio of Catalog Photography in Chicago, and plenty of chutzpah, Beth eagerly ventured out east to open her own photography studio in New York City. While there, she worked her magic for a number of interesting clients, including Chanel, Tiffany, and Mattel.

But her smartest move of all? Eventually heading back to the Midwest and opening her own studio right here in Cleveland, called — appropriately enough — Beth Segal Photography.

A multi-talented professional with a great eye, Beth shoots an interesting range of subjects, although “food is the best subject to photograph,” she confesses. “It’s always colorful and structurally interesting. And it never suffers a bad hair day!”

Where did her love of food originate? “From my mom, who tried to feed her five children, all under the age of 10, osso bucco and vichyssoise because those were the dishes she was learning to make in her cooking classes,” Beth says with a grin.

With such an early introduction to the finer dishes in life, it’s no surprise that her later experiences with food would be just as memorable.

“Of all the places I’ve traveled,” reveals Beth, “the best food was at this little auberge somewhere deep in eastern France.” She goes on to explain, “We had just arrived to visit a friend in Geneva and were exhausted. But he insisted we go out to eat immediately. I don’t remember much, but that meal was truly transformative.”

As for her favorite restaurant stateside? “Kiev in New York City,” she says with no hesitation whatsoever. “It was a pretty seedy place in an even worst neighborhood, but they had the best blintzes, kasha varnishkes, and really rich cheesecake. It cost almost nothing, which was exactly about all the money we had back then. But it always felt so decadent eating there.”

And how about her perfect meal today? “It would have to be foie gras, foie gras, foie gras. Plus some brie, a baguette, apricots, a very tart lemon sorbet, and nice bottle of rosé.”

When it comes to entertaining, Beth prefers summer grilling and dining al fresco. A Caesar salad with grilled chicken and watermelon is her go-to signature meal, accompanied by an apple raspberry crisp, “done very crisp,” she adds.

How did she hear of LDEI? “From Debbi Snook [of the Plain Dealer]. I have been a member for three years now and really enjoy the exposure to myriad food influences as well as the eclectic makeup of the group.”

Learn more about Beth as she shares some fun and interesting insights about herself.

What part does food or wine play in your daily life? I consume the former at least three times a day, the latter not quite as often. But they are both frequent photography subjects.

What’s your earliest childhood memory of food or wine? When I was three, someone gave me an enormous box of ribbon candy, and it was the most beautiful, shiny thing I had ever seen. Up until that point, I had led a very candy-restricted life. I saved it so long that it calcified.

What food always reminds you of home? Every year, my mother makes these pastries filled with honey, nuts, apricots, poppy seeds, or chocolate for Purim. They’re called hamentashen. She’s 86 now and still sends big boxes of them to everyone in our family. When I get mine, I know all is right with the world.

What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten? It was so weird, I don’t even know what it was. It was in Japan, and it was this tubular, gelatinous thing that no one could even tell me what it was, only to eat it quickly. It was a strange sort of chartreuse-y color. Quivery, but you didn’t have to chew it.

Which one chef (living or deceased) would you want to invite over for dinner and what would you serve? M.F.K. Fisher. It would have to be something precious because she was so precious. Truite au bleu (blue trout) pulled right out of the water and cooked immediately, with new potatoes.

What is your favorite food blog? Food52 by Amanda Hesser.

Any favorite indulgences? Campari and orange juice.

What’s the biggest cooking mistake you’ve ever made? I accidentally left a leg of lamb on top of the refrigerator overnight to defrost. It was totally spoiled by the next morning. That was actually more of a pre-cooking mistake.

Name 3 things that are always in your refrigerator. Orange juice (see above), mayonnaise, and eggs.

Name 3 kitchen gadgets you can’t live without. A microplane, corkscrew, and an antique wire whisk that always does a brilliant job. It has a great handle, and the wires are fairly flexible so you can get into the corners nicely.

Happy Hour Fun at Grovewood Tavern & Winebar

By Shara Foldi
Photos by Beth Segal

We had a small turnout but big fun last night at Dame Beth-Davis Noragon's Grovewood Tavern & Winebar in Collinwood. The sweltering heat changed over to pleasant breezes just in time, so we enjoyed dining al fresco on the patio while discussing everything from CSAs to theatre to summer vacations to the upcoming Julia Child event.

We shared some happy hour specials and regular menu items, sending them around the table until every last bit was gobbled up - literally! The Bruschetta was out of this world, with red and yellow tomatoes bursting with flavor tossed with the most fragrant basil and sweet balsamic, and served with buttery crostini. Also enjoyed were a Grilled Pita Flatbread topped with arugula pesto and finished with an organic, local, fried egg which oozed perfectly when cut into; Portabello mushroom-filled Potstickers with big mushroom flavor inside; and a delightful Apricot Crisp with Vanilla bean ice cream. These apricots tasted as if they just came off the tree and we found out that, in fact, they did! All of the delicious produce is local and had just arrived from Fresh Fork.

We also indulged in a variety of cocktails from Grovewood's extensive beverage menu. The pretty and fragrant Aviation, with Bombay Saphire and finished with Creme de Violette was the star. Also enjoyed were the lush Tierra Divina Old Vine Malbec, the Pink Paintbrush Dry Rosé, and a Sparkling Wine.

Overall it was a beautiful evening with great conversation and delightful tastes of food and drink. We hope more Dames will join us on our next adventure!

Dame du Jour: Beth Davis-Noragon

By Maria Isabella, Interview by Beth Segal

With both undergraduate and graduate degrees in anthropology plus an MBA, you’d think Beth Davis-Noragon would now be either conducting an archaeological dig or overseeing one. Instead, she’s running the Grovewood Tavern & Wine Bar (as she has for the past 13 years) — and she couldn’t be any happier!

 “Our favorite neighborhood wine bar closed,” explains Beth, “and we were just foolhardy enough to give running our own a go. It turned into a restaurant very quickly, and the rest, as they say, is history.”

What’s a typical day like for her? “I plan menus, market food and wines, and create pairing dinners. Then,” she adds with a laugh, “I have dinner.”  However, when asked what accomplishment she’s most proud of, she quickly turns very serious. “I employ almost 25 people. I am making a difference as a small business owner in their lives.” We couldn’t agree more.

Although a whiz in the kitchen, Beth admits her earliest childhood memory of food is the cold baked bean sandwiches her father used to make on leftover hamburger buns. “It was one of his ‘specialties,’” she chuckles. But just as fondly, she also remembers the elaborate holiday meals her grandmother used to prepare, including standing crown rib roast and green beans amandine.

Although salted dark chocolate is her indulgence, her mother-in-law’s potato salad is her favorite comfort food, and chips are her weakness, when it comes to her own go-to, quick-and-easy dinner choice, roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and a vegetable are it.  Not to mention apple crisp for dessert.

And when it comes to entertaining, Beth likes to go casual with a lot of easy dishes. “It’s more about the company than the food,” she says.

How did she hear of LDEI? “I was invited by one of the founding members – I don’t remember which Dame – to attend a meeting at the Flying Fig. I have been a member since the second year of the chapter’s existence.”

As for what she enjoys most about being an LDEI member? “The camaraderie and helpfulness of the members,” she answers without missing a beat.

Learn more about Beth as she shares some fun and interesting insights about herself.

Of all the places you’ve traveled, where did you have the best food or wine? Paris. Every meal in Paris is amazing – from the corner bistro to the Michelin-rated restaurants. My husband and I got engaged over the fish course (skate wing, to be exact).

What’s your favorite restaurant and what do you usually order there? Grovewood Tavern, of course! Everything on the menu is great, if I say so myself. But I particularly like the home-grown Ohio tomato bruschetta in season.

What is the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten? I think I had horse once when I was in France as a teenager.

Which one chef would you want to invite over for dinner and what would you serve? Julia Child. I’d make perfect roast chicken and fresh-picked green beans.

What is your favorite cookbook? There are too many of them to pick just one. But if I had to choose, it would be my mom’s annotated Betty Crocker cookbook from the 1960s. It’s the one I still go to first for basic recipes. It has a lot of homey favorites that are a great jumping-off point for more creative endeavors.

What is your favorite food blog? Smitten Kitchen. Deb Perelman’s peach butter recipe was so terrific (half as much sugar as in usual preserves) that I’m going to try it with strawberries this year!

What’s your favorite comfort food? Really good mac and cheese.

Do you have a signature dish? It seems to rotate around a lot. But right now, I’m doing a great spelt/tomato/basil salad.

Name 3 things that are always in your refrigerator. Eggs, butter, and whole milk.

Name 3 kitchen gadgets you can’t live without. A good, sharp knife. A corkscrew. And my three cookie scoops. (We make a lot of cookies and cupcakes.)

Chapter Meeting at Vitamix

By Shara Foldi  |  Photos by Beth Segal

For the June 2012 meeting, Vitamix opened their doors and rich history to Cleveland Dames and guests. Intended to be a store open just for the holiday season last year, the Vitamix Factory Outlet Store in North Olmsted met such success that it has remained open and now plans to stay. Dames enjoyed browsing Vitamix models and recipe books while socializing before the presentation.

 Jodi Berg, President of Vitamix Corporation

President, Jodi Berg engaged us with stories of her family's history, the company's commitment to its guiding principles, and customer loyalty. In business 91 years, Vitamix has spanned four generations, with innovations in both product and marketing techniques spurring its growth. It began with a vision of eating a healthier, plant-based diet, and making it taste delicious. Jodi told us such inspiring stories, from the letter her grandmother wrote to a customer which the customer later sent to Vitamix as testimonial to the values that started the company, to the 70 year old Chinese lady that hugged her so vigorously going on and on in Chinese. Translated, the story told the tale of a woman with cancer who resolved to fight it with diet, but could not find a way to eat enough greens, and enthusiastically credits Vitamix and greens with saving her life. She's still alive today!

Becky Prince demonstrating the Vitamix 5200

Becky Prince, Direct Response Sales Manager, demonstrated the Vitamix 5200 for us and made several recipes for us to try, including a minestrone soup, fresh salsa, hummus, a green smoothie, and a strawberry-lime iced treat for dessert. You could taste the freshness and healthiness in every single one.

The meeting wrapped up with a delectable dinner of vegetarian lasagna, fruit salad, and assorted appetizers, all graciously donated by Vitamix. In fact, all money from the event went directly into the Les Dames d'Escoffier bank account. So a very big THANK YOU to Vitamix for everything!

Cleveland Chapter Gets National Publicity

The Cleveland chapter is featured not once, but twice in the Spring 2012 Les Dames d'Escoffier International Quarterly!

In the article "Cleveland Dames Get Connected Through a New Chapter Blog" Susan Slack highlights our new chapter blog, and other social media adventures. She uses Cleveland's website and blog (designed by Dame Shara Foldi of Unity Design, Inc.) as an example of what other chapters could do to become more connected to each other. Not to pat ourselves on the back, but Way to Go Social Media Committee! As we are sometimes known to say, "We rock!" Check out page 21 of your Spring 2012 Quarterly to read up.

Another article on page 6 spotlights Dame Crickett Karson's career and background as Third Vice President on the Board of Directors of the national organization. It's accompanied by a gorgeous photo of Crickett. Bravo!

Cleveland Dames About Town

Lots of food related activities this past weekend! Here are a few photos of Dames about town.

Dame Elaine Cicora was one of three judges (including Kenny Crumpton from Fox 8 and Joe Crea from the Plain Dealer) judging the Maker's Mark Challenge at the fourth annual Chef Jam at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on June 10, 2012. Sampling nine dishes, both savory and sweet, they chose Momocho as the winner.


Dames Linda Fletcher and Shara Foldi visited with Karl Wente, Fifth Generation Winemaker from Wente Vineyards, and big supporter of Les Dames d'Escoffier. Karl was in town for an achievement award and stopped in at Akron's West Point Market for a wine tasting and bottle signing on June 10, 2012. They enjoyed tasting two whites and two reds, including the estate's limited production showcase wine The Nth Degree.

Dame du Jour: Jennifer Brush

By Maria Isabella, Interview by Bev Shaffer

Jennifer Brush is not one to sit still. She owns The Pastry Brush, a certified and registered home bakery in Chardon, Ohio. She teaches bread and gluten-free classes. She bakes for private clients. She teaches at the Western Reserve School of Cooking in Hudson. She cooks with her husband. And she bakes with her eight-year-old daughter. Whew!

“I love to cook and I love to learn,” says Jennifer. “But most importantly, I like for my family to be healthy.

“Being able to cook with locally sourced products whenever possible means that we don’t eat preservatives, dyes, or things that are not found in nature! I think it’s worth the time it takes to make meals from scratch and to pass that on to my daughter. In fact, it’s something the entire family can do together.”

With a bachelor’s degree in linguistics, a master’s in speech language pathology, a professional pastry diploma, certification as a specialist of wine, and advanced certification in wine and spirits, Jennifer brings a broad wealth of knowledge to her current roles. But there was actually a time when things were much simpler.

“My father’s family was from Greece, and they made wonderful bread, always shaped in a braid with sesame seeds sprinkled on top. The crust was thin and golden brown, the inside was soft and chewy, and it tasted sweet from a spice called Mahlab (ground sour cherry pits).

“I would watch my paternal grandmother make the dough by first placing a large black pot on the kitchen floor and emptying 10 pounds of flour into it! She never referred to any written recipe. I have now learned her recipe, tweaked it to make it my own, and bake it weekly with my daughter!”

While studying in Paris as a college student, Jennifer also learned to love French pastries. Which might explain why her favorite comfort food today is dark chocolate and red wine. But the most unusual thing she’s ever eaten? “Sweetbreads—and I don’t mean the yeasty kind!” she says with a laugh.

As for which chef (living or deceased) she would want to invite over, that’s simple. “I would love to invite Julia Child over for a summer picnic and sit outside in my garden while sipping wine together. I actually have a ‘Julia Child’ rose in one of my gardens!”

Learn more about Jennifer as she shares some fun and interesting insights about herself.

What food always reminds you of home? For me, the ultimate home-cooked meal is Greek-style roasted leg of lamb with orzo (baked right in the roasting pan so all of the meat juices drip on it).

Any favorite indulgences? I love pâté de foie gras on crusty French bread with a medium-bodied red wine.

How do you like to entertain? With wine and bread, and simple food that can be all placed on a platter in the middle of the table so everyone can have a bit of this and a bit of that. Usually I make something rich and decadent for dessert so all one needs is a “little sliver.” I do enjoy the art and challenge of food and wine pairing. I like to find wines that no one has tried before.

Do you have a signature dish? Every year my husband asks for carrot cake with cream cheese/sour cream frosting for his birthday. I put raisins in it that I’ve soaked in rum for a week. It took me about 5 years to tweak the recipe, but now it’s perfect. I made it for a restaurant each week for a few years, and it was a favorite. I have never given away the recipe to anyone.

What’s your go-to, quick-and-easy dinner? Sesame peanut butter noodles with pea pods.

What’s your favorite dessert to prepare? Hmm, that’s a hard one. Probably my two favorites are chocolate espresso buttermilk cake and almond cake with sour cherries.

What’s one ingredient you can’t live without? Eggs. They are so versatile. You can make sweet or savory dishes or an entire meal with eggs. I like to buy organic, cage-free, locally raised eggs.

Name 3 things that are always in your refrigerator. Two kinds of yeast, eggs, and bittersweet dark chocolate.

Name 3 gadgets you can’t live without. A Globe 10-quart mixer, offset spatula, and sharp chef knife.

What would people be surprised to find in your kitchen? Store-bought cookies! I have never been much of a cookie maker, so I let my daughter pick out cookies at the grocery store.