CLEVELAND, Ohio – Rick Seibt is one of Northeast Ohio’s most knowledgeable and well-known brewers.
By day he is an IT project manager with Progressive Insurance. But on the side he is a beer expert.
Seibt serves on the board of Cleveland Beer Week and on the advisory board for Destination Cleveland’s Brewery Passport program. He is the former brewer at Willoughby Brewing Co. and is known for the now-defunct brewery’s famous Peanut Butter Cup Coffee Porter. And he is a certified beer judge who has evaluated beers at the Great American Beer Festival in Colorado. That annual event can draw more than 100 beers in one category, and all judging is blind and seriously controlled.
To go with that beer he enjoys a good meal – often one with German flavors.
Each week we survey a notable Clevelander about where they like to eat. Here are Seibt’s choices:
1. What’s your favorite restaurant and why?
Szechuan Gourmet (1735 E. 36th St., Cleveland). My wife and I go after every Cleveland Beer Week board meeting. Everything is made so well, and I really like their spicy dishes like the cumin beef.
2. Favorite dish you have ordered from anywhere?
Schweinshaxen from anywhere in Bavaria. Crispy pork shanks that come with dumplings and dark beer gravy. It’s heaven on a plate. (Schweinshaxen is made from the lower part of a pig’s leg.)
3. Favorite dish to make at home?
Pork schnitzel. I get authentic German ingredients and have pretty much nailed the recipe. It’s the most requested family meal. Pairs well with my mom’s sauerkraut recipe and my wife’s spaetzle.
4. What is your favorite brunch or breakfast spot?
I love the brunch at Tremont Tap House (2572 Scranton Road, Cleveland). Everything on the menu is great.
5. Favorite drink or dessert in Northeast Ohio?
Being a beer guy I’ll have to go with a drink. I’ve been drinking a lot of lagers lately and always have had a fondness for Czech Pilsners. Cleveland is lucky to have two great examples in Noble Beast Union Pils and Market Garden Pin High. (Noble Beast Brewing Co. is at 1470 Lakeside Ave.; Market Garden Brewery is at 1947 W. 25th St.)
What do notable Clevelanders eat when they want some good chow? Welcome to Five for Friday – a weekly look at Northeast Ohioans and their favorite eats.
Previous Five for Fridays
Cleveland 19 News reporter Syeda Abbas
Parma comic-book store owner Adam Barsa
The New Moon storeowners Dawn and Bob Bartos
Fox 8 news reporter Maia Belay
Sports radio duo Mark “Munch” Bishop and Chris “Beebs” Beeble
Rock Hall’s head of licensing and merchandising Diana Borcz
WKYC sports anchor Nick Camino
Artist Davon Brantley
Global Cleveland executive director Joe Cimperman
Debra Darnall, The Bone Lady
Film producer Tyler Davidson
Andria Derstine of Oberlin’s Allen Memorial Art Museum
Music scene fixture (writer, producer, DJ) Teddy Eisenberg
LGBT Center director Phyllis ‘Seven’ Harris
Cleveland musician Chayla Hope
Buckland Museum’s Steven Intermill
Cleveland Gaming Classic founder Tom Jenkins
Great Lakes Science Center’s Robyn Kaltenbach
Little Birdie Wine Nest owner Robin Keenan
Cleveland musician Kyle Kidd
3News anchor Maureen Kyle
3News anchor/reporter Lynna Lai
Singer Lauren Lanzaretta
Former Tribe pitcher Jensen Lewis
Akron Zoo events and marketing coordinator Caroline Lutz
WMJI radio host Jimmy Malone
Mason’s Creamery’s Helen Qin and Jesse Mason
Cleveland 19 News anchor-reporter Sia Nyorkor
SportsTime Ohio host Al Pawlowski
Honey Hut’s Kevin Page
NASA Glenn Research Center Director Marla E. Perez-Davies
Beck Center for the Arts board chair Pat Oliver
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse director of event and media marketing (and concert-industry professional) Carrie Samek
Comedian Mary Santora
Karamu House President and CEO Tony F. Sias
Writer Michelle R. Smith
Business consultant and NAACP Cleveland Director Danielle Sydnor
3News anchor-reporter Tiffany Tarpley
Former Cleveland Browns player Joe Thomas
Fashion designer Dru Thompson
Indians play-by-play announcer Matt Underwood
TV host, photographer Laura Wimbels
Cleveland filmmaker Johnny Wu
I am on cleveland.com’s life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. If you want to see my stories, here’s a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning. And tune in at 8:05 a.m. Fridays for “Beer with Bona and Much, Much More” with Munch Bishop on 1350-AM The Gambler.
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