Mushroom and Leek Cake at Cleveland Museum of Art’s Provenance
With the expansion of the East Wing, the renovation of the 1916 galleries, and the addition of the beautiful Ames Atrium, the Cleveland Museum of Art has been elevated in recent years from a revered cultural institution to a work of art itself.
To complement the stunning renovation, the Museum has also rolled out community programming like its interactive, 12,000-square-foot Gallery One and monthly MIX Nights.
It was hard to think of anything that could make the Cleveland Museum of Art even better, until Provenance opened at the end of 2012.
Provenance at the Cleveland Museum of Art features a 3-part dining experience: a moderately-priced open-kitchen Cafe, Catering by Provenance, and a 76-seat fine dining restaurant and lounge.
The bar and lounge at Provenance
Through a partnership with Bon Appetit Management Company and Fire’s Chef Douglas Katz, the Cleveland Museum of Art has created a menu of locally-sourced, globally-inspired options for visitors.
After recent trips to the museum and nearby Botanical Garden, I’ve enjoyed grabbing quick bites at the Cafe. (My recommendation: try a claybread sandwich with lamb, hummus, eggplant, cabbage, and yoghurt sauce.)
But I hadn’t had a chance to try the restaurant until a few weeks ago. And lately I’ve been making up for lost time.
Left to Right: The ladies at Bloggers Night; Cured Meats and Cheeses; Scallops
Our first visit came earlier this month when Scott and I were invited to blogger night at Provenance. There we joined Cleveland’s a Plum, WhyCLE, Eat*Drink*Cleveland, The Dawg’s Dish and All Lacquered Up for a few drinks and some delicious bites.
We started with a selection of cured meats and cheeses, an excellent warm-up for the dishes that were to come.
Provenance’s Chef Partner Douglas Katz and Executive Chef Matthew Jankowski
As Chef Katz came out to introduce Executive Chef Matthew Jankowski, they brought with them a sampling of their talents: succulent, seared scallops; a mushroom and leek cake; and the winner of the night in my books – fingerling potato topped with shaved duck.
A finely-made Manhattan and their Thyme and Ginger cocktail had me equally impressed with Provenance’s drinks menu. The refreshing Thyme and Ginger will be especially welcome as we head into summer.
Provenance Manhattan
I was excited to learn during the blogger night that Provenance is open for brunch every Sunday in addition to lunch and dinner throughout the week.
So Scott and I checked out brunch at the museum this weekend. Spoiler: It was just as delicious!
Provenance’s brunch menu elevates traditional breakfast dishes like eggs and french toast with fresh, seasonal ingredients such as sweet onions, confit tomato and leek salad, and roasted garlic aioli.
Ranging in price from $16-$22, each entree also comes with a bounty of treats from the Chef’s Table.
A sampling from the Chef’s Table at Provenance Brunch
With buttery croissants, sweet blueberry scones and cinnamon rolls, house-made jams, and a fluffy gruyere biscuit, it was difficult to avoid filling up before our main course.
But with a Lump Crab Quiche and the Provenance Benedict on their way, we managed to save room.
In addition to camembert, caramelized onions and a herb custard, the quiche featured large chunks of fresh crab meat. It was paired with a shaved fennel and citrus salad.
Lump Crab Quiche at Cleveland Museum of Art Brunch
I’m not a huge fennel fan, but I loved how the fruit slices and citrus flavor balanced it out.
Scott has somehow gone 30 years without trying eggs benedict, but the herb-roasted trout that accompanies the Provenance Benedict called out to him.
I snuck a couple bites and really enjoyed the crisped texture and slightly smoked taste of the trout combined with the rich poached egg. And the colorful carrot salad that came on the side featured the absolute freshest-tasting carrots.
Provenance Benedict at Cleveland Museum of Art’s Brunch
Whether it’s brunch, lunch or dinner, the Cleveland Museum of Art, Chef Katz, and Bon Appetit have achieved a culinary masterpiece.
And I’m giving away a chance to indulge with a $100 gift certificate to Provenance!
There are 5 Easy Ways to Enter the Giveaway
**You must leave a separate comment on this post for each entry**
1) Leave a comment telling me what’s your favorite part about the Cleveland Museum of Art.
2) Follow @ClevelandArt and @ADHicken on twitter and leave a comment on this post telling me you did.
3) If you’re a fan of Clue Into Cleveland on Facebook, leave a comment on this blog post letting me know. If you’re not yet a fan, you can become one here.
4) Tweet: “I want to enjoy fine art and dining @ClevelandArt’s Provenance. Enter @ADHicken’s giveaway for a $100 gift card: http://wp.me/p2Ukr0-223” Get an extra entry each day for tweeting! (Each day you do this, you must leave a new comment.)
5) Subscribe to receive Clue Into Cleveland blog posts in your inbox or feed reader like Feedly and leave a comment letting me know you did. This can also include signing up to receive email notifications in the top-right “Subscribe” section of this page.
You have until this Friday, May 17 at Noon to enter. I will select a winner using Random.org and announce the winner’s name that afternoon on my blog. Remember to leave a separate comment for each entry – good luck!
Picking a favorite is always so hard! I have always love the Armor Court but the Ames Atrium is stunning.
armor court. always loved that part!
I follow both on twitter
I am a fan on facebook
I subscribe on feedly
Tweeted!
My new most favorite thing at the art museum is Gallery One. It is a great way to learn more about what’s at the museum (and where to find it!)
follow both!
fan of CiC on FB already
have it in my rss feeds already (and putting off whether to run my own tinyrss or sign up for feedly)
http://twitter.com/MikeT11405598/status/333963798232854528
Already follow you and CMA!
I’m a facebook fan of yours!
tweet tweet Monday!
My favorite thing about the CMA is the programming. Sure, the collection is massive and diverse but the amount of lectures, films, performances and tours that occur daily is mind-boggling. I also love their new atrium. How could you not, specially during Friday night Mix Events!
I love the mummies and armor.
I’m a Facebook Fan.
My fav part is that we get world class art without paying admission.
I tweeted.
I follow both on Twitter.
I “like” you!
I’m subscribed to your feed.
The room with Picasso’s La Vie.
I love the cars!
(kidding.)
Please send me to the restaurant! I’m hungry! (Yeah, the CMA’s new building looks great too.)
I subscribe to your feed
I follow you both on twitter
I like looking at the pieces of famous artists, like Monet
I follow both on Twitter
I tweeted today
armour and renaissance period are a fav but also i think CMA does a great job bringing differing exhibits to Cleveland.
I’m a Fan of both yours & CMA!!
Tweeted!
I love the renaissance art, and also Greek and Roman collections. I also love the programming for kids.
I really enjoy the new Gallery One with all the interactivity and the many things children can do in that space. I shared that experience with a friend who has a two-year old son and we were all very impressed.
I’ve just liked the page, Clue Into Cleveland. Great tips.
New atrium
Subscribe to feed
Tweeted today
Fan of CIC
The amazing Asian collection is a favorite as are the Faberge eggs.
I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve lived in Cleveland for five years and have yet been to the museum. Sometimes it’s hard to make time to be a tourist in your own town.
I recently visited the CMA and blogged about it myself
I loved the sunny atrium at the museum. It was a great place to linger with a beverage from the restaurant on a winter day, and I liked how it also showcased the building’s original 1916 facade.
I’ve also subscribed to your blog via a feed reader for quite some time now and have occasionally featured your posts on my monthly Midwest link love list.
Hi! I am following both you and CMA
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The art. Fifth Avenue Nocturne by Hassam. Just subscribed.
Hard to pick one thing I love about CMA. First and foremost that it is free, then the education, special talks and exhibits and from the collection I really really love the Skygazer statuette. Tiny and so expressive.
I am a fan of Clue in to Cleveland on Facebook.
Wednesday tweet!
Subscribe to news feed
I follow you on Twitter and just posted the Tweet. I also follow Clue Into Cleveland on Facebook.
http://twitter.com/MikeT11405598/status/334539968133353472
My favorite part of the museum is the architecture! It’s such a breathtaking space
Tweeted today!
My favorite thing about the art museum are all the annual special events: Parade the Circle, the summer Solstice party, the sidewalk Chalk Festival and the Winter Lights Lantern Festival.
I am a fan of Clue Into Cleveland on Facebook
tweeted
Tweeted again today