Akron Life July 2023

READERS’ PICKS

BEST RETIREMENT LIVING 1. Brier Creek Senior Independent Living 2. Ohio Living Rockynol 3. The Village of St. Edward

BEST PET DAY CARE 1. Pay It Forward For Pets 2. All Creatures Veterinary Clinic & Lodge 3. Camp Bow Wow

BEST PET GROOMER 1. Wizard Of Paws 2. Plus One Grooming 3. Clipper Cottage

BEST HOMEBUILDER 1. Shultz Design &

Construction 2. Wagler Homes 3. Old World

Custom Homes

BEST SALON/SPA 1. Gavin Scott Salon & Spa 2. Scott Talbot SalonSpa 3. Aro Hair Salon BEST TATTOO SHOP 1. Red Rabbit Studio 2. Assassin Tattoo Studio 3. Empire Ink

BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER 1. H. Everson Designs 2. Cynthia J. Ho ! man

Interior Design

3. M2creative

BEST MEAL IN A GLASS BLUE HERON BREWERY

BEST INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE 1. Logos Bookstore 2. The Learned Owl Book Shop 3. Shelf Life BEST JEWELER 1. Taylor Made Jewelry 2. Jewelry Art 3. Kimberly Jewelry

Oohing and aahing at Blue Heron Brewery in Medina during brunch may signal the Hail Mary ($24) is being served — and it’s more than just a bloody mary. “Most people are blown away by the amount of food it is,” says executive chef and co-owner Ben Erjavec. “It’s a full meal.” It’s an eyeful, with 15 to 20 rotating garnishes. A gooey soft pretzel stuffed with jalapenos and white cheddar creates a base on top of the glass. The heat from that and a boneless Buffalo wing marries well with the spicy bloody mary, especially if you dunk them. A mozzarella stick, three-cheese fried ravioli and rotating charcuterie like capicola, smoked Gouda, peperoncini and Kalamata olives can help cut the heat and so can a double cheese burger slider.

“That bread and creaminess of that cheese calm your palate down,” Erjavec says. A maple sausage link and apple wood-smoked bacon comple ment the brunch theme. Alaskan snow crab legs, celery and roasted garlic Parmesan shrimp add to the wow factor. The bloody mary itself deserves attention. The mix of Worcestershire, horseradish, black pepper, tomato juice and vodka has a good kick. For more heat, opt for a $6 refill with ghost pepper sauce. It cranks the heat and flavor of the gargantuan meal to the max. “It’ll light you up pretty good,” Erjavec says. 3227 Blue Heron Trace, Medina, blueheronmedina.com

BEST VINTAGE SHOP 1. The Bomb Shelter 2. Happy Tails Thrift Shop 3. Modern Vintage

BEST WEALTH MANAGER 1. Gina A. Betti, Edward Jones 2. Wells Trecaso Financial Group 3. Alpha Asset Management BEST WEDDING RECEPTION VENUE 1. The Barn at Wolf Creek 2. Gervasi Vineyard 3. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens

BEST LANDSCAPING

COMPANY 1. Alpine

Landscaping

2. Suncrest Gardens 3. Pride Lawn Care

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akronlife.com | JULY 2023