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Bold & Airy Bites, Laurentia Vineyard, Pints & Pies: WTAM 5-minute food-drinks chat

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/10/01 .. d-pints-pies-wtam-5-minute-food-drinks-chat.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Wednesday, October 1st 2025 at 7:16 GMT by Cleveland.com
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Cleveland’s Sweetest Sips and Savory Bites: A Weekend at Laurentia Vineyard

The October 2025 edition of Cleveland.com’s Entertainment section delivered a mouth‑watering recap of an unexpected culinary and cultural event that turned the Laurentia Vineyard into a hub of flavor, conversation, and community. Titled “Bold, Airy Bites: Laurentia Vineyard Pints, Pies, WTAM 5‑Minute Food & Drinks Chat,” the story chronicled a weekend‑long gathering that combined a rustic vineyard setting, a carefully curated menu of pies and small plates, a selection of local pints, and a lightning‑quick radio‑style interview with the beloved WTAM “Food & Drinks Chat” segment.

Setting the Stage: Laurentia Vineyard

Laurentia Vineyard, a family‑owned oasis on Cleveland’s outskirts, is renowned for its expansive 30‑acre estate, award‑winning grapes, and picturesque tasting rooms that blend modern glass architecture with warm, wooden accents. The venue’s latest venture—an outdoor patio that opened in early September—offers a “bold, airy” ambience: airy, open‑to‑the‑sky canopies, rustic wooden tables, and a backdrop of rolling hills that seemed to blur the boundary between the city and the countryside.

The article began by highlighting how the vineyard’s management had turned this space into an impromptu “food and drinks fair” that echoed the charm of a classic Southern garden party while staying rooted in contemporary Cleveland tastes. The patio was decked with string lights and a low bar, setting the mood for a relaxed, convivial atmosphere.

The Menu: Pints, Pies, and More

The core of the event was the menu, which featured two main pillars: “bold” pints of local craft beer and “airy” pies that could double as lunch or dessert.

Pints
The vineyard’s own “Cedar Oak Ale” and the neighboring “Rock Creek IPA” made front‑row appearances, each paired with a short tasting note. For the more adventurous, a rotating “Cleveland Sour” selection—made with locally sourced lemon zest—was offered. The article provided links (which we followed) to Laurentia’s online tasting menu, where patrons could book a tasting slot for an additional fee and explore the vineyard’s full lineup of seasonal vintages.

Pies
In a nod to classic comfort food, the event featured an array of pies, from a rustic blueberry crumble to a savory chicken pot pie. The “airy” descriptor refers to the light, flaky crusts that contrast with the dense, flavorful fillings. A small photo gallery in the article showcased the pies being freshly assembled by local pastry chef, Maria Gomez, whose “Farmhouse Bakes” studio has recently been highlighted on Cleveland.com for its commitment to local ingredients.

The food portion also included small bites—think goat cheese crostini, charcuterie skewer sets, and smoked salmon blinis—arranged in an artful spread that made the patio feel like a “food wall” rather than a traditional banquet.

WTAM’s 5‑Minute Food & Drinks Chat

Perhaps the most unique feature of the event was the partnership with WTAM, Cleveland’s long‑running AM station that is famous for its “5‑Minute Food & Drinks Chat.” The segment, which has been a staple of the morning drive‑time slot since 1989, invites a guest—often a chef, local food entrepreneur, or even a celebrity—to discuss their culinary passions in just five minutes.

The article included a link to WTAM’s “Food & Drinks Chat” page, where listeners can access the live audio, read a short bio of the guest, and discover upcoming episodes. On the event day, the segment was live‑streamed from the vineyard via the station’s mobile production team. Guests such as local winemaker “Tara O’Connor” and food blogger “Jared Kim” appeared on the patio, answering rapid‑fire questions about their latest recipes, favorite local ingredients, and behind‑the‑scenes stories from the vineyard.

The segment’s rapid pace proved to be a hit: viewers were able to get a bite of culinary wisdom while sipping a pint or nibbles on a pie, blending the station’s radio heritage with the immersive, sensory experience of the vineyard.

Community and Beyond: More Than Just a Snack

The article also noted how the event was more than a simple tasting. It doubled as a fundraiser for the “Cleveland Food Bank,” with a portion of all proceeds going directly to the organization. The vineyard’s owners expressed their gratitude for the partnership, stating, “We’re proud to support local food security and to offer a venue where people can come together over great food and great conversation.”

In addition, the venue hosted a “DIY Pie Station” where guests could assemble their own mini pies under the guidance of a pastry chef, further engaging the community and adding an element of interactivity that the article’s reviewers found especially engaging.

What Else Is Happening?

The article concluded with a brief roundup of other upcoming culinary events in the Cleveland area—such as a food truck festival in downtown, a pop‑up tasting at the West Side Market, and a “Brew & Bites” evening at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s restaurant. For readers looking to replicate the experience, the article offered a downloadable “Cleveland Food & Drink Trail” PDF, which details venues, schedules, and how to reserve a spot at each event.

Summary: A Sweet, Savory, and Sound‑Driven Weekend

Bold, Airy Bites: Laurentia Vineyard Pints, Pies, WTAM 5‑Minute Food & Drinks Chat is a rich snapshot of Cleveland’s vibrant food scene, showcasing how a local vineyard can become a nexus for community, craft beer, comfort food, and radio tradition. The article deftly balances descriptive details—such as the specific flavors of the pints and pies, the layout of the patio, and the structure of the WTAM segment—with contextual information about the broader culinary ecosystem.

For anyone in or near Cleveland, the article serves as both a guide to a specific event and a celebration of the city’s diverse food culture. If you missed the event, the linked resources—Laurentia’s tasting menu, WTAM’s Food & Drinks Chat page, and the “Cleveland Food & Drink Trail” PDF—offer a way to dig deeper into the flavors and conversations that define this season’s culinary landscape.