I love frozen coffee drinks much more than that hot black stuff. I was pretty excited to see that Panera is offering a Frozen Caramel coffee drink. (Warning: That link contains nutrition facts you might not want to see.) The caramel is not nearly as sweet as the frozen mocha I have tried there before, so I got more of the coffee taste that I like, but it still had the flavor that I need to enjoy it. At $3.59, the beverage is a little pricey (what isn't these days?), but it was super refreshing and the right afternoon pick-me-up I needed.

My standby for a frozen coffee splurge is the Java Chip Frappuccino from Starbucks, though I also like the caramel and mocha varieties. If you dare, you can see nutrition facts for all of their concoctions. I say "splurge" because it's not possible to get one of those frozen cappuccinos for less than $3.

Unfortunately, my favorite frozen coffee cannot be found in this area of the state. But if you are ever in Columbus, you should give Tim Hortons' Iced Cappuccino a try. You might want to order the large, or you'll spend the rest of the day wishing you did.

If anyone has suggestions for other frozen or cold coffee I should try, leave a comment!

-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

My wife and I were out shopping last Saturday. On our way we decided to stop for lunch at Crostata’s Pizzeria at the corner of Bishop and Highland Roads. We had been watching the transformation of this location from a coffee bar/shop into a rustic looking building. Upon exiting our car, we were received by the smell of baked bread and wood fire. We knew we were in for a treat! Entering the restaurant, we were immediately greeted by the hostess who seated us at a table. There is a full view of the kitchen area. Our server greeted us almost immediately and asked for our beverages. Soda and ice tea are bottled here. They also have a complete wine list. We looked over the menu. Appetizers, salads and soup were listed on one side. Pizzas and dessert were listed on the other. Since it was lunchtime, they also had a sandwich menu. Everything looked great! We ordered the Pizza Classico and a Caesar salad. The salad was delivered by the chef, Anthony Pilla (who happens to be a nephew to the former Bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland). The salad had fresh toasted homemade bread croutons that were still warm, shaved mozzarella cheese slices, and a wonderful dressing. It was served with wonderful warm homemade bread sticks. We devoured our salad and bread and were almost too full for pizza. Then the pizza came, again delivered by Chef Pilla. Pizza Classico had a wonderful blend of buffalo mozzarella, roasted Roma tomatoes, caramelized onions, and sauteed mushrooms. Chef Pilla stated each pizza is a work of art. The tomatoes were roasted there. The caramelized onions were sweet and delicious. We took about half of the pizza home. We had no room for dessert, but they serve many Italian delicacies.
Crostata’s is a restaurant in the Quagliata family. Many Mentorites may remember the White House. The Quagliatas also operate Giovanni’s in Beachwood. Chef Pilla grew up in Mayfield Heights and studied in Chicago.

We would definitely recommend Crostata’s . Go there if you want a delicious wood-fired pizza!

Crostata’s Pizzeria
585 Bishop Road
Highland Heights, OH 44143
440-449-7800

Hours
Monday – Thursday
11:30 AM – 9 PM
Friday & Saturday
11:30 AM - 10 PM
Closed Sundays

Website in development:
www.crostatas.com

--Chuck Hogye
chogye@news-herald.com