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Restaurant Europa in Pepper Pike not only serves house-infused vodka, it also rolls out a vodka room.
(John Petkovic/The Plain Dealer)
We are fighting a new Cold War.
Where endless snow and freezing temperatures are the new Berlin Wall. Where there is no escape from the feeling that winter will never end.
Where Old Man Winter stands guard over us from a watch tower, laughing at our every move.
Where even partying is a messy trudge in the mush.
That is, until I found freedom – with a shot of this vodka. In the spirit of the Olympics, I beat the cold the way they do in Russia … at Restaurant Europa in Pepper Pike.
Yes, the bar-restaurant specializes in Eastern European comfort dishes. It also features a Siberian Vodka Room: an icy cooler kept at 32 degrees where patrons go inside to do shots.
No sipping – the glasses are made of ice and melt within seconds. You drink fast to stay warm, as Europa co-owner Alex Shneyder learned while living in Omsk, Siberia.
Europa -- 30519 Pinetree Road; 216-591-1273 -- provides fur coats and hats for people who venture into the Vodka Room, so you don't have to drink that much.
You could run around naked in the snow and still feel warm if you drink the horseradish-infused vodka.
It's one of many served at Europa – made with actual horseradish (or cinnamon or jalapeno) floating in vats of vodka, infusing it with a flavor much richer than the kind you get with flavored alcohol.
During a recent visit, I tried the mint-infused vodka. Then the almond. Not as good as the horseradish, but it hit the spot.
Two shots took the winter away . . .Za zdorovye!
After the vodka, I hit Yeleseyevsky Deli -- 5870 Mayfield Road, Mayfield Heights.
The Russian grocery store serves all kinds of soda, beer, candy and food from Russia. The deli section serves a wide range of meats and cheese.
Check out the cheburecki – a turnover consisting of dough filled with minced chicken. It originated with the Tatars and is popular in southern Russia - perfect munchies to have while watching the Sochi Olympics.