Taste This: Chocolate espresso martini ($12 as of Aug. 24, 2024) at NOMZ, located at 21 Furnace Street in Akron, inside the Northside Marketplace.

Creator: Shianna Rose, general manager

Eye test: One immediately notices the aesthetic appeal of the coupe glass cradling the chocolate drizzle, espresso, vodka and a rich layer of foam embracing three espresso beans shaped in the form of a triangle.  

What makes this cocktail so special: Who doesn’t love chocolate? Also, when sharing her recipe for this cocktail, Rose paid homage to legendary London bartender Dick Bradsell as the inventor of the espresso martini.

Process: In a coupe glass, fresh espresso from Akron Coffee Roasters and organic Western Reserve vodka are combined with a spoonful of chocolate syrup in a coupe glass. It’s finished off with a shot of Kahlua coffee liqueur. 

Food pairing: The espresso chocolate martini is best paired with a brunch brioche bun from Akron Ideal Bakery, complemented with caramelized onion, farm fresh egg, crispy bacon and a house-made chipotle aioli. The dish includes breakfast potatoes.

Backstory: Rose grew up in the Akron area and started her career in the restaurant/bar industry at a young age. She found herself in 2019 as the bartender at NOMZ; two years later, she was a bar manager. Now, she leads the kitchen and bar as general manager. Rose was trained by Western Reserve Distillers in the art of creating cocktails with its regionally-produced liquors.

Rose encourages her kitchen staff to envision monthly specials as their own by crafting special titles and descriptions.

NOMZ history: (Nam-Z) The verb is short for “nom nom” — the sound you make when you’re eating food made with love. Everyone at NOMZ believes in this statement, painted on a wall above the kitchen ordering station. Justin Lepley, the director of NOMZ since 2020, will attest to that sentiment as he continues to work with his team to create a welcoming environment for all ages and tastes. The establishment is located inside Northside Marketplace, home to more than 100 local businesses.

How to buy: NOMZ is open Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Sundays from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.  Tuesday through Thursday hours are 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Closed Mondays).

How to taste: Every weekend, Rose offers Brunch Cocktail Essentials classes. Attendees learn how to create the classic espresso martini, French 75 and paloma.  Classes are $30 per person beginning at noon on Saturdays and 11 a.m. on Sundays for approximately  2 ½ hours of mixing, stirring and tasting. Tickets are available on Eventbrite, and include a buy 1, get 1 free deal on a mimosa.

Patricia Sheahan is a professor, student teacher supervisor, installation artist, educational consultant for the integration of the arts across all disciplines and a freelance writer. Sheahan enjoys more than four decades of education experience at K-12 schools in New York and Pennsylvania and higher education at Seton Hill University, the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, Penn State and most recently the University of Akron. Her favorite courses to teach are Social Justice Through the Arts, Ethics, Introduction to Critical Education, Classroom Management and Integrating the Arts K-12. Interests include visiting the Akron Art Museum, Akron Library, Civic Theatre, walking downtown to view murals and window light installations plus the stunning flower and plant arrangements, antiquing, especially from her own vendor space at The Brothers North Antiques in Medina. She also frequents Akron restaurants and local boutiques, travels and spends time with her family; a daughter and her newly blended family in North Canton, a son and his family in San Diego and a son in Dallas.