How to go
What: Taste of Cincinnati
Where: Downtown Cincinnati, taking six blocks of Fifth Street, from Race Street to Broadway
When: May 23-26, noon-1 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight, Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday
Cost: Free
More info: www.tasteofcincinnati.com
List of participating restaurants
Alfio’s BuonCibo
Style: Italian Argentine
More Info: www.alfios-cincy.com
Andy’s Mediterranean Grille
Style: Middle Eastern
More Info: www.andyskabob.com
Arloi Dee Thai Bistro
Style: Asian
More Info: www.arloidee.com
Bangkok Bistro
Style: Asian
More Info: www.bkkbistrohydepark.com
Barefoot Wine
Style: White, Red and Pink Wines
More Info: www.barefootwine.com
Bella Luna
Style: Italian
More Info: www.bellalunacincy.com
Bell’s Brewing
Style: Craft Beer and Wine
More Info: www.bellsbeer.com
Big Bite Tour
Style: BBQ
More Info:
Bistro de Mohr
Style: American
More Info:
Blue Moon
Style: Beer and Wine
More Info: www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com
Buano Terra
Style: Ice Cream
More Info:
Busken Bakery
Style: Cookies and Sweets
More Info: www.busken.com
Catch-A-Fire Pizza
Style: Wood-fired Craft Pizza
More Info: www.catchafirepizza.com
C’est Cheese
Style: Gourmet Cheese Sandwiches and Soups
More Info: www.cestcheesecincy.com
Chicago Gyros
Style: Greek
More Info: www.chicagogyrosanddogs.com
Christian Moerlein
Style: Craft Beer and wine
More Info: www.christianmoerlein.com
Cincinnati Cooks Catering
Style: American
More Info: www.cincinnaticookscatering.org
Claddagh Irish Pub
Style: United Kingdom Pub Fare
More Info: www.claddaghirishpubs.com
Coldiron Concessions
Style: Daiquiris, Slushes, Margaritas
More Info: www.tasteofcincinnati.com
Constellation Wine
Style: Chardonnay, Moscato, Pino Grigio, White Zinfandel
More Info: www.cbrands.com
Cupcake Crazy
Style: Cupcakes, Cookies, Specialty Cakes
More Info: www.cupcakecrazycincinnati.com
Down Under
Style: American
More Info: www.tasteofcincinnati.com
Eddie’s Southern Style BBQ
Style: Ribs, Pulled Pork, Corn on the Cob
More Info: www.tasteofcincinnati.com
Ena’s Jerkmania
Style: Caribbean
More Info:
Giminetti Baking Company
Style: Italian
More Info: www.giminetti.com
Great Lakes Brewing
Style: Craft Beer and Wine
More Info: www.greatlakesbrewing.com
Habanero
Style: Mexican
More Info: www.habanerolatin.com
Heineken
Style: Beer and Wine
More Info: www.heineken.com
Hudepohl
Style: Beer and Wine
More Info: www.hudepohlbeer.com
Indigo Casual Gourmet Cafe
Style: Italian
More Info: www.indigocasual.com
Izzy’s
Style: American (Reubens)
More Info: www.izzys.com
J Gumbos
Style: Cajun/Creole
More Info: www.jgumbos.com
Kentucky Bourbon Ale
Style: Beer and Wine
More Info: www.kentuckyale.com
Keystone Bar & Grill
Style: American (Mac and Cheese)
More Info: www.keystonebar.com
LaRosa’s
Style: Italian American
More Info: www.larosas.com
Laszlo’s Iron Skillet
Style: German
More Info: www.laszlosironskillet.com
Leinenkugel
Style: Craft Beer and Wine
More Info: www.leinie.com
Les Chef de Cuisine
Style: French
More Info: www.tasteofcincinnati.com
Local 127
Style: American
More Info: www.mylocal127.com
Madisono’s
Style: Italian Gelato
More Info: www.madisonosgelato.blogspot.com
Mahogany’s at the Banks
Style: American Deep South
More Info: www.mahongaysatthebanks.com
Market Street Grille
Style: American
More Info: www.marketstreetgrille.com
Marty’s Waffles
Style: American
More Info:
McCormick & Schmick’s
Style: American Seafood
More Info: www.mccormickandschmicks.com
Mecklenburg Gardens
Style: German
More Info: www.mecklenburgs.net
Mellow Mushroom
Style: American (Pizza)
More Info: www.mellowmushroom.com
Melting Pot of Cincinnati
Style: American (Fondue)
More Info: www.meltingpot.com
Moerlein Lager House
Style: German
More Info: www.moerleinlagerhouse.com
Oasis Mediterranean Grille
Style: Greek
More Info: www.oasis-grill.eat24hour.com
Old Bag of Nails
Style: United Kingdom Pub Fare
More Info: www.oldbagofnails.com
Orchid’s
Style: American
More Info: www.orchidsatpalmcourt.com
Panino
Style: Italian
More Info:
Pit to Plate BBQ
Style: Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork, Rib Tips
More Info: www.pittoplatebbqcatering.com
Pizza Tower
Style: Italian
More Info: www.pizzatower.com
Pompilio’s
Style: Italian
More Info: www.pompiliosrestaurant.com
Prime 47
Style: American (Steak and Seafood)
More Info: www.prime47.com
Red Sesame
Style: Korean BBQ
More Info:
Rivertown Brewing
Style: Craft Beer and Wine
More Info: www.rivertownbrewery.com
Ruth’s Chris
Style: American (Steakhouse)
More Info: www.ruthschris.com
Sammy’s El Pueblo
Style: Mexican
More Info: www.sammyselpueblo.com
Samuel Adams
Style: Craft Beer and Wine
More Info: www.samueladams.com
Silver Ladle
Style: American
More Info: www.silverladle.com
Strasse Haus
Style: German
More Info: www.strassehauspub.com
Street Pops
Style: Sweets
More Info: www.streetpops.com
SugarSnap!
Style: American (Gourmet Desserts)
More Info: www.sugarsnaptruck.com
Texas Joe Tex Mex
Style: Mexican
More Info: www.texasjoethelegalmexican.com
Thai Taste
Style: Pan-Asian (Sushi)
More Info: www.thaitastesushi.com
Tom + Chee
Style: American (Gourmet Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup)
More Info: www.tomandchee.com
Trattoria Roma
Style: Italian
More Info: www.trattoriaroma.net
Va Vite
Style: Italian
More Info: www.vaviterestaurant.com
Washington Platform
Style: Cajun/Creole Seafood
More Info: www.washingtonplatform.com
Wertheim’s
Style: German
More Info: www.tasteofcincinnati.com
West Sixth Brewing
Style: Craft Beer and Wine
More Info: www.westsixth.com
Yard House
Style: American
More Info: www.yardhouse.com
Yuengling
Style: Beer and Wine
More Info: www.yuengling.com
The nation’s longest running culinary arts festival and one of the largest street festivals overall just got even bigger. The 2014 Taste of Cincinnati will feature 38 fine area restaurants and nine food trucks showcasing more than 250 dishes.
If you have an iPhone or Android, you might want to download the Taste app, which will tell you what restaurants are where.
“It’s the most we’ve ever had,” said Lance Barry, public relations manager for the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, which puts on the Taste. “We’ve expanded the two main areas of Taste, the food truck alley and the ‘Taste Experience,’ which features higher-end food offerings. It’ll be a larger physical space holding many more restaurants.”
The food offerings at Taste are diverse not only in terms of ethnicity or style (comfort food vs. gourmet), but also in the restaurants that participate every year. According to Barry, some restaurants return while others might drop out even if they’d won one of the “Best of Taste” awards the previous year for best appetizer, entree, dessert or healthy option.
“Restaurants who’ve participated in the past have first dibs on returning but some don’t,” he said. “There’s a lot of commitment for three straight days, and we’ve expanded the hours even further this year. From a staffing and quality perspective, there’s a lot they have to produce on the street. They want to keep the same quality as if you were walking into the restaurant itself and some decide it’s too difficult.”
On the flip side, in what might be called a “good” problem, the Taste always has more potential restaurants than they can possibly use.
“We have seven new restaurants this year,” Barry said. “We’d love to have more but there’s limitations on space. Two of them, Izzy’s and LaRosa’s, have been with us from the very beginning, 36 years ago.”
Of course, the entertainment lineup has expanded to the point where the Taste is almost as much a music festival as food festival. Over 35 bands and nine stand-up comedians will be performing on five stages. The musical acts are one hundred percent local and will encompass rock, blues, country, pop, and jazz. The more prominent veteran names include Robin Lacy and DeZydeco, the Sonny Moorman Band, and the Naked Karate Girls. Barry said the emphasis on local bands was deliberate.
“Our benchmark is always versus the Taste of Chicago, which goes on for 10 days,” he said. “From what we could gather, they spent a lot of money to bring in national acts, and their revenue and attendance actually declined. It just didn’t look like a positive financial model. For us, the entertainment is a great addition, but the food is our main act.”
Special activities will include the goVibrant veggie races, where local media celebrities will race pinewood derby-like cars made entirely out of vegetables, entertaining audiences and subliminally promoting healthy eating at the same time.
“That’s the unofficial start of Taste,” Barry said. “That happens on noon Friday at Fountain Square. It’s just a cool idea that allows people to start enjoying Taste on their lunch breaks.”
Also new this year is the Christian Moerlein beer tent, where craft beer connoisseurs can meet various brewers and witness several specialty keg taps.
“There will be some specific tastings going on there throughout the weekend,” Barry said. “(Moerlein) is brewing some beers just for the Taste, so people can sample beers that have never been tasted before and, most likely, will never be tasted again.”
Per usual, the Taste will devote a block and a half of space for a children’s playground and rides, while their parents can attend the ‘Taste Experience’ in the Proctor & Gamble Gardens, where a portion of the proceeds will go to Cincinnati State’s Midwest Culinary Institute.
“It’s a good chance to not only try some of the better restaurants you wouldn’t normally be able to sample but also give back to the community. We raised around $13,000 last year and we’re confident we’ll make $15,000 this year.”
Barry estimates that about 40 percent of the half million people who attend Taste come from outside Cincinnati, whether it’s just the north suburbs or the surrounding states.
“We have people from Lexington, Louisville, Chicago, and Cleveland who come and make a weekend out of it,” he said. “It’s a very doable drive from those places. I’m not aware of any hotel discount packages, but there at least seven or eight hotels within a few miles, some of them directly on the route.”
Barry added there were two more great incentives for people to make a weekend out of the Taste.
“A lot of people forget that it’s free,” he said. “If you just want to come down, check it out, listen to the music, you don’t have to spend anything. And the Cardinals are in town.”
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