Getting Wined and Dined in Cincinnati
When Julie Nieson Gosdin started blogging about local restaurants and food events in 2008, she had no idea Wine Me Dine Me would turn into the decadently diverse site it is today. Now, she not only offers fabulous foodie reviews of local restaurants and events, but she also covers travel dining, recipes, cocktails, wine, giveaways, discussion and news.
Exploring the personalities that go along with food while also keeping an eye on emerging trends in other cities around the world intrigued her. So, Gosdin says, she started the blog to document her explorations and to interact with other foodies who share her passion.
“I still love connecting with people,” she explains. “Both the makers and the eaters of Cincinnati. The scene has gotten even better in the past two years, and the city getting some overdue national attention for our food, proximity to farms and ingenuity.”
We asked Gosdin for a list of her favorite Tri-State eateries. She started off with what she calls the hottest new restaurants to hit downtown: Boca and Sotto, both run by David Falk. You’ll find Sotto in the former La Normandie space and Boca is in the former Maisonette. Gosdin says food lovers will enjoy the decidedly different takes on Italian cuisines these two places have to offer.
Also downtown, Metropole at 21c opened in November 2012. “Metropole at 21c does some great smoked items,” says Gosdin. “Even the butter is smoked!”
After recently forming a partnership with Carriage House Farm, Please offers inventive dinners on the farm. Gosdin says Please is unique because they’re able to create all these dinners with no formal kitchen.
If you love brunch, Gosdin says La Poste in Clifton’s Gaslight District is the place for you. The restaurant, formerly Tink’s, has been there since 2010, but brunch is a recent addition. “The Lobster Benedict is sublime and their Bloody Marys are great, too,” Gosdin adds.
Over-the-Rhine has a lot to offer when it comes to recently opened restaurants and locations opening soon. Holtman Donuts has been in Loveland and Williamsburg since 1960, says Gosdin, and they are opening a new location in Over-the-Rhine soon.
According to Gosdin, Salazar will also be opening this Fall in Over-the-Rhine. She says this will be the first restaurant opening for owner Jose Salazar, who previously ran The Palace and currently runs the kitchen at Abigail Street. “Salazar will focus on farm-to-table dining,” Gosdin adds, “and prices will range between $4 and $24.”
Because she lives in Over-the-Rhine, Gosdin says she has a lot of choices within walking distance of her home. She spends a lot of her time at Senate and Bakersfield, Taste of Belgium and Quan Hapa. Her foodie favorites aren’t all within the confines of downtown, though. “I also love Brij Mohan in Sharonville and Wildflower in Mason,” she explains.
Learn more about Gosdin and her scrumptious suggestions at www.winemedinemecincinnati.com. You can also follow her on Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.
