The Tri-State’s New Tastes

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    It’s hard to imagine a world without food, the Internet …or food on the Internet. Whether it’s checking out Yelp for a restaurant review, a food blog for recommendations, or OpenTable for a reservation, we now look to the web before making dinner plans. That’s why we looked to two local food bloggers to spill the beans on all the latest local foodie fodder.

     

    Long before most of us even knew what a blog was, Julie Niesen Gosdin has been dishing out details about the Tri-State’s best eateries with her blog Wine Me, Dine Me (in Cincinnati) since 2008.

     

    When she first launched the blog, Gosdin offered restaurant reviews but it has since grown into something much more. Today, her posts are less about the food or the drinks, but rather the experience as a whole.

     

    She especially enjoys keeping an eye on food trends and what’s going on the local culinary scene. “Cafe Lang Thang just opened and specializes in Vietnamese food,” she says. “They also sell groceries on a scale for urban dwellers. Think cups of sugar and flour and smaller bottles of condiments.” Cafe Lang Thang is open for lunch, making them a great stop for your breaks at work, she adds.

     

    If you’re looking for a yummy place to grab breakfast or brunch, you’ll want to check out Waffo. This food truck offers waffles that are sweet, savory and guaranteed to satisfy your taste buds. “Waffo’s combos are a fun addition to Cincinnati’s food truck scene,” she says.

     

    NuVo at Greenup is a rejuvenation of the all-local restaurant brought to you by Mark Bodenstein, formerly of Nicholson’s. The restaurant opened October 17 and features an entirely price fixe, six-course meal for $45 per person. Gosdin adds the concept of NuVo is popular throughout Cincinnati and it’s reasonable prices are attractive to diners. You can find NuVo at the former Greenup Cafe location in Covington.

     

    According to Gosdin, Oakley is the center of the Cincinnati Sushiverse. Fusion offers seasonal ingredients, yes – including sweet potatoes – and she’s previously compared them to Chipotle, which the restaurant says is accurate. “Fusion is less traditional, but fast and fun and you can get a completely customized experience,” she explains.

     

    You’ll find the perfect combination of seafood and cocktails at Anchor in OTR. “Their bar is tiny,” Gosdin says, “but the bartenders friendly and they make their own syrups and sodas.”

     

    As for new restaurants on the horizon, Gosdin says to keep your eyes peeled for a new restaurant arriving in December: Salazar. This farm-inspired new American coming in the Fall of 2013 to 1401 Republic Street in OTR.

     

    Heather Johnson, founder of the Food Hussy blog, says she’s most excited about the new Glendalia Boutique Hotel & Culinary Studio. “They are offering cooking skills classes as well as theme classes,” she explains. “It’s also BYOB – great for girlfriend getaways or team building at work, too.”

     

    For karma building, Johnson suggests participating in the annual Fall Feast, hosted by Give Back Cincinnati. “It’s on Nov. 28 and a great way to give back on Thanksgiving and help folks in need,” she says. “Might be fun for a unique Thanksgiving experience.”


    Another foodie event taking place is the Chicken Soup Cookoff. “This isn’t really ‘new’ as it’s the 10th annual, but I bet a lot of folks don’t know about it,” says Johnson. “It’s a Chicken Soup Cookoff in Amberley at the J. Proceeds benefit charity and you will taste some amazing chicken soups! I’ll be a celebrity judge again this year!”


    If a liquid diet is more your speed, Johnson recommends checking out the new Ei8ht Ball Brewery inside The Party Source in Bellevue Kentucky. “It’s the only brewery in a liquor store in the country,” she explains. “There’s also a tap room with 42 beers on tap.”

     

    Have a foodie on your holiday shopping list? “Think of the ‘BLANK of the month’ clubs,” recommends Johnson. “There are really unique offerings like the Hungry Globetrotter – they send you a box of non-perishable food items and recipes to have dinner ideas for a week; Craft Beer Club has a beer box with four types of beer each month; and Murray’s Cheese has cheese/meat of the month clubs! It’s the gift that keeps on giving, and way cooler than the Jelly of the Month Club that Clark Griswold got!”

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