http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/ News Flash! I have an affinity for esoteric wines from little-known regions. As a result, I tend to assume a lot of wines aren’t sufficiently “interesting” to sample. So when an opportunity recently arose to attend a dinner featuring the wines of well-known California producer Rodney Strong, I was dismissive.]]> I just found a PC/MAC game — Winemaker Extraordinaire (Masque, $20) — that challenges players to build “a winemaking empire!” Now, it’s been frequently said that “the surest way to make a small fortune in the wine business is to start with a large fortune.” So, on its face, I didn’t figure this game would be too realistic.]]> Each year as a child, I sat glued to the couch when ABC's 4:30 movies repeated its Edgar Allen Poe Week. 'Tales of Terror was among my favorites, comprised of three of Poe's shorter works, including 'The Cask of the Amontillado.' Of course, I had no idea then what Amontillado sherry was ... but today I have a real appreciation for the grownup drink.]]> In summertime, I prefer lighter, crisper white wines that provide relief from the heat and humidity: New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, Australian dry Rieslings, Austrian Gruner Veltliner, real (French) Chablis. We drink these wines with utter abandon — especially because they pair so well with the lighter fare served during warmer months.]]> Where I grew up in New Jersey, there were plenty of ski areas within easy driving distance, but the quality of the trails and the length of the lift lines always left something to be desired. It might take 15 minutes to hurtle down a dangerously crowded, icy slope from the summit, and then you’d have to wait another half hour or more in the bitter, biting cold for another run.]]> Believe it or not, it's almost Thanksgiving, and once again I recommend planning ahead for your beverage purchases. Picking out the wine and beer is one task you can accomplish well before the holiday, when you might be busy with more pressing tasks like procuring the perishable side items and brining your bird.]]> I just found a PC/MAC game — Winemaker Extraordinaire (Masque, $20) — that challenges players to build “a winemaking empire!” Now, it’s been frequently said that “the surest way to make a small fortune in the wine business is to start with a large fortune.” So, on its face, I didn’t figure this game would be too realistic.]]> If you work downtown and you want to get away from the office and feel like you’re on a mini vacation, grab lunch at the Taft Museum of Art’s Linder Family Café. The Federal-style estate, featuring exhibits such as Drawn by New York, a collection from the New York Historical Society, is the perfect cultural break from the daily grind.]]> Tips for surviving high-calorie celebrations Feasting with family and friends doesn't have to mean facing holiday weight gain this year. Planning ahead and including few simple substitutions will make your upcoming celebrations both happy and healthy (without sacrificing flavor) for everyone sharing your season.]]> If you work downtown and you want to get away from the office and feel like you’re on a mini vacation, grab lunch at the Taft Museum of Art’s Linder Family Café. The Federal-style estate, featuring exhibits such as Drawn by New York, a collection from the New York Historical Society, is the perfect cultural break from the daily grind.]]> Saturday lunch is one of the best meals of the week. Totally low key and relaxed, it's a break from running errands — or a chance to plan the rest of the day. For me, it's taqueria time. And luckily I've found two new spots that, while off the beaten path, make authentic, truly delicious, simple lunches.]]> Carry-out lunch means fast food for many of my fellow downtown cubicle dwellers, but I stick to the indies. I have a few tried and trues nearby that I rely on, coincidentally all on Vine Street): Total Juice Plus, Mythos on the Square, Sunny Deli and Fred and Gari's.]]> Saturday lunch is one of the best meals of the week. Totally low key and relaxed, it's a break from running errands — or a chance to plan the rest of the day. For me, it's taqueria time. And luckily I've found two new spots that, while off the beaten path, make authentic, truly delicious, simple lunches.]]> Eastgate spot offers righteous Carolina-style barbeque and Southern sides In desperate need of a sit-down meal at your Southern Grandma's house? Comfort food to soothe your soul? A pit stop at Woe Is Me/Three Boys & Stella Barbeque might be just what the doctor ordered. Armed with a smoker and her 97-year-old grandmother's recipes, Rhonda Royster and her family have a simple mission: Bring Carolina-style barbeque to Greater Cincinnati. The results? In a word: righteous!]]> Chef Romuald Jung succeeds again Somehow food has become an endurance contest — restaurants and diners in hot pursuit of the latest fad. Fortunately, Aroma Restaurant and Sushi bucks this trend. While exceedingly contemporary in design, the unspoken philosophy behind much of Chef Romuald Jung's menu makes us slow down long enough to appreciate the importance of smell, texture and memory in our dining experiences.]]> Eastgate spot offers righteous Carolina-style barbeque and Southern sides In desperate need of a sit-down meal at your Southern Grandma's house? Comfort food to soothe your soul? A pit stop at Woe Is Me/Three Boys & Stella Barbeque might be just what the doctor ordered. Armed with a smoker and her 97-year-old grandmother's recipes, Rhonda Royster and her family have a simple mission: Bring Carolina-style barbeque to Greater Cincinnati. The results? In a word: righteous!]]> Offering "authentic" dishes alongside more Americanized favorites Jan's Chinese isn't exactly new. It used to be called Casual Wok and Grille and it's still tucked into the same unassuming, half-empty strip mall off Montgomery Road. The name change honors new head chef HJ Jan, a picture of whom dominates the entry vestibule like a broadly grinning Iron Chef.]]> Move to Northside solves 'awareness problem' for great Japanese spot Ko-Sho's previous downtown location was cryptic and easily passable, but it has remedied that awareness problem by relocating to the lively and highly visible business district of Northside. It's new look has had locals eagerly awaiting the restaurant's opening for months. ]]> Though still a work in progress, Pera offers a diverse, mostly delicious menu I must have flunked my geography lessons. When I made plans to dine at Pera Mediterranean restaurant in Mount Lookout Square, I was thinking of the eastern Mediterranean — Greece and Turkey. I did not think I would pass through Italy.]]> I know I risk returning to work late if I eat at a sit-down restaurant on my lunch break, but sometimes I can't help it. I've had really good luck at one locally owned breakfast and lunch spot: Half Day Café in Wyoming. Their always-friendly servers seat you immediately, and the food comes out fast. ]]> Despite a few lapses, Loveland spot a wonderful addition to suburban dining scene Ghostly snow devils swirl around the darkness of Loveland Avenue West, but a steamy window with "Tano" scrawled across it glows with a homey, diffuse light, beckoning us out of the cold. Inside, we find a warm space filled with convivial guests for whom the holiday season is still in full swing. It will be fun to see how Tano Bistro evolves as the seasons change, but for now it's a great place to shelter from the cold.]]> Offering menu diversity but little real country cuisine The barn that houses Campbell's restaurant has been a long-time fixture on State Route 125 for Eastsiders. Built nearly 20 years ago, it was originally launched as a reception hall and later used as a dance studio. As a previous patron of both of these former establishments, I was more than a little curious.]]> Far Eastern cuisine is reinvented on busy Walnut Hills corner Many of the buildings in historic DeSales Corner in East Walnut Hills were built specifically to cater to the German immigrants and parishioners of St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church. Owner Alex Chin seems to embrace this same philosophy of serving the community by opening for lunch and dinner seven days a week and offering delivery service to nearby neighborhoods. By the looks of the crowd on a snowy Tuesday night, I'd say the neighborhood is returning that fond embrace.]]> The Hitching Post and Ron's Roost face off in a fried chicken battle royale Welcome to the East Side/West Side Crosstown Chicken Challenge, pitting two long-time legends against each other in a crispy smackdown! We're gathering buckets of golden brown deliciousness for a discerning crew of tasters to eat and rate. Napkin under your chin? Let's begin!]]> Making 'dinner and a movie' night almost perfect Now that the holidays are over and out-of-town friends and family are sleeping in their own beds, a relaxing dinner out is called for. The Quarter Bistro in Mariemont, with its warm and intimate red decor, answered the call for a friend and me on recent chilly evening.]]> White Oak eatery offers good service, a casual atmosphere and Italian food done American-style Among the sea of strip malls we know as the West Side, Roma Italian restaurant stands out visually because of its three-story-tall illuminated signage and its inherited West Side landmark status. The familiar site might be part of the reason for the crowd that fills this home-style Italian joint right around dinnertime, but it's the extensive menu of good hearty food that will keep them coming back.]]> Wrapping up the decade in dining and looking at what lies ahead “The Aughts” never really caught on, and why would they? When we were freaking out in anticipation of Y2K, we thought our biggest problem might be a computer glitch. Now the TSA scans you down to your toe jams and the Arctic ice retreats faster than the value of your over-mortgaged starter home. But how about on the food front?]]> West Chester’s Wise Owl offers tapas and wise wine-selecting assistance Billed by a friend as a tapas restaurant and wine bar, the hubs and I arrived at The Wise Owl around 8 p.m. on a Saturday night prepared to fill our tummies with delectable morsels and some quality vino. While we were more than impressed with the expanse of the wine menu, we were somewhat let down by the limited selection of only half a dozen small plates.]]> Cozy new downtown eatery has some drool-worthy offerings Mayberry, which calls its niche "grassroots American food," has been open for just over a month for breakfast and lunch. It's in a great location, right between Hamburger Mary's and Scotti's on Vine Street, but is so small that it's easy to overlook. Now open for dinner as well, the tiny diner is quite welcoming, complete with candlelight.]]> The return of a neighborhood favorite I didn’t know what to expect from the newly re-opened ZZ’s Pizza, as I had never been to the original incarnation of the Walnut Hills eatery, which closed in 2005. On a recent rainy evening, I settled for a parking meter a little farther away than I would have liked and hoped our experience at ZZ’s would be a redeeming one.]]> Newport classic makes up for nondescript decor with delicious authenticity I generally judge the authenticity of a Mexican restaurant not by decor or signage but by salsa and mole sauce. So when we got the salsa — a nice mix of tomatillos and jalapenos with a lovely cilantro aftertaste — I was pretty happy. La Mexicana indeed is one of the most authentic Mexican restaurants in the area.]]> Bellevue eatery needs a tune-up Siam Orchid is tiny but inviting and in a great location. Neighbors in Bellevue like to get out and support their local eateries, so I hope this restaurant polishes its rough edges and earns their patronage.]]> Chef Romuald Jung succeeds again Somehow food has become an endurance contest — restaurants and diners in hot pursuit of the latest fad. Fortunately, Aroma Restaurant and Sushi bucks this trend. While exceedingly contemporary in design, the unspoken philosophy behind much of Chef Romuald Jung's menu makes us slow down long enough to appreciate the importance of smell, texture and memory in our dining experiences.]]> News Flash! I have an affinity for esoteric wines from little-known regions. As a result, I tend to assume a lot of wines aren’t sufficiently “interesting” to sample. So when an opportunity recently arose to attend a dinner featuring the wines of well-known California producer Rodney Strong, I was dismissive.]]> If you work from home, you've probably done the coffeehouse circuit. It's a reason to put on civilian clothes and cast off the tired sweats that self-employed people sometimes come to resent. So when you make the trek in your best pair of jeans, where are the best places to find peace, quiet and instant Wi-Fi? Here are some suggestions.]]>