http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/ As the weather warms and sun starts to show itself a little more frequently, we tend to cook on the grill a lot: from burgers and shrimp kabobs to pork loin and rib eyes. And while we certainly continue to drink wine through the summer, we find many more whites and rosés on the table. And a lot more beer, too. ]]> We recently ate at San Marco, a Mario Batali restaurant at the Venetian Las Vegas. The food was good and the service wonderful but the real star was the encyclopedic wine list assembled under the direction of Joe Bastianich, Mario’s business partner and wine director of their dining empire.]]> Angelo Mariani was a Corsican chemist who, like many Victorian-era entrepreneurs, was fascinated by the potential physical (and economic!) effects of a peculiar New World plant called Coca. In the 1860s, he blended red Bordeaux wine with coca leaves — and a legend was born. Now, as I understand it, ingesting cocaine produces two main metabolizing compounds, neither of which has any extreme physical or psychological effect. ]]> Jeff Ruby's newest production, Bootsy's, recently began serving lunch Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. While Bootsy's typically has more of an after-work party vibe, a midday meal there could be just the mini vacation that keeps you from going batty during a long day at the office. Lunch here is a bit of a production. We were brought to the dining room for the main attraction. It was gleaming with psychedelic lighting, and the staff, like ushers, scurried about, taking care of business. ]]> If you're in the mood to schmooze with strangers this month, there are quite a few communal drinking/dining experiences to get you out of your comfort zone and meeting new people — from "Euro-Chic" young professionals to not-as-chic UC professors. For instance, on July 9 the European-American Chamber of Commerce hosts "Euro-Chic" Happy Hour at Cumin. For $7, you can mingle with international and "internationally minded" young professionals.]]> Jeff Ruby's newest production, Bootsy's, recently began serving lunch Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. While Bootsy's typically has more of an after-work party vibe, a midday meal there could be just the mini vacation that keeps you from going batty during a long day at the office. Lunch here is a bit of a production. We were brought to the dining room for the main attraction. It was gleaming with psychedelic lighting, and the staff, like ushers, scurried about, taking care of business. ]]> I recently read an article about making biodiesel fuel out of spent coffee grounds. The grounds yield stable oil that can be extracted and converted into a roasted-smelling fuel. Well, cars don’t run on coffee yet, but there is a place in Greater Cincinnati that exemplifies a kinship between cars and coffee.]]> Meatloaf Heaven He looked like a Tony, but when a regular came in and addressed our host as Bill, I realized my mistake. I asked the woman at the cash register and she informed us that Bill Fuerst bought Tony’s 8th Street Deli (326 E. Eighth St., Downtown, 513-564-9866) about three years ago and decided to keep the name.]]> Though I’ve been happy to see a few small ethnic restaurants pop up along McMillan Avenue in Clifton Heights during the past few years, I’ve found it hard to stray from my old favorites like Thai Express and Red Pepper. So I was happy to be assigned to review the quaint and colorful Tea N’ Bowl (211 W. McMillan, 513-421-9111).]]> In tough economic times, eating out doesn't have to be out of the question Sure, there's a global recession imposing on many aspects of our lives, but the savvy diner can still get good eats on a budget. A number of local restaurants have responded to the recession with great deals for you. Now it's your turn to respond to those deals. Go out to eat — it's fun!]]> New Indian spot from Ambar group proves that Montgomery's in! When Kanak India opened in Montgomery six months ago, I was excited. Owned by the same family that owns Ambar on Ludlow Avenue in Clifton, I knew it would be good. Not surprisingly, it's a lot like Ambar. Which is fine, because we all love Ambar.]]> In tough economic times, eating out doesn't have to be out of the question Sure, there's a global recession imposing on many aspects of our lives, but the savvy diner can still get good eats on a budget. A number of local restaurants have responded to the recession with great deals for you. Now it's your turn to respond to those deals. Go out to eat — it's fun!]]> Italian options make it worth the daytrip for city dwellers Hunter, Richard and Court Thomas, owners of 20 Brix in Milford, have done what any good financial manager advises: diversify. Last March they opened Padrino a few doors down from 20 Brix, extending Milford’s available restaurant options to a include a family-style, inexpensive Italian option. ]]> Offering a pleasant ambiance and organic, locavore options Halfway through the storm, it occurred to us that there was nowhere we’d rather wait it out than Wildflower Café. Maybe it was the warm yellow light, the wind blowing through windows no one had bothered to shut or the clanging and clinking of glasses and silverware from the 20-some diners next to us, all nestled together in one room.]]> Local mead hall offers a glorious taste of Vikingdom Cincinnatians would have to cross an ocean and endure multiple layovers to behold the crippled remains of an authentic Viking mead hall, where epic heroes like Beowulf spent their Friday nights getting hammered and exchanging tales from the Warfield. Or you take in the mead hall experience at Woodstone Creek, Cincinnati's own neighborhood-friendly meadery.]]> Aunt Flora puts heart and soul into her food “Soul food blesses your whole body,” says Katrina “Aunt Flora” Mincy. “It uplifts your spirit. Whoever prepares it puts everything in their heart and soul into it.” Aunt Flora, as Katrina prefers to be called, has put her soul into soul food, and after a visit to her daughter’s Court Street restaurant, Flo’s Plate Full of Soul, I’m grateful for Flora’s philosophy.]]> Advice for enjoying the best iced coffee this summer With summer coming we’ll all be spending time at more third places — places where we hang out and socialize other than home or work. But between our trips to the ice cream parlor, the neighborhood pool and the park, the classic third place — the neighborhood coffee shop — won’t be forgotten. ]]> Lodge-like ambiance inspires Northern Exposure flashbacks Over the course of about eight months I watched almost every episode of the ’90s television series Northern Exposure. I was obsessed. That might explain why I recently felt so at home in a booth at The Blind Moose. ]]> Doing 'simple food' well I think a foodie friend recently said it best: "I'm no longer interested in the 'complicated' food. What I like best are restaurants with simple menus where they do simple food well." I don't know if she was channeling me or we’re channeling a general food trend that's building, but I wholeheartedly agree. And, as if on cue, Troy's Cafe walked into my life.]]> Deer Park spot is full of Old World surprises Years ago on a visit to Israel I realized the complexity of their cuisine, a Zionist melting pot of Old World European Jewish cooking living in harmony with Arabic inspirations, like falafel, Israeli salad and hummus. I never thought I would eat like that again and, truth be told, I probably never will. But I had a taste of it the other night at Kinneret Cafe.]]> New Indian spot from Ambar group proves that Montgomery's in! When Kanak India opened in Montgomery six months ago, I was excited. Owned by the same family that owns Ambar on Ludlow Avenue in Clifton, I knew it would be good. Not surprisingly, it's a lot like Ambar. Which is fine, because we all love Ambar.]]> If you're in the mood to schmooze with strangers this month, there are quite a few communal drinking/dining experiences to get you out of your comfort zone and meeting new people — from "Euro-Chic" young professionals to not-as-chic UC professors. For instance, on July 9 the European-American Chamber of Commerce hosts "Euro-Chic" Happy Hour at Cumin. For $7, you can mingle with international and "internationally minded" young professionals.]]>