The "Best of Taste" awards — a precursor to the Taste of Cincinnati food fest later this month — were doled out today. Eighty dishes from 30 restaurants were served to judges — "celebrities, foodies and the epicurious" — and they awarded the Crab and Shrimp Dumpling with Noodle from Arloi Dee Thai Bistro the coveted "Best Damn Dish" prize.
Here's the full list of winners:
Appetizers
Best of Taste: Strasse Haus, Fried Peanut Butter & Jelly
Award of Excellence: LaRosa’s, Spinach Rondo
Award of Merit: Market Street Grille, Stuffed Chicken Amore
Soups/Salads
Best of Taste: du jours/Courtyard Café, Hunter’s Home Turkey Chili
Award of Excellence: ZZ’s Pizza Company, Caprese Salad
Award of Merit: City Barbeque, Gumbo
Seafood
Best of Taste: Arloi Dee Thai Bistro, Crab & Shrimp Dumpling with Noodle
Award of Excellence: ZZ’s Pizza Company, Seafood Pizza
Award of Merit: Mahagony’s, Shrimp and Grits
Entrees
Best of Taste: Andy’s Mediterranean Grille, Gyro Wrap
Award of Excellence: Claddagh Irish Pub, Jameson Burger
Award of Merit: Lazlo’s Iron Skillet, Walking Chicken Saltimbocca
Vegetarian Entree
Best of Taste: du jours/Courtyard Café, Black Bean Burrito
Award of Excellence: J. Gumbo’s, Bumblebee Stew
Award of Merit: LaRosa’s, Skinny Wheat Pizza
Desserts
Best of Taste: ZZ’s Pizza Company, Banana Cream Pie
Award of Excellence: du jour’s/Courtyard Café, Raspberry Cloud Pie
Award of Merit: Claddagh Irish Pub, Bread Pudding
Best Damn Dish
Arloi Dee Thai Bistro, Crab & Shrimp Dumpling with Noodle
Taste of Cincinnati is coming up Memorial Day weekend, May 26-28. Visit TasteofCincinnati.com for more details.
