As both a food writer and a lifelong Cincinnatian, my heart skipped a beat this year when I got an email to judge Taste of Cincinnati. I remember my immediate thought: “The longest-running culinary festival in the U.S. wants ME to be a judge?”
The popular festival began in 1979 and has been chugging along every Memorial Day weekend since. Like every other Queen City resident, Taste of Cincinnati is closely associated with holiday memories for me, so I took the invitation very seriously and signed up to judge every single category on both days.
One problem: I’m not a very big man, and I don’t eat a lot. My ex often told me that my “eyes were bigger than my stomach.” I’ve been described as “rail-thin” by some and was once told that if I turned sideways I’d be imperceptible. Needless to say, panic set in last night as I realized I’d have to eat 48 different dishes in a single morning and afternoon today. But somehow, someway, I made it through without skipping any dishes.
A majority of my picks to win did go on to claim a gold or silver medal. However, a few of my favorites failed to even place at all. (I need justice for the Massaman curry at Sawasdee Thai Cuisine, which was a giant drumstick in curry rice and vegetables for under $10!) If I had any major takeaway from today, it was that chefs in Cincinnati know how to make a lot of really good food.
Read on for my personal favorites in each category, followed by pictures of each. Every dish you see below will be available at Taste of Cincinnati when it runs from May 22-25.
Snacks & Bites Category (appetizers)
#3 – Grippos-inspired Hummus and Pita Chips from Kaboske Mediterranean
#2 – Korean BBQ Empanada from Alfio’s Buon Cibo
#1 – Andouille Red Beans & Rice from Pierre Entities
Craveable Mains (entrées)
#3 – Smoked Jerk Chicken & Oxtail from Gee’s Caribbean Kitchen
#2 – Chicken Massaman Curry from Sawasdee Thai Cuisine & Sushi
#1 – Short Rib Penne from Alfio’s Buon Cibo
Sweets & Treats (desserts)
#3 – Biscoff-flavored Cheesecake Cupcake from The Cheesecakery
#2 – Bourbon bread pudding from Hankering Southern Kitchen
#1 – Mango sticky rice from Sawasdee Thai Cuisine & Sushi
Findlay Kitchen category
In this category, small businesses that use the commissary kitchen inside Findlay Kitchen were all pitted against each other. The majority of the dishes I had today came from this category—18, to be exact—and were all sorted into different subcategories.
However, this was also easily the strongest category by far, so it feels wrong to pick just three or even to rank them. Just about every dish I tried from these small business owners completely blew away plenty of items from the earlier categories, and it proves that Findlay Kitchen must be doing something right. Here are six favorites, unranked.
- Syrian chicken from Olive Tree
- ‘Wobble-wobble’ cold noodles from Yee Mama
- Picarones (peruvian donuts) from Tilita
- Puff-puff from Rocky’s Home Flavor
- Jerk chicken taco with honey jerk sauce from Jay’s Nyam and Jam
- ‘Aley Monster’ quadruple cookie ice cream from Walkerbar Bakery
Stay tuned for my picks from day 2, which is all about food trucks. Thanks for reading!
