From the monthly archives:

February 2011

Friday Five: Fries

February 25, 2011

There is nothing, to me, more perfect than a potato, deep-fried and seasoned to crispy perfection. There’s also nothing more disappointing than a fry that lands flat. I’ve had so many bad fries– so frozen I could taste the freezer burn, limp, undercooked, overcooked– that when I find a good one, I tend to become [...]

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Cincinnati Magazine’s Top Ten Restaurants 2011

February 25, 2011

This year’s got a few interesting ones… (See the lists from the past few years for reference) 1. Orchids at the Palm Court (Downtown) 2. Boca (Oakley) 3. Nicola’s (Over-the-Rhine) 4. The Palace (Downtown) 5. Bouquet (Covington) 6. Cumin (East Hyde Park) 7. Via Vite (Downtown) 8. Nectar (Mt. Lookout) 9. Daveed’s (Mt. Adams) 10. [...]

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Review: The Rookwood

February 23, 2011

I am always open to second chances. I’m sure that’s why I’m considered by people who know me in person to be so “nice”– I’m willing to give the benefit of the doubt and provide plenty of second chances. Now, once you’ve really ticked me off, you’ve lost that chance, but it takes a lot [...]

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National Margarita Day

February 22, 2011

There’s a day for everything, and today is National Margarita Day. I fully support this day. Want to support it? Make a margarita. I wrote about them last year during my soon-to-return Cocktail Hour series, and here’s the recipe. If you want more background on the ‘rita, check out my post. A Real Margarita First, [...]

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Sausage Queen Competition Heats Up

February 22, 2011

Bockfest is just an all-around fun time here in Cincinnati. First, you have great Bock beer. Second, we bless said beer (if you feel like you need approval from a higher power to drink, this is the place to get it). And, last but not least, you have all kinds of wacky tomfoolery, like the [...]

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One more event: Oscar Night with People Working Cooperatively

February 21, 2011

People Working Cooperatively (a great organization that helps low-income elderly and disabled Cincinnatians repair their homes) is holding its annual Oscar Night event next Sunday, February 27, at the Hilton Netherland Plaza. The menu, created by Chef Todd Kelly, sounds great, and is included with your $150 ticket. SALAD Water Cress Salad with Fig and [...]

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Upcoming events: Rookwood, CinSation

February 21, 2011

Lots of press releases in my inbox this week. Here are a few that piqued my interest: The Rookwood is doing a Bulleit Bourbon dinner on Thursday, February 24. $45 for four courses and reservations are required. All of the courses involve Bulleit, both in cocktail form and in the food itself. The menu looks [...]

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Friday Five: Favorite Places to Get a Beer

February 18, 2011

Beerfest was last weekend, and Bockfest is in two weeks, so I’ve been thinking: where are my favorite places in town to get a good, craft beer on draft? These are in no particular order. 1. Dilly Cafe, Mariemont. So many good things here– you can get great food, which is always a plus when [...]

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Senate to open New Restaurant Next to Current Location

February 17, 2011

Daniel Wright and the folks at Senate will be opening a new restaurant next door to their current location. It will be a Mediterranean wine bar with one of the first spaces in town that features wine on tap in a barrel system, which is just entering Ohio. It’s currently available in San Francisco, Oregon and [...]

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Review: The Bistro

February 16, 2011

I’ve kind of been avoiding the Bistro for a while. Maybe it’s because the last time I ate there, it was disappointing– this was January of last year, right before the big Jean-Robert de Cavel and Martin Wade throwdown. I’d heard rumors of quality degrading since then, but then post-remodel, I’d heard really great things. [...]

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