Category: WCPO

The mid-autumn festival, the second biggest celebration in the Chinese culture, will soon descend upon Fountain Square. Also called the moon festival, the celebration is traditionally a time for family and friends, against the backdrop of the full moon, beautiful lanterns and tasty mooncakes. The Cincinnati Moon Festival — a first for the city — will provide an immersive experience of this beloved celebration.

Photo provided by Vibe Cincinnati: Cincinnati Moon Festival Flyer

Click here for more: First Cincinnati Moon Festival

Photo: Jared Whalen at Pigalls circa 2004 (provided by Scott McDonald)

This is not the kind of story I want to write. The unexpected loss of one of Cincinnati’s top talents struck at the heart of our chef community. Chef Whalen leaves a void that will be felt for a long time to come.

Click here for more: Chefs remember Jared Whalen

Photo: Steamed Barbecue Pork Buns at Grand Oriental (photo by G Yek)

Bao is simply the perfect comfort food. These round beauties are not only tasty, they are a meal-in-one you can literally grab with one hand.

Click here for more: National Bao Day

Photo: Bridget Lieb in the Kitchen at Sacred Beast

Bridget Lieb is at the top of her game. She’s playfully referred to as the “beast” behind Sacred Beast and if you ever watch her work or hear her story, you’ll understand why. She’s a mom, trained (hard core) chef, business owner and handywoman, if necessary.

Click here for more: How Bridget Lieb Rolls

Photo by G. Yek: Chef Suzanne DeYoung founded La Soupe four years ago after more than 30 years in the restaurant industry

With more than 20 restaurants lined up, getting “WASTEd” in the city is going to be quite an experience. See what Cincinnati’s leading chefs can do with less-than-perfect food and you’ll be helping La Soupe to feed the food-insecure too.

Click here for more: WASTEd and the City

Photo by G. Yek: Anthony Lange, founder and president of Queen City Mobile Food Truck Association

The first food truck court is about to drop in West Chester–a game-changer for Greater Cincinnati. Outside of food truck rallies and special events, this will be the first place diners can regularly go to for food truck eats. This will likely accelerate the development and vibrancy of the food truck scene.

Click here for more: Greater Cincinnati’s first food truck court

Photo provided: Louisville-based restaurant LouVino is opening in Over-the-Rhine with chef Tavis Rockwell shaping the menu.

Come August, LouVino: Cincinnati OTR will dish up small plates with a southern twist, a wine list of more than 60 wines along with a complement of witty wine flights. Oh by the way, when they roll out their “boozy brunch,” mimosas can be had for $2. Congratulations to husband-and-wife team, Chad and Lauren Coulter on their expansion to Cincinnati! (Fun fact: Chad is a pharmacist-turned-restaurateur. He has a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from his first career.)

Click here for more: LouVino in OTR

Picture by Phil Didion for WCPO: Coppin’s, a restaurant inside Hotel Covington, features a menu inspired by classic gastropub fare with a nod to both the North and the South.

It’s that time of the year again – time to pamper and spoil your sweet mom. Win her over with a tasty brunch. The best part? Let someone else clean up. Yes, she deserves a break. But make your reservations soon – it’s an incredibly busy time for restaurants. Here are 9 places in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky to get you started.

Click here for more: Mother’s Day Brunch 2018

 

Photo: Iced mint latte at Adesso (provided – photo credit ©GinaWeathersby)

Mason High School alumnus, Chuck Pfahler, is known around Cincinnati as an entrepreneur and coffee artisan. He started La Terza Coffee which he has since sold, and went on to start Adesso Coffee, a mobile espresso cart at The Mercantile Library. This summer, this 1994 graduate will return to Mason to expand Adesso Coffee to a permanent home on Main Street. Along with artisan-minded establishments like Wildflower Cafe, this could signal a new chapter for old Mason in food and drink.

Click here for more: Adesso Coffee to open brick-and-mortar in Mason

It takes someone with a special set of skills to make great cheese. With patience, creativity and a scientific mind, Eduardo Rodriguez of My Artisano Cheeses & Yogurts has unlocked the art and science of this very organic craft. At the same time, he’s woven his Venezuelan heritage into his tasty creations. Now in Lockland, this artisan cheesemaker is poised to take his craft to the next level. Happily, other artisan-minded food makers – La Terza Artisan Coffee Roasterie and FAB FERMENTS – are in the same neighborhood. Yes, tasty collaborations are under way. Local chefs and other marketplace players like Nathan Mantia of Tēla Bar + Kitchen and Alice Bruns Chalmers of Ohio Valley Food Connection are devoted fans of Rodriguez’s cheeses.

Click here for more: Artisan cheesemaker relocates to Lockland