Taste of Belgium | More Than Waffles (So Much More)

Monday, January 25th, 2010 | Posted in Cincinnati | 1 Comment »

First, you must know about their waffles. To begin with, if you have never tried one of their waffles and haven’t traveled in the city of Liège in Belgium, you have no idea what I mean when I use the word ‘waffle.’ Nearly the only thing their waffles have in common with any waffle you’ve ever had before is the shape. Otherwise they are something else completely. They are not light and fluffy; they don’t need butter or syrup or whipped cream; they are not just for breakfast. The ones made at Taste of Belgium are authentic Liège-style waffles. They are prepared on custom-made cast-iron waffles irons, and come out thick and dense, with small bits of caramelized sugar throughout. More than you ever thought a waffle could be.

WaffleMountain

If for some reason, though, you have totally lost your mind and are not in the mood for one of these delicious waffles, do not fret. Perhaps you would be in the mood for one of their sweet or savory crèpes.

My favorites are the Lavender, Sugar + Lemon Crèpe and the new Reuben Crèpe.

Here's the reuben crepe

Here's how the crepes are packaged for those of you who'd like to take one 'to-go'

Or you could try some of their stromboli, calzones and pizza; all made with Belgian-style pizza dough (the ’secret’ is, the dough has beer in it).

Stromboli

If none of these things interest you, then you are completely insane. But you do still have some options. They have an entire case filled with danishes and pastries, quiche, cookies, cheesecake, Belgian-chocolate brownies – what more could you want!

Nutella and Banana crepe

So now I know what you are asking. “Where is this wonderful place located? Heaven? Do I have to die to get there?!” No, no. It is much easier than that. If you are near downtown Cincinnati, you can find them at Findlay Market six days a week. That’s right! Findlay Market is open six days a week – all year long! Or if you are near Columbus, check out their new spot at the North Market. And you can find their waffles at stores, farmers’ markets, coffee shops and restaurants all throughout Cincinnati and its many neighborhoods. They even do catering for all of those times when you and thirty of your friends don’t want to leave your house.

Don't pass them by!

website: authenticwaffle.com

facebook: Taste of Belgium

twitter: TasteofBelgium

Findlay Market on twitter: findlaymkt (check this out on twitter, too – #findlaymythbuster)

Taste of Belgium/Findlay Market Hours: Tue-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm

The Echo | A Classic Neighborhood Diner

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 | Posted in Cincinnati | No Comments »

Having grown up within walking distance to Hyde Park Square, I have many memories of dining at this bustling restaurant (including an incident when a waitress called me “sir” following an unfortunate haircut in middle school). But no hard feelings.

Prior to a recent trip where I had the opportunity to rediscover this local gem, it had been at least 10 years since I had dined there. And a lot can change in 10 years. I briefly worried about where I would park to ensure I wouldn’t be forced to hoof it several blocks in my four-inch wedges, but it ended up not being an issue for the Wednesday evening. Parking was aplenty in the lot behind the restaurant off Edwards, as well as the bank lot across the street.

As I entered through the two sets of glass doors, the interior was just as I had remembered, a familiar comfort that likely keeps folks coming back, as evidenced by the diners who ranged from 8 to 80.

My dinner mates and I were treated to bite-sized crab cakes and mini Caesar salads in parmesan cups, appetizers from The Echo’s catering menu. (Wait … The Echo caters? Apparently they have been catering, quietly, for several years now. Details and a menu are posted in their website at http://www.echo-hydepark.com. Both were quite good; nibblers I would be proud to serve to party or event guests.

Our meal continued with a round of homemade soups, with both the gazpacho and chicken gumbo receiving positive reviews. As we scanned the menu, the group decided to order a variety of dishes to taste and share amongst the group. Being a vegetarian, I was pleased to find several options. Some of the standouts included a light and fluffy Belgian waffle, a Greek omelet stuffed with spinach, feta, tomatoes and black olives, and the onion rings. Oh, the onion rings. The perfect balance of sweet and salty, crunchy and soft, I would hold these onion rings up as some of the best in the city. The meat-eaters in my group also raved over the Flying Pig Sandwich, which had a distinct Monte Christo-like appearance, and the turkey with mashed potatoes.

I enjoyed tasting my way through the entrees, but was especially looking forward to the dessert round, particularly after learning the pies are made using the original owner’s recipes. Yowzers. They did not disappoint. We tasted the cherry pie, a chocolate cream pie and pumpkin pie, all topped with homemade whipped cream. I would say I would swim in those fillings and eat my way out, but then I’d miss out on the delicious and delicate crust. I’m not even usually a crust person, but the crusts on these pies are well worth the extra calories. Maybe it was me romanticizing the onset of fall, but I couldn’t get enough of the pumpkin pie, which was light, smooth and fluffy, not thick and dense as it so often can be. And apparently I was not the only one, as a member of our group purchased an entire pumpkin pie to take home. (Note to self for Thanksgiving dinner and holiday parties …)

While so often thought of as a Sunday brunch destination, The Echo proved to have many fantastic options for dinner, which is served on Thursday, Friday and Saturdays. (They close at 3:30 p.m. every other day of the week.) Just do yourself a favor and end your meal with a slice of heaven … I mean, pie.

Sugar Cupcakery | Go in, Sit down, Eat Cupcakes.

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 | Posted in Cincinnati | No Comments »

My name is Victor; I am a grown man; and I love cupcakes. I will not be ashamed, and neither should you. There is a place where our kind are accepted. Where we can express our feelings toward small, pretty cakes; or reveal our secret animosity for red velvet. It is bright; it is warm; it is Sugar Cupcakery in Milford.

Ok. Now that I have indulged my insanity, let’s talk cupcakes.

The cupcakes at Sugar Cupcakery are beautiful, unique and beyond delicious. Everything a cupcake should be. They only use organic ingredients, make everything fresh, in-house each morning and even offer vegan and gluten-free cupcakes.

Eggnog Cupcakes

Special Holiday Cupcakes

Chocolate Cupcake with Homemade Pistachio Bark

Chocolate Pancetta with Caramel

Chocolate Mint with Homemade Peppermint Bark

Their menu is always changing, so check their facebook page or twitter account for the daily offerings and other specials. Or, for the vegan and gluten-free crowd, be sure to sign up for their email list, so you can be one of the first to know when these tasty specialties are coming out of the oven.

Selection of Tea Forte teas

Table-side Tea Forte Service

And, if you like coffee or tea, they offer a great selection of tea from Tea Forte and brew a special dark roast coffee, roasted just a block away at The Main Cup.

The Nick Lachey Table - made famous in the recent Cincinnati Bell commercials with the weird, fuzzy thing.

What: Sugar Cupcakery

Where: Main Street in Downtown Milford

When: Tuesday-Thursday 11am-7pm; Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm

Vito’s Cafe | Dinner and a Song

Monday, October 5th, 2009 | Posted in Cincinnati, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Less than a ten minute drive from downtown Cincinnati, Vito’s Cafe in Fort Thomas, KY has been singing and serving up classic Italian fare for the last eight years, but Vito Ciepiel’s history of song and food go back much further than that. Since Vito is so much better at telling his story, though, and because his charm and enthusiasm for what he does is reason enough to stop in, I’ll leave the storytelling to him; just be sure to ask him about his early days as a singing bartender in New York.

Now, if you are anything like me, when you hear that a restaurant has singing waiters, you might not immediately pick up the phone to make reservations. But, I have to say, not only does the staff put on a good show, the food we had was so delicious, they could have played “Who Let the Dogs Out” all night, and I wouldn’t have noticed.

A great way to start the night at Vito’s is at the bar with a glass of their in-house microbrew Red Ear Beer. The brew a new one every couple of months. On tap right now is Cattail Ale, a bright hoppy, golden ale. If you are a fan of beers like Dogfish Head’s 60 or 90 minute IPA, you’ll be awfully happy with a glass full of Cattail.

With our beers finished, it was time to sit down to our primo assaggio (first taste), Roasted Beet with Ricotta Salata. Even though I’m not the world’s biggest beet fan, the flavors here were balanced very nicely. The mellow roasted beet and creamy ricotta with a sip of crisp white wine created an excellent first taste.

SE_VC_Crustini

Next came Beef Tartar with Pickled Shallots, Fried Caper Berries and Sriracha Aioli on perfectly thin, crisp crostini. For those that don’t know, beef tartar is a dish whose main ingredients, beef and egg, are served completely raw. Yes, this comes with potential health risks, and it is not a dish I’d be comfortable ordering at Applebee’s (if I ever ate at Applebee’s, that is, and if they ever put some insane version of this on their menu – Slammin’ Southwest Beef Tartarino Kickers, perhaps). However, with disclaimers out of the way, I must say this was amazing! Tender beef, spicy sriracha and crisp crostini – perfection.

Shrimp Bisque

Unsure of how anything could follow the beef tartar, we were brought a delightful shrimp bisque that was just right. Exceptionally creamy and not overly salty as many seafood bisques often are.

Arugula Salad

After two such rich dishes, it was the perfect time for our next course, a Baby Arugula Salad. The greens were fresh and lightly dressed with a subtly citrusy vinaigrette. It was just as a salad should be; no more, no less.

Squid Ink Fettuccine

At last – the pasta course! Homemade Squid Ink Fettuccine with Shaved Parmesan in a Sage Brown Butter Sauce. I admit that I love pastas of every shape in every color sauce, but I cannot think of a simpler, more beautiful accompaniment that brings out the essence of pasta like a sage brown butter sauce. This fettuccine was everything it ought to be; fragrant and perfectly coated with just enough sauce. And, for those of you who might, don’t worry, the squid ink only serves to turn the fettuccine that beautiful color; it doesn’t really taste like anything.

Braised Beef with Porcini Mushrooms

Happy enough to leave already, there was still more to come. Last on the dinner menu for the evening was Braised Beef with Porcini Mushrooms on a Parsnip Puree. The beef was wonderfully tender and had the deep, earthy richness that only porcini mushrooms can give.

SE_VC_Whipped Cream

SE_VC_spoon dessert

And finally, after a wonderfully long Italian meal, it was time for the perfect ending – a creamy butterscotch dessert and hot cup of espresso.

In mid-October, Vito’s will be revealing the totally revamped menu featuring all fresh, homemade pastas and hopefully several of the items you’ve seen here. Visit there website, www.vitoscafe.com, to check out their current menu and prices and follow them on twitter to get updates on dinner specials and new menu items.

Donatos | Hand Tossed and Thin Crust Pizza

Friday, September 25th, 2009 | Posted in Cincinnati | 2 Comments »

Donatos. You probably know them for their thin crust pizza. But do you know them for their hand tossed pizza? Yep, they’ve got a hand tossed now and we were lucky enough to grab a taste!

You’re looking at their edge-to-edge™ pepperoni pizza. Did you know they don’t put a pepperoni in the middle because when you cut the pizza up the middle piece just gets mangled? And, word in the kitchen was that Donatos’ pizza makers have to be able to plop down 100 pepperoni slices in less than a minute.

Donatos has got food for the kids too; look at these chicken nuggets:

These were actually really good. They’re baked, not fried. (Donatos doesn’t have any fryers.) You know how sometimes chicken nuggets have breading that is all texture and no flavor? These guys had a nice blend of both. We were pleasantly surprised.

Now, if you’re like us, you might prefer a hand-tossed pizza crust from time-to-time. Donatos is now offering this. And, the crust is different than what they use for their thin crust pizzas.

The pizza below is called The Works.

We had several pieces. Ok, many pieces.

The guy on the right is The Margherita® and has fresh mozzarella cheese on it. Fresh. The vast majority of pizza restaurants don’t keep ingredients like this around because the shelf life is pretty short. Donatos is offering this pizza at all locations now. And that cheese pizza underneath? It was good.

Many of us had never had a dessert pie before, so this was a first experience for many of us. And it was good. Man, just plop a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on the Apple Timpano (on the right) or the Cinnamon Timpano (on the left) and life is complete. These were both excellent; great texture and flavor.

Things you may not know about Donatos:
+ Many of the locations have community rooms. There is no charge to reserve one of these and many locations have free wifi.
+ If you become a Facebook fan, you’ll have access to special offers and discounts.
+ There is no Mr. Donato. Donatos comes from Latin and is loosely translated as ‘to give a good thing.’
+ You can order online.
+ They cater.

Donatos Website:
http://www.donatos.com

Donatos Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/DonatosPizza

Menu:
Donatos has subs, salads and appetizers too. Here’s the full menu:
http://www.donatos.com/menus_features/index.asp

Want to learn more about Tastecasting?
The TasteCasting Team Members are not professional food critics. TasteCasting combines socially networked people and the social media platforms and applications they use to help establishments build awareness, announce grand openings, introduce new menu items, distribute special offers and encourage people to visit the establishment.

Cafe Bella Was A Beautiful Experience!

Thursday, September 17th, 2009 | Posted in Cincinnati | 3 Comments »

Last week the Cincinnati TasteCasting Team had the wonderful privaledge of tasting the food at Cafe Bella in Mason, OH. I had definitely heard of them, but hadn’t been out there yet, until now, and boy am I glad I made it to this tasting. It was FABULOUS! Truly, every team member loved the food and we are all excited to go back very soon!

Cafe Bella is a unique restaurant that has been open since February of 2008. They serve Mediterranean food and even serve lunch now! Chef Ben, previously Encore and Trio, joined her recently and are just now introducing their best menu yet!

Our team sat in the private room which would be perfect for parties or events. Lots of room to move around and enjoy the people you are with. The table was set beautifully and the smells coming from the kitchen were making my stomach growl with hunger!

Our first dish was Bella’s Hummus (a special recipe) that was served with warm pita. Also on the same plate was a single, pan seared scallop with Sweet Corn Bisque, Braised Leeks and Shitake Mushrooms. This was an amazing way to start out the evening. The hummus was the best I have ever had! Truly delicious. The Scallop was slightly undercooked (in a good way) and nearly melted in my mouth. The Sweet Corn Bisque was not what I would expect with a Scallop, but now I am not sure I want to eat a Scallop any other way!

Next, our wonderful server, delivered a Baby Fennel Salad with Mushrooms and Parmesan. It was topped with a Lemon Basil Vinaigrette dressing. This was a small salad, but perfect for the second course. I am not a huge Fennel fan because I don’t like the taste of licorice, but this was great with the light Lemon Basil dressing. The Parmesan was very light and just added a touch of flavor.

The next serving was one of everyone’s favorites – the Pistachio Salmon with Mediterranean Couscous and an Orange Cumin Vinaigrette. The salmon was cooked perfectly. I love fish and this was absolutely one of the best pieces that I have had in the Cincinnati area. To my surprise, the Couscous was spicy and had Pinenuts, Spinach and Olives in it – and I liked it! The Vinaigrette was sweet and that helped even the tastes out.

On the fourth delivery of food to the table, we received the Caribbean Spiced Beef with New Potatoes and Roasted Red Pepper Coulis (pronounced coo-lee). If I had to choose my least favorite thing we were served, this would be it, but please note that there was NOTHING bad about it at all! It really was great! The beef was seasoned beautifully and the Coulis was probably the best part of it – delicious!

For our final serving, we had a taste of the sweetness of Bella – House Made Tiramisu! WOW! This was served in a single serving clear dish and had ladyfingers in it that had been soaked in Rum. By the time I reached the bottom of this dish, I think I might have been a bit tipsy! Lovely! A perfect ending to a perfect meal from Cafe Bella!

You can check out their website at http://www.cafebellamason.com/home.html. They are located at 5948 Snider Road in Mason – at the corner of Snider and Tylersville. Call them for reservations at 513-770-4141. You won’t be disappointed!

Also, if you are on Twitter – follow them @cafebellamason or become a fan of theirs on Facebook.

*Note – The TasteCasting Team Members are not professional food critics. TasteCasting combines socially networked people and the social media platforms and applications they use to help establishments build awareness, announce grand openings, introduce new menu items, distribute special offers and encourage people to visit the establishment.

Whole Foods Rookwood | 365 Brand is Best

Sunday, August 9th, 2009 | Posted in Cincinnati | 3 Comments »

Our Second Time Round

With this being our second trip to Whole Foods for a tasting, our team wasn’t sure what to expect. Our first trip to the Whole Foods in Mason, Ohio was great and trust me, we weren’t disappointed in our second trip at the Rookwood location.

The set up and products of this tasting were completely different from the first tasting, but equally as impressive. We were greeted by the Marketing Director, Danielle Reynolds, who took on a tasting tour throughout the entire market of the Whole Foods 365 products. What an experience!

Rise and Shine

Our first stop was for some breakfast foods – cereal, milk and cereal bars – all from the Whole Foods 365 brand. The cereal was the High Fiber Cereal and we tried it with a little Organic Soymilk on it. Surprisingly, it was sweet and delicious. Not what I was expecting – better! I knew there was a lot of food to come, so I grabbed one of each of the cereal bars that were being offered, Strawberry and Mixed Berry, and took those home with me. (My daughter and I enjoyed both of them very much the next morning for breakfast). The one thing I was really surprised with on the cereal bars was the cost. Only $1.69 for the box! Great deal and great food!

Pop and Fizzle

Next we tasted one of my favorite afternoon snack foods – popcorn. Typically, I wouldn’t purchase popcorn already popped and in a bag, but now that I have tasted Whole Foods Organic 365 White Cheddar Cheese Popcorn, it is going to be tough to microwave a bag again. This was really amazing popcorn – light, airy, cheesy and delicious! Highly recommend this for only $1.99 per bag.

Along with the popcorn, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to taste Whole Foods’ Organic Italian Spritzer. There were two flavors – Apricot Mango and Pomegranate Blueberry. I tried the Apricot Mango and am hooked! Although a little pricey ($4.49 for 4), it is a great drink to have by your side. (Also available in Pear and Black Cherry flavors).

As we traveled around the store, we stopped and chatted about other products along the way. I am always so impressed by how much variety I find in Whole Foods. Really, anything I want, I can find there. Everything from your fruits and veggies, breakfast foods, soups, sushi, dairy products, beer and wine, chips and dips and everything inbetween. I love this place!

Grill It

The next product we tasted was the unbelievable Niman Ranch Bratwurst. Now, I know my Brats. My husband cooks them at least once per week on the grill during the summer – and truly – this was far better than any other Brat I have ever had. The flavors were perfect and they were incredibly juicy. On top of the flavor, you can eat them knowing there are no Antibiotics, no added Hormones and no Nitrates. You buy them as packs of 4 for $4.99 and there are other Sausages available. This is a must-have for your next grill-out.

Healthy and Delicious

Up next was the Organic Peach Mango juice ($3.99) and Nonfat Yogurt ($.59). The juice was great. Nice and sweet and not too overpowering of flavors. Definitely something I would like to drink in the morning with my breakfast. The yogurt was very nice too! I tasted the Peach and it reminded me of the Fruit on the Bottom brand that my mom fed me as a child. I picked up a few of these on my way out that evening and my daughter (4 years old) has thoroughly enjoyed them.

The Best For Last

As Danielle put it, they saved the best for last – Homemade Mozzarella, Olive Oil served on a baguette. It really doesn’t get much better than this for me. I love bread. I love cheese. Mix in some olive oil and it is like heaven! Not just for special occasions – I could eat this everyday, all day.

You Are What You Eat

Overall, I was very pleased and learned a lot about Whole Foods, their 365 brand and many of the other products that they carry. I know that many people say that shopping at Whole Foods is expensive, but I believe that you are what you eat and if you eat cheap foods – well, what does that say about you. Eating healthy and organic, as much as possible, is very important to me and my family. If I have to give up other things so that I can shop at Whole Foods, I am going to do it.

Thank you again to Danielle Reynolds, the Marketing Director at the Rookwood Whole Foods. Our team had a fabulous time visiting your store and learning from you! You can be assured that we will all be back in there very soon!

Written By: Audrey Keyes, Cincinnati, OH

*Note – The TasteCasting Team Members are not professional food critics. TasteCasting combines socially networked people and the social media platforms and applications they use to help establishments build awareness, announce grand openings, introduce new menu items, distribute special offers and encourage people to visit the establishment.

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Cincinnati TasteCasting Team Members who got a taste were: @AudreyKeyes, @ColeImperi, @vimperi, @Maria_Michelle, @sdugas and @peterlandesman.

World Food Bar | Big Meals, Big Flavors

Sunday, July 5th, 2009 | Posted in Cincinnati | 2 Comments »

Flavors From Around the World

Chef/Owner Joshua S. Campbell opened World Food Bar earlier this year in the historic Findlay Market, a few blocks North of downtown Cincinnati in Over-the-Rhine. After graduating from the Florida Culinary Institute in West Palm Beach, Campbell spent several years working and studying in the Caribbean and Thailand, soaking in the techniques and flavors of the regions around him. Now back in Cincinnati, he has translated those influences into a bold new restaurant, with a menu unlike any other in the area.

Spice Up Your Brown Bags

The next time you can’t decide what’s for lunch, get nine of your office-mates together (the minimum order is ten) and try one of World Food Bar’s boxed lunches. For $9.50 you get your choice of one sandwich, satay or take-out salad; one side dish or deli salad; one dessert; and either a bottled water, soda or Thai Tea. If that sounds like a lot, it is. And the portions are huge. Each boxed lunch could easily feed two people or leave plenty of leftovers for a midnight snack. And World Food Bar will deliver anywhere in the city for an extra $15.

Ginger Glazed Chicken Sandwich with Napa Cabbage and Spice Peanut Sauce

For my sandwich, I opted for the Ginger Glazed Chicken Sandwich with Napa Cabbage and Spice Peanut Sauce on a warm baguette. I’m a sucker for cabbage so my choice was easy. This sandwich is piled high with lots of ginger and lemon flavor, and it is very messy, so be sure to ask for extra napkins. It reminded me of a classic pulled chicken sandwich with slaw, but with an Asian twist. I should also mention that I’m a big fan of sandwiches, and I believe the best sandwiches start with really good bread. Chef Campbell must agree with me, because this sandwich is built on top of a warm, crusty baguette that could be a lunch all by itself (well, maybe it would need a little company, like a nice pat of butter or good hunk of cheese).

Slow Roasted Lamb on Toasted Flat Bread with Fresh Tomato, Arugula and Lemon Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

If it weren’t for my love of cabbage, I would definately have chosen the Slow Roasted Lamb on Toasted Flat Bread. It combines so many of my favorite things – lamb, flatbread, slow-roastedness. What more can you ask from your lunch. And while I wasn’t lucky enough to sample this fine creation, if looks count for anything, then that is one tasty sandwich.

Brown Rice Salad

For my side dish, I chose the Brown Rice Salad, and it came in a container so big, it could hardly be called a side. Nevertheless, it was nice and simple with roasted corn and scallions and a simple dressing with a bit of a peppery kick. There are many other side dish options, too. So many, in fact, I don’t believe any two of us TastCasters ordered the same ones. Here is just a small sampling of the other things World Food Bar offers:

Roasted Garlic Hummus

Whole Wheat Cous Cous Salad

Moroccan Chickpea Salad

Oh, Let Us Not Forget Dessert

What boxed lunch would be complete without dessert? Certainly not this one. The Ancho Chili Chocolate Brownie was, perhaps, the highlight of the entire meal. Do not let it scare you. This is a moist, perfectly dense brownie with smooth chocolatey frosting and just the tiniest hint of spiciness after it slides down your throat. And best of all, like everything else from World Food Bar, this is one massive brownie.

Ancho Chili Chocolate Brownie

Food For All

World Food Bar uses local and organic ingredients in many of their dishes and has several vegetarian and vegan options on their menu. So, the next time you can’t decide what’s for lunch, and are tired of burgers and coneys, try the big, bold flavors of World Food Bar.

http://www.worldfoodbar.com/index.html

Click here for directions and contact info.

Written By: Victor Imperi, Cincinnati, OH
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You can see more photos from our visit on Flickr here .
Cincinnati TasteCasting Team Members who got a taste were: @ColeImperi, @vimperi, @AudreyKeyes, @JesyHerron, @kristaneher, @cmcadams, @redkatblonde, @cmcadams and @maria_michelle
Want to join Cincinnati’s TasteCasting team? Go here.

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Disclosure: TasteCasting is a promotional review site. We are treated to the food we taste at no cost. Team members are encouraged to share their experience good, bad or indifferent via the Social Web and to state their own, genuine opinion.

Essencha Tea House – Sip Culture By The Cup

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 | Posted in Cincinnati | 3 Comments »

Today was a wondeful experience! The Cincinnati TasteCasting Team had the pleasure of visiting one of our City’s unique establishments – Essencha Tea House & Fine Teas. Essencha is located at 3212 Madison Road in Oakley – just down the street from Crossroads Church and across the street from Hugo Restaurant.

The History

Essencha Tea House is just over 3 years old and is owned and operated by the lovely, and extremely knowledgable, Tracy Monson (also a mother of 3). After traveling throughout the world, and sampling some of the best teas anyone can get their hands on, Tracy landed back in the Queen City and realized that there wasn’t a good spot to get high quality teas. Soon, she decided to open her own contemporary tea cafe and tea store – Essencha.

For a newbie to the tea world, going in to Essencha, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. However, as soon as I entered the quaint tea house, I immediately felt at ease and very relaxed. The decor is a bit modern with an Asian theme, but comfortable at the same time. There wasn’t any fussy decor or doilies on the tables, just a clean, serene look and feel to the place. Monson explained that she wanted to keep it very simple. She wanted the focus to be on the teas and other products – not the decor.

What is “true tea”?

After a brief introduction to the store and a history on how it came to be, Monson jumped right in and began teaching us all about tea. Sure, I knew that tea is supposed to be healthy and have antioxidents in it, but I had no idea all the types of teas and how they are prepared and where they all come from. It was truly fascinating!

“True tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. In fine teas, only the top two leaves and bud are hand-picked to be processed. The production of tea is truly a labor intensive process: up to 80,000 hand-picked shoots are needed to produce a pound of top quality tea. There are literally thousands of varieties of teas, but the way a tea is process determines its classification”. (Taken from the Essencha Tea Selection booklet).

Essencha Fine Teas

There are 4 main types of teas: Black, Oolong, Green and White. We sampled all except the Oolong today.

Tulsi Apple Pear Iced Tea

“A vibrant blend of tulsi, apple, pineapple, pear, and ginger bits dotted with blossoms and spice create this Ayurvedic herbal tonic.” There is a bit of a flavor of Basil in this one. It was very light, clear and crisp. A little spicy, a little sweet. A great tea to start with to help cleanse our palette. This was so delicious and would be wonderfully satisfying on a hot summer day. One of the team members enjoyed this one so much, she took a sample home with her!
Sample: $4
4 oz: $11
8 oz: $16

Yunnan Goldtips Supreme

“One of the world’s finest varietals, gold-tipped, rich, full-bodied, resplendent with a chocolately aftertaste. So smooth, it will leave you dreaming about your next pot!” This was a hot tea that I have fallen in love with – and so did a few other team members. It was a much stronger, deeper, full-bodied tea compared to the first one and it was also served hot. Monson let us know that since this one is a Black Tea, it had the most caffeine in it (although half of what a cup of coffee would have in it).
Sample: $5
4 oz: $23
8 oz: $36

Matcha Latte with Soy Milk

“Matcha is the oldest variety of shade grown Japanese green tea ground into a very fine powder and has been a part of the Zen Buddhist culture for over 800 years. It’s unique properties call for it to be prepared differently than other teas. Because it is a finely powdered tea, its tiny particles are dispersed throughout the water or other liquid it is mixed with rather than being infused, like regular tea leaves. This preparation method is what helps to make matcha so nutritious: because the entire tea leaf is consumed, you will take in 10-15 times the nutrients found in regular green teas. Matcha is delicious drunk straight, or mixed into a smoothie, latte or even ice cream!” This is a green tea – and you can immediately tell because it is bright green! We were served the tea as the latte/smoothie preparation and it was so good! It was actually kind of sweet and I think even my 4 year old would have enjoyed this one.
Regular: $3.75
Large: $4.90
Add soymilk: $.75
Add tapioca pearls: $.75

Monson: “Nothing on the planet with more antioxidents”.
That is good stuff!

Jasmine Bubbly Green Tea

A bubbly tea, something I had never heard of, is a “freshly brewed tea shakien with fruit syrup and poured over sweetened tapioca pearls”. For this drink, you get to choose your base tea and then choose a syrup. We were served the Jasmine green tea with a Lychee syrup. This was interesting – to say the least. It was served cold in a clear glass. Immediately, I noticed two things about the tea- the tapioca pearls in the bottom of the glass and the extra wide short straw that it is served with. Monson explained that this tea was meant to be drunk with the straw and you are supposed to suck the tapioca pearls up through the straw. My first sip, I sucked in 2 pearls and was immediately shocked. They were soft and had a slick texture to them. Sweet and unlike anything I have had before. Good. Different.
Regular: $3.75
Large: $4.90

The Food

Quinoa Salad

I haven’t had quinoa before and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this light salad. It had feta and olives in it (although you can get it without the feta). The texture was amazing and would make for a great side dish during the summer.

Savory Buckwheat Crepes

Monson served us two different crepes, although they do carry other varieties. We tried the Roasted Red Peper, Spinach & Goat Cheese and also the Smoked Turkey & Havarti. Both were very impressive, but my favorite was the Turkey & Havarti – absolutely one of the best savory crepes I have ever tried. They actually make this as a sandwich on whole wheat as well. I will definitely be back to try this very soon!

Oh, Sweetness

Our final tasting of the morning was the very unique Matcha Cupcake with Cream Cheese frosting. Again, because this is Matcha, it was a bright green cupcake with a white topping – actually very attractive. One bite and I knew that I was hooked. It was very sweet and didn’t taste anything like “tea”. Again, something that my 4 year old would definitely enjoy while getting tons of antioxidents.

What else…

Essencha’s hours of operation are Sunday through Wednesday from 9:30am til 6pm and Thursday through Saturday from 9:30am til 8:00pm. (Just recently, Essencha added a Sunday brunch that is served from 10:30am til 2:30pm.)

All their teas are available for purchase in the store or online at www.essencha.com. Also, online you can find more information about many of the different teas, a downloadable brochure on Matcha, a virtual tour of the shop, a calendar of upcoming events (such as Tea 101 and Tea & Cocktail Workshop) and many of their teaware available for purchase.

If you aren’t familiar with tea, don’t be scared to stop in. With a very knowledgeable staff to help guide you through your first tastings, you will walk out feeling like you have been drinking tea your whole life.

Have a baby shower to host, a bridal shower, or just a girl’s get-together? Set up a tasting at Essencha and enjoy a unique experience. They love to share their passion for tea so call them to schedule your next tea event at 513-533-4832.

You can find Essencha online at www.essencha.com, on Twitter at @essencha and on Facebook. Make sure to follow them for more information about upcoming events and specials.

Written By: Audrey Keyes, Cincinnati, OH

*Note – The TasteCasting Team Members are not professional food critics. TasteCasting combines socially networked people and the social media platforms and applications they use to help establishments build awareness, announce grand openings, introduce new menu items, distribute special offers and encourage people to visit the establishment.

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Cincinnati TasteCasting Team Members who got a taste were: @AudreyKeyes, @ColeImperi, @vimperi, @JesyHerron, @AmyInOhio, @Maria_Michelle, @AvivaEvents, @stephaniewebb, @braffenberg.

Want to join Cincinnati’s TasteCasting team? Go here.

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Grab ‘n Go at Whole Foods in Mason!

Saturday, June 13th, 2009 | Posted in Cincinnati | 4 Comments »

More than your neighborhood grocery store

Many of you in Cincinnati know of Whole Foods, and many of you have visited their store in Mason (Deerfield Towne Center), but do you know about their new Grab ‘n Go menu? The Cincinnati TasteCasting Team had the honor of meeting and eating from the new Grab ‘n Go menu at Whole Foods on Thursday, June 11th and it was fabulous!

Introducing…

When we arrived, Paula Mangold, the Marketing Director of the Whole Foods Mason, met with the Cincinnati TasteCasting Team. She had set up tables and individual menus for each taster and gave us an introduction to their new addition to the store – their Grab ‘n Go menu! Whole Foods wanted to give their customers something that that they could pick up for a quick lunch or dinner that was already prepared for the most part (maybe just a little heating is all that would be needed).

The table set up for the Cincinnati TasteCasting Team!

What’s for dinner (or lunch)

From the first glance, the menu looked amazing – soup, burrito, quiche, nuggets, desserts…what more could you want! We started with a cold soup, a Roasted Vegetable Gazpacho Soup. It was thick and a bit spicy and very satisfying. It reminded me almost of a salsa, but thinner. Whole Foods sells this soup by the quart and it is only $5.99. After the tasting I went to the back of the store to grab a quart to take home and found another soup that I will have to try next time – a Peach Soup!

Roasted Vegetable Gazpacho Soup from Whole Foods Market in Mason

The second thing served to us was the amazing Black Bean & Cheese Burrito. The tortilla on this was a spicy tortilla and added so much flavor to the burrito. The cheese melted in the burrito were Pepperjack and Cheddar. Again, this was a little on the spicy side, but not bad at all. I am not a person that can take much spice, and I was perfectly fine with this. When you purchase this, it is about 1 pound (6″) and you just need to heat it for 10 minutes. You can grab one of these for lunch for only $5.99. Very filling!

The third item we were served was the Quiche – Spring Vegetable Quiche and a Broccoli & Cheddar Quiche. If you are a quiche lover, then you will want to grab one of these for your next meal! Very light and fluffy and even though we only sampled a small slice, it was fulfilling. The Spring Veggie one had celery, carrots and red peppers in it and the huge pieces of broccoli in the Broccoli & Cheddar one gave it a wonderful texture. Each of the quiches are sold either by the slice ($2.99) or by the pie ($9.99)

Two flavors of delicious quiche

The final item served (before the desserts, that is) was the Vegan Nuggets. There were three flavors – Curried, BBQ and General Tso’s. These are each sold by the pound ($9.99). I have to admit that I was a little hesitant to try these because I knew that if they were vegan, they couldn’t be really chicken. I asked Paula about them and she told us that they are made from TVP (Texturized Vegetable Protein). I wasn’t really sure what that was, but when I looked around and saw everyone else trying them and making “yum” noises as they ate them, I decided to give it a try. Wow! That was a surprise! I absolutely loved them! Seriously – they tasted just like chicken, if not better. None of the flavors were very spicy and I honestly can’t even tell you what my favorite was because they were all three great. I liked them so much, I thought I would even test them on my picky-eater 4 year old. I took them home, heated them up and she enhaled them. Never questioned it at all. I will definitely be grabbing these on the go again! (These nuggets are made at the Whole Foods Market Commisary in New England and then the sauces are applied at the individual stores.)

Vegan Nuggets – much better than I ever anticipated!

The Finale

The moment I had been waiting for finally arrived – the serving of the desserts. Each team member was served 5 different samples of desserts. OMG! There was the Turtle Pecan Bar, the Black Raspberry Cheesecake Bar with Filbert Crust, the Peanut Butter Bar with a Chocolate Crust, a Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bar with a Linzer Crust and a Lemon Curd Bar with a Linzer Crust. All of these bars are sold for $1.99 each and are about 4″x4″ and at least an inch deep. Pure goodness – that is what I call it. Pure Goodness. The Turtle Pecan Bar was my favorite. It was similar to a pecan pie which is one of my all-time favorite desserts. The Lemon Curd Bar was sweet and lemony and buttery and almost melted in your mouth. The Peanut Butter Bar tasted like a mix between a Reece Cup and a Buckeye – does it get much better than that? Everyone had their favorite at the table, but we all definitely agreed that they were amazing! It was a perfect ending to a wonderful “meal”. On top of the amazing taste of these, you can walk away knowing that they are all-natural as well. Unfortunately, all-natural doesn’t mean “good for you”, but it does ease your mind knowing that they are loaded with tons of chemical products to make them taste good – they just do, naturally.

Pure Goodness.

Thank you!

Thank you very much Whole Foods Market in Mason and a big thank you to Paula Mangold for having us in to taste your new Grab ‘n Go menu! The team loved it and had a wonderful time at your wonderful store. We also truly appreciate the wonderful reusable bags that we all received! Mine will be on my shoulder the next time I walk through the Whole Foods doors!

The Whole Foods Market Reusable Bag

Find out more about Whole Foods in Mason by clicking here. Follow them on Twitter at @WFM_Mason.

Written By: Audrey Keyes, Cincinnati, OH

*Note – The TasteCasting Team Members are not professional food critics. TasteCasting combines socially networked people and the social media platforms and applications they use to help establishments build awareness, announce grand openings, introduce new menu items, distribute special offers and encourage people to visit the establishment.

____________________________________________________________
Cincinnati TasteCasting Team Members who got a taste were: @AudreyKeyes, @ColeImperi, @vimperi, @JesyHerron, @debbahaupert, @jencasperson, @foodhussy. (Plus the brother-in-law and sister-in-law of @AmyInOhio.

Want to join Cincinnati’s TasteCasting team? Go here.

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Maribelle Cakery | Cincinnati’s Savory Secret

Thursday, May 28th, 2009 | Posted in Cincinnati | 4 Comments »

TasteCasting Review: Maribelle Cakery

8921 Reading Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45215 | 513.631.8333

Cupcakes from Maribelle Cakery in Reading, OH are fabulously fantastic.

Part do-it-all bakery, part couture cakery; Maribelle seems to have something the competition doesn’t.

Tina Gutierrez and her husband, Larry Brown, bought Maribelle Cakery five years ago. These two also own European Bridal , a go-to bridal boutique in the Bridal Belt of Reading (the country’s largest bridal district).

Maribelle calls themselves an ‘exclusive wedding cake design specialist’ but I think they’re more than that. The word couture kept popping into my head as I nibbled on several of their cupcakes, but so did thoughts of my wedding and other magical moments in my life.

I think Maribelle is something you treat yourself to when something really special is going on in your life; weddings, birthdays, big promotions or just date-night at home with the hubby.

I have to say I was surprised when I realized I liked their frostings better than Servatii’s; which was formerly my be-all-end-all bakery.

Background on the Goods

Maribelle uses top quality ingredients, and everything (no really, everything) is made from scratch. They also do not freeze their cakes which is a major shortcut they’re electing not to take. Maribelle has been offering cupcakes since March 2009 and many of them are filled with creamy frostings and other deliciously dense concoctions.

Kosher

Maribelle is Kosher (supervision by the Vaad), which is kind of a big deal. Basically what you need to know about kosher food is that it’s made with the best ingredients, prepared in an exceptionally clean environment and well, the man upstairs approves.
[Do you know why the smartest airline travelers order kosher meals on a plane? Because they’re fresher, made with better ingredients and make you feel better after eating and not worse. Same goes here.]

Cincinnati TasteCasting Team Member Cole Imperi spent a little time chatting with Owner Tina Gutierrez (left).

Tina mentioned that Kosher for Passover items are on the horizon. I will be very, very impressed to see this since basically nothing exists during Passover that’s good.

Here’s what I tried:

Coco Lava
+ white chocolate buttercream frosting
+ belgian dark chocolate truffle filling
+ orange butter cake

The Diva
+ white chocolate buttercream frosting
+ Madagascar vanilla bean filling
+ white chocolate cake

The Southern Belle is a red velvet masterpiece.

The Southern Belle (above)
+ red velvet cake
+ cream cheese frosting
Did you know? Red Velvet is the #1 cupcake flavor in the country.

You’re looking at the Mocha Java Cupcake. And doesn’t it look yummy?Mocha Java (above)

Mocha Java (above)
+ mocha chocolate truffle frosting
+ mocha powder sprinkles on top
+ mocha truffle filling
+ dark chocolate cake

Maribelle Cakery currently sells their cupcakes by the dozen for $38. They’ll include a filling for an additional $0.50/each. Online ordering and a courier service will be available soon.

www.maribellecakerycincinnati.com

Click here for directions and contact info. (Maribelle is by appointment only)

Written By: Cole Imperi, Cincinnati, OH
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You can see more photos from our visit on Flickr here .
Cincinnati TasteCasting Team Members who got a taste were: @ColeImperi, @vimperi, @AudreyKeyes, @JesyHerron, @OnLocationVideo, @Sdugan, @kristaneher and @AmyinOHio
Want to join Cincinnati’s TasteCasting team? Go here.

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Cincinnati TasteCasting Team Coming Soon

Monday, April 20th, 2009 | Posted in Cincinnati | No Comments »

It’s official. A TasteCasting™ team captain is in the process of forming the Cincinnati TasteCasting Team. Team members are being recruited, organized and restaurants, delis, bakeries, cafes and other eateries are being lined up to participate. These establishments will benefit from Cincinnati’s socially networked and social media savvy team members.

If you’re a restaurant owner or operate an establishment in the Cincinnati area please contact us at info@tastecasting.com to schedule your tasting.

Keep those tastebuds in tune for more news on this exciting team.

Dan Harris, Founder

TasteCasting

Our Second Time Round

Rise and Shine

Pop and Fizzle

Grill It

Healthy and Delicious

The Best For Last

You Are What You Eat

Flavors From Around the World

Spice Up Your Brown Bags

Ginger Glazed Chicken Sandwich with Napa Cabbage and Spice Peanut Sauce

Roasted Garlic Hummus Whole Wheat Cous Cous Salad

Moroccan Chickpea Salad

Oh, Let Us Not Forget Dessert

Ancho Chili Chocolate Brownie

Ancho Chili Chocolate Brownie

Food For All

The History

What is “true tea”?

Essencha Fine Teas

Tulsi Apple Pear Iced Tea

Yunnan Goldtips Supreme

Matcha Latte with Soy Milk

Jasmine Bubbly Green Tea

The Food

Quinoa Salad

Savory Buckwheat Crepes

Oh, Sweetness

What else…

More than your neighborhood grocery store

Introducing…

The table set up for the Cincinnati TasteCasting Team!

What’s for dinner (or lunch)

Roasted Vegetable Gazpacho Soup from Whole Foods Market in Mason

Two flavors of delicious quiche

Vegan Nuggets – much better than I ever anticipated!

The Finale

Pure Goodness.

Thank you!

The Whole Foods Market Reusable Bag

TasteCasting Review: Maribelle Cakery

Cupcakes from Maribelle Cakery in Reading, OH are fabulously fantastic.

Part do-it-all bakery, part couture cakery; Maribelle seems to have something the competition doesn’t.

Background on the Goods

Kosher

Cincinnati TasteCasting Team Member Cole Imperi spent a little time chatting with Owner Tina Gutierrez (left).

Here’s what I tried:

The Southern Belle is a red velvet masterpiece.

You’re looking at the Mocha Java Cupcake. And doesn’t it look yummy?Mocha Java (above)

Roasted Garlic Hummus

Whole Wheat Cous Cous Salad