Taste of Cincinnati is the longest running culinary arts festival in the United States. Starting in 1979, the festival has been held annually on Memorial Day weekend in Downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. More than 40 fine restaurants are featured at the festival, and "Best of Taste" awards are given out each year. In addition to food, the festival highlights local musical talent. The four stages for performances feature country, rock, pop, and jazz music. Approximately 500,000 people attend Taste of Cincinnati each year, making it one of the nation's largest street festivals.
History
The idea of Taste of Cincinnati derived from Taste of the Big Apple News, which Karen Maier, then Frisch's vice president of marketing, came across in the Nation's Restaurant News, a publication that covers the American foodservice industry.
Taste of Cincinnati started in 1979 as a daylong festival in Piatt Park, previously known as Garfield Park. About 5,000 people were in attendance. In 1981, another day was added to the festivities, and in 1988, one more day was added, totaling three days (the number of days currently reserved for the event). At this time, the festivities were also moved from Piatt Park to Central Parkway in Downtown Cincinnati.
Upon the completion of the $42-million renovation of the Tyler Davidson Fountain Square in 2007, the Taste was again relocated, this time to Fifth Street, taking up six blocks, from Race to Broadway, near Downtown Cincinnati's cluster of hotels, including The Cincinnatian, the Garfield Suites Hotel, the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati, the Millennium Hotel Cincinnati, The Terrace Hotel, and the Westin Hotel Cincinnati.
In 1997, Taste of Cincinnati was selected from over 40,000 special events across the United States as the Food Event of the Year by Events Business News.
In recent years, the Taste has been held over five blocks along Fifth Street, spanning from Vine Street to Sycamore Street.
There was no festival in 2020, but a virtual one was held in its place.
Best of Taste
Each year, restaurateurs are able to enter their restaurants' dishes into the Best of Taste competition as part of the Taste of Cincinnati. There are several categories for which the food entry can be classified: Appetizers, Soups and Salads, Seafood, Entrees, Vegetarian Entree, Desserts, and the coined "Best Damned Dish." The Best Damn Dish is the overall winner of the Best of Taste competition. Aside from the Best Damned Dish, with only grand prize winner, each of the other categories award three dishes: Best of Taste, Award of Excellence, and Award of Merit. Restaurants who win these awards often proudly display their certificate within their facility.
Recent Taste Winners
2015:
Best Appetizer
1st Place: The 'wich on Sycamore - Coconut & Rice Soup
2nd Place: Thai Taste - Crab Rangoon
3rd Place: Alfio's Buon Cibo - Roasted Red Pepper and Prosciutto Empanada
Best Entrée
1st Place: The Melting Pot - Teriyaki Sirlon
2nd Place: Via Vite - Penne alla Bolognese
3rd Place: Alfio's Buon Cibo - Steak Ravioli with Roasted Red Pepper & Arugula Cream Sauce
Best Dessert
1st Place: Market Street Grille - Creme Brulee
2nd Place: Remezo Greek Cuisine - Baklava
3rd Place: Alfio's Buon Cibo - Goat Cheese & Brown Sugar Cheese Cake
Best Vegetarian
1st Place: Bangkok Bistro - Vegetable Sukiyaki
2nd Place: Silver Ladle - Silver Ladle Salad
3rd Place: Market Street Grille - Black & Bleu Tuna
Best Go Vibrant Healthy Dining option
1st Place: Market Street Grille - Spicy Chicken Wrap
2nd Place: Silver Ladle - Cuban Black Bean Soup
3rd Place: Thai Taste - Wonton Soup
2012: 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 Cafe, 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
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: