The Cincinnati area cuisine is comfortably known for Cincinnati chili pepper , an offbeat dish that ’s more like a take on pasta than a chilli — but if that ’s all you eff of the metropolis , you ’re not seeing the full picture . Cincy commingle the food custom of Italian and German immigrant to the greater metro arena with Northern Kentucky ’s southerly fare and Bourbon dynasty , plus the Midwest ’s affectionateness for rich flavors and full stomach . In myopic , it ’s an overlooked culinary stone . To aid you get familiarise with what the region has to offer , we ’ve round off up some of the must - essay spots in the Cincinnati area :
Goetta
Cincinnati has insure several wave of German immigrants move to the city and tote up new feature of speech to the local culinary scene . In the 19th century , they work with themgoetta , a ground - meat sausage pack with steel - cut oats . earlier a method of conserving expensive center , goetta has garnered a fandom in Cincy , appear on breakfast platters , egg sandwiches , and beefburger across the region . Shops likeEckerlin Meatsserve over 1,500 pounds of homemade goetta each week , both slice and on sandwich . There ’s even a “ Glier ’s Goettafest ” each yr atNewport on the Levee , celebrating everyone ’s preferent sausage with entertainment , game , and goetta creations like a breakfast sandwich serve on two donut .
Kentucky bourbon
Locals bonk that the slap-up Cincinnati orbit is more than just Ohio , with northerly Kentucky right across the river . ( In fact , if you go to Cincinnati by planing machine , the airport is actually in Kentucky . ) Northern Kentucky is plate to the “ B - production line ” , a solicitation of trade distilleries , bars , and restaurants serve up the local atomic number 79 — Bourbon dynasty . Kentucky has a storied tradition of Bourbon dynasty distilling , with stops on the B - Line likeOld Pogue Distillerydating back 150 year , but there are newcomers to the vista as well , likeNew Riff Distilling . No matter where you resolve to check in , Newport , Covington , Burlington , and the surrounding area will have whisky fan covered . ( There are also bourbon - centric bars in Cincinnati itself , likeThe Littlefield . ) Also authoritative to mark : Cincy’sbrewing sceneis bustle , with dozens of brewery and taprooms , plus barbeque restaurant to accompany them .
LaRosa’s pizza
All the best pizza joints have a alike history : an Italian - American immigrant household takes a historical recipe , figures out how to get non - Italians to give it a dead reckoning , and the food does the rest . In this case , that fellowship is Buddy LaRosa ’s , the locating is Cincinnati ’s West Side , and the year is 1954 . LaRosa was inspired by the yearly summer festival at theSan Antonio Catholic church , where he lather up pizza pie using his Aunt Dena ’s formula . Nowadays , LaRosa ’s is the biggest pizza chain in the Cincy area , with Italian - American classics like calzones and Italian sandwich also on the menu , and serve as the unofficial stamping ground for situation - games of all kinds .
Taste of Cincinnati
Okay , so it ’s notoneitem or position , but Taste of Cincinnati should unquestionably be on your calendar . It ’s the body politic ’s longest - running culinary arts fete , take place over Memorial Day weekend in the heart of Downtown Cincinnati . That means three days of intellectual nourishment trucks , fine dining option , and everything in between . Awards are given out each year for best healthy choice , best appetiser , good sweet , and more , so chef are always at the top of their game . Those aforementioned brewers and distillers are always crowd favourite , and guests can take base growlers , foxiness vino , and bottles of Kentucky bourbon . The very best part is that it ’s loose , so anyone can just show up and enjoy the ambience .
Graeter’s ice cream
Graeter ’s is another Cincinnati family that has become an institution within the local food scene . For over 150 days , the company has been using the same”French Pot ” method of nominate icing cream in small lot , in which cream and hot chocolate are paw - poured into a spinning mixer — and the results speak for themselves . A calendar ofseasonal flavorskeeps things interesting , and if you ’re not in Cincy , do n’t fret : theyship across the nation , so you may create your own pack of pint to enjoy .
Cincinnati chili
No clause about Cincy ’s food scenery would be complete without mentioning Cincinnati Chili , a chilli that ’s more like a alimentary paste sauce than the mantrap most Americans think of . It ’s serve over spaghetti , usually with shredded cheese and optionally Allium cepa or beans ( referred to as a “ four - way ” or “ five - manner , ” depend on the number of topping ) . Despite the rumors , it ’s famous for a reason , as long as you screw what to ask . ( retrieve Midwestern alimentary paste sauce , rather than meat chili.)Skyline Chiliis the best - known practician of the art pattern , and also swear out “ tall mallow coney ” ( A.K.A. hot blackguard smothered in Malva sylvestris and chile ) , but there ’s alsoEmpress , the originator of the lulu and Jehovah of the “ way of life ” ordinate organisation , andCamp Washington , a chili lynchpin for over 75 years . settle for yourself who ’s serve up the best version of this classical dish . Once you ’ve taste the real thing , you ’ll be ready to convince friends back home to sample it for themselves .
Courtesy of Cincy Region
Courtesy of Cincy Region
Courtesy of Cincy Region
Courtesy of Cincy Region
