Your Destination Guide to Cincinnati

If the way to a person’s heart is through the stomach, then Cincinnati is a destination visitors are sure to love. For a true foodie or just the epicurious, Cincinnati is a great foodie town because it boasts signature tastes for every course of every meal—breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber serves up the 34th annual Taste of Cincinnati USA over Memorial Day weekend, May 26th to 30th, 2012, on Fifth Street in the heart of Downtown Cincinnati.

Taste of Cincinnati is the nation’s longest-running culinary arts festival. It started as a one-day fest in Piatt Park– then Garfield Park– with approximately 5,000 attending the first event. The event expanded to two days in 1981, and in 1988 expanded to three days and moved to Central Parkway. 2008 was the first year at its current location on Fifth Street. The event showcases 45 of the region’s top-rated restaurants serving close to 230 dishes. Approximately 500,000 grazing gourmets are expected to attend this five-star culinary extravaganza. Every entrée is $5 or less and the event is free.

And at the Taste of Cincinnati, the bill of fare includes much more than food. In fact, this year entertainment will take center stage with more than 70 acts performing.

Comedians will appear at the Government Square Stage, which provides the intimacy of a small comedy club without the two-drink minimum. And Taste also features a strong cocktail of music, with rock for all ages along with touches of jazz, R&B, brass, country, classic rock, zydeco and other genres. Almost 60 musical acts are performing this year, including a heavy dose of original music.

To accompany all the mouth-watering menu items available, Taste will include beer and wine “taste-ings.” This “party within a party” will include selected foods that have been hand-matched with each libation. The cost is $15 per person or two people for $25 and comes with a souvenir wine glass or beer pint.

For more information, visit: www.tasteofcincinnati.com/