Hotel of the month – May 2014

May 3, 2014 By

Symphony Hotel & Restaurant: Elegance and charm abounds

If themes of history and music and quaint, intimate settings resonate with you, you’ll want to book yourself into the Symphony Hotel.

This lodging establishment is perfectly positioned for the elegant-minded, who appreciate setting, scene and sense of place. Picture this: Cincinnati’s Music Hall looming at its door; newly configured Washington Park, a cultural magnet, steps away from that same door; and the more than century-old structure itself situated in the City’s famous Over-the-Rhine District. That, reader, is the Symphony Hotel and Restaurant.

Pictures tell more than words are capable, but know that the full-service restaurant and hotel were developed from two buildings built, with a common wall between, in the late 1800s. These “row” houses, linked now, feature nine musically themed rooms, each named after a famous composer of the classical genre. Rooms are furnished in period antiques that echo an era more than 100 years past. Each stay includes a continental breakfast on weekdays and a gourmet breakfast is available on weekends.

The restaurant in the hotel is in one of the row houses’ former “formal” parlor and an adjacent music room.

Filed Under: Hotel Of The Month

Cover Story – May 2014

May 3, 2014 By

Foodies & Fun Seekers Love Findlay Market

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Big-city market houses are fantabulous places to find fun and food. Boston has its Quincy. Seattle has its Pike Street. Cincinnati has its Findlay—market house, that is.

Our cherished market is named after General James Findlay (1770-1835), among Cincinnati’s founding families, whose estate donated the land on which the market stands. Today the Findlay site is the oldest surviving market house in all of Ohio. Findlay Market was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. But that’s history; what about now, today

Physically, the market takes up the length of a city block, with entry doors at each end and at the mid-way point. In and about the market house there are some 40 fixed stalls or storefront establishments selling everything from homemade sausages to cheeses imported from many thousands of miles away.

Spice lovers will find Colonel De’s Gourmet Herbs & Spices, offering an unbelievable array of everything herby-spicy, available by the pinch or pound or any amount you want. You’ll find exotic flavors—truly global in reach—from places like Madagascar and Thailand and islands of the South Pacific.

Or just go nutty, as we Cincinnatians do, over the Taste of Belgium. It’s a waffle emporium, where Chief Waffle Officer Jean-Francois Flechet turns out waffle creations that are magnificent. No other word fits—magnificent! Flechet’s waffles can be loaded with confections and fruit, or they can be savory as well. Try the chicken waffle. It’s lick-the-plate good!

Ever had a genuine German knockwurst? You could at Findlay Market, because at least one stand offers the garlic and herb sausages. Knockwurst sausages are loaded with flavor, great on a bun, or with warm German potato salad.

On warm-weather weekend days, there are day-stands (set up at the start of the market day and taken down at its end) that make kettle corn (yummm!), grilled sausages with onions and peppers, burgers and bratwursts, soups, teas and more. The aroma alone will drive your taste-buds crazy. Seasonally, you might run into roasted corn, slices of watermelon, apple cider and more.

Since May can be warm, be sure to stop at Dojo Gelato, where Italian-style ice cream and sorbetto are made fresh daily. The folks behind the counter are the makers of the product, which is made at the market house. They use only fresh ingredients, including milk free of growth hormones, and whenever possible, ingredients from local farmers.

Speaking of local farmers, each weekend (especially Saturday) during the growing season, you will find truck farm-stands adjacent to the market’s main building. These farmers are all small and local, within 50 miles or so of the market. They bring in field-fresh produce, eggs and cheeses; oven-fresh breads and pastries; locally harvested honey; and so much more. This time of year, the early spring crops are in and the quality is superb.
Or if you are feeling more like settling down behind some good, old fashioned comfort food, stop by a stand such as Gramma Debbie’s Kitchen. There is macaroni and cheese, made with three cheeses (and a spicy buffalo version too); braised kale and beans, a greens and beans dish that has a spicy kick to it, and more. Soups and salads and many heat-it-yourself items round out Gramma’s menu.

The point is, you can find just about anything you want to eat, along with gifts to buy and take back home, and sights to see as well, at Cincinnati’s one and only market house—Findlay Market.
See you there!

Filed Under: Cover Story

Key Shopping Experience – I Love Cincinnati Shoppe

April 14, 2014 By

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There is something for everyone on your list, including you, at the I Love Cincinnati Shoppe located on level two of the Carew Tower shopping area above the street level walk-through of the Tower building at 441 Vine Street downtown.

Just now with the Reds season in full bloom, you’ll find plenty of Cincinnati Reds official apparel, including jerseys, hats, sweats, tees and more. Outfit yourself in an official MLB Reds logo item, or find sizes to fit teens, kids and even toddlers and infants. Also for the little ones are action figures of the most popular players, including hard-hitting first-baseman Joey Votto.

In the official apparel department, the same goes for the Cincinnati Bengals, University of Cincinnati Bearcats, Xavier University Musketeers, Ohio State Buckeyes, and other area teams. Baseball-style caps with both team insignia and “Cincinnati” inscriptions are in stock and ready gifts for almost anyone on your list.

You’ll find a wide range of affordable memento gifts on display at the Shoppe as well. There are fridge magnets of every size, shape and description, from Cincinnati sports team logos, to Flying Pig marathon items to Fountain Square.

An extensive rack of postcards allows you to send Cincinnati sites with your good tidings, or collect them as keepsakes of places visited with here in Greater Cincinnati.

There are Cincinnati Monopoly games (just like the Parker Bros. version, only with Cincy locales!), framed color shots of Cincinnati landmarks and stadiums, past and present. For both outdoors and in, there are pennants, flags, wind-sock hangers and more. Check on the time with clocks featuring XU, Miami (of Ohio), Ohio State and UC logos on the face.

In addition, the Shoppe offers custom-filled baskets with whatever you may want, and if desired handle all packing and shipping to any destination.

If it’s about Cincinnati, you’re almost certain to find it at the I Love Cincinnati Shoppe, 441 Vine Street, Carew Tower. 513-381-4401

Filed Under: Business Of The Month

Palomino is Mediterranean- European Dining with Italian Flavors

April 14, 2014 By

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If you’re looking for a fine-dine restaurant with an enticing mix of imaginative food, fun-friendly ambiance and a magnificent location with a view, look no further than Palomino Restaurant & Bar.

Let’s get to cases! Lunch, anyone? Try the salmon burger. We did, and it is scrumptious. Sous Chef James White tells us they buy premium Atlantic salmon in big filets several feet long, then cut serving portions from the loin. For the burger, small pieces are taken and shredded, not ground, to allow for big chunks in the _-pound burger—hence more salmon flavor. It works, too. The burger is tasty and loaded with salmon flavor. BTW, the burger is topped with a chef-made spicy onion “jam” that is like a marmalade, and is flat-out delicious.

Palomino is known for its rotisserie cooking, according to GM Nelson Castillo. “We feature rotisserie cooking and items that are very difficult to execute at home,” he said. Pork, beef and chicken are among those items, and the process takes hours— actually, days for the pork loin. The bone-in pork loin is brine cured for 3-4 days in a sweet/herby concoction that penetrates and preps the meat for the rotisserie. Then, the meat is coated with a steak-salt, garlic, onion and pepper mix, and roasted. When you order, the chef whacks off the chop and brings the meat to temp and the result is mouth-watering. The chicken is done a little differently, and finished in a brick “oven” with temps off the charts, so the skin is crispy and tasty, and inside, the flesh is juicy and tasty and terrific.

Is pasta (and why not at this eatery with an Italian bent?) to your liking? Try the rigatoni Bolognese. The dish features hot Italian sausage, pear tomatoes, roasted red-pepper cream and parmesan cheese on top, mixed with bread crumbs and finished under the broiler to form a delightful crust. Yum? You bet!

Filed Under: Restaurant Of The Month

Montgomery Inn at Boathouse is Hot Spot for Ribs

April 14, 2014 By

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How hot is this hot spot, where ribs are king? Without having your name on the “priority-seating” list on a Saturday night, the wait can be 2 to 2-1/2 hours for a table at Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse. And this ribs palace on the Ohio River seats 700 people!

So the Boathouse location of Montgomery Inn is sizzling hot, and it’s all about the ribs. Those ribs draw celebrities far and wide. Back when Bob Hope was alive, he did commercials for these ribs—for free! Hope even said so in the commercial, and he did the TV spots because he loved the ribs and loved the members of the family who worked the restaurants and produced the product.

What about the product? Well, ribs at the Inn are different. First of all, Montgomery Inn is celebrating 63 years in the restaurant business this year, and 25 years at the Boathouse. “Back when mom and dad started making the ribs and our famous sauce, nobody was serving ribs in this part of the country,” said Dean Gregory, GM of the Boathouse location and son of Ted, the original Ribs King.

“Back then (1951), ribs were a poor man’s food and mostly done in the American south. But people around here loved the ribs we made, and the sauce is the key. We don’t smoke our ribs, and the meat is tender and sweet and together with the sauce, they are just so delicious. Our guests here at the restaurant, they just love them,” Gregory said. As for the recipes, they are all family derived, and the Gregory family is personally involved in all the Montgomery Inn locations around the Greater Cincinnati area.

The menu has plenty of options to satisfy anyone in your group. The ribs are the runaway best seller at Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse (the original location is on Montgomery Road in Montgomery). Next in popularity is the BBQ chicken, which is moist and hot and tender and delicious, Gregory said: “People love the chicken too. We have pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches, barbecued beef brisket, burgers, filet of fish and more on the menu, including a kids menu for families dining with us. We have something for everybody and every taste.”

The Boathouse is a “must see, must do” location, according to Gregory. “The view is spectacular and eating here is one of the treats of coming to the Cincinnati area. We hear that all the time from visitors to this great area. And once they visit and taste the ribs, our restaurant becomes a regular stop for people who return to the area again and again.

Part of the allure of the Boathouse and other Montgomery Inn locations is the consistency of the product and service. “Our guests can count on us for a consistent, quality meal of ribs or chicken or any other menu item, and quality, friendly, efficient service. I’m just so proud of this place, and of our people who serve and prepare the food. They do a great job!”

See you behind a plate of ribs at Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse!

Filed Under: Hot Spot Of The Month

Concierge at Marriott Kingsgate focused on Hosting Brilliantly

April 14, 2014 By

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A focus on hosting brilliantly makes the difference at Marriott Kingsgate Conference Center, according to Catherine Totman, assistant general manager of the strategically located lodging property.

The Marriott Kingsgate is located near both the hospital/medical center of Greater Cincinnati, and the University of Cincinnati, and is but a few minutes from Cincinnati’s downtown grid.

“We have to anticipate the needs of our guests and then do more—take that anticipation to the next step in providing service that matters to our guests,” Totman said.

The Kingsgate Marriott serves the needs of many parents and loved ones who are with those receiving medical treatment at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, University Hospital, or other hospitals in the area.

Those guests of the hotel need special TLC, says Totman. “Say a family has a sick child and is here spending most of the day at the hospital. They may be there (at the hospital) late, and we look at it as part of our job to assure the family will have a meal when they finally do come back to us for the night. We may prepare some sandwiches or salads, or do other things that will help them get through the trying times with the least amount of hassle possible. If we can unburden them in any way, we will do it. Part of that is anticipation of their needs without asking.”

The Marriott Kingsgate also has a shuttle that transports guests to the hospitals and to UC. The convenience of the shuttle makes getting back and forth much easier for guests, along with avoiding the need to find and pay for parking.

Concierge Caitlin Halsted helps many guests attending local conferences or business activities with finding and taking advantage of Greater Cincinnati’s amenities. She assists in procuring tickets for local events, such as Broadway series performances, and sporting events, such as Reds baseball games. She recommends restaurant destinations and makes arrangements for dining at some of Cincinnati’s hottest spots, such as famous ribs dinners at Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse, overlooking the Ohio River.

For guests who want to eat in the hotel, Marriott Kingsgate features two restaurant options for dining: the Caminetto fine-dine restaurant and the Bearcat Lounge, where food and beverages are served in a more relaxed atmosphere. Caminetto serves Euro-American cuisine from its menu, and features a customized buffet that changes every day. The buffet is loaded with hot and cold items to please almost every palate. Also, vegetarians will find a special menu with plenty of personalized choices. In addition, there is an ala carte menu that allows guest diners to customize sandwiches, salads and entrée choices to their individual tastes. Room service also is available.

In both restaurants, the menu changes with the seasons to take advantage of seasonal favorites and seasonal bounty. The seasonal approach and local/regional procuring focus adds to the commitment the hotel has to environmental quality and sustainability.

“We work at figuring out why our guests are here at our hotel, and then work even harder to anticipate and meet their needs, based on their reason for staying with us,” said Halsted.

Filed Under: Hotel Of The Month
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