Cincinnati, also known as the Queen City, is a city rich in history and culture with exceptional visual and creative arts, professional sports teams and top notch museums. Whether you are a resident or a visitor there is always something to learn, see and do in Cincinnati and our neighboring cities of Covington and Newport. For those reasons and many more, it’s no surprise that in 2012 Lonely Planet Travel Guide named Cincinnati number three of the top ten travel destinations in the United States.
Cincinnati offers all the benefits of larger cities like Chicago and New York while maintaining the small hometown hospitality. In this section we like to bring interesting facts and opinions. This is what we have for you in this month’s issue:
GOETTA – ANOTHER CINCINNATI ORIGINAL
Founded in 1788, the city of Cincinnati had a large number of German settlers. That number increased into the 1850’s and by the 1900’s 60% of the population was of German descent. There were even four newspapers that were written in the German language and German was spoken in schools.
The influence of the German settlers is seen and celebrated in “Zinzinnati” from her architecture and breweries to the Oktoberfest celebrations that take place all over the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area. But one of the most cherished gifts given from our German ancestry is the local delicacy of Goetta.
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Our founder, Robert Glier with
wife, Louise and son, Dan.
This year’s Goettafest kicks off in a big way with national recording artist, Casey James! Come for the goetta, stay for the FUN!
Goetta was not always considered a delicacy and it is not a known dish in Germany. With little money the Germans of Cincinnati, in an attempt to stretch their meat rations into several meals, added steel cut or pin head oats with salt, pepper, bay leaves, rosemary and thyme.
This dish is so loved by locals here that there is a four day festival celebrating the various concoctions created with Goetta. Although loved by locals this festival draws from around the world.” At the History booth we have a map with pushpins for event goers to mark where they’re from, last year we had visitors from 50 states and 35 countries represented,” shared Dan Glier. Everyone from near and far enjoy favorites such as Goetta omelets, rolls, gumbo and even nachos.
Glier’s Goetta, which sponsors the event, has set some ground rules for each vendor participating.
1. Each booth must have three Goetta dishes.
2. Each booth must have two Non-Goetta specialties and one dessert.
3. There can be no duplications among vendors.
These guidelines have led to some interesting recipes including Goetta Calzones by Papa John’s and Goetta Fudge Brownies by Busken Bakery. This year’s participants are sure to have some new creations of this Cincinnati original to be enjoyed at the 2013 Glier’s Goettafest.