In the Kitchen with Tablespoon Cooking Co.

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Growing up, my family was pretty big on cooking; with a home cooked meal almost always on the table. I was often right there in the kitchen with them learning as much as I could. This helped me develop a love for cooking that still remains. While living in the greater Cincinnati area, I’d attended a few cooking classes at different establishments, but never with Tablespoon Cooking Co (whom I’d heard was one of the best). Over the past few months, I finally attended an assortment of their classes and fell in love!! In this post, you’ll read about the specific classes I attended as well as the history of TableSpoon Cooking Co. from my sit down with the owner, Jordan Hamons. Read more

Austin: Let’s Talk Food!!

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When I told friends I was traveling to Austin for a short period of time, everyone raved about how great the food is and threw out multiple locations to try. I knew Austin was known for good food, but I wasn’t sure of what besides tacos and BBQ. I mean, the full state of Texas is known for those specialties. What I was pleasantly surprised with were the many restaurants that fell out of this scope that were also delicious. I was only there for a short period of time but am proud to say I conquered a lot. Here is the list I’ve gathered of great places to visit next time you’re in the city (judge me not if I left a few top places out… my belly is only so big ).

 

Torchy’s Tacos

This restaurant came highly recommended by a friend of mine who used to live in Texas. I was told I MUST get the queso. Now I completely understand why. What I love about it was the topping of guacamole, cotija cheese, cilantro, and diablo sauce. If you’re like me, you’re one that has a hard time deciding between guac and queso. With this, it all comes in one. For. The. Win!! It also was seasoned perfectly and comes with a generous amount of chips.

 

Now for the tacos… I would suggest looking at the menu in advance. They offer such a large variety of unique combinations that it’ll have you staring at the menu for a while- in a good way (unless you’re getting hangry). Luckily the waiter working the bar counter helped me with a few suggestions:

The Fried Avocado- Topped with refried pinto beans, pico, lettuce, cheddar jack cheese, and poblano sauce- unique and perfect for vegetarians

The Crossroads- Topped with smoked beef brisket, grilled onions, jalapenos, cilantro, avocado, jack cheese, and tomatillo sauce

The Trailer Park- Topped with fried chicken, green chiles, lettuce, pico, cheddar jack cheese, and poblano sauce

All of them were VERY tasty, but my favorite, hands down, was the Crossroads, which I was told was also one of the most popular.

Torchy’s is such a quick and easy place to dine in with great Tex-Mex food. For sure give them a try!

 

Suerte

If you’re looking for a slightly upscale, hip Mexican restaurant, Suerte is the place to be. They are fairly new and have already won quite a few awards. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and has a nice patio should weather permit you to sit outdoors. What I loved about Suerte was how friendly the staff was and how everyone helped each other. It appeared as if there was no single waiter assigned to a table because they all pitched in.

I will say the food is a bit pricey, but it is also delish! It’s one of those restaurants where, along with the quality of food, you are paying for the experience as well. Their menu comes in small plates so keep this in mind. If you’re looking to get full, you are looking to spend a pretty good amount of money. However, you will not be disappointed if you do. I ordered the Huarache with smoked chicken, salsa verde, and manchego cheese + another item that has now been taken off of the menu! Forgive me, I forgot the name, but trust me, it was great!

 

Gus’s Fried Chicken

Gus’s fried chicken is not only in Austin, but since it was my first and only time having it, I want to take a moment to talk about it. Ya’ll… fried chicken speaks to my soul! And Gus’s Fried Chicken got it RIGHT! Their chicken was crispy, but not with a hard crunch (major bonus) and had a slight spice to it, but not enough for someone who doesn’t like spicy food to dislike it (another major bonus). You can eat inside or take it to go. It’s a great place to take the family for a quick bite. The sides are also pretty good. I went for the mac n cheese and greens which you really can’t go wrong with when pairing with fried chicken. If I had more time I would have absolutely gone back. If you have a Gus’s near you, GO! You’re in for a real treat!

Ciclo

First off, if you know anything about Four Seasons hotels, you know they all have amazing restaurants. The Four Seasons in downtown Austin was no exception. Their restaurant is called Ciclo and was fantastic! Ciclo is a modern Texas kitchen featuring locally inspired flavors and ingredients with a Latin influence (umm… YUMM!) Between the patio, the live music, the perfect plating, and incredible food, I was in heaven! They also have great drinks. I would highly suggest one of craft cocktails such as the Music City Blues (rosemary-infused waterloo #9 gin + blueberry-honey water + lemon). Ok… I know you’re reading this for the food, so let me get to it.

To start, I ordered the sweet corn empanadas. They were the perfect balance of sweet and salty. Empanadas are one of my menu go-tos so to find that it was perfectly buttery and flaky was awesome! For my entrée, I ordered the Lomo Saltado which was seared beef tenderloin + creamy jasmine rice + tomato + onion + cilantro + crispy potato + soy sauce jus. Super tasty! This restaurant was also pricey (to be expected at a Four Seasons), but it is so well worth the money. I could have sat on their patio and ate their food every day of the trip and been perfectly ok with it.

 

Next up.. Soursop

Soursop is a Pan-Asian food truck that has been open for 2 years and they are crazyyy good! If you’ve noticed, it’s rare for me to get just one item, even if it’s just me, because I like to get a true feel for the food vibe and their taste patterns. It was no different here. I ordered the riblets with sweet chili, honey, lime, toasted rice powder, cilantro and the waterburger with melted cheese, thai basil ranch, waterfal slaw. I was soooo satisfied. I literally could not stop eating the riblets, which made it hard to finish the burger, but I sure gave it my best effort. The Asian flavors were spot on!

Although they are a food truck, they have plenty of picnic tables outside. They are also connected to a brewery that welcomes you to come in and use their tables to eat- even if you aren’t ordering beer. Soursop is definitely a palette pleaser!

 

Here Nor There

Here Nor There is a Speakeasy that was recommended to me by one of my friends. If you’re in town, you must jump on the opportunity to go quickly. The first thing to do is download their app. From there, you sign up as a guest by linking your account to LinkedIn (yes… real official) then request a reservation. They will then contact you to confirm your reservation. They get very busy – especially on the weekends- so try to do so in advance.

Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures or videos because they are not allowed! I really appreciated this because it almost forced everyone to keep their phones away. Use your imagination with me for a second…. Imagine walking down a private street that you can’t get into unless you enter a private code. Then imagine walking down stairs that make you feel like you’re going into a dungeon (a little freaky but keep going…) Now imagine walking into a dim room that is GORGEOUS and filled with soft, elegant décor with comfy couches, private booth space, a bar, and the best cocktails you will probably ever have in your life. This entire experience was like no other. Any time I am in Austin in the future, Here Nor There will absolutely be on the list. The secrecy of it made it even better!

 

Franklin Barbecue

Last but not least… Franklin Barbecue! Because did you really go to Austin if you didn’t eat the BBQ??? I don’t think so! I was warned about the long lines and was referred to other BBQ restaurants in the area if I didn’t want to wait, but Franklin showed up on just about every list of top places to eat so I felt like I had to try it out. I thought if I just got there right around when it opened, the line wouldn’t be that long. WRONG! I arrived 30 minutes after they opened and the wait was almost 2 hours. Thank GOODNESS I met the best people in line, Alex and Joe who saved my spot while I checked out of my hotel and prepared for my flight home. Yay for new friends! If it weren’t for them, I would have either missed my flight or not gotten to try them out (The food was so good that I just might have been ok with missing the flight). I ordered the brisket, ribs, sausage and potato salad and Whew!  It was some of the best BBQ I’ve ever had. Especially the ribs!!!!! If I had to wait 2 hours again just for them, I would! In the heat! Pro tips for this place: 1. Get there before they open. Like, way before. 2. Get comfy and grab a lawn chair. They have plenty of them waiting for you. 3. Be patient. We all want the good food, but good food takes time!

Considering I was only in Austin for 3.5 days, I’d say I did pretty darn good exploring the food. With as good as I ate, I would hop at the chance to go back and dive even deeper. If you’ve been, leave a comment with your favorite locations! Hopefully you were as stuffed and satisfied as I was!

Happy Austin Eating!

June Is Ohio Wine Month!!

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Did you all know June is Ohio Wine Month?!! Well, ladies and gents, it sure is! If this was news to you too, no worries! You’re just in time to start celebrating for the second half of the month! Pursuit of Delights partnered with Ohio Wines to visit one of their official wineries- which means the wine is made in Ohio and grapes grown in Ohio.  It was so hard to choose just one, as there are over 300! In the end, we kept it local and visited the top-rated wine shop in Cincinnati… Henke Winery. How we’d never been there before is still a surprise to us, but we are so glad we finally did!

Henky Winery is an urban winery located in the West Side of Cincinnati. They have been established since 1996. When we entered, it felt as if we walked into one of our family member’s home (who happened to be serving delicious wine ). They’ve grown to become one of the top urban wineries and have won a multitude of medals such as one of their most recent- Top 10 Urban Wineries by Wine Enthusiasts! How impressive! The size is also quite surprising. It is much larger than it appears to be with multiple rooms. Accommodating many guests would be possible even though it may not look it from the outside.

What we love about them is all their wines are made in their own cellar. I assumed they would have a small selection, but there are multiple dry, sweet, and sparkling red and white options to choose from. If you’re unsure of what to get, start with a tasting! You will receive five selected wines for $10 and get to keep the glass! Whoop! My favorite white was the Chardonnay which won a double gold in the Ohio wine competition. For red, my favorite was the Norton, which is made from an American grape. Thomas Jefferson said this was probably one of the best American grapes to make wine from. These grapes are grown in Winchester, which is about 75 miles away. Henke certainly would’ve made Thomas Jefferson proud with their Norton! As if your selection was not hard enough, they also have 3 more coming back soon: The Sparkling Wine, Rose´, and Cranberry Apple (I personally cannot WAIT to try this one!)

I want to also take a moment to talk about the food options offered. Their food is American/eclectic with a variety of appetizers, salads, soups, entrees, and desserts. We began with the cheese and charcuterie board, which you really can’t go wrong with. It’s a great way to snack while continuing with your tasting. For entrees, we ordered the Atlantic Cod Filet (which came with a side and salad) and the Linguini Carbonara. They were both fantastic and cooked perfectly. The carbonara could have easily been two meals for anyone. I would also recommend adding a bread basket considering you may be drinking a decent amount of wine!

This was such a cute winery to visit! I was pleasantly surprised by the amazing wine and rich food. You can see their full wine selection and food menu by visiting their website. In preparation for the weekend, we hope you take the time to visit one of the Ohio wineries in celebration of Ohio Wine month! We highly recommend Henke Winery, as it’s charming, has great wine, and the owner Joe is extremely personable and certainly knows his wine! Their metals decorate every room so as soon as you walk in the door, you’ll know you’re in for a great treat!

If you want to explore additional locations, you can find a full list of the certified Ohio Wineries here. Maybe we’ll even see you at one! :)

 

Cheers and Happy Wine Month!

Friday Feature: Taste of Cincinnati

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If you’re a true Cincinnatian, you know the Taste of Cincinnati comes to the downtown area every Memorial Day weekend. Some people plan their weekend around it, knowing there is no chance they’ll miss it. Others plan their weekend around avoiding the area due to the traffic and crowd. I am one who tries to attend every year- even more now since moving to downtown. So how did 2019 compare to previous years? Read on to find out! Read more

Old European Charm at Grand Finale!

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Sunday Sunrise

While Cincinnati and the surrounding areas are known for up and coming restaurants, we can’t forget about the oldies that started this restaurant thing many years ago. Many years ago, like 43.5 years to be exact. That’s right, Grand Finale opened in August of 1975. Grand Finale has serviced many clients over the years. In fact, their clientele is generational. Families who have discovered Grand Finale, introduce their children to the restaurant who in turn introduce their children. It is a unique phenomena. Pursuit of Delights is no stranger to the new kids on the block, but interesting enough we wanted to see how the old heads do it. We had a chance to give Grand Finale a try and wanted to give you a quick behind the scenes look at what they have to offer. Let’s take a walk through this old yet charming establishment.

 

The Puff

Warm Mixed Berry Cobbler

Why should you even stay for the Grand Finale? That’s an amazing question! The Grand Finale Restaurant started out as a dessert restaurant. Hence their name “Grand Finale”. I guess the saying “Save the best for last” holds true in some cases, especially this one. You have to save room for their dessert. They are a nice portion and their desserts are pretty tasty. The originators, Cindy & Larry Youse, retired in 2006. At that point in time, they sold the business to their tenured management team. In which the current owner, Virginia Chambers, started working for them in February 1977. She has taken pride in the restaurant’s original European concept as well as the buildings Old European charm. She has kept many things the same as when the restaurant first opened; as well as, adding a few new things to help keep the interest of the younger crowd. Hospitability, Old European charm, and great food are the key elements that Virginia and her team stand behind to continue the legacy started almost 44 years ago.

In most up and coming restaurants, they have more of a new century modern vibe with little to medium space to accommodate large groups. However, Grand Finale provides a spacious dining area where generational families can continue to enjoy a dinner together. Don’t have a large group, that’s ok because they can also accommodate date night for 2 people, or a couple’s date night for 4 or more. Grand Finale prides itself on its ambience and décor dedicated to the originators’ influences of their travels in Europe but mostly maintaining the actual history of the building. The building was built in the late 1850’s. During that era, it was a Saloon and a grocery store. The tin ceiling in the main dining room is original; the back bar in the main dining room came from the Florentine Inn in Germantown, Ohio; the back bar in the cabernet room came from a barber shop in Hyde Park; the chandelier in the tea room came from a West Virginia mansion. They built the brick garden room with a touch of New Orleans in its design. The décor reflects a country French flair with antique furnishings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Their menu has something on it for everyone! Larry’s passion in creating the menu was all about the sauces. In 1975, as their menu evolved from desserts to light country French foods; Quiche, crepes, soups & homemade breads & desserts. Over the years, their scratch kitchen, has expanded the menu to include steak, chicken, fresh fish & pasta concepts. We had the pleasure to sit down and try multiple menu items they have to offer as well as a few drinks. We tried the Bacon, Lobster & Sundried Tomato Deviled Eggs, the House Salad, the Bleu BLT Wedge, Kielbasa & Lentil Soup (special), Steak, Chicken Ginger, Rosemary Potato Gratin, and of course the GRAND FINALE – dessert, The Puff and the Warm Mixed Berry Cobbler. Talk about having to be rolled out of there. We left stuffed! They also have fun and tasty drinks. We tried the Sunday Sunrise, Pomegranate Margarita, and the Blue Cranberry. We also hear guests travel far and wide for their Chicken Ginger, Spinach or Mushroom Crepe, Avocado Salad Dressing & The Puff. Also, if you love brunch as much as we do, you can join them for Sunday Brunch on Sunday’s from 10:30 am – 2:30 pm. It’s a buffet, so come hungry!

We asked Virginia what makes Grand Finale unique. Her response was, “I’m not sure it is any one given thing – devoted customers, loyal staff (we have a ten+ year team member list on our menus), recipes that have stood the taste test of time, and consistency to name a few.” While Cincinnati does have a lot of new kids on the block, we can never forget about the legacies that are still around. Even though they have now been in business for over 40 years, reminding people that they are here is important. With that being said, remember it’s always polite to pay homage and “Respect your elders” 😉! Go give them a visit!

Warm Mixed Berry Cobbler & The Puff

 

Grand Finale Website

We’re Fired Up For Fiery Hen!

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Downtown Cincinnati is no stranger to up and coming restaurants. It seems like every month there is something new- and we’re certainly not complaining about it! When we heard Dan Swormstedt, owner of Court Street Lobster, was launching a new restaurant centered around Nashville hot chicken, we were all over it! We sat down with Dan and chef Clint Walker to talk all things chicken and more…

Welcome to the Fiery Hen

Photo Credit: Sam Greenhill

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Cincinnati’s Hottest New Restaurant: LouVino

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If you live in Cincinnati or the surrounding area, surely you have heard of LouVino, one of Cincinnati’s newest restaurants. If you haven’t heard of them or dined in… where have you been?! :) For those who might not know, LouVino is a Southern inspired, small plate restaurant and wine bar located on Main Street downtown. They are originally based out of Louisville, with their name deriving from a combination of Louisville + Wine. Although they have only been opened locally since August, their reputation has spread like wildfire. Cincinnatians began flocking to their doors as soon as they opened and have not stopped.

Biscuits and Gravy

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A Weekend of Unique Chicago Dining

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I’ve been to Chicago many times and can offer suggestions on the traditional, delicious restaurants to dine in. You would surely leave satisfied with a full belly from each. On our recent trip to the Windy City, we were set out to experience something different than your typical Chicago Dog and Deep-Dish Pizza.  Our mission was quite successful, which makes me happy to share it with you. Whether you live in Chicago or are visiting for a short while, below are 3 dining experiences that will leave your mouth watering for more! Read more

French Food and Beverage Federation- Holiday Addition

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If you have been following this blog for some time, you may have seen our French Food and Beverage Foundation review. In short, they ship you a box of French food directly from France. The variation of products is unique and really tasty! They were so good that I decided to check out their holiday box! Once again, the options came in a decorative box- (using French colors of course) which quickly made me excited about what was inside!

In the box this time, the options were mainly centered around satisfying the sweet tooth. This was perfect for the holiday party I had coming up. To start, I sprinkled the Gavottes crispy crepes around the tables, which happened to be gone in a flash! It was clearly hard for people to eat just one- including myself! The Les Comtes de Provence Organic Raspberry Fruit Spread and Bonne Maman Lemon Curd were used as a spread on crackers. They were so simple, but so delicious. If you happen to mix them together, you will have the perfect balance of sweet and tangy! Lastly, I had a raffle drawing for the Mi-Cho-Ko caramel. The only thing I regret was that I didn’t keep it for myself after hearing about how good it was! 😉

The box was not empty yet! There was one more item there- the Camargue sea salt! Although this was not used for the party, I can’t wait to bake many savory and sweet dishes with it! It will certainly be of great use! 

Considering I have raved about both boxes, it should be of no surprise to hear me say you should try them out! You will get fun and original options that’ll leave no room for disappointment!

Enjoy!

Flying into Aladdin’s Eatery

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Where can you get amazing, authentic Mediterranean food while being surrounding by hip decor and a cool bar? Aladdin’s Eatery in Downtown Cincinnati! If you have been a subscriber to Pursuit of Delights for some time, you may have noticed we do not feature chain restaurants often. However, after dining at Aladdin’s newly opened location, we had to make an exception! The menu might be the same, but the vibe has been kicked up to make for a fun, yet welcoming experience.

 

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