Supporting Women Owned Businesses in Ohio

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Hey Everyone! If you have been keeping up with the blog, you know we partnered with Ohio.findithere
in June and July, which was A-MAZING! Well, guess what? We still aren’t done! We’re back for another
month and have a treat for you! Since August included National Women’s Day (August 9th ) and Women’s
Equality Day (August 26th ), it was more than appropriate for us to spend the month dedicating our time to Women Owned
Businesses in the city! We’ve selected 10 incredible women and couldn’t be more excited to highlight
them and all they have done! There may or may not be a bonus at the end as well ;)

Let’s jump right in!

1. The Rhined/Oakley Wines

Calling all cheese lovers!

A few years ago, a cheese and wine shop was just what the city needed! Thankfully, The Rhined
was opened by Stephanie Webster in 2017 and they’ve gone nowhere but up since then.
Stephanie did not have a background in cheese and wine, but she knew she loved it. She then
studied it extensively and has brought only the best to her OTR shop for our pleasures. Similar to
most of their guests, we have been many times and certainly won’t be stopping any time soon.
They developed a variety of offerings that we’ve experienced such as wine and cheese
pairings, raclette night (a MUST!), and/or simply to pick up great cheese and wine to enjoy at
home. They have been so successful that they acquired Oakley Wines, which now holds most of
the events. Talk about a success story! They have some of the best cheese boards in the city and
also developed mini boxes to go to treat yourself during quarantine. One thing I’m looking
forward to them bringing back (hopefully!) is the sandwich feature each week using local
ingredients and of course cheese sold in the shop. I used to wait in anticipation every week for it
and am so ready to have that feeling again! When/if they bring back this feature, be
ready….they sell out fast! Stephanie is the perfect example of not letting your experience stop
you from going after your dreams. She learned and executed!

2.Homemakers

What happens when you bring two fierce women together? Duhhhh. An awesome business is started!
Julie Petiprin and Catherin Manabat (who are the sweetest!) opened Homemaker’s Bar mid-2019.
We had the pleasure of attending their sneak peek back then and have loved it ever since. It is a craft
cocktail bar with a retro vibe. I say bar, but it can be used for much more, including private events. Prior
to Covid, they held many events (of which we also attended) including mixology classes, events at
Washington Park, pairing with popular food vendors (such at Pataroja Tacos) and much more. The
pandemic halted many businesses, but Homemaker’s found a way to keep their originality while also
reinventing themselves. Introducing… Outpost! Homemaker’s opened the space in the back of their
main location and created Outpost, which is a fun, outdoor, socially distanced, cocktail bar. When the
weather is nice, it’s the best way to enjoy fun in the sun with your favorite Homemaker’s cocktails! Oh,
and, did I mention they have food? I mean, you definitely want something to soak up whatever cocktail
you’re having. The menu changes often, but take it from us- if they have Mac n’ Cheese on the menu,
order it! You won’t be disappointed! There already aren’t many women owned bars in the area, but to
have one that is such a fun experience with the cutest décor and outdoor space is certainly worth celebrating!

3.Nostalgia

And now…the much anticipated… Nostalgia, the newest jazz and wine lounge in OTR (they just
opened a week ago!). When I heard the city was getting a hip jazz and wine lounge, I was

ecstatic! There’s literally not much more that I need on a nice night out. Finding out it was also
woman and black owned was another reason for me to be so excited. The owner, Tammy Scott
has done an excellent job of creating an intimate space that is fitting for all crowds. They have
over 40 wines by the glass or bottle, of which 8 are on tap! What I really love is they are
highlighting women and minority winemakers and producers. I call that “lifting as you climb”
and sharing the love! Remember where we highlighted The Rhined above? Well their
charcuterie boards will be available to pair with your wine as well.

For the music lovers, there will be traditional live jazz performances on Thursdays and Sundays

and jazz and soul live performances on Fridays and Saturdays. I love it!

Kudos to Tammy for bringing DC and NYC to Cincy. If you ever need to find me or get in contact

with me, search here first. It’s likely where I’ll be!

Now that we’ve covered cheese, wine, cocktails and jazz, let’s transition to FOOD!

  • Photo courtesy of City Beat
  • Photo Courtesy of City Beat
  • Photo Courtesy of Nostalgia

4.Yee Mama

Who doesn’t love wontons??? (If you don’t, I’m side-eyeing you right now). Yee Mama is the new pop-
up, operating out of Findlay Kitchen. Fun fact, we’ve followed the owner Chiuyee Cheng’s influencer
page (@eating4three) for years and have always admired the home cooked meals she would add in.
They are beautiful, authentic and look super tasty! So, when she announced that she was launching Yee
Mama, we were READY! Chiuyee is originally from Hong Kong and has thankfully brought the Cantonese
flavors right to Ohio. She offers a variety of wonton kits that are sold by the dozen and come with
everything you’ll need (your choice of sauce, herbs and instructions). Even if you don’t know how to
cook, I promise it is easy to do. I ordered some a few weeks ago and devoured them in what felt like 5
seconds. Lol The flavor was incredible! I could tell she put so much love and thought it each wonton
which, I’m convinced, makes it extra delicious! Her ordering goes live every Sunday at noon. If you think
you can wait until 12:15 or 12:30 and still get some, you’re wrong! It took me a few weeks to order
because they would sell out so quickly. Now, having them, I completely understand why. So set your

alarm and order right at 12!

I love how Chiuyee stayed true to her culture and turned her love for it and for cooking into a business. I
can’t wait to see what else is in story for her considering how successful she’s been after being opened

for just under a month. Congrats to you, lady!

5.Cherbourg Cyprus

I know we have Vegan readers out there right?! Well this one is for you! Geri Peacock opened
Cherbourg Cyprus in OTR a few years back (2017) and is perfect for all of the sweet fanatics out
there who may not be able to eat all things. Not only do they specialize in gluten free treats;
they are also nut free. Personally, this is amazing for me because I found out I had a food
sensitivity to gluten and an allergy to certain nuts. For some, this may be discouraging, but
thankfully, Cherbourg Cyprus’ sweets are just as delicious as any other shop. What most don’t
know is this is their second location. The original one is in Columbus (which I heard many people
would drive to before it came to Cincinnati). What I really love about the owner is she took her

own struggle with Celiac disease and turned it into this beautiful bakery that will allow so many

others to enjoy the things they love. We thank YOU Geri!

Now that you’ve had all of the great food and drinks, let’s focus on pampering yourself and keeping your
skin together!

6.Pure Beauty Skin Bar

Pure Beauty Skin Bar was founded by Sylvia Brownlee. Not only is this business woman-
owned, it is also black-owned! This boss babe specializes in the treatment and prevention of acne, as
well as hyperpigmentation. I’d like to say she has “Magic Hands”. I’ve personally experienced her facials
and they are so relaxing. Now, relaxing is great, but they also need to be effective. Sylvia does an
awesome job of balancing the two. Between the facial and her products, I have to say my skin is
GLOWING! I have also seen her work on others, and she has absolutely transformed their skin. It’s both
exciting and comforting to watch and experience. If you are unsure of what facial to get or what
products to use, she offers consultations to ensure you have the best experience for YOU! Many people
don’t know, but she also does waxing. How perfect is it that you can get your facial and grooming done
in one place. She is also very personable and will make you feel as if you are speaking with a long-time
friend. Remember to stay consistent with this one! Keep your skin in her care!

7.Spruce Nail Shop

I love that Molly Reckman Nagle opened such a cute nail salon downtown! But this isn’t just

your ordinary nail shop. As said on their website:

“Spruce Nail Shop is the natural answer to your neighborhood nail salon. It is our mission to use
the safest alternatives for polishes, products, and practices, while creating one of a kind

manicures and nail art designs for our clients.”

If taking the natural route is important to you, they are the ones to go to. They have rave
reviews from their regulars. If you look at their Instagram and website, you will see such a clean
space filled with lots of color. It makes you feel so in the element, even from afar. They are also
known for their lovely designs that can be added on. Molly has done such a great job with the
space and staying true to her vision and standards. This led her to moving to a larger space at

Findlay Market. No matter where they’re located, we support!!

  • Photos courtesy of Libby Bartley
  • Photo courtesy of Libby Bartley

8.Prism Nail Lounge

Prism Nail LoungeMany people are still nervous about Covid-19 which has caused them to hold off on getting certain pampering services. What I absolutely love about Prism is it is operated solely by the owner, Thy Nghiem. Thy opened Prism early in 2020 with the intention to expand her staff, but Covid halted those plans for her. It actually has worked out great because, as a customer, I do not have to worry about many other people being in the lounge at the same time and she is able to put her sole focus on you!
As for her services, Thy has done an excellent job on both my manicures and pedicures. I have referred many friends there and they have all raves about it as well. I also love the ease of her online booking system. Clarity and efficiency are so important these days! 


Thoroughness, cleanliness and safety…can’t beat that! Thank you, Thy, for opening such a beautiful space and for keeping us all safe! 

Ok….we’ve talked food, drinks, music, and pampering. Now let’s go shopping!

9.The Native One

Y’all ….we are suckers for cute boutiques! And thank goodness for The Native One, opened by Anna
Steffen. They have quite the success story as well. Their first brick and mortar opened in 2018 and has
been a huge success! Shoppers from the suburbs and city can be found sporting their clothes (which also
can be purchased online). They’ve done so well that they opened a second location in Covington, KY last
year and are moving their OTR location into a much larger space across the street. You go girl!
They specialize in rompers, oversized apparel, and many other super cute items. You will also find home
décor, candles, cards, plants, and other crafted items. I love when a store is multi-dimensional with their
products. Every time I go in I have to stop myself from buying everything on the rack. If you see
something, act quick because they don’t care a bulk amount of the same thing. That means you won’t
see everyone walking around with exactly what you have one! Anna, thank you for carrying cute,

creative pieces for women of all sizes!

10.BINO (Be In Not Of)

Last, but not least… Beinnotof. This one is near and dear to my heart because it is faith based. Anyone
who knows me knows how serious I take being a Christ follower. BINO is a Christian based
communicated created by Niyah Simone. Although the community has been around for quite some
time, she recently launched her BINO clothing line. The line is made up of handcrated, sustainable, one-
of-a-kind tees and sweatshirts. It launched on August 8 th and almost sold out of every piece they had. If
you missed the launch, you can visit their website to order one (and only you will have that specific
design). They produce in small batches (quality over quantity), use thrifted materials, and are working
towards keeping the local economy sustainable. I love everything they stand for and absolutely love my

pieces.

There are a lot of people walking around in faith-based shirts and that just makes my heart (and heaven)

smile. Keep walking bolding into all God has called you to Niyah!

  • Photo by Kimberly Strunk (and yes, that’s Tiff D. lol)
  • Photo by Kimberly Strunk
  • Photo by Kimberly Strunk

BONUS FEATURE:

Surely you didn’t think we were going to close out the post without mentioning our very own: Tiffany Biddle!

11.Sweet Mae’s Cookie Co
For a little background, I am a cookie fiend and always have been. My family appropriately calls me
“Cookie Monster”. So imagine how happy I was to find out the other half of Pursuit of Delights, Tiff B.,

was launching a cookie line!


Let me introduce you to Sweet Mae’s.

Sweet Mae’s is a brand-new cookie line that will officially launch on September 8th . They are homemade
premium stuffed cookies with a southern accent (That comes directly off their label and I love it!) For
anyone that doesn’t know, Tiff B. grew up in the south and developed the flavors from her experience
there. I, Tiff D., have had the honor of being the “OTT- Official Taste Tester” as she perfected and
finalized her flavors and let me tell you…..no joke….they are some of THE BEST cookies I’ve ever had.
They are each stuffed with the most amazing fillings. Everyone who I have purchased or shared some
with have raved about them. My favorites so far are the carrot cake and apple pie, but each one is
amazing. What I love is they have a flavor for everyone’s palette. If you like citrus, she’s got you. If you
like chocolate, she has that too. I am so proud of my blog partner, little sister, and friend for taking the

time to get it RIGHT. I believe in you and know this will be a huge hit!

There you have it folks! Amazing ladies who are paving the way. I am so proud of all of these women and the many others who are following their callings and not taking
“no” for an answer. We see you and celebrate you! Cheers to each of you! I can’t wait to see how the

pandemic down time has launched even more of us into launching new businesses.

If you want to support additional women-owned businesses, Ohio.findithere has customized an Ohio “Women in History” tour
highlighting specific ones! Click here to access it!

That’s all for now! Be sure to support these wonderful women!

Revolving Rotisserie Around A New Way of Life

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Cincinnati’s food scene has always been on the rise. It seemed there for awhile, there was something new opening every month. This was certainly music to our ears, especially with our love for food and being foodies. In recent months COVID-19 has taken over and has put a slight delay to restaurants opening. However, there is one restaurant that is not letting COVID rain on their parade. Revolution Rotisserie is open for business, doing well, and thriving in spite of the pandemic. When we heard Nick Pesola, owner of Revolution Rotisserie, was continuing to sell his well-known Rotisserie Chicken not letting COVID bring him down, we had to support! We sat down with Nick to talk all things Rotisserie Chicken and more.

You may wonder where the concept of rotisserie chicken came from and why. Well, wonder no more! In the summer of 2014, at the age of 25, Nick, opened a gourmet rotisserie chicken tent at Findlay Market. This was Nick’s Dream and he was determined to prove he and his rotisserie chicken were here to stay. That summer he sold so many of his signature “Chitas” and rotisserie chickens. He could not keep the rotisserie stocked fast enough with his delicious chickens. After so much positive feedback, Nick knew it was time to expand his concept and open a brick-and-mortar location in Cincinnati. It was at his OTR location that Nick added full-service hospitality and a bar program for Revolution to become a “Rotisserie & Bar.” This location did well enough that he opened a 2nd location in Pleasant Ridge. Nick has always been self-motivated and driven. His mission for Revolution Rotisserie is to make a positive impact on the world around him. Revolution initially came from the chicken rotisserie revolving. Over the years, the meaning of “Revolution” has evolved and become so much more. On their menu, they pay homage to revolutionaries who changed the world. Even their walls are decorated with hip, revolutionary-inspired artwork you will not find anywhere else but within their restaurants.

  • Nelson Mandela Chita (Front), Tater Tots (center) & George Washington Chita (back)
  • Nick Pesola, Owner of Revolution Rotisserie

Both locations serve amazing food, but Rotisserie Chicken is always the focal point. Nick loved the concept of rotisserie chicken because it was different. It also has many applications (i.e. sandwiches, salad, by itself, and more). We can vouch that his chicken is DEEEELIICIOUS! Tender and full of flavor, and served with some amazing sauces. At Revolution Rotisserie, they brine, rub and then cook their chicken on an actual revolving rotisserie. Yes, you are getting the real deal! They support local Ohio businesses and source their chicken from Ohio Amish farms. We sat down with Nick at his Pleasant Ridge location. There is enough space for everyone to safely eat 6 ft. apart during this pandemic. They also have a nice outdoor patio with the cutest little picnic tables and umbrellas.

  • Rotisserie Chicken
  • Pollo A La Brasa

Their menu is diverse and has an option for everyone while still allowing rotisserie chicken to be the forefront. Anyone can add rotisserie chicken as a menu item, but what about alternative options? Their chicken is the bomb, but Nick wanted to meet the tasting needs of everyone. Nick and his GM, Scott, collaborate on different food items to be placed on the menu. Menu planning always sparks a fire for Nick. Making food this good is a labor of love! In addition to rotisserie chicken, you can order Fancy Fries, Joan of Arc, Gracie’s Coney, Nelson Mandela Chita, Lightning Fried Chicken Sandwich, Tater Tots, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, and many more items. The Joan of Arc is their most popular seasonal salad and their Lightning Fried Chicken Sandwich is the most popular sandwich. The Joan of Arc is full of berries and is light. It adds the perfect pop to summer. The fried chicken sandwich is so good and comes with the Fiery Lightning Sauce. This will be sure to add a punch to your taste buds. Would you believe this sandwich just started as something to offer during the Western Southern Open? It did so well during the tennis tournament, that it became a regular menu staple. Also, Gracie’s Coney is named after the neighbor’s dog who Nick drilled holes into the neighbor’s building to hang patio lights. Man, that is one lucky dog! This hotdog is something serious. This hot dog is an all-beef hot dog, loaded with Vegetarian Chili, Cheddar Cheese and topped with Mustard & Red Onion. Served on a local Poppy Seed Bun. This dog might make you want to slap your mama. However, we would not advise that. HAHA! If you have a sweet tooth this is the place for you. Revolution Rotisserie serves some amazing desserts. I had their Blueberry Pie with a scoop of Vanilla Bean ice cream from Milkman Ice Cream and Donuts. This was the best Blueberry Pie I have ever had. The other Tiff had one scoop each of Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Raspberry Sorbet on a cone. Speaking of Milkman, check out Nick’s new concept Milkman Ice Cream & Donuts. My oh my, was that ice cream perfect on a hot summer day and we heard the donuts sell out in 40 minutes of being released. You better hurry if you do not want to miss out!

  • Tiff B. eating the Lightning Fried Chicken Sandwich
  • Shirley Temple Cocktail
  • Apple Pie
  • Mac & Cheese
  • Moscow Mule
  • Peach Pie
  • Fancy Fries
  • Rose Sangria
  • Joan of Arc
  • Lightning Fried Chicken Sandwich
  • Spicy Margarita
  • Gracie’s Coney
  • Blueberry Pie & A Scoop of Milkman’s Ice Cream
  • Tiff D. and her Milkman Ice Cream Cone

They also offer brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 am to 2 pm. They have a brunch menu, but the regular dining menu is offered as well. Some of the brunch items are Chicken and Waffles and Nashville Hot Fried Chicken Biscuit. They also have drink specials like $5 mimosas.

Chicken & Waffles

We can say Nick truly believes in warm hospitality, serving great food and drinks, and bringing people together for a good time even if it means wearing a mask and staying 6 ft apart. He is very big on impacting the world and being the change he wants to see. He finds a cause and dream that he believes in and sees it to the finish line. So come hungry, bring some friends (not to many, remember social distancing, LOL), grab a drink or two and have an unforgettable time and meal at a revolutionary place.

A Labor Of Love!!

An Adventurous Day in Yellowsprings, OH

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Summer is here and that means sunny, hot days, sightseeing, shopping, biking, and eating. All the things Pursuit of Delights loves! Are you looking for an affordable, fun, and outdoor adventurous day in Ohio? If the answer was yes, you are in for something amazing. We recommend taking a mini day trip to Yellowsprings, OH. It is a quick and easy travel destination that is within 100 miles of Cincinnati. It’s perfect for all ages and interest, with biking and hiking trails, tons of shops on the strip, and cafes for a fabulous meal. This will still feel like a mini getaway right in your backyard. This will be a day spent exploring and enjoying the outdoors. Most activities are within walking distance from one another while others are a short drive away. There is surely something for everyone. OHHH and did we mention everything can be done even in the middle of a pandemic with all the necessary health precautions in place. Wearing a mask and being 6ft apart does not have to put a wrench in your summer plans. We have partnered with Ohio.Find It Here to bring awareness to a fun unexpected travel destination to visit. Whether you live in Cincinnati, Dayton or making this destination a road trip, we have planned out a fun filled mini day to a place right under your nose.

Tip: If you do want to make this a full day or weekend trip, Mills Park hotel is located at the end of Xenia Ave. They offer nice lodging with a nice restaurant and bakery named Ellie’s located inside. Ellie’s food is amazing, and they offer some amazing pastries. If you’re a nature lover, another lodging option that Yellowsprings is known for is camping. Bring your tent and head to the campgrounds for a night under the stars.

Let’s Talk Over Lunch!

It is a Friday afternoon and there is no time to loss! Let’s get the weekend started off right. Wake up, get your Friday morning things done, and hit the road to Yellowsprings for an afternoon mini day trip. We want you to be able to enjoy every bit of what Yellowsprings has to offer. Before you get your afternoon started, we highly recommend fueling up with a delicious meal at one of the cafes or restaurants on the strip. Once we arrived, we grabbed a bite to eat at Ye Olde Trail Tavern. They are Ohio’s Oldest Tavern. If you love an outdoor patio, this is the place for you. We grabbed a table on the outdoor patio to enjoy our meal. You can grab a quick and light meal while people watching, soaking up the sun, and talking over lunch. The patio was super spacious, clean, and guest were seated 6 ft. apart. We enjoyed the Bourbon Chicken Salad. It was light, fresh, and came with the most tender pieces of chicken covered in Bourbon glaze. This meal was delicious and the perfect meal to give us fuel for our activities.

Shop Till You Drop!

Now that your belly is happy, your full and have some energy, it is time to shop till you drop! This cute and unique location is made up of a long strip full of shops and restaurants with another street over with more shops. It makes everything so convenient to access. From clothing stores, glass blown art shops, t-shirt shops, to toy stores, there is something that interest everyone in your party. Not interested in buying anything, no problem. It is nice just to walk around and see what all the stores have to offer. The sales associates of the stores that we stopped in were super friendly and welcoming.

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For Twisted Ice Cream!

It’s now time for what you really came on a getaway for, the good eats! You cannot come to Yellowsprings and not stop by The Corner Cone. This little cute shack is your go-to stop in the area for soft serve ice cream, hot dogs and renting bikes. Located at S Walnut St., which is one street over from Xenia, this cute food shack offers tons of different flavors of soft serve. While flavors are fun sometimes, we like to keep things basic. One of the Tiffs settled for a vanilla and chocolate twist served on a cone. It was so delicious, and the cone added the perfect crunch. This is also the only location that offers bike rentals to take on the biking trails or just to simply ride around in the area.

Let’s Go For A Ride!

Don’t worry, there is no need to watch your waistline or count calories. Now that you’ve had that ice cream cone, it’s time to work it off! One of the activities Yellowsprings is known for is their hiking and biking trails. While we love to eat, Tiff Squared also loves nature and doing outdoor activities such as bike riding. It’s a great way to exercise, feel good, and enjoy the views along the way. Here at Yellowsprings, there is two scenic trails. If you are feeling adventurous and don’t mind the challenge, take the 10 mil trail. If you want something a little more relaxing but still want the exercise, take the 1 mil trail. You can’t go wrong with either trail, while being out in nature is calming, peaceful and relaxing alone. Don’t have a bike and The Corner Cone renting is closed, no problem. One of the Tiffs didn’t have a bike and it was still a fun time walking. Tiff D. brought her bike from home, while Tiff B. walked along side. We were able to walk, talk, and keep our mask on and enjoy the time outdoors exploring. It was so refreshing to be outdoors enjoying the fresh air. Whether you and your friends are serious cyclist or just a group of people looking for a good time, the bike trails at Yellowsprings are designed to give you a low to medium challenge or just simply enjoy a peaceful ride!

Tip: If biking isn’t your thing or you’re a super trooper and want to bike and hike, they also have Glen Helen which is a hiking trail. When we went Glen Helen was closed, but Clifton Preserve and John Bryan State Park remain open for hiking.

Let’s Wine Down!

Ok, we know you just burned off some calories but whose complaining about making room for wine?! From here, it’s time to wine down! Oh boy, if you love wine we have the perfect wine shop for you. Stop into The Winds Wine Cellar. It is the cutest little wine shop with tons of varieties of wine to choose from. From red to white or sweet to dry, they have the perfect bottle to wine down your evening. The sales associate working was super sweet and gave a little background of some of their wine offerings. If you liked Yellowsprings while visiting the shops, it’s no problem stay awhile and have the perfect glass of crisp wine.

Tip: If wine isn’t your style, that is a-ok. You could also head to one of Yellowsprings’ distilleries such as Devil Wind Brewing or Flat Rock Spirits/Stillwright’s. Devil Wind is located in downtown Xenia along the Little Miami Scenic Trail and is a brewery and taproom. They produce European ales and lagers, as well as newer American styles of beers. They also have food trucks and live music. If you can’t make it to Devil Wind, head on over to Flat Rock. They are a family-owned craft distillery producing handcrafted Bourbon, Rum and Moonshine. Flat Rock is located in the heart of the Midwest, proudly using Ohio grown corn and wheat in their StillWrights Straight Bourbon Whiskey. With a range of wineries and distilleries, you are sure to find something fitting for everyone in your group.

Supper Time!

After all the beer or wine, you have drunk, you cannot end your afternoon without a delicious meal. We suggest you dine at Winds Café. This café is cute and funky. Their food is European inspired with an American twist and uses many local ingredients. We love that their menu is seasonal and changes to reflect what is new, fresh and in season. When you walk in, the décor is cute and more modern. As we love patio sitting, we opted to sit outdoors in their cute outdoor area. The outdoor area is the perfect setting for a date night or a night out with the girls. Their food is delicious. They’re known for their Figs, Pigs and Goats appetizer. This dish is figs stuffed with goat cheese all wrapped in bacon. YUMMMMM! This was one of our favorite dishes along with Seared Halibut. The halibut was seasoned and cooked perfectly. Now, you can’t leave without a decadent dessert. Please do not leave without a sweet treat. We shared a huge homemade ice cream sandwich. It was Chocolate Ice Cream sandwiched between two Snickerdoodle cookies rolled in chocolate sprinkles. I promise this was a dessert lover’s dream!

  • Martini
  • Mule
  • Fried Fish with Lemons and Lemon Garlic Aioli
  • Zucchini Fritters
  • Snickerdoodle Ice Cream Sandwich
  • Figs, Pigs, and Goats
  • Seared Halibut with Spanish Spices and Gazpacho Sauce

This is the end of our mini day trip. However, this could be the beginning for you. There is plenty to do and see for every interest such as classes with Bonadies Glass Studio, Clifton Mill, Caesar Creek Vineyards, events and festivals all year long, and much more. If you decide to stop by Yellowsprings, please let us know in the comments below. Be sure to check us out next month as well to see what we have in store as our partnership with Ohio. Find It Here continues. Stay tuned!        

Vinoklet Winery

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Summer is here, and what better way to spend summer afternoons or nights than at a winery drinking local wine?! Wine made right at the winery! Not to mention, June is also Ohio Wine Month. This is certainly a win, win! If you haven’t began celebrating, you can start now! It’s never too early or late for a good glass of wine. Pursuit of Delights has partnered with Ohio Wines for the second year in a row, to visit one of their official wineries. This means that the wine is made in Ohio as well as the grapes are grown in Ohio. This year Tiff Squared decided to visit Vinoklet Winery located in Hamilton County. We welcomed our summer with the perfect pours of crisp white and red wines, made from fresh grapes grown right on their property, on the perfect breezy afternoon. The flowers were blossomed and vibrant in color and the waterfalls were rolling. HEEELLLOOOO SUMMMMEEERRR!!

Vinoklet Winery is the only working winery in Hamilton County Ohio. It is located in Colerain Township in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is home to 12 award-winning wines and is proud to represent the Greater Cincinnati area in local and regional wine competitions. Vinoklet Winery has been established since 1986. It all started when the founder, Kreso Mikulic, planted its first vines. In its 34 years of business, it has expanded to now over 12,000 vines across 30+ acres of rolling hills and ponds. At 86 years old, Mr. Mukulic still gets up and works at the winery every day.

What Tiff Squared found interesting is they plant their own vines, harvest their own grapes by hand in 5-gallon buckets, hall them down to the winery, and produces wine. Ohhh, did we mention the size is quite huge. You enter through the restaurant and the vineyards and winery are out back. It is gorgeous. It also over looks a huge pond. Its location and scenery is perfect for weddings or other celebratory events. They have a nice selection of dry and sweet wines to choose from. If you are unsure of what to get, we recommend starting with a tasting. That is what we did. The tasting we did consisted of 12 different wines, white and red, starting with dry and progressing to sweet. We always have fun at tastings because Tiff D. likes more of a dry wine whereas Tiff B. likes sweeter wines. We always share a good laugh as the tasting starts and finishes. You will receive an entire flight of award-winning wines consisting of 12, 1 -oz cups & a souvenir glass for $12.15 plus tax. Don’t let the 1-oz fool you. Lol! Tiff D.’s favorite was the Tears of Joy, a dry wine made similar to a Chardonnay. Crisp and full of flavor, yet soft to the palate. Tiff B.’s favorite was the Strawberry wine, a sweet wine popping with the taste and aroma of fresh strawberries.

Now we can’t come to a winery and not talk about the food! Let’s take a moment to explore their food options. This winery totally gave me country club vibes with a beautiful view. Their food is American and has a variety of appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, and desserts. They even offer what they call Grilled to Perfection offered only on Fridays & Saturdays. Grill to Perfection is where guests can come in and select certain menu items and grill their food themselves with a Grill Master; all while enjoying the ambiance of the unique dining room and vineyard while staff caters to their needs. How cool is that?! They also offer different dinner specials on different days of the week. We began with a cheese and charcuterie board. This is always a good choice paired with wine. You can’t go wrong with this. For entrees, we did the Baby Back Ribs (Thursday special) and the Grilled Norwegian Salmon. They were served with Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes, and a Dinner Roll. Both meals were really good and cooked perfect.

This was a super cute winery and we were happy to visit! We were pleasantly pleased with their different wines and how beautiful their property is. Although there is only one weekend left in June, we hope that you will visit one of the 300 wineries to celebrate Ohio Wine month. We highly recommend Vinoklet Winery for its charm, great wines, and beautiful views. It could certainly make the perfect date night or night out with the girls. Let the good times roll and give summer the perfect greeting. Cheers to a wonderful summer and Happy Wine Month!

You can find more details of Vinoklet Winery and a full wine list here.

Supporting Black Owned Businesses

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Everyone is aware of the protests currently happening around the world, organized to continue the fight
for Black Lives. For far too long, Blacks have been fighting this fight primarily alone, in more ways than
one. The world now appears to really be opening their eyes to the injustice and are joining in the fight
(THANK YOU!) If you follow our Instagram, you may have seen a post where we also talked about the
importance of supporting black businesses.

If you missed it, here is an excerpt from it:

“When this account/blog was created, it was to have fun and to point people in the direction of new and
hip restaurants. Many of these restaurants have grown tremendously, based off the love and support of
the community. But do you know which owners/entrepreneurs often get left in the dust? Black owned
businesses. It is often much harder for them to receive the support to even open a brick and mortar
location as well as let their voices be heard. Some of it is political and some is due to systematic oppression.”

No matter the reason why, the issues are certainly not new. We too have been inadvertently guilty of
this, as we typically keep up with the trends of who’s opening and want to ensure our audience is aware
of it. It can be tough for black owners to get the same size funding to provide them with the opportunity
to open and get attention- especially in the up and coming areas where most are spending a lot of their
time and dollars. That means, at times, we don’t hear about the openings because promotions led by
large media outlets are often not as prevalent. Another blogger mentioned they often feature black
owned restaurants but have not specifically stated they were black owned in the description. We have
also done the same, but we missed highlighting them as black owned. Why is it important to state this
fact? Because they often have to work extra hard, and sometimes on their own, to open and need the
support more than ever. We are dedicated to this change and will ensure they get the attention they
deserve (not to mention, the food is ALWAYS on point!)

Also mentioned in our post:

“We support everyone, but as PROUD BLACK WOMEN running this account (and blog), let us just say,
black owners, we will shine a light on you. As a priority. No matter how small you are.”

Our commitment is to not just be another blog that keeps up with the trends. But a blog that also
provides support and awareness for those who really need it- our kind. Going forward, expect much of
the same content, but also a shift in who all we feature. A few people have previously documented black
owned businesses to support which has been both amazing and eye opening! Since we all have different
audiences, we want as many people as possible to see these lists. At the bottom of the post, you will
find restaurants (because this is a food and travel blog- keeping with the theme) categorized by type. I bet you didn’t realize there were this many did you? Yeah, us either! If we missed any, let us know in the comments!

Just a few of the black owned restaurants that we’ve featured in the past:

  • Soul Secrets
  • Island Frydays
  • Conscious Kitchen

If you’re wondering about other ways to support, here are a few suggestions:

  1. Stay Educated
    a. There are tons of books (including cookbooks for the home cooks out there), movies,
    and documentaries out there that detail our history and why we fight so hard.
  2. Have the Uncomfortable Conversations
    a. Know what you are supporting and why
  3. Donate!
    a. There are multiple organizations to donate to that will filter dollars to black businesses.
    A quick google search will pull up multiple by city, state, or country
  4. Spend at Black Owned Businesses
    a. As mentioned, there are restaurants listed below. However, there are multiple other
    businesses out there that also need support. Google them in your specific area
  5. Promote what you know!
    a. Hear about a great black owned business (restaurants, bookstores, designers,
    nonprofits, startups, wineries, etc.)? Share them with your audience!

Although different from most of our blog posts, we hope this has been educational. Enjoy the list! We hope to run into you at many of them :)

Also, shoutout to the following bloggers/influencers for putting in so much work in locating a lot of the
businesses below: @linsinnati @kaitskravings @drinkingdiningdione @heymichelle1 and
@cincy.cocoabloggers . Follow them all!

Soul Food
Rasheedah’s café
Burnett’s soul food
Soul Secrets LLC
Ike’s BBQ
Jewell’s soul food
Millie’s Place
Gigi’s Kitchen
Ollie’s Trolley
Aunt Flora’s

Pluto’s Café

Tacos
Patora Tacos

Winery
Revel OTR

Personal Chefs/Caterers/Independent
Chef Banbini
Kwality Eats
Soul Secrets LLC
Purposely Plated
Crown’s Kitchen
Soleil Kitchen
Emma’s all in one occasions

Coffee
Cream and sugar coffeehouse (Brand New!)
Sunny Blu Coffee House
Black Coffee
Sunny Blu Coffeehouse
Muse Café (also wine bar)

BBQ
Just Qin
Sweets and Meats BBQ
Triple J’s BBQ
Eddie’s Southern Style BBQ

Dada Smokes BBQ
Ike’s BBQ
Alabama Que
C&M BBQ Grill
Talis Southern Bar and Grill
Smokin Inferno BBQ
J&W BBQ

Sweets
Davis Cookie Collection
Sweet Petit
Sweets by Ladawn
Green Man Twist
Sugar
Honeychild Pops
Jazzy Sweeties Bakery
Keys Cheesecakes and Pies
Keys cheesecake
Lala’s Blissful Bites
Goodies

Healthy
Bol Acai Bowl Bar
Conscious Kitchen
Kombuchinnati
Pause Cincy

Africa/Caribbean/Latin
Teranga Restaurant

Darou Salam
Divine appetite café
Gee’s Caribbean style
Island Frydays
Maize

Pizza/Burgers/Wings/Cafe and the Like
Endzone pizza
Express Wings
AJ’s cheesesteaks
Burger world
Pluto’s Café
Agape Café
Boomtown biscuits and whiskey
Copa lounge

Asian
Boombox buns

Seafood
Mango’s Tropical Oasis (also drinks)
K&J Seafood

Road Tripping Through Gatlinburg

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Gatlinburg is an area I’d encourage everyone to go to at least once. A lot of people stay in and experience the typical downtown Gatlinburg offerings (which I’ll dive into later…), but there’s so much more than what’s in this area. In November, a few of my close friends and I packed up our things and took a weekend road trip to explore just that! We wanted a mix of new and old which I’ll now pass on to you! The post will include unique finds, typical Gatlinburg musts, and helpful tips!

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Dreaming Of The Amalfi Coast

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You know when you see something that looks so stunning that it’s almost too good to be true? That is how I felt about the Amalfi Coast. Italy has been on my list of places to visit for a long time so when a great opportunity presented itself, I booked my trip on the spot. Most travelers go directly to the major cities like Rome, Pisa, Florence, etc. (which I absolutely plan to visit one day), but my eye was always on the coast. There was just something magical about it. Even more than what pictures can showcase. Many think of this area as just relaxing and romantic, but there were so many great activities and things to do. The coast is also known to be pretty expensive, but there are also ways to save money while traveling and exploring the area. Read on to read tips on the best ways to make the most of your experience and save a little while you’re at it!

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Behind the Scenes with Milk Jar Café

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The fun thing about Cincinnati’s food scene is that it is forever growing. Every time you turn a corner something new and trendy is popping up, and I love this. I also love seeing new food culture brought to the Queen City as well. Within the last few years, Bubble Tea and Rolled Ice Cream have become a new favorite of many people in many different cities. Like other cities, Cincinnati was put onto this growing trend by the owners of Milk Jar Café, Jimmy Lin and Kevin Chen. What is Milk Jar Café you ask? Milk Jar is a café that serves the most recent popular desserts that include, Thai Ice Cream (rolled), a Cereal Bar, and Bubble Tea.

THAI ICE CREAM: What’s up with Rolled Ice Cream? With Rolled Ice Cream it’s all about the show. The process takes about two minutes. It starts with a cream base and your choice of mix-ins. It all gets combined on a cold surface set to a temperature of -18 Celsius. Then its chopped and mixed before it hardens. After that, it is smoothed out and rolled. After the process is over, the customer gets to choose unlimited toppings to place onto their ice cream.

 

BUBBLE TEA: Bubble Tea has been a popular Asian drink that has been around the USA for the past decades. The evolution of bubbles comes from the traditional Black Ceylon Tea combined with milk and bubble (Tapioca or Boba as it is commonly called). Customers can choose their base tea and their toppings. Boba adds texture to tea. Fruit Tea is also an option here at Milk Jar. Customers can choose to blend their tea with the fruit they prefer. They newest trend in the milk tea industry is Milk Cap and it is delicious. I was able to try their homemade Milk Cap Tea. Milk Cap tea is a tea that is topped off with soft, salted, creamy cheese foam. This tradition is big in Asia and very trendy. The idea here is to be perceived that you are drinking cheesecake on top of tea. The foam tastes just like cheesecake.

CEREAL BAR: Cereal Bar is a new trend that is growing in California and New York. Jimmy and Kevin thought, “hmm, its pretty simple why not add it to our café as well”. The process is simply allowing customers to choose their favorite cereal from a list, choose their dressing or drizzle, choose their toppings and then finally fresh milk will be provided to them.

Let’s take a pause and discuss how Milk Jar came to be:

Milk Jar Café opened in Hyde Park on September 1, 2018. Childhood friends Jimmy and Kevin wanted to combine three things: Rolled Ice Cream, Bubble Tea, and Cereal. Both friends are of Asian descent and culture. Like many other entrepreneurs who are proud of their culture, Jimmy had the idea to combine western treats of Asia with eastern treats of Asia. Ice cream comes from western Asia while Boba Tea is more from the eastern part of Asia. Jimmy then brought Kevin in on the idea and Milk Jar Café was born!

 

Owners, Jimmy and Kevin

Press Play to September 2018:

Uniqueness is a key factor at the forefront of opening any new food/drink location. What is cool and unique about Milk Jar is everything is fresh, and they do not use powders like most bubble tea companies. The teas are fresh and imported from Asia. The way they make their Boba Tea is different from American tea shops. If fruit is used, its fresh pressed fruit mixed with tea. They strive to bring more Asian culture into what they are doing. Fresh tea leaves, fresh fruit, everything is FRESH! What is also unique is the combination of Rolled Ice cream and Tea. It brings the business of ice cream and tea together. Most shops are just one or the other.

Another awesome factor to this duo is they are environmentally friendly. The cups that the tea comes in are reusable. If you bring your cup back, you will receive 5% off your next order. They also have a reward stamp card program. Once you have received 10 stamps you can get a Rolled Ice Cream or Tea of your choice for free.

Rolled Ice Cream and Bubble Tea?! Yes, Please!

In China the culture is to drink cold dessert tea while hot tea is more for social and religious purposes. The most common teas are Jasmine and Oolong. In China, these are the teas that they drink when friends and family are over. In Japan the most common tea is Matcha Tea. They offer tea in a fast-casual style environment. Their menu is filled with fun tea combinations as well as different ice cream combinations. I asked them what the top sellers of tea and ice cream are, and they quickly raved about Jasmine Tea and the Cookie Monster Ice Cream.

I enjoy a good trend especially when it comes to food. However, with any trend you either love it or hate it. I can say I have become a big fan of the Bubble Tea trend. I love a good tea and then adding Boba to it for texture. I also enjoy a different but familiar ice cream flavor. While doing the behind the scenes, I was able to try three of Milk Jar’s desserts.

The ice cream flavor I tried was the Banana Pudding. It was their vanilla milk-based liquid mixed with Nilla Wafers and Bananas. It literally tasted how it sounds. It was delicious! I got the fruitiness from the bananas while the creaminess came from the ice cream itself. Then add the crunch of the Nilla Wafers and boy was it a party in my mouth! This was definitely a good choice.

Now I couldn’t come to a Tea spot and not try their most trendy tea. I tried the Watermelon Jasmine Tea with Milk Cap, the Dirty Milk Boba, and the Thai Milk Tea with Boba. Dirty Milk Tea is Caramel or Brown Sugar milk with flavored custard pudding. Thai Milk Tea is simply Thai Tea with a splash of Half and Half poured on top. I must say all were amazing and brought something different to my taste buds. I enjoyed everything I tried and can say Milk Jar is my go-to spot when I what a Thai Milk Tea.

I truly enjoyed my experience at Milk Jar. They will provide you with excellent service, affordable tea and ice cream, and friendly smiles. Trying anything on the menu will be a real delight. We hope to see you there and don’t forget your delicious bubble tea or ice cream on the way out.

 

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

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!