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Outdoor Adventures in Ohio

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Summer has officially begun, and that means it is time to get out and explore. After a year of being stuck in the house, I think the outdoors is calling everyone’s name. There is so much to see and do right here in Ohio. How do you do the outdoors? Is it a good patio with fancy drinks, an outdoor mural, or maybe a good ole breath of fresh air outside hiking or a walk in the park! We recommend taking a mini day trip to Columbus, Dayton, or staying right here in Cincinnati. All three of these cities provide a great experience with friends or family. The awesome thing is the two listed destinations outside of Cincinnati are within 100 miles of Cincinnati. Cincinnati is great and can be the perfect day exploring what is in your back yard. Dayton and Columbus are perfect for mini getaways not to far from home. Each city offers something for everyone. Whether you like to shop, eat, ride a bike, hike, play volleyball, walk in parks, or embrace the art culture, we promise you will not be left out. Ohio is a beautiful state with unexpected hipness and coolness. We have partnered with Ohio. Find It Here. to bring awareness to just how cool and fun Ohio is! Whether you live in Cincinnati, Columbus, or Dayton, or you are making any of these destinations a road trip, you will appreciate the beauty in each city and what it has to offer.

TIP: While we are providing outdoor adventures for all three cities, we will also suggest one food stop per location as well.

Cincinnati

ADVENTURES:

Queen City aka Cincinnati! They do not call Cincinnati the queen for no reason, the city is truly a diamond! While we, Tiff Squared, do a lot of travel, Cincinnati is where we call home! They always say home is where the heart is 😉 We absolutely love our city and the fun we have here. From Pedal wagoning through the city on a mural tour, restaurants, playing volleyball at a cool brewery, to farmer’s markets, the Queen City has a lot of jewels to offer.

Pedal Wagon Cincinnati

Experience Cincinnati’s colorful side through the beautiful mural masterpieces! Whether you’re a local looking for a unique way to explore the art that Cincy has to offer, or a out-of-towner visiting for the first time, Pedal Wagon Cincinnati’s Mural Tour makes for a fun and creative day! This is the perfect insider to Over-the-Rhine’s (OTR) most known murals. What is also really cool is that Pedal Wagon Cincinnati gives back. Ten percent of all proceeds of this our go to ArtWorks, an award-winning non-profit arts organization that empowers and inspires the creative community.

Tiff Squared took this tour and loved exploring the city through its creative art. Each mural told a story and gave a piece of the city in its own unique way. Every mural was painted with love and care and uniqueness to its placement on certain buildings or the story that it told. What was also fun was that the pedal wagon offers an opportunity for you to hang with friends and meet new people. While not everyone knew each other on our tour, we were all brought together by our city’s precious art and the meaning it had to the city. The fact that Cincinnati has such a cool and unique way to exhibit artwork on the streets, outside was something that everyone could appreciate and connect on. This experience was one for the books. Grab your friends and pedal your way through Cincinnati’s OTR neighborhood and tap into your creative side.  

Findlay Market

Are you someone who likes fresh, local ingredients and products? If you answered yes, we have the spot for you, Findlay Market. Findlay Market is Ohio’s oldest continuously operated public market and one of Cincinnati’s most cherished institutions. Findlay is one of the top visited locations in Cincinnati by locals as well as out-of-towners. It is in OTR and just a few blocks from downtown. Our love for Findlay runs deep. The sense of community you gain from visiting Findlay is like no other. We love to visit the thriving Farmers Markets on the weekends while sitting outside to enjoy street performers and live music. It is so nice to be able to go and support local businesses while purchasing farm fresh, locally sourced, artisanal and specialty foods. Findlay offers a little of everything. From sweets, savory, spices, plants, chocolate, to candles, you name it and they have it. It is also the perfect weekend plans for the family and young kids. It is one of our favorite places to visit. If you want a true since of Cincinnati mixed with a little home grown, Findlay is the place to see.

TIP: You might even catch our very own, Tiffany B., out in the market. She works out of Findlay Market’s commercial kitchen, Findlay Kitchen. She makes thick, hand-made, delicious, stuffed cookies. Look for Sweet Mae’s Cookie Co. She even sometimes participates as a vendor at Findlay Market during different events Findlay Market host.

50 West Brewery

Need a brew or want to have some outdoor fun? Either way, 50 West has you covered. Located on US 50 heading west into the city of Cincinnati. This brewery was founded in a former roadside speakeasy. If you did not know US Route 50 passes through 12 states from Ocean City, MD to Sacramento, CA, meaning it passes right through Cincinnati. If you are up for a HUGE road trip you can still pass right through the Queen City. However, in the meantime let us just take US 50 right to 50 West.

This brewery is huge with lots to do, eat and drink! It is the perfect summer activity for outdoors adventures as well as outdoors sports. They have a cycling trail, volleyball, and so much more. Not only do they have outdoor activities, but they also even have food and drinks to keep you fueled. Tiff Squared spent an afternoon here. We took a short walk on their biking trail and went back to watch people play volleyball. It was cool. What we loved most about this brewery is it is not just a brewery; they provide you with a fun experience. Most breweries offer just beer and food. 50 West is giving all the vibes with food, drinks, and outdoor fun!

FOOD:

50 West Brewery – Staying in true Tiff Squared Fashion, we must talk about food! LOL! The food stop suggestion for Cincinnati is 50 West Brewery Burgers. You do not have to go to far for this location. LOL! While you are at 50 West indulging in all the outdoor activities, you will certainly need food to recharge. They are known for their burgers. What is fun is they offer different toppings and name each burger after states. After our biking adventure and watching people play volleyball, Tiff D. decided to grab a burger and fries. The burgers are really tasty! They have great flavor and really unique toppings. Pictured is the Maryland burger which is a double with Old Bay Tater Sauce, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, and American Cheese. It was soooo good! Tiff D. is challenging herself to try all of the flavors at least once.

Dayton

ADVENTURES:

Keeping this outdoor adventure moving along to our next stop in our three city Ohio outdoor guide. While Cincinnati is known as the Queen City, our next stop, Dayton, is known as “Gem City”. How cute and fitting is that? The Queen City and a few miles away is her Gem. Hehe! See we told you Ohio has so much to offer. Dayton received this nickname from an article written by a reporter in an August 1945 report in the Cincinnati Chronicle about Dayton, due to its beautiful upkeep of the city. The report sited wide streets, kept in excellent order, noble blocks of stores, filled with choice, and of course, the exceeding beauty and neatness of the dwellings. We can surely attest to that, especially the nature side of things! Dayton offers a great way to get out and explore the outdoors through great views at beautiful parks while embracing a breath of fresh air and enjoying your family. 

Wegerzyn Gardens

The Wegerzyn Garden is a metropark in Dayton. You will be wowed by its beauty. A hidden gem?! Very much so! The next time you find yourself in the area, certainly get out and explore this gem of a garden. This garden is perfect for a summer afternoon stroll. The flowers are in full bloom and the garden turns into what we will call a magical place. It certainly offers the most picturesque backdrop. The garden is surrounded by the Stillwater River Trail. The Stillwater River Trail provides cyclist, runners, and walkers tranquil and diverse terrain. The Park features the Stillwater Trail, Formal Gardens, a Children’s Discovery Garden, a Giant Pedestal Oak, Marie Aull Nature Trail, the Swamp Forest, and Community Gardens. Wegerzyn Gardens is beautiful and packed with fun and offers the perfect family time. My children and I ran around the open gardens and took tons of cool pictures while having fun. They also loved the Children’s Discovery Garden. It features a small waterfall, pond, sand boxes, and other interactive exhibits. My family and I had a blast visiting Wergerzyn Gardens. If you are looking for a fun, peaceful and stunning place to explore, this is the location for you! It is free and open to the public.

Cox Arboretum Metro Park

Cox Arboretum is another metropark in Dayton. Like its counterpart, Wegerzyn Gardens, Cox too provides the beauty of nature. Here is a place for you to come and connect with nature. Discover the peacefulness nature, its trees and shrubs thoughtfully placed to capture your imagination and take you to a place of serenity. The Park features Pollinator Gardens, Specialty Gardens, The Barbara Cox Center for Sustainable Horticulture, a Butterfly House, Tree Tower, Bell Children’s Maze, Zorniger Education Center, Conservation Corner, Nature Trails, and Ruth Cummings Mead Woodland. There is certainly something for everyone. My family and I enjoyed a nice stroll admiring all that Cox Park has to offer. We spent a lot of time at the pond at the entrance. It had all the “fishys” and turtles. Go get out and explore Cox Park and enjoy a relaxing family adventure.

FOOD:

Salar – We gotta eat! It is part of what we do and as they say food brings people together! Located in Dayton’s Historic Oregon District, Salar features an exciting menu with strong Peruvian, French, and Mediterranean influences. We love a good reasonably priced, upscale, yet casual meal. Not to mention it is one of our favorite restaurants in Dayton. We love that they offer unique flavors. Some of the dishes we tried were their Beef Empanadas, Fried Calamari, Chicken Chicharrones, Pollo a la Brasa, Faroe Island Salmon, and the Red Quinoa Encrusted Chilean Sea Bass. All of their food is flavorful and touches on different flavor elements and cooking techniques. Overall, Salar is delicious, and you can not go wrong with any option. 

Columbus

ADVENTURES:

Welcome to the state capital- COLUMBUS! Columbus is one of those cities that has been thriving for a long time and won’t be letting up any time soon. There is just so much life and vibrance to it! Even with that, it still feels super homey with awesome opportunities to connect with other people. It’s a great city for people of all ages and at any stage of life. If you’re looking for something for your family, they have it. If you’re looking for nightlife, they have it. If you’re looking for outdoor activities, they have that too! And we can’t forget about sports at THE Ohio State University! Clearly there’s something for everyone. Here’s a small glimpse at the many activities they have to offer:

Easton Town Center

Shopping is an activity, right? Hmmmm Of course it is!! And it just happens to be one of our favorite ones! If you also enjoy shopping, Easton in Columbus is absolutely the place to be. It is one of the largest outdoor shopping centers in all of Ohio. If you’re looking for something specific, they probably have it. That can range from items for kids, items for the home, shoes and so so much more! But the thing is, they are not just for shopping. There are quite a few delicious restaurants there, ranging from grab and go to high-end sit-down options. One of my favorites is Shake Shack. It’s simply delicious! If you want to make a day out of it, they have entertainment as well! This includes a movie theater, comedy club, legoland, Pins mechanical company, and a wealth of other options. Prior to my brother getting married, my family stayed at the Hilton on site when we would visit him. We’d spend hoursss shopping, playing, and overall, just enjoying the area and each other’s company. They do have indoor shopping, eating and entertainment as well, but we’re all for the outdoor options!

Topiary Park

Topiary Park is a beautiful, public park and garden located in downtown Columbus and is officially known as the Topiary Garden at Old Deaf School Park. It is such a cool place! When we visited, we originally thought there were just cool figures cut into the trees, but what they actually depict are figures from Georges Seurat‘s 1884 painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. It is the only park based entirely on a painting. They are life-sized shapes which makes it really fun to take pictures with. We really enjoyed pulling up the actual image and picking out which topiary matched to each part of the picture. From what we observed, the park is used to relax, take professional pictures, and to learn about the history of the painting and the Ohio School for the Deaf. We were really excited to experience something new that’s tied to such a beautiful painting.

FOOD:

Hen Quarter Dublin – If you haven’t been to the Dublin area of Columbus, it is a must go! Bridge view park has plenty to offer that is outdoors. If you’re looking for a restaurant with a great patio, we’d highly recommend Hen Quarter. They are a black owned restaurant focused on southern cuisine. We loved how much of a diverse crowd they drew (I mean…who doesn’t love fried chicken, Mac n cheese and more?!)

We ordered the chicken and waffles with greens, the crab stuffed salmon over rice, and a side of mac n cheese. From the seasoning, to the rich balance of flavors, we loved every single bit of it. I also loved the old school R&B playing over the speakers. Such a vibe!

This is the end of our Ohio three-city outdoor adventure tour. However, this could be the start for you. Ohio has so much to offer, and we love getting to explore such a great midwestern state. A lot of times people view the Midwest as cows and pastures. However, we are here to show and tell that the Midwest, Ohio, has such great hidden gems. There is plenty to do and see in every city for everyone. We hope you enjoyed our guide! 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!

Our Summer Bucket List with Ohio. Find It Here !

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Hellooooo Everyone!!!! We have exciting news for you all! We are back with a new partnership with
Ohio. Find It Here. If you were following our blog last year, you likely saw our partnership with them
which took us on foodie tours, charming towns, and so much more. Together, with Ohio. Find
It Here, we have a great line up in store for you for the remainder of 2021. First up is…..

OUR SUMMER BUCKET LIST!

You know, Ohio has so much to offer- especially in the summer. There are tons of options to choose
from with something fitting for everyone! Here are some of the top things we are looking forward to:

Parks

Who doesn’t love a good park especially in great cities? If you didn’t know, Cincinnati was
recently rated in the top 10 in the nation for its park system. Pretty cool right?! There are quite a few to
choose from, but our favorites are:

Washington Park- This is one of the best parks in the city for events and festivals. If you want to
just relax in the grass, it’s great. If you want to listen to live music, it’s great. If you want to have a drink
and good food, there’s a different festival on a regular basis. It also has a playground and water area for
kids (or adults. Hey, we’re not judging. Be playful!)


Ziegler Park- Ziegler park is awesome because they have a huge playground, nearby basketball
courts, and the best part- a pool! The pool comes at a low price and is great for all of the kids in the
area who are looking for something to do. Swimming lessons are available and there’s even adult swim
time as well.


Smale Park– Smale Park is just beautiful!!! I love to go at the start of Spring to see their flowers
bloom (tulips are my favvvv and they have plenty of them), which last throughout the summer and most
of fall. This is a nice activity park. You can bike ride by the river, run, play on the playground, hop on a
boat, or walk down to Sawyer Point for volleyball. The bridges and Ohio River are right in view which
makes for such a beautiful site.

Cincinnati and Columbus Zoos!
Did you know Cincinnati and Columbus zoos are both highly rated for top zoos in the nation as well?
Yep! They have the best animals that can roam freely with lots of space, which is important. I love to see
when one of the babies are welcomed to the family. I mean, who doesn’t love Fiona?! (although she’s
not much of a baby anymore). There are several activities you can choose from such as encounters, train
rides, carousels, climbing activities, and more. What I love about the Columbus zoo is the size of their
aquarium! It is awesome! The botanical gardens are also so beautiful and soothing to walk through as
well. Anddd Cincinnati’s annual fundraiser is coming back at the end of summer: Zoofari . This is a gala
that is so well done and so fun! What a great way to close out summer!

Red’s Games– One thing about Ohioans… we love our sports! I mean…..who doesn’t love a good Red’s
game?! Whether you like baseball or not, you certainly can’t deny the fun atmosphere when you’re in
the stands or in a box. My family and I have been going to the games for years and never get tired of it.
It really is a great way to fellowship with each other while cheering your city on. I’m just waiting for the
time when we catch a foul ball! And what about the food? Baseball food (i.e. hot dogs, popcorn, etc.) is
the best, but I absolutely love getting Cincinnati staples such as Skyline and Larosa’s there too.
Somehow, they just taste better in the stadium!

Music Festivals
Music festivals are such a great way to discover new artists that you will end up loving but may never
have heard of if you hadn’t of gone. And guess what? They’re coming back!!! Some of my favorites have
been right here in Ohio. All the open land really allows us to have the perfect venues with awesome
performers. Fun fact: Cincinnati and Cleveland attract tens of thousands of people from surrounding
areas for the Cincinnati Music Festival and Wonderstruck in Cleveland. That’s how good and reputable
they are. Although the Cincinnati Music Festival is not coming back until 2022, Wonderstruck, as well as
many others throughout Ohio will continue this summer- and mostly at full capacity.

King’s Island/Cedar Point
For all the thrill seekers out there- King’s Island in Cincinnati and Cedar Point in Sandusky are right up
your alley! I grew up on both parks and have yet to get tired of them. I absolutely love how they both
add new and exciting rides just about every year. It truly keeps things exciting. If you don’t ride
rollercoasters, don’t worry. There’s plenty for you too! The food alone could certainly keep you coming
back (can I get an amen for the funnel cakes?!). I also love the different performances right in front of
the Eiffel Tower. They make my friends and I want to have a dance party right on the spot. The other
two things that I truly enjoy are the water parks section and the games. Considering how hot the
summers can get, the water is a great way to cool down before drying off at the regular park again. Thrill
seeker or not- these two places are for YOU.

Rooftop Bars-
Most people know I loveeee a good rooftop bar. I could spend every weekend at a different rooftop and
would consider my summer complete. That’s how much I truly enjoy them. Here are a few of my favs in Cincy:


Rhinegeist- When you step up, your jaw might drop because the panorama view of Cincinnati is
awesome! It is nice for a fun night out but can also end up being cute and romantic because of the
sunset and comfy outdoor couches. Grab yourself a beer and enjoy this great space.


Lytle Park- Lytle Park is one of the newer rooftops in Cincy and is all the rave. Their view is
primarily of the Ohio River, bridges and stadiums. Lovely! They offer fun cocktails and bar food while
you sit in the space. One great thing about them- they offer a covered glass area in the event it rains.

If you’re in Columbus visit:
Lincoln Social – They are awesome. The entry includes a floral wall (with BLM in the design-
thank you!) that then opens up to a beautiful space. This is another rooftop that offers super fun
cocktails and delicious food. I would highly suggest making reservations though. They book fast!

If you’re in Columbus or Cincy:
Pins- Pins has expanded to different parts of Columbus and also now in Cincy. It’s such a fun
place that has so many different games to choose from. Not all of them have a rooftop, but regardless,
you will love it because they do have an outdoor space. The Cincinnati location has a rooftop that is so
cute! The firepits (which are also at the non-rooftop locations) make for a cozy yet playful feel. The thing
I love most about them though- their summer slushy drinks! Drink up!!

That’s all for now folks! We hope you’ve enjoyed a glimpse into what we are looking forward to.
Look out for our next partnership with Ohio. Find It Here coming soon! Cheers to SUMMMERRRRR!

BTS with Esoteric- Cincy’s First Black & Asian Owned Brewery

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Are you looking for something different in the city? Or perhaps looking for a place to listen to live music (yes, safely during covid)? Or maybe looking for a location for weeknight trivia? We have just the spot for you! And it’s minority owned too! Introducing ESOTERIC! For anyone who hasn’t heard the name, it is the first Black owned and Asian owned brewery in Cincinnati. But it isn’t your typical brewery that feels like you’re in a well made over warehouse. You get much more of a lounge experience here.

Let’s talk about their name and space first:

The name means “it’s understood by a select few”. And in this case, that means craft beer. Less than 15% of the industry craft their beer. The thought is still growing (and somewhat fast right now!) But once you know craft beer, you love it. In the space, you’ll notice many locust flowers throughout. This is their metaphor for fighting through adversity. It represents a rising out of the Phoenix (ashes) and helping make Walnut Hills a thriving neighborhood again. What’s super cool is they employ a lot of people from the neighborhood and people of color to broaden equality.

You will also see lots of art all around you. The decor is an ode to Art Deco and the design of the precious city. All of the characters are all from  period pieces from the 40s and 50s. The brand is to bring back the golden age. And guess who made all of the art? One of the owner’s (Brian) uncles!

Speaking of the owners…

When we did our behind the scenes, we met  with one of the owners, Marvin Abrinica, CFO and CMO. Marvin co-owns the brewery with Brian Jackson, CEO Head brewer and developer  and Patrick klesmith, COO.

It seems like their partnership was truly meant to be. Brian was working at Chipotle, but had a passion for beer. While working at Mad Tree, he started exploring the brewing process at home. This eventually led to him being in the first class of Mortar, which is a well known entrepreneurship hub in Cincinnati that focuses on diverse dreamers. Marvin happened to be a mentor with Mortar, which is how they met. After many chats, with Patrick included, they decided to pursue the business and raise the capital. 4 years later, in August of 2020, Esoteric was opened to the public!

Now 2020= Covid. But these business owners still managed to launch and sustain successfully. They are operating at 50% capacity which has of course been a challenge and forced them to pivot. To help with their sustainability, they also focus on digital sales, purchasing online, and pulled forward their canning distribution line which launches next month.

What I really love about them is they have a social mission as a company. Out of the 8k breweries across the nation, only 250 are owned from people of color. And out of over 8k. And less than 50 are black owned. I love that this statistic did not stop them from going after their dreams and also talking about this important fact! 

Now what about food and entertainment?


For all of you Taste of Belgium lovers out there, there’s a food truck right in the back! And if that’s not your thing, you can pick up or have food delivered from any of the surrounding restaurants- like Gomez Salsa. Yum!

For entertainment, they have live music on Fridays and Saturdays. A few ladies and I came back for this and it was awesome!! It was also very safely done with lots of space between us and the performer.  They also do an 80s/90s open mic night on Wednesdays with various artists and trivia on Thursday.

Kudos to Esoteric for bringing such an experience to Cincinnati. I will be supporting and spreading the word about them as much as possible. I really could go on and on about how great this place is, but I think YOU should check it out. We’d love to hear if you enjoyed your experience as much as we did. Leave us a note when you do!

Bye for now!

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Cincinnati Foodie Favs with Ohio.findithere!

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Happy October friends!!! We hope you’ve had a great month so far filled with fun and food! Speaking of
food, we have another partnership with Ohio. Find It Here. for you where it’s all about Cincinnati food!
For the locals and the road trippers, we have the Cincinnati staples right here for you! Starting off with…

Findlay Market

Did you know Findlay Market is Ohio’s oldest continuously operated public market?? Yep! Sure is! The
market is open year-round Tuesday-Sunday and attracts over a MILLION visitors a year! And it just so
happens to be one of my favorite places to visit in Cincinnati. There is such a community feel every time
I visit. You get the hustle and bustle inside of the market, but you also get a very cool, chill vibe in the
outer parts. There is typically live music being played, people drinking and eating, and lots of shopping!
From fresh produce, to restaurants, to customizable cuts of meat, to spices, to plants, to
jewelry…Findlay is ready to meet your needs. When I have friends in town, this is a 100% go to.
Everyone always falls in love with it and raves about wishing they had one in their hometown. Whether
you live in the city of Cincinnati, the suburbs, or in a completely different area, it is well worth the trip.

The Arepa Place

Colombian and Venezuelan food in one!! Yes please! If you have been a Cincinnatian for a while and
have visited Findlay Market, you likely saw The Arepa Place when it was a mobile stand. The owners
spent years building their clientele and reputation before opening a storefront location last year.
Woohoo! The arepas that we know, and love are here to stay!
An arepa , whose term comes from the indigenous populations in Colombia and Venezuela, is a form of
cornbread and most comparable to a pita. These arepas are typically stuffed with either cheese, beef,
plantains, chicken or all the above! They have a bit of a crunchiness to the shell as well, which makes for
the perfect bite. Typically, they are stuffed arepas are often stuffed with many ingredients such as
chicken, beef, cheese and plantains. Although they are called the Arepa place, they have more on the
menu, such as empanadas, chips and guac, and more! They also use the front of their space as a store
where they sell plenty of traditional Colombian and Venezuelan goods that you can have at home. Now,
it might not be as good as theirs, but you can still try!

Cream and Sugar Coffeehouse

Cream & Sugar Coffeehouse has only been open for about a half a year, but with how good they are, you
would think it was much longer.  They’re a Black-owned coffee shop that gives off all of the cool vibes.
The owners are some of the first Black entrepreneurs to have more than one Black-owned business in
the area. Before you enter, you’ll see amazinggggg Black art on the outer walls. I could just stand out
there looking at it for the longest! I personally don’t drink much coffee, but I’ve heard theirs is really
good. I also love that they have milk alternatives. That is a must these days! Although I haven’t had the
coffee, I have had their teas and their food. I highly recommend their herbal teas, their salads, their
toasts, and their yogurt. All are super tasty! Just try it all! And if you need to get a little work done,
this is a great spot that’s not too loud for you.

Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey

Boomtown Biscuits and Whiskey is comfort food taken up a notch. You get the well-known items you’ve
learned to love (like biscuits, gravy, and fried chicken) but with a twist. The twist is bold, yet subtle
enough to keep the restaurant’s neighborhood feel. I went to college in the south and this brings me
right back to some of that home cooking!
Tragedy struck the business in late 2019, when the owner of the restaurant unexpectedly passed.
Though it could have left the business in limbo the executive chef, who has a long culinary history and
has been on Food Network numerous times, stepped in and took over ownership (it is now officially a
Black-owned business!) In fact, he is working on opening his 2 nd location which will be in Union, KY. He is also working on a Boomtown Biscuit wagon which will be a mobile offering.
I love how they adapt to the times and don’t let anything stop them. Kudos to them!

Rhinegheist Brewing

Cincinnati is heavily a beer city. Blame it on our German heritage! New, microbreweries pop up all the
time in the area and in Northern Kentucky. But, no matter how many open, none of them are as large as
Rhinegheist. Rhinegheist is definitely one of the originals to the area and is not going anywhere anytime
soon. Not only do they have a huge location, they also distribute to many restaurants and bars
throughout the area. They have a very large selection of beers and ciders that will likely fit your palette.
They’re both tasty and refreshing!
Let’s talk about their rooftop though! I honestly vote them for best rooftop in Cincinnati. The view alone
is enough to give them the top rating. You can see so far into the city and it is especially gorgeous at
night. It’s also very spacious and has super cozy seats/couches on different parts of the roof. The first
time I came up here, I was blown away. I am obsessed with rooftops and don’t know why it took me so
long to go to theirs. You will have to walk up quite a bit of stairs, but it’s so worth it!
Lastly, if you get hungry, you’re in luck. OTR chili is serving up the Cincinnati chili staples from the
kitchen next door and will bring your food right to your seat. Now that makes for a perfect night!

Holtman’s Donuts

If you have been to Cincinnati and don’t know about Holtman’s Donuts, you may or may not have been
living in a cave somewhere. �� Just kidding. Maybe. Although many mistakenly think Holtman’s is a
restaurant founded in Cincinnati, it actually dates to May 1960, and is based out of Newton, Ohio.

Who knew?!
My first experience with them was years ago when I was walking down Vine street in OTR. They have a
wide range of fun toppings such as our favorite cereals as a child, bacon, coconut, red velvet, etc., but
they also offered traditional options such as plain glaze, jelly filled, fritters and many more! Holtman’s
now has 5 locations total and I’m sure they’re not done. If you are near one, I encourage you to try
them. There may be a line, but your belly will thank you later for waiting in it.

Graeter’s Ice Cream

Now there’s noooo way I could close out the Cincinnati foodie favs without mentioning the O.G of ice
cream…..

Graeter’s!
Graeter’s was originated in Cincinnati and has been going strong for over 147 years!!! No matter what
area you reside in or visit, you are not far from a Graeter’s, as they quickly expanding throughout
Cincinnati and surrounding cities. Choose from their multiple hand-crafted and small-batch flavors or try
their delicious cakes, cookies and pies! My favorites are the chocolate chip cookie dough, buckeye, and
peanut butter chip. To. Die. For! I grew up going to Graeter’s and still enjoy plenty of other ice cream
locations, but I will never get enough of them!

That’s all for now road trippers!
For more foodie road trip ideas, check out the Ohio.findithere link below. We’ll be featuring more out
of Columbus on our Instagram in November. Stay tuned! And don’t forget to let us know about your
Cincinnati foodie favs!
https://roadtrips.ohio.org/wps/portal/gov/roadtrips/home

A City Full of Charm

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Summer is nearing its end and it is time for pumpkin spice and everything nice. The weather is changing, and the leaves are falling full of color. Fall is here! Give us all the fall vibes – lattes, spices, cooler air, and sweaters. If you have been following Pursuit of Delights along, on our partnership with Ohio. Find It Here.; you know we have done a four-month long journey exploring Ohio and its businesses and what they have to offer. While we have enjoyed every minute of it, as they say good things must come to an end. September is the last month for this amazing partnership. What better way to end one season and open another, than to plan an exciting day trip to an Ohio charming city, Chillicothe. Chillicothe is a city full of charm. Located along the Scioto River 45 miles south of Columbus. This is the perfect location for a getaway trip within 100 miles of Cincinnati. It is the perfect location to welcome fall. It is that hidden gem that no one ever told you about. It is perfect for all ages, couples, and families. There is something for everyone. Some of the activities include hiking, biking, eating, wineries, Adena Mansion and Gardens, Triple Crown Family Fun Center, Hopewell Culture Park, and Scioto Park. All these activities may be done while practicing social distancing and wearing a mask. Safety First! 😊 Let us hop right into a fun filled day!

You cannot start a day trip without a delicious meal. With us being foodies and bloggers, food is always at the top of our agenda! We visited R Kitchen on Paint for lunch. R Kitchen is located on the main street called Paint. Paint is a street filled with restaurants, stores, and little Knick Knack shops. R Kitchen has delicious food and a super cute outdoor patio. If you know Tiff Squared, we love a good outdoor patio. We sat outside and enjoyed the cool breeze and calm chill weather. The day we went felt like fall. Their food is flavorful, and their drinks are delicious. I had their yummy and tender Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes and Peas. Tiff D. had their Crab Cakes and Tomato Soup. This was the perfect fuel to jump start our afternoon. 

  • Ross County Caviar
  • 1st Capital Meatloaf Stack
  • Crispy Crab Cakes and Tomato Soup
  • Pineapple Paradise

Now that you will not be hangry (hungry and angry, LOL), it is time to walk some of that food off to do a little shopping and exploring. We both love to shop. How convenient was it that there was a clothing store, Rustic Gals, literally right next door to R Kitchen?! Can we say cha-ching! Rustic Gals was a cute little clothing boutique full of cute tops, shorts, pants, blouses, shoes, and more. We walked around and looked. Tiff D, was lucky and found some pieces she liked and purchased them. SCORE! We had a fun time browsing around this cute boutique and we think you will too. Next, we walked up and down Paint exploring the other shops and just becoming more familiar with the area.

Now that you have shopped for clothes, it is time to shop for desserts. Who else has a sweet tooth, like me? If you raised your hand, you are in luck. A little way down the street from R Kitchen, is the cutest cake shop called High Five Cakes. I have the biggest, sweet tooth so any bakery sighting is always a win. Believe it or not Tiff D. is the one who spotted out this shop. I was super happy she did. When we walked in, we were greeted by friendly staff and the most welcoming ambience. It screamed girly, cute, come in with your girls, cake shop. It even had the cutest kid area that was cut out into the wall. The colors and decor were warm and modern, the kitchen was an open concept and the smell of the desserts won us over. We both ordered three cupcakes and a Salted Caramel Bacon Brownie. MMMMMM! Yes, it was as good as it sounds. We also met the owners Stef and Shana. They call themselves S&S. Stef has been on the Food Network competing in a few cake competitions before such as Duff Till Dawn. This is one cake shop you do not want to miss.

  • Stef and Tiff Squared

If shopping and sweets are not your thing, and you are more of a nature and history person, no worries we have just the activities for you. We stopped by the Hopewell Culture Park.  We enjoyed the fresh air, while walking around learning about the broad network of beliefs and practices among different Native American groups over a large portion of eastern North America. The culture is characterized by the construction of enclosures made of earthen walls, often built in geometric patterns, and mounds. Below you can see, me, Tiff B. standing next to the Mica Splendor sign with the mounds behind me. It was a cool experience and a good way to learn about Native American culture. 

If you want to continue your knowledge of the Native American history as well as the history of Chillicothe and its former governor, Thomas Worthington, visit Adena Mansion and Gardens. Did you know that Chillicothe is Ohio’s First Capital? This is pretty cool! Also, Thomas Worthington served as the sixth Governor of Ohio. Adena was the house that Governor Worthington and his wife, Eleanor, built just outside of Chillicothe. Tiff Squared visited Adena and the Gardens. We walked the grounds of the mansion and garden. The property is huge. We entered through the visitor center where there is a mini museum loaded with tons of history about Adena. It was interesting to learn and visit such a historical site. This is certainly a history lover’s dream. The garden is still in use and veggies are harvested from the garden every day. In the visitor center they had a cart of fresh veggies that could be taken in exchange for a donation. If you are a history bug, this is the place for you.

Now that we had our history lesson for the day, we decided to lighten things up with some delicious ice cream. We went back to Paint St and had ice cream from Highland’s Ice Creamery. Your plans can never go wrong when ice cream shows up. This cute little creamery was perfect for a refreshing, creamy, cold treat. What we loved most was the way they had their ice cream flavors listed. Every flavor was listed on a clipboard on a colorful sheet of paper. It was the cutest! They had a lot of traditional flavors as well as flavors with a fun funky twist. Tiff Squared each enjoyed two scoops of ice cream on a waffle cone. I had the Blueberry Pie and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream. Tiff D. had Birthday Cake and Blueberry Pie. If you are looking for a good ice cream experience with a cute vibe, you will not want to pass up on Highland’s.

Lastly, no day trip is a trip without a winery. We are girls who love our wine. After all the shopping, sightseeing, sweets eating that your heart can handle, it’s time to wine down! We headed to one of the local wineries about 25 minutes outside of Chillicothe called Na zdravie Vineyard and Winery. This winery is located on 10 acres of land with vineyards rolling across hills. This winery had a very homely, comfort feel. We decided to try their wine flight. It was perfect! A flight includes 6 1-ounce wine samplings for the price of $5.72. You cannot beat that. I had the sweet wine flight, while Tiff D. had the dry wine flight. After our flight and a few laughs, it was time to head back.

While this is the end for us, it does not have to be for you. Grab a friend and go check out the charming Chillicothe. There is plenty to do and see for all ages and every interest. There is even enough to turn a day trip into a weekend getaway. If you decide to visit Chillicothe, please let us know in the comments below or on Instagram. This concludes our partnership with Ohio. Find It Here. We hope you have enjoyed all the great finds shared in each month’s blog post. Be sure to check out the previous months post as well as both Pursuit of Delights and Ohio. Find It Here. on Instagram.

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