The Taste of Cincinnati is not exactly the best place to be if you’re watching what you eat. (Though it’s excellent for watching other people eat.)
With a little effort though, I think someone on a diet could do OK this year. On the other hand. . . . Perhaps you’re on a different kind of diet. Well, Taste of Cincinnati is good for many different eating regimens. Here are my picks for the best foods at the event this weekend, if you happen to follow one of these fictional fad diets.
Go healthy
There was a new “Go Vibrant” category for healthy food in the Best of Taste competition, and there are always salads and small appetizers that will keep you busy without too much damage. An enjoyable time could be had eating these healthy choices:
• Black Bean burrito, dujour’s
• Skinny Wheat Pizza, LaRosa’s
• Cucumber salad, Laszlo’s
• Caprese Salad, ZZ’s
• Queen City Grilled Vegetable and Grain Salad, Les Chefs de Cuisine
• Vegetable and Tofu summer roll, Arloi Dee
The Give Me Something Fried Diet
• Fried Izzy Pickles, Izzy’s
• Fries with Pulled Pork, Café de Wheels
• Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly, Strasse Haus
• Southern Fried Oysters, Washington Platform
• Fish and Chips, Claddagh Irish Pub
The I’m Just Here for Dessert Diet
• Big Scoops or Chip Wheelies, Graeter’s
• Banana Cream Pie, ZZ’s
• Velvet Cheesecake, ZZ’s
• Chocolate covered Strawberry Crepe, It’s Just Crepes
The Thai One on Diet
• Crab and Shrimp Dumpling with Noodle, Arloi Dee
• Roasted Duck Curry, Bangkok Bistro
• Vegetable Pad Thai, Thai Taste
The Porkopolis Diet
• Hanky Panky Croquettes, Les Chefs de Cuisine
• Schnecken, Queen City Cookies
• Homemade Brand Frosty malt, UDF
• Reuben, Izzy’s
• Pepperoni classic pizza slice, La Rosa’s
The Oktoberfest Diet
• Zoomer Cheddar Mett, Strasse Haus
• Giant Fudge-topped cream puff, Laszlo’s
• Pretzel and beer cheese, Mac’s Pizza Pub
• Mecklenburg Sampler, Mecklenburg Gardens
The 100% Chicken Diet
• Pulled Chicken sandwich, City BBQ
• Pulled chicken with slaw, Pit to Plate
• Grilled Adobo Chicken Taco, Habanero
• Walking Chicken Saltimbocca, Laszlo’s
• Stuffed chicken Amore, Market Street Grill
The I Only-eat-it-if-it’s Trendy Diet
• Kim Cheeza pizza, Pizza Bomba
• Kogi BBQ Taco, Taco Azul
• Artisan Cotton Candy, Les Chefs de Cuisine
• Baja Fish Taco, Habanero
• Craft beer
The Spicy diet
• The Big Pepper Burger, Buffalo Wings and Rings
• Buffalo Mac and Cheese, Keystone
• Cajun Grilled Snapper, Washington Platform
• Voodoo Chili, J. Gumbo’s
