CINCINNATI — Eat, drink and repeat. That’s what Taste of Cincinnati is all about.
As you prepare to eat all of that delicious food, here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Taste.
When is it?
The 2019 Taste of Cincinnati’s dates are May 25-27. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, then 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday (Memorial Day).
Where is it?
Taste will be in the same area as last year, which is on Fifth Street, between Main and just east of Sentinel, in downtown Cincinnati.
The Rhinegeist Food Truck Alley will return to the Fifth Street ramp to Columbia Parkway. The Taste of Findlay Market area, which will feature 17 food vendors from Findlay Market and “foodpreneurs” from Findlay Kitchen, will return to the Fifth Street ramp to I-71, too.
What's to eat?
Food from more than 34 local restaurants and 19 food trucks! Best of Taste restaurants at this year’s festival include Alfio's Buon Cibo, Pompilio's, Market Street Grille, McCormick & Schmick's, Tickle Pickle, Mahope and Revolution Rotisserie. Food trucks Adena's Beefstroll, Best Thing Smokin', Wild Hickory, streetpops, Harvest Mobile Cuisine, Sugarsnap, Hungry Bros. and the Tin Man Grill also won in Best of Taste categories this year. Here’s the full menu.
Dozens of vendors also will present dishes at the Taste of Findlay Market.
That’s A LOT of food! What should I eat first?
Oh, we’ve got you. Deciding what to sample can be a little overwhelming. To help you plan your eating strategy, we've created a quiz to help pick which Best of Taste winning dish you should try first. Tap here to take the quiz.
And here’s a list of this year’s Best of Taste winners.
What about drinks?
The Queen City Breeze will return as Taste of Cincinnati's signature cocktail this year. The breeze is made with Jim Beam bourbon, triple sec and ginger ale.
The Cincy Cooler also will return to Taste. The cooler is made with Pinnacle vodka, lemonade, cranberry and mist twist. Both cocktails will come in a commemorative cup at booths 232, 558 and 604.
Taste of Cincinnati will feature more than 100 beer and wine varieties as well.
What's new?
There are three big additions to this year's Taste.
The inaugural Eat & Run 5K will allow participants to burn calories and make room for more treats. The race will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday, and it will start and finish at Sentinel and Culvert Streets, Downtown.
Participants will receive a commemorative medal, shirt and a 26.2 brew from race sponsor Marathon Brewing. Some Best of Taste winners also will line the 3.2-mile course, handing out bite-size samples. Registration for the run/walk is $30. Here's where you can sign up online and see the course map.
Kroger's Treasure EmporiYum Mobile Experience also will be new this year. The Mobile Treasure EmporiYum will offer interactive games, Private Selection food sampling and screen printing stations for reusable grocery bags. The EmporiYum will be located at booths 140 and 660.
Isn’t there live music at Taste?
Although the B-52s, Rick Springfield and Loverboy won't be jamming at Taste this year, there still will be plenty of live entertainment.
Taste organizers will unveil the results of a new collaboration with the Cincinnati Music Accelerator. The CMA serves as an entrepreneurship program for musicians, recording artists, DJs, and producers, and CEO Kick Lee has programmed select entertainment for Taste throughout the weekend.
In total, more than 45 entertainers will perform on five stages throughout Memorial Day Weekend. Here's the full entertainment schedule.
Wait, roads will be closed! Do you know which?
Yes! Multiple streets will shut down at 6 p.m. Friday and reopen at 5 a.m. Tuesday:
- Fifth Street: Closed between Main Street and Columbia Parkway
- Columbia Parkway: Eastbound entrance ramp at Fifth Street closed
- Sycamore Street: Closed between Fourth and Sixth streets
- Broadway: Closed between Fourth and Sixth streets (no access to I-71 or I-471)
- Broadway: Converted to a temporary two-way traffic pattern between Seventh Street and Sixth Street
- Sentinel Street
- Lawrence Street
- Fourth Street: Converted to a temporary two-way traffic pattern between Broadway and Pike Street
RELATED: Memorial Day in the Tri-State: Here's how to survive ongoing construction and steep gas prices
What’s the forecast for this weekend?
Check WCPO's latest forecast for weather updates.
Where can I get more Taste information?
Oh, you mean besides us? Check out the event's official website here.
