Cincinnati’s Culinary Classics

Wave after wave of immigrants has passed through the Queen City on paths to a better life in the New World. Each new immigrant group left its culinary mark on Cincinnati. Some foods became so beloved that they are shipped to Cincinnati emigrants throughout the country. Many of these delights are available near the Duke Energy Convention Center. Below is a sampling of a few favorites.

Cincinnati Chili
For a quick lunch, give Cincinnati chili a try. The chili was originally created by immigrants from Macedonia. People ordering Cincinnati chili are in for a big surprise if they are expecting a bowl of Texas-style beef and beans! Cincinnati chili is a thin meat sauce infused with cinnamon, cloves and allspice served over either spaghetti or a hot dog. There is a long-running debate about which local chili parlor serves the best Cincinnati chili – Skyline Chili and Gold Star Chili always vie for the top spot. Both have locations in the downtown area. Go native and order your spaghetti by describing the toppings. A “Two-way” is chili and spaghetti, a “Three-way” adds cheese, a “Four-way” adds onions and a “Five-way” adds beans. A chili-topped hot dog is a “Cheese Coney.”

Experience Arnold’s in Person!
Arnold’s Bar and Grill, a long-time Cincinnati favorite, has been made famous by the NBC show, Harry’s Law. The set on “Harry’s Law” closely mirrors the decor of Arnold’s in Cincinnati. Established in 1861, Arnold’s was forced to expand its pub service to include food to survive Prohibition. Arnold’s is about a half mile from the Convention Center. Local musicians provide entertainment most evenings. As an added bonus for daytime visitors, Arnold’s is near the Ohio Book Store, which has five floors of new and used books nestled in an historic building. Bibliophiles will want to take the time to peruse their shelves for rare finds. The Ohio Book Store has a large collection of local histories, prints and more.

Graeter’s Ice Cream
No meal is complete without ice cream! Since 1870, five generations of Graeters have been scooping out Graeter’s Ice Cream. On National Ice Cream Day in 2002, Ben Cohen listed Graeter’s first in “10 Great Places to Scream for Ice Cream.” Ben, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, was a fan of Graeter’s Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. My favorite has always been Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. Strawberry Chocolate Chip, this month’s seasonal flavor, is a close second. Graeter’s downtown location is on Fountain Square, 3/10 miles from the Convention Center. Which flavor is your favorite? Even if you don’t have time to try them all, Graeter’s ships ice cream throughout the United States.

There are so many great historic and ethnic restaurants that it is impossible to include them all. To find exactly what you are looking for, ask your hotel concierge or stop by the Cincinnati USA Convention and Visitor Bureau booth in the Duke Energy Center from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday for additional dining recommendations.

Contributed by Liz Stratton

Cincinnati’s Culinary Classics