Au Revoir to local legend Annabel

     Annabel’s has probably earned more great reviews than any restaurant in this region.  It was a Mt. Lookout fixture for over a decade.  It was open four days a week for breakfast and lunch, never took reservations, and never served 

We'll Never Have That
Lemon Meringue Tart Again!

anything less than an excellent dish.  We salute the retiring chef/owner Annabel Stolley, her daughter and wonderful waitress Emily, and their entire staff!  Thanks for the memories – we’ll miss you.

For our original review of Annabel's:

entertainingviewsfromcinti.blogspot.com

Celebrating the City's Best Restaurants

Cincinnati Magazine's Top 10 Restaurants give a taste of how they got there.

Pastry Chef Megan Ketover and
Executive Chef Todd Kelly of Orchids at Palm Court

      Every March we look forward to checking out who made the list of top restaurants in our city.  That roster has been the pleasurable, and sometimes uneasy, task of Donna Covrett as the Dining Editor for CIncinnati Magazine.  For many years the names coincided with the area's most expensive establishments, but over the past couple of years the playing

For the Second Consecutive Year, Cincinnati Keeps Food & Wine Best New Chef Title

"Best New Chef" Daniel Wright of Senate

      Congratulations to Chef Daniel Wright of Senate, winner of Food & Wine magazine's The People's Best New Chef Award for the Great Lakes Region.  The publication nominates 10 new chefs yearly from 10 regions across the country, but the winners are voted by the people.  According to Food & Wine,

Fall 2011 Restaurant Week is Coming September 9-18

      Clear your calendars now!  It's time for another amazing Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week running from Friday, September 9 to Sunday, September 18 and encompassing two full weekends.  Each establishment creates a prix fixe 3-course menu of either appetizer, entree and dessert or salad, appetizer and entree for $26.11.  Check out their website for the list of the participating 25 restaurants and some sample menus.  Treat yourself by supporting some of our area’s finest culinary establishments and enjoy what they have to showcase for the autumn season!

http://www.eatlocalcincy.com

Spring Restaurant Week March 11-20

      A relatively new concept to Cincinnati, the original Restaurant Week began in New York City during the Democratic Convention of 1992.  It was the brainchild of Tim Zagat of the Zagat Restaurant Guide and the late Joe Baum, a top restaurateur in NYC.  It began as a means of sparking business and showcasing the area’s culinary reputation.  Each establishment creates a prix fixe 3-course menu of either appetizer, entree and dessert or salad, appetizer and entree.  Today, it has spread to cities nationwide and is in its 6th year in Cincinnati.  

      Get ready for another amazing Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week running from Friday, March 11 to Sunday, March 20.  For the first time, it will encompass two full weekends.  Check out their website for the full list of restaurants and some sample menus.  And, more importantly, treat yourself by supporting some of our area’s finest culinary establishments!

http://www.eatlocalcincy.com

Food & Wine Crowns Best New Chef

      Congratulations to Chef Jose Salazar of The Palace at The Cincinnatian Hotel, winner of Food & Wine magazine's The People's Best New Chef Award for the Great Lakes Region.  The publication nominated 10 new chefs from 10 regions across the country, but the winners were voted by the people.  According to Food & Wine, the must-try dish at The Palace is his French onion soup, consisting of cipollini onions stuffed with caramelized Vidalias and topped with Gruyère crisps.  Yum,—sign me up!  

      Chef Salazar won over some tough competition including Stephanie Izard, winner of season 4 Top Chef and chef at her own restaurant, The Girl & The Goat in Chicago.  Michael Bulkowski of Revolver in Findlay, OH was also among the finalists.  

      The top honor of The People's Best New Chef for the entire country went to Jamie Bissonette of Coppa in Boston.