Cincinnati Food Tours

During our first two years at Findlay Market, I noticed how many people strolled past Daisy Mae's fresh produce stand with food or drink in hand. They balanced coffee cups with waffles or gelato while juggling shopping bags and browsing fruits and vegetables. I mentioned to my husband how I thought Findlay Market was like having "Taste of Cincinnati" every day. As a result of our conversation, Cincinnati Food Tours was born.

I partnered with Karen Kahle, Resource Development Director at Findlay Market, during the World Choir
Games in July, 2012, to launch the first Taste the World food tours. On each escorted walking tour, visitors met six merchants and sampled small bites and sips while learning more about Cincinnati's historic market. Karen and I hosted a total of seventy guests during the Choir Games. Contrary to what we expected, most participants were local visitors. We found that many of our guests lived nearby, yet had never visited Findlay Market or had not visited for many years. Our tours were giving people a reason to come downtown, discover a unique shopping experience, and sample foods from around the world.

We continue to offer our Taste the World tours several times each month at Findlay Market. We have a pool of merchants involved in our tours: Daisy Mae's, Taste of Belgium, Fresh Table, Dojo Gelato, Mama Lo Hizo, Dean's Mediterranean Imports, Gramma Debbie's Kitchen, Churchill's Fine Teas, Bean Haus, Colonel De GourmetHerbs & Spices, Skirtz & Johnston, and Market Wines. Tickets for each 90-minute experience are $15 each and include samples from six of those merchants. An optional $5 add-on is available for wine tasting at Market Wines (or beer from the OTR Biergarten, in season).

The next scheduled tour is Saturday, November 24 at 11:00 am. This tour offers a perfect opportunity to share Findlay Market with Thanksgiving visitors or to revisit the market yourself to meet new vendors. Start the holiday season with a gift to remember. Bring a friend and Taste the World at Findlay Market. You'll be surprised how much is new, exciting, and ever-changing at Cincinnati's historic landmark.

Additional tour dates and online reservations are available at www.cincinnatifoodtours.com. For updates on specific tours, follow us on Twitter @CincyFoodTours and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cincinnatifoodtours. Private tours for groups of 8-20 can also be arranged by calling Barb Cooper at 513-602-5602. 

Veterans Day Salute

A special tip of Daisy Mae's hat to all our military veterans this weekend as we acknowledge Veterans Day on Sunday, November 11. It's still hard for me to picture my dad as a young man heading off to fight World War II. Yet he, like thousands of others before, during, and after that conflict, dropped everything and headed off to defend the freedoms we all take for granted. The lucky ones like my Dad return home and assume their roles in civilian life. The unfortunate ones make the supreme sacrifice.
This weekend, as you enjoy shopping, watching football, relaxing at a movie, listening to a concert, eating at a restaurant, worshipping at church, or just taking a walk to enjoy the gorgeous fall weather, please pause to remember our veterans and thank them in the way each one deserves.