Yep.  We did it.  We hit the Taste of Cincinnati and decided to give out our own Best of Taste awards to Cincinnati's locally-owned restaurants.  So, no more corporate "Best Damn Dish" winners, here's what you should be eating at Taste*. 

Best Damn Booth - Findlay Market Booth
Add one part addictive Taste of Belgium waffle, one part Taste of Belgium + Essencha Tea House Christian Moerlein crepe and one part Embrace Sweet brownie and your sweet tooth will grow to epic proportions.

Best Perennial Favorites - Mecklenburg Gardens' Sauerkraut Balls, Izzy's Potato Pancakes, Graeter's Ice Cream
It wouldn't be Taste of Cincinnati without these three things.  Oh, sauerkraut balls, how I missed you!

Just Plain Delicious - Zoomer Cheddar Mett, Strauss Haus
We saw someone get one with bacon bits, but we can't vouch for that combination.  However, get one with onions, peppers and mustard and you are sure to not be disappointed.

Best Appetizer - Crab Rangoons, Bangkok Bistro
A hit among all who tried it, its crabalicious.

Evan's Favorite Dish - Famous Baked Potato Soup, Courtyard Cafe

While everyone was digging the Taste of Belgium waffles, Kurt's son Evan was downing his own tasty dish.  When Courtyard's Potato Soup was gone, Evan was so distraught that we had to go get another serving.

Best Vegetarian Dish - Grande Ravioli, Bella Luna
Both the vegetarian on staff and the carnivores loved this dish.  Portabella raviolis topped with a chunky and slightly sweet roasted red pepper sauce and liberally sprinkled with gorgonzola.  Mmmmm.

Best Use of Beer - Christian Moerlein Crepes, Findlay Market Booth
Jean-Francois Flechet (of Taste From Belgium and waffles fame) and Essencha teamed up on Christian Moerlein crepes. Flechet said that beer is cheaper than milk in Belgium, so it's often used in crepe batter. Trust me, it's delicieux! I tried the lemon-and-lavender sugar variety, but there was also a caramel and fleur de sel crepe I wish I would have tried. The line for these was fairly long, but the delicate and crispy crepes were well worth the wait. Flechet's mouth-watering and sinfully rich waffles have some serious competition in the race for Best Belgian Import. What other Belgian treats will Flechet bestow upon Cincinnati? (Belgian frites, peut-etre?) Let's hope these crepes will make an appearance at Flechet's Findlay Market booth sometime soon!

Dish that tastes most like it was made by Kurt's mom. - Bella Luna Meatball Slider
Let me preface this by saying that my mom is an outstanding cook, and although she is German, she makes great Italian food.  The meatballs in Bella Luna's Meatball Slider taste just like my mom's.  This was without a doubt one of my favorite dishes at the taste, and easily fits into the category below.

Best Potato Pancakes - Wertheim's
Although this could have just as easily gone to Izzy's, Wertheim's greased its way to the top.

Kurt and Mary Beth's Favorites -

#1.  The Grande Ravioli From Bella Luna:  This was our favorite dish at the taste.  Two large (I mean very large) ravioli stuffed with gorgonzola cheese, portabello mushrooms, and a hint of honey.  I'm not big on mushrooms, but this was great!  I highly recommend this, but get it to share, especially if you plan to eat anything else.

#2.  A Mytho's Gyro:  OK, my wife, Mary Beth, doesn't like Gyros, but I love 'em, and Mytho's makes the best.

#3.  The afore mentioned Meatball Slider. 

#4.  Everything from the Findlay Market booth.  Man that stuff is good.  I can't even describe the waffles.

Stepfanie's Favorites - from our resident vegetarian.

#1. Bella Luna Grande Ravioli - Hands down, the best dish I had all weekend. (I ate it twice!)

#2. Jean-Francois Flechet (of Taste From Belgium and waffles fame) and Essencha teamed up on Christian Moerlein crepes. Flechet said that beer is cheaper than milk in Belgium, so it's often used in crepe batter. Trust me, it's delicieux!

#3. Thick and full of flavor (but a little greasy), Wertheim's potato pancakes were a great ending to Day Two of Taste.