CITYBEAT'S BOURBON & BACON

Two foods that pair better than an alliteration: bourbon and bacon. Thanks to CityBeat, locals were about to get a taste of of the region's signature liquor and the nation's favorite salty snack. Hundreds piled into The Carnegie to be a part of this delectable event.

Django Western Taco served my favorite drink of the evening: a bourbon cocktail with sweet notes of honey that was refreshing and warmed the spirit. Located in the Northside Taco District, Django was also dishing out bites to eat: braised pork belly with zesty poblano corn, topped with guacamole garnished with a fried tortilla chip.

My favorite dish of the night was possibly the most simple: a deviled egg topped with bacon and bourbon glaze from Chappy's Bourbon Bar, a new restaurant in Old Milford. Chappy's opens with their full menu on January 1, 2014. If their deviled egg is any indicator, their menu is well-worth the drive.

Closer to home, Over-the-Rhine eateries Holtman's Donuts and Grandma Debbie's Kitchen cooked up more treats worth bragging about. Naturally, Holtman's brought their famous Maple Bacon Donut, but also showcased a Bourbon Glazed Donut which is soft, flavorful, and only available at the event. Grandma Debbie whipped up her seasonal Bourbon Baked Beans with Bacon, doing double duty with one dish. Available at her shop in Findlay Market for the holidays, this side dish will leave your loved ones drooling for seconds.

Two kinds of ribs were served: Memphis style prepared by Walt's Hitching Post and Kansas City style prepared by City Barbeque. The difference is in the way the meat is cooked: Memphis is seasoned with a dry rub and is more about the flavor of the meat than in the sauce. Kansas City is fall-off-the-bone tender doused in BBQ. Then there were Eli's BBQ samples of pulled pork with BBQ sauce topped with coleslaw. I'm big on sauce, so latter two were my favorites.

Back to the bourbons, the selection featured a mix of well-known names and craft distillers. Maker's Mark, Old Forrester, OYO, and Four Roses poured samples of their top shelf bottles. Maker's shared their newer bourbon, Maker's 46, which is a slight twist on their traditional label with more noticeable cinnamon and warmer notes.
 

 

Then there was Pogue Bourbon, which made me excited to try a brand with a name akin to a punk rock band. How was it? More like Pogue-My-God. My lips burned, my mouth burned. Everything burned! At first I thought it was due to my novice approach to bourbon, but my connoisseur friend took a sip and commented that his 5:00 shadow instantly grew to a 5:45. If you like a strong bourbon that puts hair on your chest, Pogue is the way to go.
 

In a unique twist, Roebling Point Bookstore had many Kentucky cooking and bourbon books for sale. Old 502 Winery also put a clever perspective on bourbon with its Bourbon Barrel Red, a blend of red wines aged in a bourbon barrel for an added oak flavor. This was a pleasant surprise, along with sampling their other varieties such as the chocolate wine, and four blends of whites.

With full stomachs and warmed spirits, CityBeat's Bourbon & Bacon event was a smashing success!

NORTHSIDE TACO DISTRICT

Whether it be West Side creamy whips, Thai restaurants in Oakley, or boutique dining in Over The Rhine, Cincinnati neighborhoods take pride in branding themselves with food. A recent interest in gourmet tacos led to an outpost of Mexican dining establishments appearing in Northside. Within the past year, three restaurants have opened within a one-block radius along the bustling Hamilton Avenue, the town's main street.

This area is now deemed the Northside Taco District.

First came Django Western Taco, a fun, upbeat restaurant with a Mojave flare, this spacious venue puts on its spur boots and welcomes guests with southwestern hospitality. With seating for large groups, a separate bar and dining area, plus the addition of live folk music, Django kicked things off to a great start. Their signature Jalepeno Margarita and bountiful fish tacos are still some of their best menu items.

Next was the much-anticipated Tacocracy, located inside the Northside International Airport. (You know the Taco District is gaining popularity when an airport moves in...) Converted from the former Jacob's nightclub, the front bar area has been renovated into an open kitchen with cheerfully colored walls and pop art. This was a drastic and much-welcomed change from the dark venue which previously catered to 80s nights and the goth crowd. Making its springtime debut as a foodstand, Tacocracy opened its brick-and-mortar store in mid-2012.  Not your traditional rice-and-beans, Tacocracy serves up fusion style tacos, such as Korean Beef, Duck, or Loaded Potato. They also have a taco and salsa of the moment; a must order for the adventurous foodie.

Newest to the scene is Barrio Tequileria, created by food truck founders Taco Azul. Taking over the former Painted Fish sushi restaurant on Spring Grove Avenue, this space transformed from Asian sensation to a firey fiesta. With a red and black Dia de los Muertos-themed interior, a vast outdoor patio, plus an indoor and outdoor bar, they're kicking things up a notch in the Taco District. Reading their name, it's no surprise that Barrio Tequileria carries an assortment of over 70 tequilas. They also have a vast selection of craft beer and uniquely flavored margaritas; think pomegranate rather than lime or strawberry. Tacos and burritos are offered up on the menu with Al Pastor, Carne Asada, and Pescado topping the tasty list.

Move over, Bakersfield OTR! The Northside Taco District is muy caliente!