ASIAN FOOD FEST 2013

My all-time favorite food festival in Cincinnati takes place this weekend at The Banks. In its fourth year, Asian Food Fest celebrates the wealth of Eastern culture in the tri-state highlighting local Asian restaurants and entertainers.

 
Vendors come from a variety of backgrounds: Vietnamese, Thai, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Korean, Malaysian and more. Food is very reasonably priced from $2.00 - $6.00, most averaging around $3.00 - $4.00 for a featured item.. Each dish is unique to the culture, so you won't find many repeats from booth to booth. The portion sizes are just perfect: you get just enough food to enjoy and still have room to sample several more.

I sampled a little bit of everything, and decided on these Top 5 eats that are a must have at Asian Food Fest:

#1: Asian Corn Dog - Quán Hapa

Served with a side of shrimp rice chips

#2: Taro Bubble Tea - Tea N' Bowl

 

It tastes like cookies n' cream!

#3: Eight Spice Ribs, Honey Tamarind Margarita - Huit Asiatique

 

#4: Thai Milk Tea - Budina

#5: Kook Kik Noodles, Wontons, Spring Roll - Budina 

One of my favorite summertime treats set up shop at the festival too: Streetpops! Owner Sara Bornick crafted exotic-themed popsicles just for the event, such as Vietnamese Coffee, Thai Lime Basil, and Mango Creamsicle.

 

Streetpops are always POPular.

Asian performers entertained the crowd, some with music, some demonstrating martial arts or dance. It was an added touch to see many people wearing authentic dress around the festival as well.

Asian Food Fest was topped off with a magnificent fireworks show from Rozzi's set up near the Roebling Suspension Bridge. If you missed out on today's festivities, you're in luck! Asian Food Fest continues on Sunday, May 19th from 1:00PM - 9:00PM.

 

KUNGFOOD CHU'S AMERASIA

Guò nián hǎo! This weekend, Asian cultures rang in the Lunar New Year with celebrations of longevity and good fortune. In Covington, festivities took place at one of my favorite restaurants: KungFood Chu's Amerasia.

Known for serving Chinese favorites with a fresh, homemade twist, owner Johnny Chu recreated an atmosphere of dining in the 1990s in New York City Chinatown. With modern decor, bright red walls, oriental-style lighting, and kung-fu movies playing on a big screen television, Amerasia is far from your average take-out joint.

Owner Johnny Chu serving up green tea ice cream.

With roots stemming from Thailand, Johnny's father, Chef Chu, created an intense spice level for his restaurant. Compared to normal Asian fare, the peppers are more powerful. For example, if you usually order spicy level 4, you may want to go with spicy level 2 at Amerasia. While their scale ranges from 1-10, ghost peppers are added to the sauces starting at level 5. Order a #10 and the server brings out your plate wearing a gas mask.

Also signature to Amerasia is their vast selection of craft beers. With over 100 bottles, the knowledgeable bartenders will help you find a beer that will pair perfectly with your meal.

This detailed binder of beers is organized from light to dark ales.

Now that I've got your appetite going, let's discuss what to order. I've eaten both vegan and meaty dishes from across the menu and everything has been outstanding. Any dish can be made vegetarian, which I've discovered are just as scrumptious as the meals for omnivores. Here are some of my favorites:

Seaweed Salad (appetizer)

Dragon's Breath Wontons (appetizer)
This was a half-order with sauce on the side.

Big Bertha Vegetarian Eggroll (appetizer)

Teriyaki Fried Tofu with Broccoli

Eg Fu Yung

Teriyaki Stirfry

Chinese Pork Chop

Tofu Ginger Stirfry

Spicy Mapo Tofu

Brocco-Lee

Vegetarian Chinese Pork Chop

Johnny's Chinese Donuts (dessert)

Cooking up dozens of gigantic, delicious dishes combined with personable, attentive service, Amerasia has redefined Chinese food for Cincinnati. Stop by for lunch or dinner six days a week, closed Sundays.

KAZE OTR

One of several recent additions to the Gateway Quarter, the much-anticipated Kaze OTR blazed the way for new eateries north of 14th and Vine Street. Located in what the neighborhood calls the "Paint Building" (due to the large sign on the façade), this easy-to-spot eatery should top your list for a night out on the town.

With the bar in full swing serving cocktails, Japanese light bites, and signature sushi rolls, the full-service restaurant should be ready by late January. Excitement builds as well for the historic beer garden. Historic, you say? It looks relatively new. The green building located next to Kaze was once Wielert's, home to the largest beer garden in Cincinnati. It was also the favorite saloon of 1890's political leader Boss Cox. Now it is part of the restaurant's property, and is being renovated to again serve spirits to the masses.

A good night for some of Kaze's hot tea.

Back inside Kaze, the trendy bar area will make guests feel like they've been whisked away from OTR to a posh drinkery in Tokyo. Nine giant sake casks sit illuminated on shelves above the bar. Among the collection of spirits, be sure to spot the jars of Betta fish. Kept separate to prevent them from fighting, your bartender can give you a fact sheet about each fish's battle stats. Additionally, ample, intimate seating and tremendous statement lighting fixtures create an electric atmosphere perfect for both group outings or dates.

Momo the Betta

A sampling of the food and drink led me to discover a variety of new flavors. The Sake Sangria is a must-try cocktail, filled with a heaping scoop of diced fruit. Needing warmed up? Their menu of hot teas offers tastes from mild white tea to a potent tea some describe as "sipping liquid smoke." For sushi, the OTRoll is one of the best spicy tuna rolls I've enjoyed. For something different, try the Cobra Kai roll filled with kampachi and shiso. The "Wa" Castle Sliders put an Asian twist on an American classic: the mini-hamburger. These delicious fusion appetizers include turkey burgers, tare, shitake mushroom, sugar bacon, onion, and the crispiest housemade pickles.

Sake Sangria with kiwi

OTRoll and Cobra Kai roll

"Wa" Castle Sliders

Edamame Hummus with Lotus Root and Sweet Potato Chips

Crispy pork belly with frisée apples on a yeast bun

Rarely do I find the chance to brag about Over The Rhine bathrooms, but the facilities at Kaze are too stylish not to share. With a bright, tropical motif and individual water closets, the attention to detail throughout this bar lives up to its name. Defined as the Japanese word for "wind," Kaze will impressively blow you away.