Exploring the Downtown Cincinnati Food Scene

There is a part of downtown Cincinnati called Over-the-Rhine, or OTR as locals say, that feels more like NYC than Cincinnati.   Ok, maybe I'm stretchy a little, not quite NYC, but definitely a little more hip than you expect in southern Ohio.  It is an area very rich in architectural history, in fact is it the most intact urban historic district in the United States.  It was originally a thriving community settled by Germans in the nineteenth century but with time and suburban sprawl it fell on hard times and became a place full of abandon buildings, poverty, and crime.  Since the early 2000's millions have been pumped back into revitalizing OTR and little by little it is making a beautiful come back.  There is still a ways to go, but it now has some of the hottest restaurants in town and a very cool, hip vibe.  On Saturday, we went to one of our favorite brunch spots, Taste of Belgium, with the boys and Payton (our neighbor/almost like a daughter).  Afterwards, we headed to Findlay Market, the oldest running farmer's market in Ohio.  It is foodie central and I'm embarrassed to say we had never been. I was always a little wimpy about the location.. We grew up in Cincy, so the OTR revitalization has taken us longer to get to used to because we know how it used to be, but I can honestly say, Findlay Market knocked my socks off.  It is a part in-door, part out-door, part booth, part actual store front, market with every ethnicity of food represented.  There was live music,  all walks of life, a true visual/sensory overload.  Really incredible.  We're going back soon and we are going back hungry!!