Tag: food

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City Council Committee to consider new food truck policy – 6/22

Cincinnati City Councilmember Laure Quinlivan will be putting forth her policy proposal for food trucks up for consideration during the Quality of Life meeting today at 12pm.

Quinlivan’s proposal includes allowing three permanent, public-owned parking spots for food trucks to use in the Central Business District. The locations include spots in the lot at 6th & Race streets, a half-block of Court Street east of Vine Street, and a spot at the foot of the Purple People Bridge, next to the Sawyer Point lot.

The trucks will be able to sell food and beverages from 6am to 2:30am, and would be required to attain a permit that would cost between $400-800 depending on the size of the truck and the location.

Micah Paldino, member of the Cincinnati Food Truck Alliance and owner of PB&J PR on Main Street, encourages any and all purveyors and supporters of the food truck movement to come out to the meeting this afternoon and show Council how important food trucks are to the city.

“The committee meeting marks a pivotal moment in the program’s implementation. If the mobile food ordinance does not pass through the committee vote on Tuesday, it will not be forwarded to Council for final approval on Wednesday, June 23rd,” Paldino explained.  “Please support infusing some energy on the streets of Cincinnati as our Queen City moves into an amazing new time of growth and progress.”

The meeting takes place at 12pm TODAY, at City Hall (map) in Committee Room B (Room 312).  Those attending can find free bicycle parking, on- and off-street automobile parking available nearby, or access City Hall by Metro bus service (plan your trip).

Stay up-to-speed on the whereabouts of Cincinnati’s growing number of food trucks by following UrbanCincy’s comprehensive Twitter list.

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Arts & Entertainment Business News

19th Annual Italianfest expected to draw thousands to Newport’s riverfront

The 19th Annual Newport Italianfest kicks off on Riverboat Row between the Taylor-Southgate Bridge and Purple People Bridge this coming Thursday afternoon at 5pm and runs all weekend long. This festival features great food from some great local Italian places like Pompilios who is celebrating their 75th year in business. Plenty of other authentic Italian food options will also be available for everyone to enjoy.

Additionally, there are plenty of activities to enjoy at Italianfest. One of the more interesting things from visits I have made in past years is the Family Photo Booth which honors the many Italian families that settled in Newport generations ago. There are also plenty of games and rides, including harbor cruises on the Ohio River both Friday and Saturday evenings. Each night, except Sunday, will close with fireworks either put on by Italianfest or, as is the case on Friday night, the Cincinnati Reds for their summer series of Friday night fireworks games.

Last year, over 90,000 visitors made their way to Italianfest and this year should be quite busy as well. Adding to the hustle and bustle of this weekend’s activities will be the Cincinnati Reds as they take on the St. Louis Cardinals in a battle for 1st Place in the NL Central, Roeblingfest will take place on Saturday in Covington, and the 4th Annual Ride Cincinnati event will take place at Yeatman’s Cove on Saturday morning. All of the events are located on the banks of the Ohio River and are within easy walking distance of one another.

Italianfest (map) will run from 5pm to 11pm on Thursday, 5pm to 11pm on Friday, 11am to 11pm on Saturday, and 12pm to 9pm on Sunday, June 13. The festival is free and open to the public.

Categories
Business News Politics

Quinlivan proposes three city-owned food truck locations in downtown Cincinnati

Photo by Bob Schwartz
Photo by Bob Schwartz

Since UrbanCincy first covered the news of Cincinnati’s first food truck (Cafe de Wheels) in December, Senor Roy’s Taco Patrol has started operations and been wildly popular. Meanwhile, Taco Azul is poised to start its authentic Mexican food truck operations later this summer, and Gold Star Chili has announced the formal creation of their ‘Chilimobile’ that will serve Cincinnati-style chili throughout downtown and at other special events. The early success of these mobile food mavens should not come as a surprise given the popularity of food trucks nationally.

Policy makers at City Hall are now catching on and looking to help address the issues currently facing mobile food trucks as it relates to where they can and can not set up operations. Cincinnati City Council member Laure Quinlivan has proposed three city-owned “mobile food vendor” locations in downtown Cincinnati that would provide available spaces for these food trucks on downtown Cincinnati’s crowded streets.

“I want to increase the vitality of our street life and spread activity from Fountain Square to other parts of downtown,” Quinlivan stated in a press release sent to UrbanCincy. “I think giving mobile food vendors a few key areas to do business will help accomplish that. This is also an avenue for talented chefs to start a small business.”

The ability for aspiring chefs to take their product to the street allows them to avoid the costly overhead of an actual location where they are paying utilities and a lease for 24 hours of operation. At the same time, the small business owners are unable to move about to find their best customer base. Customers, on the other hand, love the laid back approach and flexibility of food trucks to be where the action is.

Since December, Cafe de Wheels has been found in downtown Cincinnati for the lunch crowd, Over-the-Rhine for Final Friday and other events, Northside for the after-hours crowd, and at special gatherings like WatchThis and other parties. Senor Roys, meanwhile, can pretty much be found everywhere and anywhere – you need to keep a close watch to their Twitter account to stay up-to-speed. And when Taco Azul starts its operations you can expect a more steady location pattern for lunch and special events.

Photo by Thadd Fiala

The problem thus far has not been too much oversight by City Hall on the topic of mobile food trucks, but rather, the lack of any real discussion whatsoever. This has left food truck operators to fend for themselves with vague public policy and inconsistent agreements with private property owners.

Quinlivan’s proposed pilot program has been reviewed by City administrators from six different City departments, and will be discussed at City Council’s Quality of Life Committee meeting Tuesday, June 8 at 12pm at City Hall (map). Quinlivan has the hopes to pass the legislation before City Council goes on summer recess.  Free bicycle parking is available, and City Hall is served by Metro bus service (plan your trip).

Cafe de Wheels’ owner Thomas Acito is scheduled to speak at the committee meeting on behalf of the Cincinnati Food Truck Alliance.

Stay up-to-date on all of Cincinnati’s mobile food operations by following UrbanCincy’s comprehensive Twitter list.

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Arts & Entertainment Business News

‘Eat Local for the Globe’ at Rookwood Pottery – 6/10

From the Cincinnati Business Courier:

If you’re the kind of person who worries about just how far your green beans had to travel before they made it onto your plate, then this dinner is for you.

The Corporation for Findlay Market will host the “Eat Local for the Globe” event from 5:30pm to 11pm June 10 at Rookwood Pottery. The event is limited to 100 guests, and they will get a five-course “locally sourced” meal prepared by chefs Luke Radkey and Jody Miller along with wine and live music. The cost is $45 per person.

“Purchasing locally grown products provides a boon to the local economy,” Karen Kahle, resource development director at the Corporation for Findlay Market, said in a news release. “‘Eat Local for the Globe’ is a unique event highlighting the talents of local chefs and ingredients.”

Get all the details, and read the full story from Lucy May here.

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Arts & Entertainment Business News

Local vendors, entertainment embody the best of Taste of Cincinnati

Everyone’s favorite food festival is just around the corner. The 32nd Annual Taste of Cincinnati is this weekend, May 29-31. Originating in 1979 as a one-day event with 5,000 people in Piatt Park, Taste of Cincinnati has grown to a three-day extravaganza with over 500,000 people in attendance last year at the longest running culinary arts festival in the country. The food fest is now ingrained into Cincinnati culture, and this year promises to be spectacular.

Any restaurant that can pony up the money for a booth is welcome to set up at Taste of Cincinnati, and this is evidenced with the inclusion of franchised booths such as P.F. Chang’s, Rusty Bucket and The Melting Pot. However, the spirit of Taste of Cincinnati is about trying the new and unexpected, so instead of gravitating towards a familiar favorite, try one of the many other booths from local independent restaurants with delicious treats you may not have had before. Snag some gazpacho from Hyde Park eatery Indigo, or perhaps Best of Taste winning entree Vegetarian Lasagna from Bella Luna. The real joy of Taste is stuffing yourself with delicious new experiences. The full menu and pricing for the Taste of Cincinnati is available online, so be sure to plan accordingly.

Another fantastic ingredient to the Taste of Cincinnati experience is the entertainment. Almost 70 musical acts are gracing the festival’s seven stages along 5th Street over the weekend. Some of the more notable performances include The Seedy Seeds; You, You’re Awesome; Daughters and Sons; The Minor Leagues; and Mia Carruthers and the Retros.

Even if you are not feeling hungry, it would be a travesty to miss out on the sheer musical awesomeness that is going to happen, and it is all free of charge! In addition to music, comedy acts will be included for the first time, with the headlining act being Josh Sneed.

We are so lucky to get the chance to stuff ourselves silly with delicious food this weekend. Please remember to bring a can or dry good with you to the festival, and drop it off at the Cincinnati USA-P&G booth on Fountain Square to support “Bringing Hope to the Table,” partnership with P&G and Kroger supporting the FreeStore Foodbank.  In exchange for the donation, guests will receive a coupon for a free reusable Kroger Shopping Bag and discount coupons to the Butterfly Show at Krohn Conservatory.

Those on Twitter can keep up with all that is happening at the Taste this weekend by using the hashtag #CincyTaste and by following @CincinnatiParty on Twitter.