beautiful sunsets

Ohio Wineries! Who knew we have over 350?

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We are wrapping up Ohio Wine Month. Were you aware that Ohio boasts over 350 wineries? So you can save on that flight to Cali and just hop in your car and hit the road. Fun fact… in 1859 Ohio was the leading producer of wine in the U.S.! So… YES we deserve a whole month of celebrating. 

I was invited to stroll the vineyards of Meranda-Nixon Winery in Ripley, Ohio and we had such a fun time. As you know if you’re a follower of mine, I love family-owned businesses and this was just another one of those gems. 

Just walking in for our tasting before enjoying the Steak & Salmon Dinner Night, you could feel how much the family and staff loved being there. The passion for the wine, the love of the vineyards, the chatter back and forth made you feel like you were just invited over to a home for dinner.

Maura & Seth, the husband and wife team, describe the wines and process with love and a whole lot of joking around which made for such a fun night. The vineyard produces wines for every palate and may taste familiar from around the Cincy area because they supply a personalized label for a few establishments around like the Lytle Hotel and the Monastery Event Center. 

The land was originally a tobacco and grains farm prior to planting grapes in 2003. It opened in 2007 and is located in the area of Ohio Valley that was one of the largest grape-growing regions in the country during the 1800s. There is so much to learn about Ohio’s history of the wine industry and its impact today, so visiting some of these local wineries is such a fun experience. While you sip away and learn about each winery as I did at Meranda- Nixon you’ll appreciate the dedication and passion of the process and get more out of your visit than you ever thought you would.

While we were enjoying our tasting, Seth had to run off to the Brown County airport to pick up a couple of gentlemen who flew in for a visit from Israel and Boston. That is a little more than a road trip (hahaha). They say they have many visitors that fly in from all over just for a visit. Some people even camp on the grounds for the night… a great idea for those who want to dive into more bottles :)

beautiful sunsetsPhoto borrowed from Miranda-Nixon

The beautiful vineyards have one of the most picturesque sunsets ever. Just check out their social media for some pictures or better yet plan a visit and stay for the sunset! Check out the Ohio Wines website or social media for information on the many fun wineries. 

 

Miranda – Nixon

6517 Laycock Rd. 

Ripley, Oh 

 

Make sure to tell them that Hey Michelle sent ya :) and for your non-wine drinking friends, they have a wine slushie that I promise they will like! 

 

Easter meals, treats & basket ideas!

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Here is a list of some brunch & dinner ideas for Easter!  

 

As things are opening up Easter Brunches is A La Carte and some are adding special items to their already fantastic menu! Make sure to make your reservations now. I also love all the take-home kits so you can just warm and eat. Let me know if there are more to add and I’ll post on my IG story. I know there are so many but I wanted to highlight some. Read below for candy and fun basket ideas.

Coppins ~ located in Hotel Covington ~ Egg hunts & Brunch Great selection including colored deviled eggs 

Via Vita ~ Brunch & Dinner dine in or at home Chefs Lasagna !! YUM 

Dear ~ Brunch $50 per person 4 Course meal and you have options to choose 

Ivory House ~ Offering a big A la carte menu grab a brunch punch too :) Also, available for carryout. 

Lytle Hotel ~ Subito is serving up Brunch and Vista Rooftop is serving up new cocktails 

Funkys ~ Amazing selection to order for Brunch or Dinner for you to serve at home! 

Louvino ~ Set price but offering a good selection to choose from Adults $23 Kids under 12 are $12.50

Forno ~ Offering dine-in & take home …Great selection with a “pick two” adults $25 kids $12 they even have the Bloody Mary bar :) Take-home kit is $79 serves 4-5 

Metropole ~ Take home or dine in Easter Brunch $35 pp kids menu available. The take-home feeds from 2 to 8 people delicious items like smoked ribs to rosemary garlic lamb.. sides and more. 

Cozy Cafe ~ Always a delish brunch … great outdoor patio! 

Incline Public House ~ Brunch 10-3 … eat with a view :) 

Urban Grill ~ 11- 3 pm Brunch They are adding a yummy Prime Rib to the usual great brunch menu 

BB Riverboats ~ They are offering a Brunch & a Dinner Cruise with the Easter Bunny $50 Adults and $28 Children 4-12  This sounds so fun 

Jeff Ruby ~ Easter at Home Meal Kit $285 for 6 people ( they give you so much food I think you get more people :) 

Elm Street Social Club ~ Have you heard of this cool spot in OTR near Findlay? They’re offering a dinner kit that looks amazing! Pre-order and then pick up on Saturday. Braised beef short ribs, tender biscuits with pimento cheese, salad, potato gratin, olive oil cake w/ Meyer lemon :) 

Greyhound Tavern ~ They have created one heck of an Easter menu for you!

Let’s talk Easter Baskets

Where to get an adorable basket? These baskets are so dang cute and great for the beach or shopping after Easter… !  Artisan Boutique Co.  

Fill the basket! All of these listed below are local chocolate and candy makers that should be in every basket! Go ahead click and see but be ready your mouth will water. Family-owned local made.. doesn’t get much better. So much chocolate made in our Sweeeet city!

Doscher’s Candies ~ It’s a must

Cheesecakery 

Ruby’s Chocolate

Fawn Candy

Graeter’s

Aglamesis Bro’s

Sweet Mae’s Cookies

Mayas Bakes ~ brownies and a great pink lemonade cookie yummy

Paktli ~ for the healthy person that still likes a treat

Mollys Cupcakes

Other Fun Basket items~

&Sundries ~ great bath items, candles, and kids stuff

The Cottage Paperie~ Has so many super cute items

Joseph Book Store ~ Always something and of course books

Sweaty Bands~ Great for the athlete :)

I like to throw mini liquor bottles, lottery tickets, and cash in my boy’s baskets too.. they like that !!! :)

A look inside our wonderful Cincinnati Art Museum

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Here is my segment with Kristyn Hartman on WCPO taking you around the Cincinnati Art Museum.

The CAM is easing back into normal hours for the museum and the cafe. You still need a reservation but it is free to the public with just a small fee for special exhibits. If you are a long time Cincinnatian or a visitor I highly recommend walking the outside Art Climb or browsing around this amazingly beautuful gem. Always a perfect way to spend some time.

 

A Must See… Pyramid Park!

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It’s safe to say if you have visited this incredible spot you’ve most likely been back many times to show it off to your friends.  Just a drive up the road we have a wonderful place … Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum. It’s a true gem and the exact place you would drive to see if you were traveling out of the country or even to another city. So go and be a tourist in your home town and visit, I promise you won’t regret it! 

A little history (to impress your friends on your visit), Harry T. Wilks purchased some land in 1987 planning to build a home, the Pyramid House. He continued to buy more land, lakes, and trails and eventually thought it needed to be preserved for future generations.  Lucky for us, he decided to start a non-profit sculpture park and open it to the public. Mr. Wilks passed away in 2014 but left the park in great hands. Sean FitzGibbons is the new Executive Director who is so passionate and is ready with new ideas and vision to add to the already amazing place.

Pyramid Hill is over 350 acres of meadows, rolling hills, and hiking trails that are also home to over 80 permanent sculptures and usually have traveling pieces just to make every visit a new experience. The artwork showcases local, regional, and national artists and features an ancient sculpture Museum. The park is open 365 days a year and has many events like art shows, concerts, and soon, holiday lights display… Journey Borealis. They are partnering with Brave Berlin, the brains behind Blink ( that’s a lot of B’s :) but… just imagine how cool this drive-thru event will be. Speaking of cool you can drive-thru Pyramid Hill Park and see the sculptures from the comfort of your car. You can also do “art in a cart” and cruise around in golf carts that can be rented or hoof it and get your steps in. 

The experiences are never-ending.  You can bring a little lunch and eat on the grounds or order the special “Pyramid Sandwich box” when you get there and they will let you know when it is ready. You can pick it up and head to one of your favorite spots and enjoy it. You can hike the trails, sit and read, stroll and take selfies with the fun statues. 

It is such a zen space and could even be one of the most romantic places you’ve been.  They host many weddings and have provided the backdrop for a lot of engagements. It’s just so pretty and it has so many unique areas, some with unbelievable views that you will just want to take it all in. When Kristyn Hartman and I visited, we must have hopped in and out of the cart 20 times to take “one more pic” hahaha. 

Follow Pyramid on social media because you’ll want to keep up on all of the fun exhibits and events. You can also become a member and get discounts. I promise you all are going to really enjoy this one… now go be a tourist and tell them Hey Michelle sent ya! 

Click the link below to get my live tour of Pyramid Park!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU4EJdHvavA

A Night at All Hallows’ Eve Terror Town!

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You can feel it in the air, Fall is slowly creeping and a few leaves have started to fall. You need a sweatshirt in the early morning and pumpkin spice lattes are being posted on everyone’s Instagram. This means one thing… It’s time for spooky Halloween outings like All Hallows’ Eve Terror Town. 

  

Wild West Town

I got to check out All Hallows’ Eve Terror Town which is a large 19th century Old West town that has been transformed into a perfect haunted village with plenty for everyone to do. The haunted trail is the main attraction but there is also the town that has shopping, food, a bar with live music, an outdoor movie area, and games. While this is all going on, there are characters who go around spooking people and if you are brave enough to choose to wear the “red bracelet” you are fair game when it comes to being part of the theatrics. This means they can safely touch you. But, if you choose not to wear the bracelet, it is a no-touch experience. 

If you love spooky stuff you have to check this out. I was really impressed with this place and the masterminds behind it really did an amazing job.  

 

The Haunted Trail 

A thrill-seekers dream is hitting this award-winning trail that starts in a spooky old chapel and leads you out to the trail which has incredible scenery and great actors with movie quality costumes. The story unfolds on the trail takes you along with the tale of the family that moved into town and started pushing their strange beliefs on everyone. They killed the town’s priest and tried to sway everyone to follow along with them and join their “cult”. OMG, I’m freaked out just typing it and wait until you go through it!! Although I’m a little wimpy :) YIKES 

Photo Ops

Do You Have to do the trail? 

No… and they make it easy for a group of people to enjoy the night. You get a ticket to go on the trail and you turn it in and get a text when it’s your turn. That way you can all walk around and check out the very interesting shops, listen to live music, or play games like corn hole, ax throwing and brain smash (my fave :). All of this is part of the cost, which is great. There is plenty to do while others in your group try to get back to you from the trail… ALIVE!  You have to check out the unusual photo op store, too. The photographer has the coolest photo area and you can wear costumes and have your scary makeup done for your photo.  I was really impressed with the shopping and other themed things to do. The shop owners were so fun they made the night even better. 

Great Night

I must say I would go again! It was more fun than I even thought it would be and they have really done a fantastic job. This is only the second year and last year it was awarded many impressive scare factor awards!  It is also Veteran owned and operated. 

 

Other things to know

 

  • The grounds are grass and mud so wear shoes that are good for any conditions. 
  • It is also getting cooler at night and you are on an open farm so bring a jacket. 
  • Be ready for loud shot sounds… you will jump a couple of times hahaha but it’s all part of the show.
  • Cost $25 for General Admission $35 for the “red bracelet” experience *if you are doing this don’t wear your favorite clothes. You may get “bloody” and it may not come out of some clothes or bring a rain poncho. 
  • Masks are mandatory even though it is an outdoor event! 

*This event is not recommended for kids under 16 years of age 

 

Where is it?

1449 Greenbush Cobb Rd. Williamsburg 

Open: 7p.m. -2a.m. Friday & Saturday September 4th – November 14th

 

 

Looking for family fun for the little ones I will be posting  info and giving away tickets on my IG for Fall on the Farm at Blooms & Berries  

There’s a new Tom & Chee in town !

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Let’s get cheesy my friends! I had a chance to visit one of the NEW Tom & Chee locations last week in Anderson and I can tell you, I will be back soon! Exciting news… I will be giving away a $25 gift card on my Instagram! Check it out and enter to win so you can try some of these delights :)

If you have visited a Tom & Chee in the past, you are in for some great new changes. Gold Star Chili has acquired Tom & Chee and has revamped the menu. They simplified it and really ramped it up. There are some great new salads, a few new amazing grilled cheese sandwiches, and the best loaded tater tots! I loved the “Pick Two” option, too,  ‘cuz there is nothing like dunking your grilled cheese into a cup of soup or if your like me you can’t decide what you want …this way you can try two things :) 

On our visit my son tried the Italian which is a blast of flavors including Salt & Vinegar chips, pepperoni, ham, Mozzarella cheese on sourdough with a tater tot popped in the mouth between every bite :). I picked the Cubano and it will be hard not to order that right away next time… yummm it is Swiss cheese, pork, ham dill pickles and sweet mustard on hearty white bread! To balance life I had a the Green Goat salad with chicken and it had all the goodness.

And who doesn’t like grilled cheese? This concept offers a great spot for the family with something for everyone and a great kid’s menu. Even your picky one will find something, I am sure. Luckily for everyone, the 5 locations are spread out around the city!  No matter which location you choose, you will get sandwiches that take it up a notch and are all yummy. Problem is, you will have trouble picking out just one.  

Save room and treat yourself with a delish sweet with the famous Grilled Chee Donut with mild cheddar or the S’more Donut with melty chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers. :) 

•Anderson 

•Newport on the Levee ( soon moving into different space and getting a facelift )

•Union Center

•Kings Island

•Downtown 

So, dine in or carry out and keep them in mind for catering! Certainly a thought for your upcoming Graduation Parties.

A Fun Filled Visit to Middletown Ohio!

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I was invited to spend 48 hours in Middletown, Ohio. Since I haven’t been to Middletown for a long time, I am sure I thought the same thing you are thinking right now…whats going on in Middletown? It only took me pulling into our cute boutique hotel to convince me that this was going to be fun!

Middletown is working hard on making a comeback, and in the last 3 years with dedication and the idea of revival they’ve been on an upswing and I can only it see it getting better. Our schedule was packed with so many fun activities. You are going to be amazed at this longer than usual post from me. First, let me just say the passion and love the locals have for their community was inspiring. Most shop owners were from Middletown and many had moved away for years only to return to the calm close-knit community after living in places like LA, Charleston, Virginia, Boston and more. They all said the same thing… they liked growing up there and wanted to come back and let their kids have that same experience. Another thing they had in common was the ambition to invest in the town to get the ball rolling as far as restaurants and stores.

We stayed in the cutest boutique hotel called Indigo Pass. This is a cool modern, hip and cozy hotel that is walking distance to all the fun stuff going on in Middletown and close to all we did during our 2-day visit.

The Swire – 64 S. Main St. -We started our trip with lunch at the most quaint restaurant located in the most charming old historic home. The ambiance, staff, and menu were amazing.

Very important (if you read my blogs) they have a fun cocktail menu. I sipped on the “Blame it on the Juice” and after a few, you might just do that :) The menu is full of greatness, but don’t leave without devouring an order of onion rings and “special sauce” Yummmm … When you walk out the door, take a minute to peek into the iconic Sorg Opera House just across the street. It is slowly being brought back to life and the story of the Sorgs is pretty cool.

Connections Day Spa-50 S. Main St.- not on our agenda, but worth a shoutout! Really cool salon and spa. They do a great giveback on the second Saturday that provides kids haircuts and the proceeds go to Sleep In Heavenly Peace which provides beds for children in need. Loved the vibe and the owner Sabrina!

Pendleton Art Center -1105 Central Ave.- We have a Pendleton in Cincinnati and they extended their love of art and community to Middletown. Pendleton is a collection of individual art studios you can visit, participate and purchase one-of-a-kind art creations. We were lucky to participate in an ornament-making class with Maura Lisa Studio. She was delightful and we went home with adorable ornaments that added flare to my tree and made for unique and fun gifts for my friends.

Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop – 1212 Central Ave.- Who doesn’t love a candy shop? This iconic and stocked-full-of- goodness candy shop is the home of the World Famous $5 candy buffet! You get a box and can fill it to the brim as long as the box can close..haha…not an easy task! Part of the fun is watching everyone rearranging the candy to try to fit just one more piece :) It’s not just candy either, they have some fun gift items and a soda pop collection that is out of this world!

White Dog Distilling– 1357 Central Ave. -Mike & Debbie were such a treat to talk to. Mike took his hobby to business and Middletown is lucky to have them. This great little watering hole is so cute with games to play at the tables while you sip on Mikes distilled vodka, gin, agave spirits, and rum. I loved the bottles with cool old pictures of Middletown on the labels … great gift idea! We came back later in the evening to get down with the band and hang out with our new friends we met throughout the day… so much fun ;)

Spoken-1201 Central Ave. – So this was another “not on the list of activities” we were walking to dinner and past this cool bike shop, but when I looked in the windows I noticed a group of people laughing and drinking so, of course, I had to check it out! Low and behold … there is a cute bar inside the shop… genius and so fun. Side note the I saw the whole crew and owners later at White Dog so basically, we’re all buds now ;)

Gracies – 1131 Central Ave. – So, Ami who owns the hotel we stayed in also owns Gracies and Haven the yoga studio  (I love this small town vibe). Gracies, named after her grandmother was delightful. The back story is Ami Vitoris’ grandparents owned a long-running grocery in town. They worked side-by-side serving the community and everyone was like family. In 2007, the grocery closed after a great 61-year run. Ami returned to Middletown after living in LA, DC & New York to raise her kids with family. She purchased a building that is home to all of her businesses with the belief that “ this town matters and the investing in a small town can change the world.” She and others want to be part of a comeback story of Middletown “ The rebirth of an all – American city.” Oh, and the food, vibe, and cocktails were great… loved it all including the story :)

Land of Illusions Christmas Glow – This was 1.5 miles and over 3.5 million lights … if that doesn’t scream “ get ya in the spirit” I don’t know what does! In addition, there are rides, huge fire pits, shopping, Santa, petting zoo, holiday movies, live characters and more. You have to check this place out at Halloween too because from what I hear that is really really, really unbelievable.

West Central Wine – 1120 Central- We had to stop in this cute place and happy we did. Great cozy atmosphere and fun bartender. They have a light bite menu that looked yummy. They have a full bar and nice wine collection obviously ;) You can look for my Hey Michelle sticker on the bar frig :)

Java Johnny’s – 3534 Central Ave. – This is how we started our Sunday and that was a great way to do it. The coffee was great but please grab a fat ooey, gooey chocolate chip cookie (heated up) or a delish scone yummm

Haute Fusion Glass Studio– 1050 Central Ave. – Meeting John the artist & owner was a treat. He’s a cool cat from Manhattan and his energy was contagious. He loves what he does and it shows through his work and the way he shared his talent as we learned the process of making glass ornaments. His shop is full of his beautiful creations and award-winning pieces. He holds classes all the time and it is so much fun. He also has a popular selling e-book which showcases some of his unique techniques for all skill levels oh and he’s a father of 5 kids what a guy … look for him at art shows all over even one of my faves the Hyde Park show :) I will definitely be going back to make more fun things.

Bourbon’s Craft Kitchen & Bar-2231 N. Verity Pkwy- Loved this place! It was perfect for grabbing a fantastic lunch at the bar and watch some football ( Bengals lost :). We shared an awesome Gyro and dangerous plate of Queso Poutine fries… dang, why is everything that is not healthy so dang good? They have a menu full of options and a bar stocked with over 130 whiskeys.

Holiday in the Highlands Home Tour- 2709 McGee Ave- This was an event you should put on your calendar for next year! We had a tour through a beautiful historic neighborhood of Middletown. The homes are decorated incredibly for the holidays and you get to look all around the homes and meet the owners. I will remind you of this next year :)

Next visit I’m hitting

The Jug for a burger! This legendary drive-up burger joint has been around 87 years serving up sacks of burgers, root beers, soft-serve ice cream and more and now it’s open all year!

If you’re working on your Donut Trail Passport be sure to cruise through and get a stamp at Central Pastry Shop!

Halloween–I’m coming back to Land of Illusion Scream Park– the 3rd best haunt in America and the best haunted trail in the US… yikes there are over 4 hours of thrills and 6 different haunts! They also are the home of the huge new water park in the summer. 

I need to check out some of the breweries like Fig Leaf and the gluten free brewery  Rolling Mill  eveyone raved about this spot.

Oh, and stop in Gold Beret Vintage & Thrift Shop. 1118 Central Ave. They have a fantastic collection of clothes, shoes and jewels.

A Night Out at Branch

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Seared Halloumi

Branch…  I have been many, many times because it happens to be walking distance from my house and because it is a great place. I went the other night to have a preview of the new Fall menu and I’ll tell you what… there was not a disappointing bite of the night. Sometimes places take a little time to find their place — what they really want to be. I’m not, for a minute, saying that Branch wasn’t good from the beginning, but I am saying that the creativity and love that Shoshannah Anderson Owner and Executive Chef has put into this menu from the beginning seems to really shine. 

Branch, which is close to celebrating its 1-year anniversary, is located on the main intersection of Walnut Hills (Madison & Woodburn) in a unique old bank building that sat vacant for 50 years.  Now, it is beautifully restored keeping the bank theme with the owls like in the days of Central Trust. Take a peek in the kitchen and you can get a glimpse of the safe!

Smoked Amish Airline Chicken Breast

 

During my recent visit, every dish that Shoshannah brought and described to me was like her one favorite child after another. All were definitely creations from the heart. The night I was there, the team was also tasting wines to compliment the new flavors of the season. I was also lucky enough to be there when Giacomo, the creator of the wonderful cocktails was behind the bar. He is as creative as his name ;). So do yourself a favor and try a tasty treat from the bar that is made also with love! All the bartenders are great but if you see the guy with the handlebar mustache tell him to whip you up one of his creations.

Back to the food… I was able to bite into some of the new items and I will tell you it was a party in my mouth! Sometimes you read a menu and you may not recognize ingredients or something sounds like it wouldn’t be part of that particular dish, but you need to trust. Some people have an ear for music and some chefs have a tongue for taste; well… that is what I feel this menu has. 

Flank Steak

 

A few of the things I tried

Seared Halloumi delish

Smoked Amish Airline Chicken Breast with Polenta, Mole Rojo. OK, these flavors all combined were amazing! What a treat! 

 

Korean Braised Beef Short Ribs with pickled veggies (love pickled veggies and where were these when I was a kid?) Red Kuri Gochujang… don’t ask–just eat. This meat was so tender it melted in my mouth.

Flank Steak with roasted potatoes, Japanese Eggplant, Chimichurri the presentation alone was beautiful. It didn’t stop there… the combination of flavors was delish. 

 

This menu has so much to offer and I can’t wait to go back and try more. I was told there will soon be an upside-down apple cake of some sort that I’ll make sure to save room for after dinner :) 

Korean Braised Beef Short Ribs

Things To Know:

•1535 Madison Rd. Walnut Hills 

•Parking- On-street or in the lot just steps away 

•Don’t forget that there is always the Night Drop! This fun bar downstairs, that has a great full bar menu and offers some great options into the night hours. They also have a menu of creative cocktails, great tunes, and a cool vibe. 

•Brunch is not to be missed!! 

•They also have a great outdoor seating area when weather permits. 

•Take note of the great ways they incorporated the bank theme from the original use of the building into everything from the name of the restaurant, bar, drinks and even how your bill is presented! 

•Great place to meet and grab a drink and a bite at the bar

•Sign up for the newsletter and or follow on social media for events and more  

•$1 oyster night on Tuesdays 

Hours:

Brunch
Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:00 pm
Bar
Tue–Fri 4:00 pm–12:00 am
Sat 3:00 pm–2:00 am
Dinner
Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm

“Cheddar for the Better”… A visit to Urban Stead Cheese

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photo compliments of Urban Stead

I have never had so many people text and message me asking if I had written about a place more than Urban Stead Cheese. It has been in my neighborhood, but I hadn’t had a chance to really talk to them and get their story, until today (And, I’m extremely happy that I did)!  I love to go places where I have no idea what I’m going to walk away with and, in this case, it was a full belly, a smile on my face, a wealth of incredible information about cheese and new friends.

Andrea and Scott Robbins, the owners, are the heart and soul behind Urban Stead which is the home of a “one of a kind” cheesemaking facility and tasting room. While the location on Woodburn is a great gathering spot for all to enjoy a libation and some outstanding cheeses I’ve ever had, while chatting or watching local sports – it is also a hub for making about 700lbs. of cheese a week and aging thousands of pounds. And, according to Andrea & Scott, it’s growing!

This cool facility houses the cheese-making room a few aging rooms as well as a large tasting room/bar. Because the cheeses couldn’t be aged in the same room (because they are fickle and they can’t all be together – kinda like siblings, I guess) they had to really plan where they housed the cheese. Did you know that cheddar mold can jump around so it can’t age with other cheeses? I’m telling you I learned so much interesting tidbits from the Robbins!

The first cheese I tried was the very popular Cheese Curds or “squeakers” because a good fresh curd makes a good squeaking sounds when you bite into it! They are to be eaten fresh and are best right away (hence the line at the door on Wednesdays … curd making day)! Now that Urban Stead has been open for about a 1 ½ years, they offer a charcuterie platter full of delicious cheeses! Like Quark.. yep, this is one of the prized cheeses that they serve and the only place in town where you will see it (or if you see it somewhere else…it came from here). Because of Cincinnati’s German heritage they are paying homage to our city with this very versatile cheese. Fun fact: on average every German eats around 15 lbs. of Quark a year! Whenever I have visited, I have had it in a different preparation from sweet to savory. It can be used instead of ricotta in lasagna or top it with honey and berries as a sweet dish. The baker that makes the cakes for the tasting room uses it as a “secret” ingredient. They have also aged gouda (best I’ve ever had… not kidding); Tomme d’Evanston (paying tribute to the area); cheddar “Street Ched”  and more. All of these are handmade in small batches in the traditional old school procedure making it so delicious and special.

Making the Curds!

The Robbins are both grandchildren of dairy farmers (and, no, they didn’t meet on the Farmer Dating website ;) haha. They both started off with business careers but found that this was definitely a common passion that has taken years to learn and perfect. One main goal was to make sure they were going to not only make and sell the cheese but that they were going to keep it local and make a positive impact in their community. So, even on Monday, their “off day”, they work. It is the paperwork day and the day they take off for a 50-mile drive to Sardina, Ohio, to go pick up 6,000 lbs. of jersey milk for the weeks’ cheese making! They really searched for a local farmer with the quality of milk so they knew exactly where the milk was coming from.

Even the whey (yes “curds and whey”), is reused because there is a pig farmer that picks it up to feed it to her pigs which makes for some really tasty pork. Andrea points out that the name Urban Stead “is the cycle completed in the farmstead cheese-making environment that they are doing in the city”. I love how they are so conscientious from the name. to employing neighborhood people, to literally spreading their cheese all over Cincinnati (list below), Northern Ky, Louisville, Dayton and Cleveland in restaurants so chefs can create great recipes and supporting local farms.

The evolution of Urban Stead is on a roll and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Food for Thought:

• Quark is so versatile that Lindsay Vonn uses it for muscle bruising its also used in facials!

• You can freeze cheese rinds and put them in chili or soups for an added flavor

Things to know:

  • Scott is not only a master cheesemaker he is also a sommelier which means they have a great wine selection to pair with your cheese and… a Cave List which is even more special! There is also a full bar ;)
  • They will prepare an amazingly beautiful cheese platter for you to pick up and take to your next party. You can even give the platter to your hostess as a gift …bonus
  • They have a wonderful retail area for takeaway cheeses, gift baskets, sweet treats and even beer and wine can be purchased to go.
  • 3036 Woodburn Ave. Plenty of parking in the backlot

Hours: Closed Monday & Tuesday, Wednesday- Friday 3-9 Happy Hour 3-6, Saturday 12-9 , Sunday 12-6

List of restaurants you will bite into some of Urban Stead cheese so go explore and see what creative things are being   done with all of this great cheese HERE  

 

Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum… You need to go!

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Cincinnati baseball…Got to love it and I do love sports! But I think it’s been heightened by being the mom of three sports loving boys. So, I figure, I might as well join them. I stick with my home teams (even though some seasons make me want to take up crocheting). The one huge thing you can be excited about with our Cincinnati team is the rich history of “firsts” and because we do have some “feathers in our cap” where that is concerned…like the Reds being the first professional baseball team in Major League. And, we are also lucky to be one of a handful of teams that have a Reds Hall of Fame right outside of the ballpark. (If you haven’t been there, go because it recently underwent a huge renovation and it is really impressive). 

This summer, I visited Cooperstown, NY and the Baseball Hall of Fame. It was packed with great memorabilia including a lot of Reds things. I have to tell you, though, I was highly impressed with our own Reds Hall of Fame as were the many people I found milling around before an evening Reds game. If you go (and you should) I suggest you take the stairs when going up so you can view the Ball Wall which is the amount of balls Pete Rose hit (4,256 a record yet to be broken). You can also get a great view of the new pavilion gazebo of the 1869 Red Stockings. It’s outside and open to all to view the past players in life-size bronze statues who will make for a great photo moment. 

The HOF is 15,000 square feet full of old and new including uniforms from over the years; a huge baseball card collection including one that is the oldest piece from 1869; trophies, pictures and so much more. There are some really fun interactive areas…I would say for the kids, but let’s be honest, I was all over it. You can even take photos and make your own baseball cards, or try your luck at being a Fox Sportscaster or show your talents by announcing the game with Jeff Piecoro  and a whole lot more that will make you feel like you are really part of the game. One of the best things about your visit is that they will send you an email of you doing all of these activities and it is free! I’m telling you this place is really cool! 

The collections of baseball gloves and story of the evolution of the baseball through the years was really cool to see. I really loved the videos of the players giving tips on how to be a catcher, pitcher and so on(video of this below). This is really great for kids who are currently playing. It’s the kind of place where your family will walk in and everyone will go in different directions because there is so much to see and so many good photo opportunities.  

Hey Michelle highly recommends this for all Reds fans and anyone coming to town for a game to cheer on “the other team”! If you love baseball you will really enjoy the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum, I promise. 

Things to know: 

  • Check website for hours they vary due to the off season and special events.
  • There is a great deal through October. You can buy a ticket to the HOF and SkyStar Ferris wheel and you get to spin the wheel to get a bobblehead for $20 click HERE for the deal
  • Free to Military & Vets, Free to kids 12 and under, $12 for adults and $8 for Seniors
  • Tons of good photo ops
  • Check schedule for upcoming inductions like Marty Brennaman in April of next year. 
  • Click below to get a glimpse of the cool video