Yesterday turned out to be the day I got a mini tour of Cincinnati: Cameron edition. I love that every time I'm here I stay with someone different because I keep getting shown completely different places which is just wonderful.
Breakfast was TASTE OF BELGIUM, with a chill day at the house, then adventures with Cam to a quick drive by of Eden Park (an amazing view of the city even if I only got to see it from a distance in a slow moving vehicle), a day time drive through Mt.Adams, then the dinner stop at ELI'S BBQ.
LOCATION: 3313 RIVERSIDE DR., CINCINNATI, OH 45226.
One of the places Cam said he really wanted to take me because the bbq is just THAT good. We ended up at this little beat up place with a great atmosphere. A record player going on in the background playing Queen and all the walls lined with incredible drawings for sale. (I'm talking Ron Swanson and Yoda. SOLD!). The line moves pretty well through the warm day and we get to the two registers and the wonderful chalk board menu. Love.
I order the pulled pork and cheesy macaroni per Cam's suggestion and throw in mashed potatoes as my second side, because once again, the potatoes always have me.
The only downside to this place is that it's an hour wait for our food but believe me, its worth it. In the meantime we go outside where picnic benches are scattered around and we hang out and talk while we wait. People everywhere play cards, KAN JAM, toss footballs around, and frisbees fly in all directions. A couple sitting in my line of sight have a cooler for their bottle of red wine and the cutest dog chewing on a stick twice her size. Not even a little mad.
Eventually, Cam gets hungry and heads over to the serving tent to check on our order and comes back with two baskets of food.
It's wonderful. The cheesy mac is his favorite and when they say cheesy, they mean cheesy. I end up only eating about half of mine and giving him the rest because I happily overload on my tastebuds quota of cheese quickly. The mashed potatoes are fantastic and while they're crisp on top (which adds great flavor) the rest of it is the most perfect texture with tiny potato chunks hidden around. Now, the pulled pork is not even trying to cooperate with me and is a mess when I try to pick it up. Then I look up and Cam is there cutting into it with his fork and that's game over because in 30 seconds that pulled pork is in my belly making me warm and happy. I end up not being able to finish and having leftovers to bring home, but I'm not complaining because this is quality food made in a traditional homey way that I love.
It's these little places that make me love trying food. I'm so happy to have a native show me where the good secret spots are because there's no way I would've known on my own!