Chocoholics unite and celebrate! It’s time for the 2nd annual Cincinnati Chocolate Festival! Held only on one day: Sunday, October 23rd from noon to 6:00 p.m. at the Cintas Center on Xavier University’s campus.

The Cincinnati Chocolate Festival is a festival for chocolate lovers of all ages to come together and sample treats from more than 40 vendors – local and national – plus there are going to be celebrity chef demonstrations, competitions, a raffle and children’s activities.

If you live in Cincinnati or at least near it, you’ve probably heard of this place called “Andy’s Mediterranean Grille” – they aggressively promote their restaurant and their prepackaged sauces/falafel.

I first met some of the people who work at Andy’s via Whole Foods’ Uncorked! wine tasting. They were peddling and giving out samples of their boxed falafel. One tubby fellow with a particularly loud voice was calling for people to come over and try it – and he called for us to try it. I like falafel, sure I’ll try it.

I didn’t really have the heart to hurt his ballooned ego and tell him that it tasted like sand.

But, I don’t really like any food from a box in general. We decided we’d give their restaurant a try sometime and see what the fresh, real food tasted like.

Everyone has a pet peeve or two, and I am no different. One thing that always gets to me are stupid names for businesses. Every time I’m in Dayton I have the unfortunate opportunity to drive past “Sherwood Florist.” Robin Hood is one of my favorite stories/movies and seeing that just makes me roll my eyes and keep on driving. If I ever need flowers “Flowerama’ is one block down…now doesn’t that sound like a party!?

I guess I should mention why I’m talking about the poorly named florist shop. While driving by on Dorothy Lane the other day I noticed a new sign next to the flower shop. Sage green and nicely designed “Amici’s” sign was a bit small but easily seen.

Amici’s is just under a month old and is already getting its name out there with its specialty pizzas and comfortable atmosphere. When I drove by, in typical fashion, I pointed in a general direction and yelled to Tim, “I want to eat there!” He had no idea what I said and I had to spend the next mile or two explaining what I saw.

It’s that time again – and hopefully the weather will stay clear – for the 33rd annual P&G Taste of CIncinnati!

This year’s Taste of Cincinnati will feature over 40 restaurants, beer and wine tastings, and entertainment.

New restaurants this year are: The Bistro, Chicago Gyros, Down Under, Shorty’s Pizza Place, The Squirrel and Pizza Tower. All entrées are $5 or under – making this a nice chance to discover different restaurants and see what’s good. The beer and wine tastings are $15 per person (or $25 for two) and come with a free wine glass or beer pint.

I had been wanting to go to Haiku in Columbus’ Short North for a good while – always hearing great things from others who had gone. All I needed was a special occasion… or at least something that would make a decent excuse as a special occasion. Since winter quarter for graduate school was starting the following morning, I was able to form my own special occasion and celebrate the last day of freedom. It was Tim’s last day as well before we both started on our ten-week journey through scholarly Hell.

Getting to the restaurant was a piece of cake and parking was all the better. They have a “Tips Only” valet service–which is well worth it, since the parking lot is right next to Haiku–and street parking is abysmal.