Who won Taste of Cincinnati’s ‘Best of Taste’ preview? See top restaurants, food trucks

Last week, a select number of restaurants and food trucks were judged at Findlay Kitchen and Longworth Hall in a preview for the upcoming Taste of Cincinnati festival, in a “Best of Taste of Cincinnati.”

The public was able to attend and sample the dishes, and judges decided the best items in the categories of appetizer, soup/salad/side, entrée and dessert.

Ready for Taste of Cincinnati?: Here are the restaurants and food trucks participating

Here are the winners in each category for restaurants and food trucks.

Restaurant “Best of Taste” winners

Soup/salad/side

• Gold: YouYu (Hard Rock Casino) – Bulgogi French Fries

• Silver: Thai Express – Papaya Salad, Sticky Rice with & without Chicken

• Bronze: Herban Vegans – Gumbolaya

Appetizer

• Gold: Council Oak Steak and Seafood (Hard Rock Casino)- Waygu Meatball

• Silver: Alfio’s Buon Cibo – Korean Barbecue Pork Empanada

• Bronze: Sawasdee Thai Cuisine – Tod Mun

Entrée

• Gold: Alfio’s – Veal Short Rib Ravioli Creamy Truffle Marsala Sauce

• Silver: Sweets & Meats BBQ – Smoked Pork Rib Tips

• Bronze: Sweets & Meats BBQ – BBQ Slider & Side

Dessert

• Gold: Pompilio’s Restaurant– Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cannoli

• Silver: The Cheesecakery – Salted Caramel Truffle Cheesecake Cupcake

• Bronze: Alfio’s Buon Cibo – Chocolate Caramel Tiramisu

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Food truck “Best of Taste” winners

Soup/salad/side

• Gold: Texas Joe Tex Mex– Nopales & Calabaza Vegan or Vegetarian Bowl

• Silver: House Café and Catering – Truffle Mac & Cheese

• Bronze: Wicked Hickory – Dirty South Shot

Appetizer

• Gold: Dine-In Hawaiian – Fried Musubi

• Silver: Wicked Hickory – Smoked Meat Nachos

• Bronze: Off the Hook – Shrimp Fritters

Entrée

• Gold: Buffalo’s Best – Chicken Wings

• Silver: Off the Hook – Cod Nibbler

• Bronze: MamaBear’s Mac – Bruschetta Grilled Cheese

Dessert

• Gold: House Café and Catering – Cannoli French Toast

• Silver: SugarSnap! – Salted Caramel Brownie Sundae

• Bronze: Streetpops – Strawberry Rose Cream Streetpop

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here are the winners from ‘Best of Taste of Cincinnati’ preview