Feature
Dish and Tell
We asked our readers to spill the delicious details on what
Winter Garden dishes they crave most frequently.
- Fred Lopez
Egg and Cactus Gorditas
Don Poncho
Don Poncho’s gorditas are my reward for making it to the gym on Saturday mornings. A little bit crisp on the outside but still tender, these warm corn flour pouches are stuffed with creamy beans and seasoned chicken, steak, or my new favorite, eggs and cactus. Topped with lettuce, cheese, and splash of salsa, these are the breakfast of champions.
– Kirsten Harrington
Salmon BLT
Urban on Plant Kitchen & Bar
Picture-perfect salmon and thick-cut bacon, beautifully complemented by the crisp bite of arugula and the juicy sweetness of tomato. Finished with a velvety smear of mustard aioli, this sandwich is irresistible. Hands down, my first choice when we are dining out!
– Melissa Ried
Whoopie Pie
Gingers Baking Company
Two words: Insanely. Delicious! These soft, cake-like, fresh-baked sandwich cookies with a creamy filling are everything you remember from being a kid, only a hundred times better. Plus, this real-life Ginger (aka Mandy) is so friendly, charming, and adorable. No matter which flavor you order, your taste buds will thank you!
— Kristin Petrone
Scialatielli dei Faraglioni
Simply Capri
My heart belongs to the Scialatielli dei Faraglioni. This dish is a masterpiece of flavors and textures, with each component perfectly complementing the next. Handmade egg ribbon pasta provides the base for succulent shrimp, tender clams, plump mussels, and delicate calamari, all enhanced by vibrant cherry tomatoes, parsley, and olive oil. Every time I take a bite, it brings me back to the warmth and joy of the Mediterranean.
– Jen Dixon
Samosa Chaat
Cilantro & Spice Kitchen
It’s basically like a deconstructed samosa, blending crisp and crunch with saucy creaminess all in one bite. It hits all the flavors of sweet, tangy, salty, and spicy with the layers of chopped samoses, chickpeas, yogurt, and chutneys. It’s also a good size for sharing at a really great price!
— Jacki McAnally
Sweater Season Salad
RusTeak
I crave this salad all the time. Always plump, perfectly seared U10 scallops over a bed of arugula, kale, and mixed greens with this fantastic green apple vinaigrette. Butternut squash, goat cheese, and candied walnuts are just a delicious bonus. The summer version with balsamic compressed strawberries is great, too, but I’m always ready for sweater season.
— Dr. Caroline Pawlak
Roasted Bone Marrow
Market to Table
The roasted bone marrow is incredibly decadent, with such a rich flavor! Slathered on thick-cut, grilled focaccia and a few slices of pickled onion, it is truly indulgent and unlike anything I have experienced before. The presentation is lovely, too.
— Julie De La Fuente
Cheese Coney’s
Skyline Chili
I literally dream about eating Cheese Coney’s! Little hotdogs in a pillow-like bun dripping with that famous Skyline Chili and covered in fluffy delicious cheese. The chili is like no chili I have ever tasted with a flavor all its own, and the cheese just puts it over the top. I am not from Cincinnati ,but after trying Skyline for the first time a few months ago, I am hooked!
— Greg Zele
Duck Fat Truffle Fries
Tasting Room
Can we talk about the duck fat truffle fries for a second, a dish that not only deserves its own mention, but its own ode to greatness? The hand-cut french fries, crisp on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside, get a salty blanket of parmesan, truffle oil ,and chives ,outdone only by the melted duck fat they’re cooked in. Make sure you order extra smoked aioli ... you won’t regret it.
— Diandra Culver
