BY ALLEN HOWARD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
As the sun split the clouds Sunday, briefly casting fair weather on the 19th Annual Taste of Cincinnati, the crowd began to swell at Cincinnati's premier culinary event.
But late Sunday afternoon, a thunderstorm swept through the city, threatening the attendance.
By midafternoon, music and the smell of barbecue, jerk pork and chicken permeated the air.
"This is a Norman Rockwell painting come to life," said Raymond Buse, public relations manager for the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, maintaining a bright outlook.
In spite of bad weather, he said he expected the three-day attendance would reach the usual 400,000.
The giant food fest with 55 restaurants providing samples of local recipes, as well as many international flavors, brought together a diverse crowd.
It was a first for Nick Affatato, 19, a student at Miami University in Oxford. "My favorite was a white cream puff."
Morris Murdock, 82, of Avondale, who has been coming to the Taste so long he couldn't remember the number of years, stood nearby. "I can't say that I have a favorite. Everything I taste is good," Mr. Murdock said.
Patrick and Lillie Turner, owners of Pattie Shack in Springdale, came for the first time as vendors.
"This is great exposure for us," Mr. Turner said.
Long lines formed at Teller's of Hyde Park, which featured its three Best of Taste award winners. Chef Alan Mullins said the winners were: Buffalo Chicken Egg Roll, Raspberry Goat Cheese Salad and Death By Banana.
