The Museum will celebrate the place food holds in our stories with Three Acts: Food, Family, and Tradition at Memorial Hall. Foodways are the meals, recipes, and traditions that connect people to their culture and to one another. Over-the-Rhine has long been a place where cultures meet through food—from 19th-century beer gardens and home cooking to today’s bustling markets and international restaurants. For this special edition of Three Acts, we invite you to explore some of the neighborhood’s rich foodways!
Beginning at 6:00pm, the evening will feature a food tasting that reflects the neighborhood’s diverse past and present, followed at 6:30 by three short talks on the history, culture, and evolution of food in Over-the-Rhine. Northern Kentucky University (NKU) graduate student James Tecco will provide an overview of foodways in Over-the-Rhine including German, Appalachian, African American, and others; German immigrant Olaf Scheil will talk about his modern take on the German foods that have been a mainstay of Over-the-Rhine for generations; and Nghiep Ho will discuss the Vietnamese foods that you might not associate with Over-the-Rhine, but that have been part of the neighborhood for 50 years.
Reserve your seat today! Tickets can be reserved on a “pay what you would like” donation basis at www.otrmuseum.org/events. Doors open at 6:00 PM and speakers begin at 6:30 PM. A cash bar will be available throughout the event. Walk-ins are welcome until we reach room capacity. The event will also be live streamed at facebook.com/otrmuseum.
This Three Acts event will be held in Memorial Hall. Accessible access is available on the north side of the building. Parking can be found at the Washington Park garage, nearby lots, or on-street. Bus and streetcar stops are located across from Memorial Hall. Donations to support this program are welcome!
SPEAKERS
James Tecco, NKU Public History Program
Jim Tecco is a graduate student at Northern Kentucky University and the public historian behind the APIA History Cincinnati initiative. His work expands and enriches the local historical record by bringing forward the overlooked stories of Asian and Pacific Islander American communities in the region. Combining archival research, oral history, digital mapping, and community collaboration, Jim reframes how we understand Cincinnati’s past. His approach is grounded in care, curiosity, and a commitment to honoring lives that have been historically erased or silenced.
Olaf Scheil from The Lübecker, representing German culinary heritage
When Olaf Scheil moved from Lubeck, Germany to Cincinnati twenty-seven years ago for an engineering job, he brought with him a deep love of cooking passed down from his mother and grandmother. After years in the corporate world, he decided to turn that passion into something tangible, creating food that honored the flavors of home. With his wife Rachel, he opened The Lübecker at Queen City Radio, named after his hometown in northern Germany. Olaf’s signature schnitzel sandwich, made with locally sourced ingredients and professional preparation, redefines what German food can be—fresh, modern, and true to its roots without the clichés.
Nghiep Ho from Saigon Market, representing Vietnamese food traditions
For nearly fifty years, Nghiep Ho has been the steady heart of Saigon Market, Findlay Market’s beloved Asian grocery founded by his parents, Xu and Janet Ho, after immigrating from Vietnam in 1975. What began as a small family business helping newcomers find the flavors of home has become a cornerstone of Cincinnati’s Asian community. Nghiep has devoted his life to carrying his family’s vision forward—building community, preserving heritage, and welcoming generations of customers with care and connection. Today, he continues that legacy alongside his son Nick Ho, whose Chino’s Street Food carries their family’s story into a new generation.
ABOUT THREE ACTS
Three Acts in Over-the-Rhine is an innovative lecture series designed to expose attendees to stories of the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Each event features three, fifteen-minute talks and concludes with a group question and answer period. The Over-the-Rhine Museum welcomes your support for these provocative stories. Donate online at www.otrmuseum.org/donate.