Photo By Graham Lienhart

Tom Heist

Tom Heist has been around food all his life, with his mom's family in the produce business and his dad's in fish and poultry at Findlay Market. Now Tom and his two sisters, Emily (a recent culinary graduate of Cincinnati State) and Amy, along with their faithful staff, carry the torch at their intimate, personal grocery store in Crescent Springs, Ky. Unassuming on the outside, Kremer's Market is a foodie wonderland with a surprising assortment of delicacies inside: fresh produce, fish, and meat; Servatti's baked goods; homemade deli items like tabbouleh, hummus and incredible chicken salad; carryout sandwiches and shelves of gourmet goodies from apricot chutney to Valomilk bars. (Anne Mitchell)

CityBeat: What was the last great meal you ate and where did you eat it?

Tom Heist: Actually it was a meal and a half. My wife and I ate at Honey in Northside last night, and I ate my Creole meatloaf and then half of her Molasses Pork Tenderloin. Mine was good, but hers was amazing. It came with Tellicherry pepper Yukon gold mashed potatoes. The pork was rare but tender, and the sauce was so balanced and flavorful.

CB: What makes amazing food amazing?

TH: Definitely fresh, quality ingredients that are unusual -- not found in your typical restaurant -- put together with inspiration. We're getting pretty deep here (laughs). But it's not found in fast food chains, that's for sure.