Best of Taste is going public for the first time this year. On Monday, the public will be able to attend the tasting event that anticipates Taste of Cincinnati, which will be Memorial Day weekend (May 29-31) for the 25th time this year.

At Best of Taste, restaurants prepare the dishes that they'll be serving at Taste of Cincinnati, and judges award prizes in various categories. In the past, the event has been open only to elected officials, VIPs, sponsors, and, of course, judges. But this year the event will be held at downtown's Hyatt Regency, and a $15 ticket will get anyone in to taste all the competing dishes.

This year, 31 restaurants have entered. Among them are Mecklenburg Gardens, Washington Platform, Shanghai Mama, Symmes Tavern on the Green, the Melting Pot, La Petite France and Mike Fink. They'll compete for Best Appetizer, Best Salad/Soup; Best Entree, Best Vegetarian Entree, Best Seafood Dish, Best Dessert and Best Damn Dish. The awards ceremony will be 5:30 p.m.

Best of Taste is 5-7 p.m.; $15 includes samples of all food, soft drinks and one ticket for wine or beer. Leroy Ellington and the E-Funk Band will perform. To make reservations for Best of Taste, call 579-3111 or register at www.gccc.com.

Taste of Cincinnati will take place on Central Parkway between Elm and Main streets.

Polly Campbell