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Healthy Pumpkin Pie Smoothie Recipe

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Hey foodies !!  Jessie is here from Food Adventures to share her favorite fall “go to ” smoothie.

This one is an anti-inflammatory and is easy to put together !

It is called the
“PUMPKIN PIE GREEN SMOOTHIE”
Ingredients:
1 cup organic pumpkin puree
3 Medjool dates
1 tablespoon organic almond butter
2 tablespoons organic hemp hearts
1 teaspoon organic pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk
1/2 cup filtered water
2 tablespoons organic chopped pecans or walnuts
1 cup organic spinach
1 cup ice
DIRECTIONS:

Always blend your ice, greens,and liquid FIRST…. then add other ingredients.
Enjoy!

Jessie Whitesell is a health and wellness coach and one of the Food Adventure Crew.  Her expertise is in the Whole 30 lifestyle and using foods to heal the body.  Check out her health and wellness Facebook page here.

Haunted Dayton Eateries

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Haunted Food Adventures

Halloween is around the corner and it is time for a scare.  This week’s article is a bit spooky.  It is food related, but a little spicier and creepier than most of our Food Adventure articles.  This week we tell you about some of the eateries in Dayton that are thought to have supernatural visitors.  These are Dayton’s haunted food spots.

***Food Adventures does not condone or disclaim any of the rumors you are about to read***

This is not for the squeamish, enter at your own risk.

HERE’S THE SKINNY on the
MIAMI VALLEY’S HAUNTED FOOD ADVENTURES

 

THE GHOSTS OF THE GOLDEN LAMB:
Ten presidents, have stayed at the Golden Lamb Inn, in Lebanon. In operation since 1803, this beautiful hotel and restaurant had its share of famous patrons. Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mark Twain  are among its former guests. Rumor has it that the room Harriet Beecher Stowe stayed in, is now a room is full of paranormal activity. Also, on the fourth floor, you can view a children’s room that used to belong to Sarah Stubbs, the daughter of a former owner. Guests, and staff say that Sarah’s is still in the room.  Her spirit likes to  play tricks, such as leaving all the pictures on the walls tilted awkwardly.   Sarah’s ghost, wearing a white nightgown, has been seen by many guests.   This poltergeist is said to materialize at night to play with her toys.   Workers also confirm that three guests have died in the inn, and their spirits never left. Former congressman Clement L. Vallandigham shot himself by accident in 1851 on the second floor, and his shadow has been seen pacing in his room. The ghost of Ohio Supreme Court Justice Charles Sherman has also been seen.  He died at the Golden Lamb in the 1830’s.

(Editors Note:  There will be a Ghostly Stories Dinner on October 19 @ 5:30 pm for $45 at Golden Lamb)

 

Buried at Woodland Cemetery

CHRISTIAN STELLER, and the ORIGINAL MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS:
In 1899, local shoe cobbler Christian Stellar, who was 73 was living with his wife at their daughter’s home.  As they approached 80 years old, the caretaking of them both had taken its toll and had  become too much for their single mother daughter to handle.  She asked her sister for help, by taking in one of the parents.  It was agreed by the sisters, this was the only way to properly care for them both.  They had to separate the couple, one at each daughter’s home.  When they broke the news to Christian and his wife Augusta, the Dayton residents were distraught.  Christian left his dwelling that was located on part of the grounds of what is now Miami Valley Hospital. The German immigrant walked across the street to take a walk

Mr Steller has been heard in the Round House and Fairgrounds Concession Area

at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, miserable at the news he had learned.  Unbeknownst to his family, he had hidden a handful of pellets in his pocket of shoe shining material.  Although useful, Christian knew, these pellets were highly poisonous.  As he entered the fairgrounds he swallowed an entire handful of the lethal acid.  As a frantic relatives searched for the elderly man, his young grandson found him collapsed in the stadium area.  It was too late, the old man had succumbed to the poison.  His funeral was on his wife’s 80th birthday.  Although he was buried in Woodland Cemetery, his spirit is said to haunt the concession area and the round house of the former Montgomery Fairgrounds on South Main Street.  People have heard moaning and and agonizing elderly voice crying out for his wife Augusta and asking “why, why?”  There are also unexplained sounds of footsteps and shadows of a man in those areas as well.  Is this the ghost of Christian Steller, spending eternity mourning his wife?

 

GHOST at THE FLORENTINE RESTAURANT in GERMANTOWN :
This is the second oldest restaurant/hotel in Ohio.  Built in 1816 this is believed to be another absolutely haunted spot on our trail.   Staff and diners have experienced an eerie presence on the third floor. The kind of strange feeling that makes you feel a cold wind or the hairs on your neck stand on end.   The mezzanine is haunted by a poltergeist that causes the chandeliers to swing to and fro.  There are lots of unexplained creaks and noises.  It is unknown whose ghost or what spirits are haunting this place.

 

Calvary Cemetery

THE TRAGIC DEATH OF GEORGE SAETTEL:
It was a Tuesday during the great 1913 Dayton flood.  At the corner Main & Vine St., there was a small grocery store called Saettel’s.  The owner was Ollie Sattael who decided as flood waters swept by his store, that he would load merchandise up to the second floor with some neighbor help.  As he took the neighbor home by boat an explosion happened at the store,  Ollie’s father, 75 year old George Saettel was propelled into the deep water, but landed on a roof.  The roof turned out to be a poor raft.  Many witnessed his death. They recall him floating on the roof and slowly it sank.  He was helpless as the current took hold of him. George Saettel was being whisked away down Main Street by the flood waters. He turned his head, and looked backed at his family and friends.  Their eyes met as he disappeared underwater into a huge whirpool.   After that his ghost was said to haunt the grocery store.  Nothing like a little spirit to help you pick out your groceries.   You can visit his grave at Calvary Cemetery at your own risk….

 

THE HAUNTING OF “THE AMBER ROSE RESTAURANT:”
The building was built in 1912 by Sigmunt Ksiezopolski and was a general store through the 1980’s. In 1989 Elinor Sluzas bought the building and opened The Amber Rose a year later.   The menu was her own Lithuanian recipes, and her twists on Eastern European favorites.  In 1998, owner Joe Castellano bought the restaurant, and still uses Elinor’s recipes.  This is when the hauntings turned into full gear.  The daughter of the original owner of the building is said to haunt the main level and upstairs of Amber Rose.  Her name is Genevieve Ksiezopolski, and is also known as “Chickie.”  One of the restaurant cooks claimed to have seen the ghostly spirit of Genevieve aka “Chickie” while cooking one night.   He says the full apparition was in front of him, in a ruffled dress.  She walked into,then out of the room.  Now comes the unexplainable part…. There are security cameras throughout the restaurant including the kitchen.  When the management heard the cook’s story, they decided to pull up the surveillance tape.  What they saw was a small, bright, white orb enter, circle and leave the room at the same exact time the cook said he saw the ghost.  Eerie.. Is it proof of a ghost, or just a coincidence?  Long time managing

Upstairs at Amber Rose

server Aimee has witnessed glasses flying off the shelves.  Owner Joe Castellano has seen lights and fans turned on in the upstairs office, after he had turned them off.  For the last few years Food Adventures hosts a Haunted Dinner in October at The Amber Rose.  Since then, paranormal investigation team “Parasense,” has recorded voices of alleged ghosts, collected kinect evidence and taken photos of unexplained phenomena.  They have discovered more ghosts including a child named “Ruby.”  There was even an instance during ghost hunting one night, where Food Adventures asked the spirit “Who was President when you were born?”  Only to hear a smack on the floor, the flashlight shown a dropped money clip with the face of Ulysses S. Grant on a 50 dollar bill showing heads up.

 

Sunrise Cafe….BOO !

THE SUNRISE CAFE POLTERGEISTS in YELLOW SPRINGS:
The Sunrise Cafe, has reported many unexplained occurrences.  They have had patrons sitting in their dining room, only to disappear, like they were ghosts.  Employees have all said the same thing a day or two after they starting working.  They literally see people in the restaurant who aren’t there.  Often, employees will see people walk past them only to turn around and find no one in the restaurant.  There have been shadows on the walls that follow employees.  Also, the typical glass breaking or dishes thrown from counter top has been witnessed. Other unexplained haunts include hearing the front door’s bell ring.   Several employees have seen the same old woman seated at table six along the right-hand wall, only to find her gone a moment later. In addition, playful poltergeist activity abounds.  Managers have reported bread being inexplicably tossed and Tupperware flying off the shelves.  Nothing is known as to who these ghosts are or what they want.

 

THE LEWISBERG SPIRIT NEAR THE ICE CREAM SHOP:

Outside the Ice Cream Shop is where things happen


Near the “Cherry on Top Ice Cream Shoppe” on Commerce St.  Some have experienced bizarre incidents.  Residents have noticed their pet dogs growling at a non visible entity.   Developed photos have shown red eyes in a dark room staring back.  Others have reported glasses falling off a shelf and shattering.  Some paranormal investigators have recorded voices of unexplained sounds.  These sounds, thought to be made by ghosts are recorded on a special recorder and called EVP’s.   EVP means Electronic Voice Phenomenon.  These are sounds recorded at various frequencies and speeds, some audible by the human ear, others only able to be heard on these recordings captured at extreme frequencies.  

 

The Lions Cage Marriage

 

THE SCARIEST WEDDING EVER in DAYTON, 1907:
This one is not so haunted, as it is heart-stopping.  In the summer of 1907 Archibald Dickson and his fiancee Violet Minnish were picked for a contest to win a new bedroom furniture suite for their wedding. There was a catch. The wedding ceremony would take place in what now is Island Metro Park on Helena St., and it would take place inside a lions cage with 12 lions.  The circus was to be in town. As the date and time arrived, the lion master and the minister entered the cage with the 12 lions.  The harrowing experience happened in front of a huge crowd of 20,000 Dayton residents. The onlookers swarmed around the cage and even climbed trees to get a better view of the happenings.  The lions growled as the groom stepped into the cage.  The bride’s horse and buggy approached and she stepped into cage as well.  The very dangerous circumstance lasted less than 20 minutes. There were a couple of terrifying moments when the

Is Waynesville’s Hammel House Haunted?

largest of the lions circled the wedding party and took a swat at the lion master. Besides that, the wedding went off without a hitch.  Reception guests enjoyed a feast, and were happy the beasts did not feast this day.

 

THE APPARITIONS  AT THE HAMMEL HOUSE INN in WAYNESVILLE:
This Bed and Breakfast has been declared one of the most haunted buildings in Waynesville. The haunted room to steer clear from is Room #004. There was a murder at the inn over 100 years ago.  Today, shadows and apparition of the victim who was a young merchant have been seen here by many witnesses.  The dining room of the inn is the other favorite place for this tortured spirit to appear. The ghost of a black cat has also been seen in the hotel hallways. Employees and guests

Ye Olde Tavern in Yellow Springs

have reported being startled by various other apparitions in turn of the century clothing. Bottles and other items fall off shelves off on their own. Employees have reported coming back into the dining room to find glassware rearranged. Footsteps are heard and ghastly voices have been heard in the old inn as well.

 

GHOSTS IN “YE OLD TRAIL TAVERN”  in YELLOW SPRINGS:
 This is the oldest tavern in Ohio. Managers at “Ye Old Trail Tavern in Yellow Springs don’t use their upstairs area as customer or office space, because they feel it is haunted.  A ghost is said to live there and vibe the area gives off is a sad, melancholy feeling.  Owner Cathy Christian of Ye Old Trail Tavern has experienced incidents first hand.  The back half of Ye Old Trail Tavern was the first house in Yellow Springs, and later it was used as a bakery.  Philanthropist Francis Haffner lived there with his son.   The young man had a bad reputation.  The son wanted to be with a woman who was engaged to a man who was away fighting in the Civil War.   So he bribed the local postmaster to withhold letters coming from the Civil War soldier to the woman.  The plan worked and she ended up marrying Haffner’s son.  But then the soldier came back and discovered the deal her husband made with the postmaster.  This left the woman “Mrs Haffner,” distraught when she found out the truth.  Her ghost is the one believed to haunt upstairs.  The spirit is “very, very sad.”  As visitors went upstairs, they would get uneasy feelings and goosebumps, As time went by, people

Are there spirits in Ye Olde Trail Tavern ?

wouldn’t go up the stairs because it was such a feeling of dread and bad feelings.  Two other female ghosts have been spotted within the Tavern, with identifiable hairstyles. One ghost wears her hair in a bun and is playful downstairs.  The other wears her hair down and has a darker aura.  Have you ever experienced eerie feelings in a room and  your hair stood up on the back of your neck? The owners discovered a ghastly presence in 1986.  They saw a light cord come unplugged and continually bang against the wall. Nothing was mentioned until an employee  said he had seen the same thing.  Owners took it a step further.   In true Yellow Springs form, they hosted a psychic fair, and was told to tell the ghosts what she wanted them to know.  A psychic relayed the message to the ghosts. The only feedback the psychic provided is that the ghost likes when she decorates for Christmas.

Outside Snow Hill Country Club

SNOW HILL COUNTRY CLUB in WILMINGTON:
Snow Hill Country Club is  very haunted, and has been hosting ghost nights for the past 12 years.    In fact, the place is so legendary, that it was featured on an episode of the Biography channel’s “My Ghost Story.”  The country club and restaurant are located just outside of Wilmington, in New Vienna, Ohio at 11093 New Vienna Rd (Daytonians know this as State Route 73).   This is one of the few haunted venues that offers an overnight stay.  The spookiness of this place made us shiver, you have to have some guts to stay in this historic yet ominous place..  Guests are sometimes treated to dinner and are encouraged to look around and explore for themselves.  A few notable unexplained “phenomenon” have been known to occur. Unexplained voices,  photos believed to be of “supernatural”  beings are some claims.   A full service bar on the main level, and the warmer

This photo was taken at Snow Hill – is it a ghost ?

months the golf course is busy.  There are 6 guest rooms, and groups may make reservations to stay the night for about 120 bucks per room.   Included in the stay is “ghost hunting” all night, if you have the guts to roam the halls late at night.   Even golf may be arranged during good weather.  Famous visitors have included Henry Ford and Eleanor Roosevelt.  Snow Hill was built and owned by the Harris family in 1820.  It was a popular Inn and tavern up through the 1900’s.  One of the oldest running businesses in Ohio, the country club is said to be haunted by spirits of past owners, family members and past guests.  Many stories abound from the 70’s and 80’s like a man whom believed he hit a pedestrian in the road, but no one was found.   There are records of police and firefighters responding to alarms and seeing unexplained light and movements throughout the house.  We had personal unexplained experiences.  In some of our photos, circular orbs appeared, one very prominently.  We were told that many ghost hunters believe

Happy Halloween from Food Adventures

these are tell tale signs of “spirits” in the room.   To be honest, we do not know what to think, other than the orbs were strange and not in photos taken of the same place seconds earlier.  The prominent orb in the photo had a distinct outline and almost looked to have “veins” running through it.  Odd indeed.  Is it a spirit?  You decide.  Finally when we were in the storage area of the basement, the door next to us opened about an inch and then slammed quickly.  He looked around the room at the handful of people near us and they had that “oh crap” look on their face.  We opened the door and saw a dark empty hall with a staircase, there was nobody there.  There was also a moment where we felt something grab our back pocket.   During our 2nd visit to Snow Hill, one of our fellow guests took a photo of what appears to be an apparition in one of the bedrooms.   Again, unexplained and just plain weird.  We share it here.  Employees tell stories of glasses shattering, chandeliers swinging violently, and various apparition sightings.  An 1880’s portrait photo of an man was found in a cupboard, and when locked away, would keep appearing in various open areas of the country

Montgomery County Fairgrounds- Round House

club.  One of the tour guests recognized the photo as her ancestor Thomas Wilson, a Civil War vet.   It was found out that he was a former owner of the country club, purchasing it at auction in 1898.  Since being identified, his photo has ceased moving inexplicably.  Finally a candlemaker tool levitated and slammed to the ground on a couple of occasions in front of various dinner party guests a few years back.   The theory is that the ghost of the original owner, Mrs Harris, might not be keen on a “peasant tool” being allowed in her formal dining room as decor.

 

You survived the spooky tales.  Now you know what places to be weary of.. Are there ghosts throughout Dayton’s restaurants? How do you explain moving glasses and unexplained voices?  We hope this year you have a Happy Halloween and remember there could be some spirits lurking around in your future!

 

Thanks for reading out Food Adventures feature article.  We have a weekly column EXCLUSIVELY on Dayton Most Metro.  Check us out on FACEBOOK and join thousands of foodies by clicking here !

Golden Lamb’s Harriet Beacher Stowe Room

Are the Montgomery County Fairgrounds concession haunted by Christian Steller ?

 

Savorista Offers Shockingly Great Decaf Coffees

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Love coffee, but it doesn’t love you? Fear not, Savorista & its line of caffeine-conscious coffees are here!

Founder Kait Brown was working a high-stress job in Chicago when her father was diagnosed with cancer. She switched to decaf when she realized her coffee consumption was making it even harder to sleep and deal with the stress.

But she discovered that her decaf options sucked, she recalled with a laugh. So she and her husband set off around the globe to find and bring home the best decaf coffee.

Kait pitched Savorista at our August 2019 edition of Early Risers.

“Most decaf is bad because it starts with lower quality beans that are chemically decaffeinated,” she said.

Kait & Daniel visited coffee producers and decaffeination centers in South America & East Africa. They tried hundreds of cups of coffee to find better beans & processes.

Savorista currently offers four caffeine-conscious decaf coffees online. The coffee begins with high-quality beans that are naturally decaffeinated using a water process, then roasted to order in small batches. Wait plans to also offer a low-caffeine coffee later this fall.

“We’re looking to shift the way people think about low-caffeine & decaf coffees,” she said. “It’s a valuable addition to your day, especially in the afternoon or evening with a great pastry. It’s not a punishment for being caffeine-sensitive.”

In the U.S. there are 30M people who drink decaf coffee at least once a week, representing a $1B market, Kait shared. And there are another 80M who drink coffee every day, but are interested in limiting their caffeine intake, representing an addition $2.7B market, she added.

Savorista is aiming to be the household name in decaf coffee. So far, they have shipped product to 37 states and 3 countries.  Support Kait by trying a cup of Savorista coffee & telling a friend!

Saturday Karaoke Benefit for Breast Cancer Cure

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877 E. FRANKLIN ST, CENTERVILLE

Soft Rock Cafe in Centerville has a huge night planned Saturday Oct. 12th. For $5 admission at the door they will have a food spread, raffles, 50/50, drink specials and their signature karaoke party all night til close !

Come experience the best known party secret in town.  Dayton’s #1 spot for karaoke.  This is a fundraiser that you will be so glad you visited.  Time to get your groove on, whether you sing, dance, listen, or just support the breast cancer cure.

 

HERE IS THE SKINNY ON THE BENEFIT TO BEAT BREAST CANCER–

TIMELINE OF EVENTS:

Help find a cure

8pm –
Doors Open $5 admission donation
Food table will be out with all night drink specials.
Raffles, 50/50, Silent Auction, Fundraisers

10pm –
Karaoke and dancing starts

2am –
Karaoke ends/ Bar closes

LOCATION– 877 E. Franklin St, Centerville 

Packed house – view from the stage

If you have never been to Soft Rock Cafe, this is a perfect night to experience all the fun, hype and music.  From Country to Rock n Roll, from oldies to current music you will hear it all.

First time singers, good singers, off-key singers and “American idol” finalists are the kinds of performers you will see on stage.  A fun, safe and relaxed crowd.  No pressure, just fun !  There will be spotlights, fog machine, and it is a concert like atmosphere.

Host Curt Delk and Mark Hall are the premiere Karaoke hosts in the Dayton area for 20 years strong.  Managing Bartender Nicole Gordon has been running this annual event for years and with her mom Vicki, they have raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Susan Komen Fund to fight Breast Cancer.

ROCK ON, COME SING, COME DANCE & HELP CURE BREAST CANCER !

The Soft Rock Cafe Staff are ready to rock with you for cure

The morning view into Soft Rock Cafe ….

 

7 Must Eats at The Stacked Pickle

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Outside the Stacked Pickle

The new sports bar called The Stacked Pickle on 741 near 725 has a unique menu, big TV sets and an attentive wait staff.  Unfortunately the road construction out front has people questioning if they are open. Well they are open, and serving up great food options from healthy choices , to typical sports bar guilty pleasures!

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON THE STACKED PICKLE:

— It is located at 103 North Springboro Pike, Miamisburg, OH 45449 in the old Roosters/Ponderosa building.

Inside the Stacked Pickle

— Hours are :
Sun -Thurs 11am – midnight
Fri and sat- 11am – 1 am.

 

Food Adventures had a chance to visit The Stacked Pickle a couple of times after a recommendation from Dayton Dining and Lisa Grigsby.  The menu is extensive and although we pigged out each time, we were unable to try all the choices.  But, as always we sampled most of the menu.

 

We found undeniable stars of the menu in our trips here .

MUST EATS:

Try the Buffalo Chicken Wrap

—BUFFALO CHICKEN WRAP:
Fried buffalo chicken tenders, lettuce, pico de gallo, mixed cheese and ranch in a spinach wrap.  One of the top sellers for a reason, it is that darn good.  Not only a favorite of customers, but a favorite of the staff.

 

— PORK TENDERLOIN SANDWICH:
Fried or grilled with spicy mayo on a Kaiser bun (Add cheese for 50 cents).  We prefer the fried version with cheese.  Again, is one of the most popular choices on the menu as well, and deservedly so …

Popular Pork Tenderloin

 

 

—HOT RANCH CHEESEBURGER:
This guy is a little monster.  A nice. hearty, fresh meat burger served with a ranch sauce and onion strings on top.  It also comes with Pepper jack cheese, and bacon on a brioche bun.  All of the burgers on the menu look great, but this creation is especially nice.  May we recommend you get a side of tater tots as well?  Now you’re off and rolling!

 

Hot Ranch Burger Platter

—FISH N CHIPS PLATTER:
This was surprisingly good.  One of the best fish n chips we have had in a sports bar atmosphere.  Nice, thick pieces of flaky fish that are crisply breaded.  Definitely a dark horse on the menu.

 

—SOUTHWESTERN EGG ROLLS:
A big serving of egg rolls and the dipping sauce is fantastic.  Spicy chicken, black beans and Monterey Jack cheese all wrapped in an egg roll.  It is served with a side of chipotle ranch which is hot.  The egg rolls are drizzled with sriracha sauce, making this a spicy appetizer like many other menu items.  Are they good?  YES!  Are they surprisingly spicy? YES!

Southwestern Eggrolls

 

—DEEP FRIED PICKLES:
The hand breaded, deep fried pickle chips are fantastic here.  They are thick sliced and full of flavor.  The order is a big size, very filling and great for sharing.   They are not super crispy (maybe order them well done of you like that), but they are terrific.  Served with a side of ranch sauce for dipping.

 

—CHICKEN WINGS:
Warning !  These are delicious, but the sauces are a step hotter than you are used to at other restaurants.  If you normally order hot, consider medium here and so on.  Whatever you normally get, take a step down.  Big Ragu tried the Hot BBQ Wings and they lit him up!  Very good, but whew what a kick!  The chicken wings have no breading, which is good news for you keto Guidos.

Lots of room for game time

There you have it, the skinny and the must eats on The Stacked Pickle.

There is one more thing …. The Stacked Burger Eating Challenge..
If you can eat a burger with four all beef patties and a side of fries in 15 minutes, then it’s on the house. Many have tried, few have triumphed.  See server for details…,

 

Make sure you check out this sports bar that is just beginning to gain traction in the Miami Valley.  As more people find out about it , it will be a great lunch, dinner or game time destination.

Are you Dayton Foodie?  Then come back every week to Dayton Most Metro for an exclusive feature article for the food blog, Food Adventures.  You can also follow Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Below are more Stacked Pickle photos…

TOTS !!!

Caution -wing sauces are a level hotter than normal !

Delicious fried pickles

Fish and Chips

Rice Bowls !

Fish Tacos

Nachos

dining room

 

 

Local Soaper Creates Storybook Line to Support Dayton Children’s Hospital

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When a rep from Dayton Children’s Hospital approached entrepreneur Katie Hall about having a coin jar at her 2nd Street Market booth, Katie saw an opportunity to make a much larger impact.

Next month, the founder of Fox in Socks Soapery will release a new line of storybook soaps to support the institution’s work.

The soaps — locally made and sourced, true to Fox in Socks’ mission — will be packaged to look like children’s books. Katie will open up sales Nov. 2 with a faux book launch party at 2nd Street Market that will feature face painting & a scavenger hunt through the market.

Katie will also be accepting children’s book donations during the launch party — and she’ll match every book donated with a bar of storybook soap that will be delivered to a patient at Dayton Children’s Hospital.

“I knew I wouldn’t make an impact with a coin jar,” Katie said, reflecting on her foot traffic. “I said, ‘I want to make you a specific line.’”

The solopreneur made the jump from hobbyist to small business owner about five years ago. She tapped the knowledge she gained studying biotechnology to create her formulas, then she set off visiting Ohio Proud farms to locally source as many of her ingredients as possible.

“I want to build community one bar at a time,” she said. “When you buy a bar of my soap, you’re supporting up to 15 small businesses. My dream for my business is to source enough product that I can impact other small business owners to reach their dreams, too.”

Katie will donate 25 percent of the proceeds from the upcoming storybook line to Dayton Children’s Hospital.

LAUNCH PARTY:

Saturday, November 2, 2019 at 8am – 3 pm

Stop by the 2nd Street Market on Saturday, November 2nd. The party starts in the Market Pavilion with family storybook activities, face painting, an Instagram photo booth and then you’ll be on your way to hunt for sweet treats throughout the market.

Your treasure hunt will end at the shop where you will get the chance to see (and smell!) the new children’s Storybook Soap. 25% of all Storybook Soap sales will go directly to Dayton Children’s Hospital. Still want to give more to Dayton Children’s Hospital…for every children’s book that is donated during the launch party, I will donate a swag bag full of goodies to a child at Dayton Children’s Hospital.

 

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35 Years of Penn Station *** $35 Gift Card Giveaway ***

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Penn Station enters 35th year & you can win a $35 gift card

Penn Station is going into their 35th year of serving up East Coast style submarine sandwiches. To celebrate, we at Food Adventures are giving away a $35 Gift Card to this regional chain, whose roots are right here in Dayton.

For your chance to win, just comment below and tell us something you love about Penn Station.  Here is a great opportunity for you to win some of those freshly grilled subs, freshly cut fries and freshly squeezed lemonade!

The Sandwich that made it all happen – Penn Station’s Philly Cheesesteak

Are you a sub lover?  Than odds are, over the last 34 years, you have made it into a Penn Station restaurant in the Miami Valley for our own Food Adventure.  Known for their flying spatulas, dicing up meat while grilling submarine sandwiches, the ordering process has evolved over the years.  One thing that has not changed, is that they serve some of the most delicious subs in town.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY on PENN STATION EAST COAST SUBS:

Turkey Dagwood

 

 

Owner Jeff Osterfeld’s first started “Jeffrey’s Delicatessen” in the Dayton Mall in Dayton, Ohio.

— Jeff opened his first Penn Station in 1985 in Downtown Cincinnati.  Today there are 313 Penn Station restaurants in 15 states.

— The sub bread is cooked in-house with a signature soft inside, and crunchy outside texture.  This is perfect for holding up the sub structure with all of the hot ingredients. The bread is also delicious.

— Customers who walk in, order  in a cafeteria type line, then watch their sandwiches get cooked and/or assembled and most get a ride to get toasted in a conveyor pizza oven.  As you move down the line you are asked if you want some freshly cut fries, cookies, or drinks.

Fresh Cut Fries

— Most stores feature call ahead, drive-thru pickup windows.

 

Now you know what Penn Station is all about, let’s explore the best of the best on their menu…. our patented “Must Eats” section is below.

 

MUST EATS AT PENN STATION EAST COAST SUBS:

Chicken Teriyaki

 

 

— DAGWOOD WITH TURKEY ONLY AS THE MEAT ADD TERIYAKI SAUCE:
This first one is a super secret sandwich, not on the menu as is, but a discovery of the Big Ragu.  You order a “Dagwood with Turkey only as the meat.”  Ask them to add extra meat – it is worth the 1 to 2 bucks,  Ask then to grill it in Teriyaki sauce and ask them to the grill onions, mushrooms, and banana peppers and add provolone cheese.  After it is grilled tell them to add mayo, lettuce and tomato.  The result is an amazing “Turkey Teriyaki Cheesesteak.”  It is a Food Adventure original and the workers always compliment us on how good that sandwich looks.  Try it, it will change your life…

 

— THE CHEESESTEAK:

We loaded up this Philly cheesesteak


The sandwich that anchors the establishment, the Philly cheesesteak.  Get extra meat, always with this option.  May we suggest asking them to grill the onions, mushrooms and banana peppers.  Then add provolone, oregano and mayo. 

Our pal and Penn Station Regional Manager Randy suggests getting the Cheesesteak with “extra meat, extra cheese, with honey mustard, Parmesan cheese and oregano.”

 

Artichoke Sub

 

 

 

— CHICKEN TERIYAKI SUB:
For those who love chicken, this sub is for you.  The chicken is cubed and not shredded like the Turkey, which is why we prefer the turkey, but this sandwich is excellent as well.  May we suggest trying it this way: Get extra meat, then ask them to the grill onions, mushrooms, and banana peppers and add provolone cheese to the teriyaki chicken “well done”.  After it is grilled tell them to add mayo, lettuce and tomato.

 

 

— THE GRILLED ARTICHOKE SUB:

Fries made to order


We had heard from many friends that this sub was great, but it took us years to try it.  Guess what?  It was shockingly good!  Artichoke Hearts mixed with grilled onions, grilled banana peppers and grilled mushrooms, covered in cheese.  It was a velvety bite in each sandwich, and tasted very close to a chicken sub. That’s the part we couldn’t figure out… why?

 

Lemonade – freshly made

 

 

 

— FRESH CUT FRIES:
It is very hard to resist the freshly cooked “cups” of fries.  Not a fan on how they serve them in cups, but hey they taste so good we soon forget.  They slice them using this wall contraption and take trays full of raw. sliced fries over to the fryer.  Served with a bit of salt, vinegar or ketchup and you are home free.  Always cooked perfectly and some of the best fries in town.

 

— FRESH SQUEEZED LEMONADE:
Hand squeezed daily.  For some reason, the combo of the lemonade deadening the grilled onion breath is a perfect combo.  The lemonade so cold and flavorful and free refills on a hot day is a bonus.  Heck the refills are great no matter what the weather is like outside.

Cheesesteak Extra Meat and Extra Cheese

**** NOW – who wants to win a $35 Gift Card to Penn Station and try some great East Coast Subs ? ****
To enter, just type in a comment below on one of your favorite things at Penn Station or why you should win.  The winner will be drawn at random next week.  ONE COMMENT PER PERSON or you will be disqualified.

Food Adventures is a Dayton food blog with weekly articles EXCLUSIVELY on Dayton Most Metro.

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Turkey Teriyaki Dagwood

Turkey Teriyaki Dagwood

Turkey Dagwood

Turkey Dagwood

Chicken Teriyaki

Cheesesteal

Cheesesteak add lettuce and tomato and pickles!

Our pal Randy makes his Cheesesteaks with extra meat, extra cheese and oregano with honey mustard sauce

Chocolate Chunk Cookies at Penn Station

Philly Cheesesteak

10 inch Tuna Sub

Inside the Cheesesteak Sandwich, the grilled onions are amazing

Turkey Sub

The bread is crunchy on the outside and soft inside

Cheesesteak

Those fries

Cheesesteak Extra meat and Extra cheese

Cheesesteak extra meat and extra cheese

Outside Penn Station

Turkey Dagwood and fries

Chicken Teriyaki and Fries

Philly Cheese steak with extra toppings

Chicken Teriyaki

Turkey Teriyaki

 

Kickstarter live for veteran startup seeking to recycle uniforms, tell stories

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Will Romes is working to help fellow veterans transition to civilian life — by helping their uniforms make that same transition.

Will’s new company, Eighth Order, will take donated uniforms from retired veterans and re-pattern them into new oxford-style cotton shirts. He’s running a Kickstarter now to get the company up & running.

An Air Force veteran, Will wasn’t ready to retire at age 38.

“In military life, there are stage gates,” he explained. “Goals are easily achievable  if you follow the path laid out.”

As he looked toward retirement, he realized he didn’t have a path laid out for his post-military career. He was pondering this new reality one Sunday as he dressed for church, and his eyes wandered to the four stacks of military uniforms that he would soon be throwing away.

It seemed like a shame, he recalled. So he looked for a way to repurpose it.

He connected with a factory in California that can make eight pattered shirts out of each military uniform, But Eighth Order isn’t only about clothes — it’s also about the stories behind those uniforms, he said.

According to the Veterans Administration, between 11 and 20 percent of U.S. veterans deal with post-traumatic stress disorder. Will is one of them.

Sharing the stories behind the uniform — what countries it has traveled to, what campaigns it has seen — can help the veteran deal with the disorder, Will said.

When veterans donate their uniforms, they’ll also return a card where they share as many or as few details from their service as they wish. This card will eventually be distributed with the shirts the uniform is used to create.

Will has 45 days to go on his $20K Kickstarter goal. He hopes to launch his Eighth Order e-commerce shop in February 2020. Share this story, & click here to support him!

Why is Movie Theater Popcorn Delicious?

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Why is Movie Popcorn so Good ?

A night at the movies can become a Food Adventure.  Envision your buttery fingers reaching again and again into a bag of addicting theater popcorn.  They charge outrageous prices for it, yet still will buy it.  The Food Adventures Crew took a moment from munching on kernels and reaching for the giant soft drink, to ask : “Why is movie theater popcorn so good?”

We never do things half-baked, so we scoured the 6 major cinemas in the Dayton area to get to the bottom of this mystery.  Our investigation took us to the popcorn making experts at The Neon Movies, Danbarry Dollar Saver, Regal Cinemas , Cinemark/Rave Cinemas , and Cinepolis Cinemas.  Our findings lead us to some differing opinions.

THE NEON MOVIES

Why do we eat most of our popcorn during previews?

Let’s start with a local icon, The Neon Movies’ explanation of why their popcorn is so good.  They say the secret is in the canola oil.   Popping in canola oil allows for a clean taste and it is a healthier alternative to other oils.  Also, The Neon Movies pops their popcorn right before showtimes.  They feel this gives them a freshness advantage over other theaters and produces a tastier treat.  The prices are cheaper too !  The popcorn here is delicious, and served in round cups or buckets.  There is more here than just popcorn.   This Food Adventure minded theater, also serves beer, Esther Price chocolates, and specialty coffees.  If you have not visited the locally owned Neon Movies, get downtown to the corner of 5th and Stone streets, grab some corn and watch an award-winning movie.

 

DANBARRY DOLLAR CINEMAS

Popcorn Machines at Danberry South – We pay crazy prices for this stuff

Danbarry Cinemas also pops their popcorn in canola oil.  But Danbarry’s management feels the secret is in the buttery topping.  The staff uses these buttery topping machines to shower a glistening coating onto moviegoers’ popcorn.  Definitely something you don’t have at home.  This dollar saver theater near the Dayton Mall has great popcorn and even better movie prices.  Their “Bargain Tuesdays” offer tickets at the insane low price of $1.75 .  Any other day, admission is $3.  Sure the movies are a few weeks older than the ones at other cinemas, but what a deal!  Also, don’t forget to take advantage of free refills of any large popcorn or large soft drink.

 

 

REGAL CINEMAS

Regal Cinemas had another take on the mystery.  Their

Bags of Rave Cinema popcorn

local management said the secret is the use of coconut/canola popping oil combo.   No other cinemas use this combination.  They claim this mix of oil gives a base flavor that is unmatched anywhere else.  They also say their particular brand of buttery topping is key.  It is different from anything one would use at home or in any other cinema for that matter.  Regal’s employees also felt the “butter salt” adds a great finish to the masterpiece in a bag.  These cinemas, located near the Fairfield Commons Mall, feature tiered stadium seating in a 20 theater complex.  What a great way to enjoy a huge bag of popped goodness.  Again, go large and get free refills!

 

CINEMARK/RAVE CINEMAS:

Regal Cinemas has great popcorn

Cinemark /Rave Cinemas on Mall Woods Drive and at The Greene would tell you the secret is how they cook the popcorn.  Rave actually cooks their popcorn in an oil and butter salt mixture.  This unique method is what they claim gives their popcorn a tremendous flavor.   The reasoning is, that by adding the buttery salt to the oil before popping, the seasoning ends up perfect.  So at Rave, it is all in the preparation.  Rave is yet another cinema that offers free refills for any large popcorn or large drink purchase.  So make sure you share as it helps keep your cost down and money in your pocket.   Also worth mentioning is the “self serve” flavored salt station.  There is also a “self serve” buttery topping machine at Rave Cinemas.  Some patrons practically use this as a drinking fountain before kicking back in the huge “lounge chair like sofas.”

 

CINEPOLIS CINEMAS:

Cinepolis Popcorn


Austin Landing is the home to Cinepolis Cinemas.  The “new kid” on the block, we were interested in their take on why their popcorn is so good.  The manager claims its the style of preparation.  He says other companies dont do this, but Cinepolis makes sure the oil is screaming hot before they add the popcorn.  The oil is always heated beforehand and it is all about timing.  He says also the dumping of the popcorn at the right time ensures no burnt kernels.  They claim this leaves very minimal burnt kernels in their popcorn.  They say this helps Cinepolis have more popped kernels than other cinemas by following those two rules: hot oil and timing of the popcorn leaving the kettle and being dumped into the display/bagging area.  You didn’t think popcorn could be so complicated, did you ? They even offer flavored popcorns!

 

CONCLUSION

Neon Movies – Popcorn, Drink and Esther Price !

We were surprised to find that the secret is NOT the type of popcorn cinemas use.  We were also surprised that the secret is NOT the popping machine itself.  Why does movie theater popcorn taste so good?  It seems the style of preparation, particularly THE OIL and SEASONINGS is the answer to this mystery.   Each theater not only had an answer for why theater popcorn was so good, but they also answered why their particular product was better than other cinemas.  So next time you you are at a movie, grabbing a handful of buttery popcorn dashed with salt, share the mystery with your seated friend.   Smile as you reach for a swig of soda to wash it all down.   You may not know the ending of the movie, but you know the origins of that great popcorn taste.

 

Post a comment below to weigh-in on which theater popcorn is your favorite and why you think it is so good.
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Big Ragu watching the buttery topping machine

The awkward moment the characters on the screen notice your popcorn

The interesting “popcorn cabinet” at Danberry South

Rave Cinema-the medium bag

Lovin life at Danberry Cinemas

Cheap movies – great popcorn !

Popcorn from Danberry Dollar

Popcorn Machine at Danberry

Popcorn Machine- nothing like hot,fresh popcorn

Neon Movies Popcorn

Some Regal popcorn !

Regal popcorn station

We have much love for the Neon Movies

Huge buckets of popcorn in the Rave popcorn closet

Cinepolis cinemas

Cinepolis concessions

Austin Landings Cinepolis

Austin Landing’s Cinepolis

 

 

Sneak Peek into Club Oceano

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A new restaurant is coming to The Greene.  It is called Club Oceano and Food Adventures has some scoop on the upcoming menu and full bar offerings.  The restaurant takes over the vacant building that previously housed  McCormick and Schmicks.  There is a buzz surrounding this new gourmet seafood eatery. Daytonians and the owners are excited open the doors this summer.  Opening day has been set for Wed, Sept 18th at 4:30pm.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY on CLUB OCEANA:

— Club Oceano will specialize in Seafood delicacies and beautiful meal presentations.

—The restaurant will be located at 4429 Cedar Park Dr.at The Greene

Part owner, Brian Andzik took time to talk with us

— Owners of the new restaurant are:

Brian Andzik -Local financial investment expert, who is known for his high level involvement in the Sons of Italy, John Pirelli Lodge at Bella Villa Hall and the annual Fall Festa, which is Dayton’s Italian Festival.

Sam Zheng – Partner in Sky Asian Cuisine, a popular quality focused sushi restaurant near the corner of Wilmington Pike and the Woodman fork in the road.

Raymond Chow – Partner in Sky Asian Cuisine, at 4090 Wilmington Pike

 

— Club Oceano will have a private dining area which is perfect for hosting parties, business events, or other celebrations.  The dining areas will have a modern feel with a touch of elegance that matches the menu.

There will be whiskey, wines, bourbon and more

— Their goal is to also offer a lunch in addition to dinner service.  The hope is that with great service and the high quality food, your experience will be special every visit.

— Club Oceano’s will offer an extensive full bar, with specialty cocktails, and the finest bourbon and whiskeys.  They will also have a complete wine selection.  The happy hour and the quality liquors should attract many visitors.

— The outdoor patio also expects to be a big attraction.  This beautiful dining and drinking area, will be an elegant added experience to dining at Club Oceano.

 

MUST EATS at CLUB OCEANO:

King Crab Legs

As the menu is in its final developments, here are the early “must eat” front runners !

— KING CRAB LEGS:
Huge crab legs usually caught in cold North Pacific waters.

— LOBSTER BISQUE:
A delicate, creamy soup with flavors of lobster meat

Mussels

— MUSSELS:
Typically steamed in wine and garlic, these shellfish are great appetizers but are also delicious with pasta dishes.

— FRESH FISH:
Look for specials on fresh fish at Club Oceano

— SEARED AHI TUNA:
Served rare, these pieces of seared tuna melt in your mouth.  They are usually marinated in a soy sauce.

— SEAFOOD PASTAS:
Channeling Brian Andzik’s Italian heritage, look for some great seafood and pasta offerings on the menu

— SURF n TURF:

Cajun Seafood Boil


Look for a an amazing quality steak and lobster dinner on the menu.  This one should be unforgettable.

— CAJUN SEAFOOD BOIL:
The typical cajun boil will incur shrimp, crawfish, corn, sausages and maybe potatoes.  Whatever the mixture, look for a rustic recipe to be served here.

Is your mouth watering yet?

See the menu’s here.

After hearing about the menu offerings and the dining atmosphere, we can’t wait to give this restaurant a try.

Catch us here every week for our feature article EXCLUSIVELY on DaytonMostMetro.
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Fresh Tuna

See you at The Greene !

Fishes & Big Dishes at NEW Tokyo Grill & Hibachi

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Do you love seafood of all sorts?  How about Japanese Hibachi Dishes?  Even Sushi?

If you said yes to any of those three questions, you may be thrilled about Centerville’s newest buffet and hibachi hybrid called Tokyo Grill Sushi and Hibachi Buffet.  This restaurant has recently opened in the old Rue Dumaine location near Sams Club on 725 near Lyons Rd.

Part of the Buffet Bar

The Food Adventures Crew was impressed with the all you can eat sushi roll choices made constantly and replaced on the bar.  We also loved the service of their hibachi grill.  You pick the ingredients, they cook it and bring it to your table.  This place is a cross between Mongolian Grill and a Chinese Buffet with good sushi.  To us the best part was the Sashimi (raw sushi with no rice).

Let’s give you the scoop – you gotta try this place….

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY on TOKYO GRILL SUSHI and HIBACHI BUFFET:

Vanilla Pudding (left) and Tuna and Salmon Sashimi (right)

—Tokyo Grill Sushi & Hibachi Buffet is located at 1061 Miamisburg-Centerville Road in Washington Twp.

— They are open seven days a week from 11am to 10pm.

— This is considered an upscale,  “high end buffet.”  Lunch is around $12.99 and Dinner is around $18.99.  Drinks are not included.

—This is one of the few times we suggest you go for dinner instead of lunch and here is why:  a) more sashimi offerings on the bar b) Shrimp and more seafood included in the raw meat section of the hibachi grill. These 2 reasons alone are worth the price difference.  You eat 2 pieces of sashimi and you have made up the difference price wise.

Nigiri section

— The restaurant seats 90 and they pack them in, sometimes tightly.   If you go on “off hours” it is not as busy.

—The owner has a couple of other locations in different states and decided to invest in a Dayton location because he was told it is a “friendly market.”

— The restaurant consists of 4 bars –
Bar 1 is desserts and raw sashimi (sushi with no rice)
Bar 2 is cooked and raw sushi rolls and nigiri (sliced sushi on top of rice).
Bar 3 is Chinese Food, Appetizers and soup
Bar 4 is the Hibachi Grill with meat and vegetable choices.

Sushi Roll Section – they have about 20 kinds of rolls

There are so many dishes here – but we are going to tell you the best of the best …

 

THE MUST EATS at TOKYO GRILL SUSHI and HIBACHI BUFFET:

—THE SASHIMI (Raw sushi with no rice):
The raw Salmon is amazing.
The raw Tuna is a treat, this is a rare chance to load up.  There are White Tuna, Octopus and sometimes Mackrel and Yellowtail slices in the sashimi section as well.

Typical sushi

—THE SUSHI ROLL BAR:
There are dozens rolls with crab, salmon, tuna, eel and more in them with avocado, cream cheese and other ingredients.  Some are even deep fried sushi rolls.
The Salmon and Tuna Nigiri (slices of raw meat on top of rice) are incredible.

—THE HIBACHI BAR:
Choices of meat include salmon, scallops, steak, chicken, shrimp, calamari, imitation crab meat and tofu.  The vegetable selection is huge!  You can choose to have your ingredients stir fried and served with brown rice, white rice, thin noodles, or thick noodles (udon).

Hibachi Meats

 

—THE VANILLA PUDDING CUPS:
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the vanilla pudding cups on the dessert bar with a vanilla wafer on top.  A  perfect end to a night of indulgence.

 

 

If you are a hibachi or sushi fan at all, or if you love seafood, this place is worth a visit.  Heavily

Hibachi Veggies

stacked with seafood from calamari, to cooked and raw fish, there are a lot of high quality items on this buffet not usually found in an “all you can eat environment.”  In other words, if you are one of those people who spends $20 on two sushi rolls and walks out of the restaurant hungry, this could be your new favorite place.  Take advantage of the hibachi grill, soup area and all the amenities.

Tokyo Grill Sushi and Hibachi Buffet is a fun treat when your hungry for a seafood feast!  If you do not like seafood you can load up on steak and chicken at the hibachi buffet and a couple of chicken dishes at the Chinese bar.

Hibachi Bowl

Please share your comments of your Food Adventures to Tokyo Grill below !

This place is a great chance to sample delicacies like Octopus, Squid, and other seafoods you might not ever try. Give it a shot!

For more Food Adventures, like us on Facebook and join 8,000 foodies in Dayton in the discussion.

Browse our gallery below of more Tokyo Grill Sushi & Hibachi Buffet photos.

 

 

 

One of our plates

All you can eat sushi !!

Miso Soup All Day Long

This hibachi bowl was spicy with salmon, tofu and fake crabmeat

 

Seared Ahi Tuna and Mango

BUSY BUSY

About 1/4 of the bar

Hibachi Bowl is cooked for you !!!

So many sushi rolls

Seared White tuna and sauce

Cooked Octopus Sashimi

OHHH That Salmon !

Veggies at Hibachi

Dining Room

SUSHI !

Freshly prepared- all you want

Kani – imitation crab

Here is your bowl for hibachi raw ingredients to be placed into

Tuna and Salmon

Deep fried rolls , salmon and tuna -its like paradise

Spicy Crab Roll and salmon Nigiri for days ….

Tuna and Squid

dessert bar

We went overboard …AGAIN

Jalapeno Sushi

Chinese and Japanese Appetizers

More Veggies at the Hibachi

Vanilla Pudding

The sushi is terrific

Hibachi Stir Fry ! – Shrimp Scallops, Squid and more

Do you have bigger plates? How about a cookie sheet ?

View of a bar

 

 

Meet the entrepreneur opening a boutique workout studio downtown

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Looking for a quick, efficient group workout downtown? Lindsey Deck wants her new workout studio, Third Space Fitness,  to be just the spot.

Lindsey is building out a boutique fitness studio in the St. Clair Lofts with plans to launch classes in September. Classes offered will include barre, TRX and dance cardio. 

Attorney at Taft Law, wife and mother, Lindsey knows how important it is to take care of yourself — and how important it is for those workouts to be time-efficient & require a limited commute.

“As a mom, I take better care of my daughters if I take care of myself,” she said. “But I’ve got to get in, get out and get home.”

Lindsey has been taking group fitness classes since she was a teenager. She likes the community atmosphere & the variety of workouts that hit flexibility, cardio and strength all in one.

“I don’t want to go into the gym and have to figure it out,” she said. “I want to be told what to do, see friends, then go home.”

Lindsey first dreamed of someday owing her own studio when she was in law school in St. Paul, Minnesota. After returning to Dayton, as she started to look for the perfect studio location, she kept being drawn back downtown, where she works.

“I’ve been living in Dayton since I was 6 years old, and I’m super excited about everything going on downtown,” she said. “I feel like a proud parent, I get so excited whenever there is good news about Dayton. I am thrilled we found a spot downtown.”

Her studio offerings will complement other fitness offerings in the downtown area, such as yoga, cross fit, weight lifting, cycling and boxing, she said — & maybe someday, these studios will join forces for a membership that allows people to tap into them all, she added.

In the meantime, she blames her father for her entrepreneurial goals. A general contractor, he launched his business when Lindsey was in elementary school.

“I kept waiting for that feeling to go away, but when I finally talked to my dad, he understood it, this nagging,” she recalled. “It’s very cool to create something of your own.”

Stay tuned on Instagram thirdspacedayton for the latest as Lindsey gets her studio up & running.

White Chicken Chili Wins Archer’s Cookoff

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Misty’s winning chicken chili

It was a historic afternoon at the Centerville Archers.  The sun was shining, the judges were sweating and swigging beer in between chili samples.  Fourteen amateur chefs battled it out for $250 and a chance to have their chili on Archer’s Menu for a year.

Let us tell you the winning chili was amazing.  It was historic because for the first time a non-traditional chili won the event.

YES ! A White Chicken Chili made by Misty Hendrix blew away the judges,and took home the championship.

Some of the judges

 

Judges included Sallie Taylor from Living Dayton TV, Chip Cassano CEO Cassano’s Pizza, Andy Harmon NFL veteran from Philadelphia Eagles, The Big Ragu from Food Adventures blog, Joel Poelking, owner of Poelking Lanes South and more!

One at a time, fourteen contestants presented their chili – judged on appearance, texture, taste and sellability.  The judges were armed with spoons, bowls, papers and pens.  Notes were made, beers were drank, numbers were crunched.  Then the top 3 chili’s went to a final decision by the Archer’s Owners vote….

14 chilis in the competition

The winner, Misty Hendrix and her chicken chili won $250.  It was the best chicken chili that the Big Ragu has ever tried.  Her secret ingredient to the creamy, tasty chili is …. a dollop of cream cheese cooked right in.

In the next couple of weeks, the chili will be available at Archer’s Restaurants.  This is just reason #214 to go their for lunch or dinner.

 

FYI, The Big Ragu was one judge with input.  He ranked the chili’s 1 through 14 and his top 4 were :

Chili #6 by Jim Weaver
Chili #1 by Hansgren
Chili #10 by Misty Hendrix
Chili #2 by Clouse

Lots of people came out to try the chili

Thanks to Dan Apolito and Mike Fullenkamp for running a spectacular party and cookoff.  The staff at Archers worked their butt off to serve, clean and make the experience priceless.

THANK YOU ARCHERS !  CONGRATULATIONS MISTY HENDRIX!

Check out the winning Chicken Chili recipe, available soon at Archer’s Tavern.

Want more Food Adventures?  Are you a Dayton Foodie?  then join the discussion!
We are on INSTAGRAM, TWITTER and FACEBOOK !

Archers Owners Dan and Mike with Local TV personality Sallie Taylor from Living Dayton!

Judges introductions

Hansgrens chili was Big Ragus 2nd place choice

Clouse’s sweet chili was our 4th favorite chili

So many chilis, so little time

The winner received $250 and their chili on the menu for a year

Judges taste testing

Lots of beans and meats used – and secret ingredients

 

 

The Weekend of Greek Eats and Treats

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There will be dancing !

OPA ! That’s the most overheard phrase at this weekend’s Dayton Greek Festival.

This Food Adventure has been a fixture in the Miami Valley for 61 years.  It is the perfect time for Daytonians to eat, dance, sing and celebrate Greek culture.  It promises to be a weekend full of good food and drink.

 

HERE’s THE SKINNY on THE GREEK FESTIVAL:

—Festival location:
The grounds of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
500 Belmonte Park North
(next to the Dayton Art Institute)

Preparing Desserts

Preparing Desserts

Festival Hours:


Friday, September  6       11 am to 11 pm
Saturday, September 7    11 am to 11 pm
Sunday, September 8      11 am to 6 pm

— Friday 11am- 5pm admission is free
5 – 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday all day, admission is $2.

 

GREEK FEST ATTRACTIONS:

There will be live music !

  • Food and pastries, imported beers and wines

  • Unique imported boutique items

  • Cooking demonstrations

  • Kids area “Zorba zone”

  • Church tours

  • Live music

  • Dance performances

 

PASTICHIO

MUST EATS at THE DAYTON GREEK FEST:​

—PASTICHIO:
Layers of Greek pasta, sauteed ground beef and topped with a rich cream sauce (bechamel).  This is a Greek version of lasagna.  It is delicious and the flavor is unique.

 

—LAMB GYRO:

Lamb Gyro

Flavorful lamb,  grilled and served on pita bread topped with tomatoes, onions and tzatziki sauce.  Truth be told, getting a couple of these is probably our favorite tradition.

 

—LOUKOUMADES (Honey Puffs):
Little “Greek donuts,”  these puffs of fried dough melt in your mouth.  A huge hit with kids and adults.

 

Honey Puffs

—GREEK LAMB SHANK DINNER:
Delicious roasted lamb shank served with rice pilaf, green beans, Greek salad and bread.  This is the big specialty of the festival.

​

—TRIGONAS – TIROPITA:
Blended cheeses wrapped in a buttered fillo dough.  The result is a triangle shaped pastry to go filled with hot cheese.

​

—TRIGONAS -SPANAKOPITA:

Trigonas


Spinach and feta filling wrapped in a buttered fillo dough.  This triangle shaped dough appetizer is great on the go, but be careful, the spinach inside is hot if you get a fresh one.

—BAKLAVA
Layers of fillo with a filling of chopped walnuts and cinnamon, covered with syrup.  This is the most popular dessert at the festival.  Don’t leave without getting a few.

​

Lots of different spellings

—KATAIFI
Shredded wheat-like buttered pastry topped with walnuts and almonds, covered with syrup.  This is the dark horse on the dessert menu.  You need to give it a try.

This is one of Dayton’s top festivals. If you have not experienced it, you are missing out on some fun.  The party is hopping on Friday and Saturday nights.  Lots of fun and people watching. 

If you do not like crowds, may we suggest you slip in on Saturday or Sunday at 11am .  The crowd will be light and the food lines will be short.  Parking will be easier too.

**SHUTTLE SERVICE **
We encourage you foodies to use the free shuttle service. The shuttle begins Friday at 5pm, and will run all week-end, from Grandview Hospital employee parking on Shaw Ave. Guests will be dropped off at the Festival entrance.

Thank you for reading this week’s Food Adventure installment.  Find us posting food related articles each and every week, EXCLUSIVELY on Dayton Most Metro.

Like Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Spanakopita

The outside of the church

Follow the gyro smell

Inside the Church

Gyro Central

Pastichio

Fresh Baklava

Honey Puffs

Our Trifecta

Kaitdaifi

Trigonas cheese and spinach

Lamb Gyro

Dayton woman launches social media management co

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Need a social media guru for your small business? Taylor Hudson is your woman.

Taylor launched her company, Taylored Social, on July 1. Taylored Social is a small business social media management company, offering a full suite of services including social media monitoring, posting, content creation and consulting.

“We’re empowering small businesses to grow and leverage online communities,” she said.

Taylor face is familiar to many local entrepreneurs — a Dayton native, she tapped into the local startup scene early when she took a job at Nucleus Coshare at 19.

“I love how everyone treated me as an equal, even when I was in college,” she recalled. “If you’re engaged in the startup community, you’ve experienced that sense of support — you’re empowered, even if you don’t own a company.”

Last fall, Taylor accepted a full-time position at The University of Dayton. But she quickly realized that she preferred the odd but flexible hours of the startup world to the steadier pace of a 9-5. As she started voicing these feelings to friends, they encouraged her, and purchased an online course in entrepreneurship for her.

“It was a pivotal moment, to realize they believe in me, and they’re willing to invest in me,” she said.

In July, she returned to The Entrepreneurs Center part-time and launched her social media company.

“I love social media because it’s a platform to be creative and easily connect with individuals across the world,” she said. “Relationships and interactions don’t need to be bound by geography, social media makes connecting with others remotely quite easy.”

But Taylored Social is more than just social media — it’s about being social and connecting in real life to support fellow creatives & small business owners, she said.

To demonstrate this side of her work, Taylor organized a photoshoot event that pulled in multiple collaborators including The Brightside Music & Event Venue, Fusian, Home with Ashley, Breana Soliday Co., Kandice Stidham Photography & volunteer models. The participants donated their time and supplies to connect in person, then used the resulting images to cross promote each other’s skills across social media. 

“It was magic,” she described. “Remember to stay connected and supportive online and in person.”

When she’s not running her social media management company, Taylor can be found hanging with her two best guys, fiancé Alec and dog Blue; shopping local; or organizing events to benefit local charities.

Connect with her here.

Dayton Syringe Co Named Most Promising Startup

By

Mick Hopkins

Dayton startup True Concepts Medical, brainchild of Mick Hopkins, has been named 2019’s most promising startup by the Quality & Safety Education for Nurses International Forum.

Mick has invented a series of new syringe technologies capable of revolutionizing healthcare across the globe. The first of these technologies, Diversyn, has the potential to reduce false blood cultures by up to 92%. The second, S.A.F.E., can save lives during cardiac arrest by ensuring the proper saline flush automatically follows the administration of epinephrine.

He exhibited prototypes of these devices at the annual QSEN conference, held in Cleveland at the end of May. He was one of seven companies set up to demo products to the 150+ nursing leaders from across the country during a new “Evolving Ideas in Healthcare” event.

These leaders tapped Mick’s company for the award for the most promising innovation in healthcare technology for quality and safety.

“I knew that people would be interested since it was a nursing conference, and they would get it, but the overwhelming acceptance of devices was humbling,” Mick said.

Several of the hospital leaders were interested in purchasing the syringes, and the Institute is willing to help market the devices when the time comes, which will hopefully be within the next two years, he said.

There were also great questions from these future end users, including suggested applications Mick hadn’t explored, such as use in dialysis treatment, he added.

Other products demoed at the QSEN conference included analytics-driven software apps, a new chest-tube technology, & a learning platform for nurses.

Mick holds 4 U.S. patents for his syringe technologies & has multiple international patent applications pending. He’s currently raising funds to manufacture a full prototype run and clear FDA regulations. Ultimately, he hopes to license the technology to an existing medical device manufacturing company.