Dayton937

Sneak Peek at Bagger Dave’s Burger Tavern

November 5, 2015 By Dayton937

The Great American Cheeseburger at Bagger Dave’s Burger Tavern

The long awaited opening of the burger chain from Michigan has opened it’s first store in Ohio. “Bagger Dave’s Burger Tavern” will officially open to the public on Monday, but Dayton Most Metro and Food Adventures have a little sneak peek.

Thank you to Dayton Dining’s Lisa Grigsby for setting up the special tasting! As our loyal followers know, we usually hit a place many times before highlighting the eatery. But in this case, we will be grand opening chasers, and have only got to go twice before the public goes.

Thanks to manager Ed and the staff. The service is already exceptional and high tech.

So here it is, the Food Adventures Crew take on the legendary Bagger Dave’s….

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

Bagger Dave’s at Cornerstone of Centerville development, off Wilmington Pike

— Bagger Daves is a chain restaurant out of Detroit, Michigan with 24 stores. They are planning to open more locations in West Chester, Beavercreek and Springboro

— The Centerville eatery is located at 5299 Cornerstone North Blvd., near the new CostCo.

— Features are specialty burgers and Ohio beers. Look at it as a mix between Red Robin and TGI Fridays.

— High tech, hand held ordering system ensures accuracy and speeds up the kitchen process.

— Bagger Dave’s boasts they are “cool” but have no frozen items except ice cream, and no walk in freezers on site.

— All of their soft drinks are “in-house” mixtures and brands.

— Thursdays are 50% off craft beer days. HOLY COW this place is gonna blow out Thursday nights.

Big Glass of Warped Wing’s Ermals for $2 on Thursdays? WOW!

When we write about feature restaurants, we usually tear up the whole menu on multiple trips. This is a rare grand opening story, so here are the MUST EATS from our two trips to baggerville…

MUST EATS from the SNEAK PEEK :

— TURKEY BLACK BEAN CHILI: Healthier spin on chili, but we doctor it up with cheese and sour cream for a full blown Food Adventure. Sorry, but the toppings made this delicious bowl of chili. Perfect for a fall day, and perfect to start your visit.

— DEEP FRIED ARTICHOKES: One of the most unique appetizers we have ever seen. We love artichokes and Hungry Jax and Big Ragu’s Italian heritage prepared us for this day! Please dip them in the Asian sauce, and thank us later.

— SWEET POTATO CHIPS with CINNAMON HONEY DIPPING SAUCE: Light, airy with the most important thing being the dipping sauce. One of the most incredible chip dips we have ever tried. AMAZING !

— GREAT AMERICAN CHEESE BURGER: The old, rock solid standard, this is the flagship burger. Try this grilled godness and the sesame bun it is on will have you spinning in lip smacking fun.

— CRISPY BACON CHEESEBURGER: Served on a kick ass on a grilled sesame brioche bun. The burger is topped with Applewood smoked bacon, cheddar and Parmesan cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. So good, and so filling. Bet you have trouble eating half of it.

— BLACK CHERRY CREAM SODA: An “in-house” soft drink that is delicious and refreshing. Love Dr Pepper? This is for you…

— BROWNIE DELUXE: Not too big, not too small. A just right serving of a rich, chocolate brownie with whipped cream. This could definitely be a chocolate overload for some people. For others, it is just another chocolate Food Adventure.

We were impressed with the food, beer and the service! The atmosphere is a fun and bustling spot.

Visit Chef House, Hungry Jax and the Big Ragu on Facebook for more food pics and restaurant info that nobody else has even thought about.

As always, check out our photos below and comment about your experiences at Bagger Dave’s Burger Tavern.

Turkey Black Bean Chili – EXCELLENT

Deluxe Brownie dessert

You must use the honey cinnamon dipping sauce with the sweet potato chips

Nachos – with fresh jalapenos

View of dining room and Big Ragu’s huge forehead

Dipping fried artichokes into the Asian sauce

Deep Fried Artichokes – one of the most unique and tasty things we have tried recently

Yes – HALF OFF BEERS every Thursday

44 Years of Flying Pizzas Win a Large Pizza

November 3, 2015 By Dayton937 23 Comments

The Sicilian Square and a Hand Tossed slice in the back

Dough can be seen flying in the air through the windows at 223 N Main Street in downtown Dayton. The familiar window sign, hustle and bustle is all part of “The Original Flying Pizza.”

The owners, the Graci family have been tossing pizzas downtown for 44 years, and they are still going strong. One slice at a time, they have stolen the hearts and stomachs of many Daytonians by serving their special New York Style Pizza recipe.

** YOU CAN WIN ONE OF THESE LARGE, 1 topping PIZZAS BY COMMENTING BELOW (winner chosen at random).**

How did a mom and pop from Sicily, make their American dream come true? Only Food Adventures has the scoop!

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON HOW FLYING PIZZA BECAME A DAYTON ICON:

Brothers Tony and Frank Graci share a laugh at the pizza shop

FROM SICILY to THE USA :
In 1958, long before becoming icons in Dayton, John Graci and his wife Frances left Sicily for the United States. They settled in New York City. After getting a job at “Sam’s Pizza,” John honed his pizza making skills. In a twist of fate, that building would soon be torn down to build the World Trade Center.

FROM NEW YORK CITY to DAYTON, OHIO:
John and Frances decided to drive and visit John’s brother and his girlfriend who were in Middletown Ohio. As fate would have it, they got a flat tire in Dayton. John and Frances thought Dayton was a vibrant, fun city and full of life, with a lot going on. They thought it would be a great place to raise a family. The Graci family left the Big Apple for the Gem City. Before you know it, in 1971 they had their own pizza shop downtown. They had two sons, Tony and Frank. John and his pizza were becoming a favorite, and he was even appearing on TV on Clubhouse 22 with Duffy the Dog and Malcom, showing his pizza tossing skills.

That was the early 70’s and the pizza business continued to grow in the 80’s and 90’s with cousins opening stores in Columbus, Mason, Fairborn and Centerville.

The Original Flying Pizza Downtown

PRESENT DAY – THE ORIGINAL FLYING PIZZA DOWNTOWN, 2015
Now, the next generation runs day to day operations downtown. Tony and Frank Graci can be found greeting customers and slicing pies daily. They still use that patented “Graci dough toss” every day.

— The Orginal Flying Pizza is located at 223 North Main Street in Downtown Dayton

— NY style pizza by the slice, or whole pies.

— Two types of pizza: (You can win a large one topping pizza free by commenting below)
1) Hand tossed NY style huge slices
2) Sicilian Squares – a thick, more bread like crust topped with special tomato sauce (old school)

— They have calzones and desserts too

— Hours are Mon – Sat 10:30am -7pm, closed Sundays

— They serve beer, as well as host private parties

— There is a parking garage and you get the first 30 minutes free if you ask the cashier for a parking validation

Now you know the story, so let’s dive into the food….

A Slice of Cheese Hand Tossed on the right, a Sicilian Slice of Cheese on the left

Ladies and gentlemen, we now present The Original Flying Pizza’s “Must Eats.”

MUST EATS:

— HAND TOSSED CHEESE PIZZA (SLICE or WHOLE PIE): This is it, the mainstay, the staple, the foundation of a Dayton icon. The mozzarella cheese is perfect, the sauce is perfect, the dough is perfect… every time. They call it “Neapolitan Pizza” which is the name for the style of pizza made in Naples, Italy.

WHEN YOU BUY A SLICE: The slices are big. If you order one, they turn around and heat it up in the oven for a couple of minutes. It will be hot as hell when you get it. We burn our mouth every time. You have been warned.

WHEN YOU BUY A PIE: It doesn’t matter if you fold it and eat it or let it hang and get under it. This stuff is the best. They tape the box closed to piss off those of you who want to steal a slice on the way home.

Frank Graci lets some dough fly at Flying Pizza, Downtown Dayton

— THE SICILIAN SQUARE CHEESE PIZZA: A thicker, more bread like crust, rubbed with olive oil and dusted with garlic and a special marinara sauce. The ending finish is the thick sprinkles of melted mozzarella cheese. It is the cap, on a piece of perfection.

WHEN YOU BUY A SLICE: The slices are Big Squares. Every piece has crust, some have one side of crust, corner pieces have 2 sides,. Very filling, very good.

WHEN YOU BUY A PIE: A big square pizza either 6 or 9 pieces. This stuff is so simple and delicious, yet different than any pizza you have ever tried.

— THE CALZONE: The secret here is they use ricotta cheese in the calzones. The fresh dough seals the deal, literally. The only drawback is that every calzone is Pepperoni and Sausage, so deal with it. Yes, they have one type of calzone.

— SIDE OF 3 MEATBALLS SAUCE and CHEESE: All beef meatballs, marinara and mozzarella, they heat it up, you eat it down. It is like a bowl of cereal for Italian people.

Honorable Mention: The BREADSTICKS at the Centerville location are the closest things to the old Noble Romans that we have ever eaten.

So there is your guide to another epic Food Adventure.

Now take a chance at winning a FREE LARGE PIZZA with ONE TOPPING by leaving a COMMENT BELOW!

A winner will be chosen at random on SATURDAY…

And don’t forget to”like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking here!

Pepperoni and Sausage Calzone

Meatballs in sauce with cheese

A peek inside the breadstick bag from the Centerville location

Centerville location bread sticks

Bite into a Square

We buy Pizzas from Flying Pizza and steal slices on the way home

Sicilian Square

The Big Ragu and Tony Graci from Flying Pizza

Deluxe Slice

Slices of heaven

a view to a crust

Frank is able to take phone orders and spin pies at the same time

Sausage slice

2 Dayton Icons

Mikesells and Flying Pizza – matched perfectly

Top that

Special stuff

Door to the famous Original Flying Pizza !

Deluxe love

Clubhouse 22 – Duffy the dog, Malcolm McCloud and John Graci

Meatballs, sauce and cheese

Fork a piece of meatball

Calzones and dipping sauces

Cool Winter Ahead for Jet Freeze

October 28, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Pumpkin Ice Cream Cone and a Pumpkin Sundae

Dayton’s beloved soft serve ice cream mecca, Jet Freeze, is heading for uncharted territory. They have decided to stay open throughout winter! The eatery will be open for the remainder of the year and plans to stay open year round

Jet Freeze has a new flavor they are carrying through the end of October… PUMPKIN ICE CREAM ! No one else in Dayton has soft serve pumpkin ice cream, so get a taste of fall before they pull the plug on this flavor.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Jet Freeze is located in Beavercreek at 4014 E. Patterson Rd.

— They are staying open year round, with winter hours of 11am-7pm everyday.

— New menu items such as soups and additional sandwiches can be expected

— They take credit cards now, and limited seating in dining room and stone tables by front parking lots.

— Opened in 1957, they have had 3 generations of management in the owner’s family.

— Why is the soft serve so delicious? The answer is fresh milk. We saw them pouring gallons of Reiter milk into the machine that mixes the 95% fat free treat.

— All of the menu items are favorably priced.. even the largest soft serve cones are a little more than $2. It is very cheap to eat here …

A Flurry and a Footlong Dog

Jet Freeze has chocolate and vanilla soft serve as their mainstays and these cones are delicious.

But we have a few MUST EATS, that you need to know about.

MUST EATS:

PEANUT BUTTER SUNDAE:
Homemade peanut butter sauce, mixed on site. It is a secret recipe, guarded by a few. We think it is addicting and one of the richest, best tasting sundaes we have ever eaten. Get whip cream, nuts and a cherry. Those extras make the sundae.

FOOTLONG HOT DOG:
Nothing super special, just a cheap, good throwback. You can’t get a good footlong anywhere anymore these days. Grab it with onions, mustard and relish.. or go full out 1970’s NY Coney style chili dog.

STRAWBERRY SOFT SERVE ICE CREAM:
They also specialize in strawberry ice cream, a flavor that is rare in soft serve circles. The management told us the strawberry flavoring is specially mixed by employees for that great one of a kind taste. It is some of the best strawberry ice cream we have ever had.

The Banana Split from Jet Freeze

BANANA SPLIT:
Your typical sundae with 3 scoops of vanilla, one drizzled with hot chocolate, one with pineapple topping, and one drizzled with strawberry flavoring. Two banana boats down the side make this a massive monster of a sundae.

BLUEBERRY SOFT SERVE ICE CREAM:
Only available late May through early September, this is the same as the “smurf ice cream” offered at King’s Island. It is rare and hugely popular. We bet you fall in love with this one too.

Honorable Mention: Hot Fudge Sundae (always a winner), and the Butterscotch or Banana Malt Shake which will melt you into your chair with pleasure. Did we mention the BBQ Sandwich ain’t bad too ?

Stay tuned to this old school ice cream shop, as they add new menu items. Even when it is cold outside this winter, they will be cooler inside. Survive the winter’s deep freeze, at Jet Freeze ! We are glad to see them decide to stay open year round, we guess “cooler heads prevailed.”

Want more foodie scoop on the Miami Valley? Join the over 5,000 fans that “like ” Food Adventures on Facebook here.

Please browse our photos below for more on the deliciousness that is Jet Freeze.

Crack the shell

Sprinkle Sprinkle little star

Eat in or leave

Blueberry

Look at that line for ice cream

New York style Footlong Coney beyatches

Peanut Butter Sundae

Peanut butter sundae

Food Adventures is loved and loves back

New Obsession chocolate in Waffle Cone

Mesmerized

Whip cream much?

Hot fudge Y’all

Banana Malted Shake – call the law

Dip it and rip it

Scoop in a cup

The Big Ragu and our foodie pal Mindy who loves Jet Freeze !

Blueberry aka Smurf Ice Cream is our obsession

Blueberry Ice Ceam

Its a male

Peanut Butter sundae

Crazy double fisting

swirl it, stuff it

Hot fudge sundae

Coney Dog

What is the Secret to their Peanut Butter sauce?

Meet us here

CLOSED?? $%&^^$%$

ACTIVATED SPACES’ POP-UP PROJECT TO OPEN TWO NEW DOWNTOWN RETAIL SHOPS

October 26, 2015 By Dayton937

Two new businesses are preparing to open their doors in downtown Dayton this fall.

· Kneaded Bodies Massage, 29 W. First St.: Kneaded Bodies Massage strives to offer superior wellness services through traditional massage as well as chair massage. In addition to massage, Kneaded Bodies will have affordable, natural skincare products available for purchase. Kneaded Bodies gives those who live and work downtown the ability to participate in their own wellness and therapeutic goals just minutes from their home or office. Kneaded Bodies Massage will host a grand opening event during November’s First Friday on November 6.
Baker Salvage Co., 31 S. St. Clair St. (St. Clair Lofts): Baker Salvage Co. is a custom furniture and décor company. Their home goods are made from reclaimed wood and salvaged materials. Stock items and commission custom-built pieces are available for purchase, including farmhouse tables, coffee and side tables, signs and wall décor, headboards, and even light fixtures made from reclaimed wood, glass, and metal. Baker Salvage Co. will open in early November.

The new shops are part of the ninth retail phase of the Pop-Up Project, part of an initiative to fill downtown storefronts called Activated Spaces. This program builds on the success of the first eight phases of the Pop-Up Project, launched in November 2011, to provide potential business owners the opportunity for shorter leases at below-market rates as a way for them to jump-start their businesses and contribute to the vibrancy of downtown Dayton. Since it was started, the project has launched 21 shops (16 of which are still open), filled approximately 16,000 square feet of previously vacant space and created 42 jobs. “We are so excited to open Baker Salvage Co. and Kneaded Bodies Massage in our fall 2015 round of pop-up shops,” said Pop-Up project leader, Elise Huelskamp. “We’re confident Activated Spaces will continue to highlight the available amenities and potential for business owners to thrive downtown alongside hundreds of other businesses.”

Pop-Up Shops from the previous phases of the project include:

Beaute Box, 116 W. Fifth St.;
Vintage Barber Shop, 110 W. Fifth St.;
Peace on Fifth, 234 Dutoit St.;
Pi Style, 37 S. St. Clair St.;
Green Baby, now located at the 2nd Street Market,
Spice Paradise and Hicks’ Barber Shop & Shave Parlor, both located at 16 Brown Street:
Confetti, 42 W. Fifth St;
Twist Cupcakery, 25 S. St. Clair St.;
Fronana, 27 W. First Street,
Mitosis, 14 W. First St.
In addition, Sew Dayton, 261 Wayne Ave., has expanded to a new location over twice the size of their original Pop-Up Shop location.

The Pop-Up Project is driven by volunteers from the young professional organizations Generation Dayton and UpDayton with support from the Downtown Dayton Partnership, the City of Dayton, the City of Dayton Neighborhood Mini-Grant program and community volunteers. Activated Spaces is part of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan, a strategic blueprint for the future of downtown.

Visit www.activatedspaces.org or e-mail [email protected] for more information about Activated Spaces.

It’s the Great Pumpkin…Spice!

October 20, 2015 By Dayton937

No doubt one of the most popular flavors that takes this season by storm is that of Pumpkin Spice. Most people either love it or hate it. We here on the Food Adventures Crew vote that we LOVE it and our Gem City gives us plenty of options to indulge! So grab your hoodies, yoga pants and Uggs as we indulge in the areas best seasonal coffees and treats!

Starbucks, the founder of the “PSL”, serves up a great latte hot or iced!

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— The Pumpkin Spice Latte (aka “PSL”) craze started back in 2003 when Starbucks first launched their newest flavor. Up until that time, their recipe remained unchanged. The result was Starbucks most successful seasonal item.. EVER. This year they launched their all natural flavorings for their PSL and this method proves to be superior.

— Many chains, including Saxbys, and local coffee spots have also created their own versions embracing the higher quality of all natural flavorings.

— Apple and Sriracha are the #2 and #3 most popular fall coffee flavors, respectively.

Hungry Jax, The Big Ragu and Chef House took on the challenge to test out some of areas beloved javas. So if we seem a little hyper, you’ll know why!

MUST DRINKS!:

— STARBUCKS: Known as the creator of this seasonal phenomenon, we felt that starting off with them would be most fitting. Starbucks continues to serve up a quality latte proving that their changes to all natural ingredients was a good move! Hot or iced you’ll get your daily caffeine kick with a delightful seasonal twist!

— DOROTHY LANE MARKET: Hands down this latte blew us away as one of the best ones in the area! DLM also prides themselves on an all natural version. Made with real pumpkin and spices this is the quintessential version of “Autumn in a Cup”! In addition, we need to give a shout out to another hit seasonal drink of theirs, the DLM Maple Apple Cider made with their own DLM 100% maple syrup! As always, DLM never disappoints!

DLM’s all natural flavorings make us like this drink a latte!

— WINAN’S CHOCOLATES and COFFEES: This local chain has a Fall drink menu that will make you salivate! Their Pumpkin Pie Latte is more subtle in flavors but leaves your feeling warm and toasty. Other seasonal drinks that they offer are an Ultimate Apple Cider, Stuffed Chai Latte, Hot Buttered Toffee Latte, the Autumn Twilight, and a S’mores Latte! Add any of their amazing chocolates and you’ll be experiencing ultimate indulgence!

— GHOSTLIGHT COFFEE: Located in Historic South Park at 1202 Wayne Ave in Dayton, Ghostlight Coffee maybe not be a chain, but this java stop would no doubt hold it’s own in a coffee throw down! Their seasonal creation is a Pumpkin Coconut Latte made with their own syrup! And Food Adventures got the latest scoop that Ghostlight is currently creating a Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Latte that will kick off soon! While you’re there, grab a jar of Hawthorne Homestead’s “Lumberjack Pumpkin Butter”!

— THE BOSTON STOKER: One of our most coveted local coffee roasters takes a different spin on fall flavors! While Boston Stoker does not offer a pumpkin spice latte, this season they will whip you up an Orange Honey Latte or Cold Brew Horchata! One of our favorite things to do at Boston Stoker is to ask the barista’s what their favorite drink creation is. Hungry Jax got to experience a talented barista’s secret iced tea that tasted JUST like an apple pie! So don’t hesitate to go off the menu and trust the creative minds behind that coffee bar!

— SAXBYS: Yes yes, it’s another chain. But it’s important to honor the places that are taking pride in delivering a quality product. And Saxbys is doing just that. They too have jumped on the natural flavorings chain and their Pumpkin Spice Latte packs on the seasonal flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg!

We would be remiss if we didn’t highlight at least some of the seasonal pumpkin treats that are being served up in the area! So after you’ve grabbed your cup of joe, hit up these places to further your pumpkin spice addiction! So here are a few of our patented MUST EATS for a pumpkin spiced Food Adventure…

Pumpkin Cookie with Caramel Icing is one of the many seasonal treats at DLM!

MUST EATS:

— DOROTHY LANE MARKET: No one should be surprised that this local powerhouse also dominates in their bakery department. To compliment your latte, you can choose to indulge in their caramel frosted pumpkin cookie, pumpkin roll or even a pumpkin cupcake! And let’s not forget “Aunt Dorothy’s Pumpkin Pie” all made from scratch and in house!

— ASHLEY’S PASTRY SHOP: We’re frequent flyers at Ashley’s! And their seasonal treats just keep calling to us! Located at 21 Park Ave in Oakwood, this bakery has something for everyone! Their seasonal delights include pumpkin iced cookies, muffins, cakes, pies, rolls and even pumpkin cheesecake!

— BILL’S DONUTS: This well known Centerville donut shop has also embraced the pumpkin craze! You can choose form a cinnamon sugar pumpkin donut or a glazed pumpkin donut! Or do what we did and don’t choose at all and eat both…

Dunkin’ Donut’s Pumpkin Muffin is a seasonal favorite!

— DUNKIN’ DONUTS: While Dunkin’ does offer a pumpkin spice latte, we actually are even bigger fans of their pumpkin muffins! This moist muffin is topped with a cinnamon crumb topping and a drizzle of frosting. With some new locations in the area, we want to give a shout out to the longer established Dunkin’ Donuts location on Rt 741 buy the Dayton Mall! Their service is always top notch!

So there you have it fellow pumpkin spice lovers! So many options of seasonal drinks and treats in our area! Be sure to check these out and let us know what others you have grown to love! Lots of these flavors will go into the fall and some beyond Thanksgiving.

Something else you should check out is our FOOD ADVENTURES page on Facebook! Please “like” us here.

Please browse our photos below and comment on your favorites. All feedback is welcome.

Look for Food Adventure articles weekly only on Dayton Most Metro !

Be sure to ask the Barista’s at Boston Stoker to make you one of their own creations!

We like to snack on one of Winan’s Opera Creams while sipping on their Pumpkin Pie Latte!

Pumpkin Butter sold at Ghostlight Coffee will make any piece of toast special!

You can’t eat just one of Ashley’s Pumpkin Cookies!

Winan’s has a ton of options for fall flavors!

Bill’s Donuts never disappoint!

Ghostlight Coffee creates a fun and delicious atmosphere!

Buy one pie from Ashley’s for yourself, and one to share!

Yankee Trace Friday Fish Frys Return

October 16, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

$14.95 All You Can Eat Fish Frys Through Nov. 20th

The Golf Club at Yankee Trace has brought back their fish frys for a limited time this fall, and the Food Adventures Crew has the scoop. The “All U Can Eat” events will happen each Friday night from 5pm-9pm at the restaurant inside the clubhouse. The tradition continues through November 20th, and will return during Lenten season as it has for many years. the hand breaded haddock is some of the best in town, and the fact that it is endless, means you wont walk away hungry. Each dinner comes with endless deep fried haddock, cole slaw and french fries. Here is the down low on one of the best kept secrets in Centerville.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— WHAT: Friday Evening Fish Fry Dinners

— WHERE: The Golf Club at Yankee Trace’s Restaurant, 10000 Yankee St., Centerville Ohio 45458

— WHEN: Every Friday night 5pm-9pm from now through November 20th

— COST: $14.95 per person

** Important: Reservations are required (937) 438-3585

Swim up to Yankee Trace and dive in to this deal. An all you can eat Food Adventure awaits!

Follow The Food Adventures of Hungry Jax, The Big Ragu and Chef House on Facebook by clicking here and “liking” our page.

Now until Nov 20th, Fish Fry Fridays !

Haddock

Dining Area

Dog’s Breath Tavern Hosts “Buckets & Trucks”

October 14, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

“Buckets and Trucks” every Thursday in October

Each Thursday, for the rest of October, The Dogs Breath Tavern in Kettering will be featuring an event called “Buckets & Trucks.” On these nights, a couple of featured food trucks will invade the parking lot on 1912 E. Whipp Rd., and the bar will host domestic buckets of beer for 11 bucks.

October 15th, the featured Food Trucks will be Hunger Paynes and Dayton Urban BBQ. It promises to be a good night for a Food Adventure. Trucks will be ready to serve by 5pm and will be there until about 9pm.

Hunger Paynes is known for their “croquette” style menu and the BBQ from Dayton Urban is terrific, especially the pulled pork sandwich.

Here are our TOP 5 MUST EATS for the night:

— PULLED PORK SANDWICH from DAYTON URBAN BBQ:
Good, and a little sloppy when that cole slaw is added. You won’t care, it is worth every bite.

— SALMON CROQUETTES from HUNGER PAYNES:
Crunchy on the outside, soft and tasty on the inside. A Food Adventure favorite.

Dayton Urban BBQ Food Truck will be at Dog’s Breath on Thursday 5pm

— DOUBLE BUTTER BURGER from DOG’S BREATH TAVERN:
A Mountainous burger, slapped with cheese in between. A Big burger that will fill you up, and make you smile.

— MAC n CHEESE CROQUETTES from HUNGER PAYNES:
Gooey, and hot. Love it served on a handful of homemade Saratoga chips.

— HOMEMADE “DOG BONES” from DOG’S BREATH TAVERN:
Flavors from Philly cheesesteak, to pulled pork and ham n cheese, these hand rolled egg rolls are stuffed with various favorite fillings on site.

Come out to Dog’s Breath Tavern for a chance to visit two great food trucks, and get some drink specials. Please note that menus are subject to change and that new creations may be better than anything we have tasted yet! We hope we gave you a tip on what to look for for a great Food Adventure this Thursday evening.

So take advantage of “Buckets and Trucks” every Thursday in October at Dog’s Breath Tavern.

For more scoop on Food Adventures each week, follow us on Facebook and “like” us by clicking HERE.

Hunger Paynes Food Truck

Fried Mac N Cheese Croquettes from Hunger Paynes

Pulled pork from Dayton Urban BBQ

Ham n Cheese “dog bone” from Dog’s Breath Tavern

Dog Breath’s Double Butter Burger

Inside Dog’s Breath Tavern

Top 5 Must Eats at this Weekend’s Sauerkraut Festival

October 9, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Get the German Sundae and it supports the American Legion Hall

More than seven tons of sauerkraut is expected to be served at this weekend’s Sauerkraut Festival in Waynesville. But, this isn’t some locally named gig. They call it the Ohio Sauerkraut Festival, so listen up from Cleveland to Chillicothe and from Pisgah to Perrysburg. These hungry people are coming to celebrate the German food and heritage, and of course, the almighty Sauerkraut. That’s right, they are all on a Food Adventure. Who knows better about food than Hungry Jax, The Big Ragu and Chef House?

Let’s get down to it and discover what all the fuss is about the Sauerkraut Festival. Let’s head on down, close to where State Route 48 meets State Route 42.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— More than 350,000 people are expected to attend with over 400 vendors of all sorts from more than 30 states.

WHEN: Always the 2nd weekend in October, this year’s dates are:
— Saturday, October 10th 9:00am – 8:00pm
— Sunday, October 11th 9:00am – 6:00pm

#1 Must Eat – Sauerkraut Donuts

WHERE: Downtown Waynesville, North Main Street area. LOTS of WALKING as the festival stretches the entire length of Downtown

What the heck is Sauerkraut? Answer : Fermented cabbage. Some complain about the smell or the taste. But we cut right through the whiners and found the best eats… even the crankiest festival goer will enjoy these top 5 mouthwatering suggestions…

Drum roll please, strike up the Oompa band as Food Adventures delivers our patented Top 5 MUST EATS for The Ohio Sauerkraut Festival.

MUST EATS:

— SAUERKRAUT DONUTS: #1 by a landslide… not even close. Warm, soft, sugary and sweet. They are amazing and we aren’t sure where the sauerkraut is, but the donuts are tremendous. Get these damn donuts if you do nothing else all day. But we warn you, get there early as the line get long. Kids love them, and adults love them more…

— PUMPKIN FUDGE: Find the fudge trolley. Run, don’t walk. They have various fudges, but here is the unique opportunity to get some pumpkin fudge. When else in a Food Adventure do you get that chance? Very rich and delicious, the fudge will have you craving something to drink, but you wont be sure what you want to drink.

Pumpkin Fudge – oh yeah, take some home too

— GERMAN SUNDAE: This is a bowl of chopped Potatoes, Sauerkraut, Cheddar Cheese, Sour Cream, Bacon Bits and an olive. It looks like a sundae, but the bowl is a hearty, savory and salty favorite. Can’t lose with this winner. Great for sharing on the go.. a walking treat.

— HAWG DAWG: A Giant hot dog with sauerkraut and mustard. One of the biggest dogs we have even seen and stop with the jokes. Take a bite outta this wienee and support Waynesville Athletic Charities.

— PULLED PORK & KRAUT POTATO SKINS: The dark horse out of nowhere, is the potato skins. They have some pulled pork and sauerkraut on them, and the result is a tasty twist on your typical potato skins. Worth a try, they are one-of-a-kind.

There are so many more food choices, but these are our TOP 5 MUST EATS for the fest. Please note, some area spots like Stone House Tavern may have a limited or adjusted menu during the festival. Our advice… GET THERE EARLY.. you won’t beat the crowd, but the crowd will be slightly less.

Tired of less? Do you want more FOOD ADVENTURES? Then join us on Facebook and “like” us by clicking here.

Browse more food photos from Sauerkraut Festival, below:

Potato Skins with Pulled Pork and Sauerkraut

Hawg Dawg

The donut Line

Thousands of peeps

Makin donuts

Donut machine

Best Eat of the fest

Friends and family love the fest

Fudge

#1 MUST EAT – donuts !

Music for me is joy. The joy of listening and of sharing…

October 5, 2015 By Dayton937

It all beings with a mixtape. My first creation had humble beginnings, picture me crouched in front of my parents radio with a little Panasonic cassette recorder with two fingers trembling ready to press play+ record to catch my favorite song (once the DJ stopped talking). It was the start of a life long passion to create the ultimate playlist. From cassettes, reel to reel to CD’s, everything led to the modern day digital mixtape. While I can neither confirm nor deny my usage of the then illegal Napster to create my web 2.0 masterpieces, it was the gateway for many to frictionless sharing. The very notion of taking digital music and creating something you could send to your friends around the corner or on the other side of the world was in a word, amazing. But, we all know that stealing is bad and thus a new paradigm was needed. At the time, there were plenty of ways to buy digital music and listen to your hearts content. Sending that music to others had pretty much regressed back to burning CD’s. Meanwhile in Europe, my friends were extolling the virtues of a new service called Spotify. You could pay a monthly fee, have unlimited access to music, create playlist and download them to your computer or mobile device..

This was everything!

Well, I still had to wait until the doors opened for America. Once launched, Spotify was the truth. I opened my account the very first day and had visions of musical communication on a global scale. Yes, yes, I know. you’re thinking Duane, aren’t there other services? Indeed- Rdio, Apple Music, Google Play and Amazon Prime all do an excellent job of letting you listen to music… by yourself. Remember, this story is about crafting something special and gifting it to others. Oddly, rival services didn’t seem to be the stumbling block, people were the issue. I discovered, some folks are really weird about exposing their musical taste. They’ll share what they had for breakfast or if tf they forgot to wear underwear but ask them to share a playlist and it becomes problematic.. Look, if my friend Bryan can admit he loves Creed and Nikki can squeal over boy bands, it’s time to open your musical vault and let us peek inside. I want to declare a sonic revolution. Let your freak flag fly and spread the love. Let others know the soundtrack to your day, week, house cleaning driving or whatever gets you on the groove.

I’ll start. I’ll post three of my many playlist via Spotify here on DMM and I’ll share a reader submitted list on a weekly basis. Submit your list here.

Saturday Night Live at the Soft Rock

October 3, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Tonight the Soft Rock Cafe in Centerville will be rockin’ for a great cause til 2am!

This annual charitable event helps the fight against breast cancer and will benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

The night features a special, live performance by one of Dayton’s favorite bands, THE FABULOUS DEBONTE BROTHERS !

Join the fun! DOOR PRIZES, SILENT AUCTION, DRINK SPECIALS, 50/50 and so much more. Please come out for a rockin good time with great music, and a great cause !

The Food Adventures Crew will be supporting the cause by being “guest pizza makers” for the night.

Make a difference and help find a cure for breast cancer. What better way to spend a cool Saturday night ?

Spend it LIVE at SOFT ROCK !

Join the fight against Breast Cancer tonight !

WHERE: SOFT ROCK CAFE, 877 E. Franklin Street, Centerville

WHAT : FUNDRAISER TO CURE BREAST CANCER – Debonte Brothers, Live in concert!

WHEN: DOORS OPEN 8pm TONIGHT (Saturday, October 3rd)

COST: $5 donation at the door

*** NOTICE – TO ATTEND THIS EVENT, YOU MUST BE AT LEAST 21 YEARS OLD.

Check out the show, see you tonight !

The Fabulous Debonte Brothers in concert LIVE !

Find a Cure

Guest Pizza Makers !

The Debonte Brothers band – in the back seat of Jackies car

Classic Rock, 80’s, 90’s too

Mark Hall on drums

Benefit proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen fund

Warped Wing Releases “Creep Show” in time for Amber Rose Ghost Hunt

October 2, 2015 By Dayton937 1 Comment

Warped Wing partners with The Amber Rose for a Food Adventure

Warped Wing Brewing Company has done it again with a new flavor of suds. It is a Smoked Porter called “Creep Show.” This Warped Wing release party is in conjunction with a Ghost Hunting Food Adventure at The Amber Rose, SATURDAY NIGHT, October 24th called “Creeps and Creaks.”

This is a one night only, one-of-a-kind ghost hunting happening. Amber Rose Restaurant is giving unprecedented access to their basement and restaurant, for anyone who wants to see some spooks for themselves. The party starts at 9pm and will feature a tour with paranormal experts and beers along the way. The night will feature a tour with 3 stops, 3 beers and 3 appetizer stations. After the tour, guests are welcome to explore on their own and enjoy cash bar drink specials until close.

So come stay out ’til 2am while hanging with some of Warped Wing’s finest, The Paranormal Investigation Team of Shelly, Kat and Alicia, Amber Rose owner Joe Castellano and The Food Adventures Crew of The Big Ragu, Hungry Jax and Chef House.

Creep Show – A Smoked Porter from Warped Wing

Spots are limited. We only have room for 40 scared patrons. Attendees will be anything from beer lovers, to amateur paranormal investigators. CLICK HERE TO GET TICKETS. Bring your cameras, recorders or any other equipment you may have!

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

WHEN: SATURDAY NIGHT, OCTOBER 24th, 9pm – 2am

WHERE: The “Haunted” AMBER ROSE RESTAURANT, 1400 Valley Street

WHAT: TOUR LEAD BY PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION TEAM

*** 3 Stop Tour Guide

*** 3 Beers

*** 3 Appetizers

*** Freedom to “ghost hunt” until 2am

AFTER PARTY: Open Ghost Chasing and Exploration, Cash Bar with Drink Specials and $1 menu until close…

STOP #1: UPSTAIRS 9PM –
The beer will be WARPED WING REVERENT RED IPA served with
SAUERBRATEN CROSTINIS, BACON MAC N CHEESE BITES and MINI-OPEN FACE REUBENS

STOP #2: THE BASEMENT:
The beer will be WARPED WING’S CREEP SHOW (SMOKED PORTER) served with
GERMAN STYLE BBQ PORK on a PRETZEL ROLL

STOP # 3: THE MAIN DINING ROOM
The beer will be FLYING HEAD’S DOUBLE PUMPKIN served with
ROSE APPLE TARTS

COST: $25 includes gratuity (Pre-pay only)

Tickets may be bought only through DaytonMostMetro by clicking HERE

DON’T FORGET THE AFTER PARTY until 2am: Explore the place yourself do your own Ghost Hunting,

Cash Bar with Drink Specials and special late night menu until 2am

So join this extra special night of spookiness, spirits, Amber Rose Food, ghost chasers and local beer!

It will be a WARPED night for sure.

Come hungry, come thirsty, and get ready for the CREEP SHOW !

Are you a Dayton Foodie? Then join the 5,000+ fanatics on our Food Adventures Facebook Page by clicking HERE !

Warped Wing in the House ,, HAUNTED HOUSE !

This woman is said to be one of the friendly spirits at Amber Rose

Drink with the Food Adventure Crew All night

Chef TJ and Owner Joe

Outside the restaurant

Warped Wing’s Brewery – home of the new CREEP SHOW Beer

Enter for a night of food, creeps and drinks

Dayton’s Warped Wing Beer

CREEPS and CREAKS – a night of ghosts, beer and food

Partners for the event

Basement Beer

After Party will include $1 food menu and beer specials

Sweeney’s Celebrates 21 years with 4 Course $21 Menu

October 1, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Celebrating 21 years in business !

Sweeney’s Seafood Bar & Grill in Centerville, has just turned 21 years old ! To celebrate this milestone Sweeney’s is having a special menu now through Sunday Oct. 4. It features a 4-course meal from Chef Kruse‘s “select your own dinner” menu for only $21.00.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— You may choose one item from the 4 categories APPETIZERS, SOUP/SALAD, ENTREES and DESSERT.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL MENU

— Sweeney’s is located at 28 W. Franklin Street in downtown Centerville

— HOURS:

Mon – Thu: 4pm – 9:30pm

Fri -Sat: 4pm – 10:30pm

Sun: 4pm – 8:30pm

The Food Adventures Crew are big fans of this special menu. While all of Chef Kruse‘s choices are winners, we have a few “suggestions” about the menu’s MUST EATS !

— PUMPKIN SHRIMP APPETIZER : Truth be told, we love their breaded shrimp, so when we heard the panko breaded shrimp were going to have a pumpkin yogurt dipping sauce, we were sold. A specialty dish, rarely seen, and perfect this time of year.

Clam Chowder from Sweeney’s

— ESCARGOT APPETIZER: Yes, snails are must eats. Cooked in a buttery garlic sauce, the strange delicacy is a delicious acquired taste. Typically served with mushrooms in the sauce, it is a wonderful and yet again, rare treat. Try a Food Adventure on your fork!

— NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER: Sweeney’s has some great soups, and this is one of them. Chunky potato cubes, creamy broth and loads of clams in this one. Thick soup, served with tableside bread. Bring on the crisp weather.

— PECAN ENCRUSTED SALMON: Fresh salmon, cooked perfectly. If you love fish, this is the one for you….

— CRAB and SCALLOP STUFFED SOLE: A rich tasting dish, mixing the crab and shrimp lover, with the fresh fish lover in you. This is a very unique looking dish, and a Sweeney’s specialty.

Use this opportunity to have your own Food Adventure celebration at Sweeney’s Seafood. Don’t forget, they have a nice selection of microbrews on tap too. This menu matches up perfect with wine or a nice beer. Happy 21st !

Chef House, Hungry Jax and The Big Ragu share a Food Adventure article each week on Dayton Most Metro.

For more info on area restaurants and must eats, “like” FOOD ADVENTURES on FACEBOOK by clicking HERE.

Please browse our photos below for more of Sweeney’s Seafood dishes.

As they say at Sweeney’s…. Sea ya soon !

A Centerville tradition for over 2 decades

Escargot and a mushroom on bread –

Clam Chowder – Thick and Chunky – like the Big Ragu

Happy 21st Birthday to Sweeney’s Seafood House !

Crab and Scallop Stuffed Sole

Great Selection of Microbrews on Draft at Sweeneys

Facing 725

Escargot and Mushroom on a piece of bread

A Garlic Buttery Food Adventure – ESCARGOT ! Yes, snails

Back door of Sweeneys

Starting things off with a salad

In New England they call it “chowda”.. at Sweeney’s we just order and eat it…

Osaka: New Buffet with Conveyor Belt Sushi

September 29, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Raw Salmon Sushi & Raw Salmon Sashimi

A new Japanese / Chinese Buffet called Osaka has opened behind the Dayton Mall and the Food Adventures Crew has the scoop after a few visits. The newly remodeled building formerly housed Max & Erma’s for decades, and most recently Hazel Grill. The place is basically a buffet, yet they are trying to distinguish themselves by doing a few things differently.

One attraction at Osaka, is the “Conveyor Belt of Sushi.” Now, this is not the typical conveyor belt sushi at restaurants that winds its way around the dining area and is priced based on color of the plate you pick up. No, this is just a side attraction and part of the “All You Can Eat” concept.

But this concept is a bit different at Osaka Sushi and Hibachi Buffet.

Owner/ Manager John Weng of Osaka Buffet

Gone are the metal steam pans, replaced by large family style, white serving dishes. Each dish looks more appetizing. Owner/Manager John Weng told us that this allows for a smaller quantity on each dish, in the hopes that no buffet item sits too long. Beyond that, this buffet is similar to the ones you have seen in the past, although this one seems a little cleaner.

We have visited Osaka four times since it opened, and have tried virtually every menu item. Here are the Food Adventure findings…

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Osaka Sushi & Hibachi Buffet is located at 8901 Kingsridge Dr.

— Buffet prices are as follows: Lunch = $8.95, Dinner = $14.95

— Not a fan of “All you can eat?,” that’s ok ladies, you can order from a full Sushi, Japanese and Chinese Menu.

— Hours are: Monday – Saturday 10:30am – 10pm, Sundays 10:30am – 9:30pm

Prawns on the Buffet

— Buffet highlights include:

A sushi conveyor belt with plates of 2-3 pieces of sushi

A raw hibachi bar and grill, where you mix your ingredients and a hibachi cook stir fry’s your mixture with your choice of sauce.

Appetizer area and Main Entree bars

Soup, Fruit and Dessert areas

With dozens of menu items, what are the best eats? From Duck to Crab Sushi, we sort through it all and give you our patented MUST EATS !

MUST EATS:

— THE SALMON SASHIMI: Scope out the conveyor belt for the pieces of raw, sliced salmon with no rice. These slices are fresh and melt in your mouth. Absolutely the best item on the conveyor belt of love.

Spicy Crab sushi with Flying Fish roe on top

— THE HIBACHI RAW BAR & GRILL: Take advantage of your own mini-Mongolian Grill. Whatever your concoction of meats and veggies, may we suggest you ask for your mixture to be cooked in the Brown Hibachi Sauce. It is absolutely delicious.

— SPICY CRAB SUSHI with FISH ROE on TOP: These are easy to spot, because they have colorful fish eggs sprinkled on top of the sushi roll in colors of green,black or orange.

— THE CRAB ANGLE: These huge, triangular deep fried snacks are STUFFED with crab and cream cheese. The result is a big, filling couple of bites of cheesy goodness.

— THE DUNGENESS CRAB: Hardshell crabs, cut in half and separated at the leg joints. The leg joints are then battered and stir fried with a brown sauce. The result is a crab crackin’, shell suckin’ good time.

— CHEESEY MUSSELS: Baked Mussels in the shell, covered with creamy cheese mixture. Perfect description would be “they’re heavenly.”

— RAW OYSTERS: Rarely seen on buffets in Dayton, take advantage when you see these bad boys laying out on ice.

Honorable Mention: The Crab Nigiri Sushi was huge and delicious. Also, the Fried Shrimp are nothing short of addicting.

The Conveyor Belt of Sushi runs the entire time, replacing and adding plates constantly.

So there you have the lowdown on Osaka Sushi and Hibachi Buffet, the newest buffet in town. Smaller plates, less waste, fresher food

is their philosophy. They have some great items, we are fans and hope the restaurant takes hold for a long time.

Osaka is a perfect place to push your pallet comfort zone. Try new things from crawfish to frog legs. Come out to Kingsridge Drive by the Dayton Mall and experience your own little Food Adventure. P.S., the conveyor belt doesn’t work if you sit or stand on it … just kidding, but don’t try it anyway…

Want to try something fun? Go to Facebook and “Like” Food Adventures by clicking here. Join the thousands that like us on Facebook, and love us in their hearts. Are you an Instagram Junkie? Then follow us there at #dayton_foodies

In the meantime, browse the photos below from our visits to Osaka Sushi and Hibachi Buffet.

Serving plates, no steam pans – smaller quantities means fresher items

A view of the Sushi Conveyor Belt in the corner of the Buffet Area

Pepper Pork and General Tso’s Chicken

Crab Angle – These are incredible and gooey and cheesy and OMG

The sign out front on Kingsridge Dr.

Baked Salmon

Stacking the sushi plates

Some Pink Sushi

Shrimp Tempura with Fish roe on Top

Half of the Buffet Area

Crab and Avacado roll

Crispy Duck !

Hibachi Area, Sushi Area and Buffet Area

Raw Oysters on the Half Shell

Baked, Cheesey Mussells

Mini tiramisu

Dungeness Crab

Some of the best fried shrimp around

A full plate at Osaka Sushi and Hibachi Buffet

Dungeness Crab – incredible stuff

Crab Nigiri – (Cooked Crab Sushi)

Mussels with Cheese and Fish Roe on top

Shrimp and Crawfish

Desserts

Raw Oysters and Kimchee

Crawfish

Spicy Salmon and Avocado

Hibachi cooked right before your eyes

Fruit Bar

Salads

A night at Osaka

Food Adventure in Progress

Sushi conveyor Belt

Raw ingredients for Hibachi

Serving Dishes instead of Steam Pan Raiders

Serving Dishes on the Buffet – smaller quantity on the plates, means fresher items

After 42 years, “Rejects” Play Farewell Show Friday

September 24, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

The Rejects playing at the Rock n Green Tomato Festival

What do you get when you mix some local teachers, drums, guitars, a keyboard and couple of kazoos? The answer is the iconic, family friendly band that has been entertaining fans at special events and festivals since 1973. The Rejects, however, are disbanding as a couple of members are moving out of state for retirement. All good things must come to an end.

As a result, Friday, Sept 25th from 4pm – 7pm, The Rejects will play their last Happy Hour concert at The Soft Rock Cafe at 877 E. Franklin Street in Centerville. Free Pizza will be served to attendees.. and of course there will be drink specials.

Known for playing classic rock, oldies and even some new hits, The Reject’s shows are never short on talent, humor or fun.

It all started 42 years ago when some Centerville teachers Dan Hill and Steve Flaum, joined with Dan’s brother, the drummer. Over the years the lineup has changed slightly, but the basic core have remained. Gary Knight of “The Fries” was once a part of the band, and the addition of Beth Hill many years ago allowed keyboards and more vocal variety into the repertoire.

In 1994, the band was inducted into the Kazoo Hall of Fame for their special contributions to “Kazoo Rock.” But make no mistake, this is a great live Rock n Roll band. People of all ages dance and sing along with the hits of the group. Lots of gags apply such as Mr Flaum aka Dr Humm’s “severed mannequin hand” holding the microphone to the mic stand. Or a suitcase marked BRAIN in a humorous misspelling of Brian Hinder’s name. Who can forget the “You’re Sixteen” sing-a-long” where the band holds up signs of “60” during the lyrics, suggesting ” You’re 60, you’re beautiful and you’re mine” as a sign of the times.

From festivals to parties, from amphitheaters to bars, and even gymnasiums, The Rejects have kept a busy schedule over the years. They have entertained thousands and thousands of people from the Miami Valley and beyond. First performing to friends and students, to family members and just overall fans, the band now finds themselves performing to kids of their students and the band’s grandkids. Far from rejects, the band members have proven themselves as pillars in the Dayton area communities.

The Rejects in Concert !

My how time has flown and The Rejects fan base has proved strong through each generation. Make sure you don’t miss this final concert celebration at Soft Rock Cafe with free pizza!

DON’T FORGET or MISS THIS SHOW !

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

WHAT: REJECT’S LAST HAPPY HOUR CONCERT

WHEN: FRIDAY NIGHT, SEPT 25th 4pm-7pm

WHERE: SOFT ROCK CAFE in Centerville at 877 E. Franklin Street.

We are former students and fans, and it is with heartfelt sadness and admiration that we will be attending the band’s last Centerville performance tomorrow. But, we also want to say “Thank You,” to Dan, Steve, Beth and the rest of the band. Thank you, for teaching us about life, music and so much more. Best of luck in all you do, from your adoring fans … THE REJECTS RULE !

15 MUST EATS at DAYTON’s OKTOBERFEST

September 22, 2015 By Dayton937 1 Comment

The Cream Puff from Schmidt’s – our #1 Item

This weekend mark’s one of Dayton’s biggest festivals and Food Adventures of the year, …Oktoberfest!

Held at the Dayton Art Institute, it is a plethora of Beer, Crafts, Cigars and Food. Some blogs will give you tips on parking, but The Big Ragu, Hungry Jax and Chef House have been eating and drinking their way through this festival for about 40 years. So who better than the Food Adventure Crew to sort through the food with their hundreds of thousands of calories in expertise?

Grab your lederhosen and let’s dive in….

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

WHAT: Dayton’s 44th Annual Oktoberfest, a celebration of German food and culture

WHERE: The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park North, Dayton Ohio

WHEN:

— FRI, SEPT. 25th – PREVIEW PARTY SPECIAL EVENT – 7pm-11pm, COST $95 at the gate

— SAT, SEPT. 26th – Noon – 11:00 pm, COST $7 at the gate

— SUN, SEPT. 27th – Noon – 7pm, COST $7 at the gate

Now you know where to be and when. So bring some money and get your eat on… Dayton’s Oktoberfest, where everyone is German for the day !

Get Pumpkin or Apple Strudel at The Strudel Factory Booth

Drum roll and Accordion intro … here we go with our patented feature, the Dayton Oktoberfest’s 2015 “MUST EATS !”

MUST EATS:

— #1 SCHMIDT’S CREAM PUFFS:
Of course the #1 item is one so creamy and rich, you will pass out from pleasure. The line might be long, but the end result is worth it. Grab one of these huge cream puffs from Schmidt’s Booth, all the way from Columbus. The cream puff is as big as half your head, and more delicious than 100 movie stars.

— #2 CHERRY or PUMPKIN STRUDEL from THE ORIGINAL STRUDEL FACTORY:
Another OMG moment at the festival, is when you introduce your friends to this little number. Hungry Jax and The Big Ragu agree that the Apple Strudel and Pumpkin Strudel steal the show. The food lines are not bad at this booth , and the strudel is fresh out of the oven.

— #3 THE BRATWURST in the METTS and BRATS TENT:
We are not sure if these are a German Club item or Dayton Art Institute.. we just know with a little sauerkraut, or Dusseldorf mustard, these babies go great with beer. Chef House’s pick of the fest. She could hang out in this booth all night, and with the beer trucks of course!

— #4 THE GERMAN POTATO PANCAKES from THE “HEY HEY” FOOD BOOTH:
Giant, delicious and cheap. Unfortunately everyone knows about these, so the line is a little long sometimes. Don’t fret, good things come to those who wait, and it’s not like the line to the Beast at Kings Island. But these big potato cakes are beasts in themselves.

— #5 THE GERMANATOR at ZOMBIE DOGZ:
Dayton’s #1 food truck rolls in with this hot dog smothered in braised beef brisket, beer cheese and topped with fried onions. Another original item, where they knock it out of the park. Fight the line, and get the rewards of this one of a kind, big wiener. What’s on your zombie?

Pulled Chicken Sandwich from Smokin Bar-B-Que – Add some of their excellent BBQ Sauce !

— #6 THE PULLED CHICKEN SANDWICH from SMOKIN’ BAR-B-QUE
This Oregon District mainstay, comes in with an entry like a lightning bolt. The pulled chicken is perfectly cooked, but the secret is in the sauce. All foodies know that a condiment table can be where the magic happens and puts the ying to the yang. In this case it is true. Find the extra BBQ sauce bottle and squirt some more on your sandwich. Close the bun, take a bite. If some sauce drips on your finger, just get a canvas and hang an inspired finger painting in the art museum.

— #7 THE SOFT PRETZEL BOOTH:
Happiness is a warm pretzel. We are talking so fresh you can hardly hold it. We mean it, right out of the oven into a napkin, to warming your heart. Soft inside, with the perfect outer crust, this pretzel is meant for some mustard and beer. Warning: you might crave a second one later in the night.

— #8 THE CRAB CAKES from BROCK MASTERSONS: Seared on a flat grill, these gargantuan crab cakes are the best in town. So good, that you will want two. Also a thumbs up for the sauce served with the cakes. It is the perfect touch and very tasty. The crab cakes are full of flavor and worth the treat.

Chicken on a Stick from Bangkok House – Shockingly good !

— #9 THE HAMBURGER at THE HAMBURGER WAGON: Hamburg, Germany.. that’s a town, right? Well this Hamburger Wagon is as old as many towns. Finishing their 103rd year, it is fair to say they are a Dayton icon. We suggest the Double Burger, it is our newest rage at the wagon. And as always “they don’t need no stinkin’ condiments.”

— #10 CHICKEN ON A STICK at BANGKOK HOUSE BOOTH:
The strange looking skewer, the incredible smell off the grill. This busy booth sells all kinds of specialties, but the one to grab is the Chicken on a Stick. The marinated chicken comes out perfectly grilled and the result is a cross between somewhere between tender chicken, and other bites having a slight jerky feel to it. A “must eat at Oktoberfest !

The Huge German Potato Pancakes from “Hey Hey” food booth !

— #11 THE SUPERFOODS BURGER at BRIXX:
Quinoa, spinach, avocados, cranberries and turkey A surprise Food Adventure on a bun that we weren’t expecting. Chris Bhai has done it again with his “out of the box” thinking. ion a burger? YES! But the best thing is the taste!

— #12 THE PUB CHEESE FRIES from DUBLIN PUB:
Most Daytonians are familiar with these rich sinful cheese fries. These hunger busting pub fries, topped with cheese and bacon, deserve a spot on the list. Everytime we order these we find people reaching into our basket and snagging a bite. Grab a batch of these hometown favorites. The are Chef House’s guilty little pleasure!

Dublin Pub’s Cheese Fries have become Legendary

— #13 THE WIENERSCHNITZEL SANDWICH from the GERMAN SCHNITZEL BOOTH:
Pretty much a fried pork tenderloin looking sandwich. It is a good sized sandwich that is easily shared. There is also schnitzel under the Brats and Metts tent in the German Food line. I’m sure a cabbage roll or potatoes would go good with this.

— #14 THE TRADITONAL GYRO from the GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH BOOTH:
So you thought Greek Fest was your last chance in 2015 to get these? Think again! Take advantage of this rare chance to get the same gyros served at Greek Fest. The only other time you can find these is at World a ‘Fair, We recommend the traditional gyro with everything on it. We feel it is much more flavorful than the chicken gyro.

Hot, fresh, soft pretzels for sale at Oktoberfest

— #15 THE ROADHOUSE PORK CHOP from THE BLACKJACK GRILL:
A giant pork chop, plus a huge grill means the most eye appealing site at the festival. There is nothing quite like watching these huge porkchops cook. Served as a sandwich or by themselves, this is your chance to get a big slab of meat for yourself. Dab it with some of the Blackjack BBQ sauce and it’s time to go to town.

Honorable Mention: The Cabbage Rolls and Saeurkraut Balls are also Food Adventure favorites.

There you have it! Our lists of the 15 Oktoberfest foods that need to meet your mouth this weekend. Did we miss any? What are your favorites that we should have mentioned? Please comment!

Also, browse our photo gallery below for killer pictures of the MUST EATS !

As for beer choices, you are on your own, we are having a food baby and can’t be bothered. But if you want more foodie news, from the Miami Valley’s Food Adventures blog, then “like us on Facebook HERE.

Brats and Metts (Bratwurst and Metwurst)

Who Doesn’t Love Oktoberfest ?

The Germanator from Zombie Dogz

Brixx’s Superfood Burger – delicious !

Another chance to grab a gyro like the ones at the Greek Fest Gyros in 2015

Hungry Jax – not a reluctant foodie in the least

Hello Hamburger Wagon Burger ! HAMBOOOGA !

Black Jack Grill’s Pork Chops … cooking up nice, Frau

We walk around the whole day calling everyone “My Little Strudel !”

Reuben Sandwich from Brock Mastersons

German Pastries everywhere

German Pastry Pretzels

A couple Hamburger Wagon Burgers

Grillin Chicken

Seriously Good stuff

Pork chops on the Black Jack Grill

German Chocolate Sundaes !

Crab Rangoon

LeDoux’s Crawfish Etouffe

According to Big Ragu ….

Don’t eat the Limburger Cheese Sandwich at any cost !

Brats on the Grill

Wiener Schnitzel Sandwich

Sauerkraut Balls for sale

Cream Puffs are works of art.. that’s why we ate them in the Art Institute

Even huge Cinnamon breadsticks

Crab Cake from Brock Mastersons

Like a Twinkie Cream Puff

Apple strudel – one of the best things in the fest

Kibbe Beef Sticks from the Lebanese Church

Oompa Band !

Creme Horny Bayb-ee – yeah baybee

Elephant Ear

The Chicken on a Stick OMG that glaze !

Love the whole wings from Brixx

Beef Schwarma from Lebanese Church

Beer, Cigar – Ragu is loaded

Brixx Burger

Crowded

German Cannoli ???

Won’t You Be Our Neighbor?

September 17, 2015 By Dayton937

Downtown Dayton residents share their stories on why they moved downtown and why they love it!

Housing developments in downtown Dayton have never been more popular. It seems as soon as a new project is finished, another one is announced. Who’s buying or renting these spaces and what motivates them to seek this kind of city-centric lifestyle? The Downtown Dayton Partnership showcases three families who’ve made the move. Get a glimpse into the lives of people who live downtown—and a sneak peek into some of the residential complexes featured on the Downtown Housing Tour from 1-5 p.m. September 19.

Kelly, Mike, and Noah Romano, Patterson Place

When Kelly and Mike Romano began shopping for a new home, they didn’t set out looking for a new-build property. “(Mike) likes the really urban looks and historic homes, I wanted something simple,” Kelly said. When they stepped into a model of Patterson Place, it seemed as though everyone would win with this home. The Charles Simms Development units combine such “urban” aesthetic as lofted ceilings and exposed brick with minimalist, clean design. The Romanos fell in love with the space, but there were still potential road blocks the Vandalia family had to confront.

The couple’s 14-year-old son, Noah, had grown up in the Vandalia-Butler school system and wasn’t keen on starting fresh at a different school. Encouraged by a family friend whose child attended Dayton Public Schools, Kelly and Noah made a trip to Stivers School for the Arts, located less than a mile and a half from the potential new downtown home. “The school was smaller for sure,” Kelly said. “There are about 900 kids in the whole school (grades 7 through 12) versus about 300 students per class at Vandalia-Butler.” The benefits of a smaller school became apparent when Kelly and Noah visited the recording studio. “There was a group of students who showed (Noah) around the studio and really started talking to him, getting to know him,” Kelly recalled. “It was a defining moment, I think.”

Noah agreed and went on to describe how Stivers’ school pride impressed him. “The school had a gift shop; that was pretty different,” he said. One hurdle down: Noah auditioned and was accepted to Stivers’ choral program. He began his freshman year in August.

Finite space is another hallmark of city life. There’s not much room for sprawling McMansions in an urban environment, which is why many lofts, townhomes and condos employ a creative use of vertical space. Still, the Romanos had some downsizing to do before they could call their new urban digs home. “It’s definitely smaller than I’m used to,” Noah said. “But there are so many other things that are closer and easy to walk to bike to.” It’s true that what the Romanos sacrificed in square footage for their home, they gained in access to amenities. No space for a six-burner-stove and island prep in the kitchen? No problem—there are seven places to grab a bite to eat that are two blocks away or closer (hundreds more within walking and biking distance). Running out of room for guests at a party? Spill out into the parking lot instead. The Romanos can attest to the friendly atmosphere of their cozy dwellings. “We didn’t interact with our neighbors much (in Vandalia),” Mike said. “Here, you’re so close, it’s hard not to interact with your neighbors. It’s not uncommon to see several get-togethers blend into one big gathering (along the ground-level spaces, patios and access drive).

“(Living downtown) feels like an on-going party that doesn’t stop!” he said.

Beyond folding them into their social circles, the Romanos said their new neighbors made them feel part of the community. “Everyone’s been so supportive of us,” Kelly said. “They ask about Noah and school. He even picked up some odd jobs for our neighbors like watering plants and walking dogs.”

Downtown’s communal atmosphere is not all the Romanos love about their new home. “We definitely walk more than we used to,” Kelly said. “We’re members of the Dayton Racquet Club and we can walk to the gym. It’s an easy walk to stores and restaurants on St. Clair or the Oregon District. We just got our Link (Dayton Bike Share) passes and we can get from place to place quickly.” Noah chimed in that he can walk to his karate lessons in the Oregon District. The 2^nd Street Market, RiverScape MetroPark, and Fifth Third Field were other walkable destinations the family named among their most frequented places. “When we first moved here, our neighbors told us we couldn’t leave when there are festivals,” Kelly said. Mike agreed; “It’s so easy when they’re practically in your backyard! We go to practically every festival and every event downtown.”

The slower pace of walking and biking also presents new things to discover. “You find things you never knew existed,” Mike said. “We found Urban Krag (Climbing Center in the Oregon District) that way.” Kelly echoed that sentiment and added her affinity for the shops in the St. Clair Lofts—Salon J Ladner, Pi Style Boutique, Linwood Men’s Specialty Shoppe, and Twist Cupcakery. Several blocks away at the Cannery Building, Kelly and Mike said they discovered Sherwood Florist and The Black Box Improv Theater, where they have returned many times for performances.

Now the Romanos are sharing their downtown love with friends and family. “People were surprised when we moved here,” Mike said. Kelly agreed, and added that they are happy to share their positive experiences with visitors. “We had some friends who we took to the Dayton Racquet Club, and they joined,” she said. “I think the common reaction is downtown is cooler than they expected. It was even cooler than we expected when we moved here!”

Amy and Kevin Rehfus, The Landing

Having just moved to their new digs at The Landing in June, the Rehfuses are still pretty fresh to downtown, but they’re acclimating rather quickly, particularly to their new-found free time. The couple moved from a home approximately 3,300 square feet with a huge, rolling lawn down to about 1,500 square feet with a deck and patio. Amy and Kevin found the process to be quite liberating. “(Moving from the suburbs to downtown) was freeing, if anything,” Kevin said. Amy agreed: “(At the old house) we were constantly working on the lawn and maintaining the house. We don’t miss that at all! It frees up your time so you can actually do more.”

Originally from North Canton, Amy and Kevin said they always lived in the suburbs, and the transition from their home of five years in Troy to The Landing downtown was big, but nevertheless a change they made with a clear vision for the type of lifestyle they craved. “We had to think what we wanted out of a home and community,” Amy said. The couple wanted to live somewhere affordable where they could be less dependent on a vehicle, and they wanted nearby amenities that would complement reduce car-reliance. “Dayton checked off all the items on our list,” Amy recalled. “We were surprised!”

Even though their new apartment home is physically smaller than their suburban digs, they said they don’t feel cramped or that they lack space. “There are so many places to visit and they’re practically in our back yard,” Kevin said. Giving one particular weekend as an example, the couple recounted attending a Big Band Nights concert at RiverScape MetroPark on Thursday, The Square Is Where Goes Over the Edge Drop Party on Courthouse Square Friday, then on Saturday, they hopped on the bike path that runs behind their apartment building and rode to Tank’s and Carillon Park, and topped that all off with a walk back to RiverScape for the Hispanic Heritage Festival. “You don’t feel like you’re exercising when you’re just traveling from place to place,” Amy said.

From the Rehfuses’ home, perched on the banks of the Great Miami River, they will have front-row seats to watch more active lifestyle amenities come online. Construction has started on the new RiverScape River Run project, which will stabilize the banks of the river and enhance habitat. Flow control structures also will be installed, mimicking the natural flow of a healthy river. The structures will create two passageways for kayaks, canoes and other paddle sports. One will be a slow-moving channel for novice and leisure paddle sport enthusiasts, and the other will be faster for more experienced kayakers, who will be able to use the channel for dips, flips and other tricks. The removal of the dangerous low dam will create a 7-mile river trail where paddlers can put in at Eastwood MetroPark and float all the way down to Carillon Park. Construction is expected to take a year to complete.

Alongside the river, a new mural is being painted on the floodwall, adding beauty and visual interest to the cityscape. K12 Gallery, another downtown business, has been contracted to apply the design created by local artist Amy Deal.

Being so close to so many amenities and events has provided the couple with more activities than they could possibly entertain. “We’ve been so busy, we haven’t taken a vacation or even bothered to hook up the cable yet!” Kevin mused.

The abundance of action wasn’t the only surprise downtown Dayton had in store for the Rehfuses. “We didn’t think we would experience a lot of nature (being in an urban environment), but we encounter a ton of birds and squirrels and rabbits,” Amy said. Downtown’s less furry denizens got a nod, as well. “You know, sometimes you hear about city life and how people living there are more stoic and cold,” she said. “I was surprised at just how friendly people are who live downtown!”

Local shops and restaurants rounded out the Rehfuses’ list of aspects of downtown life they love. Whether it’s walking to dinner, riding their bikes along the largest bikeway network in the country, taking in the sights and sounds of cultural festivals, or any other downtown activity, Amy said the transition has been rewarding: “Our lives have completely changed — for the better!”

April Alford, St. Clair Lofts

April Alford came to Dayton by way of New Jersey. She was working for the U.S. Postal Service when the opportunity to transfer to a higher position came up. “I applied to lots of locations, and Dayton was the first to respond,” she said. Alford moved to Dayton and took up residence initially in Shroyer Park. But when she checked out the St. Clair Lofts during an open house, it was love at first sight. “I worked downtown and I had a friend who lived in the lofts,” she said. “I thought the space was great and it put me right in the middle of arts, culture, events, food – all within walking distance of my home and work.”

Now a downtown resident for four years, Alford said she was initially surprised at how outgoing people are. “In New Jersey, people are busy, and you don’t see your neighbors a lot or really talk to each other. Moving to Dayton, I noticed people are more friendly, especially downtown,” she said.

Alford still works downtown at the Board of Elections. When she’s not at work or hanging out in her funky urban loft, Alford enjoys all the amenities downtown has to offer. “You can find me at The Neon (movie theater), Oregon Express, and probably the Schuster (Center) or Victoria Theatre,” she said. “I love plays; each year I make sure I get my Passport to the Arts from Culture Works so I can get great deals on attending performing arts events!”

She also spends her down-time volunteering with another group close to her heart – Activated Spaces. Since 2011, the program has been filling formerly vacant street-level storefronts with art and Pop-Up Shops. The latest iteration of Activated Spaces introduced the Pop-Up Office concept. Activated Spaces is managed by the Downtown Dayton Partnership and run by a team of volunteers, mostly from the UpDayton, a nonprofit focused on attracting and retaining young talent through civic engagement and volunteer initiatives, and the Dayton Chamber of Commerce’s young professional organization Generation Dayton. “I started out as a volunteer with UpDayton and from there got into (Activated Spaces),” Alford said. “I love that I get to play such a direct role in making the city where I live a better place.”

Activated Spaces’ most recent Pop-Up Shops are two eatery concepts, frozen banana dessert scoop shop Fronana, and Twist Cupcakery, a café and full-service bakery that happens to be located in the first-floor of the St. Clair Lofts. The bakery joins another Pop-Up Shop alumna, Pi Style Boutique, and three other businesses, Anthony James Painting and Contracting, J Ladner Salon & Spa and Linwood Men’s Specialty Shoppe. Alford said she loves having shopping; hair, nail and spa services, and a lunch or dessert spot steps from her loft. But really, she’s invested her time in the program to encourage Dayton’s small business scene. “These are people with dreams of opening a shop, and those dreams are in our hands,” she said. “It’s important for me to volunteer because I can make an impact for the city and help (entrepreneurs) achieve their dreams.”

Alford invites anyone considering making a switch to living downtown to at least check out a space. “I love living here; it’s the complete package,” she said. “If you’re into the arts and culture, good food, exciting nightlife, and friendly people, come downtown!”

The Downtown Housing Tour takes place from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19. Start at any location, or at an info table. There will be an info table stationed on Don Crawford Plaza (Fifth Third Field) at Patterson Boulevard and Monument Avenue; at Monument Avenue and Wilkinson/Perry streets; and in the Oregon District at Fifth and Brown streets. See as many locations as desired. Walk or bike from spot to spot, or use the free hop-on, hop-off shuttle. More information is available at http://bit.ly/housingtour.