Lisa Grigsby

Another new food truck will be coming to the streets of the Miami Valley, featuring Venezuelan, Colombian, Caribbean street food.  I saw the Facebook page for LatinArepas and sent a message asking to find out more about their food.  What I got back was a charming message from Nestor, inviting me to his home for a tasting.

As I walked in the door I was welcomed like an honored guest to a house that was set up for entertaining and had a warm tropical influence.  Nestor shared that it was at his birthday party in January, celebrating with friends over a meal of South American food cooked by his wife Gabriela that sparked the idea.  All the guests said they wish they could eat like this more often and hence the start of the plan for a food truck.  Nester then started looking for a truck, and being a handyman by trade, started working on designing a truck, doing most of the work himself, including the design of the logo, the look of the truck, inspired by the old woody station wagons of the 50’s and layout of the brand new equipment inside the truck.  The colorful bird mascot on the logo also makes an appearance inside the truck, overseeing the driver.

Pabellon

At I sat at their kitchen counter I was treated to tour of the menu.  Chef Gabriela cooked with an ease and grace that comes from making these dishes for years.  She explained that “as a child in Venezuela I watched my grandmother cook breakfast, feed the family, clean up and then start cooking lunch, which was our big meal of the day. These family recipes are third generation and what I grew up on.”

We started with Pabellon, the National dish of Venezuella, a rice bowl with shredded beef, black beans, plantains and white cheese.  Next we moved on to Parrilla, grilled chicken and steak served with a cabbage salad that had a citrus kick  and yuca, which is the root portion of the plant that tastes starchy like a potato. It was simple ingredients, but cooked fresh, with great seasonings.  Nestor then introduced me to the Latinas sauce, a secret recipe he wouldn’t share, but is something they’ll make up fresh daily.  Adding it to the yuca totally changed the taste and he shared they’ll also have a spicy Latinas sauce for those that like a little heat with their meal.  

Parilla on the left, Arepas on the right

And then we got to the namesake dish- the Arepas.  Chef explained that this ground corn maize dough is the basis of many dishes in her native country and is sold all over the streets of Colombia and Venezuela. It is often split down the middle and used to make a sandwich.  The one I tried was filled with Abocado grilled steak,  tomatoes , onions, avocado and  cilantro.

They will have options that are vegetarian and vegan friendly as well, something the noticed isn’t always readily available on many food trucks. You’ll also be able to try the breakfast Arepas, when they start serving breakfast at Ghostlight Coffee soon.

Other items that will be available on the truck will be taco’s, and you’ll just have to order one or two to enjoy the twist they have for the grilled tortilla it’s served in.  Empanada’s,  yuca fries and 3 fabulous fresh drinks-mango, guanavano and a tamarindo that I fell in love with. Of course they’ll also have  soft drinks and bottled water,  but be adventurous and try one of these South American drinks. I also got to try some of Chef’s Flan and it was light and fluffy with that perfect caramel crust. A little goes a long way, and it was the perfect way to end my tasting experience.

Nester shared that he’ll make it easy for folks to order from the truck, as all menu items will be numbered, just in case the names don’t roll off your tongue as easily as he made it seem.  There will also be a video screen with pictures of their items, so you’ll know exactly what you are ordering.  The LatinArepas truck is scheduled to have it’s county inspection this week and you’ll be able to start seeing it out serving up street eats very soon.  Their plan is to be at many of the area festivals, as well as doing private parties.  (You can always check DMM’s calendar for food truck schedules).

I can’t wait to order a pabellon and see my new friends Gabriella and Nestor, I predict great success for them and LatinArepas.  A food truck this summer, perhaps a restaurant by next summer?

Looks like you’ve found our 2016 Mother’s Day story. For the 2019 story, please click here.

Mother’s Day is the busiest brunch day in the restaurant business and the 3rd most popular restaurant day, after Valentine’s Day and New Years Eve.  It’s become a tradition for families to go out for brunch and enjoy each other’s (and their mother’s) company while they eat.

According to Open Table 54% of Mother’s Day brunch reservations are made a week in advance and 25% are made the day before.  The average restaurant will do 3 1/2 times the number of meals on Mother’s day than on a typical Sunday.
We’d like to help you make plans by suggesting the following restaurants, which are offering special Mother’s Day events:

Sunday May 08, 2016
	Mother’s Day Buffet Young’s Jersey Dairy Sunday May 08, 2016 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
	Mother’s Day Buffet Brunch The Caroline Sunday May 08, 2016 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM
	Mom’s Eat Free Beef O’ Brady’s Sunday May 08, 2016 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
	Mother’s Day and UD graduation Brunch Coco’s Bistro Sunday May 08, 2016 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
	Mother’s Day at Meadowlark Sunday May 08, 2016 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
	Mother’s Day Brunch Coldwater Cafe Sunday May 08, 2016 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
	Mother’s Day Brunch Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Sunday May 08, 2016 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
	Mother’s Day Brunch The Old Arcana Sunday May 08, 2016 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
	Mother’s Day Brunch Ele Cake Co Bistro & Wine Bar Sunday May 08, 2016 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
	Mother’s Day Brunch Hilton Garden Inn Sunday May 08, 2016 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM
	Mother’s Day Buffet Amber Rose Sunday May 08, 2016 10:30 AM -02:00 PM
	Mother’s Day & UD Graduation Brunch Buffet Wheat Penny Oven and Bar Sunday May 08, 2016 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
	Mother’s Day Brunch One Bistro Sunday May 08, 2016 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
	Mother’s Day Brunch Dayton Art Institute Sunday May 08, 2016 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
	Mother’s Day Brunch De’Lish Cafe Sunday May 08, 2016 11:00 AM – 3:00 AM
	Mother’s Day Brunch One Bistro Xenia Sunday May 08, 2016 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
	Mother’s Day Buffet El Meson Sunday May 08, 2016 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
	Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet The Dayton Woman’s Club Sunday May 08, 2016 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
	4 course Mother’s Day Meal The Melting Pot Sunday May 08, 2016 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM
	Million Mom Mother’s Day March Good Neighbor House Sunday May 08, 2016 3:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Chef Lee Anne House first shared some insights about this new Wayne Avenue business a few weeks ago, and we posted some pictures from their Friends and Family night last Saturday, and now you can make visit Crafted & Cured at 531 Wayne Ave.

Open daily from 3- 9pm daily stop in and grab a growler from their selection of 60 taps, featuring ales, stouts, ciders, sours and meads.  Or peruse the beer wall of bombers, six packs and singles. If wine is more your taste, the Wine Wall is filled with bottles or red, white, rose and champagne.  They  plan to  feature many small  wineries, giving you a chance to expand your knowledge and your palate.  Crafted & Cured isn’t really a bar, but more of a bottle shop/growler fill station, where you can stop by and stock up on some great  liquid treats.

This is just the beginning, soon the Dietz building will add cured meats and fine cheeses.  After that, look for the opening of District Provisions, modeled after turn of the century style neighborhood markets.  Further plans include the addition of a local butcher and a Latin market.   Cheers to Andy & Christian – wishing you much success!

Saturday will be a big day at the Vandalia brewery as Matt Harris, Master Brewer and Owner of Hairless Hare Brewery, hosts a special 5 beer release.  Don’t let the strip mall location across from the airport fool you. These guys, who opened their brewery in 2013, make some awesome beers and were voted the Best Brewery in 2015 at BEER! A Celebration of Dayton Brewing.

On tap when the brewery, located at 738 W. National Road, opens at 1pm will be:

Maple Brown Ale:   Made with  Maple Syrup from Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm, *100% of the proceeds of this first day of sales of the Maple Brown Ale to support Aullwood’s education programs.

GO2 Brew IPA: This IPA was made for GO2 Technologies which is a local company that builds custom machines for many types industries.
Barrel Age Barley Wine: This barley wine was aged in Weller bourbon barrel received from the Century Bar.

Brown Barrel Bomber: a brown ale aged in a Woodford Reserve bourbon. This is a 2nd release for this beer,  it sold out in record time the first time and expect it will do so again.

Clown Shoes White Tail Unidragon: , a 12 percent ABV Russian imperial stout brewed with rye malt as well as Cascade and Columbus hops before being aged in bourbon barrels

Pairing perfectly with these beers, Hairless Hare offers some pretty tasty gourmet pizza.  The Smoked Salmon Pizza, Spicy Buffalo Chicken Pizza and Chicken Curry Pizza are some of the most popular or you can munch on chicken wings, the BBQ Smoked Brisket Sandwich or just nibble on  Hummus & Pita Chips. Don’t forget to bring a growler to be filled, or just pick one up there to add to your collection.

As many of you know, this past July I took on the role of Executive Director for FilmDayton.  What you may not know is that also meant taking classes to learn how to run a film commission.  I got my certification and today FilmDayton announced we are officially becoming The Greater Dayton Region Film Commission.  We’ve been doing that work unofficially for years, and now we are a certified Film Commission, through the Association of Film Commissioners International.   We celebrate tonight with a special screening of Miles Ahead, the Don Cheadle film about legendary musician Miles Davis.  As this invite only screening at The Neon, we’ll have an audience of crew that worked on the motion picture, with FilmDayton supporters.   We’ve chosen the debut of this film, which had scenes shot at the Dayton Jail and ReFraze Studio in Kettering, to announce our new focus.  We are confident

FilmDayton will continue to showcase our region’s talent and resources to local and out-of-state companies seeking assistance with film and television production.  We’ll continue offering location assistance and coordination with crew and services. The Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit has generated more than $400 million in economic impact to the state since its inception.  For every $1 invested, there has been a return of $2.01*. But most of that business has gone to Cleveland and Cincinnati. Without a film commission, Dayton hasn’t even been at the table to try to recruit productions to the region.

Now FilmDayton will promote and market the nine county region, in order to recruit and facilitate the production of film, television, commercials, corporate videos, music videos, and documentaries, as well as emerging forms of media. Film Commissioner Lisa Grigsby explains, “ in simple terms, the film commission acts as a concierge service for productions interested in using the Greater Dayton region as a backdrop.” It’s been a long time coming, but as FilmDayton Board President Shaunn Baker shares, “the commission has been a goal since the organization started in 2008, and I’m glad we’ve finally made it happen.”

The state tax credit that is doing so much to bring films to Ohio has used up this year’s rebate money, but look for a flurry of activity this summer, as the states new fiscal year replenishes the $20 million dollar fund for filmmakers.

On November 27, 2007, Kearney and Sand opened Rue Dumaine in Centerville, Ohio.”Rue Dumaine” was the street on which Peristyle, Chef Anne’s first New Olreans restaurant was located . Rue Dumaine has gone on to win both awards and recognition for their food, wine list and service. Kearney has been recognized nine times by the James Beard Foundation, as one of the top chefs in the country.

This morning Chef Anne sent this eblast out to her loyal customers:

“It takes a village”…while this African proverb references the raising of children, I am writing this with a deep sense of gratitude toward my village – the Rue Dumaine krewe, farmers, artisans, purveyors, and guests who have helped me build something special in the Dayton dining community over the last 8 years. When Rue Dumaine opened back in November 2007, I was happy to be back in my hometown, ready to share my love of good food with any & all. As I look back on this journey I am very proud of the mark Rue Dumaine has made in this community, but I also know that nothing remains the same; things must evolve or die away.  Although change can be unsettling, it can also be exciting and open the door to greater opportunities. With that in mind, I have made the choice to let go of things I can’t change and focus on the things I can. For Rue Dumaine this means restructuring our food service program.

Between now Tuesday,  April 19th and Saturday, May 7, 2016 Rue Dumaine will continue to operate during its normal business hours: Tuesday – Thursday, 5-9pm; Friday lunch 11:30am-1:30pm; and Friday – Saturday 5-10pm. The last evening of our regular restaurant service will be Saturday, May 7.

Beginning May 8, 2016, the restaurant’s operations will transition to private events, plus monthly special dinners and events that are open to the public. These special dinners will include a monthly wine dinner, local farmer’s HARVEST dinner, four monthly POP-UP dinners (different every evening, prix fixe menus, wine optional), plus assorted cocktail and cooking classes (dates yet to be determined). During the growing season we are hosting monthly in-house RUE Dumaine Farmer’s Market showcasing our regions bounty turned into ready to eat foods to be enjoyed at your home. At any time of operation Rue Dumaine gift cards will be honored.

In re-structuring our food service program we will provide the Dayton area with dining opportunities featuring our classic style of food and beverage service personalized for your private event needs. This approach allows us to accommodate the ever-growing demand for private events while continuing to serve our loyal customers.

We will focus our attention on each event personally resulting in success for all parties involved. Who doesn’t want to eat a good meal at their next Board meeting or Pharmaceutical dinner? Whether it is a monthly business meeting with the management team (enjoy a nice meal then get down to business), your poppa’s 70th birthday celebration, graduation party, last minute rehearsal dinner, dinner club get-together, or even your daughters intimate wedding celebration; the RUE may well be the right fit.

I will remain invested in Rue Dumaine as we move forward building upon the reputation we have made for ourselves in this community. We look forward to continuing to serve you and yours during this transition.

Thank you.”

At this year’s Cajun Hot Sauce Festival that just wrapped up last week in Louisianna, Lee Anne House and her House Made sauces walked away with the People’s Choice Award this year, after finishing 2nd last year, for her Red Thai Chili Sriracha Sauce.

Her brand new Carrot Mango Habanero took first place in the fruit category!
For the 2nd year in a row her Thai Chili Hot Honey sauce was named the Champion of Champions.

Due to a problem sourcing peppers the original sauce has been off the shelves for a while but she was recently able to begin sauce making again and now HouseMade Sriracha is back up and running with their newest flavors  restocking local specialty stores  like Keener Farm Butcher Block, Yankee Street Market, Ollie’s Place, A Taste Of Wine, Arrow Wine, Foremost Seafood LTD, Belmont Party Supply and Spice Paradise Dayton.

Head to The Night Market at the Yellow Cab Tonight, where you can pick up a bottle or two and congrautlate Lee Anne yourself.  There’s a food truck rally there as well from 5-10pm, so you can try out the sriracha or sauces on some great street food.

Bill Schancey spent years in the restaurant business in Pittsburg.  He’s been in Dayton for about 14 years and missed the business.  Bill says, ” I love to cook, this is a way to get around the community, and meet people.

I’m learning to use social media- to promote, which is new for me.”  So this year he’s launched a food truck, the Shantz Express.  His menu is still a work in progress, but you can expect mostly American fare.

He’s currently serving wings, burgers, salads, gyros, French fries, and calzones.  He’s still trying to find a pizza he can serve quickly that he feels good about, but it’s not on the truck, yet.

You can try his wings three different ways, with buffalo sauce, garlic butter parmesan or with BBQ sauce and they sell 6 for $5 at lunch or 10 for $9 at dinner.

His burgers run from $5-9 dollars.  You can try the Big Kahuna, the Fat Burger which has bacon and a fried egg or he’s just added one with pineapple.

His signature sandwich is the Juggernaut, with ham, turkey and bacon, swiss and cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato with a little Shantz Sauce and fries right on the sandwich for $8

Where to Find the Shantz Express:

Every Wed lunch – WPAFB, base access required
Most Fridays lunch’s – at the car dealerships on 35
This Friday- Truck Rally at Kmart across from The Greene 5-10pm

The skies are sunny and warm weather is here, which can mean only one thing: The season for patio drinking is here!  Since it’s been a while since we’ve been able to sip cocktails on a patio, we’d like to remind you of a few of our favorites:

Wheat Penny
515 Wayne Ave
Newly improved, it’s always a who’s who of Dayton hanging on this rustic veranda enjoying some eggplant fires and  hand crafted cocktail from their well trained bartenders.

Lily’s Bistro
329 E. 5th Street, Oregon District
They actually have three patio’s, but it’s the back patio, often dubbed the hidden garden and makes you totally forget you’re just blocks from downtown.

El Meson
903 E. Dixie Drive, West Carrollton
Expanded just last year, you’ll feel like you’ve taken a vacation when you hang out here, enjoying  an eclectic menu of Latin American tapas and don’t miss their signature sangria!  They even have days when they welcome your pooches on the patio.   Close to the bike path as well.

Fifth Street Brewpub
1600 E. Fifth Steet in St. Anne’s Hill
Newly expanded, this co-op’s courtyard is packed with picnic tables and often features live music

Carmel’s 
1025 Shroyer Road
Ice Cold BOBARITAS  go down awfully easy when you chill on this patio with some tex/mex appetizers.  This neighborhood dive is packed with regulars and has a very casual, welcoming atmosphere.

Heather’s
505 Main Street, Springboro
They renovated an old house in Springboro and turned it in to a great little coffee/lunch place by day and a rocking little hangout at night. The nightlife usually happens on Wed-Fri, with an occasional Sat.

Trolley Stop
430 E. Fifth Street, Oregon District
Great for lunch or a late afternoon meeting, time just disappears when you hang out at this oasis that just blocks out all the noise in the busy city.  On Saturday take advantage of their bloody mary bar and brunch menu.

South Park Tavern
1301 Wayne Ave, South Park
This enclosed patio has a cool, casual feel, and great service, so it’s easy to sip away an afternoon.
Monday’s are especially busy, when you can take advantage of 1/2 price pizza.

Mudlick Tap House

135 E 2nd St, Dayton, OH 45402
This Gastropub recently moved from Germantown to downtown, but they’ve kept their rustic feel, great selection of craft beers and scratch kitchen.  Open seven days a week and serving brunch Sat  and Sun with a great bloody mary bar.

TJ Chumps
12 E. Linden, Miamisburg
When they take off the walls, this patio is a great hangout.  Close to the bike trail it’s a perfect spot to refuel after a great ride.

This is just a small sampling, and focused more on where we enjoy drinks on the patio. If you’ve got a favorite we missed, feel free to add it in the comments below. For many more options check out our outdoor dining guide.

In what may be a first for Arrow Wine Centerville, on Saturday, April 30th rapper 50 Cent will be at the store from 1-3pm to promote his line of Effen Vodka.

According to Arrow’s Liquor Manager Jennifer Blair, she was at her son’s baseball game when she got the call with the opportunity for this special appearance. “He’s bringing a dj, we’ll be playing his music and customers that purchase his vodka will have a chance to get their picture taken with 50 Cent.”

The 40-year-old rapper has recently partnered with EFFEN Vodka, which is produced in Holland. According to 50 Cent: “‘Effen’ means ‘smooth’ in Dutch. But I know my audience and I know what they’re gonna do. And they’re gonna have fun with that.”  His preferred Effen cockail he calls the “Beast”: a mix of the Black Cherry flavor with vanilla simple syrup, white cranberry juice and fresh lemon juice and garnished with brandied cherries.

The continuous distillation process  ensures extraordinarily smooth taste. The range of daring flavors, including Black Cherry, Dutch Raspberry, and Cucumber. And definitely the bartender-designed touch that adorns each bottle: a polymer sleeve. That’s what makes EFFEN® Vodka perfect for those who love good design, according to the product’s website.

Here are the details for the meet and greet:

• Line will form outside the store.  At 1pm guests can go to the designated register and pay for a bottle of Effen, which will run $24.20 for a 750ml bottle, tax included.
• They will recieve a receipt and head back to the private room, where they will get a pre-signed bottle and have the Official Photographer shoot their picture with 50 Cent.  No personal cameras or cell phones  allowed.  Well, that is unless you buy a full case, then you ‘ll be allowed one picture with your own camera.
• After your pictures you’ll be escorted back out of the private room.

According to Jennifer at Arrow, she’s not sure how early people will line up for this promotion, but it’s sure to be a busy day at the Centerville store, as they also have a wine tasting scheduled that day.

You’ll find the Arrow Wine store at 615 Lyons Road, just behind the Sam’s Club store on the east end of the Washington Park Plaza.

50 Cent will be at Jungle Jim’s later in the afternoon for a signing there and then performing at Celeberties on Rading Road in Cincinnati at 10pm that night.

Two and a half years ago, two friends and co-workers that shared a passion for craft beer and high quality cured meats and cheeses envisioned a unique space where you could find obscure beers, ciders and sours along with family owned, small batch wines and champagne. It took quite a while but finally their vision is coming to fruition as Crafted & Cured.

Together Christian Alvarez and Andy Routson have quite the background that makes them a great team to lead this inspiring business. Chris is a chef, with his degree from Le Cordon Bleu in California. He will be making all kinds of pickles, mustards, anything to go with their charcuterie.

Eventually, his goal is to cure their own meats in the market itself with other vendors. Wait till you see their meat slicer, flown in straight from Italy, it is an eye catcher. Bright red with a hand crank wheel to give you the sheerest of cuts on prosciuttos, this is sure to please with fine meats.

Andy is an avid craft beer drinker and trader. He is working towards becoming a certified cicerone. (A cicerone is a certification awarded to an individual who has demonstrated an expertise in beer service.) He comes from a family of entrepreneurs and has always known he wanted to own his own business. Obviously, one of the most important questions on the table during my chat with them was what their favorite styles of beer are. Andy loves stouts and anything barrel aged. Chris is all about those IPA’s. I am going to love drinking with these guys!!

Crafted & Cured simply put is a growler house, not a bar. This is a place to come taste some samples of unique brews and take them home to enjoy. Not only do they offer the growlers that we have all become so familiar with they also have a crowler! A crowler is a 32 ounce can to-go that they will right in front of you! Crafted & Cured will have 60 taps with 10-12 of those dedicated to ciders, sours and meads. Dayton has a great beer scene and we have been seeing the new trend of beer infusions popping up all over town, especially at Toxic Brew Co. Luckily Crafted and Cured has a Randall, made by Dogfish Head, to infuse beers right there at the bar! You will be able to pick from a variety of ingredients, from lemongrass to vanilla beans or cocoa nibs to make your own specially seasoned beer.

Not only will Crafted & Cured offer beer, there will be a whole wall of wines and champagnes that you can’t get anywhere else. They are working closely with their rep Mike Freeman to make sure they only offer small batch, family owned, grower vineyards. Mike will be available once a month for a fun educational night with tastings.

You don’t have to worry about a lack of parking, there is plenty! They have 9 spots available in the space between them and Wheat Penny and all of the surrounding roads behind them. Monday – Friday during the day till 4:30pm at the Theatre Guild, right across the street to the right, and from 5 pm on at the Behavioral Health Center on Wayne, also across the street to the left, and all day and night on the weekends here as well.

Crafted & Cured plans on opening their doors for a soft opening, prior to May. This soft opening period will last approximately one month and will not include the cured side of the business quite yet. They plan to master the beverage side of the business then launch a grand opening in coordination with the opening of District Provisions. The grand opening will mark the start of the cured side of the business. And don’t worry, District Provisions will open soon!

The rest of the building is going to be fantastic. It’s big and beautiful and full of potential. District Provisions is a turn of century style neighborhood market. It is designed to supply the primary grocery needs to the residents of the Oregon District, South Park, St. Anne’s Hill, and downtown Dayton. The focus of this market is to provide the highest quality produce, local humanely raised meats, fresh local dairy, organic health foods and unique household goods. We can’t wait! This is just what downtown Dayton needs.

You’ll find Crafted & Cured at 531 Wayne Ave, just 2 blocks south of 5th Street.  Watch DaytonDining for their exact grand opening date.

The Fifth Street Brewpub has added brunch to their menu every Saturday and Sunday. They’ll be serving up some breakfast favorites from 10am -2pm on the weekends, and they’ve even been kind enough to make beer pairing suggestions, just in case you weren’t sure what beverage would compliment your chicken and waffles.

And speaking of the Brewpub, are you a member?

A one-time fee of $125.00 is all you need to own your brewpub. For. Life. Join Fifth Street Brewpub and take advantage of all the perks offered by your lifetime membership.

Members receive:

• 50 cents off all draft beer
• a beer for a penny on your birthday with the option to purchase a $2 Happy Birthday glass
• $2 off daily food specials
• variety of discounts through our membership loyalty program
• merchandise discounts
• invitations to special member-only events such as beer tastings or beer dinners
• an equal vote on the Board of Directors and bylaws at our annual fall members’ assembly

Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a member to enjoy beers or brunch at the Brewpub, but it sure helps them keep things going!

These tasty and convenient Latin-American-style turnovers can be eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They can be served as appetizers or snacks, but they can also easily make a full and satisfying meal.

These delicious bundles can be prepared with so many different types of fillings, from traditional savory fillings to mouthwatering sweet fillings. There are very traditional fillings, called rellenos or condumios in Spanish, that are different from one country to another. Even within the same country, different regions might have specific empanadas that they are known for. However, when it comes to options for empanada fillings, the sky is the limit, you can stick to the classic fillings or you can create your own based on inspiration from other dishes. You can combine flavors and ingredients that you love, or simply use the ingredients you have available at the moment.

You can even buy ready-made empanada discs at many Latin grocery stores, but you can also easily make the dough at home.  The most popular empanada dough is made with wheat flour. However, empanada dough can be made with corn flour or corn meal, mashed plantains, potatoes, yuca or cassava, sweet potatoes, and more. Sweet empanada dough can also be made with chocolate, almond flour, spiced with cinnamon and clove, with citrus rind, and more flavors.

Today, April 8 is National Empanada Day so here are five places you can enjoy them in Dayton:

La Colombiana Restaurante
2495 Commons Boulevard
Beavercreek, OH 45431

Pictured here the vegetable empanadas served with Aji, a spicy sauce that often contains tomatoes, cilantro ají pepper and onions.

Arepas & Co
2nd Streeet Market
1122 E Dorothy Land, Kettering, OH 45419
416 E 3rd Street, Dayton, OH 45402

Deep fried, gluten-free stuffed yellow corn turnovers (Beef, Chicken, Vegetarian)  served with your choice of one of their 6 homemade sauces: Garlic Mayo, Scorcho, Hawaiian, Creamy Cilantro, Hagao, Rosada.


If you have a favorite spot for Empanadas in the Miami Valley, be sure and add it in the comments below!

In 1895 a  British writer, Guy Beringer,  wrote  “Brunch: A Plea” in Hunter’s Weekly. He wanted people to gather for a late breakfast on Sundays not necessarily for the food but for the experience:

By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday-night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well. Brunch is cheerful, sociable and inciting. It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.

We have to agree with him!  Sunday brunch is becoming a more popular meal in restaurants then every before. Data from Google Trends show that search interest in brunch has been rising steadily since 2004 with the most popular searches coming around Easter and Mother’s Day. According to that same research, brunch tends to be more popular with younger urban dwellers.

Brunch also gets credit for popularizing day drinking. The creation of the Bloody Mary and Mimosa are attributed to the social events of the 1920’s during Prohibition,  when those who still had access to alcohol often mixed it with juice to hide the fact that it hadn’t been aged for long.  Nothing say brunch better that bottomless mimosa’s.

We’ve put together  a list of Sunday brunches in Dayton.  This list does not include the wonderful places that serve breakfast everyday like The Brunch Club,  Butter Cafe, Tanks, Legacy Pancake House, First Watch, The Waffle House,  The Blueberry Cafe, and Golden Nugget, but concentrates on eateries that have a special Sunday menu of eggs Benedict, french toast and a Bloody Mary or two:

	Ele Cake Co Bistro & Wine Bar Brunch A little gem of  a place tucked in Austin Landing, skip the line at Another Broken Egg and walk around the corner for a great meal. Sunday  10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
	Bonefish Grill Brunch Offering 4 different eggs benedict choices  and an awesome espresso martini Sunday 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
	Yankee Trace Golf Club Buffet Brunch One of the only buffets around, handles large parties well.  Salmon en croûte,Carved Ham, Beef or Turkey, shrimp cocktail, as well as all your breakfast favorites. Reservations suggested. Sunday  10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
	Meadowlark Sunday Brunch Be prepared to wait at this popular spot, great flavors and interesting menu make it worth the wait! The Huevos rancheros rock! Sunday 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
James Nunez and his BBQ crew	Texas Beef & Cattle Co. One of the newest, be sure and check out their breakfast taco brunch. Sunday  10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
	Wheat Penny Oven & Bar Get your brunch on with creative dishes like the breakfast gondola, eggs in hell and breakfast tacos. Sunday  10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
	Brio Tuscan Grille Brunch A limited menu, but what they make tastes great.  You can also choose from their lunch menu. They pour a great Prosecco Mimosa. Sunday  11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
	Basil’s On Market – Dayton, OH Treat yourself to this brunch buffet featuring carving stations, omelettes made to order, fresh fruit and cheese and more! Sunday 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
	Lily’s Bistro Brunch Perhaps the best meal they serve and if weather permits, request to sit on the back patio for a truly relaxing experience. Sunday 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
	Blind Bob’s Tavern Bunch It’s not fancy, but surprisingly good! Blind Bob’s Tavern Sunday 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
	Cobblestone Café, Home Interiors & Gifts Chef-made Sunday Brunch A charming atmosphere, a constantly changing menu and great shopping make a trip to this Waynesville eatery worth the drive. Sunday 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM
	Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Sonoma Sunday Brunch A great place to splurge when someone else is picking up the meal. Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Sunday 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Dublin Pubs World Famous Potato soup draws them in	The Dublin Pub Sunday  Carvery  & Brunch Many choices on the buffet, a great bloody mary bar and a few menu choices, if buffets not your thing. Sunday  11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
	Lucky’s Taproom and Eatery Brunch Inexpensive, wide variety and vegan friendly. Sunday  10:00 AM – 02:00 PM
	The Winds Cafe and Bakery Brunch An upscale brunch with incredible home made baked goods in a casual atmosphere. Sunday  10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
	Bravo Cucina Italiano Brunch Omelettes and multiple Benedict dishes, hash and eggs and a berries-and-cream French toast, with brunch offered both Saturday and Sunday. Sunday  11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Have a favorite brunch spot we missed? Please tell us about it in the comments below.