Lisa Grigsby

Taste at the Crossroads This Tuesday

June 22, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

The Vandalia- Butler Chamber presents the Taste at the Crossroads this Tuesday, June 23th from 5 – 8:30pm outside at the Vandalia Sports Complex. This event is rain or shine. This annual event is designed to showcase restaurants and catering companies from across the Miami Valley.

For your ticket you get a chance to sample as many tastes as you’d like from Max & Erma’s, Longhorn Steakhouse, Olive Garden, El Toro Mexican Restaurant, Fricker’s, Skyline Chili, Hooters, Boston’s Bistro & Pub, Warehouse 4 Coffee, Cardinal Catering, Creatif Catering, Kohler Catering, Subway, McDonald’s, Kroger Bakery, and Walmart Bakery.

Available for purchase are brew from local craft breweries Hairless Hair, Dayton Beer Company, Luck Star Brewing, Fifth Street Brewery and Toxic Beer Company along with 8 different varieties of wine, soft drinks and water.

Today is the last day to get discounted advance tickets for $12. You can call and reserve them with a Visa or MasterCard through the VB Chamber; 937-898-5351 or stop in to any of these businesses to get your tickets:

Vandalia -Butler Chamber of Commerce
Abbey Credit Union
Day Air Credit Union
Monroe Federal Savings & Loan
City of Vandalia Government Offices

Tickets at the door will run $17

Dayton Dwell – A Celebration of Home!

June 18, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

The typical American home is around 2600 square feet, while the typical small or tiny house is around 100-400 square feet. Tiny Houses come in all shapes, sizes and forms but they focus on smaller spaces and simplified living. People are joining this movement for many reasons, but the most popular reasons are because of environmental concerns, financial concerns and seeking more time and freedom.

This weekend, as part of Homearam, the Colorado Springs based Tiny House Jamboree™ will have a few of these little dwellings be on display at the Hook Estate. Four professional Tiny House builders will be opening their homes for tiny tours and speaking throughout the weekend about the ins and outs of living small.

The 1929 Hook Estate’s 12,000 square foot mansion will also be conducting live demonstrations and tours with home preservation seminars and vendors. The entire event is family friendly and will allow attendees to experience, first-hand, Tiny House and historic living. You’ll find the Hook Estate at 1231 Hook Estate Dr in Dayton.

Show Dates & Times:

June 19, 2015: Noon – 9pm
June 20, 2015: Noon – 9pm
June 21, 2015: Noon – 7pm

The event is proudly supported and produced by a dedicated partnership between:

The Home Builders Association of Dayton (producers of Homearama)
The Tiny House Jamboree of Colorado Springs, CO.
Red Oak Productions presenting the Ohio Old House Fair at the historic Hook Estate.
The City of Dayton, Ohio

Please visit their site at www.daytonhomerama.com for more information, and visit the Homerama on Facebook.

Vectren Dayton Air Show Adds Ultralight Display

June 16, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Some of the most fascinating flying machines at this weekend’s Vectren Dayton Air Show Presented by Kroger will also be some of the tiniest.

While massive military jets such as the Air Force C-17 Globemaster III airlifter and KC-135 refueler will dominate the static display area at Dayton International Airport, spectators will also have a chance to discover the world of light-sport and ultralight aircraft—the smallest, simplest machines one can fly.

As many as six light airplanes are scheduled to be on display both days of the weekend air show. While numbers and types are subject to change, the lineup includes examples of Challenger, Phantom, Quicksilver, Rans, Titan and Xenon aircraft. Put on by local enthusiasts, the ultralight display is new to the air show this year.

Instead of streamlined hulls and jet engines, these one- or two-seat machines are made with tubes, wires and fabric. They typically have two-stroke engines that deliver 30 to 60 horsepower. They don’t go fast, but their open-air designs offer spectacular views.

“They give the pilot a bird’s eye view of the world with the wind in his face,” said Paul Lindamood, director of Dayton Ultralights, an informal group of recreational fliers based at Moraine Airpark.

“Ultralight flying is largely about the simplicity, the romance and the glory days of flying—the sheer exhilaration of being a part of the wind, the sky and the elements,” said Lindamood, who plans to display his Quicksilver 2S both days.

Lindamood believes ultralight flying allows one to experience flight as the Wright brothers knew it—but with the benefit of today’s aerospace materials and design knowledge. “Wilbur and Orville would have marveled at what these modern day craft can do,” he said.

Originally organized in 2000 and revived in 2013, Dayton Ultralights holds numerous annual fly-ins, contests and group flying excursions. It counts a local flying membership of 75, with more than 30 pilots and aircraft based in the Dayton region. Its Facebook page includes more than 1,100 pilots from around the world.

“We work to reach out to the flying and non-flying community in communicating the merits of ultralight and open-air flying. We endeavor to adhere to all conventional rules of flight and airport safety operations, and to constantly improve our flying skills and abilities,” Lindamood said.

The Vectren Dayton Air Show is one of America’s top annual aviation events. This year’s headliner act will be the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Joining them will be the U.S. Navy F-18 Super Hornet, U.S. Army Golden Knights and a U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue (SAR) demonstration. Making its first appearance in Dayton will be the Breitling Jet Team from Dijon, France, on its first North American Tour. The show will also feature Jack Link’s Screamin’ Sasquatch Jet WACO, Mat Younkin’s Beech 18 aerobatics, the legendary Sean D. Tucker, the Shockwave Jet Truck and the Wright “B” Flyer, a lookalike of the Wright brothers’ first production airplane.

Discount general admission tickets are on sale at area Kroger Stores. The Greater Dayton RTA is offering Park & Ride express shuttle service from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Gates are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The feature show takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ollie’s Place Set To Open Wednesday!

June 9, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Owner Mike Schwart at the Beer Engine.

Mike Schwartz has been dreaming about this new place for more than 20 years. He shared “that once I realized I couldn’t expand the Belmont Party Supply any more I started dreaming up this next venture.” And on Wed, June 10th at 4pm, you can experience the reality of that dream- Ollie’s Place, located at 518 Miamisburg Centerville Rd in the Home Center Shopping Center, next to the newly located Hauer Music store.

Named after Mike’s Grandfather Ollie Schwartz, a meat-cutter, local business owner and widowed father of six during the end of The Great Depression. As a strong, spirited man, he also served as a role model for Mike’s entrepreneurship.

Ollie’s Place is a restaurant that features 60 rotating taps of the best craft beers, a whiskey bar that is home to over 200 whiskeys from around the world, and a retail beer and wine carrryout with 1600 beers to choose from. Mike says, “with that selection if you can’t find a beer you like, you don’t like beer.” There is even a beer engine, a manually operated device used to pump beer from a cask.

The beercooler itself was a rather impressive piece of engineering, Mike explained to me that each time a keg is changed, the lines are plugged in to a built in cleaning line, keeping the flavor of the beers pristine. And opposite the keg wall, the bottled beer lines up into the retail side of the operation. You’ll be able to build your own six pack and the staff is well trained to make suggestions based on your likes or dislikes. The retail side also offers homebrew kits as well as equipment for making your own beer or wine. Schwartz shared that they will be offering brewing classes as the new location soon.

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tempura bacon wrapped asparagus

vanilla bean cheesecake

The restaurant, with seating for 140 (plus a patio to be added later this summer) will be open at 4pm Tuesday through Sunday for dinner, as well as lunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11am -8pm.

Chef Joshua Walden will be executing a menu created by consultant Chef Don Warfe. Appetizers include a cheese plate, herbed goat cheese and baguettes, and my favorite the Tempura bacon wrapped asparagus. Salads choices included a grilled chicken salad and a strawberry and mango mesclin option. Main course selections included curry chicken kabobs, lump crab cakes, cauliflower steak, grilled chicken, shrimp or chicken tacos and black and blue sliders. The menu includes beer pairing suggestions for each item.

Sous Chef Aimee Plessa does a fantastic job with the desserts, I tasted both the vanilla bean cheesecaks and the double chocolate bourbon creme brulee, which both paired perfectly with the Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout.

General Manager Gus Stathes explained to us that the tap list for opening night will be filled with as many special beers as they can get their hands on. On an ongoing basis you can check BeerMenus.com to know what’s on tap at Ollie’s. He posted this hand written list on facebook a few hours ago. So it won’t seem to matter what kind of beer you like, you’ll find something you like on draft. And each beer has a 4oz tasting price, as well as prices for a pint, howler or growler (not all beers will be offered in growlers).

And if beer is not your thing, check out the wine list, the specialty cocktails or list of over 200 bourbons, 25 Irish whiskeys, or 55 scotch options priced for both a taste and a 2oz serving.

We think Ollie’s Place is gonna be one of Dayton’s new favorite places!

Two Dayton Family Beer Businesses To Partner

June 3, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

At 2:30pm today Dayton’s oldest family run Beer Distributor, Bonbright, partners with the Dayton area’s oldest Brewers, Dayton Beer Company, to sign an exclusive beer distribution agreement.

According to Chris Fritz of Bonbright, “good liquid is easy to sell” and since Pete Hilgeman opened his new 4,000-square-foot beer hall and tap room and a 4,000-square-foot production brewery the beers he’s been brewing has just continued to improve. This deal will allow Hilgeman to concentrate on brewing while Bonbright Distributing will take care of getting those beers out in the nine county area they trade in. Fritz says, “we only sell beer we believe in and we believe in Pete and the beers he’s brewing.”

Now that the new facility has been open for about 6 weeks, the next new thing will be canning the brews they are making at the Madison Street location and the distribution deal can make that a big success.

Brock and Pete seal the deal with a beer! This is the first of the local breweries to sign a distribution deal.

FUSIAN Returns Home To Open Restaurant #6

May 27, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

As first announced in February of 2014, a second FUSIAN location opens Thursday, May 28th in the brand new Oak Creek Crossing retail development. This newly built shopping center in SR-725 already is home to;

Zoup! – fast-casual soup concept restaurant with 12 rotating daily varieties and made-to-order salads and sandwiches. Opens May 14.
PetPeople – 4,500-square-foot store with high-quality, natural pet foods and supplies
Elements Massage– 2nd location for this therapeutic massage business

Coming Soon:

El Rancho Grande Restaurant – sit-down Mexican restaurant – Opening soon
Whole Foods – 45,000-square-foot store is this specialty grocer’s first Dayton-area location – Opening June 3rd

The quick serve sushi concept opened their first restaurant in 2010 and the Washington Township store is the 2nd Dayton location, with 3 in the Cincinnati market and 1 currently in Columbus, with 3 more scheduled to open still this year. In 2016 they’ll add at least 2 more in Cincinnati and when we asked owners Zack and Josh Weprin and Steve Harman, who are UD grads, about more in Dayton we got no answer but a sly grin, which I guess means more to come. “We love Dayton… it’s where we grew up, and it’s where we consider home. Our continued efforts to bring our food and our company to new markets would not be possible without supportive communities, a great team, and amazing customers!”

A 10 piece sushi roll will set you back about $8 and you can add a cucumber or seaweed salad or edamame side to your meal for just a few dollars more. Just like at Chipotle, you move down the line to custom build your roll, starting with a seaweed or soy wrapper, brown or white rice, choose a protein, salmon, chicken, shrimp, tuna, crab mix or tofu, then add veggies of your choice and top off with a sauce. The food at FUSIAN is always fresh and sourced locally when possible.

According to FUSIAN HR Manager Teresa Perretta 25 new team members were added to the FUSIAN family to open this location. She said “staffing it was easy, we’ve had a wait list at the Brown Street store for 2 years. Finding a crew that is passionate about what we do it makes all the difference in the world to us. We’re all about community and transparency, which is why this new design is a prototype for all our new builds now. You can see from the front door to the kitchen and that’s purposeful.”

If the soft opening was any indication, we expect FUSIAN will be packed from the moment it opens its doors at 11am to 10pm seven days a week. The 58 seat eater will donate all proceeds tomorrow from 6-8pm to Crayons To Classrooms. And be sure and check out their Olive + FUSIAN COLLAB Sushi Roll which results in a $1 donation to Crayons To Classroom for each one sold.

Chappys Social House Now Open

May 20, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Chappys Social House officially opened it’s doors today at 7880 Washington Village Drive in Washington Township, in the site that was formerly Champps. This second Chappys location has 48 beer taps, but according to owner Dave Camplin, ” our original location is quite beer-centric, and that works for that location. Here we wanted to expand our drink menu with classic cocktails, like our frozen Pimm’s cup, and we have a nice bourbon list and more selections on our wine list. But our food menu is the same, though we’ll add some specials as we go.”

For now Chappys is open from 4pm to midnight during the week, with a full kitchen menu all night, weekends they’ll stay open until 1am and Sunday’s until 11pm. “We have all these restaurant and retail employees to cater to for late nights, so we want them to know our kitchen is open for them. They will also have a late night happy hour from 10pm – close with $1 off all draft beer and wine and $2 off appetizers. We also offer that happy hour Mon – Fri from 2-6pm. In a few weeks, we’ll add lunch to the menu, opening up at 11am,”shares Camplin.

The restaurant seats 340, with the bar area making up 100 of those seats. There is even a private room that holds up to 70 guests. And additional seating is available on the patio. With new flooring and a cleaned up feel, the wood interior and old fashioned signage give the restaurant a feel that’s both modern and warm. Camplin guestimates they have about 110 employees and admits this is quite a big step up from the old days when he ran Sloopy’s in the Oregon District. The large kitchen held a lot of appeal for Camplin and he looks forward to hosting beer and wine dinners, at the new venue as well as stepping up their catering business. He also reassures us there are no plan to get rid of the original Chappy’s Tap Room and Grille and thinks the two are far enough apart to each have their own crowd.

Dave and his wife Lori have been working on getting the new place open for a while, originally planning on leasing the building. After working with Farmers & Merchants Bank and Citiwide, they decided to buy it. Structurally the building didn’t need major work, new flooring, reworking the patio entrance, and some other changes, but says the biggest chunk of work was the kitchen. Cleaning it up and getting it ready to go was what took the longest, but he said it was a great day when Cindy from the Montgomery County Health Department came in for the final inspection and her first word was WOW! He proudly shared they passed with flying colors.

Based on the crowd at the bar an hour after they opened, we predict that Chappy’s Social House will be an even bigger hit than the original. See you at the bar!

Chalk Art Comes To Life At The Greene Today!

May 16, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

The streets of The Greene will come alive today as artists create living art using only pastel chalk to bring awareness to national mental health awareness month from 10am – 10pm!

Watching art come to life is considered a performance art and has an immediacy that gives every piece a uniqueness that can never be truly duplicated. You can vote for your favorite, by making a donation to Life Essentials!

Take part in a family scavenger hunt and a kid’s chalking area. Wind down with a block party in the evening. The event will support Life Essentials’ unique and specialized programs that enable seniors and people living with mental illness to have a greater quality of life.

Special guest artist Jennifer Nichols was born into an artistic family. Her grandfather, Harry E. Stinson, was a recognized Sculptor, Painter and Art Professor. Jennifer’s formal art training started in high school, and she began to accumulate awards and sell her early watercolor paintings.

Later, Jennifer attended UCLA, graduating with a degree in Design, focusing on costume & clothing design. She continued to pursue painting while working in advertising and raising her two daughters in Dayton, Ohio. Jennifer’ work was exhibited at various galleries and events in Ohio between 1992 – 1999. She also was very involved with the Dayton Visual Arts Center, serving as their president and as a board member and contributing artist.

In 1999, she moved to Palm Beach, Florida. In 2004, Jennifer and her daughters began participating in the Street Painting Festival in Lake Worth, Florida, which is the largest street painting event in the United States, attracting 100,000 visitors each year. In 2012, Jennifer founded the International Street Painting Society, as a way to help other street artists connect and be more successful, and help street painting be seen as a legitimate art form.

Jennifer’s work shows a unique talent for capturing faces and expressions. By working to duplicate the colors and shading of the original art, Jennifer stays true to the original work of art. Using soft pastel chalk on pavement or concrete surfaces, these large works of art are washed away after each event. Jennifer’s philosophy is that street painting is as much about the performance and execution, as it is about the art. The immediacy and challenges of the “canvas”, weather and medium make each piece special and unique. UUsually over the course of 2 days, each piece comes to life before your eyes. Constantly looking for new challenges, she is open to new materials and processes, and will chalk on just about anything.

David Zinn temporary street art is composed entirely of chalk, charcoal and found objects, and is always improvised on location. Most of these drawings have appeared on sidewalks in Ann Arbor and elsewhere in Michigan, but some have surfaced as far away as subway platforms in Manhattan and construction debris in the Sonoran Desert. Zinn’s chalk work began in 2001 as an excuse to linger outdoors, but has since achieved global notoriety through the sharing of photos on Facebook, Huffington Post UK, The Cheezburger Network, Street Art Utopia, and Archie McPhee’s Endless Geyser of Awesome. His most frequent characters are Sluggo (seen here) , a bright green monster with stalk eyes and irreverent habits, and Philomena, a phlegmatic flying pig. As of 2013, there have been a lot of mice as well.

Rockys Run for Freedom 5k Run/Walk

May 15, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Here is a great opportunity to get active and outdoors and support a worthy cause! The third annual Rocky’s Run for Freedom 5K will begin and end at Library Park off Central Avenue and Fifth Street.

The proceeds of this race will benefit:
– TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors)
– Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation
– Uriah Edward Zanowick Trust Fund

Dayton’s Premier Wine & Gourmet Food Festival is Sunday!

May 15, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Twenty four years ago, when Vail Miller of Heidelberg and Mike Frank of Arrow Wine thought up the event that has come to be known as Fleurs et Vin, it was to bring wine to the people in a way that wasn’t stuffy and thus the Party in the Park began. Now moved on to the second generation of these influential families in the Dayton Drinking scene, the party continues to grow.

This Sunday, May 17th at 1pm there will be over 300+ wines to sample under a huge tent in Welcome Park, which is behind UD Arena. And we all know that the taste of wine can change when paired with food, so you’ll have food samples from 20 of the region’s finest independent restaurants. Offerings will include Lamb Taco’s, Slaw Dogs, Grilled Salmon, Carved Beef, BBQ Pork, Bacon Wrapped Dates, Chevre with Olive Tapenade, Shrimp & Crab stuffed Ravioli and so much more…

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Amy from Allied Wine, Kyle Cabernet and Mif from Arrow Wine

2015 Fleurs et Vin Participating Restaurants

Amber Rose
Carver’s
Central Perc
Coco’s Bistro
De’lish
Giovanni’s
Hawthorn Grill
Jay’s Seafood
Kohler Catering
Lock 2

Meadowlark
Mudlick Tap House
Nonnie Waller’s
Oakwood Club
Salar
Scratch Event Catering
Wheat Penny
Thai 9
The Dock
The Deli at The Top of the Market

Dayton’s Premier Wine and Gourmet Food Festival also features a silent auction that has over 70 packages to choose from including autographed books, a handmade quilt, candles, jewelry and a sectional sofa rom Dayton Discount Furniture!

As well as Gift Certificates from Roost, TJ Chumps, Hairless Hare Brewery, Dayton Art Institute, My Pilates Studio, Briana Snyder Photography, Organic Trails Restaurant, The Dirty Gym, Baker-Bird Winery, Thai9, Lily’s Bistro, Houser Asphalt and 5 monts of house cleaning from Simply Green Maids.

And Gift Baskets from Square One Salon and Spa, Tim Horton’s and Trader Joe’s, Raise Your Brush, Sherwood Florist, Dayton Dragons, Marilyn Merlot, Jagermeister and more.

Perhaps you’d prefer Tickets to Crowns by The Human Race, Cincinnati Zoo, Columbus Art Museum, Bach Society of Dayton, Shadowbox Theater, Dayton Funny Bone, Dayton Art Institute, Laser Web and ARC Ohio’s Masquerage.

Not a wine drinker? Relax in the Stella Artois Beer Garden, where Stella, Stella Cidre, Sam Adams Summer Ale and Goose Island brews will be on tap. Live music by J.T. Fedrick and the Sax Groove will provide a back drop for an awesome day of tasting at Welcome Park. The park, tucked behind UD Arena and Welcome Stadium is a new venue for this event and offers plenty of parking. Guests can enter gates B or C at the Arena, you’ll know you’re in the right place when you are welcomed by dancing grape, Kyle Cabernet.

Proceed for the event will benefit AIDS Resource Center Ohio. Tickets are $70 in advance, and can be picked up at Arrow Wine, Bella Vino, Liquor & Wine Warehouse, Miami Valley Spirits, Rumbleseat Wine, The Wine Gallery or purchased online at Fleursetvin.com. Tickets at the park will be $75. All guests at Fleurs must be 21 or older and the event is rain or shine.

Fleurs et Vin has partnered with UBER to offer first time users $20 towards your ride to or from the event by using code FLEURSETVIN15. Just download the app to get started.

Olive + FUSIAN COLLAB Sushi Roll Benefit Crayons to Classrooms!!

May 11, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Fusian, locally owned and operated by UD Graduates Zach and Josh Weprin and Stephan Harman, launched a new collaboration series aka. the COLLAB SERIES this past January in Cincinnati. This spring they looked to Dayton for a partner! The COLLAB SERIES features rolls inspired by like-minded chefs and restaurants in the community. It creates opportunities for us to continually infuse our menu with flavors of the world. With each collaboration, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to a local organization.

It makes total sense they’ve partnered with Kimberly Collett’s Olive, an urban dive. Together they present a mediterranean inspired roll featuring house roasted kalamata olives, sundried tomatoes, Dorothy Lane Market’s pancetta, and Olive’s signature patio-herb dressing.

Proceeds from this fusianxolive roll will benefit Dayton-based Crayons to Classrooms, a free store for teachers from under-funded K-12 schools that serve children living in poverty in Ohio’s Miami Valley. Through June 30, DC2C will receive $1 from each featured signature sushi roll sold at Fusian at 1200 Brown Street and their new store opening soon at Oak Creek Crossing at McEwen Road and Miamisburg-Centerville Road.

Is 3rd Time A Charm For Springboro Eatery?

May 11, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Sitting on St Rt 741 in Sprinboro, just north of Rt 73, in a little unassuming building shared with a dentist office is a restaurant owned by Shawnette Hixon. Origninally leased by Shawnette and her husband in 2011, after much renovation, they opened in 2013 serving up crepes, bagels, frozen yogurt, salads, soups & sandwiches. We wrote about their first opening here. Then it morphed into gourmet burger and then it closed.

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Carmalized Bacon Sticks

It reopened last week , with a new concept – SG75 Gastropub– casual dining serving gourmet burgers, small plate appetizers and hand crafted cocktails along with beer and wine offering lunch and dinner. As I entered, you could tell this was going to be different. With new more substantial tables and chairs, and table service, the ambiance was already an improvement. Then I noticed 12 tap handles behind the bar, with Mad Tree, Rhingeist and Fat Head beers on tap , and yes this fill growlers. Bookers, Basil Hayden and Makers 46 were amongst the bourbon’s behind the bar. So far so good. The bartender also pointed out the infusion jars, where they were making bacon vodka and a chili infused vodka. When I was handed the menu, I saw the new tagline for the eatery: Burgers-Bacon-Brew-Bourbon. Now these are a few of my favorite things, so now it was time to try a few things.

Started off with some appetizers including the Carmalized Bacon Sticks, which came 3 to an order and were served with a sweet cream sauce and the Bacon Jam & Ricotta Crostini, a serving of 5, both of which run $6 an order and both of which were good, tasty choices. Other appetizer on the menu include bourbon fire grilled shrimp, bourbon wrapped little smokies, loaded twisted fries and a tapas plate with homemade humus.

Tiffany’s Bourbon Peach Cobbler

Then it was on to decide which burger to choose, and I picked the Bourbon Fire, which came out about 5 inches high, a brioche bun with a thick burger, lettuce, tomato, onion straws, deep fried jalapenos, pepper jack cheese and bourbon fire sauce, served up with a small basket of twisted fries. But on my next visit I’m trying the 5XB Burger- which according to the menu is a bacon stuffed burger with Applewwod bacon strips, bacon jam, bacon aioli and bacon cream cheese. Or maybe the Bacon Grilled Cheese. And for those looking for healthier choices, there were several salads on the menu, including a Caesar, Oriental and California Club, each with the option to add grilled chicken or grilled shrimp. Sandwiches and salads

Bacon Jam & Ricotta Crostini

I had the chance to meet Brian, the head chef, who most recently ran the kitchen at Lock 27 in Centerville. He and the GM Mike, had also spent time working together at Cadillac Jacks. Brian was excited to share his vision for the future of the Gastropub, with more specials and having fun with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. He said that the staff is learning to work together and find their rhythm, but he is truly excited with the team they’ve got. About this time Tiffany came out of the kitchen with a little sample of something she’d been working on she described as “Bourbon Peach Cobbler with bacon yummyness” and after trying a bite, she was absolutely dead on with her description.

You can visit the Gastropub, which has seating for about 50 inside and a small patio which seats about another 20, for lunch, dinner and cocktails at 75 North Main Street Mon- Thurs from 11am – 9pm, they stay open until 11pm Fri & Sat and Sunday they are open from 11am – 8pm.

They’ll be hosting their first Bourbon Tasting on May 29th. ! Enjoy a generous pour of three amazing bourbons, High West Son of Bourye, Angels Envy, and a brand new whiskey, Hatfield & McCoy.Food pairings include Bourbon glazed pulled pork and bourbon creme brulee with a blackberry reduction. $28 per person before May 20th. $30 through the day of. Reserve your spot by calling (937)748-5353.

UDF’s 75th Anniversary Means 75cent Cones

May 7, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Friday, May 8th is the 75th anniversary of United Dairy Farmers. To celebrate 75 years of serving many Ohio communities, all 182 UDF locations will offer 75¢ single-dip ice cream cones on Friday, May 8. T Also, UDF will offer a Stock the Ice Box sale, where customers can purchase five 48 oz. UDF ice creams for $15 – also an exceptional deal.

UDF created a special ice cream flavor specifically for the occasion, and crowdsourced the naming right through their Facebook fans to choose a name for the new flavor.Thus “75 Candles,” is the special anniversary ice cream, a cake flavored ice cream withOreo cookies and rainbow confetti. Available as a limit release, enjoy it while it lasts.

Cocktail Recipes to Celebrate Cinco De Mayo!

May 5, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday that celebrates Mexico’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla. But for many of us it is a great excuse for a day of patio drinking! And since we are drinking in honor of Mexico, it only seems right that we should feature some drinks made from the blue agave plant, a spiky-leafed member of the lily family. By Mexican law the agave spirit called Tequila can be made only from one particular type of agave, the blue agave, and can be produced only in specifically designated geographic areas, primarily the state of Jalisco in west-central Mexico.

Please enjoy some of these traditional Tequila drinks:

The Original Margarita

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz tequila
1/2 oz triple sec
Lemon or lime juice
3 oz sour mix
Lime wedge for garnish
Salt or sugar to rim the glass (optional)

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Shake well. If desired, salt (or sugar) the rim of a chilled margarita or highball glass. Pour contents, with ice, into the glass. Garnish with the lime.

Blended Version: Pour the liquid ingredients into a blender and add 1 cup crushed ice. Blend to your preferred consistency.

Fruit Version: In addition to the liquid ingredients and the crushed ice, add one half to one cup of your favorite fresh or frozen fruit. Adjust the fruit and ice to get the consistency you prefer.

Cadillac Margarita

For serious drinkers only who wouldn’t ever think of having a drink watered down by blending it with ice or letting a silly umbrella get in the way.

Ingredients

1 ½ oz premium reposada or anejo tequila (don’t go cheap, you’ll regret it)
½ oz Cointreau
½ oz Grand Marnier
1 oz lime juice
Salt if desired
Lime squeeze (garnish)

Instructions

Rim a margarita or highball glass with lime and coat with salt if desired. Next, fill the glass with ice and set aside. In a shaker with ice combine tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice. Shake well a strain into the glass. Float the Grand Marnier on top, and squeeze the lime and drop it in.

Paloma

This is one of Mexico’s most popular cocktails year round, a fizzy favorite in warm weather and one of the smoothest tequila drinks. Pick a blanco style tequila. If you use a diet soda, you’ll keep the calorie count down.

Ingredients:

2 oz blanco or reposado tequila
6 oz fresh grapefruit soda (regular or diet)
1/2 oz lime juice
Salt (optional)

Rim the glass with salt if desired. Fill the glass with ice and add the tequila and lime juice. Top it off with grapefruit soda.

Juan Collins

This is the traditional Tom Collins with tequila. Use a high quality plata or silver tequila and the best fresh lemon juice for the best Juan Collins.

Ingredients:

3 parts plata or silver tequila
1 part lemon juice
1 tsp superfine sugar
6 parts club soda

Pour the tequila, lemon juice, and sugar into a Collins glass with ice cubes. Stir thoroughly, and top with club soda.

Tequila Sunrise

Sure, it’s straight out of the 70s but there’s a reason the Tequila Sunrise is still around. It taste great, it looks good in the glass, and it’s easy to mix. It was reportedly first served in the beach resorts of Cancun and Acapulco in the 1950s to tourists who brought the recipe home.

Ingredients:

4 oz orange juice
2 oz tequila
1/2 oz grenadine
Orange slice for garnish
Maraschino cherry for garnish

Pour the tequila and the orange juice into a highball glass with ice cubes. Stir. Slowly pour the grenadine around the inside edge of the glass. It will sink and slowly rise to mix with the other ingredients naturally. Garnish with the orange slice and cherry.

Tequila Mojito

A refreshing alternative if you like something a little less sweet than a traditional margarita.

Ingredients:

3 tbsp fresh lime juice
4 tsp sugar
12 large fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup blanco or reposado tequila
1/4 cup club soda

In a highball glass, mix lime juice, sugar, and mint. Mash mint leaves with the back of a spoon until the sugar dissolves. Fill the glass with ice. Add tequila and club soda; stir to blend.

Be sure to have plenty of fresh juicy limes handy on Cinco de Mayo, a must.

Brave Bull

This drink combines tequila with Mexico’s other famous contribution to cocktail hour, Kahlua or coffee liqueur.

Ingredients:

2 oz tequila
1 oz Kahlua or coffee liqueur

Pour the tequila and Kahlua into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice cubes. Stir well.

Not a margarita person? Try one of these popular Mexican beers at your Cinco de Mayo party.

Bohemia: This Mexican beer is made in the Czech pilsner style, so it’s hoppy and dry with a hint of malt.

Carta Blanca: This golden beer is brewed in the Mexican lager tradition, is lightly carbonated, and has a clean, crisp aftertaste with a hint of sweetness.

Corona: One of the most well-known Mexican beers, Corona is a typical light lager that’s slightly sweet with a hint of hops.

Dos Equis Amber: This light lager is pale yellow with a quickly dissipating head that opens to aromas of grain and corn.

Negra Modelo: This thick, dark Mexican ale is brewed in the Vienna style and is prized for its coppery color, hearty body, and toffeelike aftertaste.

SOL: This Mexican beer is dark gold and crystal clear, with minimal carbonation, a hint of hops, and a slightly bitter finish.
Pacifico Clara: This pale gold Mexican lager carries flavor notes of corn and yeast with a citrusy, grassy, dry aftertaste.

Tecate: Pale yellow and perfectly clear, this Mexican beer is a light, bright lager with a smooth body, clean aroma, and crisp aftertaste.

The Tavernette Inn Reopens in Medway

May 4, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

In a town with one stoplight, when a small town eatery closes it leaves a big vacancy in the community. So it will be a big deal when John & Kelly Hill reopen The Tavernette Inn on Tuesday, May 5th at 3pm.

Their mission is to carry out the legacy and pay tribute to the history of this restaurant, which so many people know and love. “We will strive to make our customers feel like family, prepare and serve the highest quality food, and deliver wonderful service to ensure you have an excellent dining experience,” says Kelly Hill. According to her it’s her husband who has the restaurant experience and she’s the bookkeeper. She says they “are both entrepreneurs who are originally from the area and when the opportunity to reopen the restaurant that’s been closed since the the summer of 2014 it just suited us.”

John and Kelly

They want to bring it back to the glory days, in the 80’s and 90’s when they were know for great food at a reasonable price. They will be buying prime meats, they best they can get. Their menu is heavy on the red meat, featuring a New York Strips Rib Eye, Filet and house sirloin as sell as pork chops, and a few chicken dishes. Scallops, Tilapia and frog legs. as well as a selection of burgers and sandwiches round out the menu. Entrees range from $12.95 – $19.95, with a Surf & Turf of the filet paired with jumbo friend shrimp topping the menu at $31.95. On the weekend look for featured seafood and prime rib as well.

“Oh and the relish tray. That too will be back, but with a twist,” Kelly hints. “That was a standard at The Tavernette, we had to bring that back.” According to the online menu you can create your own! Your choice of any 3: Cottage Cheese, Sauerkraut, Pickles, Applesauce, Coleslaw or Pineapple for $4.99

Kelly shares they’ve done some remodeling, so there aren’t a lot of photo’s on their website yet, they want you to visit for yourself to see the improvements in person. The restaurant has a staff of 7 and you can count on seeing John and Kelly there Tuesday through Friday. They are closed Sunday and Monday, except for Mother’s Day, when they will be open noon to 7pm.

You can find The Tavernette at 111 W Main Street in Medway, just minutes north of the end of highway 675.

The Tavernette is open:

Tuesday ~ Thursday 3:00 PM ~ 10:00 PM

Friday & Saturday 3:00 PM ~ 11:00 PM

Sip & Stroll – Coming Soon To Outdoor Drinking Districts

May 1, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Grab a beer and head outside. Well, not yet. But soon. Maybe. It depends on where you are.

State lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to legislation that would allow outdoor alcohol consumption in areas such as The Oregon District, The Greene or Austin Landing. Governor Kasich signed House Bill 47 yesterday making it effective now, allowing more than 60 Ohio cities with a population greater than 35,000 people to create ‘outdoor refreshment areas’ that are exempt from the state’s open-container laws.

The legislation designates that these entertainment area’s are limited to a half square mile area that has at least four liquor licenses. Beavercreek Mayor Brian Jarvis has said his staff “will research it, look into all the details, all the legislation. Then come back to us during a work session to explain what it’s all about.”
No word yet from other potential outdoor drinking districts yet, but we’re sure we’ll be hearing more very soon.

According to the legislations, smaller communities would be able to designate such areas in two years.