Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

Lisa Grigsby

Fraze Hosts The Taste Thursday

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Over 40 restaurants will be serving up samples of their specialties at Lincoln Park Commons starting at 5pm on Thurs, Sept 2nd to benefit the Kettering-Moraine-Oakwood Chamber of Commerce.  As a past attendee of this event I can tell you that the $20 advance ticket price ($25 day of event) is a bargain, but be prepared to stand in long lines.

Some highlights to look for will be the debut of Joya’s Bistro, the new Italian pizza & pasta place that will be opening this fall at The Greene, newer restaurants Butter Cafe and The Hawthorn Grill are first time participants worth checking out, The Oakwood Club usually serves up some spectacular salmon,  and be sure to save some room for samples from ele Cake Company- best known for finger licking good buttercream frosting!

Expect the longest lines for Fleming’s grilled beef tenderloin in a peppercorn sauce, McCormick &

Photo by Peter Wine, MediaMoments.com

Schmick’s & City Barbeque, if history repeats itself. And ever year it amazes me the number of people that will line up for Krispy Kreme doughnuts, but they do!  Be sure to check out the silent auction, featuring incredible packages including Ohio State University Football Tickets and Tailgating, Kutn Loose Party Bus and Bar Crawl, Outdoor Living package including a paver grill surround with an inset grill and grill gazebo, University of Dayton Football Tickets, and a Relaxation Station including all the items you need to relax on your patio. There will also be raffle baskets, each with a minimum value of $1000.

22nd Annual  “The Taste“
Thursday, September 2- 5:00 – 9:00 PM
Adults – $20 in advance- available at Fraze Box Office, KMC Chamber office or Ticketmaster
$25 day of event; Children under 10 are $10 at the door
Fraze Pavillion, 695 Lincoln Park Boulevard, Kettering, OH 45429

Party Planners Habitat Needs You!

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Dayton Habitat is recruiting skilled volunteers to help plan and organize our 2011 Spring Gala “Dancing With Our Stars”.  A variety of committee members are needed to serve on the silent auction, public relations/media, decorations, and sponsorship committees. If you are interested in donating your time and talents, please contact Jen by email at [email protected] or by phone at 937.586.0860 ext. 16.

Habitat for Humanity serves as a hand up, not a handout, for families in need. Families apply to us to earn a house of their own. Once accepted into the program, our “Partner Families” work alongside our many volunteers to build their house. They put in 275 to 550 hours of “sweat equity” before earning their home, which is then sold to them on an affordable, interest-free mortgage. Partner families make a down payment toward the purchase of their home.

Mortgage payments from Partner Families are put back into the Fund for Humanity to build future homes. Other funding sources include revenue from our ReStore, corporate and church sponsorships, individual donations, government and foundation grants, and fundraising events.

The Adventures of Nikki Nett

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Meet my friend Nikki Nett. She’s sassy, she’s single and she’s a shopaholic. She can hold her own whether we’re drinking cosmos or tequila, and she can do it all in 4 inch heels!  She’s always up on the latest gossip, the hottest night spot and  the newest boutique in town.   And now she’s telling you about it, too!

There are a couple philosophies that I live by.
1.) There is no situation in life where lipgloss is inappropriate.
2.) Rockin’ shoes really CAN make your life better (just ask Cinderella).

This week, we are going to delve into the wonderful world of shoes. Not just any old ordinary shoes, no ma’am (or sir)! We are going to talk about the sexy stilettos. The kind that you put on and instantly become more glamorous, more confident, maybe even a little naughty. The kind that make you look like you have legs for miles, that give your booty that extra lift, and that make you walk a bit taller (literally AND figuratively). These shoes are my weakness. Some people dream of vacations, winning the lottery, an amazing house- I dream of Carrie Bradshaw’s closet. Although I don’t live in Manhattan with my Mr. Big, I’m working on the shoe collection, slowly but surely.

I have found a little slice of heaven here in the Miami Valley, a glimpse into the closet of my heart, if you will. Integritas in the Dayton Mall! Perhaps you have seen or heard the commercials with their slogan “Life’s too short for boring shoes!“, well those words are what owners Manish & Stacy Agarwal believe wholeheartedly and they want to make sure YOUR life is never boring! (Ok, they can’t go to the grocery store for you, or help you find a date for Saturday night, I’m pretty sure they don’t want to do your laundry for you, but they can at least provide you with the extra 4 inches in a hot color to make all of the above seem more bearable)

Recently, I had the chance to speak with Manish about Integitas. He just returned from a buying trip and I have to say, I know I’m excited about what’s in store for this season!

What made you decide to open a shoe store here in the Dayton area?
We opened the store in 2004 because we saw the need for good, fashionable shoes in the Dayton market.

What’s your favorite aspect of owning a shoe store here?
Being able to bring a little of the big city looks here to this smaller town. (THANK YOU!!)

What is the best fashion advice you’ve ever been given?
LIFE’S TOO SHORT FOR BORING SHOES!! (I concur, I really, reeeaaallly do!)

Integritas is located right next to Victoria’s Secret in the Dayton Mall. In addition to carrying so many of the current styles by Guess, Jessica Simpson, BCBgeneration and Coach for women, they also carry men’s styles. Admittedly, the men’s section only got a glance from me seeing as how I was mesmerized by a silvery, sparkly, fabulous shoe from Guess. Oh, then there was the sexy suede one to the right of it with the same style in fuchsia as well. Oops…getting sidetracked, ok, back to the men. Cole Haan, Robert Wayne, Mezlan, Steve Madden for Men are just a few of the brands you will find at Integritas. Soon they will also begin carrying a denim line as well as some fashion forward shirts for men.

Integritas is not ‘just’ a shoe store. You can top off your look with a pair of designer shades from D&G, Versace, Burberry, and Prada (ok, I don’t mind if I do!) or grab one of this season’s ‘IT’ bags. I couldn’t decide which one I couldn’t live without, Looks like another trip is in order (I’ll make up any excuse). There are shoes there that need a good home, MY home. The leopard print peep toe with the red bow needs to be worn with my favorite LBD. The red suede ones with the spikes should make friends with my skinny jeans & black t-shirt. Thigh high boots?? MUST HAVE.

The next time you have the perfect outfit on, look down, need a little extra ‘oomph’ in your step? Swing by Integritas, you’ll be glad you did. And tell them Nikki sent you!

Stay tuned for Nikki Nett’s next adventure into the world of shopping, make up, partying and fabulosity! We never know where she’s headed, but we always know there will be a story about where she ends up!

Local Restaurant puts Dayton on the map in Bon Appetit

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In the September issues of this national food magazine, which will be on newstands soon, writers  highlight the best nightly specials at restaurants across the county.  On Monday they suggest Veal Schnitzel with Herbed Spaetzle in Dallas, Texas, Tuesday ‘s best bet, Roast leg of lamb, can be found in Brooklyn, on Wednesday it’s meatloaf in Philly.

The magazine, which dubs this their “restaurant issue” then names the 10 Spots for Fantastic Daily Specials and right there at #6 is Dayton’s very own Rue Dumaine. Those of you who’ve had the pleasure of dining here, will know that Chef Anne Kearney takes great pleasure in creating daily specials, which she sends out in her weekly email and posts daily via facebook and twitter.

To see if you agree with Bon Apetit check out this Saturday, August 21st’s special:

Pan-seared veal sirloin*, corn** pudding and a ragoût of tomato**, shiitake mushroom and Blue Lake green beans**-$27

And in Chef Kearney’s own words the asteriks denote “local – fine folks are making it happen for us and OUR OHIO community!”

This is not Chef Kearney’s first mention in Bon Appetit- you may have seen her listed in a round up of Chef’s sharing their favorite packaged recipe components .  Here was that mention:

16 Secret Supermarket Ingredients Chefs Love:

Anne Kearney, Rue Dumaine; Dayton, Ohio
WHAT Birds Eye frozen pearl onions, $3 for a 16-ounce bag
HOW For Sherry-braised veal shank with artichokes and grape tomatoes
WHY “Peeling fresh pearl onions is really time-consuming, and individually quick-frozen ones are surprisingly good.”
Visit Rue Dumaine:
1061 Miamisburg Centerville Road
Washington Twp, OH 45459-6711
(937) 610-1061 – reservations are suggested

Hours:

Dinner:
Tuesday thru Thursday: 5pm ‘til 9pm
Friday & Saturday: 5pm ‘til 10pm

Lunch: Every Friday
11:30am ‘til 1:30pm



Want To Help?

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The Ronald McDonald House provides a temporary home-away-from-home for families of critically ill, hospitalized children and supports efforts that improve children’s health within our region.

Over the next 4 weeks they are in need of volunteers to help them on a large upcoming project.  Volunteers are needed between 8am – 5pm Monday through Friday.  If you’ve got as little as 2 hours to help, you’ll be put to work on a mailing project or perhaps making phone calls.  Minimum age is 16 and small groups are welcome to volunteer together.

If you are available please contact Brandy McFall at 937-224-0047 x 20 or email her.

The Ronald McDonald House in Dayton, Ohio is able to keep the doors open for families in the Miami Valley Region because of generous donations from individuals, groups, businesses and corporations in our community.

They are an independent, not-for-profit organization. The families that utilize our facilities while their children are hospitalized do so at no cost. There are many ways you can help provide this home-away-from-home for families in their time of need. If you are not available at this time, please keep them in mind for future volunteer projects.

It’s a Firkin Tasting!

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Chin’s Ginger Grill will be hosting a beer tasting on Thursday August 17th and the star of the show is a firkin of Bells Amber Ale. Unlike most draft beers, cask ales, or firkin beers, are not injected with carbon dioxide, filtered, pasteurized, stored in pressurized kegs and served through gas-powered taps.  Instead, a firkin beer is unpasteurized, unfiltered and naturally carbonated, or conditioned, in its cask.

Along with the firkin of Bells Amber Ale, also on the tasting menu are:
Flying Dog Dogtoberfest Marzen…true German flavor!
The Brew Kettle Production Works Tunguska Imperial Stout...from Strongsville, distributed only in Ohip

Southern Tier Pumking….a pumpkin ale!

Founder’s Porter…an American porter

Other beers will be sampled and snacks will be avaliable. All beers tasted will be avaliable for sale and your $20 tasting fee includes a full pint of the cask conditioned ale.
Chin’s Ginger Grill
965 W. Main St.
Tipp City, Ohio

937-667-6664

Laissez les bon temps roulez with Cowboy Mouth Singer/Songwriter

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From CityFolk Press Release:

You may not know New Orleans musicians Paul Sanchez, Alex McMurray, Matt Perrine, andWashboard Chaz by name, but if you’ve been watching HBO’sTreme, then you definitely know their songs. The four will be at theTrolley Stop on August 18 with “Paul Sanchez and the Rolling Road Show”. This New Orleans party starts at 8:30 pm.

HBO’s Treme–which (in their own words) “chronicles the rebuilding of a unique American culture after historic devastation”–just completed its first season to critical acclaim. David “The Wire” Simon’s show has helped to bolster the profiles of several working musicians who continued on in the post-Katrina days. For example Sanchez–well-known in the South as a member of the band Cowboy Mouth–was featured with singer John Boutté on their song “At the Foot of Canal Street” in one episode. The show has been widely recognized as finally being a movie or television production that “gets” what real life is like in New Orleans and the role that music plays in that day-to-day existence.

Sanchez (pictured here) talks about life in New Orleans since Katrina in 2005: “Ultimately what we lost is the same thing many around the world had lost before us and many more have lost since. We lost our illusions, the illusion that we had control over levees, politics, human nature, our careers, our futures, our past. What we have is the present, which is all any of us really have… I lost all that I had but have created so much since, and stripped of my illusions, my songs ring more true to me then ever before, one more step on the road to redemption.”

He continues, “I found out that being a ‘mid-level rock star struggling with the limitations of my own career’, (like the guys in the movie Almost Famous), was not what I had aspired to when I picked up the guitar. I wanted to play and write the best songs I could while I was still on the planet–rock, jazz, country, folk, theatrical, pop, whatever the muse delivers. I found out that I am New Orleans, I love New Orleans…”

The concept of the Rolling Road Show is to feature each of these front men individually and in group sets. Each gets his chance at center stage, and according to Sanchez “…then you basically have a stage full of frontmen who are pretty happy and inspired by what the other people are doing.”

The show in Dayton is being supported by sponsors including Cityfolk, CompuNet Clinical Laboratories, Rue Dumaine restaurant, and The Trolley Stop. Tickets are $10 and are available at The Trolley Stop, Cityfolk, and Rue Dumaine. Contact Tom Perlic at 910-0806 for more information.

Coco’s Cares- Dine For A Cause

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Coco’s Bistro has partnered with the Victoria Theatre Association’s Physicians for Kids Discovery Series to help raise funds by committing to donate $1/meal served from       August 16th – Sept 15th.

Through the Physicians for Kids Discovery Series, the stage becomes a classroom–a place where theatre professionals partner with educators and parents to ignite students’ quest to discover the world, each other, and most importantly, themselves.

Theatre naturally combines learning across disciplines. Where else do history, English, language arts, drama, music and fine art come together? Physicians for Kids Discovery Series performances are professionally produced theatre presentations designed to comply with the Ohio Department of Education Academic Standards and Benchmarks. Students and teachers can download detailed study guides to enhance their theatre experience. Workshops for students and teachers by theatre professionals, as well as scholarship and busing opportunities for schools with financial concerns, add to the extensive opportunities offered by the Physicians for Kids Discovery Series. More than 30,000 students annually attend the Physicians for Kids Discovery Series.

Coco’s Bistro
515 Wayne Ave
Dayton, OH 45410

937.228.Coco (2626)

Coco’s Hours:

Mon – Thurs:
Lunch:   11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Dinner:  5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Fri:
Lunch:    11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Dinner:   5:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sat:
Dinner:  5:00 pm – 11:00 pm

The Brunch Club- NOT Just For Breakfast Anymore!

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Once known as The Breakfast Club, it changed ownership and was renamed The Brunch Club in November of 2007. Tomorrow will be another major change for this longtime Dayton restaurant.

As of Monday, August 9th The Brunch Club will begin serving dinner!  From 4pm t0 8pm Monday – Friday and until 7pm on Saturday, the new dinner menu has 8 choices, all quite affordable with the highest priced coming in at just $9.50.

Check out the Dinner Choices:

Grilled Chicken Breast: plain, BBQ or blackened .. $7.95

Chicken Fried Steak: deep fried and smothered with gravy .. $7.95

Chop Steak Dinner: 10oz. chopped sirloin topped with brown gravy ..$7.95
(add sauteed onions and cheese .. $8.95)

Smothered Chicken Breast: grilled breast topped with mushrooms, onions and provolone .. $8.95

Calves Liver and Onions: two 4oz. portions, grilled to perfection .. $8.95

Fried Fish Dinner: tasty Whiting served with tartar sauce .. $8.95

Fried Shrimp Dinner: large beer battered shrimp ..$8.95

Grilled Boneless Pork Chops: two 5oz. chops ..$9.50

Each dinner will be served with a house salad, home fries and garlic toast.  The Brunch Club was voted best breakfast spot in 2008 & 2009 in the Dayton Daily News pole, wonder how their dinners will stack up?
If you stop in for dinner comment below and let us know how it is!

The Brunch Club Cafe
601 S. Main St.,
222-7411

Mon – Fri:  7:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sat:  7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sun: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm

Goose Island Beer Tasting in Troy

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When the first Goose Island Brewpub opened its doors in 1988, domestic, mass-produced beer was deeply ingrained in Midwestern culture. The craft beer industry was still in its infancy, with only a handful of brewpubs in existence in the Midwest. In his travels across Europe, beer-lover John Hall had enjoyed a distinctive local brew in each region he visited. Hall was convinced that Midwesterners could produce beers as good or better than those he’d tasted in his travels. Living on the shore of the largest system of fresh water on the planet Earth, in a city with rapidly evolving tastes – John decided that his hometown, Chicago, would be the ideal place to do just that.  On Wed, Aug 11th starting at 7pm  you’ll have the chance to check out half a dozen of their latest craft brews at The Caroline, on the square in downtown Troy.

Goose Island’s Lindsey Shafer, will be the hostess and The Caroline  will pair the beers with some really nice cheese and chocolates.   The following beers (with the below notes from Brewmaster Greg Hall) are scheduled for the tasting:

Goose Island 312- Densely populated with flavor, 312’s spicy aroma of Cascade hops is followed by a crisp, fruity ale flavor delivered in a smooth, creamy body. This gives 312 a balance of flavor and refreshment that never fills you up and won’t let you down.

Sofie-Fermented with wild yeasts and aged in wine barrels with orange peel, Sofie is a tart, dry, sparkling ale. A subtle, spicy white pepper note, a hint of citrus from the orange peel and a creamy vanilla finish make Sofie an intriguing choice for Champagne drinkers and beer drinkers who are fond of Belgian Saisons.

Fleur-A Belgian style pale ale blended with hibiscus and kombucha tea, Fleur is a beautiful, rose-colored ale with an aroma of strawberries and hibiscus flowers. Her flavor balance starts with a hint of sweet, ripe berry and finishes tart.

Demolition-Brewed to honor the brave souls who kept our brewpub open in the early 90’s while wrecking balls tore down the mall around us. Dry and smooth, with a grassy, citrus aroma and honey malt middle.

Matilda-Wild in character, with a slightly fruity aroma and a spicy yeast flavor that is as unique as it is satisfying – Matilda is an intriguing choice for beer and wine lovers alike. Dry and quenching, it’s the perfect accompaniment at the dining table or for casually socializing at the bar.

Pere Jacques-Brewed with loads of malt and Belgian yeast, Pere Jacques is a wonderfully fruity, malty ale. Pere Jacques’ complex flavors stand shoulder to shoulder with the Belgian Dubbels enjoyed in the world’s finest beer bars. At the dining table it’s the perfect alternative to a glass of vintage port.

The cost is attend is $17.50 per person and reservations are requested.   Tasting are set up family style, with appetizers passed in a casual, relaxed atmosphere.  Call Steve or Carly at 552-7676 to hold your spot.

Belly up to the bar at The Caroline


The Caroline
5 South Market Street
Troy, OH 45373

Be a part of the Mu Crew!

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This article written by Mu Crew member Matt Grimm.

The Mu Crew is a Mpowerment program with AIDS Resource Center (ARC) Ohio.  This LGBTQ group is designed for young gay men between the ages of 18 and 29, however all are welcome. Founded in 2004, the program’s mission is to create a happy, healthy and united gay community through education and empowerment.

The Mu Crew hosts meetings the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the Kuhn’s building in Downtown Dayton; where the group has an official meeting place that they refer to as the Pi House. The meetings consist of crew member discussions around a variety of topics including upcoming events, social events and fundraisers; relative “hot” topics for gay men and anything else the group feels is important.

The group holds annual outings and events such as a weekend-long retreat held every year in May at the Glen Helen nature preserve in Yellow Springs Ohio. They also host an all-day LGBTQ conference at the Pi House each year called the Blue Conference.  The Blue Conference brings in a variety of speakers to share information and hold discussions on a variety of relative subjects for the group.  From performing in Drag shows, organizing an internet based reality show, organizing parties and various other outings, the Mu Crew knows how to have a great time!

The Mu Crew also participates in fundraisers and activities hosted by the LGBT Center of Dayton, as well as local bars such as Masque, Aquarius and MJ’s. The Mu Crew has marched in the Pride parades of Dayton, Cincinnati, and even Columbus.

The Mu Crew’s meetings are held at the Pi House, 15 West 4th Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402. They start at 7:30, but don’t feel pressured to be on time. Many participants come and join in throughout the entire meeting. After the meetings end, the Mu Crew will go out for a bite to eat or head out for some Karaoke!

Coming events include a weekend camping trip at Cedar Point August 13th-15th. The cost is $60.00 and includes admission to Cedar Point on Saturday.

The Mu Crew’s next scheduled meeting is on Tuesday, August 17 at 7:30pm. Make sure to mark your calendars now!

For more information on the Mu Crew or to contact the coordinator please refer to the links listed below:

Coordinator: Ben Adams
Telephone: (937) 461-2437 ext. 2015
E-Mail: [email protected]

Home Office: AIDS Resource Center Ohio
Web Site: http://www.arcohio.org
Myspace: www.myspace.com/TheMuCrew
Also Online At: Facebook

Dayton Brunch Spots

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Here’s a roundup of some of our favorite brunch’s around town.  We know there are more  our there so if you know a place that should be on the list just tell us about it in comments below:

The Meadowlark
2094 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd, Dayton, Ohio 45459
937.434.4750

Sunday 10am – 3pm
Featuring Shrimp & Grits, Huevos Rancheros, Mushroom Migas and more


The Barnsider
5202 North Main Street, Dayton, OH 45415
937.277.1332

Saturday & Sunday 9am – 2pm
Breakfast Buffet  $7.95, little ones $4.95

Bella Vino
495 N. Main Street, Springboro, OH 45066
937-748-3807

Sat  10am – 1pm

Brunch is only $15, and includes your choice of a Mimosa, Bellini, or ZingZang Bloody Mary (ask for the house made bacon-infused vodka in yours).  Kids under twelve $8.

Blind Bob’s
430 East 5th Street, Dayton, OH 45402-2912
937. 938.6405

Saturday & Sunday 11am – 3pm
Bob’s Benedict, Orange French Toast, Mango Oatmeal, a Fruit Plate, Rosemary potatoes and a Quiche Wrap are just some of the items that will be featured.

PhotoT he Brunch Club

601 South Main Street, Dayton OH 45402
937.222.7411

Mon – Sun 7am – 3pm

Christopher’s
2318 E Dorothy Lane, Kettering, Ohio 45420
937.299.0089

Mon – Sat: 7:30 am – 9 pm
Outstanding flavors with nutrition and value in a casual, friendly atmosphere. Christopher’s has also established a reputation for offering many vegetarian options.

Crown Plaza Brunch in the Stars Lounge
33 East 5th Street, Dayton OH 45402
937.224.0800

Sun 10am – 2pm

Breakfast with a view from the 13th floor includes omlettes made to order, bacon, sausage, ham lots of fresh fruit, waffles and an array of desserts.  $12.95 adults, 11 and under $7.95

The Dublin Pub
300 Wayne Ave, Oregon District, OH 454010

937-224-7822
Saturday & Sunday from 11am till 3pm
Featuring breakfast shepard’s pie, omelete’s, reuben & eggs…

Photo

Golden Nugget
2932 South Dixie Avenue, Dayton, OH 45409
937. 298.0138

A Dayton Tradition!


Hawthorn Grill
1222 East Stroop Road, Dayton OH 45429
209-2222

Sun 9am – 3pm

Roush’s Restaurant
305 W. Main Street, Fairborn, OH 45324
937.878.3611

Monday through Saturday
Breakfast served until 7am – 11am (til 1pm on Sat)

The Winds Cafe & Bakery

215 Xenia Ave
Yellow Springs, OH  45387

937.767.1144

Sun: 10am – 3pm

Yankee Trace
10,000 Yanke Tace, Centerville, OH
937.348.3585

Sunday 10am – 2pm
It’s a traditional buffet brunch,$15.95 adults, $8.95 for 12 and under, 5 and under Free

10 ?’s with The Hawthorn Grill Chef/Owner Candace Rinke

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Chef Candace Rinke found herself drawn to the kitchen at a young age. Her first award was at twelve when she won a blue ribbon for a decorated cake at the county fair. Fostered by her grandmother’s love of entertaining the family and inspired by travels through Europe, her food reflects both warmth and elegance.

While at the University of Michigan in the School of Engineering, Candace discovered she loved cooking more than she enjoyed physics and math. This realization led her down an entirely different path. She has since graduated from Oakland College with a degree in Culinary Arts along with certificates in Food Handling Safety and Nutrition.

Candace has been cooking both personally and professionally for almost 20 years. The Busy Gourmet was a natural outcome of Candace’s lifelong love of preparing food and entertaining. She  relocated to Ohio about 5 years ago and has been busy feeding people in the Dayton area ever since.  In 2006 she launched The Busy Gourmet, a small personal chef service, specializing in small parties and meal service.  While growing this business, Candace was continually looking for a restaurant location, knowing she truly wanted to be a restaurateur.  This past spring the short lived Soprano’s location became available and within a month of signing the lease, Chef had painted, set a menu, hired her staff and opened for business.  Having survived her first Restaurant Week to rave reviews  we think Rinke’s The Hawthorn Grill is fast establishing itself as a dining destination in Dayton.

Enjoy 10 Questions with Chef Candace Rinke:

Enjoy a recipe from The Busy Gourmet's party menu

Enjoy a recipe from The Busy Gourmet’s party menu

What is your favorite ingredient to cook with?
Butter, cream and salt – my family always teases me about this but come on…who doesn’t love a good Alfredo or creme brulee…can’t do those dishes without these wonderfully sinful ingredients!!!

What ingredient do you dread?
I can’t really think of anything I dread…I love to work with all kinds of fresh ingredients…the only thing that really comes to mind is soft-shell crab…I just can’t handle cutting off their little heads while they are still alive…!

What’s your favorite dish to make?
I don’t think I have a favorite – I just love food!  And part of the excitement of what I do is coming up with new, tasty dishes all the time.

What’s your favorite pig out food?
Chinese!  And Thai!  I love the complexity of Asian flavors – they’re so well balanced between sweet, spicy, salty and tangy…it takes a special skill to combine all those ingredients without one overpowering another.

What restaurant, other than your own do you like to dine at in the Miami Valley?
China Cottage in Springboro and Bahn Mai Thai in Centerville – see pig out comment above!

What’s your best advice for home chefs?
What grows together goes together.  Things that are in season at the same time tend to have a natural affinity for each other – like basil and tomatoes or cherries and apricots.  The Italians and French know this better than most of us – if things grow in the ground together and ripen at the same time, it’s likely that they’ll compliment each other on the plate.  Take chances and you’ll probably be delightfully surprised by the outcome!

If you could invite any 4 guests to a dinner party who would they be and why?
I think given the choice, I’d like more than four people – my ideal dinner party is a big group of family and friends sitting or standing around the bar in our kitchen eating and drinking until we can’t eat and drink any more!  I’m Polish so I learned early on about hospitality and the concept of “the more the merrier” – and my grandma taught me well how to cook for a crowd so bring it on!

Who do you look up to in the industry and why?
Takashi Yagihashi – I worked with him in Michigan where he won a James Beard Award.  He’s since opened restaurants in Las Vegas and Chicago.  Watching him in action was a real learning experience for me – in my earlier jobs, I saw chefs that screamed, yelled and threw sharp objects.  In Takashi’s kitchen, everything was calm and calculated and executed with the precision of an operating room.  He lead by example and his integrity was above reproach.  I hope I’m able to lead my staff in the same way.

What do you do in the Miami Valley on a day off?
Since we opened I haven’t had a day off (yikes!!!) but when I do get time away from the restaurant I like to spend it with my husband, Kurt, and my kids, Nick, Hayley and Noah – we like to go to Caesar’s Creek and bikeride by the river.

Share a kitchen disaster, lucky break or other interesting story:
My lucky break has been finding this space and getting it open in just a few short weeks.  I have been in Dayton for almost 5 years and in that time I worked very hard to develop a catering business out of my house.  After having my son, I was desperate to get out of my own kitchen and into a restaurant to which my husband’s standard answer was “Write the business plan first!”  I finally took a class at the Small Business Development Center in Dayton and after the eight week class and countless days and nights of studying, thinking, planning, researching and writing, I printed out a 37 page business plan outlining my lifelong dream of restaurant ownership.  Over the next year I searched for the perfect location (and waited for the stars to align themselves) and in the beginning of May, the opportunity presented itself at this location.  I signed the paperwork on May 18th and we hit the ground running.  It’s been great, and terrifying, and stressful, and wonderful and the culmination of a lifelong dream.  We’ve been very lucky so far and now we just want to keep going on the roll we’re on, serving people really good food with smiling faces in a pleasant, comfortable atmosphere.  If you leave thinking about the next meal you’ll have with us, we’ve done our job.

Visit The Hawthorn Grill at 1222 E. Stroop Road in Kettering

Tues – Thurs 4:30-9pm
Fri & Sat 4:30-10pm
Sun Brunch 9am – 2pm

Call 298-2222 for reservations!

Meet Generation Dayton’s Spotlight Member of the Month

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A program of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, Generation Dayton encourages talented young professionals who live and work in the Dayton region to meet, network, learn, grow and establish themselves as integral components in the future success of the region. Each month we’ll introduce you to one of their members with a spotlight interview. So meet our next young professional:

PUSH Scotch & Cigars Social

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Professionals United for Sexual Health (PUSH) will host a scotch and cigar evening on Thurs, Aug. 6th from 6-8pm at Sidebar in the Oregon District.  Billed as more than a tasting – you will learn about both of these devilish delights from the experts!  And if that’s not enough to convince you, how about this:  burlesque dancer – Champagne Shock of Timeless Entertainment will make a guest appearance!

Buy your tickets online – $30 gets you the scotch sampling and a choice of your favorite cigar. Tickets at the door will be $35, if still available.

PUSH  is a group of Planned Parenthood Advocates who demonstrate their interest and commitment for the organization in unique and exciting ways. Made up of women and men from the Miami Valley, PUSH members support the use of prevention to promote sexual health and prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies.
PUSH is committed to making sure individuals in the Miami Valley have access to the information and healthcare they need to stay safe and healthy.

Abita Brewery launches S.O.S. pilsner to aid Gulf Coast

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One of the Gulf Coast’s most famous breweries has crafted a new beer and promised to send a portion of the money earned on each bottle to oil spill relief efforts.  A bottle of Abita S.O.S. Pilsner will cost about $8, and 75 cents of each sale will go to a fund that will be used to support oil spill-related causes of the company’s choosing, she said.  According to Beth Harris, a public relations representative for Abita, the company used the 22-ounce bottles because it’s the quickest way to get the lager to market.

A 22-ounce bottle, sold as a single, requires getting only one label approved by the federal government, whereas a 12-ounce bottle requires approval for labels on the front, back and six-pack container.  The 22-ounce SOS brew has hand drawn images of what makes the Gulf of Mexico so unique. Illustrations like those of pelicans, fish, shrimp and fishing boats are arranged in the pattern of the timeless distress symbol: S-O-S. Marsh grass and a symbolic pair of white “shrimp boots” also are highlighted in the beautiful design.  The beer is an unfiltered  Weizen Pils made with Pilsner and Wheat malts. It is hopped and  dry hopped with Sterling and German Perle hops. It has a brilliant gold  color, sweet malt flavor and pleasant bitterness and aroma. The brew is  7 percent ABV.

The SOS – A Charitable Fund will assist with the rescue and restoration of the environment, industry and individuals fighting to survive the oil spill.  Related retail merchandise (hat, T-shirt, lapel pin, decal and car magnet) will be sold and 100 percent of net proceeds will benefit the SOS Fund. Abita Beer is the oldest and largest craft brewer in the southeast and the 17th largest craft brewer in the nation. Online donations can also be made directly to the fund.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Abita Beer launched Restoration Pale Ale and a related line of merchandise raising over half a million dollars for hurricane relief.

Post Your Own S.O.S.
An innovative new website has been created to support the charitable efforts. At SOS.abita.com consumers can discover additional ways to help, “post an SOS” within an interactive on-line coastal scene that doubles as a social sounding board. Consumers choose a shrimp boat, crab, fish or pelican to represent their post and write a short message of hope, inspiration or frustration. The message can also be shared with social media accounts to tell the world about what is happening along the Gulf Coast.

Locally you can enjoy your Abita S.O.S at Rue Dumaine, which has the beer exclusively until at least mid-month.   Additionally,  if you dine there on any Wednesday in August to satisfy your southern cravings, the RUE will donate $1 per person to the same charity.