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How To Get Your Hands on Old Forester Birthday Bourbon

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The Raffle to win the right to buy one of the limited bottles of Old Forester Birthday Bourbon will begin at the Arrow Wine Centerville locations at 6:00pm on November 14. Entries will be collected for 90 mins. At 7:30pm, names will be drawn. One entry per person. A valid ID must be presented when entering and to verify winners.

They only have 42 bottles so if you don’t win, you may want to use the 90 minutes between entering and drawing to make friends with everyone there, and hope they’ll crack open a bottle and share if they win!

About the Birthday Bourbon:

The 2018 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon was drawn from 12 year old barrels from different warehouses and floors. A total of 120 barrels; 93 barrels matured together on the 3rd floor, on the Northwest side of Warehouse J. The remaining 27 barrels matured together on the 3rd floor, on the Northwest side of Warehouse I.

Barreled on June 9, 2006 – Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2018 is presented at 101 Proof. This is the first Birthday Bourbon vintage to be bottled at the new Old Forester Distilling Co. on Louisville’s Historic Whiskey Row.

ACCOLADES

INTERNATIONAL WINE AND SPIRITS COMPETITION 2017

Outstanding ULTIMATE SPIRITS CHALLENGE 2017

Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation

WHISKIES OF THE WORLD AWARDS 2016

Gold Medal

TASTING NOTES

COLOR

Rich Mahogany

NOSE

Singularly focused initially with a pronounced rich dark cherry cobbler note opening into a dynamic build of caramel and dark chocolate covered smoked almond nuttiness with hints of charred oak. A touch of herbal lemon tea sweetened with a touch of honey round out its depth of character.

TASTE

Subtle sweetness blossoms into a warm and green spiced multi-dimensional experience, brightened by a lemon honey note followed by a cherry cobbler.

FINISH

Long and drying with an herbal lemon honey sweetness.

Arrow Wine 

615 Lyons Rd
Dayton, Ohio 45459
(937) 434-2456

Maker’s Mark Ohio Private Select Barrel Program Launches Aug. 24

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The Ohio Division of Liquor Control has partnered with Maker’s Mark to create Ohio Private Select.  They traveled to Maker’s Mark’s distillery in Lorretto, Kentucky and worked with the Private Select team, led by Scott Mooney, to select two barrels specifically for Ohio. These barrels are different than other barrels programs because they selected the finishing staves used to create the flavor profile of the finished whiskey. In the Private Select barrel process, there are five different types of wood staves that are added to the base Maker Red Top at barrel strength. A total of 10 staves are placed in these barrels which creates 1,001 different flavor variations. With the selected staves in place inside the barrels, they are rested for an additional nine weeks in a temperature controlled area. The final product has notes of vanilla, caramel and mocha over a little spice and smoke.
Bottles go on sale for $65.36 plus tax when the participating Agencies open on Friday.

In Dayton the only store to stock this special bottle will be the Arrow Wine and Spirits located at 615 Lyons Road in Washington Township.

When you pick up your bottle of Ohio Private Select, be sure to also grab a taste profile card!
The Ohio Private Select taste profile includes:
  • One Stave: Baked American Pure 2 (sweet brown vanilla, caramel, brown spice)
  • One Stave: Seared French Cuvee (oaky, caramel, roasted/toasted)
  • Four Staves: Maker’s 46 (dried fruit, vanilla, spice)
  • Two Staves: Roasted French Mocha (char, maple, cacao)
  • Two Staves: Toasted French Spice (smoke, coumarin, spice)

About Maker’s Mark:

Bill Samuels Sr. had his own idea of how whisky should taste. So he abandoned the family recipe that was passed down six generations and set out to create his own. If he was going to make bourbon and put his name on it, he wanted one he could be proud of. And that meant bourbon that was more pleasing to the palate. He developed a new recipe based on locally grown grains. The most unique thing he did, however, was replace the traditional bourbon flavoring grain of rye with red winter wheat, which produced a much gentler taste.

Distilled in Lorretto, Kentucky, the barrels are rotated during aging — to ensure every barrel achieves the same flavor maturation. Every bottle of Maker’s Mark bourbon to taste – not by age – to ensure the same consistent taste and quality batch-to-batch, year-to-year. Currently, aging lasts approximately five and three quarters to seven years.

Grapes of Gratitude- Wine Tasting Helps Others

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Competitive wine tasting comes to the Miami Valley this Thursday, Feb 23rd  at 6pm.  Grapes of Gratitude is a team wine tasting event created to allow local nonprofits to raise money while participants blindly taste an array of wines of the same varietal.

The competition is based on what we call the “Rule of Three.” Huh?

3 BOTTLES FOR EACH TEAM OF UP TO 3

A different wine varietal (such as chardonnay, merlot, pinot noir, etc.) is featured at each event. Teams, consisting of 1 to 3 participants, are admitted by bringing 3 bottles of the same featured varietal to the event. For example, for the March event the featured varietal is merlot, your team could bring 3 bottles of the 2005 Hess Select Merlot.

At the event, 2 of each team’s 3 bottles are bagged, tagged and ranked by each participant. The 3rd bottle is set aside and left unopened. The teams that brought the 5 highest ranked wines divvy up each team’s 3rd unopened bottle, except for the lowest ranked wine which will be returned to the team that brought it. If 2 or more teams bring the same wine, rankings can still differ depending upon the temperature of the wine, how long it has been open, etc. Team must be present to win.

Please remember, teams can consist of 1 to 3 participants. Thus, a group of 4 participants, for example, will be considered 2 teams and must bring 6 bottles of the featured varietal to enter the event. Still don’t get it? Just remember, the “Rule of Three,” which is visually depicted above.

Our charity partner for the March Grapes of Gratitude is BOGG Ministries, a Miamisburg based charity who’s mission is to feed people. They host weekly block parties and distribute enough food to feed a family 3 meals a day, for 3 – 5 days.

Tickets are $10 in advance available at Arrow Wine or online.  Tickets at the door are $15.  Each team member will need a ticket and each team should bring their 3 bottles of Merlot to the Normandy Banquet and Event Center, located behind The Melting Pot on St Rt. 725.  Munchies provided by Mack’s Tavern, host of the official after party.

If you have a non-profit organization you think might be a great partner for a future Grapes of Gratitude event, please fill out this form for consideration.

 

You’ll Need More Than 50 Cent For An Effen Good Time

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effenjpg-b37bf5c4daa01922In 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 home-page-callout2daring 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.

12321351_10202045400212612_925685507662198280_nAccording 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.

Dayton Made Hot Sauce, Returns Feb 1

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Chef House’s Sriracha is back & we love her Thai Chile earrings

The hot sauce that took the Dayton area by storm, HouseMade Sriracha is coming back…

And HouseMade Sauces has given Food Adventures exclusive scoop on this one.  Maybe because we are cool, or maybe because our own Chef House is the owner and proprietor of the fiercely popular “HouseMade Sriracha Sauce.”  At any rate you can call us the “Pepper-azzi” for this one, because we have the insight on how Thai Chile peppers have affected this Miami Valley favorite sauce.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— HouseMade Sriracha has sold out in stores all over the state, and due to a shortage of imported Thai Chile Peppers, HouseMade has been unable to refill the demand for the sauce for months.

— In the meantime, they developed a Peachy Sriracha using habeneros and a Green Sriracha, using Serrano peppers.  While these sauces gained cult followings, people have still yearned for that flagship sauce, the red sauce, the original “HouseMade Sriracha.” 

New Logo – Same Great Locally Made Sriracha !

— Why the pepper shortage? The Mediterranean fly!   Yes, an insect caused an import restriction meaning no produce from the Dominican Republic was allowed shipped to the USA.  This was the first time since 1989 that the United States has banned produce from that country. The last ban lasted 18 months. This fly attacks our citrus crops. It is divesting here.

But no fear hot sauce addicts.. your cravings will soon be answered, and this sauce will be flying off the shelves !

WHERE YOU CAN FIND HOUSEMADE SRIRACHA STARTING FEB 1st:

SPICE PARADISE: Dayton, Ohio12540959_1209963345683755_6442617605603907411_n

THE SPICE RACK: Dayton, Ohio

GHOSTLIGHT COFFEE: Dayton, Ohio

KEENER BUTCHER BLOCK: Dayton, Ohio

KROGER FRESH FARE: Stroop Rd in Kettering

ARROW WINE: Oakwood and Centerville locations

HEART MERCANTILE: Dayton, Ohio

TROY BULK and BARN DELI: in Troy, Ohio

Chef House is brewing up Thai Chile’s for Feb 1st !

WHATS IN THE FUTURE FOR HOUSEMADE SAUCES?

— Owners Chef LeeAnne House and Jason Kramer are now licensed from the FDA to bottle themselves and will longer have to go to a bottler.  They will oversee the batches and ensure that flavor and consistency you love, will be in every drop.  This is the closest thing to LeeAnne’s “home brew” that you will be able to get.

— CARROT MANGO HABANERO will be the next sauce to hit the shelves sometime in 2016.  We cant wait to try this Food Adventure in a bottle.

 — Continue to find HouseMade Sauces all over Ohio.  They are at various locations in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and of course Dayton.

— Look for continued national growth.  HouseMade is currently available in retail spots in Indiana, Kentucky and Georgia.

 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

HouseMade has won some regional and national Hot Sauce Competition Awards:

2014– WINNER of the specialty chili category at the Cajun Hot Sauce Festival in Louisiana.

2014 –  1st Place – Small Business Accelerator Contest in Columbus, Ohio

2015 – GRAND CHAMPION of the Cajun Hot Sauce Fest, in Louisiana for their Hot Honey

2015 – 1st Place Jungle – Jim’s Weekend of Fire, Specialty Chili Category for their Hot Honey

 

We cant wait to start pouring Sriracha on our eggs, wings, sandwiches, soups, chicken, seafood, vegetable and everywhere else we find a need.  If you have not gotten your hand on this sauce yet, you are missing a great taste of Dayton ingenuity.

We hold up a bottle of HouseMade Sriracha and toast you all:  “May it heat up your nights, and heat up your days, and tickle your taste buds in many ways.  Hold up your bottles and lets take a tally, here’s to the best  hot sauce in the Miami Valley!

 

“Like” Food Adventures on Facebook for more scoop on Miami Valley food that will knock your Aunt Connie’s socks off!

Until then, browse the photos below of the beloved Dayton made Sriracha sauce that will be back on shelves and restaurant menus next month.

 

Cartoon Version of Chef House

Everyone loves HouseMade Sriracha Sauce !

Logo of HouseMade Sauces

LeeAnee House and Jason Kramer of HouseMade Sauces

Stir it up

Thai chile Peppers are BACK !

Big Ragu toasts Dayton’s favorite Hot Sauce

Pulling the stems off of peppers

The Beginnings of Making HouseMade Sriracha

Oregon Pinot Noir Tasting at Arrow Wine Centerville Tonight

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patty-green-club-175pPatricia Green Cellars is located in the Ribbon Ridge Appellation of the Willamette Valley of Oregon on a 52 acre estate purchased in 2000 by Patty Green and Jim Anderson. The winery, and thus the two friends and business partners, are noted for producing a tremendously broad selection of vineyard designated Pinot Noirs from several vineyards representing some of the better sites in the Willamette Valley with a particular emphasis over the years on Ribbon Ridge, Dundee Hills and the Chehalem Mountain appellations. Patricia Green Cellars focus is to produce Pinot Noirs that show the distinct characteristics of the sites and vintage within the context of the wines. Due to this all of the vineyards the winery either maintains or purchases fruit from are extremely well-tended sites that seek to grow the best fruit possible through rigorous attention to detail on every single vine. Over the years as many as 20 different bottlings of Pinot Noir have been produced in any given vintage. To ensure that these wines are of the highest quality possible, are unique in and of themselves and distinct across the range of wines the decisions we made about the quality of each barrel is quite rigorous ensuring that each bottling represents the best possible wine from each vineyard and vintage.

At a larger level the philosophy of the winery is fairly simple: Do what needs to be done. The two partners of Patricia Green Cellars feel that you simply cannot enter into a vintage with pre-conceived notions of what is going to happen, what the fruit is going to be like, what the wines are going to be like and what is going to need to be done to turn fruit into the best wines possible. There are certain approaches and techniques that will obviously be applied, however the intensity of those actions is fluid. That fluid nature would extend to nearly every aspect of the winemaking. Ultimately things are done as simply as is possible. The 14th century friar William of Ockham stated that “one should not increase, beyond what is necessary, the number of entities required to explain anything.” This is the physics theory known as Occam’s Razor. It applies to winemaking though, too. With over 50 combined years worth of winemaking experience the two partners are quite possibly the longest-partnered winemaking duo in Oregon and they have come to realize that the hardest thing to do is to do the simplest things. However, by paring down, as much as is possible and as much as is sensible, they have found that the wines are better off for it.

Of course to be a truly successful winery one must start with very strong raw materials. That is where the strength of Patricia Green Cellars lives as a winery. Over the years an ever-increasingly strong set of vineyards has made up the core of the winery’s Pinot Noir volume. The crowning jewel initially was landing what is the Estate Vineyard with the purchase of the property back in 2000. After that the near yearly search to bring in extraordinarily high-quality sites, most times with older vines serving as a part of the equation, continues and the winery continues to be able to release unique wines from terrific sites that drive the reputation and finances of the winery. At this juncture Patricia Green Cellars has now assembled what is certainly its strongest collection of well-farmed, high-quality sites with great reputations in its entire existence. The dogged determination to continue to produce the best bottlings of vineyard designated Pinot Noirs, to continually show the willingness and ability to craft critically-acclaimed Pinots from new sites and sell them on a vintage in and vintage out basis has opened the door to this day where a stable of vineyards reflects the winery’s reputation and the winemakers’ skill level.

Arrow Wine Centerville will be sampling the Award Winning Pinot Noirs, from Patricia Green Cellars, Willamette Valley, today (Mon, April 20th) from 5-8pm.  Patricia will be there explaining the nuances of the wines! The tasting is casual, reservations are not required and tastes are nominally priced.

Tickets on Sale Saturday For Dayton’s Premier Wine & Gourmet Food Event!

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DigitalAssests-fleurs-06The original “Party in the Park” was the brain child of two friends, Vail Miller Sr. of Heidelberg and Mike Frank of Arrow Wine.  With a mission of bringing wine out of just the wine cellars and  to the general public, the idea of a wine festival was born.  Now 24 years later, Fleurs et Vin is the most anticipated, talked about and attend wine event in the Miami Valley.

On Sunday May 17 from 1- 4pm, wine connoisseurs and novices alike will sample the best wines from around the world while enjoying culinary treats from 20 of the top independent restaurants in the region.

Last year there were over 420 wines for sampling, as well as a  beer garden featuring Belgium brews.  Wines and beer selections for this year are still being put together.   And if that isn’t enough to keep you busy,  J.t. Fedrick and his band  will be in full swing, the dance floor open and wonderful baskets available for bidding in the silent auction.  And come 4pm, the best entertainment of the day can often be found at the live auction, where thousands of dollars are raised in just minutes iwth the sale of wine collectibles, with proceeds benefiting AIDS Resource Center Ohio.  If you’d like to support the even with a donation to the auction  you can start that process with this online donation form.

Tickets for Fleurs et Vin run $70 in advance $75 at the door, but this Saturday only,  Arrow Wine will host a Super Saturday tasting from 11am – 5pm at both the Far Hills and Centerville stores, and the ARC Ohio Associate Board members will be selling Fleurs et Vin tickets for just $60.

 

Hot House! Local Chef Heats Things Up With New Sriracha Sauce

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Hot stuff in Dayton

Dayton Chef LeeAnne House, with her Housemade Sriracha Sauce !

We’ve got the boss with the hot sauce right here!  Want to heat up your Food Adventures at home?  Then look no further.

Local chef, our own LeeAnne House has made her mark in the kitchens of upscale area restaurants. Now she is out on her own, with a new company called Housemade.  Her first bottled product is a popular one, called Housemade Sriracha Sauce. She started experimenting with new sauces in her apartment kitchen and the batches grew, and so did the demand.  Now she has taken her saucy self corporate.

Believe it or not, sriracha is a style of sauce, and not a brand name.  We are all familiar with that plastic bottle with the rooster and green spout.  This gives that sauce a kick in the pants.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— LeeAnne grew up in the food industry.  Her parents at one time owned various restaurants like Lincoln Park Grille, Oregon Express, and others.  LeeAnne worked her way up from bussing tables to chief hottie.

bottling plant

Bottles of Housemade Sriracha, Ready to be Labeled

— The sauce took a year and a half to perfect.  Originally home cooked and home produced, she is now off  to the big time with the same, natural recipe.  Food Adventures have been trying her home batch sriracha sauces for months, so we are especially happy to see her recent success.

— This sauce won 1st prize in the 2014 Louisiana Cajun Hot Sauce Festival, for the best specialty chili sauce, and is being blogged about nationally from California to Nashville.  Foodies and Food Adventurers agree, it’s fantastic!

— A bottle of this sauce goes a long way, good thing there is a 2 year shelf life.

 

WHY IS THIS SAUCE A MUST EAT?

— FLAVOR:  That is the most important thing, right?  Not just heat for the sake of heat, but good flavor is what a sauce is all about.  Housemade Sriracha is sweeter, hotter and meaner than the sriracha you are used to.   There is a good amount of tang and zing to get your tastebuds rolling.

 — ALL PEPPERS in this sauce are Thai Chili Peppers, and the sauce has NO STEMS.  This is huge, because most mass produced sauces have stems ground into them, thereby changing the flavor of the sauce.  Housemade keeps the flavor truer to the pepper itself with the tedious process of stem removal.

— NATURAL INGREDIENTS:  We wont give away the recipe, just read the side of the label for the natural ingredients.  Did we mention it is vegan and gluten-free ?

— LOCALLY MADE – Whenever possible local ingredients are used, local farmers, and the sauce is assembled from Dayton to Chillicothe.  Hello, support local, buy local.  Expect different sauces from Housemade in the future !

 

The Big Ragu knows you can get Housemade Sriracha at Foremost Seafood

The Big Ragu knows where to get Housemade Sriracha, and now, you do too !

The Big Ragu loves the sauce on chili, shrimp, wings and anything mexican (nachos, tacos, tortas, burritos and sopes).

LITE BITES: Try the sriracha on egg white omelettes, roasted veggies, homemade vegetable soups, and quinoa.

 

Housemade Sriracha Sauce has made its way into local restaurants and has been appearing on specials at Lily’s Bistro, and pizzas at  Oregon Express to name a couple.  We expect more locally owned restaurants to follow this trend.  In fact, the demand has been so good, that a second batch has already gone into production.

 

WHERE CAN YOU BUY THE BOTTLES OF HOUSEMADE SRIRACHA?

— Arrow Wine & Spirits

— Clash Consignments

— Eclectic Essentials

— Foremost Seafood

— Healthy Alternative Markets

— The Spice Rack

— Yankee Street Market

 

In more ways than one, it is the hottest product in Dayton.  Housemade Sriracha, we love you, you hot thang you ….

Speaking of hotness, check out Food Adventures on Facebook  and “like” them HERE

Also, see more of LeeAnne and her hot sauce in the photo gallery below!

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Here Comes the FLEURS ET VIN Festival!

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“Fleurs et Vin” Festival will feature over 400 wines for tasting !

Get ready to raise your wine glass this Sunday at Carillon Park , because Dayton’s premier wine and gourmet food festival arrives!!

That’s right, the one and only shindig known as “FLEURS ET VIN” (flowers and wine in French) takes place this weekend!

This is a Food Adventure and Wine extravaganza that you don’t want to miss.  The Big Ragu will be there in full force!

 

WHAT:  FLEURS ET VIN FESTIVAL

WHERE: At Historic Carillon Park,  1000 Carillon Blvd.  Dayton, Ohio 45409

WHEN: SUNDAY MAY 18th from 1pm – 4pm

WHY: To benefit AIDS Resoruce Center of Dayton Ohio

MUST DRINKS:  Over 400 wines available for tasting and a Beer Garden !

MUST EATS:  Local restaurants providing samples of menu specialties.

Restaurants Include: Amar India, Carvers Steaks & Chops, Central Perc European Cafe, Chappys Tap Room and Grille, Coco’s Bistro, El Meson, Figlio, Giovanni’s, Jay’s Seafood, Kohler’s Catering,  Lock 27 Brewing,  Mamma DiSalvo’s,  Neil’s Heritage House,  The Oakwood Club, Salar Restaurant and Lounge The Dock, The Deli at Webster Street & Top of the Market and Thai 9.

WHAT ELSE: Live Music during the festival by J.t. Fedrick and the Sax Groove, a silent auction that ends at 3pma and a Live Auction that starts  at 4pm 

COST: $70 in advance, $75 at the door  click HERE for more ticket info

Just in Case: Don’t drink and drive- Divine Services will be on hand if you and your car need a ride home.

Fleurs Et Vin is something you must experience as a true Daytonian.  Experience the best wines in the world, paired with Dayton’s Best Restaurant offerings.  It is for charity, which makes getting a ticket a no brainer.  Support Dayton, support the AIDS Resource Center, and join the fun at Carillon Park.  Treat yourself to a Food Adventure !

We raise our wine glasses high and say “Here’s to Fleurs Et Vin, the toast of the town this Sunday!”  See you under the big tents!

Are you a Dayton foodie?  Then join us for more fun Food Adventures by “liking”us on Facebook.

Check out our photo gallery below from last year’s event!

 

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Fleurs Et Vin: A Great Success at Carrillon Park

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Each Guest Received Souvenir Glasses

Did you miss it?  Endless wine tasting and all the food samplings you wanted were featured at the 2013 Fleurs et Vin Festival held at Carillon Park on May 19th.  The Big Ragu was on hand with Dayton Most Metro’s staff, greeting the massive crowds and sample the various offerings.  It was a Food Adventure paradise in the heart of Dayton, and a must eat on our list of events.

If you were not able to make it to this annual benefit for the AIDS Resource Center Ohio, then check out our recap, below.

Here’s the Skinny:

— FLEURS ET VIN is Dayton’s Premier Wine and Gourmet Food Festival, typically held each year on a Sunday in May from 1-4pm under the tents at Carrillon Historical Park.  It is an all-you-want tasting event with a loyal following.

— ALL of the food and wine was donated by locally owned restaurants, allowing 100% of the proceeds to benefit AIDS Resource Center of Dayton.  A Food Adventure with a cause

— Admission price allowed you access to over 400 wines from around the world and taste menu samples from 20 local restaurants, along with a Belgian Beer Garden area !

— Live and Silent Auction areas allowed even more funds to be raised for this worthy cause that focuses of prevention and education about AIDS, along with service programs that help those in need with HIV/AIDS.

— Live music filled the air and added to the warm ambiance.

With so many good wines and so much good food, below are our picks for the best of the best from this spectacular event!

Crab Rangoon from Thai 9.  Our Favorite Rangoon in Dayton.

OUR FAVORITES  (THE FOOD):

Thai 9’s Crab Rangoon and Chicken with Rice:  In our opinion, the best crab rangoon in the Dayton area were these incredible samples from Thai9.  Stuffed full and deep, and served with a sweet side of Thai sauce, we found ourselves returning to this line often.  The Thai chicken dish was also incredible at this station.  It was a Thai pepper chicken, served in a brown, curry house sauce over a bed of white rice.  We told them we loved it, but our mouths were so full that they couldn’t understand us.

The Dock’s Crab Cakes:  Slowly seared on their portable flat top grill, these were flavorful, hand-packed circles of love.  The sauce that topped the crab cakes was the secret ingredient that kept us coming back for more.  The staff of The Dock probably wanted to file a restraining order against us for hanging out by their grill as much as we did.  We could not resist seconds of these scrumptious bites of crab heaven.

Hawthorn Grill’s  Sorbet and Strawberry ShortCake: All of the desserts at Hawthorn Grill are homemade by Chef Candace and her staff.   Her sorbet was a perfect, refreshing break during this hot event.  The bite size piece of cake, topped with a strawberry sauce also hit the spot.

Scratch Catering’s Beef Brisket and Carmelized Onion Bruschetta:  When doesn’t Chef Matt Hayden please the hungry crowds?  This delicious, slow-cooked sampling was just as pleasing to the eye, as it was to our taste buds.  The hits from Scratch Catering just keep on coming ….

OUR FAVORITES (THE WINES):

Canella Blood Orange Mimosa:  Talk about refreshing!   This tasty, bottled mimosa was the perfect drink, on this hot day.  The server at this booth had to be tired of us by the end of the event.   Probably our favorite offering from the Vintage Wine Distributor.  This Italian wine cocktail is made from grape wine and the juice and pulp of blood oranges from Sicily.

Heron Chardonnay:  A crisp, white wine made from 22 year old grape vines.  The winery is a female owned, family vineyard run by Laely Heron.   One of the few American women who made wine in France, Heron’s products are also produced in California.

Spreitzer Riesling 101:  This German Riesling comes from a winery owned by two brothers who have been honing their craft since 1997.  It was a cold, refreshing sip of sparkling goodness in the warm weather.

The Belgian Beer Garden: Although this was a wine festival, Heidelberg Distributing distracted us with some great beer selections.  Food Adventures enjoyed a couple of  Stella Artois beers in a souvenir pint.  The Big Ragu went for some Hoegaarden beer and an Ommegang Witte Beer.

All in all, this is Dayton’s “Wine me and dine me” Festival.  We loved being a part of a wonderful event, that supported a locally based AIDS charity.  Good local food and world class wines, what more could one ask for?   So let us end this Food Adventure, by raising our glass with a toast.. “Whether you love Merlot or Chardonnay, here’s to seeing you at Fleurs et Vin, next May!!”

For more wine, and no whine, visit Food Adventures on Facebook and “like” them by clicking HERE !

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Wine Party in the Park this Sunday

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FEV ticketsDayton’s Annual Premier Wine & Gourmet Food Festival is this Sunday afternoon, from 1-4pm at Carillon Park. Advance tickets are available for $60 at Arrow Wine, Cuvee, Rumbleseat and Bruning’s Wine Cellar, or you can purchase online and print your own ticket.  If you’re waiting to see what the weather is like on Sunday, tickets will be available at the park for $70.  Your ticket includes your tastes, a souvenir wine glass as well as a beer glass.

franks

Left to right: Vail Sr, Vail Jr, Mif Frank and Mike Frank

The original “Party in the Park” was the brain child of two friends, Vail Miller Sr. of Heidelberg and Mike Frank of Arrow Wine.  With a mission of bringing wine out of just the wine cellars and homes of people to the general public, the idea of a wine festival was born.  Now over twenty years later and with the second generation at the helm, Vail Miller Jr. and Mif Frank, Fleurs Et Vin has grown into a Miami Valley tradition.
With the support of over a dozen wine distributors, this years tasting list includes over 400 wines to be tasted.  You can see it online if you’d like to plot your tasting strategy.  A new addition this year is a selection of meads from Cavalier Distributing.  Mead, also known as honey wine, is regarded as the oldest of fermented beverage(Learn more about mead from  mixologist Brian Petro’s article Drinkable Honey.)  The Belgian Beer Garden has expanded this year as well, featuring  Stella Artois, Leffe, Hoegarden, Duvell  and Ommegang.

jtsaxMusic for your dining and drinking pleasure contemporary smooth jazz will be played by JT Fedrick and Sax Groove, back by popular demand from Fleurs 2011. The food at Fleurs et Vin is always spectacular, with returning restaurants like The Oakwood Club, Jay’s Seafood, Carvers, Coco’s and Hawthorne Grill competing to put out the best samples.  Now that’s not to say that Neil’s Heritage House, Mamma DiSalvo’s, Scratch Event Catering, Brock Masterson’s,  Meadowlark and Thai 9 won’t walk away with the best food of the fest this year.  Restaurants like The Dock, Giovanni’s, Amber Rose and The Wine Loft always stand out for great eats and their decorative tables that  give you a feel for their atmosphere.  Newbies to the event this year include Serendipity Bistro and the soon to open Salar.

When you need to take a break from eating, be sure and stroll by the silent auction tables conanand place a bid or two.  Some of the highlights this year include tickets to a Miami Heat basketball game, VIP tickets to a Conan taping,  or ABC’s Mike & Molly, as well of lots of wine, theater tickets, spa packages and more.  But get your bids in early, the silent auction will close down about 2:45.  Ghost bidding will be available, for those of you who don’t want to waste your valuable tasting time at the auction table.  Just allow one of our volunteers to place your bids up to your pre-set limit and enjoy the wine.

The best entertainment of the day is often the live auction, which begins at 4pm, after tasting tables are closed.  A must for true wine collectors, the bottles up for bid are often incredibly rare.  Register for a bidding paddle and you’ll be treated to sparkling wines and ARC compact logo with taglinechocolates from Winans.

Whether you win the bidding or not, the big winner of the day is AIDS Resource Center Ohio, the beneficiary of Fleurs et Vin.  Funds raised on Sunday will be used to provide medical care, comprehensive case management, housing, HIV testing & counseling, prevention education, linkage to care, education & advocacy in Ohio.  According to the Ohio Department of Health,  young adults between the ages of 15 and 24 account for 27 percent of all new HIV diagnoses in the state in 2011 and that number is growing. “The HIV/AIDS epidemic has changed dramatically over the years, however we are beginning to see a second-wave of infection among young people who have never known a world free from the stronghold of HIV and so our response must evolve as well,” states Tyler TerMeer,  ARC Ohio’s Prevention Director.

 

 

 

 

This Weeks Beer Tasting Bonanza

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It’s long been known that Dayton offers an array of wine tastings that rival towns twice our size, but in the last few months our local taverns have really been stepping up the craft brews they offer.

Here’s a quick round up so you can taste your way across town- be sure to click on the link for more detailed information on each event.

Tues
5-7pm Abita Beer Tasting at Rue Dumaine

Wed
7pm – Mike Scwartz from Belmont Party Supply hosts the monthly Trolley Tasting
9 beers and munchies just $20- arrive early this sells out!

5pm – Archer’s Tavern taps a new craft beer each Wed night

Thurs
6:30pm  Goose Island Beer Dinner at Dorothy Lane Springboro

7pm  Dogfish Head’s Hellbound On My Ale Tapping at Spinoza’s

7pm La Tappe Isid’or Tapping at Chappy’s

Fri

5-7pm Arrow Wine Centerville‘s Weekly Beer Tasting
There will be more posted as the week goes on, so be sure and check back.  Did you know you can choose the Dayton On Tap header under DatyonDining and you’ll get a weekly listing of beer tastings around town that’s constantly being updated located on the right column!  And if you know of a place that serves up some great beers, add it below in the comments!  Cheers!

Happy “Nouveau Rosé” Day!

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The weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer, and it’s time for some light, warm-weather wines.  The flavors of rosé wines tends to be more subtle versions of their red wine varietal counterparts. The fruit expectations lean towards strawberry, cherry, and raspberry with some citrus and watermelon presenting on a regular basis.  Rosés are perfect for spring and summer, as they are served chilled and can be a refreshing accompaniment to a variety of warm weather fare. Rosé wines also top the charts for food-friendly versatility. So, if you are opting for “surf ‘n turf” rest assured that a rosé can handle both the seafood and the steak in one fell sip. It’s also a great picnic wine, as it tends to have both a lighter body and more delicate flavors on the palate, presenting a great wine partner for a ham, chicken or roast beef sandwich, along with a fruit, potato or egg salad and can even handle a variety of chips and dips. Rosés are also the perfect guest for a backyard barbecue, tackling hamburgers, hot dogs and even French fries and ketchup with ease.

Arrow Wine (Centerville & Far Hills Location) will be celebrating Noveau Rosé’s all day today (Thurs, May 25th) with tasting at both stores.

Here are a couple of quick tips in searching for a rosé:

  1. Drink a recent vintage – you don’t want an aged rosé.
  2. If you see “NV” on a bottle, it stands for “non-vintage,” meaning that there’s a mix of grapes from different vintage years.
  3. Many great rosé’s are available for $12- $15 a bottle.

Finding Wines to Pair With Your Turkey

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Thanksgiving- it’s a time to celebrate with friends and family, yet at this time of year you often hear people asking what wine pairs well with Turkey? If you’ve been asked to bring the wine or have people coming to your house for holiday dinner, no need to stress about what to serve. The good news is there is no correct answer. Turkey pairs well with red wine or white wine depending on what you and your guests like. Turkey is adaptable and the way it’s prepared as well as other dishes to the meal really dictate what wine to pair it with.

If you are a red wine drinker, try a Pinot Noir. It’s a nice flavored red wine that will pair well with turkey. Pinot Noir has very little tannins which means it won’t overwhelm the meal. Putting the Pinot Noir in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes before serving it will bring out the fruit and will take away the ‘bite’ that alcohol can give when served at room temperature.

If you like white wines, try a Chardonnay or even a Pinot Gris.  Almost any good white will work, but stay away from the sweet dessert style whites. Light and crisp Chardonnay’s  along with most Sauvignon Blanc’s will work.  Sparkling Wine also works  and brings a festive note to the meal. There are some powerful, yet affordable brut Champagnes that have sufficient weight and structure to stand up to a rich meal. Again, stay away from the sweeter Champagnes.

Still want more help? Many of our local wine stores have events that will help you find the combination you like best:
Arrow’s Annual Holiday Tasting!
Sun, Nov 14th, 5:30 – 7:30pm at the Centerville Store
Over 75 wines, great appetizers and live music!
$50/person, pre-paid reservations required by Nov 10th
Call 433-6778 to make your reservations!

A Taste of Wine Holiday Show- Thurs, Nov 18th, 7 – 9pm
Food, Fun and Fabulous wine pairings.  Taste wines for your holiday feasts & gift giving.
$20 Please RSVP by phone 937.247.1120

Bella Vino’s Wine & Food Pairing Dinners
Wed, Nov 10th – 7pm
Sat, Nov 20th – 5pm
Tues  Nov 23rd – 7pm

Dinner includes:
turkey dinner – with mashed potatoes & gravy, sweet potato casserole, green beans, and cranberry sauce.
4 wines specially selected to pair with Thanksgiving dinner.
An open-ended discussion about wine & food pairing with  resident Wine Enthusiast, John Feltz.

Dinner is $30 per person and seats are limited.  These dinner sold out last year, so reserve early

Coco’s Bistro 30 for $30
Wed, Nov 10th, 6 – 8pm

Special holiday flavored appetizers to make it easy to pick which wine to go with the Turkey, Ham, Roast or for the Toast on New Years Eve.
Wine vendors on hand, to help you choose- and we’ll have special pricing on wines by the case as well.  Limited seating, so reserve your place online, or call 937-228-2626 (coco) and we’ll save you a seat.

Cork & Vine presents Wines That Make Your Turkey Happy
Wed, Nov 17 · 7- 9pm
(hey- I tried to get more info- but was told to call back when a manager is in – they didn’t know anything about it).

If we’ve missed any, please feel free to add them in the comments below!  Cheers!