Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More
It’s a new year & a new reason to celebrate!! Falb’s has been in business for…….
100 YEARS!!!
????????
Thank you for your continued support of our family owned Dayton restaurant! You all are the BEST! ☺️
We will be serving up our famous cabbage rolls this Friday, so come in to celebrate with us!
The Ghost that Haunts The Amber Rose
First and foremost, The Amber Rose Restaurant has some of the most delicious comfort food in Dayton. This eatery has some terrific Eastern European style food. But there is a spooky side to this place on 1400 Valley Street in Dayton. Yes, this Food Adventure fright comes right in time for Halloween. That’s right, Big Ragu and the Crew have the inside scoop on the The Amber Rose.
HERE’S THE SKINNY:
— The building was built in 1912 by Sigmunt Ksiezopolski and was a general store through the 1980’s
— In 1989 Elinor Sluzas bought the building and opened the Amber Rose a year later. The menu was her own Lithuanian recipes, and her twists on Eastern European favorites.
— Named Amber Rose for the Amber jewels mined in Lithuania and Northern Europe, and Rose symbolizing love and compassion.
— in 1998, owner Joe Castellano bought the restaurant, and still uses Elinor’s recipes. The entire staff is very friendly.
— Practically every item is homemade. This is a restaurant that does things the way it should be… from scratch. If it isn’t made ‘in-house,’ it is bought from local vendors.
— The Amber Rose does a lot of catering for business events, weddings, etc. In fact, it is the largest part of their business.
— Banquet Room upstairs, and a meeting room as well, allows an option for wedding receptions, or a private Food Adventure (stay tuned)
HERE’S THE SCARY:
Longtime Server Aimee who shared the ghost video with Amber Rose Owner Joe Castellano
— The Amber Rose and its story appear in the book “Haunted Ohio III”
— The daughter of the original owner of the building is said to haunt the main level and upstairs of Amber Rose. Her name is Genevieve Ksiezopolski, and is also known as “Chickie.”
— Long time waitress Aimee has witnessed glasses flying off the shelves
— Owner Joe Castellano has seen lights and fans turned on in the upstairs office, after he had turned them off.
— One of the restaurant cooks claimed to have seen the ghostly apparition of Genevieve aka “Chickie.” He says the spirit was in front of him, then lifted up her ruffled dress slightly, and walked out of the room. Now comes the unexplainable part…. There are security cameras throughout the restaurant including the kitchen. When the management heard the cook’s story, they decided to pull up the surveillance tape. What they saw was a small, bright, white orb enter, circle and leave the room at the same exact time the cook said he saw the ghost. Eerie.. Is it proof of a ghost, or just a coincidence?
HERE IS THE VIDEO: YOU BE THE JUDGE –
— Paranormal investigators visit the restaurant each year and claim that a second ghost, named Richard, inhabits the basement.
MUST EATS:
— DELUXE POTATO PANCAKES: This appetizer is covered in cheddar-jack cheese, bacon and scallions. The crispy circles are and served with sour cream, for a rich indulgence you wont soon forget.
— ELINOR’S SIGNATURE TURTLE SOUP: An amazing must eat! If you have never had turtle soup, don’t be afraid. It is a cross between vegetable soup and chili. We challenge anyone to try a cup and tell us it is not delicious.
— PIEROGI & ONIONS: This “old country” favorite is a rarity in Dayton. Amber Rose does it right. Homemade pierogi dumplings with sauteed onions, served with a side of cream cheese. If you have never had pierogies, they are dumplings filled with potato. It makes for a rich, filling comfort food, and a favorite in Poland.
— THE TRADITIONAL REUBEN: Stacked high with thinly sliced corn beef, the sandwich is then topped with sauerkraut. Condiments slapped on include 1000 island dressing and swiss cheese. The finishing touch is grilling the rye bread. A Food Adventure on a plate, indeed.
— THE WARSAW MEDLEY: This dish features four of the restaurants specialties. First, the CABBAGE ROLLS, which are one of the best selling items at the restaurant. The dish also features a sausage link, HOMEMADE SAUSAGE, so it is the real deal! Thirdly, the SAUERKRAUT. Now listen, we are picky on our sauerkraut and The Big Ragu says this sweet recipe is the best sauerkraut he has ever eaten. It is a Lithuanian spin on German Sauerkraut, and has less of a “sour bite.”
Like Reuben Sandwiches? Try The Amber Rose version on for size….
— THE HUNTER SCHNITZEL SANDWICH: Hand breaded with pretzels.. need we say more? The pork loin is then golden fried, and served on a hoagie bun with lettuce, tomato, onion and dark mustard. Opt for the Hunter Dinner instead, served with no bread, but covered in a creamy mustard sauce.. all homemade !
— ANNUAL “OKTOBERFEST”: During the month of October, your first draft beer is 10 cents, and the ones after are $1.50.
Honorable Mention: Two other favorites include the Polish Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms and the German Bier Cheese Dip served with pretzels and rye bread.
We recommend stopping by this incredible unique and lovable restaurant. Become enchanted by the old world menu, and the savory dishes. The food is complimented by the atmosphere of stained glass accent windows and tin ceilings for a European Cafe feel.
Get some spirits at the bar and maybe say hello to the spirit known as “Chickie.” Remember, roses are amber, violets are blue, eat the delicious food and you may get a BOO! Happy Halloween, Foodies !
Want more scoop and killer pictures of the Miami Valley’s best food places? Then follow Food Adventures with Hungry Jax, Chef House, The King and the Big Ragu on Facebook by clicking HERE. We are not food critics, we just love to eat! Check back for our weekly articles on Dayton Most Metro, where we share the best local eats with our fellow Daytonians!
[flagallery gid=115]
Third Generation Owner John Mott with his Famous Belmont Catering Potato Salad
Are you aware that the greatest potato salad in the world is in Dayton, Ohio? The Big Ragu knows…
YES, it is true! But many Daytonians already knew that Belmont Catering is the potato salad mecca of the Midwest. If you are like us, their potato salad has been a special treat at your family functions and holidays for decades.
We will have many foaming at the mouth for this giveaway:
****Comment on the story below and one winner will be chosen at random. The prize is 2 pounds of Belmont Catering’s famous potato salad and 6 of their cabbage rolls !!
HERE’S THE SKINNY:
— Belmont Catering has been providing the best potato salad you have ever eaten for over 35 years. It is a Food Adventure in a container….
— Family owned for 3 generations, today’s owner John Mott still sticks to the basics that made the company a success.
— Located on 730 Watervliet Rd. near the intersection of Smithville, you may sometimes see a line out the door.
— The potato salad is such a cult classic that former Dayton residents have it shipped overnight all over the USA. One person even overnighted a huge cooler of the stuff to Manhattan in New York City and paid $100 in shipping! Who does that, unless it is the best potato salad in the world.
On busy weekends, Belmont Catering Hand Peels 2,000lbs of Potatoes. Yep, a TON of Potatoes
— Belmont Catering goes through about 500 pounds of potatoes a week, and on holiday weekends they go through 1,500 – 2,000 pounds of potatoes. Yes, that is a ton of potatoes. The staff told us that 50 pounds of potatoes makes about 65 pounds of Potato Salad.
— Our biggest tip is CALL AHEAD. It is best to call in your order 1 or 2 days ahead of time. If you just stop in, it will be rare for you to find what you need because everything is usually sold out since items are made to order. You can thank the Food Adventures Crew later for this advice.
MUST EATS:
— THE POTATO SALAD: OBVIOUSLY .. at $4.25 a pound, there are lines out the door for this stuff. but why is it so good? Is it the pimentos? The Mustard? The Mayonnaise? NOOOO !
Here is the secret to the world’s best potato salad:
1) The potatoes are peeled, rinsed, then SHREDDED like hash browns. This gives a distinct, one-of-a-kind texture and no hard chunks.
2) No chunks of eggs in the salad. This is potato salad, not egg salad. Eggs may or may be in the recipe, but you won’t see any ….
3) Cleanliness. The kitchen is immaculate. The Montgomery County Health Inspectors have given Belmont Catering the highest marks over their last 19 visits to the kitchen.
4) Third Generation Owner, John Mott is still using his Grandmother’s recipe. And by the way, her recipe will blow your mom’s potato salad out of the water. It is reminiscent of the movie “What’s Up tiger Lily” where they hunted down a similar recipe, “a salad so delicious you could pltoz.”
Storefront on 730 Watervliet Ave., Inside is the World’s Greatest Potato Salad
Oh but that’s not all. Belmont Catering did not build its business on potato salad alone.
There are more, MUST EATS such as:
— CABBAGE ROLLS: $6.80 for 6 of them, they are also a cult favorite.
— THE BBQ PULLED PORK: Outstanding flavor, and sold at $6.90 a pound
There are many more items, but these are our top favorites. You can find a list of pick up items HERE, we cannot stress enough the need to call ahead..
And then there is the CATERING aspect of their business. If you need an event catered, breakfasts, cookouts, or boxed lunches, these are your go to guys. They pretty much deliver a Food Adventure to your event. Belmont Catering has built this business for decades with great food and service.
With Labor Day Weekend right around the corner, now is a perfect time to treat yourself to some of the World’s Best Potato Salad !!
Cabbage Rolls – Frozen or Made Fresh to Order
Get down to Belmont Catering on Watervliet, and pick up a taste of great potato salad, but call ahead! No cookout, picnic, holiday or family event is complete without it!
****Who wants to win some of their great food? Comment below for your chance to win ! ****
Food Adventures is going to giveaway 2 pounds of their famous potato salad and 6 cabbage rolls to one lucky reader!!
To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment below on this story, telling us why you want the goods. One winner will be picked at RANDOM next week.
There is another way you can be a winner in general, like Food Adventures on Facebook by CLICKING HERE ! Anything else is just a generic copy..
Check out our photo gallery from our visits to Belmont Catering, below.
[flagallery gid=98]
Some of the Best of Dayton, all in one place !
How about one building that combines some of the best cooks in Dayton and lines them up along the wall in their own vendor booths? It’s not a dream, it’s reality in downtown Dayton.
This is the first of 2 Food Adventure installments over the next few days, and both cover Dayton’s 2nd Street Market. What a shocker, the first one focuses on FOOD !
The Big Ragu & Crew have become semi-regulars at the market over the past few years. Some of our tastiest excursions have been in this treasure trove of great eats.
Variety is the spice of life, and this is true for the market located on the corner of Webster and 2nd Street. If you have never stopped in, then you haven’t had some for Dayton’s best.
HERE’S THE SKINNY:
— A great place to grab a bite to eat and a unique place to do some Christmas shopping !!! The official address is 600 E. Second St.
— The market is open 3 days: Thursday & Friday 11am-3pm, and Saturday 8am – 3pm. The great offerings are overwhelming and coming here has become one of our Food Adventure addictions.
— Many vendors offer fresh fruit & vegetables. Others offer freshly baked desserts and breads. You want more? How about cheeses, meats, spices, canned goods and more. There are more local, fresh and organic choices here than anyplace we know of in Dayton.
The best tasting side you never heard of: Sweet Potato Quinoa from Chef Case
MUST EATS:
— THE SMOKED SALMON CREPE at CREPE BOHEME : The Big Ragu will tell you this is the best place in Dayton to get a crepe. Crepe master Sabine combines the smoked salmon with goat cheese, capers and grilled vegetables. It is a symphony in your mouth. Her secret is using the freshest ingredients around and flavor combinations that will knock your socks off. Not a salmon fan? No worries.. choose one of the menu items or “make your own” crepe with various ingredients. Prepare to be blown away.Honorable Mention: The crepe with Nutella, marshmallows and blackberries. All the taste of guilty pleasure with not so much guilt.
— FAMOUS CHICKEN PANINI from THE CHEF CASE : Chef Joe Fish believes that using local ingredients promotes fresh flavor. Here he works some magic with a whole herb grilled chicken breast and Artesian Basil Pesto. The panini is made on fresh bread and pressed, thereby melting provolone and Parmesan cheese into gooey deliciousness. The chef is a Culinary Institute of America graduate and creates some of the best tastes in town. In fact, there are so many delicious menu items here that we have to give honorable mention to two more of them. First, make sure you try a serving of the Sweet Potato Quinoa. It is a healthy, flavorful side dish that not many people know about. Trust us on this ! Lastly the MONTE CRISTO PANINI is a sandwich you need to get your hands on. It is ham, turkey and swiss cheese finished with a pure maple syrup drizzle. Give your taste buds a good value for around 7 bucks.
Peanut Brittle Cupcakes from Purely Sweet Bakery (click to enlarge)
— THE DISTINGUISED DARBY at CHEEKY MEAT PIES: Who doesn’t love tasty meat and spices in a flaky crust? Forget about calories, the taste is worth every mouthful. This original take on New Zealand Street food is gaining a bit of a cult following in the Miami Valley. “The Darby” verison is ground beef mixed with spices for a delicious combo. The meat pies are hand held and made to be mobile. Be careful when taking a bite, they are hot inside ! A friendly staff makes the experience that much more fun. Honorable Mention: The Dirty Bird Meat Pie is a tasty treat and a perfect bite “on the go” at the market. It features chicken and a delicious sauce. We can’t describe these fantastic meat pies, you just gotta try them !
— THE WASABI PEAS at THE SPICE RACK: The Big Ragu can’t help himself. He craves these, and you will too. Dried peas, dipped in wasabi and sold by the box for only 2 bucks. Perfect for snacking at home, but we warn you.. ADDICTIVE ! The spice rack has some many incredible items from Amish butter to incredible spice rubs. Check this place out for some hidden treasures for the foodie in you.
— POLLO GUISADO at AREPAS and CO. : Braised chicken thigh (although we ask for the shredded white meat chicken instead), mixed with tomatoes, red peppers, onions and green beans. All of it is served over rice and plantains. Finally pick from one of various sauce toppings drizzled on top. We pick two (garlic and hot sauce) ! Get a friend to help you lift this plate and eat it. HUGE PORTION !
The best crepes in Dayton are at Crepe Boheme
— THE SHRIMP WITH HOT CHILI SAUCE at BAAN THAI NOI: We are always pleasantly surprised with Baan Thai Noi’s dishes. Our favorite is the Shrimp with Hot Chili Sauce. Two skewers of grilled basil shrimp are served over fried rice with a side of shredded cabbage and a delicious spring roll. The key to this dish is the sauce we choose to top the shrimp. The hot chili sauce is so sweet, with some heat and a whole lot of taste. Don’t knock it til you try it, this one is a sleeper !
Is your mouth watering yet? Well the good news is, the weekend is here and they are open ! Get yourself down there and stroll around the grounds and soon you’ll be tastin’ Dayton.
More Honorable mentions include:
The Cupcakes at Purely Sweet Bakery, The Cabbage Rolls at Kolbs Bakery, The Jumbalaya at All Souped Up, The Pastitsio (Greek Lasagna) at Azra’s, and some good coffee at Caffeine by Carl.
We would be remiss if we didnt mention that their are numerous other fantastic farm vendors with fresh vegetables, honey, fresh maple syrup and organic milk. Check them all out while you are there.
The 2nd Street Market is truly Food Adventure paradise !!
In the market for some more from the “Miami Valley foodies ?” Then “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE !
Check out some of our best photos yet in the gallery below from our numerous trips to the 2nd Street Market over the years !!!
[flagallery gid=71]
