Cassano's

Cassano’s to Open London Bobby On Old Hickory Site

August 26, 2016 By Dayton937 1 Comment

London Bobby is back on Main Street

One legendary restaurant site, will turn into another legend this winter. The site of the new Cassano’s / London Bobby Fish & Chips will be at 4029 N. Main St. in Dayton. Food Adventures has learned that the site will not only be a new Cassano’s, but they are planning on offering an entire London Bobby Fish & Chips Menu.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— The new restaurant is expected to open in the October/November time frame.

— The site is on the grounds of the recently demolished Old Hickory Restaurant at 4029 N. Main St. in Dayton.

London Bobby Fish and Chips

— For you nostalgic Daytonians who remember the London Bobby Fish & Chips around town in the 1970’s and 80’s, this will bring back some memories.

— Bringing back the London Bobby brand is a plan that Vic Cassano Jr. had before his passing. The next generation of Cassano family is seeing that vision through as a tribute to him. It is also a great rebirth of a Dayton favorite, and welcome news to many Miami Valley residents.

The new Cassano’s will offer all of your pizza favorites and even cassini sandwiches, calzones and the subs you’ve grown to love. But let’s take a look at what will be a part of the London Bobby menu.

If you can’t wait for the opening, visit the Stroop Rd. Cassano’s location or the store in Trenton, Ohio for your London Bobby fix.

SO .. royal subjects…. Hear ye, hear ye ! Your majesty the Pizza King and Food Adventures announce the patented London Bobby “Must Eats”

FUTURE MUST EATS at THE NEW LONDON BOBBY on N. MAIN STREET.

The Big Cheese Pizza will be on the menu too !

— THE FISH AND CHIPS : Three pieces of battered fish, fries, two hushpuppies and cole slaw. Splash on some vinegar to make it “authentic,” old chap.

— EXTRA ORDER OF HUSHPUPPIES: Avoid fighting or wishing you had more.. order about 8 extra like we do and watch the hands grab!

— BASKET OF ONION RINGS: Beer battered and cooked to order.

— THE FISH SANDWICH: This delicious beer battered treat is

Flaky fish, splash it with vinegar to go old school, fool !

perfect for on the go.

So there you have it … you have Italy and England in one spot. Your fave Big Cheese Pizza isnt going anywhere, you just may be tempted to order some fish as well. Congratulations to the Cassano family, Sharon, Lora, Chris and Chip. Thank you for bringing back a lost piece of Dayton.

Browse the photos below and feel free to comment at the bottom and share your memories.

Hushpuppies – get some extra , so there’s no fighting

For more original photos and content “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE. 7,000 fans cant be wrong.

Food Adventures is a blog run by 3 local foodies. You can expect a feature article every week on MostMetro, year round. Together Hungry Jax, Chef House and the Big Ragu explore Dayton’s greatest foods. From farmers markets, to fine dining, we eat it all. Look for our dinner events, festival appearances and upcoming cooking classes on our website www.DaytonFoodies.com. Since 2008, turning over every plate !

Until then .. tally ho .. carry on… Mr Watson I presume and all that stuff…

The Pizza King is gonna open another store!

The Big Cheese is still here

Chicken Parm

Fish and Chips

The dough

North Main will have all the subs too !

Try the Cassini Burger – it is AWESOME

Calzones will be served at the North Main location

London Bobby is coming back to North Dayton

Onion Rings

Deluxe

The Pizza King !

Cassanos Delivers the Taste

London Bobby’s Fish and Chips

Secrets of Cassano’s and The Dough Plant

August 10, 2016 By Dayton937 7 Comments

Chip Cassano inspects the hi-tech equipment in the dough plant

***** WIN A FREE PIZZA WITH THE FOOD ADVENTURES CREW ***** JUST COMMENT BELOW FOR A CHANCE TO WIN – winner will be chosen at random on Monday
For decades Daytonians have taken pizza for granted. We don’t realize that Dayton, Ohio is one of the most important cities in the world when it comes to the history of pizza. And it is all because of Vic Cassano and his mother-in-law Caroline “Mom” Donisi.

Now, 63 years later, The Cassano’s franchise is going strong, and not just in the pizza restaurants. Cassano’s headquarters on Stroop Road in Kettering is also a facility for dough production.

Vic Cassano Sr. in his early Pizza Days during the 1950’s

— SECRET 1: What most Daytonians don’t know is their dough is produced here, and sold nationwide. Whether balls of dough or sheeted pizza crusts, hundreds of restaurants serve products made with Cassano’s dough. We are not allowed to name the companies, but let’s just say they are some big wig, national restaurants, that you definitely would recognize. There are also hundreds of small restaurants that use Cassano’s, dough as a shortcut for great pizzas, calzones, breads and more.

After a year of preparation, Food Adventures is ready to tell you a story, much of which is unknown to Miami Valley residents. It is the untold insight into the dough plant, the history and personal triumphs of the Cassano family.

Hand cutting hundreds of pounds of dough from the mixer

Before we get to secrets inside the dough plant lets get the scoop on Cassano’s history:

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON CASSANO’S

— JUNE 4th, 1953 – At the urging of a friend in New York, Vic Cassano decides to sell pizza at the Kettering grocery store of his in laws, Mom and Pop Donisi. Using a thin crust recipe developed by Mom Donisi from her days in Italy, they make pizza available for the public. It is a huge hit, and they sell 400 pies the first day on Schantz Avenue. It is Dayton’s first introduction to pizza. Needless to say the grocery store, soon became a

The Cutter presses 6 inch to 18 inch crusts for freezing

pizza shop.

— SECRET 2: THIS SUMMER DATE in 1953 ALSO MARKS THE INVENTION of THIN CRUST PIZZA in THE UNITED STATES. Don’t let anyone tell you different, Dayton, Ohio is the center of that storm. That would have been a hell of a day for a Food Adventure.

Dough Balls are produced through a mostly automated system

— SECRET 3: Vic Cassano decides to cut the pieces in tiny squares. WHY? Because in 1953 it wasn’t “lady like” to be holding and handling big slices of pizza in your palm. Cassano’s square slices were the polite and dainty way to enjoy the Italian treat.
— SECRET 4: Vic Cassano was not only a pizza genius, he was a mechanical genius. He patented the first self cleaning oven. To this day, his family still finds dozens of papers in the office, detailing patented inventions from cooling and refrigeration systems to appliances.

Vic Cassano Jr. streamlined operations efficiently

— SECRET 5: Cassano’s was the first franchised restaurant in Ohio and possibly the United States. The early 50’s were a time of business and law challenges, as many scenarios were never seen before. Cassano’s was instrumental in the development of what we know today as franchising laws. This allowed Cassano’s to steadily grow in the 50’s and 60’s.

Heart Shaped Pizza option in February

— SECRET 6: Vic Cassano’s company was the first to ever freeze dough on a large scale. He experimented with recipes and developed a full Italian menu.

— Owners of the local iconic pizza places like Marion’s Pizza and Ron’s Pizza, originally had affiliations with Cassano’s.

— In the 60’s and 70’s, Cassano’s added affiliated restaurants like Sandy’s Hamburgers and London Bobby’s Fish and Chips. They now had over 100 stores in total. They served pizza on a cardboard slate, and “to go” orders were slid into bags and crumpled at one end, while leaving a”puff” in the bag, so not to damage the pizza or its toppings.

Unforgettable Tour of the Dough Plant – and Dough Samples !!

— Here comes THE BIG CHEESE: In the early 80’s Cassano’s introduced their masterpiece pizza, the Big Cheese Pizza. This was their deluxe pizza with double the cheese on top. This became a menu staple and you can still order the Big Cheese “Vic’s Way” (with black olives) or “Mom’s Way” (with green olives). During this time, Cassano’s started serving their “to go” and delivery pizzas in boxes.

— In 1986, Vic Cassano sold the business. A year later Mom Donisi passed away. As the family saw their former business struggle in other people’s hands, so Vic Jr. decided to buy it back in 1989. It was a short hiatus and the pizza business atmosphere was saturated with saturated with national and local companies. To say it was extremely competitive is an understatement.

Side view of a legendary Cassano’s Pizza in the making

— With Vic Cassano Jr. at the helm, the 90’s were the start of a new, efficient direction of cutting waste and streamlining the business. It worked.

— Vic Cassano Sr passed away in 2002, at the time his son kept rebuilding the brand and would expand operations at the dough plant.

Sheeted Pizza Crusts, stacked and ready to be packaged

— The amazing strides and improvements in efficiency, allowed more investment in equipment. A centralized call center was finished in 2003. Vic Cassano Jr. had turned the corner and was working on bringing back some nostalgia back to Cassano’s like the Pizza King logo, the London Bobby Fish and Chips and more. In, 2010, Vic Jr. unexpectedly passed away. To his credit, he had prepared his children Lora, Chip (aka Vic the 3rd), and Chris over the past decades to take on the new leadership role. They did just that, carrying on the vision of their father and adding even more to the legendary name.

An up close look at the one and only BIG CHEESE PIZZA !

— Today, under the management of the third generation Lora Cassano-Hammons, Vic Cassano III, and Chris Cassano, there are almost 40 pizza shops and over 600 employees.

— Product developments included bringing back “Pizza Packs to go” and a new “Home Edition” Frozen Pizza line found in stores and available to be shipped nationwide. The Stroop Rd. location has gone back to carry the “London Bobby Fish and Chips” meals again.

London Bobby’s Fish and Chips available at the Stroop Rd. Cassano’s

— About 3 years ago, The Cassano’s Cares Foundation was set up. It is the charitable arm of Cassano’s set up in memory of Vic Cassano Jr. Their purpose is to give back to local charities and organizations. Memorable events included an evening with Pete Rose and a Corvette giveaway. There is also an annual golf outing to support the foundation as well. There is even a Vic Cassano Health Center on Edwin C Moses Blvd.

— In June 2016, almost 63 years to the day after the first pizza was sold, the Ohio Historical Connection declared the Cassano’s Stroop Rd. office a historical site. Now your Food Adventures on Stroop Rd, can be truly historical !

Now, let’s go from modern history to secrets inside the Dough Plant …..

These two flour silos hold 75,000 pounds of flour… EACH !

INSIDE THE DOUGH PLANT:

— SECRET 7: The dough plant, located at 1700 East Stroop Rd. produces approximately 50,000 – 70,0000 pounds of dough daily. Only about 20 percent of that is for Cassano’s restaurants. The remaining 80 percent is sold to other food establishments.

— SECRET 8: The plant uses 30,000 pounds of flour each day. The facility is equipped with 2 huge flour silos that each hold 75,000 pounds of flour. WOW, this place would make Willy Wonka proud.

Caroline “Mom” Donisi. Her recipe from Italy was the spark

— SECRET 9: The plant has a capacity to produce about 8,000 pounds of dough in an hour. Depending on the size, that can equate to 100-200 dough balls per minute during the morning shift. In the afternoon shift, the plant switches gears to produce pizza crusts from 6 inches to 18 inches in diameter. The crusts are shrink wrapped to prevent breakage and boxed and loaded into a freezer or refrigerated delivery trucks.

The Chopped Steak Sub

— SECRET 10: The dough recipe has been tweaked slightly over the past 20 years. When making pizzas these days they even “tack” the dough with a docker to control bubbling of the dough. Remember those bubbles in the 70’s and 80’s on Cassano’s pies ? You don’t see those anymore.

All this talk about dough has us a bit hungry.. may Food Adventures suggest some “Must Eats” from our decades of devouring Dayton’s original thin crust pizza? CASSANOS !

Cassano’s Headquarters is named a Historical Site, June 3rd 2016

MUST EATS:

— THE BIG CHEESE “VIC’S WAY”: Mounds of cheese, Pepperoni, Sausage, Mushrooms, Onions and Red & Green Peppers, Black Olives and more cheese! This is it. This is the Cadillac of the Cassano’s menu. So good, it will make you sleepy afterwards. A flavorful, filling, and unforgettable pie. As Vic used to say.. “It’s one heck of a pizza!”

— THE CLUB CASSINI: Ham, Pepperoni, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Provolone Cheese and Italian dressing on a Mediterranean flat bread bun. This was a great

Packaged Dough, ready for the freezer

surprise and has such a meaty and creamy, delicious flavor. This is an unknown menu gem.

— PEPPERONI PIZZA WITH EXTRA SAUCE: The Big Ragu has been using this trick since 1986. He suggests you always order your Cassano’s pepperoni pizzas with extra sauce. They take their time and spend a little more time on your pizza.

— THE CHOPPED STEAK SUB: Get your messy groove on with this Steak patty, topped Provolone Cheese, Pizza Sauce, dripping with Mushroom Gravy, sprinkled with Onions and Banana Peppers.

Dough off the conveyor belt

— THE 30 INCH PARTY PIZZA: Get it, you only live once. Perfect for parties – birthday or super bowl. $100 gets you a deluxe and 80 bucks gets you a one topping pizza pie. This humongous pizza is a party in a box…. a pretty big box.

We are honored to be able to take a behind the scenes view at the Cassano’s pizza and dough plant. The factory employees and management are always friendly and

Top it with sauce and you got something going….

accommodating. Thank you for letting us see the legendary Dayton magic firsthand. Congratulations to the Cassano family on all of their accomplishments. They are a great family and we are lucky to consider them friends. We are excited to see what the future holds for this Dayton original.

Honorable Mention: The Spaghetti Dinner: Sometimes we just crave the simple pasta and sauce combo. So pure, so peasant, so good….

Don’t forget to check out our weekly Food Adventure feature articles on MostMetro. com

For daily Food Adventure updates, hit us up on Facebook and LIKE US HERE….

Pizza Kings and the Hit King – Pete Rose

1970’s pic of Mario Andretti with the famous pizza pie in a bag – old school

Now available frozen – cooked 80% for you to finish cooking at home

Frozen Dough ready to go

Chip has given us a few tours of the plant,.

Stroop Rd Headquarters

Part of the Cassanos Call Center

Chicken Parm

Trimmed dough gets recylced

Sheet Pizza Dough

Dough cutters

Sauce it up

Compressing the Dough to crust thickness

Look at those pallets

True dat

Hungry Jax’s kids were Cassano kids for a day !

THE BIG CHEESE – VICS STYLE

Dough balls

Pepperoni pie

Chip, PIzza King and Chris Cassano

Pizza with Pete Rose

London Bobby Fish and Chips Dinner

Did you know Cassanos has hand tossed pizza ?

Our friend Mike explaining the dough process

sealed !

Shrunk wrapped to prevent breakage

All those pizza crusts …..

The Big Cheese is the way to go …

Cassanos ships these all over the USA

Into the freezer

The Pizza King, Lora Cassano and Big Ragu !

Chip talking about the automated processes of the plant

Ravioli app

Dough coming through

Cassanos – always testing the dough

A pepperoni Cassini – Ragu loves them….

Dayton Restaurants That Give Back

January 13, 2016 By Dayton937 3 Comments

Chef TJ and Owner Joe Castellano of Amber Rose, one of the most charity supporting restaurants in Dayton

We love living in Dayton, Ohio… a close knit community that pulls together to help their poor, impoverished, down trodden and those suffering temporary crises. Lots of companies give not only during “the season of giving,” but year round.

Today, Food Adventures takes time to recognize some of the Miami Valley eateries that we have witnessed supporting numerous charities, year after year after year. These are some of the biggest givers, the most generous folks, but it is certainly not the complete list. These eateries give not only in the Christmas season, but support many charities, year round.

Let us first preface this article by saying that many, many local restaurants support various causes and give willingly to numerous charities. We realize that some of these establishments may have been missed in this article, but that does not diminish their impact on the community.

Without further delay, Food Adventures presents a list of some of the biggest givers, in alphabetical order:

LOCALLY OWNED:

Dan Apolito and Mike Fullenkamp from Archer’s Tavern and Stone House Tavern have immersed themselves in Dayton charities

Here are the locally owned restaurants that go above and beyond when it comes to charitable generosity:

AMBER ROSE: From the Ronald McDonald charities, to local performing arts charities, Amber Rose has a firm involvement in the community. They even have hosted events for Catholic women’s charities, Dayton Children’s Hospital and more. You can see owner Joe Castellano and his workers at many charity and social events throughout the year. They support the community quietly and never toot their own horn. They have also catered for and supported charities like the Dayton International Peace Museum and the local Habitat for Humanity. The list goes on and on..

ARCHERS TAVERN: This popular Centerville restaurant also leads the food scene in community involvement. Owners Dan Apolito and Mike Fullenkamp dive in and help many local causes, donating lots of gift cards and money. Their philosophy is when you give, it comes back to you. Small charities like Hannah’s Treasure Chest or local Alzheimer associations, no charity is too small or too big, and Archer’s helps a lot of them. They even donate to local charities with their everyday menu “wing challenge.” On May 9th, 2016, Archer’s plans on leading a charity event, Pro-Am, with celebrities such as Ickey Woods called Dayton Fairways for Airways Celebrity Golf Classic at NCR Country Club , benefiting the Jovante Woods Foundation. Food Adventures will be involved as well… stay tuned…

Beavercreek Pizza Dive owner Teresa Geraci & Food Adventures’ Chef House, work the Monday buffet for charity

BEAVERCREEK PIZZA DIVE: Each Monday evening, they host an all you can eat pizza buffet for charity. They call it their “Serve Pizza, Do Good,” project. We call it a delicious and filling way to support local causes. Food Adventures has volunteered as guest pizza makers in the past to raise money for local charities like the “Miami Valley Pit Crew” and “Dayton Daybreak.”

BILL’S DONUTS: The best donuts in the world are made by some of the most caring people in the world. Siblings Lisa and Jim Elam have carried on the family business and tradition of giving to the community. They have sponsored dozens of kids baseball teams over the decades, and soccer teams too. They support the Blue Star Moms and Mackenzies Lemonade Stand, and so many more charities. One of their biggest giving events is the annual Superhero 5k Donut Run for “A Special Wish Foundation.” Food Adventures and Dayton Most Metro are planning on being a part of this event every year.

Lisa and Jim Elam pose with the kids before the Superhero Run for “A Special Wish Foundation”

BRIXX ICE CO.: Owner Chris Bhai is an unsung hero for Dayton charity involvement. He is another proprietor who flies under the radar, supporting local causes at every turn. Charities such as Dayton’s domestic violence resource called the Artemis Center, 5 for the kids, and the local Leukemia Lymphoma Society have benefited from their donations. Whether hosting events, or helping cater, Brixx is a solid supported of the Miami Valley. If we listed all the local non-profits that Brixx helps, we would be here all day.

Chris Bhai, owner of Brixx, is one of the most giving restaurateurs in the Miami Valley

CAKE, HOPE and LOVE: Mike and Shannon Teague, owners of this bakery, started with just one cake pan. Now their reach is across the Miami Valley. They have a“Wall of Hope” on their website, where each month, they help a new local charity. Hospice of Dayton and The Hope Foundation of Greater Dayton are just 2 of the area charities they have helped recently. They also make countless donations of free product to charities like www.nohungrykid.org. Another example of good people doing good things for the Dayton community.

CASSANOS: Cassano’s latest generation, Lora, Chip and Chris, have continued their father’s and grandfather’s legacy in recent years. That legacy is a continued tradition of community involvement and charity work. Their “Cassano’s Cares” Foundation” has recently given tens of thousands of dollars to the local S pinal Muscular Atrophy foundation or “SMA.” The corporation has also given to and supported Grandview Hospital’s “Victor J. Cassano Health Center.” Other medical donations recently have gone to the K ettering Medical Breast Evaluation Centers. The Cassano family has also given away thousands of pizzas to charity each year. It is great to see a Dayton icon so involved in future of the Gem City.

Chip and Chris Cassano with Pete Rose on their 60th Anniversary promoting a fundraiser for the Cassano’s Cares Foundation

CHAPPY’S TAP HOUSE: These guys continually hold events through the year as on site fundraisers for like selling old glassware for the Leukemia Lyphoma Society or doing a pint night to fight Prostate Cancer. They are always seen supporting various charity events, and never stop giving to the local cause. Good food, good beer and a company that gives back to the community.

DUBLIN PUB: These guys always lend a hand when charity involvement is needed. From donations to collecting Toys for Tots, they make a “yoemans effort.” The support the Dayton United Rehabilitation Services charity, and have even held fundraisers for a competitor’s bar owner, who had cancer. Holy Trinity Church and Dayton’s Alzheimers Association have been some of the charities that benefited from previous St Patty’s Day parties. Thanks to restaurants like this, local charities get that shot in the arm they need to serve the Miami Valley.

FIFTH STREET BREWPUB: Talk about year round commitment, these guys offer a guest bartending spot every Monday for charity. They also donate a portion of that night’s food receipts to the cause of the week. This is one of the coolest business philosophies and ensures that every week, Dayton area residents can help their favorite charity. Did we mention the great venue, food and beer selection? This brewery also has some of the friendliest staff in town. Manager Dave Tickel and his crew are second to none.

Fifth St. Brewpub manager Dave Tickel with Food Adventures’ Chef House & Hungry Jax on guest bartending night for House of Bread

FRESCO CATERING: Owner Jenn DiSanto is an amazing chef, a wonderful mom and a true inspiration. She used her own personal triumphs as motivation to host events to help causes like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Dayton. Jenn has organized some unforgettable charitable dinner events such as “Plating a Night of Hope.” She also volunteers at various local schools to teach cooking classes for kids. Chef Jenn is very active in the community and is always giving back. She regularly donates her time, talents and money to several local non-profit organizations, including breast cancer charities. She has inspired many through her successful fight with the disease. Being an animal lover, SICSA Pet Adoption Center is another charity close to her heart. Jenn has been a chef all over the world, and we are lucky this gem eventually landed in the Gem city.

GHOSTLIGHT COFFEE: Not many people are as involved in the Dayton community as owner Shane Anderson. He uses Ghostlight Coffee as a venue to showcase local artists and arts of all types. From hosting songwriter events that benefit the local Dayton Food Bank, serving up coffee at Masquerage, or providing a place for local charities to host their events, Ghostlight Coffee is a godsend to many who are fighting for a local cause. From music to poetry and everything in between. It seems as if we are seeing Ghostlight at about every charitable event, supporting causes in one way or another.

Chef Jenn DiSanto & The Big Ragu. Jenn has a great sense of humor, a giving heart, & makes some of the best food in the world

THE MEADOWLARK RESTAURANT: Chef and owner Elizabeth Wiley is a pillar of the community. Besides providing exceptional food at her restaurant, she is involved with countless local causes. She supports them with her time and money. For example, Chef Wiley judges the Springfield Food Truck Rally for charity. This benefits the Springfield Rotary Club’s charitable causes, including Services to People with Disabilities, Polio Plus and the International Project in Lesotho, Africa. Meadowlark is also a big supporter of Dayton Pride and the Greater Dayton LGBT Center championing the cause for equality, locally. Meadowlark’s chartible reach extends to other programs such as Dayton Public Radio’s Discover Classical, American Institute of Food & Wine, DaytonNightOut.com and so many others.

ONE BISTRO: This place promotes taking care of your neighbor. Dayton’s only “pay what you can afford” or “pay it forward” based restaurant, it is charitable in it’s nature. The staff is even made up with volunteers. You can volunteer to earn meals for yourself. Or you can volunteer as a donation of your time. Owners Robert and Kim Adamson business is driven by their faith in God and community involvement. We can think of no better cause than feeding the area’s hungry children and adults. One Bistro’s also donates to the area Red Cross’ Disaster Response Team.

Big Ragu with Ghostlight Coffee owner Shane Anderson. Shane generously donates his venue, time and resources to many local causes

SCRATCH CATERING: For years, Chef Matt Hayden has made terrific BBQ and gourmet meals. He has also donated to many area causes. From Dayton History events, to the Fleur’s Et Vin event for AIDS Resource Center Ohio. Scratch Food has left their imprint on the Dayton area, catering for many charity events. One such cause is the “Suzy Pender Memorial Fund,” which provides teddy bears to children at Miami Valley Hospital as a way to comfort them. Scratch Catering has provided the food for the Pender golf outing fundraiser for the past 15 years. Unprallelled generosity and dedication is what you find from the owners, here.

STONE HOUSE TAVERN: They are involved in many aspects supporting the Waynesville community. Stone House supports everything from kids athletic teams, to charitable gift card donations. They are currently partnering with Archers Tavern for the May 9th “Fairways for Airways” golf outing Pro-Am featuring sports stars like Ickey Woods. The event will benefit the Jovante Woods Foundation. We believe in supporting business like this that give back to Dayton in so many ways.

THE SUBMARINE HOUSE: Last year this restaurant donated over $15,000 to Children’s Hospital, at their “Super Duper Cheesesteak Challenge” event. Restaurant owners Jason and Brody Tanner, oversaw the event and check presentation to the hospital. This event is held annually and the crowds and donations have grown each year. Great grub, and a great cause, you haven’t been to a charity event until you’ve watched a fellow Daytonian wolf down a 16 inch sub in 2 minutes. But hey, “it’s for the kids.”

The talented Matt Hayden, owner of Scratch Catering is equally witty too. He is a pillar of the local charity community

WHEAT PENNY OVEN & BAR: Chef Liz Valenti and Chef Elizabeth Wiley are known for their work and generosity at Meadowlark restaurant in the past. As Chef Liz branched out to run Wheat Penny, they have continued the tradition of giving. Upon their opening they hosted charity nights for The Artemis Center, SICSA Pet Adoption Center and The Food Bank of Dayton, respectively. Other charities supported in the past have been Yellow Springs Pride, GLSEN Dayton Chapter, and AIDS Resource Center Ohio, to name just a few. Not only is Dayton lucky to have such talented chefs, but we are lucky to have such generous supporters of various Miami Valley causes.

YOUNG’S JERSEY DAIRY: Yellow Spring’s favorite farm is big on charity. From a free Wool Gathering, to a Bike Tour for charity, that supports 4 charities, including United Rehabilitation Services of Dayton. They always seem to have something going on. Young’s even hosts a “Cheddar Challenge 5k” benefiting The Antioch University Midwest Scholarship Fund. All this, while continuing to serve some of the area’s most delicious ice cream.

ZOMBIE DOGZ: Local couple Lee and David VanArtsendalen are always giving back to the community. These owners of Zombie Dogz are always saying “yes” to favors, donations and appearances for good local causes. Lots of these causes involve animals and dogs. Like the “Furry Skurry 5k” for the Dayton Humane Society or the Dog Wash for the Battle Buddy Foundation which provides service dogs to veterans. Just some or their other fundraising appearances have included Harrison Township Trustees’ National Night Out against Crime, Kettering Funk Lab Dance Studio benefiting the dance team, AMVETS, Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Stonespring Transitional Care Center police fundraiser, a 5k benefit for Miami Valley Hospital’s Children Intensive Care Unit, Harrison’s Heroes foundationds benefit for the NICU unit at Dayton Children’s Hospital. They even make stops at local schools and churches. It is great to see this popular food vendor, with the most inventive and delicious hot dogs, supporting so many local causes.

Zombie Dogz has used its success to support many local charities. Thank you David & Lee VanArtsendalen for your hard work.

THE CHAINS:

Here are some of the Dayton area chain restaurants, that give the most locally:

BONEFISH: Quietly giving and supporting many charity events, we have noticed Bonefish’s involvement on the local level. They are a sponsor for a local golf outing for Hannah’s Treasure Chest. Other charities they support include Catholic Social Services, ARC Ohio’s Red Table Gala, and Life Essentials to name just a few. They also donate countless gift cards to local requests, and are always open to lending a hand.

BRAVO! CUCINA ITALIANO: Bravo will work with various local charities for “dine and donate” nights and give 10% of food revenue to the cause. They host such events as “Breakfast with Santa.” From this event, they culminate a winter clothing drive for local shelters and $1 from each buffet sale goes to charity.

BRIO TUSCAN GRILL: Brio hosts and donates food to many local events. For example The Greene Daybreak event, to benefit Dayton Daybreak. They also sponsor the “Derby Day Brunch” to benefit The Kettering Medical Center Foundation’s Women’s Wellness Fund. These are just some of the events they cater and support each year.

Ted Tolliver owner of the Jersey Mike’s Dayton stores and Regional Manager Larry, have donated tens of thousands to Dayton charities.

CITY BBQ: A regional chain out of Columbus, people really love their BBQ. We also love when the delicious food is catered to local charity events. City BBQ is at many of these outings. They also do a ton of internal donations to Veterans charities, Future Farmers of America (Ohio), Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Local cancer organziations, and Food Rescues. They also offer 25% event donations to school and booster groups as well as charities.

FIREHOUSE SUBS: These guys are known for their charity mission statement. Their Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation donates money for equipment for local firefighters. In October 2015, they celebrated a donation of $39,000 to the Kettering and Fairborn Fire Departments. Since the Foundation’s inception, they have donated $650,000 to Ohio Fire Stations.

JERSEY MIKE’S SUBS: Ted Tolliver owns the local franchises and he gives back to the community with passion. He has supported United Rehabilitation Services of Dayton in the past. In fact, upon each store opening he offered 10,000 free subs for a $1 donation to URS. Also, each year, during the month of March, customers are invited to come in to their local Jersey Mike’s restaurant and make a donation to a local designated charity partner. The campaign culminates in Jersey Mike’s “Day of Giving, a nationwide event. This day 100 percent of the day’s sales are donated to each local charity partner. Since 2011, Jersey Mike’s has raised more than $8.3 million for charities throughout the country. Ted has continually supported the United Rehabilitation Services of Dayton as his partner charity.

Submarine House donted over $15,000 to Dayton Children’s hospital last year.

LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE, MORAINE: From pancake breakfast benefits, to event donations, Longhorn is carrying on the tradition of the late manager, Bob Medlin, by continuing to donate to dozens of causes each year. If we listed all of the charities, it would run for pages. Dayton Hospice Walk, Shoes for the Shoeless and Brief Blessings, Back2Back Ministries, Big Brothers Big Sisters program of the Greater Miami Valley, Miracle League of Dayton are just of few of the dozens of causes they support.

Mike and Shannon Teague run their cake shop, “Cake, Hope and Love,” as one of the most giving businesses in Dayton

Chef House, The Big Ragu and Hungry Jax are proud to give a shout out to these fine people of Dayton who are making a difference in everyday people’s lives. Food Adventures would also like to say “Thank You” to these organizations, and a thank you to Dayton Most Metro for giving us a vehicle to present our weekly food scoop. Make sure you support these eateries that support the community.

There you have it, our list of some of the most generous and charitable restaurants.

DID WE MISS ANYONE ?? IF SO, PLEASE COMMENT BELOW, TO MAKE US AWARE OF THE CHARITABLE ESTABLISHMENT.

In the meantime, feel free to browse our gallery and “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking “HERE”

Happy New Year to you all !

Longhorn Steakhouse – the late great Bob Medlin lends a hand to March of Dime’s walk for babies

Chef Elizabeth Wiley uses Meadowlark and Wheat Penny often to support Miami Valley charities

Chef Liz Valenti and Wheat Penny support many Dayton Area causes, like this event for the local Leukemia Lymphoma Society

Young’s Dairy – eat their food like this tuna sandwich & cheese curds and know it will come back to the community

Firehouse subs – supporting local firefighters

Dayton Food Trivia, Rumors & Secrets You Don’t Know

October 2, 2014 By Dayton937 1 Comment

“Read my lips, I want a damn steak from the Pine Club !”

Today we release some secrets, and Dayton Dining will never be the same again. Call it “Dayton Babylon: Little known trivia relating to Dayton Food and Restaurants.”

Sit back and enjoy, as Food Adventures gives you our favorite foodie trivia of the Miami Valley:

1) THE INVENTOR OF MARION’S PIZZA USED TO BE AN EMPLOYEE OF CASSANO’S:
Yes it is true. Marion Glass was once an employee of Cassanos. After leaving, he opened up a sandwich shop, then later his own pizza place.

2) IN 1988, THE PINE CLUB MADE VICE PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH SR. WAIT 45 MINUTES FOR A TABLE:
Oh, this happened alright. As the story goes, the Vice Prez was forced to wait in his limo until the table was ready. That’s one popular steakhouse !

3) HOUDINI ESCAPES FROM A BARREL OF DAYTON BEER:
The date was December 11th, 1916. The place was at Keith’s Theater downtown, near E. Ludlow Street. Harry Houdini performed the Chinese Water Torture trick with a Dayton twist. He escaped from a 60 gallon barrel filled with Olt’s Beer, a Dayton brewed lager. Maybe Dayton Most Metro can do something similar with Big Ragu on their Brew Tours

Houdini Escaped From Inside a Barrel of Dayton Brewed Beer in 3 minutes

4) TOTENKO SERVES ROACHES TO FOOD CRITIC:
In the late 1970’s, Dayton Daily News Food Critic Ann Heller was writing one of her first articles on the Asian restaurant near the Dayton Mall called “Totenko.” When they served her meal, she noticed there were dead roaches in the food on her plate. The restaurant closed for a few days with the intent to re-open, but it never did. The business would later become Chi Chi’s on State Route 725.

5) THE WRIGHT BROTHERS WERE FOODIES WHO HOSTED HOLIDAY DINNER PARTIES:
The Wright Brothers were known for hosting extravagant dinners at their homes each holiday. They would invite friends and family for these tremendous feasts. Nothing like the food served by today’s airlines…

6) IN 1842, FAMOUS ENGLISH AUTHOR, CHARLES DICKENS, VISITED THE GOLDEN LAMB WEARING A BEAVER HAT AND COMPLAINED BECAUSE THE HOTEL DID NOT SERVE ALCOHOL.
Evidently, he asked for some brandy and was refused due to it being a “temperance hotel” (no alcohol). He even wrote a pissed off passage in his American memoirs about the experience. Sorry Charlie …

7) MIKESELLS IS THE OLDEST POTATO CHIP FACTORY IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE WRIGHT BROTHERS HELPED:
Dayton is home to the oldest potato chip company in the USA, 104 years old and still counting! The kettle cooked Mikesells are pretty much the same chips DW Mikesell peddled in 1910. Speaking of which, when he first starting delivering chips by bicycle, his bike needed repair. The Wright Brother’s bicycle company came to the rescue and DW Mikesell was back delivering chips in no time !

8) THAI 9 USED TO BE A PEANUT FACTORY:
Love the spacious dining room with the wooden floors and upstairs area? That’s because the place used to be a peanut factory. That’s what we were told by management when the restaurant first opened.

Charles Dickens Normally Doesnt ask to Drink Brandy in a Beaver Hat, But When He Does, it is at The Golden Lamb

9) ESTHER PRICE CANDIES USES LOCALLY PRODUCED MILK AND BUTTER IN ALL OF THEIR CANDIES:
How about that, Esther Price was being organic and eating local, before it was cool. You go girl. No wonder we love these chocolates so much! Get on with your bad, creamy self.

10) THE BAR AT JAY’S SEAFOOD HOUSE WAS MADE IN 1882 for JAMES RITTY’S PONY EXPRESS RESTAURANT IN DAYTON:
If you have had a beer or cocktail at the Jay’s Seafood bar, then you have experienced a piece of Dayton history. This huge mahogany bar was made from 5400 pounds of wood. That makes it the coolest bar in town … bar none.

11) IN 1970, PONDEROSA APPOINTED DAYTONIAN JERRY OFFICE to CEO. HE GREW COMPANY REVENUE FROM $42 MILLION to $490 MILLION in the 1980’s:
Oh yes, wide ties, and aerobics with leg warmers couldn’t stop Jerry from bringing the supreme salad buffet to America! Check him out in this 1984 Ponderosa Commerical.

El Meson used to be Pizza Queen International. Click to Enlarge.

12) THE BAR AT SWEENEY’S SEAFOOD HOUSE IS THE OLD BAR FROM TEQUILA WILLIES BY THE DAYTON MALL:
A little known fact is that this decorative bar, now at Sweeney’s, was the bar at the Tequila Willies Restaurant near the Dayton Mall. The story goes, the previous tenant at Sweeney’s got it at auction and had it installed.

13) THE OWNERS OF PIZZA QUEEN CLOSED THEIR STORE TO OPEN THEIR DREAM RESTAURANT, EL MESON:
Yes, The Castro family decided to dump pizza toppings for tapas. Some Daytonians might have been disappointed at first, but now El Meson is a staple for bringing exotic South American eats to the Miami Valley.

14) THE HOT HEAD BURRITO FRANCHISES STARTED IN DAYTON:
Cynthia Wiley and Raymond Wiley from Kettering came up with the concept, and opened their first store in 2007. It has been a hot commodity since, and they haven’t let it go to their “heads.”

15) THE OLDEST ACTIVE CHINESE RESTAURANT IN DAYTON is CHOP SUEY CARRYOUT:
Since 1973, this oldest active Chinese Restaurant in the Dayton area has been slinging New York style stir fry and Cantonese cuisine. Try the Chop Suey, it will knock your Aunt Connie’s socks off.

16) THE PULL TAB CAN and POP TOP CAN WERE INVENTED BY DAYTON INVENTOR, ERMAL FRAZE:
Ermal’s company, Dayton Reliable Tool Company started making his invention in 1959. When people worried about the sharp edges of the pull tab, he then invented the pop top on today’s cans in 1977. Think of all the beer buzzes and caffeine fixes he made possible. He is obviously the namesake for Fraze Pavillion and the tribute in Warped Wing’s Ermal Beer.

The pull tab was invented by Ermal Fraze of Dayton

17) DAYTON WAS THE 2nd U.S. CITY TO IMPLEMENT THE FOOD STAMPS PROGRAM:
Dayton takes care of it’s impoverished residents.

18) INVENTOR OF THE ICE CREAM SCOOP WITH ANTIFREEZE INSIDE WAS THE OWNER OF THE RED WING ICE CREAM COMPANY IN DAYTON:
Ever use one of those ice cream scoops with antifreeze in it, so the hard ice cream is easy to scoop? According to the owner’s daughter, that scoop was invented in Dayton. Red Wing Ice Cream used to be located near the arcade. Now you know the “scoop.”

19) FOOD NETWORK CHEF MING TSAI’S FAMILY USED TO RUN A RESTAURANT IN THE 1970’s CALLED “THE MANDARIN KITCHEN”:
This restaurant was a pioneer in bringing gourmet Asian Food to Dayton. The Mandarin Kitchen had a cult following. Our memories include the restaurant having this amazing aroma throughout the dining room.

20) THE HAMBURGER WAGON IN MIAMISBURG STARTED BECAUSE OF THE GREAT DAYTON FLOOD OF 1913:
Sherman “Cocky” Porter served his own recipe of hamburgers to the victims of the flood out of a wagon. They were served with no condiments, just pickle, onion, salt and pepper. 101 years later, the wagon is still a Miamisburg and Dayton icon, and the recipe is still the same.

“Ain’t No Party Like a Wright Brothers Party, cuz a Wright Brother’s Party Don’t Stop “

21) CULP’S CAFE IN THE ARCADE WAS THE FIRST DAYTON RESTAURANT TO HAVE AIR CONDITIONING:
People like the sweaty Big Ragu appreciated this. The restaurants hayday was in the 1940’s when they served 5,000 customers a day. Yes, we said each day. The “new” Culp’s Cafe is in Historic Carrillon Park. It is also a ‘cool’ place to hang out ..

22) ORVILLE WRIGHT USED TO TEACH HIS NIECES AND NEPHEWS HOW TO MAKE FUDGE AND HARD CANDY:
Nothing like keeping the kids occupied with a little foodie fun. If things had went differently, he could have been Dayton’s version of Willy Wonka !

23) BRIXX ICE COMPANY IS NAMED BECAUSE THE BUILDING WAS ACTUALLY AN ICE COMPANY THAT SUPPLIED DAYTON IN THE LATE 1800’s:
The restaurant across from the Dayton Dragon’s stadium, used to be an ice company that supplied most of Dayton with ice. They were singing “Ice, Ice, Baby” back in the day!

24) ICE CUBE TRAYS AND FREON REFRIGERANT WERE BOTH DAYTON INVENTIONS.
Ice cube trays were invented in 1959 by Arthur Frei, while Freon Refrigerant was invented by Thomas Midgley Jr. in 1928.

Bet Ya Didnt Know That the Ice Cube Tray Was Invented in Dayton…

25) THE TROPICS, AN ICONIC RESTAURANT ON NORTH MAIN STREET, BROUGHT IN CHEFS FROM CHICAGO.
Now we know how they made their one of a kind cuisine. Luring “windy city chefs” in with lucrative deals. This restaurant seated 700 people at it’s peak during the 60’s and 70’s. At that time it was one of America’s top rated restaurants.

That’s it, thats the list .. hope you found some fun facts ,a and interesting conversation pieces you may not have known. Dayton has a great history of food, and now you know a little more about it!

Did you like our story on Dayton Food Trivia? Then make sure you “like” Food Adventures with Big Ragu and the Crew on FACEBOOK by clicking HERE !!

Check out the gallery below of funny photos relating to Dayton food trivia !

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Pete Rose & Cassano’s Team up for a Food Adventure

April 1, 2014 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Chip Cassano, Chris Cassano and Pete Rose Announce a Promotional Partnership

The Hit King and the Pizza King were together again for a mini press conference held at the Cassano’s offices on Stroop Rd. today promoting a Food Adventure of sorts.

Dayton Most Metro’s own Big Ragu was on hand and even asked Pete Rose “What’s Your Favorite Toppings on a Cassano’s Pizza?”

Pete Rose’s replied with a smile, “Pepperoni and Extra Cheese.”

The hit king was in town promoting his “4192: An Evening with Pete Rose LIVE” event to be held at the Fraze June 24th, 2014. Cassano’s was also celebrating their 60th Anniversary, and giving away a corvette June 24th as well.

It was nice seeing Ohio icons like the Cassano family and Pete Rose, side by side. Pete told stories of playing baseball in Dayton in 1960, before he signed with the Reds and how Cassano’s pizza was a favorite of his. He is definitely no stranger to the signature thin crust and square slices. At the press conference held Tuesday April 1st, Pete told a couple of stories about what Dayton means to him. He also told tales of baseball, Tony Perez and his hopes for his son, Pete Jr. to someday manage the Dayton Dragons, and maybe even the Reds. We hope so too Pete !!

****WANT TO SEE PETE ROSE LIVE or GET A CHANCE TO WIN THE CASSANO’s 60th ANNIVERSARY CORVETTE ???****

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

New Corvette to be given away to celebrate Cassano’s 60th Anniversary

— Get tickets to the event “4192: An Evening with Pete Rose LIVE” by clicking HERE

— Get a shot at winning the Cassano’s 60th Anniversary Corvette by ordering an Xtra Large Pizza at Cassanos.

Thank you to Lora, Chip, Chris Cassano and Pete Rose for allowing Food Adventures and Dayton Most Metro to be a part of this announcement!!

You bet you will see The Big Ragu at the June 24th event at The Fraze. In the meantime, we will be ordering some XL Pizzas for a chance to drive away the brand new corvette ! We call this one a MUST EAT and a MUST PETE !!

Long live the Hit King and the Pizza King !!

Check out our photos below from today’s press conference in Kettering, and of course, our lunch ! “Like” Food Adventures with Big Ragu and the Crew on Facebook HERE !

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The Fearsome 15: Top Guilty Food Pleasures in Dayton

October 24, 2013 By Dayton937 1 Comment

Frisch’s Hot Fudge Cake is Sinful

We all have them, we all need them… guilty pleasures. As we get older, we try to eat healthier, but once in a while, you gotta splurge. Dayton is a great place to do so. Sure, there is fear in seeing the calorie count, and scary scale readings the following week… but sometimes you gotta have a ghastly, full blown Food Adventure.

So without further ado, we present present our list of the Top 15 Guilty Food Pleasures of the Dayton Area:

15) THE FOOTLONG CHILI DOG at THE ROOT BEER STANDE: Long and strong, we came to get the friction on. This wiener is a mouthful of goodness and a ruined shirt waiting to happen. Eat it in your car, roll up the windows so no one can see,. But we know… this is one of your guilty pleasures.

14) FRICKER’S RIBS & WINGS DINNER: This huge meal comes with a half rack of ribs, those famous fried chicken wings, cole slaw, roll and an side. Finger lickin’ good, and a naughty belt buster for sure.

13) THE PEANUT BUTTER SUNDAE at JET FREEZE: Homemade peanut butter sauce, ice cream, whip cream, nuts and a cherry on top. The peanut butter sauce alone is so sinful that it catapults it onto the list.

12) THE BROOKYLYN BRAWLER PIZZA at JOHNNY’S SLICE of NY: When you serve a giant, stuffed pizza as big as a spare tire, it has to be a guilty pleasure. Big eaters of the Miami Valley come from far and wide not only to eat this giant creation, but to see if 2 of them can finish it in 30 minutes or less to get on the wall of fame. Filled with various meats and cheeses, this guilty pleasure is for serious eaters.

11) THE SEAFOOD PLATTER at TREASURE ISLAND: Deep fried scallops, a cod filet, frog legs, fried shrimp and stuffed crab on a plate with 2 sides. You can taste it all, but don’t test your cholesterol that day. The over the top moment of this dinner is when they serve you some drawn butter for dipping. Oh, behave !

10) ALL-YOU-CAN EAT FISH at the HASTY TASTY PANCAKE HOUSE: For just $7.25, you can literally fill yourself to the gills. Breaded and crispy, it is one of the best ‘bangs for your buck’ as far as sinful meals go. The fish is Alaskan pollock, and when you add the sides, rolls and butter slabs, the wheels come off the diet train.

9) BROASTED CHICKEN at GEORGE’S FAMILY RESTAURANT: Deep fried in a pressure cooker, this stuff is guilty fun for the while family. Moist inside, the chicken is always cooked to perfection. Get some heavenly comfort food sides and complete this trip to dream street.

North China’s Crispy Shrimp: Rich, Spicy Flavor with a Touch of Sweetness

8) CRISPY SHRIMP at NORTH CHINA: One of our favorite Chinese restaurants serves us a sweet sauced, deep fried shrimp dish that will knock you on your socks. The taste, the crunch, the bites of sauce mixed with rice. Overdone richness? Guilty as charged.

7) POTATO SKIN CUPS at ANGIE’S FIREHOUSE: Stuffed with chili, bacon, onions, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, green onions, jalapenos and sour cream they are a beautiful piece of work. You will find yourself eating an entire plate of these and passing out in a food coma.

6) BISCUITS & GRAVY at TANK’S: Delicious, artery clogging goodness. Although this legendary spot on Wayne Avenue has many treasures, we find this to be our most guilty pleasure.

5) THE HOT FUDGE CAKE at FRISCH’S: We know, this is semi-local and more of a regional treat, but it deserves a spot on our list. Hot, steaming fudge, hitting the cool cake and ice cream. The feeling of the whip cream and hot fudge on your lips is worth every calorie.

4) THE PANZAROTTI at MAMMA DISALVO’S: This is pretty much a calzone that is the size of a small kid. Imagine an extra large pizza full of toppings and cheese, that has been folded in half. Served with dipping sauce, it is like cutting into a turkey to begin eating. Go all out and dip your forkfuls into marina or ranch. It is absolutely delicious.

Click to Enlarge: Broasted Chicken from George’s Family Restaurant

3) THE HOG BURGER at VOLTZY’s: Voltzy says he named the burger after his ex-wife. All we know is that this mammoth 20 ounce burger melts in your mouth, and you find yourself saying “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.”

2) CASSANO’S BIG CHEESE PIZZA: Like Vic Cassano Sr said “It’s one heck of a pizza.” That famous Cassano’s crust and sauce, loaded with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, olives and finished off with a m0und of cheese. The proof is in the taste.

The Big Bo BJ Breakfast Sandwich from B&B Carryout

1) THE “BIG BO BJ” at B&B CARRYOUT: Get your mind out of the gutter, this is a breakfast sandwich. And it is one helluva guilty pleasure. This craziness is a bun with sausage, a fried egg, a hash brown patty, American cheese,strips of bacon and hot pepper cheese. You won’t feel that guilty, because the every bite is just so darn good. A handful of greasy, gooeyness, with great flavor. If you haven’t tried the Big Bo BJ, you need to grab yourself one.

Do you feel guilty yet? Naughty nibbles indeed. Honorable Mention to : Paragon Supper Club’s Paragon Supreme Dessert- a peanut butter and chocolate ice cream mousse, Marion’s Super Cheese Pizza – delicious, Tank’s Chili Cheese Fries-out of this world, and Submarine House’s Super Duper Cheesesteak– triple the meat and cheese & 16 inches long.

DID WE LEAVE ANY OUT? WHICH OF YOUR FAVORITE GUILTY PLEASURES SHOULD WE HAVE INCLUDED IN OUR LIST??

Please comment below and let us know !

For more fun from Dayton’s one-of-a-kind foodies visit FOOD ADVENTURES with THE BIG RAGU, CHEF HOUSE and HUNGRY JAX on FACEBOOK and “like” us HERE .

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Heart Shaped Foods for Valentine’s Day

February 13, 2013 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

Want to show your sweetheart you care? Present them with their favorite food shaped as a heart! Pizza places have been doing this for a while and you can pick up one to bake yourself or have your affection delivered:

Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N Bake Pizza is offering its famous “The HeartBaker” for just $7.

5662 Springboro Pike, Springboro (937) 395-0408
4052 Wilmington Pike, Kettering (937) 299-7272
1195 N Fairfield Rd, Beavercreek (937) 427-7500

Cassano’s, The Pizza King, offers a large Pepperoni Heart shaped pizza delivered for $12.99.
With ove 20 area locations, there’s sure to be one near you. You can use their centralized
online ordering or call 037-294-KING to send your “heartfelt” pizza sentiments.

Pappa John’s is offering a large one topping heart shaped pizza for $15.

Moore Desserts Please in Oakwood is baking up Heart shaped red velvet brownies- call ahead to reserve. I’m betting every bakery in town has something special to offer, use our guide of over 40 local bakeries to find one near you.

Dunkin’ Donuts is again offeing their heart-shaped donuts. The Brownie Batter Donut is filled with chocolaty brownie batter filling, topped with chocolate icing and white sprinkles. The Cupid’s Choice Donut is a heart-shaped donut filled with Bavarian Kreme, topped with strawberry flavored icing and a festive mix of pink, white and red heart-shaped sprinkles. Both donuts will be available at participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants nationwide through the end of February.

I was surprised to find only one location when google searching. It’s at 777 Springboro Pike, just north of the Dayton Mal

If you’re willing to make your own food, there are dozens of sites offering suggestions from the simple like heart shaped muffins, heart shaped tortelini’s,hard boiled eggs and my favorite, heart shaped bacon! You can lose yourself on Pinterest
just checking out pictures of heart shaped treats and marveling at the cleverness of these artists. Many of them have step be step instructions for how to create hearts from anything. Check out this site that documents some of the the weirdest heart-shaped food.

Of course there are plenty of other ways to show someone you care on February 14th, check out this article with lots of local special events to share with your love.