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44 Years of Flying Pizzas ** Win a Large Pizza **

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The Sicilian Square and a Hand Tossed slice in the back

Dough can be seen flying in the air through the windows at 223 N Main Street in downtown Dayton.  The familiar window sign, hustle and bustle is all part of “The Original Flying Pizza.”

The owners, the Graci family have been tossing pizzas downtown for 44 years, and they are still going strong.  One slice at a time, they have stolen the hearts and stomachs of many Daytonians by serving their special New York Style Pizza recipe.

 

 ** YOU CAN WIN ONE OF THESE LARGE, 1 topping PIZZAS BY COMMENTING BELOW (winner chosen at random).**

 

How did a mom and pop from Sicily, make their American dream come true?  Only Food Adventures has the scoop!

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON HOW FLYING PIZZA BECAME A DAYTON ICON:

Brothers Tony and Frank Graci share a laugh at the pizza shop

FROM SICILY to THE USA :
In 1958, long before becoming icons in Dayton, John Graci and his wife Frances left Sicily for the United States.  They settled in New York City.  After getting a job at “Sam’s Pizza,”  John honed his pizza making skills.  In a twist of fate, that building would soon be torn down to build the World Trade Center.

 

FROM NEW YORK CITY to DAYTON, OHIO:
John and Frances decided to drive and visit John’s brother and his girlfriend who were in Middletown Ohio.   As fate would have it, they got a flat tire in Dayton.  John and Frances thought Dayton was a vibrant, fun city and full of life, with a lot going on.  They thought it would be a great place to raise a family.  The Graci family left the Big Apple for the Gem City.  Before you know it, in 1971 they had their own pizza shop downtown.  They had two sons, Tony and Frank.  John and his pizza were becoming a favorite, and he was even appearing on TV on Clubhouse 22 with Duffy the Dog and Malcom, showing his pizza tossing skills.

That was the early 70’s and the pizza business continued to grow in the 80’s and 90’s with cousins opening  stores in Columbus, Mason, Fairborn and Centerville.

 

The Original Flying Pizza Downtown

PRESENT DAY – THE ORIGINAL FLYING PIZZA DOWNTOWN, 2015
Now, the next generation runs day to day operations downtown.  Tony and Frank Graci can be found greeting customers and slicing pies daily.  They still use that patented “Graci dough toss” every day.

— The Orginal Flying Pizza is located at 223 North Main Street in Downtown Dayton

— NY style pizza by the slice, or whole pies.

— Two types of pizza: (You can win a large one topping pizza free by commenting below)
1) Hand tossed NY style huge slices
2) Sicilian Squares – a thick, more bread like crust topped with special tomato sauce (old school)

— They have calzones and desserts too

— Hours are Mon – Sat 10:30am -7pm, closed Sundays

— They serve beer, as well as host private parties

— There is a parking garage and you get the first 30 minutes free if you ask the cashier for a parking validation

Now you know the story, so let’s dive into the food….

A Slice of Cheese Hand Tossed on the right, a Sicilian Slice of Cheese on the left

Ladies and gentlemen, we now present The Original Flying Pizza’s “Must Eats.”

 

MUST EATS:

— HAND TOSSED CHEESE PIZZA (SLICE or WHOLE PIE):  This is it, the mainstay, the staple, the foundation of a Dayton icon.  The mozzarella cheese is perfect, the sauce is perfect, the dough is perfect… every time.  They call it “Neapolitan Pizza” which is the name for the style of pizza made in Naples, Italy.

WHEN YOU BUY A SLICE:  The slices are big.  If you order one, they turn around and heat it up in the oven for a couple of minutes.  It will be hot as hell when you get it.  We burn our mouth every time.  You have been warned.

WHEN YOU BUY A PIE: It doesn’t matter if you fold it and eat it or let it hang and get under it.  This stuff is the best.  They tape the box closed to piss off those of you who want to steal a slice on the way home.

 

Frank Graci lets some dough fly at Flying Pizza, Downtown Dayton

— THE SICILIAN SQUARE CHEESE PIZZA:  A thicker, more bread like crust, rubbed with olive oil and dusted with garlic and a special marinara sauce.  The ending finish is the thick sprinkles of melted mozzarella cheese.  It is the cap, on a piece of perfection.

WHEN YOU BUY A SLICE:  The slices are Big Squares.  Every piece has crust,  some have one side of crust, corner pieces have 2 sides,.  Very filling, very good.

WHEN YOU BUY A PIE:  A big square  pizza either 6 or 9 pieces.  This stuff is so simple and delicious, yet different than any pizza you have ever tried.

 

— THE CALZONE: The secret here is they use ricotta cheese in the calzones.  The fresh dough seals the deal, literally.  The only drawback is that every calzone is Pepperoni and Sausage, so deal with it.  Yes, they have one type of calzone.

 

— SIDE OF 3 MEATBALLS SAUCE and CHEESE: All beef meatballs, marinara and mozzarella, they heat it up, you eat it down.  It is like a bowl of cereal for Italian people.

 

Honorable Mention:  The BREADSTICKS at the Centerville location are the closest things to the old Noble Romans that we have ever eaten.

 

So there is your guide to another epic Food Adventure.

Now take a chance at winning a FREE LARGE PIZZA with ONE TOPPING by leaving a COMMENT BELOW!

A winner will be chosen at random on SATURDAY…

And don’t forget to”like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking here!

Pepperoni and Sausage Calzone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meatballs in sauce with cheese

A peek inside the breadstick bag from the Centerville location

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Centerville location bread sticks

Bite into a Square

We buy Pizzas from Flying Pizza and steal slices on the way home

Sicilian Square

The Big Ragu and Tony Graci from Flying Pizza

Deluxe Slice

 

 

 

 

Slices of heaven

a view to a crust

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frank is able to take phone orders and spin pies at the same time

Sausage slice

2 Dayton Icons

Mikesells and Flying Pizza – matched perfectly

Top that

Special stuff

Door to the famous Original Flying Pizza !

Deluxe love

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clubhouse 22 – Duffy the dog, Malcolm McCloud and John Graci

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meatballs, sauce and cheese

Fork a piece of meatball

Calzones and dipping sauces

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yankee Trace Friday Fish Frys Return

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$14.95 All You Can Eat Fish Frys Through Nov. 20th

The Golf Club at Yankee Trace has brought back their fish frys for a limited time this fall, and the Food Adventures Crew has the scoop.  The “All U Can Eat” events will happen each Friday night from 5pm-9pm at the restaurant inside the clubhouse.  The tradition continues through November 20th, and will return during Lenten season as it has for many years.  the hand breaded haddock is some of the best in town, and the fact that it is endless, means you wont walk away hungry.  Each dinner comes with endless deep fried haddock, cole slaw and french fries.  Here is the down low on one of the best kept secrets in Centerville.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— WHAT: Friday Evening Fish Fry Dinners

— WHERE: The Golf Club at Yankee Trace’s Restaurant, 10000 Yankee St., Centerville Ohio 45458

— WHEN: Every Friday night 5pm-9pm from now through November 20th

— COST: $14.95 per person

** Important: Reservations are required (937) 438-3585

 

Swim up to Yankee Trace and dive in to this deal.  An all you can eat Food Adventure awaits!

Follow The Food Adventures of Hungry Jax, The Big Ragu and Chef House on Facebook by clicking here and “liking” our page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now until Nov 20th, Fish Fry Fridays !

Haddock

Dining Area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dog’s Breath Tavern Hosts “Buckets & Trucks”

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“Buckets and Trucks” every Thursday in October

Each Thursday, for the rest of October, The Dogs Breath Tavern in Kettering will be featuring an event called “Buckets & Trucks.”   On these nights, a couple of featured food trucks will invade the parking lot on 1912 E. Whipp Rd., and the bar will host domestic buckets of beer for 11 bucks.

October 15th, the featured Food Trucks will be Hunger Paynes and Dayton Urban BBQ.  It promises to be a good night for a Food Adventure.  Trucks will be ready to serve by 5pm and will be there until about 9pm.

Hunger Paynes is known for their “croquette” style menu and the BBQ from Dayton Urban is terrific, especially the pulled pork sandwich.

 

Here are our TOP 5 MUST EATS for the night:

— PULLED PORK SANDWICH from DAYTON URBAN BBQ:
Good, and a little sloppy when that cole slaw is added.  You won’t care, it is worth every bite.

 

— SALMON CROQUETTES from HUNGER PAYNES:  
Crunchy on the outside, soft and tasty on the inside.  A Food Adventure favorite.

 

Dayton Urban BBQ Food Truck will be at Dog’s Breath on Thursday 5pm

— DOUBLE BUTTER BURGER from DOG’S BREATH TAVERN:
A Mountainous burger, slapped with cheese in between.  A Big burger that will fill you up, and make you smile.

 

— MAC n CHEESE CROQUETTES from HUNGER PAYNES:
Gooey, and hot.  Love it served on a handful of homemade Saratoga chips.

 

— HOMEMADE “DOG BONES” from DOG’S BREATH TAVERN:
Flavors from Philly cheesesteak, to pulled pork and ham n cheese, these hand rolled egg rolls are stuffed with various favorite fillings on site.

 

Come out to Dog’s Breath Tavern for a chance to visit two great food trucks, and get some drink specials.  Please note that menus are subject to change and that new creations may be better than anything we have tasted yet!  We hope we gave you a tip on what to look for for a great Food Adventure this Thursday evening.

So take advantage of “Buckets and Trucks” every Thursday in October at Dog’s Breath Tavern.

For more scoop on Food Adventures each week, follow us on Facebook and “like” us by clicking HERE.

 

Hunger Paynes Food Truck

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fried Mac N Cheese Croquettes from Hunger Paynes

Pulled pork from Dayton Urban BBQ

Ham n Cheese “dog bone” from Dog’s Breath Tavern

Dog Breath’s Double Butter Burger

Inside Dog’s Breath Tavern

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warped Wing Releases “Creep Show” in time for Amber Rose Ghost Hunt

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Warped Wing partners with The Amber Rose for a Food Adventure

Warped Wing Brewing Company has done it again with a new flavor of suds.  It is a Smoked Porter called “Creep Show.”  This Warped Wing release party is in conjunction with a Ghost Hunting Food Adventure at The Amber Rose, SATURDAY NIGHT, October 24th called “Creeps and Creaks.”

This is a one night only, one-of-a-kind ghost hunting happening.  Amber Rose Restaurant is giving unprecedented access to their basement and restaurant, for anyone who wants to see some spooks for themselves.   The party starts at 9pm and will feature a tour with paranormal experts and beers along the way.  The night will feature a tour with 3 stops, 3 beers and 3 appetizer stations.  After the tour, guests are welcome to explore on their own and enjoy cash bar drink specials until close.

So come stay out ’til 2am while hanging with some of Warped Wing’s finest, The Paranormal Investigation Team of Shelly, Kat and Alicia, Amber Rose owner Joe Castellano and The Food Adventures Crew of The Big Ragu, Hungry Jax and Chef House.

Creep Show – A Smoked Porter from Warped Wing

Spots are limited.   We only have room for 40 scared patrons.  Attendees will be anything from beer lovers, to amateur paranormal investigators. CLICK HERE TO GET TICKETS.   Bring your cameras, recorders or any other equipment you may have!

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

WHEN: SATURDAY NIGHT, OCTOBER 24th,  9pm – 2am

WHERE: The “Haunted” AMBER ROSE RESTAURANT, 1400 Valley Street

WHAT:  TOUR LEAD BY PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION TEAM

*** 3 Stop Tour Guide

*** 3 Beers

*** 3 Appetizers

*** Freedom to “ghost hunt” until 2am

AFTER PARTY: Open Ghost Chasing and Exploration, Cash Bar with Drink Specials and $1 menu until close…

 

STOP #1: UPSTAIRS 9PM –
The beer will be WARPED WING REVERENT RED IPA served with
SAUERBRATEN CROSTINIS, BACON MAC N CHEESE BITES and MINI-OPEN FACE REUBENS

 

STOP #2: THE BASEMENT: 
The beer will be WARPED WING’S CREEP SHOW (SMOKED PORTER) served with
GERMAN STYLE BBQ PORK on a PRETZEL ROLL

 

STOP # 3: THE MAIN DINING ROOM
The beer will be FLYING HEAD’S DOUBLE PUMPKIN served with
ROSE APPLE TARTS

 

COST: $25 includes gratuity (Pre-pay only)  

Tickets may be bought only through DaytonMostMetro by clicking HERE

DON’T FORGET THE AFTER PARTY until 2am: Explore the place yourself do your own Ghost Hunting,

Cash Bar with Drink Specials and special late night menu until 2am

 

 

So join this extra special night of spookiness, spirits, Amber Rose Food, ghost chasers and local beer!

It will be a WARPED night for sure.

Come hungry, come thirsty, and get ready for the CREEP SHOW !

Are you a Dayton Foodie?  Then join the 5,000+ fanatics on our Food Adventures Facebook Page by clicking HERE !

Warped Wing in the House ,, HAUNTED HOUSE !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This woman is said to be one of the friendly spirits at Amber Rose

Drink with the Food Adventure Crew All night

Chef TJ and Owner Joe

Outside the restaurant

Warped Wing’s Brewery – home of the new CREEP SHOW Beer

Enter for a night of food, creeps and drinks

Dayton’s Warped Wing Beer

CREEPS and CREAKS – a night of ghosts, beer and food

Partners for the event

Basement Beer

After Party will include $1 food menu and beer specials

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Osaka: New Buffet with Conveyor Belt Sushi

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Raw Salmon Sushi & Raw Salmon Sashimi

A new Japanese / Chinese Buffet called Osaka has opened behind the Dayton Mall and the Food Adventures Crew has the scoop after a few visits.  The newly remodeled building formerly housed Max & Erma’s for decades, and most recently Hazel Grill.  The place is basically a buffet, yet they are trying to distinguish themselves by doing a few things differently.

One attraction at Osaka, is the “Conveyor Belt of Sushi.”  Now, this is not the typical conveyor belt sushi at restaurants that winds its way around the dining area and is priced based on color of the plate you pick up.  No, this is just a side attraction and part of the “All You Can Eat” concept.

But this concept is a bit different at Osaka Sushi and Hibachi Buffet.

 

Owner/ Manager John Weng of Osaka Buffet

Gone are the metal steam pans, replaced by large family style, white serving dishes.  Each dish looks more appetizing.  Owner/Manager John Weng told us that this allows for a smaller quantity on each dish, in the hopes that no buffet item sits too long.  Beyond that, this buffet is similar to the ones you have seen in the past, although this one seems a little cleaner.

We have visited Osaka four times since it opened, and have tried virtually every menu item.  Here are the Food Adventure findings…

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Osaka Sushi & Hibachi Buffet is located at 8901 Kingsridge Dr.

— Buffet prices are as follows: Lunch = $8.95, Dinner = $14.95

— Not a fan of “All you can eat?,”  that’s ok ladies, you can order from a full Sushi, Japanese and Chinese Menu.

— Hours are: Monday – Saturday 10:30am – 10pm, Sundays 10:30am – 9:30pm

Prawns on the Buffet

— Buffet highlights include:

A sushi conveyor belt with plates of 2-3 pieces of sushi

A raw hibachi bar and grill, where you mix your ingredients and a hibachi cook stir fry’s your mixture with your choice of sauce.

Appetizer area and Main Entree bars

Soup, Fruit and Dessert areas

 

With dozens of menu items, what are the best eats?  From Duck to Crab Sushi, we sort through it all and give you our patented MUST EATS !

 

MUST EATS:

— THE SALMON SASHIMI:  Scope out the conveyor belt for the pieces of raw, sliced salmon with no rice.  These slices are fresh and melt in your mouth.  Absolutely the best item on the conveyor belt of love.

Spicy Crab sushi with Flying Fish roe on top

— THE HIBACHI RAW BAR & GRILL:  Take advantage of your own mini-Mongolian Grill.  Whatever your concoction of meats and veggies, may we suggest you ask for your mixture to be cooked in the Brown Hibachi Sauce.  It is absolutely delicious.

— SPICY CRAB SUSHI with FISH ROE on TOP:  These are easy to spot, because they have colorful fish eggs sprinkled on top of the sushi roll in colors of green,black or orange.

— THE CRAB ANGLE:  These huge, triangular deep fried snacks are STUFFED with crab and cream cheese.  The result is a big, filling couple of bites of cheesy goodness.

— THE DUNGENESS CRAB:  Hardshell crabs, cut in half and separated at the leg joints.  The leg joints are then battered and stir fried with a brown sauce.  The result is a crab crackin’, shell suckin’ good time.

— CHEESEY MUSSELS:  Baked Mussels in the shell, covered with creamy cheese mixture.  Perfect description would be “they’re heavenly.”

— RAW OYSTERS:  Rarely seen on buffets in Dayton, take advantage when you see these bad boys laying out on ice.

Honorable Mention: The Crab Nigiri Sushi was huge and delicious.  Also, the Fried Shrimp  are nothing short of addicting.

 

The Conveyor Belt of Sushi runs the entire time, replacing and adding plates constantly.

So there you have the lowdown on Osaka Sushi and Hibachi Buffet, the newest buffet in town. Smaller plates, less waste, fresher food

is their philosophy.  They have some great items, we are fans and hope the restaurant takes hold for a long time.

Osaka is a perfect place to push your pallet comfort zone.  Try new things from crawfish to frog legs.  Come out to Kingsridge Drive by the Dayton Mall and experience your own little Food Adventure.  P.S., the conveyor belt doesn’t work if you sit or stand on it … just kidding, but don’t try it anyway…

Want to try something fun?  Go to Facebook and “Like” Food Adventures by clicking here.  Join the thousands that like us on Facebook, and love us in their hearts.  Are you an Instagram Junkie?  Then follow us there at #dayton_foodies

In the meantime, browse the photos below from our visits to Osaka Sushi and Hibachi Buffet.

Serving plates, no steam pans – smaller quantities means fresher items

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A view of the Sushi Conveyor Belt in the corner of the Buffet Area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pepper Pork and General Tso’s Chicken

Crab Angle – These are incredible and gooey and cheesy and OMG

The sign out front on Kingsridge Dr.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baked Salmon

Stacking the sushi plates

Some Pink Sushi

Shrimp Tempura with Fish roe on Top

Half of the Buffet Area

Crab and Avacado roll

Crispy Duck !

Hibachi Area, Sushi Area and Buffet Area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raw Oysters on the Half Shell

Baked, Cheesey Mussells

 

 

 

Mini tiramisu

Dungeness Crab

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the best fried shrimp around

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A full plate at Osaka Sushi and Hibachi Buffet

Dungeness Crab – incredible stuff

Crab Nigiri – (Cooked Crab Sushi)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mussels with Cheese and Fish Roe on top

Shrimp and Crawfish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Desserts

Raw Oysters and Kimchee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crawfish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spicy Salmon and Avocado

Hibachi cooked right before your eyes

Fruit Bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salads

A night at Osaka

Food Adventure in Progress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sushi conveyor Belt

Raw ingredients for Hibachi

Serving Dishes instead of Steam Pan Raiders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Serving Dishes on the Buffet – smaller quantity on the plates, means fresher items

Who’s Food is Better? Italian Fest or Greek Fest?

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The Greek Fest Gyro – one of the joys of festival weekend

Two heavy hitters in the Dayton festival world go head to head every year for attendance the weekend after Labor Day.  These 2 festivals are the Greek Festival and the Italian Festival.  Why do they both hold their big events on the same weekend?  We don’t know, but we do know that when asked if they would move the festival to another weekend, both sides aren’t budging.

We decided to compare the festivals under our favorite topic.. FOOD.  What happens when these two ancient nations and cultures collide in a battle of the culinary worlds?  The food Adventures Crew asks you, Dayton…

Which festival has better food, GREEK FEST or ITALIAN FEST ?

Chef House, Hungry Jax and The Big Ragu have decided to put decades of eating experience at each festival to the test, with the most definitive and exhaustive comparison to date.   Most of these foods only come around once a year, so our mouths have been watering for months.

Which festival is the better Food Adventure?

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

The Cannoli from Italian Festival

— Dayton’s Italian Festival, called the “Fall Festa” by the people at the Sons of Italy is held at Bella Villa Hall at 2625 County Line Road.

     Hours are:
     Friday, Sept. 11 – 6pm to 11pm
     Saturday, Sept. 12 – Noon to 11pm
     Sunday, Sept. 13 – Noon to 8pm
***Admission and Parking are free.  Shuttle service available for parking from Reynolds & Reynolds lot.

 

— Dayton’s Greek Festival is held at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church at 500 Belmonte Park, North (next to Dayton Art Institute)

     Hours are:
     Friday, Sept. 11 – 11am to 11pm
     Saturday, Sept. 12 – 11am to 11pm
     Sunday, Sept. 13 – 11am to 6pm

***Admission: Friday from 11 am to 5 pm admission is FREE (come for lunch). The rest of the weekend, admission is  $2 per person, children 12 years and under are free,  Parking is free on streets surrounding the church.  Shuttle service available from Grandview Hospital, Shaw Avenue.  Grafton Medical Center Parking Lot on Forest Avenue and  Eye Clinic Parking Lot,Grand Avenue.

Time to lace up the gloves and put the napkins in your collar.. let’s find out who has the best food !

Loukoumades (honey puffs)

The Battle of the MUST EATS at the ITALIAN FEST vs. GREEK FEST HAS BEGUN !

 

*** ICONIC MAINSTAYS ***:

GREEK GYRO vs THE ITALIAN SAUSAGE SANDWICH
GREEK PASTITSIO vs ITALIAN CALZONES
GREEK MOUSSAKA vs ITALIAN MEATBALL SUB
GREEK PIZZAS vs ITALIAN PIZZAS

Chef House: Greece wins battle of the mainstays –
Big Ragu: Greece wins – The Gyro takes the cake and outshines them all
Hungry Jax: Italy wins battle of the mainstays – Meatball sub, please !

 

*** FULL BLOWN DINNERS*** :

ITALIAN STUFFED SHELLS DINNER vs GREEK LAMB SHANK DINNER
ITALIAN SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS vs GREEK CHICKEN DINNER

Chef House: Greece wins battle of the dinners with the Lamb Shank choice
Big Ragu: Italy wins with Stuffed Shells all day long
Hungry Jax: Greece wins the dinner battle in a close one

 

Cavatelli – a simple pasta dish at the Italian Fall Festa

***OFF THE BEATEN FOOD PATH***:

GREEK DOLMADES (STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES) vs ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP
GREEK TRIGONAS (SPINAKOPITA) vs ITALIAN CAVATELLI

Chef House: Greece wins, I love the Spinakopita the Dolmades are wonderful !
Big Ragu: Italy wins as Cavatelli has my heart !
Hungry Jax: Italy wins the off the beaten path battle. I want some wedding soup !

 

*** WINES,  BEERS & MORE ***:

ITALIAN PERONI BEER vs GREEK MARATHON BEER
ITALIAN RED MORETTI BEER and GREEK ALFA BEER
ITALIAN WINES vs GREEK WINES
ITALIAN RASPBERRY SPARKLETINI vs OUZO

Chef House: Greece wins, fuller tasting beer, Ouzo and I love their wines
Big Ragu: Italy wins because of the Sparkletini but tell the boss that the Moretti regular lager is sorely missing
Hungry Jax: Italy wins the battle of the wines, beers and more…

 

A Spinach Pie (Spinakopita) and a Cheese Pie (Trigona) from the Greek Festival

*** DESSERTS AND PASTRIES ***:
GREEK BAKLAVA vs ITALIAN CANNOLI
GREEK LOUKOUMADES (HONEY PUFFS) vs ITALIAN TIRAMISU
GREEK PASTRY BOOTH vs ITALIAN COOKIE BOOTH

Chef House: Greece wins the dessert battle – the baklava and pastry booth is amazing.
Big Ragu: Italy wins – lock me in a room with Tiramisu and Cannoli
Hungry Jax: Italy all the way in the desserts and pastry battle

 

What is your take on who has the better food? Tell us with your comments below.

In the meantime here are 3 little known eats from each festival that are some of our favorites:

GREEK FEST  –
BAKLAVA SUNDAE – Maybe the best thing at Greek Fest
GREEK FRIES – lemon juice drizzled with seasonings make this a nice treat
GREEK LEMONADE – Refreshing on a festival day – add a little alcohol to boot 

 

ITALIAN FEST –
RASPBERRY SPARKLETINI CHAMPAGNE – this stuff is the most addicting thing at the festivals

Stuffed Shell dinner

PASTA FAGIOLI SOUP – Dark horse of good eats
SFINGI – Italian funnel cake – see if they will deep fry a cannoli for ya too !

 

On a non-food note, Chef House wants to make sure that the Greek Fest gets a shout out for the incredible dancers.  The Big Ragu loves the band led by George Karras.  Hungry Jax has been known to cut a rug at the Italian Festival to some traditional Italian American classic songs as well.

 

We learned one thing today – YOU CANT LOSE WITH A FOOD ADVENTURE TO EITHER FESTIVAL.. YOU JUST HAVE TO KNOW WHAT TO EAT !!

 

For more scoop on Dayton’s best foodie spots, “Like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE

Browse the photos below for a full view of the festival foods !

Greek Beer

Lamb Shank Dinner

Pastitio at Greek fest

Greek Pizza

Italian Fest Raspberry Sparkletini chug

Italian cookies

Greek Baklava

Greek Fries

Italian Pizza

Greek Beers and Gyros

Ahh zoop , zoopa doop.. Italian soups 1

Italian sausages

Greek Pastries

Calzone Guy

Italian Fest Pizza

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haunted Dayton Beer Dinner Returns to Amber Rose

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“Rhinegeists and Poltergeists 2” is coming BACK to the Amber Rose on Friday night October 2nd.  This is the long awaited return of the successful 4 course, 4 beer dinner. Tickets are pre-pay only (CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS).  Earlier this year, the event sold out and over 110 people packed the private, upstairs area of the “haunted” Amber Rose Restaurant.

 

POLTERGEISTS:

For the last 20 years, staff at the restaurant say that there are ghosts and apparitions that appear at all times of the day.  There are also claims of unexplained phenomena such as glasses and dishes being tossed, lights going on and off and more.  One of the ghosts  is believed to be the daughter of the former house owner.  She is a playful spirit named Genevieve Ksiezopolski aka “Chickie.”  Does she haunt the restaurant?  Take for example this incident, where a cook claimed to see a full apparition of a lady in a long dress who walked into the room, then turned and walked away. When the frightened cook alerted the staff, they quickly pulled the security surveillance camera footage.  CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT THEY SAW ON THE SECURITY CAMERA.

Join us and 100 foodies for Rhinegeists and Poltergeists

 

NEW FINDINGS:

For the last couple of months, an independent paranormal investigating team has been taking sound samples, photos, and kinetic energy studies and have made some new findings.  We unveil the new evidence on October 2nd,  and also highlight some of the discoveries from the past investigations done by the three person team.    Independent Paranormal Investigators Kat Powell and Shelly Suittor met in 1999 as tour guides for the Ohio State Reformatory, Prospect Place, and Snow Hill Country Club and teamed up with Alicia Soich in 2012,  This “ghost hunter” crew has appeared on National Television!  Their work has been featured in “America’s Most Haunted,” “My Ghost Story”, and Haunted Ohio VI. They’ve logged hundreds of hours of field research and private investigations across the state.

What will their findings be?  Will they be contacted by “Chickie” or some other poltergeist?

This promises to be one the biggest and goosebump raising Food Adventures to date. We are expecting a sellout crowd of over 100 foodies, beer lovers and fans of the supernatural.

Hunter Schnitzel

Hungry Jax, The Big Ragu and Chef House will stick  after the dinner for some cash bar drink specials and a keg tapping.  We will be talking beers and ghosts with attendees.  The paranormal investigators will answer questions as well.

Prepare to be creeped out !!

 

WHAT:  “Rhinegeists and Poltergeists” Food Adventure 4 course dinner, with 4 beer pairings.  Seating is limited to 100 frightful foodies!

WHERE:  The Amber Rose Restaurant on 1400 Valley Street in Dayton

WHEN:  Friday Night, October 2nd, 2015 at  7pm

COST: $35 per person – includes gratuity

TICKETS ARE PRE-PAY ONLY and ARE ONLY AVAILABLE HERE – seating is LIMITED !!

***FEATURES: EVERY attendee gets a souvenir pint glass from Rhinegeist Brewery.  There will also be door prizes, trivia and of course the “PARANORMAL FINDINGS” and evidence presentations!  Do ghosts exist at Amber Rose?  You be the judge!

 

FOOD MENU:

Owner Joe Castellano and Chef TJ have put together the following four course meal:

Rhinegeist Brewers will be in the house talking about their beers

COURSE 1:  Sauerkraut Balls and German Bier Cheese Dip
COURSE 2: Beer Braised Bratwurst & Knock-wurst with Hot German Potato Salad
COURSE 3: Hunter Schnitzel with Amber Rose Bacon Sauerkraut
COURSE 4: Black Forest Strudel

 

Trevor from Rhinegeist Brewery will be on hand educating the crowd about his Cincinnati Brewery and their philosophy on beer.

RHINEGEISTS: 
BEER 1: Rhinegeist – German Style Hefeweizen
BEER 2: Rhinegeist – Oktoberfest
BEER 3: Rhinegeist – Seasonal Special Release!
BEER 4: Rhinegeist – A Surprise Tapping!

AFTER PARTY:  Cash Bar Downstairs, Special Keg Tapings, Drink Specials

Join the Food Adventure crew for RHINEGEISTS and POLTERGEISTS – get your tickets for this beer dinner here!

Make sure you “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE

Chef House and Hungry Jax at RhineGeists and Poltergeists #1 in April 2015

The ghost thought to haunt AMBER ROSE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chef House and Hungry Jax take in the ghostly evidence

Rhinegiests and Poltergeists 2 !

You may see a GHOST

Madame Ragu believes in ghosts

Hey tiger – grab a Rhinegeist on Oct 2nd with us

Hungry Jax, Trevor from Rhinegeist, Paranormal investigator Shelly, Big Ragu and Amber Rose owner Joe Castellano

Door prizes from our last event

Independent Paranormal Investigative team of Alicia, Shelly and Kat

Chef House and Hungry Jax at the first Rhinegeist & Poltergeists dinner !

The food at Amber Rose is Lithuanian Style and delicious

Grab your Wiener Schnitzel with us October 2nd

HAUNTED ! Don’t believe us? See for yourself !

Amber Rose – good food and ghosts inside

October 2nd – we cross the streams

Bier Cheese – we want a bucket of this stuff

Who ya gonna call ??

Bratwurst and Sweet Sauerkraut

Cougars are welcome

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Say It Ain’t So, Rinaldo !

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Rinaldo’s Bakery – 45 years comes to a close

One of Dayton’s Iconic bakeries is closing September 14th.  No more huge elephant ears, half moon cookies, Italian wedding cake, tiramisu, or “adult” birthday cakes.  Rinaldo’s Bake Shoppe, located just north of downtown at  at 910 Fairview Ave., plans on closing its doors forever in less than 2 weeks.

The Food Adventure is over for Rinaldo and Anna Stolfo, who came to Dayton from Italy and have been making baked goods for 45 years.  The bakery has been a staple for local Italian specialties and Kosher items.    The closing will come a day after the Dayton Italian Festival weekend aka “Fall Festa,” which depends on Rinaldo’s Bakery for many dessert items.  The date of closing also coincides with  the first day of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

Rinaldo and Anna’s son, John had taken over most of the operations of the bakery, but John’s health concerns and the work load proved too much for the family to keep bearing.   Daytonians will miss this one of a kind bakery.

We at Dayton Most Metro and Food Adventures would like to congratulate the Stolfo family on the success of their life’s work, since opening the bakery in 1970.  Every time we visited we were met with a smile, and treated like family.  We have enjoyed spending time with the family at the Bella Villa Hall as club members, and appreciate all the specialty cookies they made for us and each specialty cake that made our party a success.

Want more scoop on local food places in Dayton?  Are you a foodie?  Then like Food Adventures here on Facebook.

Italian Wedding Cake

Half Moons

Florentine Cookies

Pizzelles

Inside the bakery

Pinwheels

Wedding Cakes

Ginger Bread Men

Cookies, Cookies

Bakery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thinking Outside the Kid’s Lunch Box

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“Banana Dog” – a fun twist on PB&J

It feels like summer barely started and here we are already looking to start another school year! It’s that time of year again where we make sure our kiddos have the necessary supplies, new clothes and even technology to start the school year off right. In addition to being so conscious about your student’s educational needs, let’s explore some creative and delicious options for their appetites!

After all, Food Adventures aren’t just for adults !  Dayton Most Metro’s resident foodie mom, Hungry Jax, is here for some tips on making the most of your children’s school lunches!

 

EQUIPMENT:

First, let’s talk about the lunch box hardware that is helpful for making health, fun and easy lunches. Obviously, a good lunch box that has a thermal lining will help keep foods fresh and flavorful while it hangs out in your kid’s locker or coatroom. Buy a mini ice pack to toss into the lunch box/bag to further ensure their food stays cold.

Depending on beverages that your child prefers at lunch, a good thermos to keep water, milk or juice cold is also important. Finally, there are so many lunch container options that help parents create their own “bento box” for kids on the market. You can find many options in the food storage aisle of your local grocery store.

 

SUN-BUTTER:

While peanut butter and jelly has always been a fantastic “go to” for school lunches, these days many schools are not allowing nut butters due to allergy concerns for their students. A close alternative is using Sun-butter, which is made from sunflower seeds. Sun-butter has a very similar taste and consistency to peanut butter! Some kids might notice the difference right away, but keep offering it to them and they eventually will get used to it. You can find sun-butter in most grocery stores in the natural foods section.

 

TOO CRUSTY?

Do your kids not like the crust on their sandwiches? Get creative! Use large cookie cutters to cut their sandwiches into fun shapes! You can also buy actually sandwich cutters that are made to cut the shapes out to as close as the edge as possible so as to not waste any food.

 

Now THIS is a fruit roll-up!

Now THIS is a fruit roll-up!

TORTILLAS TO THE RESCUE:

Hungry Jax will vouch that when in doubt, put food rolled up into a tortilla and a kid will eat it. Just about any sandwich filling can be rolled up and even sliced into pinwheels! One of her family favorites is taking 8oz of cream cheese and whipping it with a tsp of vanilla and tsp of lemon zest. Slather a wheat tortilla with this mixture and then add fresh fruit. Roll up and leave whole or slice it up! A refreshing lunch that’s not the same old lunch meat or pb&j! And it’s versatile! Instead of a sweet cream cheese, go savory with chopped herbs and veggies!

 

 

DO THE DIP:

Another thing that kids like to do: dip their food into stuff. Why not make some fresh humus and chop up some veggies or pitas to dip? Slice up a baguette, pepperoni and mozzarella and let them dip it in homemade marinara for a fun play on pizza.

 

 

HOMEMADE vs STORE MADE:

Are your kids a fan of those popular pre-made lunch containers found in the refrigerator section of the grocery store? You know the ones: they have slimy, pre-cut lunchmeat, cheeses and crackers? We aren’t. And here’s why: we can create our own version for cheaper and healthier. Buy a stack of the segmented lunch containers (one for each day of the week). Chop up your own meats and cheeses on Sunday night and divvy them up within the containers. The night before or morning of, add crackers, fruit/veggies and whatever else you want. Boom. You just saved yourself money and preservatives.

 

SMOOTH & HEALTHY MOVES:

Do your kids like smoothies? Make a batch of smoothies on Sunday. Freeze them in small containers and on the morning of school, toss one in their lunch bag (don’t forget the straw). By lunchtime, the smoothie will have thawed enough to drink! It also duos as an ice pack!

Homemade granola is a great addition to a healthy lunch!

Homemade granola is a great addition to a healthy lunch!

Yogurt is another great option. Let your kids build their own yogurt parfaits! Buy a tub of yogurt and divvy it up into small containers on Sunday night (yes, we are keeping you busy on your Sundays). Chop up fruit for them to add as well as granola! Even toss in some chocolate chips for a special treat! Your kids will have fun assembling their parfaits and you can feel good that they are getting a healthy meal!

Salads are another great option where you can include healthy and fun options. Also consider pasta salads!

With a little forethought and preparation, you can provide your kids (and yourself) with healthy and fun lunch options that are more affordable and creative!

 

INTERNET & INPUT:

There are so many ideas out there on the internet! Start a Pinterest board and let your creative juices flow! And don’t forget to let your kids help! Make it a part of their nightly routine to put a lunch together for the next day. Get their input on what’s easy to eat but still fills them up. It only takes an extra 10 minutes a day to prepare your kids for the ultimate Lunch Food Adventure!

Check out some of our favorite go to websites for great recipe ideas!

WEELICOUS – a fantastic website for family meals!

100 DAYS OF REAL FOOD – learn how to feed your family with out all the preservatives!

EATING FROM THE GROUND UP – copycat those popular store bought favorites!

 

We hope our tips gave you a few new ideas to get the most out of packing your kid’s school lunch.  Think outside the lunch box and your children will be grateful.

Want more scoop on everything food and Dayton area restaurants?  The join the thousands who follow Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE!  You can also follow the incredible food photos of Hungry Jax, Chef House and the Big Ragu on Instagram by clicking HERE.

 

Homemade granola bars are quick and easy and even freeze well!

Homemade granola bars are quick and easy and even freeze well!

Toss in a heathy muffin into your child's lunch as a fun way to give them their veggies!

Toss in a heathy muffin into your child’s lunch as a fun way to give them their veggies!

DLM Food Adventure Cooking Class Promises Some “Firsts”

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The Big Ragu, Hungry Jax and Chef House are featured in this months DLM’s “Party Foods Class.”

 Jackie “Hungry Jax” Scanlan, LeeAnne “Chef House” and Steve “The Big Ragu” Milano promise a cooking class like no other on Friday night August 14th.   This event will be a mix of a party, a cooking demo, trivia night and some prize giveaways.  The night is going to be as wild as Donald Trump’s hair !

The “Party Foods” class marks the first time that the Food Adventures Crew will be taking over the Culinary Center at Dorothy Lane Market in Washington Township.  And it looks like a good one, filled with wine and beer as well.

Food Adventures is a popular Dayton food blog, with  over 5,400 loyal Facebook followers.  The trio of foodies is also known for their weekly articles on DaytonMostMetro .com that feature anything from mom and pop local restaurants, to festival events, recipes or foodie tips!  From time to time the Food Adventure Crew will host dinners at local restaurants to spotlight a great place that you may not have heard about.  They partner with area festivals, food happenings and even support over 50 charity events, every single year.  Much more than a free Instagram account they even have one of those (#Dayton_Foodies) and a Twitter following too (@Food_Adv) !

You can also visit their website www.DaytonFoodies.com for a list of upcoming appearances.

Hungry Jax, Chef House and The Big Ragu are proud to be a part of this year’s DLM Cooking Schedule, and due to the overwhelming response, we will be back in the fall for yet another class!

 

Party With the Food Adventures Crew – Limited tickets available at DorothyLane.com

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves…..

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY on the AUGUST 14th CLASS !

WHAT: Party with the Food Adventures Crew !  A cooking class featuring the secret recipes of The Food Adventurer’s favorite party foods !

WHEN: 6PM – 9PM  FRIDAY, AUGUST 14th

WHERE: 6161 Far Hills Avenue, Centerville, Ohio.  Located right next door to our Washington Square store.

COST: $75 per person, tickets may be bought by clicking HERE. Limited seats are left as we are approaching a sellout….

WHAT ELSE: You will have hands on cooking, recipe copies and tastings of the following super-secret, family favorite party foods:

 

Artichoke Garlic Cheese Dip with Homemade Melba Toasts

— GARLIC-ARTICHOKE CHEESE DIP with HOMEMADE MELBA TOASTS

— LOUISIANA CAJUN BEER SHRIMP

— TOMATO PIE

— PARTY CHICKEN

— RED CURRY MARINATED FLANK STEAK with a SWEET ASIAN SRIRACHA SAUCE

— COCONUT BREAD PUDDING

— GRILLED PINEAPPLE SKEWERS with CHOCOLATE SAUCE

— This menu will be paired with beer and wine.

Some of these recipes even feature Chef House’s, locally made,  HouseMade Sriracha which is available on Dorothy Lane Market shelves.

Come hungry and ready to have some fun.  The Culinary Center will never be the same….

 

Meet the Food Adventures Crew !

Hungry Jax

JACLYN SCANLAN aka “HUNGRY JAX”:

Jackie relocated to the Dayton area in 2006.  This Italian girl from Upstate NY found herself in a very different culinary atmosphere than what she was used to back home in Utica, NY.  However, different proved to be good a she fell in love with not only this “gem” of a city, but also the food and foodies within it! Cooking is a passion of Jackie’s.  She loves to use her husband, John, and two daughters, Coraline and Ashlyn, as her lab rats to test recipes out.  Some of her recipes have even been published in National Food Magazines!  But as much as she loves to cook, she also loves to take a night off from her kitchen and enjoy eating out and letting someone else do all the work (and the clean up)!  Other foodie interests include 8 years of volunteering at the Dorothy Lane Market School of Cooking and being an Alton Brown fan since way back when he wore bowling shirts.  Jackie is excited to be part of the Food Adventures team and is always looking forward to experiencing some new eats!

 

 

LEEANNE HOUSE aka “CHEF HOUSE”:

Chef House

Chef House or “The Sriracha Mamma” is all about the heat.  Lover of all things spicy she is constantly in the kitchen coming up with fun new ways to whip up veggies and add a little spice.  She is a Dayton native, with lifelong experience in the restaurant industry, working with some of the best chefs in the Miami Valley.  She loves to keep it local especially in the summer when beautiful produce is plentiful. She is a true foodie who knows we have a lot to offer in Ohio!  LeeAnne is also the owner of Housemade Sauces which specializes in a locally made Sriracha Sauce and a  Hot Honey Sriracha Sauce, which have won national awards.  Chef House is also the owner of the new “Bad Dog” Hot Dog Cart which features local dogs, local toppings and local buns!  She is also involved in putting on the “Night Market” events at the Yellow Cab Building.  She is definitely a foodie fixture around town, and an up and coming Chef.

The Big Ragu

STEVE MILANO aka “THE BIG RAGU”:

A lifelong Dayton resident, his early food influence was in his mom’s kitchen and his dad’s grill.  Other incredible food memories are his grandparents’ Italian and German/Scottish cooking.  Ragu’s love of food is only matched by his love of sports, travel, karaoke and just needing to be held.  An attention seeking missile, Ragu’s favorite foods include Seafood, Italian Food, and Chinese/Japanese cuisine.  Other hobbies include overeating  and a slight attraction to deep fried menu items.   Whether a locally owned business, fine dining, a dive, buffets, fast foods and even a few chain favorites, he enjoys visiting them all with a “no rules” attitude.  You can usually recognize him at festivals by the sweaty guy with the food stain on his shirt.  Emotionally eating his way through life with the Crew, they leave no plate unturned.  Most recently, his recipes have been featured in the monthly Foremost Seafood Newsletter.  This “foodie in his forties” is proud to be involved in dozens of local charity committees.

 

We hope to meet you at our Dorothy Lane Market Party Foods Class, where we will be cooking up a storm.   Seats are limited, get yours before we sellout.  Learn some new recipes,taste some fantastic party eats, and go on a full blown Food Adventure !

Tomato Pie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coconut Sauce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Adventure aprons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Louisiana Cajun Beer Shrimp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chocolate Pineapple Skewers

Chef House and her Housemade Sriracha

Housemade Sauces and salt rubs

Tomato Pies out of the oven

Tomato Pie – delicious

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cajun Shrimp peeled

Louisiana Style Shrimp

DLM class in progress

Mary Cooney teaching pasta at the Culinary Center

Homemade Melba toasts

Homemade Melba toast are the secret to this recipe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aug-tober Fest hits Dayton, August 21st

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The premier beer dinner event in August, is the new AUG-TOBERFEST, a Food Adventure  being held at THE AMBER ROSE RESTAURANT on Friday August 21st at 7pm.    There is limited seating for this beer swilling and fork flinging good time.

 

Amber Rose is again partnering with the Food Adventures Crew and Dayton Most Metro for this one night only bash that promises prizes, giveaways, and more.  Tickets are only available online through DaytonMostMetro .com.    Tickets are $30 each and that includes the tip!  Tickets are Pre-Sale Only and may be purchased by clicking HERE!

 

Celebrate early with this sneak peek at fall called AUG-TOBERFEST, a celebration of great food and Oktoberfest beer, held in the upstairs, private banquet room of Amber Rose Restaurant.

Joe Castellano and his staff have come up with an incredible 4 Course Feast to celebrate AUG-TOBERFEST

 

 

WHAT:   AUG-TOBERFEST BEER DINNER: 4 Food Courses, 4 Beers, 1 Night only

WHERE:    THE AMBER ROSE RESTAURANT, 1400 Valley Street in Dayton 

WHEN:   FRIDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 21st, 7pm 

COST:   $30 each, includes gratuity – PRE PAY ONLY

Without further ado, we present the 2015 AUG-TOBERFEST MENU:

 

— COURSE 1 : 

Hunter Schnitzel will be served at Aug-toberfest !

SAUERKRAUT BALLS and REUBEN DIP with AYNIGER OKTOBERFEST BEER

 

— COURSE 2:

HUNTER SCHNITZEL with SAUERKRAUT and SAM ADAMS OKTOBERFEST BEER

 

— COURSE 3:

BRATWURST AND KNOCKWURST with HOT GERMAN POTATO SALAD and HOFBRAU OKTOBERFEST BEER

 


— COURSE 4:

BLACK FOREST STRUDEL with ERDINGER DUNKEL BEER

 

 

But that’s not all

Amber Rose promises a huge 4 Course Meal at Aug-toberfest !

AFTER DINNER SPECIAL TAPPING: There will be a special after party keg tapping of yet another German beer.  This beer to be named later will have special draft prices as the party continues downstairs at the bar!

Don’t forget – there will be giveaways, trivia, prizes and an overall great party.  Come join us , but please  note, there are limited seats available and once we are sold out, that’s it …

Hungry Jax, The Big Ragu and Chef House hope to see you at this Food Adventure.  We look forward to lifting a mug with foodies and cheering Aug-toberfest.

Remember, tickets are pre-pay only and $30, which includes gratuity. BUY TICKETS HERE

 

Please check out Food Adventures on Facebook and “like” us by clicking HERE. 5,000 fans can’t be wrong

Look for our  food article features every single week on Dayton Most Metro…. until then, see you where the food is…

Our last Food Adventure at Amber Rose was SOLD OUT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ayinger Oktoberfest and an after party keg tapping !

After Dinner there will be Drink Specials on a mystery keg tapping !

Chef TJ and Restaurant Owner Joe Castellano deliver with a fantastic menu EVERY TIME !

Amber Rose hosts AUG-TOBERFEST !!!

 

If you have not been to AMBER ROSE, this is your perfect chance to get a great sampling of their food.

Amber Rose Restaurant is located on Valley Street in Dayton

UPSTAIRS BAR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

McGillicutty’s: The Greatest Breadsticks in the World

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The Best Breadsticks in the World are at McGillicutty’s, but get a side of garlic butter for dipping

The waitress brings the overflowing basket of breadsticks to the table, still steaming…. Then the look….. you glance at the others at the table.  Should you grab a piece and risk being seen as rude?  Do you pause and risk not getting one of the best breadsticks in the world?  These are the kind of problems you will face at McGillicutty’s.

A popular Kettering icon, McGillicutty’s has always been known for their food and libations.  Let’s face it, it’s bar food, and McGillicutty’s has some of the best in town.  Whether it is Tuesday Night Trivia night, or lounging after a Softball game, it is the perfect place for a laid back Food Adventure.

For decades, the Food Adventures Crew has been hitting up McGillicutty’s for good eats, and here is the full scoop on this pub.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

The Mega Mug at Mcgillicutty’s – They had ’em first !

— The Kash family has been running McGillicutty’s since the early 1990’s, and are some of the friendliest hosts around.

— The location at 1980 E. Whipp Rd. was a former Noble Roman’s restaurant in the 1970’s and 80’s

— The smell of pizza dough hits you as you walk into the door, and the low key atmosphere is great.  We know it is a family friendly tavern, but we prefer slinging back some drinks and grub with the adult crew.

— A solid group of regulars support the place from dart leagues to Tuesday Trivia (the best in town), and Sunday night Karaoke.

— They dont use deep fryers, they use pizza ovens to bake their menu items.  The result is some inventive and delicious ways to enjoy various traditional favorites.

— Known for festival involvement, another big day for McGillicutty’s is St Patricks Day !  They go bananas on that holiday….

 

What is the best of this extensive menu?  We’ve got the answers after years of research.  Without further delay, we present our patented MUST EATS of McGillicuttys !

 

MUST EATS:

— PRETZELSTICKS (BREADSTICKS): When we say must eat, we mean it here.  These are the best breadsticks we have ever tasted.  Here is secret #1.  They are called pretzelsticks on the menu, which means they are lightly salted.  Secret #2 is that you must try them with the garlic butter sauce or the cream cheese sauce.  Sure the nacho sauce is good and so is the marinara, but the garlic butter and the cream cheese are the top 2, no doubt.  You won’t see these tips anywhere else, because nobody else knows about them, except you.  Aren’t you glad to be our partners in food?

 

The Pepperoni Pizza from McGillicutty’s is where it’s at

— THE PEPPERONI PIZZA:  The pizza is the key.  Thin crust, square cut Dayton style pizza.  The sauce give McGillicutty’s it’s unique taste as does the cheese and the taste of the crisp dough edges.  Deluxe pizzas are great, and loaded toppings are wonderful, but for some reason we keep coming back to the basic Pepperoni as our favorite.  WARNING: the pizza is served ultra hot and we fight the urge and still burn our mouth from time to time.  So.. beware !

 

— THE MEGA MUG: Long before Mexican restaurants or any other bar had the huge mugs, McGillicutty’s had the MEGA MUG.  These 34 ounce mugs are perfect for ice cold draft beers, and MEGA MONDAY’s means they are only $3.50 for domestics.  No matter what day it is, get a  Mega Mug of draft beer with your pizza and breadsticks.  So good, so cold, so thirst quenching…

 

Teezers are Long Tater Tots Stuffed with Jalapeno Cheese

— THE TEEZERS:   Tater Tots with spicy cheese inside.  A perfect opening to a McGillicutty’s visit. We have had others, but not like these.  Maybe it is because they bake them instead of deep fry them.  Maybe it is jalapeno cheese inside.  Whatever the reason, we can’t stop eating these bad boys with a side of cream cheese!

 

— THE ITALIAN STEAK SANDWICH: Served in a basket with chips, you can get a half or whole sandwich.  It is a cube steak with cheese and pizza sauce.  They added onions & banana peppers, all on a hoagie bun.  For some reason the combo is a perfect sandwich after a Softball game, or for watching a sports event.

 

— THE  WINGS:  These are broiled, not fried, so they may be an acquired taste.  Still, get them well done and get the Buffalo Hot sauce and you should be good.  Different enough to try, and good enough to keep ordering.  The Buffalo sauce is the best option here.  We order them extra crispy, plain and dip the wings in the hot sauce.

 

The Philly Cheesesteak from McGillicutty’s, this is just a half, order yours whole with extra mayo

HONORABLE MENTION to the PHILLY CHEESESTEAK SANDWICH at McGillicutty’s.   It s nicely flavored shaved beef on a hoagie roll.  Asking for a dash of extra mayo is the secret to this one.

 

Did those peak your interest?

Next time when you are hungry and thirsty, try McGillicutty’s on a warm summer day, and even enjoy their parking lot patio.  Casual drinks, casual grub and a sports tavern atmosphere is the appeal here.  And you must order the GREATEST BREADSTICKS IN THE WORLD !  You may just even see the Food Adventures Crew inside with a Mega Mug and a pizza!

Want some more inside scoop on Dayton area eateries?  Then join Chef House, The Big Ragu and Hungry Jax on Facebook HERE ! We are not food critics, we just love to eat !  We visit a restaurant many times before we write a feature article.  We don’t go to a place one time and then rate it, that’s an insult to you, the reader.  No stock photos here.  Look for the most reliable, complete and informative reviews from Dayton’s fave foodies, Food Adventures!

Join us on Instagram: #dayton_foodies

Follow us on Twitter: @food_adv

Broiled Wings from McGillicutty’s – never deep fried

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outside McGillicutty’s on 198o E. Whipp Rd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Italian Cheese steak – the pizza sauce makes it.. We know, we eat it a lot

Pizzas here are phenomenal

Mega Mugs of Blue Moon Beer

Family Friendly Pub

At the bar

Opening hour

Tall Mugs – even of pop

Laid back, casual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breadsticks – actually listed as PRETZELSTICKS on the menu

Battered Pickles

The Cheeseburger isnt bad

Potato Skins at ‘Cuttys

Mushroom and Pep

Up close pizza money shot

The Breadsticks we all know and love

Making Pizzas since the early 90’s and knocking it out of the park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get Your Garlic On This Sunday!

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The Menus in concert for FREE Sunday at 5:30pm at Garlic Fest at 2625 County Line Rd !

 

The Menus in concert for free, 15 Food Vendors, Bocce Ball, Cooking Demos, and Beer.  Foodies and hungry people of Dayton, we proudly announce that Garlic Fest is ready for you this Sunday.  Dayton Most Metro and Food Adventures has the EXCLUSIVE SCOOP on food and timeline of the day!

This is the ONLY spot that will list EVERY food vendor and point you in the way of a great garlic loving time!

Come out……. it is in your breath interest !

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— THE  2015 GARLIC FEST will be held at the Sons of Italy’s Bella Villa Hall at 2625 County Line Rd in Beavercreek

— The event is FREE & will be held from NOON – 8PM

 

FOOD AND TIMELINE:

The Spicy Olive Oil Company will be selling flavor infused Olive Oils, Balsamics and more

11:30am:  The Bocce Classic bocce ball tournament will be underway, and food vendors will be warming up their grills and kitchens.

 

FOOD VENDORS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER (food booths will be open noon-8pm).

12pm NOON (Food & Beer will be available until 8pm)

1) THE AMBER ROSE RESTAURANT:  Look for the kings of comfort food, to throw a Lithuanian twist into Garlic Fest. Look for some Garlic Cheese Fries and a Mini Garlic Monkey bread creation.  It looks like owner Joe Castellano will be showcasing his Italian roots as well!

 

2) BRIXX ICE CO.: What is a festival without Brixx?  Chef and owner Chris Bhai always pushes the envelope while hitting home runs in taste.  His menu will have Grilled Wings tossed in your choice of sauces including Award winning Spicy Garlic, Sriracha BBQ, or Creamy Parmesan.  Also, look for an Italian Bologna Sandwich on Sun Dried Foccocia with Brixx Signature sauce.  Garlic Parm Chicken on roll and homemade kettle chips will please too..  The MUST EAT is Garlic Mortadella Mac N Cheese…(((BOOM)).

 

Brixx will be featuring their Spicy Garlic Wings

3) EL MESON:  The Latin food world will be well represented at Garlic Fest.  El Meson will feature their famous Paella, as well as their incredible food truck menu.  Their South American gourmet food is made with love, and you can taste it in every bite.  Served with incredible presentation, the food tastes even better than it looks.  Our Must Eats here are the Paella and Empanadas

 

4) GIOVANNI’S: The Italian pride of Fairborn is no stranger to garlic.  They promise to feature a Garlic and Gorganzola Stuffed Burger, and Garlic Pulled Pork Sandwich with Coleslaw, among other treats.  Our must eats here are the Italian Steamed Clams.  Chef Cassaundra Spaziani is bringing the good to the fest!

 

5) GYRO PALACE: How about a Middle Eastern spin on garlic?  Look now further than the masters at Gyro Palace.  They are featuring garlic hummus, chicken shawarma and falafel with garlic sauce.  Last but not least, their signature Gyros are MUST EATS, and will have a garlic Tzatki sauce. 

 

Mamma DiSalvo’s will be on hand with some garlic sauced pasta !

6) KOWALSKI HOTS: The NY Hot dog guy brings his cart to fest with a garlic twist… literally.  He will feature garlic butter breadsticks and a Garlic Dog with Sauerkraut option.  He will have his regular hot dog menu available too.  Try the Zweigel Red Hots with coney sauce or the Hoffmans brand White Hots with Hoffman’s Mustard &onions.  These are Big Ragu and Hungry Jax’s faves.   Thank us later.

 

7) MAMMA DISALVO’S RESTAURANT:  Nothing says garlic like Mamma DiSalvo’s.  They will be featuring a pasta dish with olive oil, tomatoes, sauce and GARLIC!  They may even add a little asparagus.  Whatever the dish, make sure you try the family restaurant that has stolen Dayton’s heart for over 3 decades!  Bobby DiSalvo’s pasta dishes are MUST EATS !

 

The Mohawk Burger from Mohawk Freestyle Grill

8) MOHAWK FREESTYLE GRILL:  Beijing Garlic Street Rolls are the special feature, a menu item you cannot get anywhere in the USA except Garlic Fest this Sunday.We love Chef Aaron and his big bites with big flavors.  Our MUST EAT here is the Mohawk Burger.

 

9) RITTER’S FROZEN CUSTARD:  He will have his regular, delicious menu available… a great choice in the heat!  Look for the incredible sundaes that Daytonians have come to know and love.   Our Must Eat is the Peanut Butter and Chocolate Sundae!

 

10) SCRATCH CATERING:  Ahh yes, the inventive vendor, Scratch Catering.  What do they have in store?  Well just one item will make your mouth water :  Flash Fried Sweet Garlic Chili Chicken tossed in Garlic Parmesan Aioli Roasted Pepper and Sweet Garlic “Masa Tots” with Drawn Garlic Butter.  Need we say more?  When Chef Matt Hayden is around, get ready for some damn good food.

 

The delicious Ritter’s Frozen Custard will be on hand !

11) SONS OF ITALY’S HOLY CANNOLI BOOTH: It is like bigfoot, because not many have seen the Holy Cannoli.  It is a cannoli dipped in a guarded recipe of batter.  The cannoli is then deep fried until crisp.  It is warm, it is gooey, it feels like you’re breaking the law.  Come walk on the wild side and try a holy cannoli, or just try a regular cannoli .. you really can’t go wrong.

 

12) SWEET P’S HANDMADE ICE POPS:  Perfect in warm weather, look for the one time only dark chocolate garlic pops!  Handmade, hand crafted and one of a kind.  Try them, you’ll love them.  Our MUST EAT – the Nanna Cream pop!

 

13) TEXAS BEEF AND CATTLE COMPANY: A newcomer to the Dayton area, we are expecting some good brisket and pulled pork, offered in a garlic BBQ sauce !  We like the name and the swag, we are hoping for big things from this meat company!

 

14) THE SPICY OLIVE, OLIVE OIL STORE:  Flavor infused olive oils that you will not find anywhere else.  These oils and balsamics are some of Hungry Jax and Big Ragu’s favorite products on earth.  These incredible olive oils have kicked our cooking up a notch, and are must haves for your kitchen.  Look for the garlic lemon infused olive oil, along with many other garlic combinations.

 

Gyro Palace – Their gyros are the best with garlic Tzatziki sauce

15) VOLTZY’S:  The hamburger king of Dayton is here and he is sassy and garlicky.  Expect him selling some garlic burgers grilled with onions and topped with cheese.  As always, insults are still free. If personality was music, owner Rick Voltzy would be a whole brass band.

 

16) THE BUDWEISER BEER BOOTH:  The beer truck will be at the fest.  Come grab beer from noon-8pm, must be 21 and over.  ***Ask about buying a Garlic Fest Cup and saving money on refills.

 

2PM-4PM: ACOUSTIC MUSIC with DENNIS CHRISMAN.  Laid back music, with this local, talented musician is sure to be a treat.  Expect some classic rock and even a little country.

Oh, and there’s more at 2pm !

 

 

Try the White Hots with garlic sauce at Kowalski’s Hots

2:00PM: COOKING DEMO with “HUNGRY JAX” JACKIE SCANLAN:  This wife and mom of two, hails from Utica, NY and brings her own special influence to the Kitchen.  Growing up, this Italian girl was always in the kitchen and now as a mother, she is introducing her kids to culinary fun as well.   Jackie has written some published recipes and is a passionate cook who has often volunteered for the DLM School of Cooking/Culinary Center over the years.   She also part of Dayton’s favorite food blog, “Food Adventures.” Don’t miss her demo! Held inside the Bella Villa Hall, these free cooking demos will include step by step instructions to make some delicious eats with some highly guarded, secret recipes!

 

3:00PM: COOKING DEMO with CHEF JENN DiSANTO:  Here is your chance to see a pro at work!  Regarded as one of the best chefs in Dayton, Jenn owns her own catering business called “Fresco.“  Her style is fresh and her flavors are amazing.  It is an educational experience whenever she is around a kitchen.  Please don’t miss this demo, it is a rare opportunity to see one of the best in action.  Held inside the Bella Villa Hall, these free cooking demos will include step by step instructions to make some delicious eats with some highly guarded, secret recipes!

 

The Texas Beef and Cattle Company will be there with a signature Garlic BBQ Sauce

4:00PM: COOKING DEMO with CHEF LEEANNE HOUSE: Time to heat things up!  The spicy LeeAnne is known for her locally made Sriracha Sauce and Hot Honey, from her company, Housemade Sauces.  Working in the food industry her whole life, she is now Executive Chef of  Mudlick Tap House in Germantown.  She is also featured in Dayton’s popular food blog, Food Adventures as well as a partner in the new hot dog truck “Bad Dog.”.  Take this special opportunity to learn from her experience.   In this cooking demo, we bet she will spice things up.  Her nickname isn’t “Sriracha Mama” for nothing!  Held inside the Bella Villa Hall, these free cooking demos will include step by step instructions to make some delicious eats with some highly guarded, secret recipes!

 

5:00PM: DAYTON’S 2015 GARLIC PEELING AND GARLIC EATING CONTEST:  $100 goes to the first place winner of this contest.  They will also win the strongest breath..  The Big Ragu from Food Adventures will emcee and host this contest on the stage.  It will be a battle of the bulbs !

Garlic Peeling and Eating Contest winner gets $100 from the Big Ragu

5:30PM – 8:00PM:  THE MENUS in CONCERT for FREE !!!!!  Classic rock, 60’s, 70’s 80’s cover music and more!  Watch the legendary, Cincinnati band play favorite party hits, while the lead singer kicks a few balloons while rocking the crowd!

NOTE:  You may want to bring a folding chair if you plan to stay for the free Menus concert.

 

Be the brightest bulb in your group and join us at Garlic fest.  Stop and smell the garlic!  Good food, good beer, good music, all on the grounds of the Sons of Italy.  A perfect match for a summer’s day.  See you there…

Are you a Dayton foodie?  Want more Dayton area Food Adventures?  Stay tuned with the best food happenings in the Miami Valley by “liking” us on FACEBOOK HERE !

Paella from El Meson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cooking Demo Schedule

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voltzy let us try a Garlic Burger Sample

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scratch Catering’s culinary whiz, Chef Matt Hayden will be in attendance !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amber Rose will be rockin the Garlic Fries and Garlic Monkey Bread

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nanna Cream Ice pops from Sweet P’s OMG YES !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local Musician/Singer Dennis Chrisman will be providing tunes during the day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Empanadas from El Meson

 

 

 

Come see the Holy Cannoli !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voltzy will be selling these garlic burgers

Spicy Olive, Olive Oil store will be selling some amazing garlic oil combinations

Gyro Palace – we love your gyros

Taste the garlic goodness of El Meson’s Seafood Paella !

The Menus love food and music !

Summer Grilling Tips for Great Food Adventures !

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Italian Seasoned Salmon, and Shrimp with Montgomery Inn BBQ Sauce

 

Who doesn’t love a good cookout?  Most Daytonians are elbow deep in grilling season this summer.  From parties, to romantic dinners or family time, this is the time of the year to use that gas or charcoal grill.  The Food Adventures Crew is here with some helpful tips to make your grilling experiences a success.  The Big Ragu, Hungry Jax and Chef House share our MUST EATS an MUST DO’s.. Grilling out version!

 

— PREPARATION IS KEY:  Prepare beforehand to make it easy on yourself.  Marinade your meats and pre-slice veggies ahead of time instead of fumbling on the grill table.  Ziplock bags work great to hold veggies doused in a bit of olive oil, and grill ready!

 

— MARINATE YOUR MEAT: A simple soaking can do wonders for tenderness and flavor.  

Hungry Jax says “Marinade chicken in buttermilk! It makes it so tender!”

Big Ragu loves using Soy Sauce, Worcester Sauce, and Minced Garlic mixture for a simple steak marinade.  For chicken, he uses a cheap bottle of Italian dressing or Olive Oil, Basil, Garlic Powder and Oregano.

 

Hand pressed patties from 80/20 Ground Chuck

— GET THE RIGHT TOOLS:  Make sure your tongs and flipper are long enough, and that they work correctly.  It will save you a few dropped sausages, or epic losses thru the grill grate.

 

— MEATS SHOULD BE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE WHEN GRILLING:  Take cuts of meat out of fridge 30 minutes prior to grilling, so they are not cold.  It won’t contaminate the meat! It will actually help you grill the meat more evenly.

 

— MAKE YOUR HAMBURGER PATTIES THINNER IN THE MIDDLE than the outside.  Always hand patty your burgers with fresh meat, and make them thinner in the center.   This is because the middle swells when you grill the burger.  This helps even the playing field, and prevents your burgers becoming undercooked meatballs.

 

— HIGH HEAT FOR STEAKS, ALWAYS:  Grill that steak and let it sit until that final flip.  The result is a juicy, seared steak with great grill marks.

 

Grilled Sausages with Beer Steamed Onions and Green Peppers

— FISH, THE LESS FLIPPING THE BETTER:   Cook fish about 75 percent then flip it once.  Let the grill do the work.  Wana see flipping seafood?  Go to Benihana…

 

— DRIZZLE LIME OR LEMON JUICE OVER SEAFOOD RIGHT AT THE END OF GRILL TIME:  This is always a  great finishing touch of flavor.

 

— GRILL SALAD:  Yes!  Chef House says, Grill salad! It doesn’t always have to be about meat.  Romaine, Belgium Endive and Radicchio are great together and hold up well on the grill. Wilt the greens and get some grill marks on there. Chop and toss with olive oil, vinegar and cheese.  Chef House suggests sherry vinegar or a sweeter white balsamic with bleu cheese. Fresh herbs are always a nice touch too.  Shout out to Miami Valley Spice Traders, who carries a great honey white balsamic vine

 

— GRILL PORTABELLA MUSHROOMS: 

     Chef House loves to marinate them overnight in orange juice, olive oil and garlic.  So easy, and her family’s favorite.

     The Big Ragu uses Worcester sauce, soy sauce and garlic powder for his Portabella Mushroom Grill Marinade.

 

— GRILL ASAPRAGUS: The Big Ragu uses Olive Oil and Garlic Salt when grilling these sticks of love.

Grilled Zucchini and Yellow SquashThe Big Ragu uses Olive Oil and Garlic Salt when grilling these sticks of love.

     Chef House marinates her asparagus overnight in her family favorite recipe of  orange juice, olive oil and garlic.  Is your mouth watering yet?

 

— GRILL PIZZA:  Hungry Jax loves this summer twist on the ole pizza pie.   Make sure you have a hearty crust.  Medium heat and inventive toppings are the key to pizza grilling  success !

 

— HAVE A LOCAL LUAU: Impress your family and friends this summer and have an entire grilled meal from local vendors.

Here are some supplier ideas from Chef House:

     Keener Farms, one of the the area’s best butcher blocks for grass fed burgers and brats.

     Ed Hill owner of Xenia’s HILL FAMILY FARMS has great Chicken available at Dorothy Lane Market.

     KJB PORK, available at the  2nd street market.

Fresh veggies from Homefull, Patchwork Gardens or Flying Mouse. All of these local brands are found at area farmer’s markets.

 

— LEARN TO MAKE GREAT SAUCES: We love sauces to go along with grilled meat.  Chimichurri is a huge favorite of Chef House and so versatile.   Here is another tip from Chef House… www.Epicurious.com is a great site for new sauce recipes.

 

NY Strip Steak with Bleu Cheese Crumbles

— GRILL CORN IN THE HUSK:  Here is a quick, fun idea the kids and adults will love.  Get some fresh corn still in the husk, cut it at the tip.  Peel back and take out the silks. Pull the husk back up and soak in water for 20 minutes.  Throw them on the grill wet and watch them steam the corn on the grill.  Flip until the husks are brown on all sides, peel back and serve rustic style with salt and butter.

 

— OVERESTIMATE YOUR MEAT: Chef House says cook more meat than you need, so you have leftovers!  Especially chicken, which can be easily made into some delicious tacos the next day.

 

— BEER ISN’T JUST FOR DRINKING ANYMORE:  Get a tin pan, and pour in 1/2 of a beer.  Add some sausages and sliced peppers and onions and let steam on the grill.  Touch up the grill marks on the sausages just before you serve it.  Serve it with the steamed onions and peppers too, with or without a bun !  Now you’re a hero.

 

Dogs, Asparagus and Salmon

— THROW LIVE CLAMS ON THE GRILL:  Wana impress your friends easily?  Throw a dozen live clams on the grill.  When they open, they’re done.  It is that simple, but your friends with think it is pretty darn cool.

 

— HAVE A GLASS OF WATER NEARBY FOR FLARE UPS:  Just in case your juices or grease catch on fire, this keeps you and the fire, in control.

 

— SPARE PROPANE TANK:  Make sure you have an extra, FULL, propane tank on hand.  Nothing says “oh Sh*t” like an empty propane tank during grilling.  You never know when you are gonna run out, so don’t!  Keep a spare, full tank near to your grill, in cae you have to pull the “old switcheroo.”

 

— PLACE GRILLED FOOD INTO SEALED PLASTIC STORAGE CONTAINERS:  Especially at a cookout, flies tend to swarm to open plates of cooked meat.  The answer is get some plastic lid containers and seal the cooked meats inside.  Trust us, it works much better than fumbling with open plates and aluminum foil with open cracks.

Veggie Shish Kabobs

These are the tips from the FOOD ADVENTURES CREW.   We hope they help you enjoy some summer cookouts by spurring some ideas.

Do you have some grilling tips you could share with us?  

Please feel free to let go some of your family secrets by commenting below.  We would be grateful, along with a lot of Dayton’s grilling gurus.

For more foodie news and Dayton restaurant scoop, please “like” FOOD ADVENTURES on FACEBOOK by clicking HERE .

Catch us every week, with a feature article here on Dayton Most Metro.

Follow us on Twitter, too: @food_adv

“We are not food critics, we just love to eat.”

Below are more photos from our Food Adventures by the grill.  Please feel free to browse them.

Mahi Mahi, Pineapple and Yellow Squash

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marinated Steaks, ready for the grill

Grilling Pineapple, Mahi Mahi and Yellow Squash on a summer’s day

Squuezing Lime juice on the Mahi Mahi

Steaming Peppers and Onions in Beer with Sausages

Grilling out for Charity

Grilling Chicken

Salmon and Asparagus straight off the grill

Poolside Grilled fish and Veggies

Grilled Swordfish and Veggies

Burgers and Dogs

BBQ Chicken and Salmon

Charcoal Grilling

Grilled Wild Grouper and Grilled Endive

Grilled local veggies

Squash, Asparagus and Pork – grilled to perfection

Grilled Wahoo and Grilled Clams

The sky is the limit for our grill techniques

Poolside grilled meal

Grilled Corn in the Husk

Sausage bought downtown NYC

Grilled Asparagus and Corn

Black n Bleu Burger from the backyard

Grillin clams like a boss

Peel back the grilled corn

Grilled Zucchini and Tzatzi sauce

Full Grill – is how we do it

Start eating, it’s done !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Top 35 Burgers of Dayton

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2 of Voltzy's 20 ounce "Hogs"

Two of the 20 ounce Hog Burgers from Voltzy’s. Home of Dayton’s Best Hamburger !

According to our good friends at Dayton Dining, May 28th is National Hamburger Day.  Today, we celebrate with this timely article.

THIS IS THE UNDENIABLE TOP 35 BURGERS in DAYTON, OHIO.   Some are well known icons, some are not.  What they all have in common is incredible taste and freshness.  Each is a burger in a class of its own.

For years, Food Adventures has scoured the Miami Valley, trying different places over and over again to make sure we get the definitive list.  We have eaten each burger on this list at least twice to ensure placement, accuracy of ranking and consistent quality.  Our hard work and chewing has paid off.

Now, without further delay, Chef House, Hungry Jax and the Big Ragu present, in order, the best 35 burgers of Dayton, Ohio.

 

The Slyder 10 ounce Cheeseburger

The 10 ounce Cheeseburger from Slyder’s Tavern. “The Pride of Belmont”

THE BEST 35 BURGERS in DAYTON, OHIO

 

1) ” THE CHEESEBURGER ” and ” THE HOG BURGER ” at VOLTZY’S ROOT BEER STANDE: Fresh hamburgers and fresher service.  Dayton’s #1 burger is in a shack, but at least they have bathrooms.  We are amazed at how many people still have not tried this place.  The owner Rick Volz, is known for his grumpy, yet playful attitude with the customers.  If you go in the wrong door, forget to call in your order, or deviate from the regular toppings, you will feel Voltzy’s wrath.  It is his “schtick,” similar to the Seinfield show’s “soup nazi.”  Enduring the insults is worth it for a taste of his cheeseburgers.  Voltzy grills each and every hamburger himself, and he does it to perfection.  The 2 burgers here that are MUST EATS are the CHEESEBURGERS ,which are sliders and priced at 10 for $12.  The other burger is THE HOG, a 20 ounce mammoth burger that he named after his ex wife.  One of his sleepers is the Betty Ann Burger, named after his mom.

The Secret: His 80/20 chuck mix is ground fresh every morning.  His burgers are steam grilled with onions and cheese, and topped with sweet heat mustard.

 

 

The TANK BURGER !

The Tank Burger with Cheese, a Cult Classic in Dayton !

2) ” THE 10 OUNCE CHEESEBURGER ” at SLYDERS TAVERN:  Make sure you get the 10 ounce burger for the full experience.  This is a ‘burger lovers burger,’ with a fresh taste.  You get it all, lots of toppings and you can taste the seasoned meat.   If you don’t get a handle on the burger early, it can get a little messy.  A burger with a huge underground following, and comes in at #2.  Make sure you check out “The Pride of Belmont” on Watervliet Rd.

The Secret: They use Dot’s Market fresh 80/20 Ground Chuck.  “Grandma’s old iron cast stove and steel grill” in the back is also a key to cooking the burgers perfectly.

 

 

3) ” THE TANK BURGER WITH CHEESE ” at TANK’S BAR & GRILL: One of Dayton’s Iconic Dayton Burgers.  It is as simple as that.    This burger has a cult following of thousands and thousands of fans.  People come from all over to this spot on Wayne Avenue to try the legendary burgers.  Sink your teeth into one of these big, meaty legends !

The Secret: The owner Dan ” Tank” Tankersley says it himself..”Fresh, fresh, fresh… and the quality helps too.”    We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

 

 

The "Lark Burger" from Meadowlark has a unique and distinctive flavor

The “Lark Burger” from Meadowlark has a unique and distinct flavor

4) ” THE CHEESEBURGER ” at THE PINE CLUB:  You think they have great steaks?  You should try their Cheeseburgers! This iconic restaurant on Brown Street, is the most unlikely place to find a good burger.  But it makes sense, doesn’t it?  Some of the best quality meat in  town in here.. right?  It’s so good that they sell their raw hamburger meat in 5 pound bags “to go.”

The Secret:  They grind the hamburger meat daily, at the same time that the butchers are carving the most famous steaks in Dayton. Rumor has it that they add a little bit of ground lamb to their burgers.

 

 

5)  ” THE LARK BURGER ” at THE MEADOWLARK RESTAURANT: Served on a sturdy kaiser roll with white cheddar, this is one of the juiciest burgers we have ever eaten.  Trust us, and order one of these burgers.  It is a sophisticated, delicious and unique tasting burger, and unlike any other on this list.

The Secret: Fresh Rosemary spice is worked into the all-natural, Ohio Beef patties, which are also seasoned in wine.  The burger is as aromatic as it is delicious.

 

 

The “Jerk Burger” at Ye Olde Trail Tavern in Yellow Springs has Jerk Seasonings and Jalapenos

6) ” THE JERK BURGER ” at YE OLDE TRAIL TAVERN: Talk about a Food Adventure in a bun, this burger has a lot going on.  The cheese topped jalapenos bring the burn, the beef brings the flavor, and the jerk sauce is the icing on the cake.  A burger so unique, we have never had anything like it.  This one is #6 with a bullet !

The Secret:  They tout that they have their own special “beef blend” for their burgers.  This and the inventiveness of the jerk sauce on the burger are the secret.

 

 

7) ” THE ONION STRAW BURGER ” at THE HORSELESS BUGGY EATERY:  They won 3rd place in the nation for food truck’s with the best burger.  We love them for the size of this burger.  The presentation of this hefty burger is usually met with “ooohs and ahhs,” from people standing around at food truck rallies.

The Secret: The burger is pattied fresh daily with special seasonings.  The onion straws are made fresh to order, on a bakery style Kaiser roll.  These onion straws are that crunch that puts it over the top.

 

 

The Onion Straw Burger from The Horseless Buggy Eatery, a Food Truck

8) ” THE VOSS BURGER ” at O’LEARY’S PUB & GRUB:  Two hand smashed patties totaling  2/3 pound of meat, with cole slaw and any other of your typical toppings.  A nice Kaiser roll with  a long toothpick holds it all together.  This burger is messy but so delicious.  One of the best burgers we have ever eaten, but get it with cheese !

The Secret: The burgers are ground daily at Zink’s Meat Market less than a block away.  The high quality and fresh 80/20 ground chuck, catapult this burger onto our list.

 

 

9) ” THE BOURBON BURGER ” at BRIXX ICE CO.:  A huge hamburger, that even feels warm through the bun.  With lots of toppings, it is surprising, but the bourbon sauce is still very noticeable.  There is no better atmosphere to enjoy a burger than inside this old building, or on the patio overlooking the Dragon’s stadium.  This burger is simply phenomenal.

The Secret: It’s all in the bourbon sauce.  It haunts your every bite, in a good way, letting you know “I’m still here.”

 

 

10) ” THE MOWHAWK BURGER ” at MOHAWK FREESTYLE GRILL (FOOD TRUCK): A huge burger on wheels.  Chef Aaron serves up some of the best burgers in Dayton. They have a distinct taste.  Truly a delicious burger with great toppings.  Make sure you grab one of these, when his food truck is in town.  You can thank us later.

The Secret: He uses fresh ground ribeye meat.  The result is a big, juicy, delicious burger.   It is as simple as that.

 

 

“The Voss Burger” from O’Leary’s Pub in Centerville

11) ” THE GOAT BURGER ” at LUCKY’S TAPROOM:  A nice, filling burger with a ton of flavor.  It is made of local, Dayton beef, and a pile of toppings.  Unhinge your jaw and bite into a serious burger.  Andrew Trick and his staff do this up right!

The Secret: The beef is from Keener Farms, which produce locally grain fed beef.  The freshness is evident in every bite.

 

 

12) ” THE TASTY BURGER ” at THE HASTY TASTY PANCAKE HOUSE: Like a “Big Boy” sandwich, only better.  It is juicy, tasty and filling.  This is one of the lesser know burgers in town, with the biggest flavor.  Every bite is like music to your mouth.

The Secret: The greasy grill of the Hasty Tasty Pancake House, seasons the burgers perfectly.  The bun and tartar sauce on your tongue, seals the deal, and makes it a MUST EAT.

 

 

13) ” THE STICKY BURGER ” at ARCHER’S TAVERN:  This unique burger is another MUST EAT.  It is the #1 selling signature burger on their menu.  Part-owner Dan Apolito says in his 5 years at Archer’s, he knows of only 2 people that tried it and didn’t like it.  If you’re thinking about it, go for it!  Peanut butter as a topping makes it a Food Adventure for sure !

CARVER’S CHEESEBURGER

The Secret: Peanut Butter, Bacon, & Pepper Jack Cheese give it a hot, sweet almost Thai peanut taste.  They suggest you order it with no lettuce , no tomato, no onion or pickles

 

14) ” THE CHEESEBURGER ” at CARVER’S STEAKS & CHOPS:  This burger is only available at the bar or “to go.”  It is not on the regular menu, so this burger is one of the best kept secrets in town.  A deliciously seasoned burger with all the ‘fixins.’  The weck style dinner bun makes it easy to eat.

The Secret:  They use steak scraps to make the burgers.  The burger is also served with carmelized onions and a housmade A1 aioli sauce.

 

 

15) “THE THREE CHEESE BACON BURGER” at ONE EYED JACKS:  Provolone, Swiss and Cheddar cheese adorn this burger , as do 2 big pieces of bacon.  This is one of the best burgers we tried, and the flavor is one-of-a-kind.  It is one of those burgers that when you take a bite, you say with a full mouth “oh my gawwwsh.”

The Secret:  When they mix the meat, they add herbs and spices.  The result is a very distinct taste of basil and other ingredients.  This burger is one of the dark horses on the list.

 

The “Bourbon Burger” from Brixx Ice Co. is a Food Adventure on a plate

16) ” THE PARAGON  STEAKBURGER ” at THE PARAGON SUPPER CLUB: The burger is a modest 6 ounce serving, and a great deal at just $7.50.  When you add the bun, tomato, lettuce and onion, it becomes a mouth stretcher on that first bite.  We choose to add american cheese, mustard and ketchup to seal the deal.  It is even great when ordered “to go.”

The Secret: They grind the trimmings of their filet mignon steaks for the patties of this burger.  The result is lean, flavorful magic.

 

 

17) ” THE CHEESEBURGER ” at KOWALSKI’S HOTS:  Yes, a burger from a hot dog stand made this list, and rightfully so.  Fresh meat on a NY style weck bun, with concession style condiment choices where you doctor it up yourself.  The $5 price tag is worth every bite, and when the relish, mixed with the weck bun and meat hit your taste buds, we say “goodnight Irene.”

The Secret: He puts a meaty coney sauce on the hamburger. The way the juicy meat soaks into the weck bun is a perfect vessel for delivering this burger to your mouth.  We found ourselves dancing while standing and eating it at the cart.

 

 

The “Mohawk Burger” from Mohawk Freestyle Grill Food Truck

18) ” THE LARGE, CLASSIC  CHEESEBURGER ” at E. O. BURGERS:  Located at the Greene, not only is this a great burger place, but their shakes are killer too.   Make sure you get the large cheeseburger, take your number, sit down and wait for the main event.  Condiment carts at the tables have sauce toppings including A1 and Cholula.  It doesn’t matter what you top it with, it is a great burger.

The Secret: They use 100% USDA Prime Beef, and the taste is terrific.  Fresh, handmade patties everyday with USDA Prime Beef quality, means consistently good burgers.

 

 

19) ” THE CHEESEBURGER” at JIMMIES LADDER 11: This six ounce masterpiece is probably the best deal on our list.  The burger, the toppings and the atmopsphere is 100% Dayton.  We love it. With so many great items on their menu, it is no surprise that their burgers kick butt too.

The Secret: The burgers are 100% Angus meat, mixed with secret house seasonings.  It doesn’t hurt that the burger is served with Mikesells Chips.

 

 

The “Goat Burger” from Lucky’s Taproom is a Masterpiece

 20) ” THE URBAN BURGER ” at ELSA’S KETTERING SPORTS GRILL:  Made famous by the legendary Dayton restaurant owner, Urban Suburban, this burger has been a Miami Valley favorite for decades.  The recipe is untouched since Elsa’s Kettering took over, and the result is still magical.  Get it with cheese.

The Secret: Fresh meat, never frozen and a pile of toppings.  Big eaters with big appetites, this burger is for you.

 

 

21) “ THE GROUND BEEF BURGER” from CHRISTOPHER’S RESTAURANT:  Easy to eat, and absolutely delicious.  This burger is as unique as the restaurant that serves it.  They pride themselves on organic, all natural burgers with no additives.  The proof of that choice is in every bite.  The most picturesque burger on our list, it looks like a magazine ad.

The Secret: A bakery quality, multi-grain roll holds the burger together perfectly.  It is the handle that carries that non additive beef burger into your mouth, like a valet for your taste buds.

 

 

The Large, Classic Cheeseburger from E.O. Burger at the Greene

22)  ” THE BISTRO BURGER ” at COCO’S BISTRO:  This Angus beef burger is served with bacon, carmelized onions and the most incredible Boursin cheese sauce.  One of the more unique burgers on the list, the taste is instantly recognizable.

The Secret: It is all about the creamy, rich, Boursin cheese sauce.  The first bite is one of those “wow” moments.  The kaiser roll is stellar too.  We cant stop saying the word Boursin after eating this… Boursin, Boursin. Booooorr. siiiiine. It’s all about boursin,bout de boursin, no trouble…

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23) ” THE BLEU CHEESE STUFFED PEPPERCORN BURGER  ” at THE TROLLEY STOP:  It is a juicy burger, made with local beef.  It is stuffed with bleu cheese.  You must stuff it in your mouth.  Not a lot of condiments are needed for this special treat.  The chef at Trolley Stop has really kicked up their menu, and this is just another example of that.

The Secret: It is made with Keener Beef, a locally raised beef, which gives a very fresh and organic feel to the burger.

 

 

The “Ground Beef Burger” from Christopher’s is Delicious & Picture Perfect

24) ” THE BIG NICK BURGER ” at NICK’S RESTAURANT:  Xenia natives know this is a great burger.  For the others that don’t know, welcome to another place where you can “get the beef!”  The Big Nick is a tasty 1/2 pound burger, and the only place in the area where you can get a side of smelts with it.  Call it a Xenia Surf and Turf ! We love it !

The Secret:  They claim the perfect blend of 80/20 ground chuck.  We say they are right!  You have to love a burger whose call tag it, “What’s on your Big Nick?”

 

 

25) ” THE BLACK JAX AND BLEU BURGER ” at SEA JAX TAVERN:  This nice sized burger is served with carmelized onions, pepper jack cheese and crumbles of bleu cheese.  Lots of flavor in this one.

The Secret: The burger is “blackened” before the incredible toppings are added.  The cajun spices on the meat are a nice touch.

 

 

The Hamburger Wagon in Miamisburg has been legendary fro over 100 years !

26) ” THE HAMBURGER ” at THE HAMBURGER WAGON:  Any place that people that people stand in line 15 deep in the bitter cold or intense heat, just to get a taste of the burgers, has to be on this list.  There is no doubt, this place has a cult following.  In fact the “place” is actually a wagon in the street.  Since the Great Flood of 1913, the Hamburger Wagon has been an icon in Miamisburg.  The burgers are topped only with onion, pickle and salt & pepper.  The pride themselves on needing “no stinking condiments.”

The Secret: The burgers are actually a mix of burger and sausage meat.  Also, the grilling method of deep frying the burgers, by pressing them down with a spatula, in a large iron skillet gives the hamburgers than one of a kind “crunch” when you bite into them

 

 

27) ” THE ITALIAN BURGER ”  at BLIND BOB’S: A generous 1/2 pound burger with provolone cheese, marinara sauce and carmelized onions. The atmosphere and quiet fanfare for this burger, makes for a fun experience.  Definitely a hamburger not to be overlooked.

The Secret: The burger is “stuffed” with provolone, green peppers and basil.  It oozes with every bite.  Eat it quick, so it oozes into your mouth and not in your hand.

 

 

“The Italian Burger” from Blind Bobs is stuffed with Provolone, Green Peppers and Basil

28) ” THE APPLEWOOD BACON CHEDDAR BURGER ” at BUNKER’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL:  A nice sized hamburger with bacon and cheddar cheese.  You have to pour the BBQ sauce on yourself, since it is served on the side.  The result is a smokehouse flavor that is a refreshing twist.  This is the only burger on the list that is served with shredded cheese.

The Secret: Fresh Angus beef combined with applewood smoked bacon is the key to this bad boy.  It gives a nice maple hint to the burger and shredded cheese.

 

29)  ” THE PUB FRIES BURGER ” at THE DUBLIN PUB:  A burger with fries, cheese and bacon crumbles on top.  When you combine Dayton’s favorite pub fries and a great burger, you are bound to have a winner.  Add the “Dub Pub” atmosphere and you have yourself a Food Adventure escape from reality !

The Secret: The cheesey pub fries topping are what puts this on the list.  The burger is good, but the pub cheese fries on top, make it outstanding.

 

 

The “Applewood Bacon Cheddar Burger” at Bunker’s in Vandalia

30) ” THE DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER “ at CADILLAC JACKS: A great sports bar atmosphere for one of the best burgers in town.  Make sure you get the “double” burger, it is time to play with the adults. Great flavor from the first cheesey bite, to the last.

The Secret: Fresh ground sirloin and ground chuck mix, with tons of cheese.  The result is a melt in your mouth, delicious experience.

 

 

31)  ” THE HAMBURGER ” at GEEZ GRILL and PUB:  A solid, great tasting pub burger.  This burger is one of the dark horses on our list. “Mama G” hits the mark again with her menu items.  Make sure you get some cheese on it

The Secret: The meat is fresh Ground Chuck, pattied daily by hand.  And that was all it took in this case.

 

 

The Double Cheeseburger from Cadillac Jack’s. Soooo Cheesey !

32) ” THE HALF POUND HAMBURGER ” at GEORGE’S FAMILY RESTAURANT: A diner that is a throwback to the “good ole’ days”.  Killer food and good service.  Grab a 1/2 pounder at George’s to fill your carnivore cravings.  No frills, no dramatic presentation, just a damn fresh and tasty burger in a bun, on a plate.

The Secret: Fresh meat cooked on a flaming grill.  The grill is so fierce, you can see it flare up from time to time if you are seated in certain areas of the dining room.

 

 

33) ” THE YUMMY BURGER ” from WHITE LOTUS RESTAURANT: A true Dayton dive with a friendly cook / owner.  Here your hamburger could be cooked next to some chicken pad thai.  The burger is delicious and the prices are cheap. “Yummy burger?”  Hell yes it is!

The Secret: The owner will tell you that her “love” that goes into the burger is the secret.  But we saw the trick.  It is fresh ground meat, with garlic salt and pepper, cooked on that old, seasoned, flat top grill.

 

 

34) ” THE MINNESOTA JUICY LUCY ” at ROMER’S BAR & GRILL:  This 1/2 pound burger is stuffed with provolone, pepperoni and jalapenos.  The result is a tasty hamburger that oozes cheese with every bite from inside the burger.  Yet another Food Adventure on a plate, this one takes it to a whole new level of taste.

The Secret: The “inside out burger” mentality of the Juicy Lucy and the unique stuffings of course.  The pepperoni and jalapenos give it a salty and sultry burn in every bite.

 

 

“The Yummy Burger” from White Lotus

35)  ” THE CHEESEBURGER ” at BENJAMIN’S THE BURGER MASTER: A great burger that deserves a spot on our list.  The gooey cheese and the meat, it’s the simplest burger on this page.  And it simply tastes great.  They also have the best BBQ wings in town.

The Secret:  The simplicity equals good taste. The burgers are fresh, 100% ground beef, seasoned and topped simply.  Sometimes, less is more.

 

 

Honorable Mention: 

” THE BIG FRICKIN’ BURGER ” at FRICKER’S: This burger is a full pound of beef.  The patties are brought in fresh, not frozen. This burger stacks two of the 1/2 pound patties, resulting in a massive burger, and a great frickin’ deal at just $7.99.

The Secret:  Cooked over a flaming grill.  Great grill marks, and a great taste.

 

 

“The Big Frickin’ Burger” at Fricker’s is a pound of meat, flame grilled, for less than 9 bucks

” THE MAID RITE  ” at MAID-RITE SANDWICH SHOPPE:  They are sweet tasting, tiny, little sloppy joe like sandwiches.   We are letting them slide by into the burger category.  The small sandwiches are addicting and delicious.  There is a HUGE fan following of this restaurant, and many people travel an hour for these little icons.  The eatery is located at 125 N. Broadway St in Greenville, Ohio.

The Secret: It is the cooking technique, which is a closely guarded mystery.  Some say they add sugar to the meat, others think they steam the meat in Pepsi.  We have no idea, we just know we love them.

 

Honorable Mention Chain Burgers:  “The Garbage Burger” from Max N Erma’s, The Big Boy Sandwich, and White Castle Hamburgers.  These regional chains along with the Red Robin burgers are MUST EATS.  We  give a shout out to Five Guys and Smashburger as well…    We eat it all,  no self contradictions here.

 

“The Hamburger” at Geez Grill & Pub. A solid entry into the list.

There you have it, that’s our list of the top 35 Burgers in The Miami Valley !  Comment below and give us your beefs, take it easy on our buns…

As you can see, Food Adventures   never does anything halfway, and this is no different.  Notice, we have no contributed or borrowed stock photos here.  All of these pictures are original, because we actually went to the places and ate the burgers at least 2 times each.  Yes, multiple visits is what keeps Food Adventures on top of the pack.

Want more of the best foodie spots in Dayton?  Then “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.  Join Hungry Jax, Chef House and The Big Ragu as they leave no plate unturned.

 

DID WE LEAVE ANYONE OUT?

IS SOMEONE IN A SPOT THEY SHOULDN’T BE?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU !  COMMENT BELOW AND TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS ON OUR “UNDENIABLE LIST” DAYTON’s TOP 20 BURGERS !

Also, check out our photo gallery below.

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Who was Dougie Apple?

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Dougie Apple

Sometimes a Daytonian’s story bears repeating.

As you know we go on many fantastic Food Adventures.  One you can’t miss is about 2 weeks away.

Friday, May 15th is the Big Brews and Blues Festival.  This is a blues festival with a cause.  The event raises money for the Dayton Diabetes Association.

It is an amazing event, with Blues Bands, dozens and dozens of Beers to sample, and food vendors.  The 2015 event is being held at Riverscape Metropark.  It is not only a terrific night, but it is a festival with a purpose.  Dougie Apple was a Dayton native who also had a purpose.

In fact, at the festival, a banner typically drapes a booth selling beverages for his foundation.  This is where the Food Adventures Crew first learned of his story.  If you have attended the festival, you may remember seeing the booth yourself.

 

Sometimes a person who spends a small amount of time on this earth, has a very big effect on those around them.

May 15th, 2015 – Big Brews & Blues festival for Dayton Diabetes Foundation

Such is the case of Dougie Apple, one of 6 kids who grew up in a Miamisburg, with his 5 sisters.  He was boy who at the age of 12 found out that he had diabetes.  When he was diagnosed it was a surprise, since there was no one else in his family who had this typically genetic disease.

He was active in sports like soccer, and he loved the Cincinnati Reds.  After his diagnosis he decided to attend a camp with other kids battling his diabetes.  This camp, called “Camp Ko-Man-She,” changed his life.  Dougie continued to visit the camp each year, and it helped him cope with the disease.   After his diagnosis as he grew up he took a job at King’s Island.  He even worked at a local car wash, to feed his interest in cars.  He then decided to work at the camp as a counselor, helping mentor other children with the disease.

Dougie’s journey from camp attendee, to counselor and eventually camp director.  He affected literally hundreds of lives for the positive, by comforting kids, and making them forget about their illness.

Meanwhile Dougie was dealing with an illness of his own.  He received a kidney transplant and pancreas transplant from a donor family who lost a child named Daniel.  The Apple family and Daniel’s family became close, and still are to this day.  As Dougie continued to have a positive influence on Dayton area kids with diabetes at camp, his illness unfortunately took an unexpected turn for the worse.  On February 3rd, 2012 Dougie Apple succumbed to the diabetes, which he fought so hard to conquer.

At his funeral, his family was overwhelmed by the crowd of young people who made the trip to his funeral.  They shared stories about how Dougie helped them get through a tough time in their childhood, or helped them get enough courage to give themselves diabetes shots.  He had affected so many lives, and the result was staggering.  The family wants to keep Dougie’s intentions alive, so they set up The Dougie Apple Tree Fund, and continue to raise money in his name.

Over the past 3 years, the Dougie Apple Tree Fund has raised approx 5 thousand dollars per year.  They donate the funds to the Diabetes of Dayton charity.  The request is that some of these monies go to send children to the camp that Dougie attended.  It is a chance to help these kids to live a normal existence.  If you attend the festival, please stop by the Dougie Apple booth and buy a bottled water or a soft drink can, you will be quenching your thirst and helping quench the desires to find a cure for diabetes.

 

Blue Bands Throughout The Night

So please, consider attending the

BIG BREWS & BLUES FESTIVAL

Friday night, May 15th from 5-9pm at Riverscape.

Tickets are $30 prepay or $40 at the door.

Besides great blues bands, there will be approximately 70 beers to sample.    The Food Adventures Crew is honored to be a part of this event, and hope you will be too.

Come celebrate the lives of those who are fighting diabetes, by helping them find a cure.

This is not an event that lines corporate pockets, it is an event that affects real people in the Dayton area.  Make sure you help make a difference as well.

If you would like to donate or learn more about the Dougie Apple Foundation, please send an email to gwyn@applemgmt.com.

Hope to see you with some Big Brews at the festival !  Below are some photos from previous year’s events, please browse the gallery.

 

Are you a Dayton Foodie?  Then join the over 5,000 foodies in the Miami Valley area following Food Adventures on Facebook HERE !

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