Dayton

The Tastiest “Haus” in Springboro!

July 27, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Rows of Yummies – that’s a technical term

Springboro, Ohio is a growing community with great schools, local businesses and, oh yes, delicious food! The Food Adventures Crew have been indulging in these local eateries for quite some time and felt its time to start highlighting the delicious treats and the owners in this community. And to kick off this adventure, we gleefully hit up a staple of this city, “The Donut Haus“! Ok, go grab a glass of milk and get ready to indulge!

One of our favorite things that we like to do as food bloggers is not to just highlight the food, but to highlight the people behind the food! And it is hopeful that this article does just that! Here comes a Food Adventure.. with a hole in it.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

Panther Pride !

— Mike Hemmert, with the integral help of his partner, Barb Soupal, has owned and operated the Donut Haus, (located at 305 W Central Ave, Springboro, Ohio 45066), for 30 years!

— Mike Hemmert started his career in the food industry, as a long time employee of McDonalds, climbing up the ladder in hopes of opening his own franchise. However, that goal would take much longer than he wanted and dreamt of a business that he could own and operate in his own manner. He learned that Donut Haus was up for sale and recognizing that he had experience working in a bakery in the past, he saw this opportunity as the green light to his goal. And it’s been an amazing journey ever since!

Donut Maker for a day !

— Hemmert, a Caroll High School graduate, bought the shop from the original owners that were from Germany (hence the spelling of “Haus”) and he took this business that was already doing well in the area, to a whole new level.

— Their dedicated staff makes 100’s of dozens of donuts a day and also sells to 6 different counties for wholesale expanding over 130 miles!

Warm & Delicious, The Apple Turnover is a favorite of Hungry Jax

— Giving back to the Community: Think that’s all a person needs to consider their business successful? Well, for as much time and attention Hemmert gives to developing the taste and quality of his products, he gives that back and then some to his dedication to the Springboro community! Hemmert has a close relationship with the local schools supplying donuts for activities, such as the Hometown Expo hosted at Springboro High School. At that expo, the Donut Haus sells traditional cake donuts for $0.25 each and you can decorate your own! This money goes to the local food pantry. This past year, 0ver 400 kids made donuts, raising $400!

Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t !In addition, one of favorite ways to give back to the youth of the community, is during . Hemmert loves to meet with the students and provide mock interviews to help them prepare for further employment.

In addition, one of Donut Haus’ favorite ways to give back to the youth of the community, is during Career Day at the Junior High. Hemmert loves to meet with the students and provide mock interviews to help them prepare for further employment.

— Hard Working Local Teens: And don’t be surprised to find a number of his employees being local teens. Many flock to this shop not just for a job, but also to learn solid lessons in what it means to be a good employee with strong customer service skills and of course, learning the art of donut making!

Devilsfood and Blueberry Cake Donuts ! Ragu says ‘grab the milk…’

— Bear Creek Donut Connection: In fact, Mike Hemmert was instrumental in helping a former employee of 8 years, Ryan Tripp, in opening up his own donut shop in Miamisburg, Bear Creek Donuts! Another delicious bakery for which would require a separate article and another glass of milk!

— More Donations: In addition to enriching the youth of Springboro, Hemmert gives back to those in need. Leftover donuts (when there are some) are never wasted. Instead they are bagged up and donated to the local food pantry. The Donut Haus also steps up during times of crisis. Most recently during the last destructive rain storms where thousands of residents in the Springboro area were without power, the Donut Haus offered up free donuts to those households and encouraged the families to come hang out inside Donut Haus to cool off and power up their cell phones. Just another way this business gives back to its patrons that support them well!

— Family and Kid Friendly: Want something fun to do as a family? Once a month, Donut Haus will post on the Active Springboro Facebook Group when they are hosting their free event of making your own donut! You can also catch when the community Bingo game is happening, also hosted at the Donut Haus. Need a new idea for your kid’s birthday party? Your child and friends can be “Donut Makers for a Day”! The kids get to make, fill and frost their own donuts! Now that would make for a sweet party!

We can’t pick just one !

We can go on and on about the awesome people behind this great business! So trust that when you give your patronage to the Donut Haus, not only are you going to receive an awesome product, but also you’re supporting a business that genuinely loves what they do, gives back to their community, and are pretty much living the American Dream!

Ok, now onto the FOOD!

MUST EATS:

— APPLE TURNOVER: One of Hungry Jax’s favorites! Ask to have this flakey pillow filled with apple awesomeness warmed up! With a cup of their new line of gourmet coffees, you can’t go wrong!

Craftsmanship

—PANTHER CAKE DONUT: This is a traditional cake donut iced with vanilla frosting and topped with Springboro school colors! A classic treat with hometown pride!

— PERSIAN ROLL (topped with or without nuts): It’s like a cinnamon bun topped with the tastes of Autumn. Mmmm with maple frosting. Just get it and trust us!

— MAPLE BACON LONGJOHN: One of the rockstars of their new “specialty line” of donuts! You can never go wrong with bacon. Ever.

— APPLE FRITTER: Yet another classic done right! Just the right amount of crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside! This could be Big Ragu’s favorite….

— STRAWBERRY DONUT: This was a special order, limited time only donut! An experiment to embrace the area’s Strawberry season during the beginning of June! HOWEVER, Hemmert recently released a post on their Facebook page that they have plans to bring these delicious gems back at least once more time this summer! So keep a look out!!

Awesomeness

Quite honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of the choices at Donut Haus. Good people, good eats, great donuts. So swing on down and try one of our favorite shops ran by some of our favorite fellow foodies!

Feel free to follow Hungry Jax, Chef House and the Big Ragu‘s Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking here. They leave no plate unturned !

Check out the gallery below for some of the best Donut Haus photos behind the scenes and more….

Persian donut with nuts..

Junior crew members approve !

Kids can make their own donuts at Birthday Parties

Cream filled and ready for your mouth

Kids love making their own donuts

Mike shows us how it is done …

Fun family times at the Donut Haus in Springboro

Owner Mike Hemmert hosting our Food Adventure

No bake cookies for sale

Got Boxes? Got Donuts? Yup

Watch out Willy Wonka, this is a flavor factory

Who doesn’t love a vat of frosting ?

Hard working Teens, learning life long lessons

Ready to be fried

Don’t Turndown a Turnover

Fun with dough

Chef House and Hungry Jax’s family on a Food Adventure !

Perfection

A Donut from the Donut Haus in Springboro

On 73 in Springboro

Chef House wants a mixer like this for Christmas

Another Food Adventure in progress

Fryers bubbling

Mystery Monday – July 25, 2016

July 25, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 26 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 25’s Mystery Photo is: Classic Packard automobiles on display at America’s Packard Museum on South Ludlow Street in Downtown Dayton. I took this photo on July 14, 2016.

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Cindy C of Miamisburg! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

We challenge you to tell us where in the Dayton area this photo was taken by filling out the form below. We’ll do a random drawing from all those with a correct answer and the winner will get 2 pizzas from Rapid Fired Pizza.

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 26:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS & Lots of Fun News at THE NEON!

July 19, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

I’m sorry to say that TICKLED tanked this weekend…but interestingly, folks have loved it! (Some of our staffers have even said it’s one of their favorites we’ve shown this year.) If you still need to see it, Thursday will be your last chance to see it with us. We will hold MUSIC OF STRANGERS and DARK HORSE for one final week! On Thursday evening, we will open the highly anticipated comedy ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS – a film based on the beloved British sitcom. (On Friday, July 29, we’ll open Woody Allen’s latest – CAFE SOCIETY.)

Synopsis for ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS: “Edina and Patsy are still oozing glitz and glamor, living the high life they are accustomed to; shopping, drinking and clubbing their way around London’s trendiest hot-spots. Blamed for a major incident at an uber fashionable launch party, they become entangled in a media storm and are relentlessly pursued by the paparazzi. Fleeing penniless to the glamorous playground of the super-rich, the French Riviera, they hatch a plan to make their escape permanent and live the high life forever more!” (Fox Searchlight) Join us on Sunday afternoon at 12:50 & 3:00 (we’ll open at 11:30am) for AN ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS BUBBLY BRUNCH! We’ll have bottles of bubbly for sale and you can grab a bite from Pa’s Pork Foodtruck! Amelia Robinson & Alexis Larsen will be your “Patsy & Edina” for the afternoon – giving lots of fun prizes! (Many thanks to Lisa Grigsby of Dayton Most Metro for putting us in touch with Pa’s Pork!) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official website.

PUSH Dayton has rented our space to bring a one-time screening of TRAPPED to THE NEON on Thur, Aug. 4 at 7:30. “On June 27, 2016, the Supreme Court ruled in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, that restrictions on abortion clinics in Texas posed an undue burden on women seeking abortions. TRAPPED, a documentary by Dawn Porter, follows the struggles of the clinic workers and lawyers who are on the front lines of a battle to keep abortion safe and legal for millions of American women. US. reproductive health clinics are fighting to remain open. Since 2010, 288 TRAP (Targeted Regulations of Abortion Providers) laws have been passed by conservative state legislatures. Unable to comply with these far-reaching and medically unnecessary measures, clinics have taken their fight to the courts. What do these restrictions mean for the women of the United States? Their doctors? What’s the collateral damage when legislation plays politics with women’s health? PUSH (Professionals United for Sexual Health) is a Dayton-based advocacy group that raises funding and awareness for Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio.” Ticket details coming soon. Sponsored by Harmony Creek United Church of Christ, Drunk Think Tank, Blue Jacket Books, and Mark E. Owens, Dayton Clerk of Court.” Tickets are $5 each and are only available by clicking this LINK. If tickets remain, they will be available in our lobby one hour before the screening.

Local filmmaker Gino Pasi and his team are hosting a special screening of his new film on Thursday, August 11. “THE ARCHIVIST, a short-film written, produced, and directed by Pasi, tells the story of the brief and unusual relationship of Virginia Hirsch and Archie Vecchio, two people unable to forsake the past. The halcyon days of Virginia Hirsch’s youth are quickly fading no matter how hard she tries to hold on to them. For Archie Vechhio, history is much easier to navigate than the complicated present. When these two people meet, however, the past is buried and the present engaged. And both Virginia and Archie come to realize that living life to the fullest in the “here and now” means taking action – action that won’t come easy for either. Tickets available now at THE NEON’s box office for $5. One Time Only Public Showing! 9PM, Thursday, August 11, 2016.” (This film will screen earlier in the evening for invited guests.)

Our “NEON Lumbar Supporter” campaign is off to a pretty good start. Many thanks to those of you who have contributed to the cause! So far, we’ve “sold” 21 chairs toward our goal of 100. This project will cost us $50,000, and you can read all about it by clicking this LINK. Donations can be accepted on-line, but we can also take donations in person…we’d love to chat with you and have you try out the new sample chairs in our lobby.

Thanks so much for your continued support,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, July 19 – Thursday, July 28:

TICKLED (R) 1 Hr 32 Min
Tuesday-Wednesday (July 19-20): 3:10, 7:20
Thursday (July 21): 3:10
FINAL DAY – July 21!

DARK HORSE (PG) 1 Hr 25 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (July 19-21): 5:15
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (July 22-24): 5:00
Monday-Thursday (July 25-28): 5:20
FINAL DAY – July 28!

THE MUSIC OF STRANGERS (PG-13) 1 Hr 36 Min
Tuesday-Thursday (July 19-21): 3:00, 5:20, 7:40
Friday & Saturday (July 22 & 23): 12:30, 2:45, 7:20, 9:30
Sunday (July 24): 12:30, 2:45, 7:20
Monday-Thursday (July 25-28): 3:00, 7:40

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS (R) 1 Hr 30 Min
Thursday (July 21 – Sneak Preview): 7:30
Friday & Saturday (July 22 & 23): 12:50, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45
Sunday (July 24): 12:50, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30
Monday-Thursday (July 25-28): 3:00, 5:15, 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
July 29 – CAFE SOCIETY
Aug 5 – HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE
Aug 12 – EAT THAT QUESTION
Aug 19 – GLEASON
Aug 26 – OUR LITTLE SISTER
Sept 2 – EQUITY
Sept 23 – THE HOLLARS

Mystery Monday – July 18, 2016

July 18, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 25 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 24’s Mystery Photo is: The MeadWestvaco Treehouse at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery. I took this photo on July 4, 2016 during the Red, White & Boonshoft event.

From boonshoftmuseum.org:

A remarkable permanent exhibit space, the MeadWestvaco Treehouse is just that: a fully-enclosed treehouse that extends beyond the traditional walls of the Museum to grant better access to the natural world. While inside, learn about environmental preservation, encounter live Honey Bees in their hive, see images of local flying squirrels captured on night-vision cameras, and of course do some bird watching!

Wow, over 50 of you got this one right! Congratulations to our randomly drawn winner Emmalee Daniels of Vandalia! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 25:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Elvis in Miamisburg?

July 18, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

How you doin little lady ?

Elvis! It’s Elvis, I say.. as the 60 something year old woman reached for his chest and and tore a piece of his clothing off.

Yes, people will be doing a double take Saturday July 23rd at the Rock n Green Tomato Festival in Miamisburg. The feature afternoon act, after a day of music is a 14 piece Elvis Tribute Band. They sound great.

“Elvis,” played by Ryan Roth is a throwback to the era when Elvis played Las Vegas.

Sequin capes, bawdy gyrations, and that signature hairdo is what you can expect to see. What you will hear is a complicated back up band called “The Comeback Special.”

“The King” is coming to Miamisburg?

Come out and hear tunes like “Suspicious Minds,” ” Hunka Hunka Burning Love.” Don’t forget classics like “Hound Dog” and “Jailhouse Rock.”

This concert is just one of the sights and sounds at Rock N Green Tomato Festival at Riverfront Park in downtown Miamisburg. So bring a lawnchair, grab some food and drink at the vendors, then sit and enjoy the live bands!

We wanted to dress Hungry Jax up like Priscilla Presley, but she would have none of it.

Fixins for a Green Tomato Pie – or Green Mater Pi

HERE’S THE SKINNY on the LIVE MUSIC RUNDOWN.

Noon – 2 pm: “NIGHT MAGIC” – Harmony vocals with Oldies, Rock & Roll, Pop, Blue Grass & Country tunes.

3 – 5 pm: “JOHNNY JAP and THE KNEES” – Classic and Party Rock

6 – 8:00 pm: “B-CAGED” – Classic Rock, Classic Country

8:30 pm: “THE COMEBACK SPECIAL” Elvis Tribute Band – All Elvis, all the time…. dont step on his Blue Suede Shoes.. aahh thank you very much

Entering in his pink cadillac, plush velvet seats, Its awwwlrigh mama, its allright by me ….

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

7:30 am: 5K Run~Walk Registration

8:30 am: 5K Run~Walk Begins – Dress up as Elvis and run !

11:00am: Food and Craft Vendors open til 10pm

11:30am: Cornhole Registration $250 to the winner

Bring a lawnchair and and enjoy the concerts

Noon: Cornhole Tournament Begins

2 – 2:30 pm: Hamburger Wagon Burger Eating Contest

2:30 – 3 pm: Hula Hoop Contest

5:00 – 6 pm: Green Tomato Pie Baking Contest (Judges: Food Adventures Crew: Big Ragu, Chef House and Hungry Jax)

Burger Eating Contest too! Elvis would have been proud

In addition Ron’s Pizza Tavern will be open with Green Draft Beer to celebrate the Rock N Green Tomato festival.

Don’t miss Saturday July 23rd festival where you can have a Food Adventure of your own, with fried green tomatoes, burgers, pizza, ice cream, noodles, BBQ and more.

Want more, original food info? Follow Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Elvis was a foodie! Watch this movie scene, a true story of Elvis hitting up a donut shop in Washington DC at 2am

Garlic Fest Announces Food Vendors for Sunday

July 15, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Bacon Wrapped, Grilled Chicken Legs.

Another exclusive scoop for our Food Adventure fans. Sons of Italy Lodge, Dayton Most Metro and Dayton Dining have finalized the food vendors for Sunday’s Garlic Fest.

Are you a foodie? Then Daytonians, this weekend is your chance to eat, drink and be garlicky all while listening to one of Columbus’ favorite bands, The Danger Brothers. Cooking Demos, beer, garlic eating contest and craft vendors fill out an all star lineup..

Fasten your garlic burps, here we go !!!

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— WHAT: GARLIC FEST and BOCCE CLASSIC

Upstate NY Hot Dog

— WHEN: SUNDAY, JULY 17th from NOON- 8PM

— WHERE: BELLA VILLA HALL – 2625 County Line Rd, Beavercreek

— WHAT ELSE: FREE ADMISSION – FOOD VENDORS – CRAFT VENDORS – BEER TRUCKS

— FREE COOKING DEMOS – inside the Bella Villa Hall Main room

1pm Our own JACKIE SCANLAN aka “HUNGRY JAX” from Food Adventures

2pm Our own LEEANNE “CHEF HOUSE” from Food Adventures and HouseMade Sriracha

3pm Special guest, CHEF ANNE KEARNEY, 2 times James Beard award winner and owner of Rue Dumaine

— GARLIC EATING CONTEST 4:45pm by the stage – Prize money is $100.. can you beat the competition ???

— FREE CONCERT by THE DANGER BROTHERS 5pm – 8 pm – a RARE Dayton appearance by the band you know from Buckeye’s games Hiney Gate Parties on Lane Ave. PARTY ROCK N ROLL at its most fun – HANG ON SLOOPY – Could be the biggest O… H.. I … O chant in Dayton history.

GARLIC FEST FOOD VENDORS:

1) FRICKER’S – We smell garlic chicken on the horizon! Dayton’s chicken experts roll the truck in for some good eats.

2) TEXAS BEEF AND CATTLE CO. – Slow cook BBQ experts on the premises.. We expect garlic rubbed brisket among other slow smoked specialties. Meats! Meats! Meats!

Garlic Boneless Wings

3) GIOVANNI’S – Fairborn’s legendary Italian restaurant brings the garlic eats. Expect some hearty, filling menu items here.

4) SWEET P’S HANDMADE ICE POPS – Fruitty, fresh and COLD. This will cool your hot head and your mouth will thank you.

5) SCRATCH CATERING: Their garlic chicken tenders stole hearts last year. What else do they have in store from Chef Hayden?

6) GYRO PALACE: Huge, gaping gyros loaded with tons of meat, veggies and garlic

Spicy Garlic Chicken over White Rice

tzatziki sauce. Get some !

7) THE HOLY CANNOLI BOOTH – The Italian club is deep frying cannoli and sprinkling chocolate on top. A religious experience in taste!

8) ZOMBIE DOGZ – The king of Dayton’s Food trucks promises 2 never before done flavored hot dogs ! STAY TUNED !

9) RITTERS FROZEN CUSTARD: Cool sundaes loaded with toppings and sauces. If you dont get whip cream on your nose, it doesn’t count.

2 New Flavors coming to Garlic Fest

10) Q FOOD FOR EVERYONE: Bacon wrapped chicken legs, Garlic shrimp and salmon are the possible choices here with BBQ.

11) MOHAWK FREESTYLE GRILL: Garlic Mohawk Burgers and more! More than a mouthful and so juicy. Chef Aaron wont dissapoint you!

12) BOURBON STREET GRILL and CAFE: Spicy chicken or Bourbon Chicken all made with garlic and poured over your choice of rice.

James Nunez and his BBQ crew

13) MAMMA DISALVOS – Who better to do garlic fest than these guys? We expect garlic pasta and more from this Italian crew.

14) DEEP FRIED HEAVEN – From veggies to garlic pizza fries, these guys are gonna deep fry some delicious specialty items.

15) KOWALSKI HOTS: In upstate New York they say “hots” instead of hot dogs. This guy grills red and white hots, not spicy just hot dogs and brands you can only find in upstate New York. As for garlic sauce or coney sauce.

Fresh Popsicles

GARLIC FEST CRAFT VENDORS:

1) THE SPICY OLIVE: Garlic infused olive oil and more flavors ! Fresh Olive oil guaranteed.
2) WEEZY’S GARLIC: Garlic for sale.. health benefits galore
3) COSTCO: Your favorite spot for warehouse deals. If you dont know about them, now’s the chance …
4) SCENTSY: Wickless candles, electric warmers and flavored waxes. Wonderful fragrances.
5) SERVANTHOOD STICHERY: Unique crafts and puzzle lamps. Defintely worth a visit.

We expect some yummy garlic dishes from Giovannis

6) NERIUM INTERNATIONAL: Age defying skin creams and moisturizers. Look young while eating that garlic item.
7) LOVE HARVEST BODY ART: Face painting. Kids love this stuff and what adult wouldnt look good with some garlic on their cheek.
8) PAINTED HORSE STUDIO: Clay art and hot sauces. A local art teacher and her husband have some unique items for sale.

Garlic Chicken

20 Reasons to Hit Friday’s Sons of Italy Food Truck Rally

July 13, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Zombie Dogz will debut 2 new dog flavors!

This FRIDAY July 15th, at 5pm, 18 local food trucks will descend on the Bella Villa Hall on County Line Rd, around the corner from the Greene. If you have been to the Italian Fall Festival, then you are familiar with this venue. But Friday showcases different activities and outside vendors. It promises to be a fun filled, family friendly event and a wonderful evening.

Dont miss this chance for an incredible FOOD ADVENTURE !

Spicy Chicken with White rice from Bourbon Street Grill – a MUST EAT

HERE ARE 20 REASON’S to COME TO THE FOOD TRUCK RALLY at SONS of ITALY’S BELLA VILLA HALL in Beavercreek/Kettering

1 ~ ZOMBIE DOGZ WILL INTRODUCE TWO NEW DOG FLAVORS:
Garlic inspired for sure, the flavors are super secret and are being finalized as you read this. No one is telling, not even the zombies!

2 ~ THE HOLY CANNOLI:
A deep fried cannoli made at the Sons of Italy booth. It is a gooey, creamy walk down dream street. So rich and wonderful, it is like a religious experience.

The Garlic Mohawk Burger

3 ~ BELLA SORELLA’S “BIG FELLA” PEPPERONI PIZZA:
Have you tried their hand made dough, stone baked pizza? Fresh ingredients and that good Italian flavor, makes this a MUST EAT at Garlic Fest Weekend !

4 ~ THE “SPICY CHICKEN WITH WHITE RICE” from BOURBON STREET GRILL: Be prepared to launch your tastebuds to the moon on this one. A perfect, not too spicy blend of shredded chicken and sauce, poured over white rice. So addicting you will want seconds. Warning! – you will crave this stuff the next week, and we are not responsible.

Fresh Pizza from Bella Sorella Pizza Co.

5 ~ BEER TRUCKS and INCREDIBLE FOOD VARIETY IN ONE PLACE:
Beer trucks? YES ! 18 food vendors with various menus? This will give you over 100 food choices. Hello foodies, you have found your paradise… GarlicFest weekend be thy name !

Jimmie’s Ladder 11 Streatery is bringing Garlic Roast Beef with Horseradish Aoli and more

6 ~ “THE ONION STRAW BURGER” from THE HORSELESS BUGGY EATERY:
One of the best burgers in Dayton, hands down. A pile of crunchy onion straws, on a thick, juicy fresh burger. Awww man give us one now to sink our teeth into.

Peanut Butter Cupcake from Go Cupcake

7 ~ “THE WICKED SWEET BREAD” from THE WICKED WICH’ of DAYTON FOOD TRUCK:
Sweet, cinnamon sprinkled bread, with a sweet drizzled icing. It makes for a buttery, cinnamon taste and a match made in heaven. So simple, so good ….

8 ~ “THE KIWI/ BLUEBERRY / COCONUT” ICE POP from SWEET P’S:
On a warm July evening, nothing says refresh me like a hand crafted ice pop from local vendor, Sweet P ! This combo is in the “cool me down” hall of fame !

Ritter’s sundae’s will cool you down at a Summer rally

9 ~ “GARLIC INFUSED CRAB MACARONI n CHEESE” from PA’s PORK:
New Item! King Crab, macaroni, cheese and Italian Parsely on top. Take a bite then slap yourself to get that silly look off your face. Oh, it’s that damn good…

10 ~ QUESADILLAS at THE PAINTED PEPPER FOOD TRUCK:
Juicy, flavorful and loaded, these quesadillas are fantastic food on the go. The Texas Caviar chicken quesadilla is a fave… but so are the wings and corncakes…so many MUST EATS, so little time. It is hard to nail down just one item from this great truck.

11 ~ BOCCE BASH TOURNAMENT:

Bocce Bash for beginners – sign up NOW !

5:30pm starts the 1st ever “BOCCE BASH” for beginners. The cost is $10 per person and you need 4 to a team. Sign up immediately by clicking here. Winner gets $200 !

12 ~ “THE MAC n CHEESE CROQUETTES” from HUNGER PAYNES:
Mac & Cheese Croquettes with Garlic, Smoked Gouda, Cheddar, Green Onions, and Garlic Sour Cream Sauce. Flavored croquettes, are the scrumptuous staple that launched their food truck. You gotta try these. We are excited for more great eats from Andy and his crew.

White Hots and Red Hots from Kowalski Hots

13 ~ “THE PEANUT BUTTER CUP CUPCAKE” from GO CUPCAKE:
Rich and chocolatey. What else goes better together? Indulge in one of the best sweet treats at the rally. One of those bites that you have to sit down and just take in all the flavor.

14 ~ “GRILLED RED HOTS or WHITES HOTS with GARLIC SAUCE” from KOWALSKI’S HOTS:

COLD BEER HERE !

Remember hot isn’t spicy – it is short for Hot Dog in this case. And these casings are authentic hot dog brands only found in upstate New York. Zweigels and Hoffmans are just two of the brands he offers.

15 ~ “THE DISTINGUISHED DARBY” from CHEEKY MEAT PIES:
Steamy ground beef goodness, with cheese stuffed into a delicate pie crust. So delicious and unique, this is one of our favorite food truck items.

16 ~ EMPANADAS from EL MESON:
They have so much good food to offer it is hard to pick just one. The empanadas are a great pocket of flavor on the go at a rally. Their cornbread pattie style Arepas are also tremendous.

17 ~ “THE ROAST BEEF PO’BOY” from JIMMIE’S LADDER 11 STREATERY:

Pa’s Pork will be pulling some bones

Oh boy, this might be the mother of all sandwiches at the rally. Roast Beef on a bun served with lettuce, tomato and a horseradish aoli, this promises to be a huge hit while they last!

18 ~ “THE STREET STYLE CHICKEN GYRO” from GREEK STREET FOOD TRUCK:
A one of a kind gyro with pickled onions and a one of a kind tzatziki sauce. We cannot reiterate enough that you must get the chicken gyro and get it “street style.” The “shrimp gyros street style” are a lighter take on a great thing. Opa!

Chicken on a spindle at Greek Street Food Truck

19 ~ “THE TURTLE SUNDAE” from RITTERS FROZEN CUSTARD:
Hot fudge, caramel and toasted pecans with vanilla custard adorn this sundae. Just sinful, and yummy. Turn out the lights and call the law, we dont care if we ever get well!

20 ~ “THE GARLIC MOHAWK BURGER” from MOHAWK FREESTYLE GRILL:
It is a massive creation from our pal chef Aaron who does it all to the max. Get a napkin, because it is a delicious, “goodness drippin on the chin” kinda time. It is a rowdy Food Adventure on a bun.

There you have it, take a bow if you can eat all of the above items in a night. We have a feeling you might need some help, so bring your friends out and share some bites. That’s

Hunger Payne’s Mac n Cheese Croquettes

what a fun food truck rally is all about!

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON HOW TO GO:

— WHEN: JULY 15th from 5pm til 9pm

— WHERE: 2625 COUNTY LINE RD, BEAVERCREEK, OHIO at the BELLA VILLA HALL

Onion Straw Burger from Horseless Buggy

— WHAT: One of Dayton’s biggest FOOD TRUCK RALLIES EVER! 18 vendors!

— WHAT ELSE: FREE ADMISSION! BEER TRUCKS! LIVE ACOUSTIC BAND ! CRAFTS! KIDS STUFF!

Bring a lawnchair to sit and relax all night ! There is plenty of eats to go around! Join Hungry Jax, Chef House and the Big Ragu for a night of Food Adventure fantasies.

Get restaurant info, original food pictures and Miami Valley Must Eats, by “liking” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking here.

Sweet P’s Handmade Ice Pops

El Mesons Empanadas

Garlic Roast Beef Sub from Jimmies Ladder 11 Streatery

A Cheeky Meat Pie

Holy Cannoli – deep fried !

Texas Caviar Chicken Quesadilla from Painted Pepper Food Truck

Wicked Bread from Wicked Wich’ of Dayton Food Truck

THIS FRIDAY 5pm – 9pm

A Chicken Gyro – Street Style – from Greek Street Food Truck

Christopher’s Restaurant Features Local Art of Tom Watson

July 12, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

“The Vagueness of Youth” by Artist Tom Watson III.

Local artist Tom Watson III has experienced more in all his years than most people will live in a lifetime. Tom is a stroke survivor, a cancer survivor and a man who keeps fighting to live a full life. Food Adventures recently sat down with Tom at Christopher’s in Kettering, a restaurant that is showcasing his art through July 30th.

Christopher’s Art Show Closing Reception and live painting session is Saturday, July 30, from 2:30 to 4:30pm.

Tom’s paintings adorn the walls of the far dining room, and if you didnt know better, you would think the place was purposely decorated that way. His art blends well with the warm scene at Christopher’s Restaurant. Tom explained the toll that having a stroke has taken on his life, and how art and painting, helped him rehabilitate in so many ways. With a lovely wife and 2 healthy, happy boys, he has so much to live for, and has accompished so much.

From the nearly 1,000 “Stem Re-assemblage” collection of paintings

HERE’S THE SKINNY on LOCAL ARTIST TOM WATSON III:

— In the 90’s Tom had recently graduated high school. He became a fixture on the local art and music scene. He was known around Dayton as a scenester and a zinester. As the millenium passed he concentrated on college.

— March 17th, 2005 – Tom Watson’s life changes forever as he suffers a brain-stem embolism, a severe stroke, while in class at the University of Dayton. He was 34 years old.

Christophers in Kettering is where the art is displayed

Against the odds, he survived the stroke, but he had to learn to walk and write again.

— Tom Watson III used art to fuel his recovery. In the coming years, his strength returns and his motor skills improve and he graduates college. His art is well received and his story hits local media outlets. His art was featured at Ha Ha Pizza, where Big Ragu did a Food Adventure with Tom. His art was also displayed at Emporium Wines in Yellow Springs, and the Dayton Art Institute as well as others. Many of his paintings of this era feature a prominent artery map of his stroke, taken from an x-ray.

The incomparable Meat Chili from Christopher’s Restaurant

— In 2011, Tom was awarded the first annual RAISE Award from the National Stroke Association. The RAISE Awards highlight individuals and groups who have impacted the lives of others through stroke advocacy and education. He was presented the award by iconic 70’s celebrity, Henry Winkler, who played “the Fonz” on the “Happy Days” TV Show. “Fonz” has a painting of tom’s that hangs in his home ’til this day.

Tom’s Artwork on display in Christopher’s

— Things were looking up for Tom, he now had 2 sons and his health had improved tremendously. As fate would have it, on Valentines Day 2014, he was diagnosed with tongue cancer. He went forward with aggressive treatment. After some surgeries, he is currently cancer free.

— Saturday July 30, 2016 – 2:30 to 4:30pm Tom will be be at Christopher’s Restaurant in person making some more of his unique paintings. Here’s more info on this event.

Art adorns the walls, showing a story of survival

As we sat there having lunch with Tom, we talked about everything from the local music of Boxcar Suite to the favorite restaurants of Dayton. We talked about his art, about how depressed his stroke and cancer had him. He talked about his beautiful painting “The Vagueness of Youth,” explaining, we all dont know who we are yet at that young point in our lives.

Tom has come full circle. These days he is very pensive and thoughtful. He appreciates

Tom’s Art Portfolio is an incredible journey of triumph

life. He knows what is means to stare death in the face. It has given him a new appreciation on everything. He is grateful for friends and family. He is thankful for his health. He even told us about how he is a true foodie and just appreciates good food. Tom gifted us a piece of his artwork, and the Food Adventures crew will display it proudly at home.

Tom’s story is a tale of perseverance. It is the story of succeeding in life, the will to live and what to learn from life’s experiences. His art was the tool that brought him back from the brink. It is a story of an artist, but it is really the story of a rugged survivor.

Tom Watson with his national award, the recognized individual for Stroke Awareness for the year 2011

VISIT CHRISTOPHER’S FOR GREAT FOOD, MEET TOM WATSON, and HIS ART – restaurant is at the corner of Woodman and Dorothy Lane.

MUST EATS at CHRISTOPHERS:

— MEAT CHILI: Always a top vote getter at the local chili cook offs, this version is insanely god when served with onions, sour cream and cheese.

— MUSHROOM BISQUE: You have never had something so creamy and good. Be a fun guy, and try the fungi.

— THE GROUND BEEF BURGER : Local meat is the secret and so is the grain bun. Get

The Beef Burger from Christopher’s

cheese and all the trimmings. See why this made the list of one of the top burgers in Dayton.

— BUFFALO CHICKEN SOUP: Phenomenal homemade soup with a kick better than Pelé. Eat some and become a Buffalo Soldier like The Big Ragu.

— RASPBERRY PIE: With 2 bakers on staff you know their desserts are stellar. This pie tops the list!

— CARROT CAKE: Some say it is the best in the world….. we think they may have a point !

People eating and enjoying the artwork of Tom Watson

— BREAKFAST: We would be remiss if we didn’t mention that the entire breakfast menu is a must eat at Christopher’s. Butter Pecan Pancakes will start you in the right direction. … and they serve breakfast every day until 1pm

Want a fresh serving of foodie fun every day? Then click here and join the thousands of Dayton area foodies that follow Food Adventures on Facebook! The Big Ragu, Hungry Jax and Chef House will see you at the restaurants !

Calm, relaxing atmosphere

Raspberry Pie – OH MY

A Fish Sandwich from Christopher’s

What the hell did you order , Tom? The Manhattan Beef ?

Insightful and poignant

You might be cool, but you’re not “Fonz gave you an award” cool. heeeeeeyyyyyy!

Beef Burger to go

Kettering standard

Brother Rueben – honorable mention for a must eat

Carrot Cake perfection

Buffalo Chicken Soup

Mushroom Bisque – open up and say awwww gawd

Mystery Monday – July 11, 2016

July 11, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 24 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 23’s Mystery Photo is: The Band Stand at the Dayton VA Medical Center. I took this photo on May 28, 2016 during the American Veterans Heritage Center‘s annual Patriot Freedom Festival.

From americanveteransheritage.org:

The bandstand or gazebo, built in 1871, was initially lighted with gas lamps for evening concerts. The old soldiers’ band started in 1870 and by 1909 was ranked second to the Marine Corp Band as the best in the country. From April to November, there were band concerts nightly. Other well-known bands played here including John Phillip Sousa. The Home Band was disbanded in 1933.

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Kate of Dayton! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 24:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Beloved DARK HORSE Opens Friday at THE NEON! WEINER and MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY Continue!

July 6, 2016 By Jonathan McNeal

Hello Everyone,

We had a great holiday weekend at THE NEON. Thanks to everyone who came out. Though critics had luke-warm reviews of OUR KIND OF TRAITOR, many of our regulars truly enjoyed the film. In addition, THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY had a couple sell-outs over the weekend – it’s a film that has incredible word-of-mouth business. And then there’s WEINER – a documentary like you’ve never seen before. We will keep all three films for another week, and we’ll add a brand new film into the mix – DARK HORSE. This delightful documentary is currently rated “97% Fresh” on rottentomatoes.

Synopsis for DARK HORSE: “Set in a former mining village in Wales, DARK HORSE is the inspirational true story of a group of friends from a working men’s club who decide to take on the elite ‘sport of kings’ and breed themselves a racehorse. Raised on a slagheap allotment, their foal grows into an unlikely champion, beating the finest thoroughbreds in the land, before suffering a near fatal accident. Nursed back to health by the love of his owners – for whom he’s become a source of inspiration and hope – he makes a remarkable recovery, returning to the track for a heart-stopping comeback.” (Taken from Sony Classics) Click this LINK to visit the film’s official website.

Many thanks for everyone who came out to see CLOSET MONSTER last week. Though it wasn’t a sell-out, audience response was fantastic. And I’m happy to report that we raised over $650 to send to victims’ families of the Orlando nightclub tragedy.

Local filmmaker Gino Pasi and his team are hosting a special screening of his new film on Thursday, August 11. “THE ARCHIVIST, a short-film written, produced, and directed by Pasi, tells the story of the brief and unusual relationship of Virginia Hirsch and Archie Vecchio, two people unable to forsake the past. The halcyon days of Virginia Hirsch’s youth are quickly fading no matter how hard she tries to hold on to them. For Archie Vechhio, history is much easier to navigate than the complicated present. When these two people meet, however, the past is buried and the present engaged. And both Virginia and Archie come to realize that living life to the fullest in the “here and now” means taking action – action that won’t come easy for either. Tickets available now at THE NEON’s box office or at the door the night of the showing for $5. One Time Only Public Showing! 9PM, Thursday, August 11, 2016.” (This film will screen earlier in the evening for invited guests.)

If you’re a FaceBook user and a fan of ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS, be sure to visit our FaceBook page…There’s a contest you’ll likely want to enter. (More AbFab contests to come!)

Next week, I will roll out our campaign to assist with installing brand new chairs at THE NEON. A handful of people have already mentioned that they’d like to help – and that makes me quite hopeful. If you’d like to become a “NEON Lumbar Supporter,” you’ll find out all about it in next week’s newsletter.

We hope to see you soon!
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, July 5 – Thursday, July 14:

THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY (PG-13) 1 Hr 48 Min
Tuesday – Thursday (July 5-7): 3:00, 7:20
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (July 8-10): 3:00
Monday-Thursday (July 11-14): 5:15

WEINER (R) 1 Hr 36 Min
Tuesday – Thursday (July 5-7): 5:15
Friday, Saturday, Sunday (July 8-10): 5:00
Monday-Thursday (July 11-14): 5:20

OUR KIND OF TRAITOR (R) 1 Hr 47 Min
Tuesday – Thursday (July 5-7): 3:00, 5:20, 7:40
Friday & Saturday (July 8 & 9): 12:20, 2:40, 7:20, 9:40
Sunday (July 10): 12:20, 2:40, 7:20
Monday-Thursday (July 11-14): 3:00, 7:40

DARK HORSE (PG) 1 Hr 25 Min
Friday & Saturday (July 8 & 9): 12:50, 5:20, 7:30, 9:30
Sunday (July 10): 12:50, 5:20, 7:30
Monday-Thursday (July 11-14): 3:10, 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
July 15 – MUSIC OF STRANGERS
July 22 – ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS
July 29 – CAFE SOCIETY
TBD – CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Aug 5 – HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE
Aug 12 – EAT THAT QUESTION
Aug 26 – OUR LITTLE SISTER
Sept 2 – EQUITY
Sept 23 – THE HOLLARS

The Man Who Dip-eth “The Holy Cannoli”

July 5, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Mark DaGrossa – The Master of the Holy Cannoli

You may have called him Santa. You may have heard him on the Gem City Podcast. You may have seen him on Youtube with “Epic and The Beard.” Mark DaGrossa is one of those Daytonians who you see everywhere. Whether at the Italian Club playing bocce, working a festival, or on a Food Adventure at one of his favorite restaurants in Dayton, Mark is always on the move. Besides working for Folio DesignHaus, Mark is a dedicated husband, son and father, a family man if you will.

We don’t know where YOU may have seen him, but WE will always remember him as “The Man Who Cooks the Holy Cannoli.”

The Holy Cannoli is a lot like bigfoot. It is mysterious and not many people have seen it….

Monty Python had the Holy Grail and the holy hand grenade, but Garlic Fest has the Holy Cannoli !

A six pack of Holy Cannoli

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON “THE HOLY CANNOLI”:

— What is a Holy Cannoli? It is a cannoli shell filled with ricotta cheese and cream, sometimes garnished with chocolate chips, that is dipped in breading and deep fried on the spot. The result after a few minutes is a gooey, gorgeous, piece of heaven.

— Long time Sons of Italy member, Kevin Sorice actually came up with the idea of a deep fried cannoli. So let’s give credit where credit is due.

Mark’s daughter, Caitlin Preparing Cannoli

— Where can I get a Holy Cannoli? The answer is at GARLIC FEST, SUNDAY JULY 17th from noon-9pm. Mark your calendar for this one.

The HOLY CANNOLI is a “MUST EAT” on Garlic Fest Weekend come enjoy the 3 day event and make your own Food Adventure !

—FRIDAY JULY 15th 5pm-9pm– FOOD TRUCK RALLY, BOCCE BASH, LIVE MUSIC and BEER TRUCKS –

— SATURDAY JULY 16th – BOCCE CLASSIC TOURNAMENT, STEAK DINNER at BELLA VILLA HALL –

Chef House and “Holy Cannoli Dipper” Mark DaGrossa

— SUNDAY JULY 17TH – GARLIC FEST – FOOD VENDORS, COOKING DEMOS, BEER TRUCKS, FREE DANGER BROTHERS CONCERT, BOCCE CLASSIC FINALS, GARLIC EATING CONTEST, GARLIC QUEEN, and more!

Admission is FREE so join The Big Ragu, Chef House and Hungry Jax at the Food Truck Rally and Garlic Fest on July 15-17th.

Meet the man, the myth, the legend.. Mark DaGrossa.. “The Man who dip-eth the Holy Cannoli.” Make sure you order some of this sinful goodness. They are rich, delicious and they melt in your mouth! It is a religious experience and a great invention! Thanks to Mark and the workers in the booth, without you, they are just plain cannoli….

“Like” our Food Adventures blog on Facebook by clicking here – we have a lot of original content to

Thumbs up for a great Holy Cannoli at Garlic Fest

offer !

Hungry Jax and her family with Santa DaGrossa

Big Ragu with Kevin Sorice – the brains behind the Holy Cannoli

Before the battering

Holy Cannoli Booth

Take this, batter this, fry this and eat this…

Ladies and Gentleman, we present the Holy Cannoli

Last Year’s signage

Gem City Podcast Crew

Mystery Monday – July 4, 2016

July 4, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 23 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 22’s Mystery Photo is: The Dayton Masonic Center, located in Downtown Dayton’s Steele’s Hill-Grafton Hill Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The original name for this building, designed in the Greek architectural style, was the Dayton Masonic Temple. Ground was broken on July 20, 1925 and the building opened on April 1, 1928. Total cost of construction was 2.5 million dollars. I took this photo on June 24, 2016.

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Harvey of Huber Heights! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 23:

Photo by Tom Gilliam of DaytonGram & Tom Gilliam Photography.

Red, White and FOOD! Americana Fest Vendors Announced!

June 30, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Hungry Jax with a pretzel from “Moms Homemade Goodies”

ATTENTION FOODIES !! One hundred thousand people will descend into downtown Centerville this Monday July 4th for the Americana Festival.

Sure there is a 5 k run early at 7:30am

You bet there is a parade at 10am.

And who could forget fireworks at 10pm later that night.

But Food Adventures has advanced notice on something close to our hearts… FOOD VENDORS !! What restaurants are going to be in attendance? What to eat? We got it all for you right here. We will make order of this crowded party of patriotism. So sit in your lawn chair and listen to this scoop on the best eats at this festival

Pork Chop Sandwich from BlackJack Grill

celebrating our independence!

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— This is the 43rd Annual Americana Festival

— From 9:30am – 5pm is the Street Fair. It runs from the instersection of 48 and 725, down to Bills Donut Shop, and will be filled with FOOD vendors.

— There are also food vendors at Benham’s Grove and tucked back into Activity Center Park in the kids play area.

Crawfish Etouffe from Cajun Specialties – A MUST EAT !

— The key to this festival is to GET THERE EARLY… or go very late. Food crowds are lightest at 10-11am and 4-5pm.

— Parking is rough, you may have to walk a few blocks, so suck it up buttercup

— We suggest bringing a light lawn chair with you, so you can go off to the side and sit and eat comfortably.

Kowalski’s hots will be grilling Upstate NY brand dogs all day with coney sauce

So now we get to the meat of the story – where to go, what to eat, who to drink. The Big Ragu, Hungry Jax and Chef House have decades of experience at this festival and will be in the mix again this year for an epic Food Adventure ! We have some of the food vendors who are going to be in attendance, and list some of our faves and best foodstuffs.

The Greek Booth is amazing – get the classic GYRO

Here they are, in alphabetical order, our patented ……

AMERICANA FESTIVAL MUST EATS:

— BLACKJACK GRILL: Huge porkchops as big as Shaquille O’Neal’s hand. A definite must eat if you’re hungry.

— CAJUN SPECIALTIES: Formerly “LeDoux’s,” this festival vendor has some incredible crawfish etouffe and gumbo. Dont miss this booth!

— CHESTER’S STEAK BURGERS: Get a damn steakburger with cheese already….

—CORK N BOTTLE’S AMERICAN GRILL: Incredible burgers and sandwiches even down to a grilled cheese.

Nellys Chicken is gonna be there – charcoal grilled !

— EL MESON’S FOOD TRUCK: Get some empanadas at this fantastic eatery. They will be at benhams grove, and the menu is constantly changing from “must eats” like paella, to shrimp tacos.

— FRICKER’S: The BBQ boneless wings are amazing here. Dayton iconic sports bar with some of the best frickin chicken around.

Sweet P’s Handemade Ice Pops will cool you off

— FRONANA: Healthy, ice cream like dessert made with mashed bananas. Go for the chocolate fronana, a dream on a spoon…

— GREEK STREET FOOD TRUCK: New guy on the block. The 2 “must eats” here are the “Street Style Chicken Gyros” and the “Street Style Shrimp Gyros.” No shrimp? Get Baklava !

— HAMBURGER WAGON: Get the double burger, it is a

The Hamburger Wagon is pulling into Americana Fest

crunchy delight ! 105 years of customers cant be wrong…

— HARVEST FOOD TRUCK: Their salmon in the Land n Sea BLT is remarkable. Perfect day to chomp on this..

— HUNGER PAYNES FOOD TRUCK: Get the PB & J Croquettes or the Salmon ones… Oh my.. goodness…

Well hello there Zombie Dog … arent you the popular one ?

— ISLAND NOODLES: Vegetarians unite! Try the Asian, wok fired noodles stir fried with garlic and ginger… with veggies in a light “island sauce.”

— J.T.’s STOVETOP BBQ: Pulled Pork with, extra bbq sauce. It doesn’t count unless you drip sauce on your shoe.

— K & H CONCESSIONS: Corn on the cob is their specialty, get one and live a little….

— KERNEL DAVE’S KETTLE CORN: Bags of kettle corn. Eat some now, save some for the fireworks or next movie night…

The street style gyro from Greek Street – we lke the chicken and shrimp verisons best

— KONA ICE: Shaved ice and snow cones. Get the blueberry and raspberry mix option.

— KOWALSKI’S HOTS: One of our faves. This guy has exclusive brands of upstate New York made hot dogs. Get the Red Hot with coney sauce.. it isn’t spicy it is just a red colored, big hot dog. Dont want a dog? Get a “Hamburg,” Rochester NY Style with coney sauce

— LAROSA’S PIZZERIA: The must eat is a slice of pepperoni pizza. Take yourself back to Kings Island 1982 in one swift bite.,…

— MOM’S HOMEMADE GOODIES: A family that makes the most incredible hand tied soft pretzels. Get a pie too !

A Super Taco from Pita Pockets

— NELLY’S CHICKEN: The “must eat” is the half chicken, it has that amazing, cooked over charcoal taste. Get yucca fries if you really want an incredible treat,

— OLD TEXAS SODA COMPANY: Handcrafted Root Beer is the must drink here. On a hot summers day, you will down two of these without blinking.

Fronana scooping up some great flavors

— PITA POCKETS: Try the super taco. It is a tostada shell loaded. Good eats, good street food.

— REISTMILLER’S FUNNEL CAKES: It is Americana Fest, get the damn funnel cake and powder your nose!

We like to run with sparklers through the crowd, holding food, yelling “get out of the way”

— SANTORINI’S GREEK FOOD: Man mountain Dean sized Gyro Sandwiches are the way to go here. Just get the traditional ones.

— SWEET P’S HANDMADE ICE POPS: The “Berry Berry Good” pop is a favorite. A refreshing bet on a hot July day.

— THERESA’S ICE CREAM: Butter Pecan or rocky road will always please at Amerciana Festival

— ZOMBIE DOGZ: Dayton’s favorite food truck always has our favorite.. “Juan of the Dead.” or “The Nibbler.” Let’s face it, you cant go wrong with a Zombie Dog…

Funnel Cakes, the filet mignon of carnies everywhere !

There you have it sports fans, the MUST EATS for JULY 4th, 2016’s AMERICANA FESTIVAL ! Often imitated, never duplicated, Food Adventures can be found on Facebook HERE. Like us on Facebook, love us in your hearts.

We wish our fans a happy, long weekend of fun filled family time with loved ones, celebrating the 4th of July. That’s where we will be, and making sure the best summer food is within reach !

See you next week and every week on Dayton Most Metro…..

Enjoy some more photos below, from Americana Festivals of years past….

Roasted Corn on the Cob for sale

El Meson Food Truck will be at Benhams Grove

We eat it all – Nellys chicken – the Bolivian chicken experts

LarRosa’s Pizza – get a slice on 48 in the street

The pulled pork here is tremendous

Slapping Giant Porkchops on BlackJack Grill

Santorini Greek Food – get the mound in your mouth

Free, amazing smells at the Greek booth

Jaun of the Dead – Zombie Dogz Rule

If you see Harvest – go for the seafood, last resort a local wrap is always on hand

100,000 food adventurers

Frickers !! Oh hellz yez the boneless BBQ is the hit here

Happy 4th from our crew to yours

Corn dogs, Fries

The Amazing Soft Pretzels

A Footlong from Kowalski’s hots – Hoffmans, Zweigels and other brands

Baklava from Greek Street

Celebrate ‘Independents’ Day with Locally Owned Businesses on July 1 First Friday

June 28, 2016 By Dayton937

Before the fireworks light up the sky, head to downtown Dayton where locally owned businesses are celebrating their own “independents” day for First Friday, 5 to 10 pm Friday, July 1. Check out the sales at local retailers, enjoy the food specials at independent restaurants, and take in a few performing arts – time is running out to see Disney’s The Lion King at the Schuster Center! The show rolls out of Dayton on Sunday, July 3.

For more information about First Friday, or to find business addresses, parking, upcoming activities and more, visit the DDP website at downtowndayton.org or use the location-based mobile site, mobile.downtowndayton.org.

Invite friends and family to partake in First Friday fun! “Like” and share the First Friday Facebook page or the event page. Courteous Mass has moved their bike ride to Friday, July 8th this month.

Art
• Dutoit Gallery, 1001 E. Second St., #100: Enjoy an art exhibition by Harry Vignocchi from 6-9 p.m. Call 952-0246.
• Front Street Galleries, 1001 E 2nd St.: Get a copy of Donnie Hutchinson’s new book titled, “Lead with Balance”. This softcover book teaches readers “how to master work life balance in an imbalanced culture.” Get a copy signed from 5-7 p.m. Call 266-3491.

Music
• Blind Bob’s, 430 E. Fifth St.: Featuring happy hour from 4 to 8 m., $2.50 well drinks. Music by Kelly Zullo, Paige Beller, Achilles Tenderloin on the patio from 6-8 pm and after, enjoy live music by Temper, Temper Temperature and Hell Yes, Goddammit on the indoor stage. Call 938-6405.
• Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave.: Featuring Irish First Fridays, with a happy hour, live music by Jameson Folly starting at 8 p.m. Call 224-7822.
• Gilly’s, 132 S. Jefferson St.: Old Skool Groove Night from 8 p.m. to midnight. Enjoy the throwback hosted by DJ Galen Drake. Admission $5 at the door. Call 228-8414.
• Therapy Café, 452 E. Third St.: Featuring First Friday with 3DMentional. Admission $5. 9 pm to 3 am. Call 461-4000. Call 461-4000.
•The Trolley Stop, 530 E 5th St.: Enjoy live music from Hey There Morgan. Music starts at 9:00 pm.

Entertainment
• The Black Box Improv Theatre, 518 E. Third St.: Come see the cast of Womit 2.0 put on #hashtag. They’ll interview an audience member as well as visit their social media pages in an effort to drum up some inspiration for improvised scenes. BYOB. Call for ticket prices and availability. The show starts at 8 pm. Call 369-0747.
• Dayton Chess Club, 18 W. Fifth St.: Dayton Chess Club hosts a Quick tournament for US Chess Federation members. Games are perfect for club chess players and those experienced with online chess games who would like to test their skill over the board. The club opens at 6:30 p.m. and registration ends at 7:25 pm. The first of four games begins at 7:30. Visit daytonchessclub.com for more details. Call 461-6283.
• Fifth Third Field, 220 N Patterson Blvd.: Watch the Dayton Dragons play the West Michigan Whitecaps. Games starts at 7:00 pm. For tickets and more information, visit http://www.daytondragons.com or call 228-2287.
• MJ’s on Jefferson, 20 N. Jefferson St.: Join hostess Hellin Bedd with her Male Revue featuring male dancers and special guests. Show starts at 11 p.m. Kitchen hours 5:30 pm- 2 am with daily and weekly specials! Cover is $5 for 21+, and $7 for 18-20 with proper I.D. Call 223-3259.
• Nucleus CoShare, 411 W. Fifth St.: First Friday means it’s time for another Free Workday! From 8am to 5 pm, visitors can experience what a co-shared office environment is like, and get a preview of the benefits a membership to Nucleus CoShare provides. Call 259-4686.
• Schuster Performing Arts Center, 1 W 2nd St.: Experience the phenomenon of DISNEY’S THE LION KING! Join Victoria Theatre Association before Friday performances and enter-to-win DISNEY’S THE LION KING merchandise that you won’t be able to get anywhere else in Wintergarden between 7 and 7:30 pm for #FreeStuffFridays. After the show, take your ticket stub to UNO’s Pizzeria and Grill and get a free mini-dessert with drink purchase. Show starts at 8 pm. For tickets and prices visit http://schusterperformingarts.center-tickets.net/. Call 228-7591.

• Wiley’s Comedy Joint, 101 Pine St.: Participate in the Wiley’s Annual Fireworks Comedy Contest for a shot at $1,000 or simply watch and enjoy the comedians. $25 to enter the contest, $10 to watch and two-item minimum. Shows start at 7:15 & 9:30 p.m. Visit wileyscomedy.com for more information or call 224.5658.

Food and Drink
• Deaf Monty’s Wine, 22 Brown St.: Enjoy $2 tastings of select wines. Call 225-9463.
• De’Lish Café, 139 N. Main St.: Friday Nights Unplugged features live music plus $5 food and drinks specials and $4 wines. Call 461-2233.
• Fifth Street Brewpub, 1600 E. Fifth St.: Enjoy happy hour from 4-6 pm, $1 off all draft beer and wine and $1 off sharing plates. Call 443-0919
• Lily’s Bistro, 329 E. Fifth St.: Celebrate the restaurant’s three-year birthday on First Friday July 1. Enjoy “flash back Friday” cocktails from the very first menu, as well as dinner specials. Weather permitting, Lily’s will offer homemade, fresh, and unique lemonades available for purchase at the stand in front of the restaurant. Call 723-7637.

Shopping
• Epic Life Fitness: 118 N. Jefferson St.: Patrons can stop by between 4-8 p.m.to schedule a free assessment and receive 20% off their first package with the purchase of four sessions or more. Call 371-8258.
• Link Dayton Bike Share (22 stations located throughout downtown): Make it a date! Link Bike Share will celebrate “independents day” with a buy-one-get-one-free offer on 24-hour membership purchase. Buy one 24-hour pass at any Link kiosk, and the promotion code for the free pass will be sent to via text message. Call 496-3825.
• Sew Dayton, 261 Wayne Ave.: First Fridays feature the free Stitch n’ Sip event. Bring your own beverage and sewing project and make new sewing friends! No need to register. Suggested crafts include: crochet, knitting, hand embroidery, cross stitch or paper craft. Open sew is from 5-8 pm. Call 234-7398.

Dive Bar Tuesday – Mack’s Tavern

June 28, 2016 By Brian Petro

Welcome to Mack’s Tavern!

Scouting locations for Dive Bar Tuesday is usually pretty straight forward. We listen to the readers, make lists, and visit the sites as time allows. More often than not when we arrive, there is no doubt we are going to a dive bar. The location is small and usually hidden, there is not lots of light, and the people we see know each other. The first one we attended, Miami Valley Sports Bar, was the only venue we visited where we started to question if it had jumped to the next level. There was good food, plenty of room, and they were in the process of expanding and making the place better. Is there an upper ceiling to what can be considered a dive bar? Where does “dive bar” end and “nice place to go for a night out” begin? This conversation continued even as we walked into Mack’s Tavern, ready to get some drinks and have some of their delicious pizza.

Mack’s Tavern (381 Miamisburg Centerville Rd, Washington Township, OH 45459, (937) 813-7217) failed the first test of what we have come to expect from a dive bar: difficult to find. It is just sitting there next to Big Lots on Miamisburg Centerville Rd., begging for you to pull up and visit. The place is well lit too. Not too bright, because no one wants that in a bar, but just enough light to see the vintage décor on the walls and the games that are lined up and waiting for you to play. There are still some nooks and crannies you can scurry off to for a private discussion or a first date, but the floor is set up, so it is easy to meet people. That is not by accident. MacKenzie Manley, the owner of Mack’s, wants people to come in as strangers and leave as friends. If that is something I have written before, there is a reason. It is one of the charms of the dive bar. Or, if you want to be politer with the naming, the neighborhood bar. It is working. Everyone was chatting and having fun. And MacKenzie knew every regular.

We could not even fit the food into the frame.

If you have not heard of MacKenzie, it is possible you have not been near a computer for a very long time. MacKenzie won the first annual Bloody Mary Showdown with a Barbecue Burger Bloody Mary. Media monolith BuzzFeed picked up a story about the tavern leaving coupons on cars left overnight for responsible drivers. She was a bartender at the Pour Haus for years and was voted one of the top dive bars in the city in her first year of operation. She understands both sides of the bar business: making great drinks and providing a comfortable environment for the patrons who show up. She was inspired by the venerable Cubby Hole and the Pour Haus from years gone by. Does your company need a place to have a lunch meeting? Call Mack’s. Do you want to throw that big party for the holidays, or maybe a small class get-together? Call Mack’s. Did your plans at a different bar in the city fall through? Call Mack’s. Talking with her, exploring the space, you start to wonder if you can call this a dive bar, or are we in a whole different place? This is a dive bar. MacKenzie was emphatic about it.

Their menu is filled with food and drink delicious options. Just recently she added ten more specialty pizzas and wings to go with the sandwiches and meal-sized plates of Mack and Cheese. There are many beers on tap and bottles she offers, and all of them at a reasonable price. Good luck finding any beer over $4 (but they do pop up from time to time). They offer cocktails as well, which they are happy to create to your taste. They do have some standards that they will pour for you, but for the most part that menu is a bespoke one. And after a meal and some drinks here, your wallet will not feel that much lighter. The philosophy that drives the atmosphere at Mack’s is that she wants you to have a good time without breaking the bank. The inexpensive menu and the really friendly workers there ensure that the experience will be a pleasant one. They have thought it out right down to the restrooms, which may be the cleanest, most attractive ones I have seen in a while.

When you head into Mack’s Tavern, you are heading into one of the best dive bars Dayton has to offer. From their mascots Chewy the Boar and MacKenzie’s pit bull Haze to the one-of-a-kind signs on the wall, you are going to have a unique experience. They offer pool and darts for entertainment on a daily basis with Monday being reserved for karaoke and Thursday being a trivia night. And come football season, have no doubt, this bar cheers for the Steelers. It is a dive bar by design, and the lead architect has done an excellent job. Head into the easy to find, spacious bar and spend the night enjoying the food, the beverages, and the fact you are likely to leave with more friends than you had heading in. And leave your car if you had a little too much to drink. They will take care of that, too.

Mystery Monday – June 27, 2016

June 27, 2016 By Tom Gilliam

Welcome to Week 22 of Mystery Mondays. The answer to Week 21’s Mystery Photo is: The Grant-Deneau Tower, Dayton’s first modern skyscraper, built in 1969-1970, on the corner of 4th & Ludlow Streets in Downtown Dayton. I took this photo on October 28, 2015.

Designed by prominent 1960’s Dayton architect Paul Deneau, the Grant-Deneau Tower is a fine example of mid-century modern architecture and was recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places, a rare feat for a building less than fifty years of age. There is hope by the building’s ownership and the City of Dayton that redevelopment for mixed use (commercial and residential) will start in Spring of 2017. To learn more about the Grant-Deneau Tower, check out the Dayton Deneau Society, founded by City of Dayton Planner Tony Kroeger. The group is also on Twitter at @DeneauSociety.

We congratulate our randomly drawn winner Ben of Fairborn! Rapid Fired Pizza certificates are coming your way!

Enter here:

http://goo.gl/forms/dyU55fzc48

We’ll post the winner next Monday with details about the photo as well as a new photo to challenge your knowledge of the Dayton area.

Thanks for playing and good luck!

Here’s our Mystery Photo for Week 22: