DaytonDining

Linh’s Bistro: Good Food Pho Sure!

January 10, 2013 By Dayton937 1 Comment

In Vietnamese cuisine, Pho is a meal sized soup, served hot with noodles and various meats. During these cold winter months, nothing warms you up quite like these offerings at Lihn’s Bistro at 5532 Airway Road in the Page Manor Plaza. The location is new, but they still serve the same great Vietnamese specialties. The Food Adventures Crew have been fans of owners Hoa and Phan Nguyen ever since they opened the Asian Palace restaurant in Beavercreek in the 1980’s. Today, their sole endeavor is the bustling Linh’s Bistro, which is one spot you’ll have to visit for a fantastic Food Adventure.

Upon entering Linh’s, you notice the huge open dining area bustling with patrons. The atmosphere is very nice, mixing modern style with a traditional Asian feel. The staff is friendly and inviting, and promptly serve you some Vietnamese tea at your table. Start out with a trademark house drink, the Vietnamese Iced Coffee which is excellent. We browsed the familiar menu items. The restaurant’s menu has two parts, a Vietnamese section and a Chinese section. Being aware that the owners were from Vietnam, we always stick with the hometown experts and order Vietnamese dishes at Linh’s Bistro.

Our Favorite Appetizer: Soft Shrimp Rolls

For openers, we would suggest a house specialty appetizer called the Shrimp Golden Crepe. The crepe is huge and a Food Adventurer’s dream. It is filled with vermicelli noodles, shrimp and a light sauce. Served with a side of fresh cilantro and lettuce, we were told to take pieces of the crepe and manually make our own lettuce wraps. Definitely one of the most unique appetizers we have ever eaten. The Big Ragu loves the Vegetarian Fried Spring Rolls at Linh’s which are light and flaky. However, we both agree on a favorite appetizer, the Soft Spring Roll. This delicacy is an egg roll, but the wrapper is a see-through, soft rice paper, which resembles a clear burrito wrapper. The rolls are filled with cilantro, vermicelli noodles, pork and shrimp. They are served with an absolutely incredible peanut sauce for dunking. The Soft Rolls taste so fresh, that you realize you could have ordered a few of these for your meal.

Many Noodles, Shrimp and Flavors Lurk Below the Pork in this Pho (Meal Sized Soup)

The entree menu is extensive, but we have some house specialties that we would recommend. First the Pho (meal sized soups), and our favorite is #23 which is Shrimp and Pork Soup with Clear Rice Noodles. This steaming hot bowl is served with a heaping side of bean sprouts, jalapenos, and cilantro for adding to the soup per your taste. Make sure when you eat this you use the both chopsticks and a spoon for a slurping good time. The Pho Soups are so flavorful and fresh, that no matter what combination of meats and noodles you choose, it is impossible to go wrong.

Another entree fave is the #76 The Traditional Boneless Catfish in Clay Pot. This dinner is very old school. It is served in a primitive looking traditional Vietnamese cooking pot with a closed lid. As the lid is opened, it reveals lightly breaded fish, soaking in a wonderfully aromatic brown sauce. As the steam rises, spices and pepper are visible covering the the fish pieces. The saucy catfish is best spooned over white rice, for a mouth watering meal that you won’t soon forget.

Lemongrass Shrimp Vermicelli Salad – with sauces added

Lastly, may we recommend the #43 Lemongrass Shrimp with Vermicelli Salad. This entree is served with a side of vinegar sauce and julienne carrots. The traditional way to eat this dish is to pour the vinegar sauce over the huge bowl of Vermicelli, sauteed onions and shrimp. Next, mix the ingredients thoroughly, exposing the lettuce and bean sprouts hidden at the bottom of the bowl. The final step is to grab some chopsticks and dig in! This is super filling meal and a great value at only $7.25. In fact, most of the menu is value priced, making Linh’s Bistro an affordable gourmet dining experience.

Linh’s has an incredible menu with page after page of tremendous dishes. You could come here dozens of times and still not tap the extensive choices offered. The key here is to explore, try new things and be a Food Adventurer. It is a perfect place to experience the many tastes of the Vietnamese culture. A trip to Linh’s Bistro will have you coming back Pho more !

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We welcome your comments and feedback below!

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New Year’s Resolutions Alive & Well at Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt

January 9, 2013 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Want to keep your New Year’s resolution’s intact, while satisfying your sweet tooth? Try visiting the new Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt Store located in Town and Country Shopping Center in Kettering. This nationally franchised company comes to the Dayton area with over 70 different flavors of yogurt and 35 toppings to choose from. The possibilities of flavor combinations are endless. Dressed like Olivia Newton John from the “Let’s Get Physical video, The Food Adventure Crew trotted in their 80’s aerobics leggings and grabbed a bite at Orange Leaf after their workout.

The shop is pretty simple, you grab a cup at the self-serve stations and fill it up with one of the flavors offered. You then may choose from over 35 different toppings. The final step is to weigh and pay. The yogurt is sold by the ounce, so you control the price of the item! The various yogurts run from 20 calories to 47 calories per ounce, depending on flavor. We tried Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Valencia, Wedding Cake and Banana yogurt, all of which were great. Orange Leaf FrozenYogurt is a refreshing treat that will allow you to keep your figure in 2013. How is that for a guilt free Food Adventure? We also got a kick out of the inventive little “shovel spoon,” whose ingenuity rivals that of the “spork” from Taco Bell.

The interior decor is sleek, clean and cheery. It looks like IKEA opened a yogurt store, and we love it. Also, make sure you register for their rewards card at O rangeLeafYogurt.com and get a free 8oz cup of yogurt, or as they call it “froyo”.

Orange Leaf is a great place to visit while shopping at Town & Country or after dining at the center’s restaurants Figlio or Buffalo Wild Wings. Keep your New Year’s resolutions solid and keep your sweet tooth sanity by checking out this new frozen yogurt shop.

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Bloody Delicious

January 1, 2013 By Brian Petro 1 Comment

There are so many Bloody Marys to discuss, who knows where to begin? Queen Mary I of England first picked up the name during her reign from 1553 to 1558. Her prosecution of the Protestants was brutal, ranging from exile to execution. The rate at which she executed them was extreme, earning her the nickname of Bloody Mary. There is also a game you can play during Halloween (or any sufficiently dark sleepover) where you go into the bathroom and stare into the mirror, chanting the name “Bloody Mary” over and over again to either summon the ghost of the murderous Queen Mary, or a witch of the same name. Summoning the ghost in the mirror will not make her happy, and you have to turn the light on in the room you are playing before she breaks through the mirror and rips your soul to pieces. Or does something considerably worse. January 1, National Bloody Mary Day, on the dawn of a brand new year, does not seem to be the best time to celebrate either of the two previous ladies. The spicy, vodka based cocktail you sip at brunches is a better thing to focus on. It might be your first cocktail of 2013, working hard to cure your hangover.

The history of the Bloody Mary cocktail is as interesting and complex as the drink itself. It was invented in the early 1920’s by a man named Ferdinand “Pete” Petoit at Harry’s American Bar in Paris. He claims to have named it after a woman named Mary, who would spend hours at the bar sadly waiting for a less than stellar, or punctual, boyfriend. Initially, the drink was made with equal parts of vodka and tomato juice, making it a thick and rather bland drink. When Petoit moved the drink with him to America, he began to improve it, adding Worcestershire sauce, Tobasco, celery salt, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and anything else to spice up the tomato juice. The other thing that was changed in America was the liquor. We may think of vodka as a spirit that has always been around, but the United States did not get on the vodka bandwagon until the 1950’s with Smirnoff’s big, “Breathless” push. The base spirit in the 30’s and 40’s became the much easier to find gin, and the name of the cocktail switched over to a Red Snapper. Some theories abound that we delicate Americans could not handle the original name and it was switched for that reason. When the Smirnoff promotion fully hit the United States, the company used the Bloody Mary as one of the cocktails to promote the spirit, it was launched into the American bar scene.

The Bloody Mary is considered by most cocktail historians and scholars as a staple drink, and is included within the pages of every cocktail book published since it was invented. They are so iconic that in 1986 Absolut vodka introduced Absolut Peppar, the first commercially made flavored vodka, specifically for the Bloody Mary craze that was going on at the time. The Bloody Mary may be a cornerstone of many bars, but it is not universally liked. Many cocktails scholars, including David Embury and Gary Regan, are not fans of the drink. Embury went as far as to call it “strictly vile”. The thickness of the drink or the savory flavors tend to turn off as many people to the drink as it attracts. It is also not something popular to drink in the evening; it is too thick to drink many of them at one sitting. But having one at breakfast is very acceptable. In fact, the vitamins and minerals in the tomato juice, along with your eggs, toast, and bacon make a pretty handy hangover cure for everything you DID drink last night. A Virgin Mary, all of the nutrients, none of the alcohol, makes an even better cure.

The recipe…yeah, about that. There is an art to making a Bloody Mary. The main ingredients of vodka and tomato juice are not in question. The spices that go into the cocktail is where the lines get drawn. The inventor himself laid out the spicy ingredients as salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon. Over the years other spices have been introduced or experimented with, like horseradish, sriracha, dill, rice vinegar, mustard, and many others. Ultimately, the goal is to make sure you are balancing out the sweet tomato juice with the spices as not to make either overpowering. Garnishes for the Bloody Mary fall into the same category. Many people associate a celery stick as the garnish, but you can also use a lime wedge or olives to finish off the drink as well.

Bloody Mary (Classic version)

2 oz. vodka (pepper or bacon works well)
5 oz tomato juice
.5 oz lemon juice
4 dashes of hot sauce
2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
A dash of salt
A dash of pepper
Celery salt (optional)

Pour all of the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Roll the ingredients back and forth between two separate glasses. Rolling a cocktail mixes all the ingredients gently, so the tomato juice does not get very thin and bubbly, as it would if it was shaken. You can add a dash of celery salt to the top of the cocktail, or rim the glass with the salt.

Tyrannical queens and creepy children’s games aside, the Blood Mary is rich in flavor and history. It is evolving as tastes change as other bartenders get their hands on it. You can get it very well made at most brunch places in the area, or you can make it at home with spices you have there. With the biggest party of the year being on December 31^st, having a classic brunch cocktail/hangover cure celebrated on the first day of the year only makes sense.

Let us know where you are having your Bloody Mary today, and who makes the best ones in Dayton. Happy New Year everyone!

Waiter, There is Champagne in my Cocktail…

December 28, 2012 By Brian Petro 1 Comment

Champagne is a beverage that we bring out only at special celebrations. It was the French royalty at the beginning of the 18^th century that popularized the trend of drinking this sparkling beverage. It became perceived (with marketing help from the grape growers in the Champagne region of France) as a drink of the affluent, so the people of the middle and working classes only would drink it for special occasions. Even though champagne and other sparkling wines have become fairly easy to find and purchase at a modest price, it is still something we associate with infrequent celebrations and special events. We see it when sports teams win championships, when couples get married, maybe when someone smashes a bottle of it to christen a boat, and of course, New Year’s Eve. People sip it straight out of a flute or a coupe if they are feeling a little more vintage vibe. What you do not see much of is people mixing it into a cocktail.

A mimosa at breakfast is typically the extent of people’s experience with a champagne based cocktail. Possibly a bellini for brunch or a light lunch drink. There are so many more cocktails you can make with champagne as the base, playing off the general sweetness and effervescence of it. The one thing you always want to keep in mind: champagne is very carbonated. Take care when you are mixing the ingredients together. Also, champagne is a sparkling wine specific to the Champagne region of France. It belongs to the larger category of sparkling white wines where you will find cava (Spain), prosecco (Italy), and sekt (Germany). For the purposes of the recipes, I am going to use what the original source calls for. You can use other sparkling wines, but the taste will vary accordingly.

Champagne Cocktails 101

Here are a few cocktails you can make with champagne and common liquors, or other mixers you may have at your party.

Bellini

1.5 oz. peach schnapps
4-6 oz. prosecco

Pour the peach schnapps into a flute, and then add champagne. Stir gently, and garnish with a peach slice.

Before all of you bartenders and other cocktail experts leap upon me, a traditional bellini is made with white peach puree, not peach schnapps. If you can find the ripe peaches in the store, or premade peach puree, substitute that for the peach schnapps. I have even
seen this recipe called a Dirty Bellini.

Mimosa

2 oz. orange juice
.25 oz orange liqueur (triple sec, Grand Marnier, etc.)
4-6 oz. champagne

Pour the orange juice into the flute, and then add champagne. The orange liqueur is added last, as a float, and is optional if you do not have it available. It will also not be bad to have on New Year’s Day.

Black Velvet

Stout (Guinness is the traditional choice)
Champagne

Add equal parts stout and champagne into a pilsner glass. It is a bigger trick that you might think. I will usually put the champagne in first, and then add the stout VERY slowly, keeping a close eye on the bubbling of the champagne. When Prince Albert passed away, the whole country went into mourning with Queen Victoria. Even the champagne, with the help from Guinness, was black with sorrow.

Champagne Cocktails 201

Very popular, you may need to purchase a few specialty ingredients, or make a few extra preparations for these cocktails.

Kir Royale

.5 oz Crème de cassis
6 oz. champagne

Pour a standard pour of champagne in a flute and add the crème de cassis. Crème de cassis is a black currant flavored liqueur. A kir can also be made in a similar fashion, substituting a dry white wine for the champagne.

Champagne Cocktail

Sugar cube soaked in Angostura bitters (2 dashes of bitters should do)
6 oz. champagne
Splash of cognac (optional)

Place the sugar cube in the bottom of the flute. Pour the champagne over the cube, allowing the sugar and bitters to dissolve. The cognac float at the end is more popular in England than it is here. This is another notable vintage cocktail, something you will see mentioned in more than a few black and white movies. Talkies, as the kids call them.

Poinsettia

3 oz. cranberry juice
1 oz. orange liqueur
3 oz. champagne

Pour the cranberry juice and orange liqueur into a flute and stir together. Add the champagne and enjoy. It is seasonal, festive, and delicious.

Champagne Cocktails 301

These are going to take liqueurs that are a little more obscure or expensive, and much more preparation.
They may be a little less known generally, but have a place in cocktail history.

Death in the Afternoon

1 oz. absinthe or Pernod
5 oz. champagne

Pour the absinthe into a flute, and then add champagne. Absinthe balances out the sweet champagne with a hint of wormwood and licorice flavors. Ernest Hemmingway, who is credited with the creation of the drink, also suggests in the recipe to enjoy three to five in the afternoon. This probably explains quite a bit about his work.

French 75

1 oz. gin
.5 oz. lemon juice
1.5 tsp. simple syrup
4 oz. champagne

In a mixing glass, combine the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Shake it, and strain the contents into a Collins glass over ice. Top it off with the champagne and gently stir it. Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice. If you are not a fan of gin, you can substitute it with cognac. This cocktail got its name because it was said it felt like you were hit with a French 75mm field gun, a staple of the French army during World War I and the first piece of modern artillery. Boom.

Seelbach Cocktail

1.5 oz. bourbon
.5 oz. orange liqueur
7 dashes Angostura bitters
7 dashes Peychaud bitters
4 oz. champagne

Mix the bourbon, bitters, and orange liqueur briefly over ice, and strain into a flute. Top off the mixture with champagne. It was created at the Seelbach Hotel in Louisville just before Prohibition hit, and the original recipe for this cocktail was lost. It was found recently and brought back to life, with a shocking amount of bitters that offer some balance to the sweetness of the champagne, bourbon, and orange.

You know champagne is going to be in the mix on December 31^st. With a little more planning and a few more purchases, you can have a wide range of cocktails available that can be made with that single ingredient. Of course, there is nothing wrong with just enjoying it as it comes out of the bottle. If you enjoy a little too much of it (since you will not be driving, right?), we have a few remedies for the hangover on January 1^st.

Have a wonderful and safe New Year’s Eve, and a prosperous 2013.

Cheers!

Cold Weather? Hot Coffee at Ghostlight !

December 27, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Fig Vanilla Black Pepper Latte

Where can you warm up with this cold weather? May we suggest a Latte with the ladies? How about a Mocha with the Mayor? Ghostlight Coffee on 1201 Wayne Ave is just the place for a Food Adventure that will heat up your winter months. Opened in 2011 by owner Shane Anderson, it is a “must drink” on our list of locally owned spots. This coffee house already has a cult following, and deservedly so. Great beverages are the cornerstone of Ghostlight Coffee. The storefront of glass windows in the dining room, overlooks a bustling Wayne Avenue. the walls are adorned with local art, and music usually fills the air. The place has a warmth to it, and we are not just talking about the coffee. The Big Ragu finds the inviting atmosphere very appealing. Another attraction is that the menu has a variety of choices to please almost anyone.

Ghostlight uses the “pour over” method to prepare many of their brews. It is a manual method of making coffee, and a secret to great taste. The hot water is poured just enough to wet all of the coffee grinds and seeps through a filter into a cup. The hot water is poured slowly, starting in the middle and moving toward the outside in circles. Free entertainment with each order! The “Baristas” (coffee making staff), know what they are doing and the benefit from their expertise is in each flavorful cup.

Being a coffee connoisseur and frequent customer at Ghostlight, Hungry Jax has a couple of recommendations to beat the cold. The Fig Vanilla Black Pepper Latte is her favorite. Black pepper in a latte? Trust us, it works. The fig and vanilla flavor makes it one of the better and more unusual lattes that we have tasted. Every sip is incredible, and at the end you taste the black pepper. It is one of those drinks that makes you wonder, in a good way. We also suggest the Balsalmic Walnut Latte. Again, with this coffee, Ghostlight creates yet another unique, creamy latte, with a nutty finish. The Big Ragu goes for simple pleasures at Ghostlight like the hot chocolate, or a cappuccino. The hot chocolate is creamy and rich, and the same goes for the cappuccino. Other menu offerings include Chai Teas, Espresso, French Press Coffees, and Rishi Organic Teas.

The menu also includes many locally made pastries. Depending on the week, the selection will vary with seasonal choices or standard favorites. One of our favorite snacks available are the packaged toffees from Sweet Nothings, a local Dayton confectioner. Their Sea Salt Toffees are so good and addicting that they should be illegal.

Sweet Nothings Sea Salt Toffee

Ghostlight is not only coffee and snack central. There are many other activities going on in this vivacious venue. Events include live music, poetry, story slams, and the venue is available for scheduling special private parties. Ghostlight Coffee is such an eclectic spot with a local flair. It is a great place to bring friends, or go solo. The friendly staff and patrons make it a joy to meet and see people from all walks of life, who are enjoying a good cup of coffee. If you love what life in Dayton has to offer, than Ghostlight Coffee is a wonderful place to “get your drink on.”

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Ghostlight Hours are 7am-7pm Monday thru Friday and 8:30a-7p Saturday & Sunday. Check the Ghostlight Facebook Page for “After Hour” Events.

A Tale of Two DiSalvo’s Part 2: DiSalvo’s Deli

December 20, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

This is the final installment of a two part story on the DiSalvo Family businesses in Kettering. This Food Adventure leads us to Disalvo’s Deli on 1383 East Stroop Road. Since 1982, The Big Ragu has been frequenting this establishment because of the delicious, freshly prepared food. There is also a collection of Italian specialties that you wont find anywhere else in the Dayton area. The friendly staff are experts and have become our friends over the decades. Whether it is owners Ronnie and Mindy DiSalvo, or longtime employees Shelly and Jim, the service is exceptional.

Each day chef Ronnie prepares different “special entree items” from scratch. If you want a heads up on what the special of the day will be, sign up for email notification on the website disalvosdeli.com. We love the homemade soup of the day and specials like salmon and rigatoni in creamy tomato sauce when it is available. The Big Ragu’s favorites are the fresh mozarella panini with roasted red peppers or the fried eggplant on Fridays. We would also recommend a slice of the pizza of the day, made with fresh dough. There are so many Italian items in the deli case like chicken parmesan, artichoke salad, roasted red peppers in garlic and olive oil, mushroom salad, olives, stuffed baby peppers and more. This place is a great chance to explore your “inner foodie.” Want some freshly made pasta sauce? Pints and quarts of this amazing marinara are available in “to go” containers.

Sub Sandwich from Disalvo’s Deli

It seems however, that this deli has a cult following when it comes to their subs. We suggest you grab a sub menu on top of the display case, and look it over. The moment you peer through the dried imported pepperoni and loaves of bread to place your sub order, there is a realization that you are knee deep in a Food Adventure. The sub menu tells you to you choose 1 meat and 1 cheese from the list, then choose a type of fresh bakery bread. Extra freshly sliced meats and cheeses may be added to each sub for just 40 cents apiece. There are lots of toppings and condiments to choose from, like onions, lettuce, tomato, mustard, banana peppers, and hot peppers. Whatever toppings you choose, and this is important, make sure you tell them to add some Italian house dressing because it makes the sandwich. We wouldn’t steer you wrong on these killer subs ! The half subs are filling and a good deal at only 6 bucks.

In the mood for an Italian dessert? You can always find freshly filled cannoli (regular or chocolate dipped) and tiramisu. The deli also has various homemade specialty desserts like giant cakes, creme puffs, cookies and more based on what was prepared that day. Simply stated, they have some of the best desserts we have ever tasted. Also available on the menu are some vintage espressos and cappuccinos to complement any dessert.

Ronnie DiSalvo

DiSalvo’s Deli also has a nice Italian wine selection on the shelves next to jars of their signature salad dressing and jars of pasta sauce. There are fresh loaves of bread for sale, freshly made mozzarella cheese spheres, and grated parmesan cheese. It is fun to browse through the various pre-packaged pastas, jars of peppers, boxed Italian cookies and other Italian foodstuffs. In the display freezer there is frozen dough, freshly made frozen manicotti and ravoli that is ready for baking. Other favorite frozen pastas in this area include gnocchi and cavatelli. Here you will also find complete trays of frozen tiramisu for sale.

Other display cases feature Boars Head meats and cheeses, and some of Ronnie’s lasagna boxed lunches, salads and cooked pasta dishes ‘to go’. They have something for everyone here. Many local customers of Italian descent come to the deli to get hard to find items. The place is usually bustling and gets very busy during peak weekday lunch hours. If you have not visited this deli, you are missing another true jewel of the Gem City. This eatery is definitely one of our favorite spots to grab a bite. Whether it is a fresh dessert or a panini on a ciabatti roll, everyone can have a taste of Italy at DiSalvo’s Deli.

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Take some time to scroll through the album below to see the variety of choices at Disalvo’s Deli.

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Tale of Two Disalvo’s: Part 1 Mamma DiSalvo’s Ristorante

December 14, 2012 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

This is the first of a two part story on the DiSalvo Family businesses in Kettering. This week we focus on Mamma DiSalvo’s Ristorante. In July 1979, Rinaldo “Papa” DiSalvo Sr. and his wife Elena “Mamma” DiSalvo opened up an Italian Restaurant at 1375 E. Stroop Rd., and the Miami Valley has never been the same since. Still going strong, you can see Mamma and Papa in the dining area from time to time greeting customers. Their sons Nick and Bobby DiSalvo mostly manage the restaurant today. What is the secret of their success? Good, homemade Italian food and friendly service where you feel like family.

When you walk into Mamma DiSalvo’s Ristorante, you notice the small bar area and a cozy dining room. The aroma from the bustling kitchen is an appetizer in itself. This place fills up during peak times, so you may want to put your name in at the host desk and grab a drink at the bar while you wait for a table. They have a decent wine selection, and of course Italian beers like Peroni. The Big Ragu’s favorite, Moretti beer. Sometimes he even goes 70’s old school sometimes with Lambrusco.

There is so much to love about this true “Mom and Pop” place. The atmosphere makes you feel like you are on an Italian movie set in New York City. Casual, yet romantic, it is what an Italian Restaurant should be. The hosts, wait staff and family always greet you with with a happy disposition and unique personality. After you are seated, we suggest that you order an appetizer, because homemade Italian entrees take a while to prepare. Be patient, masterpieces take some time, and it is worth the wait for this Food Adventure.

Two of our favorite appetizers at Mamma DiSalvo’s are the fried calamari, and the antipasti plate which is a variety of cold cut meats, imported cheeses and peppers. You can’t go wrong here. A little known secret is that Mamma DiSalvos has some fantastic pizzas made with homemade dough. We like to mix it up once in a while by grabbing a pie once in a while instead of an Italian Dinner. Speaking of dinner, before each meal you are served a salad and these wonderful buttery bread loaves sprinkled with garlic powder. We warn you, the bread is beyond addicting. As for the salad, please trust us and get the house dressing which is a tangy mix of vinegar and oil, and served with shaved Parmesan cheese on top. It is a fantastic lead-in to the main course. As for any other dressings, fawghettabouit stick with the house.

Lemoncello

We have made many trips to this Italian paradise and have some favorites. Three favorite Food Adventure dishes: Linguini with Buttery Garlic Sauce and Mushrooms, Veal Marsala, or their Chicken Parmesan. All of these dishes feature sauces from scratch and pasta from scratch. The linguini and veal have lighter sauces, but the huge Chicken Parmesan dish guarantees a take home box.

The Big Ragu’s favorite entrees are the manicotti or the homemade gnocchi (pronounced ‘nyah-kee’) which is a potato dumpling pasta served with marinara sauce. He is also partial to the monstrous Panzarotti, which is a giant calzone stuffed with meatballs, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, sauce and cheese.

If you can manage after all of this good food, you have to take advantage of their desserts. Go light with a Lemoncello served in a flute glass. It is the perfect mix of sweet, tart and decorated with touches of whipped cream. Desserts that the Big Ragu enjoys are the cannoli and the tiramisu all of which can be enjoyed with cappuccino.

Mamma DiSalvo’s is not a restaurant it is an experience, wait… it is a true Italian Food Adventure ! Through years of hard work they have built a great reputation and now, when you think of Italian spots in Dayton, you think of Mamma DiSalvo’s. Visit them online for daily specials and menu details at www.mammadisalvo.com. If you have not tried this Dayton original, you are missing a gourmet experience. Stop in to the restaurant and EAT, or as they say “Mangia! Mangia!”

Look for Part 2 of the story next week…

Make sure you browse through the many incredible pictures in the gallery below from our various Food Adventures to Mamma DiSalvo’s. “Like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.

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So You Want to Bar Tend…

December 2, 2012 By Brian Petro 1 Comment

Perhaps you will be making many of these…

Bartending has a fog of grandeur around it. We lean against the bar polishing glasses, we are in touch with deeper wisdom than many mortals, and we know the ins and outs of every drink known to man. In the middle of the chaotic bar scene you are used to, we are the men and women who navigate through it all with ease and confidence, remembering drink orders of most of the patrons. That is why we always get one or two numbers a night from the people in the bar. I hear more than once or twice a week how nice it must be to be a bartender, and how they would love to do what I do.

Bartending is a tough gig. The hours are long, there is quite a bit of very physical work involved (kegs and cases of beer are incredibly heavy), and the pay is always uncertain. Being on top of your game means doing what people in other professions do: reading the trades and books, searching the internet for the edges of the trends, and trying to stay one step ahead of what your customers might be demanding. You get to deal with very drunk people, sometimes demanding people, and of course cleaning up after a great party every night.

There are good and bad things about every job. The first time I went behind the bar, I knew it was something I was going to love doing. It was comfortable, like a well worn t-shirt. It is not something for everyone. If you are looking to eventually work your way into becoming a bartender, here are a few things you want to consider:

Pick your spot. It is interesting to note that not all places offer the same sort of bartending. Jokers and the Funny Bone work on the premise of speed. We had a limited amount of time, and we wanted to make the best cocktails at the fastest pace. That leaves many cocktails with muddling out. Or making cocktails with fresh squeezed ingredients. However, there are places around town where they can take their time to squeeze oranges for each drink, and delicately muddle the mint in a mojito. They may even make their own liquor infusions. On the other end, some bartending jobs are little more than pulling draughts, pouring shots, and opening cans. Look for the type of bartending you want to do, and try to get in a place that offers it.
Prepare for a long apprenticeship. I started bartending at Jokers Comedy Café in 2005. I started working at Jokers in 2002. I do not know of any bartenders that walked in and right away got the job unless they had some experience. And not classroom experience; real world behind-the-bar experience. To become a bartender, you are going to have to take some time lurking in the shadows at the place you want to bartend at. Maybe as a bar back. Maybe as a server. Just get in somehow, and let the manager know you want to be a bartender. It may be a long time, but you might actually get back there. Then there will be a period of working the Tuesday dinner shifts, the Sunday brunch shifts, or other less than desirable bartending periods. Once make it through all of this, it makes it easier to get bartending jobs at other places.
Everyday you’re hustling. There is a hierarchy in the serving industry, and bartenders are on the top of it. There are usually very few of them compared to other positions in the restaurant, and they are picked from the best servers and workers. They are given the most autonomy out of any position, and it is not by shirking shifts and needing to be prodded to do their job at every turn. Why? They are in charge of one of the most precious commodities a bar has: the liquor. The management has to trust you with such a vital and expensive part of their business. You have to show them that you are that person they can trust.
Study the menu. See the type of drinks they offer, and the types of drinks people are ordering. I have made hundreds, possibly thousands, of Mai Tais and Blue Kazoos (.75 oz. blue curacao, .75 oz. Bacardi 151 rum, and lemon lime soda, served in a highball glass). I could count the number of Rob Roys or Rusty Nails I have made on my fingers. This gives you a chance to start learning the popular drinks and how to make them.
…or opening quite a few of these.
Learn your trade. What is the difference between cognac and brandy? What craft beers are starting to become popular? Who is Jerry Thomas? Or Gary Regan? These are things you want to start learning as you are waiting to become a bartender. Go to tastings like the Century has for whiskey, the Trolley Stop has for beer, and various places around the area have for wine. Read books. Check out magazines. Surf the web. Absorb everything you can, and use it. Your customers will thank you for it. Hopefully with money.
Weekends? Holidays? Most people see weekends and holidays as a time to relax and spend time with family and friends. While they are winding down, you have to be winding up. Weekends are when you make your money. Friday and Saturday night are the prime shifts, when all the real money making occurs. Though, you have probably learned all this through the apprenticeship phase. Or just by looking around when you are out on Friday and Saturday while waiting for a table. It could cause some friction with family and friends when you tell them you really cannot make it for the big Saturday graduation party because you have to, you know, pay rent. It becomes a trade off you have to be willing to accept.
Love thy customer. The other side of your bar has people on it. They are not the enemy, they are not walking ATMs, they are not trying to make you have a bad night. They just want a drink, even if that drink is something that makes your bartender soul cringe (chocolate martini with Tanquery, anyone?). They want to celebrate their birthday, have fun on their date, or commiserate a bad day with friends. Your rough night behind the bar, broken glass in the ice, or bartender that did not show up is not their concern. Always smile. Chat with them, ask them about their day, and enjoy their company. Being a great bartender is more than just knowing how to make a good cocktail; it is knowing how to help a few hundred people a night a really good time.

I am a huge fan of working behind the bar, making cocktails for people, and seeing all of them enjoying their night. When I do complain about the bad tipper or the overly needy customer, I remember that they are in the minority, and ninety five percent of the people I deal with are incredible, fun, and are looking to enjoy their night. If after reading all of this, you still are looking to bet back there and make the best damn drinks in Dayton, good luck. I hope you make it. If anyone else has some tips, or wants to share their story about getting into bartending, we would love to hear it. Cheers!

Short, Dark, and Strong – National Espresso Day

November 23, 2012 By Brian Petro Leave a Comment

A traditional cup of espresso.

Europe is a culture always on the move. In the 1600’s, coffee was introduced to Europe, allowing people to stay up longer to get more done. After it was given the blessing of Pope Clement VIII, it spread like wildfire through the continent, allowing people to stay up longer, be sharper, and get even more done. It overtook beer as a breakfast drink in New York by the 1670’s, and just kept getting more and more popular. Things moved really fast for coffee. The only thing that was not moving fast for coffee was how it was made. There were some innovations, like the French press and the vacuum pot, but they could only make small quantities, taking upwards of ten minutes to make two cups. People had factories to build and continents to conquer, so there was a constant search to speed up the process. It was not until the beginning of the 20^th century, in the explosion of the Industrial Age, that coffee was put on the fast track.

Luigi Bezzera was one of the many people looking for a better way to get a cup of coffee. He created a machine that used steam power to force hot water at a high rate of speed through the coffee grinds, pulling out all of the best aspects of the coffee and doing it rapidly. It took the five minute long process of making coffee down to thirty seconds and the product tasted delicious. A machine to brew coffee for the masses was created in 1884 by Angelo Moriondo, but each cup was not created for individuals. Bezzera’s made a cup of coffee expressly and quickly for each individual. The patent was eventually bought by Desiderio Pavoni and then the machine mass produced, which helped to spread the popularity of this coffee concentrate, referred to as “espresso” (“fast” or “expressed” in Italian), throughout Italy. Eventually it conquered the European continent and went anywhere Italians travelled to. It was not just the speed at which espresso was made that boosted its popularity in Italy; if you wanted to sit down to drink your coffee, you paid an extra fee. Enjoying your coffee standing up made it a little cheaper, so you wanted to drink it a little faster. The espresso machine has gone through many refinements since it was first created. A piston pump was eventually added to force water through the coffee without depending on the boiler. This removed some of the burnt flavor from the espresso, since the water being forced through the grounds could be done at a cooler temperature. This was eventually replaced by an electric pump, which has created the modern espresso machine.

The traditional espresso machine. A big machine for a little drink…

Espresso has a rich, deep flavor to it, much like you would expect when you compress an eight ounce cup of coffee into two ounces. The cup of coffee, however, has more caffeine per serving. Espresso does not have a specific roast required, so you can make a dark or light roast coffee into an espresso. The beans are typically ground very fine; since the water is being forced through at a high rate of speed and you want to get the most flavor out of it. Espresso is also the foundation for a whole industry of beverages. American soldiers started to drink it while they were stationed in Europe during World War II, but added hot water to it do dilute the strong flavor, creating the Americano. Cappuccinos and lattes became popular because of the uniqueness of the foam on top of the cappuccino, and the American tradition of adding cream or milk to their coffee. If you want to add a little chocolate flavor to the mix, you can have a Mocha (also the name of the area coffee was rumored to be discovered). Most coffee chains also offer the ability to add espresso to a standard cup of coffee for a little extra kick, a red eye being one shot, and a black eye being two shots. The deep coffee flavor of espresso has also jumped into the world of cocktails as well.

When people think coffee flavor and liquor, Kahlua is what people reach for. It has been the go to coffee flavoring for drinks for decades. As the flavored vodka boom expanded, there were two companies in the early days that created enduring espresso vodkas: Three Olives Triple Shot Espresso and Van Gogh Double and Single Espresso. Sminoff also has jumped into the mix with their Dark Roasted Espresso vodka, which also steps in with a 100 proof punch. Of course, if you want to make your own espresso vodka, there are simple ways to do that as well (via Bex Huff).

Equipment:

Coarse ground espresso beans
A 4 cup French Press for making coffee
Good vodka (I will always recommend Buckeye)
A funnel
A glass bottle

Process:

Put a ½ cup of the espresso beans in the press.
Add three cups of vodka to the press.
Allow the mixture to sit for about fifteen minutes.
Press down the plunger to strain out the coffee grounds from the vodka.
Pour into the glass bottle for storage.

Now that you have a good, solid espresso vodka (store bought or homemade), here is the most popular recipe used for espresso vodka, the espresso martini.

Espresso Martini 1

1 oz. cold espresso
1.5 oz. vodka
.75 oz. coffee liqueur
.5 oz. white cream de cocoa

Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass over ice. Shake vigorously, and pour into a chilled martini glass. If you want to make it extra fancy, you can rim the glass with powdered chocolate.

Espresso Martini 2

1.5 oz. espresso vodka
1 oz. vanilla vodka or vanilla liqueur (Dr. McGillicuddy makes a fine one.)
1 oz. white cream de cocoa

Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass over ice. Shake vigorously, and pour into a chilled martini glass. If you want to make it extra fancy, you can rim the glass with powdered chocolate.

Espresso’s richness, versatility, and speed of making it has helped it become a staple to the coffee culture that has developed in the United States. It simmered as a novelty until chains like Starbucks helped it to cover the nation with its deep flavor and versatility. Our culture is not going to be moving any slower in the near future, so our need for a quick pick me will continue for a long time. However, we have found other ways to relax with this densely caffeinated drink. Where is the best place to hit before work to get a little espresso pick me up, or the best place to wind down with an espresso cocktail, in Dayton? Let us know in the comments! And however you enjoy your shot of joy to the mind, have a happy National Espresso Day! Cheers!

The Big Ragu Releases the AMBUCS Chili Cook-off Votes!

November 21, 2012 By Dayton937 2 Comments

Cold beer and hot chili is a recipe for a Food Adventure. Last Friday night, a large crowd enjoyed all the chili, adult beverages and gambling action they wanted at the 26th Annual AMBUCS Chili Cookoff and Casino night at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. All the proceeds went to benefit Dayton AMBUCS, a charity service organization that is creating mobility and independence for people with disabilities. The Big Ragu and the Food Adventures Crew was lucky enough to be asked to be “Special Judge” for the event. We had a blast, hung out with Dayton Mayor Gary Leitzel, and ate some terrific chili.

First off, we tried each and every chili offered. We loved the traditional chili from Flannigans, Atrium Grille, Buckin Donkey Grille, Miami Valley Golf Club, Jimmie’s Ladder 11, Elsa’s and Slyder’s. Our taste buds enjoyed unique meat twists on chili from Smokin BBQ, Vinny’s Bar & Grill, Christopher’s, and Longhorn Steakhouse . Things heated up with the spicy chili from Scratch Catering and Harrigans Tavern. Unique tasting chili from The Tropics and Cafe Mexico were nice surprises, too. There were even great entries from individual cooks like “Deer Slayer” and “Chef Daddy’s Firehouse Chili!”

We loved and finished them all, from white bean chili, to every piece of venison, and every jalapeno. But, we had to pick our favorites, and here were our choices:

Food Adventure’s Top 3:
1) Deer Slayer
2) Jimmie’s Ladder 11
3) Smokin’ BBQ

After trying all of the chili we ate some hot dogs then tried our luck at Bingo, Blackjack and Dice games. Most importantly, we donated to a great organization, AMBUCS. It was great to see local people helping a charity that reaches out to all sorts of people with physical disabilities. We were honored to be a part of this special event and this was a Food Adventure that will always remain close to our heart. See you next year !

If you were not there, but want to help out a great cause, visit ambucs.com, and see how you can get involved.

“Like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE !

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Matera Caffe: One of a Kind Restaurant in Franklin

November 15, 2012 By Dayton937 1 Comment

There is nothing else like Matera Caffe in the Dayton area, and not only because they use two “F’s” in Caffe. Why is Matera so special? Because they mill their own flour and wheat on site. Yes, you read that correctly. It doesn’t get fresher than this, and we have the flour marks on our clothes to prove it! But that is only one of the great qualities of this eatery.

The owners of Matera Cafe have developed a place that is perfect example of why we do Food Adventures. Inspired by a missionary trip to Honduras, Mary & Larry Rowland decided to open up a coffee house which would later turn into a full blown restaurant. Close to their missionary work, they named the restaurant after the city of Matera, Italy where the movie “Passion of the Christ” was filmed. The result is a well groomed restaurant that is as immaculate on the inside as it is outside. It looks like the “after” pictures from the Kitchen Nightmares TV show. There is even an outdoor dining area under the overhang.

As we entered Matera, a wonderful baked cinnamon smell greeted our noses, as well as the warmth a wood fired oven. The chilly day made this a wonderful, inviting atmosphere. Friendly servers explained the menu and the daily specials. We were already drooling.

You already know they mill their own flour and wheat to make pizza dough, breads and waffles. Well, they also make their own salad dressings and pancake syrup. We tried the homemade waffle and syrup together, and it was great. The Liege style Belgian Waffles are served with seasonal fruit and whipped cream. A very unique, fresh tasting waffle was unlike any we have ever eaten.

Our Food Adventure to Matera Caffe would not be complete unless we tried one of the pizzas cooked in the wood fired oven. We tried the Margherita Pizza, which is topped with roma tomatoes, romano cheese, fresh basil, mozzarella & olive oil. The pizza was cooked perfectly, and the dough was so fresh that it had an incredible softness to it. We were blown away.

Another item we loved was the Americano Sandwich. It starts with their freshly baked ciabatta bread made from scratch. The sandwich ingredients include fire roasted chicken, roasted roma tomatoes and arugula spinach. The sandwich was also topped with an incredible pesto sauce that is homemade from herbs grown on site. We are still raving about the Americano sandwich as one of our all time favorites.

Our Food Adventure ended in a tour of the milling operation. We were very impressed at the hard work and passion that goes into making this menu. Matera is one of a kind, so look for this little known spot to catch even more buzz in the coming months.

Dayton foodies should definitely check out Matera Caffe. The staff and owners go out of their way to accommodate patrons. They even offered us some wood fire roasted veggies as an alternative to Saratoga potato chips as a side. Something not to miss, is the full Honduran coffee menu and various teas to compliment any meal. The prices are affordable and the portions are nicely sized. We devoured so much food that The Big Ragu actually had a rare “to go container!” There is much more to come from Matera, as the owners plan to expand the dining area outside and have just recently secured a liquor license. So take a drive down State Route 73 towards Franklin and experience the delicious cuisine like we did. It is definitely a homemade experience from start to finish.

For more of Food Adventures, please visit our Facebook Page HERE and “like” us !

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For hours, directions and menu information please visit them at www.materacaffe.com.

Five Guys vs. Smashburger: Who’d You Rather?

November 8, 2012 By Dayton937 11 Comments

The voting is not over this week, you have one more ballot to cast. Food Adventures asks ‘Who’d you Rather?’ This installment pits two fairly new burger chains against each other, Smashburger versus Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Both eateries are popular casual dining spots, so this promises to be a tight race. Please comment below on which one you would rather do, and why !

Here is the opinion of your Food Adventurers:

Hungry Jax’s Vote: Smashburger

“I like Smashburger’s sandwiches better. I think the Smash fries at Smashburger are tasty. No hanging chads on this ballot!”

The Big Ragu’s Vote: Five Guys

“Five Guys burgers taste better and are more filling. I think pound for pound, you get a better bang for your buck at Five Guys. I like Smashburger, I just like Five Guys huge burgers better.”

Dearest Food Adventure Fans: Who’d you rather: FIVE GUYS or SMASHBURGER? Do you like the gourmet options of Smashburger and their smash fries made with rosemary, garlic and olive oil? Do you prefer the no frills double burgers at Five Guys and their fresh sliced fries made with peanut oil? Let your voice be heard and comment below !

Become an official fan and “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE !

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Hello Sunshine!

November 8, 2012 By Brian Petro Leave a Comment

Just add some avocado shag carpeting, and the 70’s are back!

Cocktails made a very slow recovery after World War II. The basics, like the Manhattan and the martini, came back rather quickly. In all honesty, they never really disappeared. During the 1950’s, like most of the culture, we were slowly getting back into the swing of things after three decades of unrest. We tried to put things back together the way they were, but it really did not work that well. Vodka became the staple spirit, once people realized that three martini lunches could be had without smelling of strong liquor. That led us to the 1960’s, where boundaries were pushed as far as they could go. The tiki cocktail craze hit and drinks got complicated. We went from simple combinations of one or two spirits and one mixer to the Mai Tai, Zombie, Planter’s Punch, and crazy combinations of exotic spirits and mixers. Rum was king, and every drink had multiple mixers, liquors, and garnishes. The 1970’s simplified the cocktail game a little. There were a few throwbacks to complexity, like the Long Island Iced Tea, but simpler cocktails returned. They returned with additional flavors. A little bit of a twist on the traditional. It was in this environment that the Harvey Wallbanger thrived.

The Harvey Wallbanger is incredibly simple to make. Take a Screwdriver (1.5 oz. vodka, 4-5 oz. orange juice, and build over ice) and float an additional .75 oz. of Galliano over it. Simple, but with a little twist. The story behind the cocktail also has a little twist. One story revolves around a surfer named Harvey, who had a bad day on the waves. He lost a big contest, and went to one of the local watering holes, where Donato “Duke” Antone had a drink special going that day: a Screwdriver with a float of Galliano. Harvey apparently loved them, and spent the afternoon drinking them. When he got up to leave, he was stumbling out of the bar, hitting tables and banging into walls. From that day forward, they called him “Harvey the Wallbanger”, and the name stuck to the drink. The twist to the story? It could have been completely fabricated by the Galliano company, who was trying to figure out a way to sell their liquor to a market that was willing to experiment. The drink was invented in the 1950’s, but did not hit its stride until the 1970’s. It was so popular that it actually earned enough votes in the 1972 election to be noticed, and was named as one of the top food fads of the 70’s by the Food Network.

Much like polyester suits and disco, the drink fell back into obscurity after the 1970’s. You will still see a tall, lone, golden bottle of Galliano in bars, just waiting to be used in a Harvey Wallbanger, possibly a Golden Cadillac. It will then go back to its seat on the shelf. There are rumblings that the elaborate craft cocktail movement may be transitioning to simpler cocktails, and the Harvey Wallbanger might become one of the fads of 2013. On this November 8^th, National Harvey Wallbanger Day, search out one of those distinctive cocktails and try and become a trendsetter. Cheers!

Piada: Fresh, Fast and Furious Food Adventure

November 2, 2012 By Dayton937 2 Comments

The Big Ragu, Hungry Jax and Chef House are not food critics, we are Food Adventurers. That’s like comparing Roger Ebert to Indiana Jones. We always eat big, never use generic stock photos, and always hit a place multiple times. If it is something we love, we write about it. Piada is one such place. Since the grand opening of this new spot, in our hometown of Centerville, the lines have been out the door. So we bided our time, until the frenzy died down. What is the excitement about? This popular Columbus based franchise has capitalized on the “assembly line” serving style which has brought countless comparisons to the likes of Chipotle.

Here is the rundown, when you enter the place you pick your meal type. You have four choices: A piada (a huge burrito), a pasta bowl, a chopped salad bowl or a select two in which you can choose mini versions of any of the items mentioned earlier. After you pick your meal type, you pick your meat: calamari, grilled chicken, crispy chicken fritte , Italian sausage, steak, salmon or vegetarian. Be forewarned that the grilled chicken is a mix of white and dark meat. The crispy chicken is strictly chicken breast.

You are then asked to choose a sauce: pomodoro, diavolo(spicy tomato sauce), alfredo, red pepper pesto, basil pesto, or creamy parmesan. After that, you are moved down the line to choose from a variety of vegetable toppings, including unique choices such as eggplant, sun dried tomatoes, and papadew peppers.

Hungry Jax liked the pick two two combo, but her recommendation is to go for the BIG chopped salad bowl instead of the smaller combo portions. It is simply a better deal. Fresh greens with your choice of veggie and meat toppings make this a healthy and flavorful choice. The Big Ragu says go for the Calamari Piada or Salmon Piada, but don’t put any pasta in the “burrito.” Instead, save room to stuff more kinds of veggies in there!

One thing we love are the artichoke piada sticks and the parmesan reggiano piada sticks. They are cheesy, dusted with garlic powder and delicious. Another attraction for us is that they have Peroni, on tap. We always enjoy the crisp taste of this Italian import beer. Other unique beverages included the Italian Teas and Sodas. Our favorite was the raspberry soda. Piada even offers Peach Bellini’s, which are made with sparkling wine. Finally, we tried the of cannoli dip. It is a bag of mini-cannoli shells and a side of cann0li filling for dipping. An interesting concept for a dessert on the go.

Ragu’s Italian ancestors are not sure if this is authentic street food, but it tastes great. Prices run $6 – $9 for your typical entree. Check out our album below for lots of food photos. Do you want a lunch that is a fresh, fast and furious? Then visit Piada Italian Street Food and get some chow…. or should we say… Ciao !

Often imitated but never duplicated, you can find Food Adventures HERE on Facebook.

Piada Italian Street Food is located at 1047 Miamisburg-Centerville Road. Hours are 10:45 am – 10:00 pm every day.

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13th Annual All You Can Eat Chocolate Party

October 25, 2012 By Lisa Grigsby Leave a Comment

Once a year The Bellbrook Chocolate Shoppe opens their doors to guests to join them for a rare opportunity to taste all the sweets in the kitchen of their place at Cross Pointe Center. This year it takes place on Sunday, Oct 28th from 4 -6pm. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door and will provide mammograms for the under/served and under/insured.

Owner Betty Blose attributes the popularity of her chocolates to the fact that they are handmade with her “signature” blend of milk and dark chocolate to create varieties that include creams, truffles, enrobed and molded items. It’s the only blend sold at the family’s Centerville store, and they use this rich chocolate to create everything from chocolate heart-shaped boxes filled with strawberries dipped in chocolate and cakes made of layers of shortbread cookies, iced with chocolate, to their Bellbrook pretzel, a pretzel rod dipped in caramel, rolled in toffee pieces and finally dipped in chocolate.

Although it seems too good to be true, dark chocolate can actually be good for you! When consumed in moderation, this delicious treat has some powerful health benefits. Following are three of the major reasons to indulge:

1. It can help prevent heart disease: Like tea, dark chocolate contains flavonoids, which are compounds that act as antioxidants. Flavonoids protect cells from harmful molecules—called free radicals—that are produced when the body breaks down food or is exposed to sunlight or smoke. Free radicals can cause cell damage that leads to heart disease. Flavonoids can also lower blood pressure and reduce LDL cholesterol (i.e., the bad cholesterol) by up to 10 percent.

2. It can improve your mood: Dark chocolate stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that bring on feelings of pleasure. It also contains the chemical serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant.
3. It can protect your skin: German researchers found that the flavonoids in dark chocolate absorb UV light, help protect and increase blood flow to the skin, and improve skin’s hydration and complexion.

For all of its health benefits, though, dark chocolate does contain a lot of calories. So, experts recommend sticking to no more than three ounces of the sweet stuff per day.

Sources: About.com, CNN.com, eHow.com

The Best Diner You Never Heard of: George’s

October 25, 2012 By Dayton937 6 Comments

On North Dixie, there is a restaurant that you may not have heard about. In fact, Food Adventures agrees, it has some of the best casual food in the Miami Valley. This no frills diner is called George’s Family Restaurant. We say no frills because they concentrate on what is really important, great food and great service. There are so many exceptional things to eat at George’s that it’s tough to decide where to begin. From grits to Greek food, this menu is not quite your typical diner. What is typical here is tasty entrees.

Let’s start with one of their specialties, Broasted Chicken. This trademark cooking process involves placing marinated and breaded chicken in a pressure cooker. Broasting uses less oil than conventional deep frying. The chicken comes out cooked perfectly, with a taste that will leave you smiling. George’s Family Restaurant also offers something we had never seen before, Broasted Fish ! In fact, they have a fish fry every Friday featuring broasted pollock. The dinner includes fries and coleslaw for just $8.99. You can even get broasted potatoes instead of fries. Sometimes, there is nothing better than a good fish fry for a Friday Food Adventure.

George’s has also built its reputation on their burgers. Fresh, handmade patties cooked just the way you like them. We tried an incredible creation called the Inside Out Mushroom Swiss Burger which has the swiss cheese and mushroom packed inside the burger patty itself. The result is a juicy, cheesy beautiful burger that made us want to hug the cook.

A family run restaurant with Greek roots, George’s stays close to their heritage. They offer a few Greek menu items including a Hot Greek Plate which includes Gyro meat, grilled chicken, pork slouvaki, spinach pie, peppers, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, pita bread and tzatziki sauce. On the recommendation of the waitress, we tried the homemade spinach pie. What we received was a fluffy, flaky, large slice of heaven. We felt like Apollo after one taste.

Are you a breakfast food fan? George’s Family Restaurant serves breakfast all day. The breakfast menu is extensive and served up hot and fast, which are words sometimes used to describe our tastebuds Lots of diners were eating breakfast during our dinner stint. One young foodie even held up his pancake for us to compare it to Big Ragu’s head.

The desserts at George’s are seasonal. That is because they are homemade and vary upon what the kitchen is preparing that day. The menu has so many good items from golden fried onion rings, to Mac-n-Cheese, and hand dipped shakes. So many good eats, so little time.

Our trip to George’s is yet another example of why we seek Food Adventures. It has all the hallmarks like family owned, relatively undiscovered, and unique, delicious food. Even the waitresses were amazing. Many of them had worked there for years, and were very accommodating. So we ask our fellow foodies, do you want some fantastic diner style food? By George’s, you got it !

George’s Family Restaurant is located at 5216 N. Dixie Drive, you can take exit 57 Wagner Ford Road off I 75, turn left on Wagner Ford and right on Dixie and the diner will be on the right.

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