Miami Valley Meals’ signature fundraiser, Diced in Dayton will return on Tuesday, Sept 9th. This interactive, food-filled event showcases and celebrates the creativity of local chefs as they craft unique dishes from a set of mystery ingredients. Participating chefs must meet the challenge that MVM chefs face each day: how to transform unpredictable ingredients into something new and delicious. Moving to a new venue this year, the event will take place at the Schuster Center.
Guests delight in the ingenuity and flavor of the dishes while learning about what Miami Valley Meals does to help those who are food insecure in our community. Guest get to taste the bites created by each chef that have been given a mystery box of ingredients to feature in their taste.
At the end of the night, the top two chefs, as voted by the people and by judges, compete in a live cook-off with a new box of mystery ingredients for the title of Diced in Dayton Champion.

Chefs Patrick and Casey Van Voorhis of Grist Provisions (Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice winner).
2025 Competing Chefs
- Aaron Braun, NCR Country Club
- Jaime Bondurant, Blueberry Cafe
- Josh Cox, The Foundry (AC Marriot)
- Carly Hensley, Speakeasy (Speakeasy Miso, Speakeasy Ramen, 571 Grill)
- Zach Morgan, Little Fish Brewing Company
- Mariah Poling, Nood Bar
- Jacob Rodibaugh, Bistecca Italian Steakhouse (First Hospitality)
and more to be announced soon!
General admission tickets run $75 which includes 6pm entry, ability to sample tastes from all chefs, and free parking in the ARTS Garage.
VIP tickets are $150 includes 5:30pm early entry, ability to sample tastes from all chefs, access to a VIP.lounge area with additional seating, 2 drink tickets, 1 raffle ticket, free parking in the ARTS Garage, and an exclusive gift.
VIP Table for 8 – Limited availability – A table includes 8 VIP tickets and a dedicated, reserved table at the event. VIP Admission includes 5:30pm early entry, ability to sample tastes from all chefs, 2 drink tickets, 1 raffle ticket, free parking in the ARTS Garage, and an exclusive gift. $1,440.00
Tickets can be purchased online here.
All funds raised from this event allow Miami Valley Meals team of chefs transform recovered (a.k.a. “rescued”) foods into hearty and nutritious prepared meals that are then distributed to a network of nonprofit partners serving people experiencing food insecurity in the Miami Valley—free of charge. This program currently distributes an average of ~4,000 meals per week to 50 partners per month.