Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

Food Truck

Food Truck Spotlight: Fifty5 Rivers Cold Brew

By

James and Lynne Mowery

Lynne Mowery first discovered Cold Brew Coffee in 2018. “From the time we first learned about cold brew to the time we purchased our brick and mortar we visited roughly 350 coffee shops in the midwest.  We decided we wanted to bring a consistent, cold artisan crafted cold brew to the public.

James and Lynne Mowery, hosted the ribbon-cutting on July 31 Fifty5 Rivers Cold Brew officially opened August 1, 2020. The brick and mortar location is where they brew and serves as a carry out for

644 N. Broad St. in Fairborn

customers to take our packaged brew with them to home, work, camping, meetings, parties etc. Customers wanted us to offer our cold brew by the glass, which was also a goal of ours, and in August 2021 the BARge I (our original draft trailer) began voyages around the Miami Valley.  At the beginning of the 2023 Food Truck season the BARge II was launched which allowed us to have a more diverse drink menu.”

What are your most popular sellers?
Caramel Creek and White Rapids are 2 of our most popular lattes. Any of our cold brews straight with the nitro infusion, which we call River Rushed, are popular as well. We regularly have 4 brews available including a decaf and a super caffeinated option. Customers are often surprised by how good our cold brew is without creamers and syrups.  We also have the feasibility to serve our cold brew heated for those who only prefer hot coffee.
For the non-coffee drinkers, the Fifty5 Rivers BARge offers Riverade (lemonade–still or nitro, straight or flavored). Our Strawberry Rose Riverade (River Rushed) or one of our Storm Series Riverades (flavored nitro Riverade with creamer) such as our Tranquil Tempest and Cinnamon Cyclone are sought after by many regular customers. Sparkling Flavored Water and Hot Chocolate are a favorite among young children. For the tea lovers we offer River Chilled Black Tea (still or sparkling), along with tea lattes.  We’re excited to launch new tea options for this year with the addition of a green tea.
In the fall months we also have a variety of Apple Cider beverages (hot or cold) like the Apple Caramel Cove, and the Apple Chaider Falls which are seasonal favorites!!
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from your business?
Embrace the “pivot”, always be willing to adapt.
Where do you dine out when you have some time off?
Anywhere that is a small local establishment, from other food trucks to restaurants. We’re huge fans of local breweries and coffee shops! We love to support other small businesses.
Upcoming Places to find Fifty5 Rivers Cold Brew

4/21 10am – 2pm –  Barn Brunch at the Heights

4/25 4- 8pm – Hunger Days Food Truck Rallies

5/25 – 5-9pm Dayton Pizza Fest, Yellow Cab

Food Truck Spotlight: I Heart Ice Cream

By

Liz & Danny Cortes opened a new mobile ice cream business last week, just in time for a summer of serving up  ice cream around the Miami Valley. You’ll see Dayton’s first-ever rolled ice cream truck, e I Heart Ice Cream, all over town this summer.
A Dayton native, Liz shares she comes from a family of entrepreneurs  and she has fond memories of her grandmother’s vintage ice truck, which inspired their business choice. This husband and wife team are veterans of the food service business and during the pandemic they decided to make plans to launch their own family business.  So they commissioned a 6 x 10 trailer to be built with a 1950’s look to serve a delicious sweet cream liquid based ice cream that  is poured onto a frozen pan and then chopped, mixed, spread and rolled right in front of you!

Danny  says when they were doing research they had a friend in Thailand that told him about rolled ice cream and they where seeing it in other big cities, so they are excited about being something new to the food truck scene in the Miami Valley.   They pour a fresh cream based sweet vanilla  onto a frozen stainless plate, mix it up with ingredients, like oreo’s and chocolate sauce, pressed flat and in a couple of minute it’s pressed out and then rolled into strips of frozen ice cream.
They feature 10 different flavors including vanilla, chocolate, peanut butter, cotton candy, cake batter, strawberry  and they even have a vegan option.  They have a menu featuring a dozen suggestions,
like the Strawberry & Banana Rolls pictured here–  Sweet Cream Vanilla Base + Banana + Strawberry Syrup. Topped with Whipped Cream, Strawberry Drizzle, Strawberry Pocky Stick, Banana & Strawberry Garnish. 
Since it’s a true family business, they’ve used their children, Ezra- 5 years old and Inez – 2 year olds  as taste testers, a job they are very willing to take on.
Here’s where you can find the I Heart Ice Cream cart this weekend:

 5/28 4-8pm Xenia Food Truck Rally
5/31- 2-6pm Idol Swim Club Opening Day
or check their website calendar for future dates.

Zombie Dogz Back to Food Truck Roots

By

I can remember having my first ZombieDogz in 2014 in the Lowe’s Parking lot on Wilmington Pike.  It was the CALLING IN DEAD:  An all beef hot dog topped with a creamy homemade white truffle mac & cheese  and finished off with crumbled crackers.  It was my first of many experiences at this truck, which quickly established a cult following at food truck rallies, often with waits of up to an hour for one of their gourmet dogs.

In fall of 2016 they opened up a shop near UD on Brown Street.  But sadly, today on Facebook they’ve announced the store will close:

“Good morning everybody. First and foremost we hope that everyone is staying healthy and handling life the best they can right now.

The past year or so have been trying for us as a restaurant. Sales have been down and we’ve been barely getting by every month. Unfortunately having to shut down for 2 months only made matters worse. So with a very heavy heart we will be shutting the restaurant down permanently.

We will start back with the food truck when we can do so safely. Most of the festivals have already been cancelled for the year. So we will be doing what we can this summer and fall to get out there as much as possible. We will be keeping everyone updated when we know exactly when the truck will start back up again.

We want to thank everyone of you for years of constant support and love. Thank you for everything you have always done for us. We love you all and we can’t wait to get out there and see you at the food truck.”

So now we’ll be on the lookout for their Food Truck out and about.

New Food Truck Debuts Tonight in Miamisburg

By

Authentic Laotian Cuisine is what this family owned & operated food truck will serve up. Little Boijon Asian Cuisine‘s first outing is tonight  in the Rosina Neighborhood of Miamisburg at the corner of Rosina Dr. & Alexandersville Rd. from 5-8pm. Saturday night they will be in the Crain’s Run neighborhood  at the corner of Crains Creek Rd. and Myna Ln in Miamisburg for lunch 11am-2pm and dinner 5-8pm.

They  will be taking carry-out orders via Instagram & by phone (937-204-9499). Walk-up orders are will be accepted as well! They accept both cash and credit card.

Here’s their menu:

 

Their signature item: Little Boijon’s Egg Rolls. These are filled with pork and vegetables. Served with your choice of our house peanut sauce or sweet chili sauce.

 

Lo Mein. Your choices of meat are beef or chicken. Available in large or small serving sizes.

Chicken & Broccoli. This dish will be served with a side of white rice. Available in large or small serving sizes.

Food Truck Rallies Become Carryout Events

By

With local, state, and federal restrictions being updated on a near daily basis, Yellow Cab Food Truck Rallies were forced to adjust their business model. The rallies’ organizers have developed a solution that provides food lovers with the chance to eat from their favorite food trucks while simultaneously practicing good hygiene and social distancing. Rallies will be replaced by Carryout events with multiple trucks and no on-site seating. 

“Small businesses like food trucks generally don’t operate over the winter. By the time spring comes, they have used up most of their reserved resources and need to start making money again.” said Event Organizer Brian Johnson. “By adjusting our model to carryout it will provide an opportunity to support these small businesses.”

Food trucks scheduled to appear at Yellow Cab Tavern on March 20 from 5pm – 10pm include The Wicked Lobstah, Hunger Paynes, The Pizza Bandit, and more to be confirmed. In order to ensure customers’ safety, the following rules will be enforced during Yellow Cab Food Truck Carryout events:

  • Guests should call/text/email orders ahead of arrival if possible
  • Individuals will be encouraged to order for whole families or large groups to prevent such groups from amassing on-site
  • Eating on-site will not be permitted

“We’re doing our best to roll with the punches,” Johnson said. “We are committed to providing incredible food from the area’s best food trucks. It’s a matter of balancing service and safety, and we’ll always err on the side of safety.”

Event Details

Yellow Cab Food Truck Carryout:  March 20, April 17

Third Friday of Each Month from 5pm – 10pm 

700 E Fourth Street in downtown Dayton, Ohio

Thanksgiving Weekend features Rock’n’Roll Reunions at The Brightside

By

Dayton’s finest guitarists reunite for an exclusive show at The Brightside on Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday November 27, 2019

Thanksgiving weekend is a time to reunite with friends and family, from far and wide. It holds true for musicians too! This weekend, some very special reunions are happening at The Brightside over the holiday weekend.

On Wednesday November 27th, the weekend kicks off with a showcase that serves to reunite dozen of area’s finest psychedelic rock musicians and their fans for the ultimate Thanksgiving Jam! Dayton music lovers have been attending Werksgiving for years, so while The Werks are taking a break, lead guitarist Chris Houser has invited his friends for an epic line up featuring Subterranean, Kommunity Service (a super group featuring members from The Werks, Boogie Matrix, Subterranean & Arrows of Neon), and Oh Kee Pa performing a tribute to Phish. My advice? Wear comfy shoes and prepare to boogie!

This rockin’ weekend continues with a Black Friday Special on November 29th, which highlights an exclusive homecoming performance by Dayton native Charlie Tipton. He’s been working on his EP in Tennessee and is excited to perform this material with his hometown family! The night is topped off with high energy Blues Rock from Wolf Moon Revival! It’s going to be an incredible night of original Dayton music!

Bonus – both performances will have the Hunger Force Food Truck on site! Their specialty is comfort food, which is perfect for the holiday weekend. So come hungry for this special weekend of live music and reunions with old friends!

HOW TO GO?

Thanksgiving Jam! 

  • Wednesday, November 27, 2019
  • The Brightside (905 E 3rd St, Dayton)
    $10 advance at SoundValleyDayton.com through Tuesday at midnight
  • $15 day of show price
  • All ages welcome!
  • Doors 7:30pm / Show 8:30pm.
    • 8:30pm – Oh Kee Pa (a Celebration of Phish)
    • 10pm – Kommunity Service
    • 11:30pm – Subterranean (music over approx 1am)

 

Black Friday Special!

  • Friday, November 29, 2019
  • The Brightside (905 E 3rd St, Dayton)
    $10 advance at SoundValleyDayton.com
  • All ages welcome!
  • Doors 8pm / Show 9pm.
    • 9pm Charlie Tipton Solo Set
    • 10pm Charlie Tipton Band
    • 11:45pm Wolf Moon Revival (music over approx 1:45am)

Both shows are also produced by Venus Child Productions.

CO-OP Fest brings Friday night fun, food and music to support Gem City Market!

By

On Friday, October 25th, The Yellow Cab Tavern is excited to host CO-OP Dayton for their second annual CO-OP Fest, presented by IUE-CWA. With support from local labor unions and independent, cooperative, and employee-owned businesses, CO-OP Fest is a celebration of Dayton workers and cooperators. It is also a fundraiser for the Gem City Market incubator, Co-op Dayton. The event features some of Dayton’s finest food trucks, bands, poets, worker and cooperative initiatives, raffles, and games!

The musical acts include some seriously funky bands!

6:30pm – Deron Bell Band
8:00pm – Premium Blend Music
9:30pm – Freakquency

There will also be a tap takeover at the Yellow Cab’s bar with Fifth Street Brewpub, Dayton’s own Co-Op Brewery!

Founded in 2015, Co-op Dayton is committed to incubate cooperative businesses to bring sustainable jobs to Dayton and address Dayton’s food crisis through the Gem City Market co-op.

How to Go?

Friday, October 25th, 2019 at The Yellow Cab Tavern 

Cover starts at 5pm with food trucks and meet & greet

6pm the spoken word performances and live music begin.

$15 at the doors / $10 for Gem City Market co-op members.

Greek Street Food Truck Wins $10,000 Prize

By Leave a Comment

The Winning Medal

You really could see this coming if you were paying attention.  Greek Street, is one of the hardest working Food Trucks in the Dayton area.  They were coming off a shout out from the Washington Post paper concerning their biscuits and lamb gravy.   For years they have been turning heads with unique spins on Greek food such as “street style gyros.”

This week they hit a huge goal and took home the grand prize at the Springfield Rotary Food Truck Competition.  The reward was 10,000 bucks.

Food Adventures was lucky enough to meet owner Chris Spritos in Fall 2015, as he was putting the finishing touches on his food truck.  A few months later, we got the green light to feature his Greek Street Food Truck in one of our articles.

From brewery stops, to Garlic Fest, to Food Truck rallies, and Americana Fest, we delight in seeing Greek Street out and about often.  Again, they are one of the hardest working Food Trucks in the business.

HOW DID THEY WIN $10,000 ???

The Sauteed Jumbo Shrimp Dish that won the competition !

There were 34 food trucks competing in this event.  Each food truck was asked to enter a dish for the judges to try and also had to serve that on the truck as well.

Greek Street’s entree was Sauteed Jumbo Shrimp.  It had a roasted corn and jalapeno salad.  It was accompanied with an avocado puree,  cumin-lime crema, feta cheese and micro-cilantro.

Five judges with culinary backgrounds judged the competition.  Greek Street’s entry was chosen as the best dish.

 

Chris Spiritos, owner of Greek Street Food Truck

ABOUT OWNER, CHRIS SPIRITOS:

— Chris grew up in a Greek family in Centerville. He went to Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Chicago to hone his craft.

— Chris also studied under the Chef for Oprah Winfrey, Chef Art Smith, while living in Chicago.  He was so well thought of, that Chris was flown to Oprah’s California home to help fix a dinner she hosted for the first graduating class of her school in Africa.

— Chris worked at L’Auberge and as a sous chef at Sung’s Korean Bistro in Cincinnati.  He also worked for the popular food truck,  Zombie Dogz.

Spanikopota is a spinach pie on the menu

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON GREEK STREET FOOD TRUCK:

— The Greek Street Food Truck has a core menu of:
   Gyros
   Greek Fries, 
   Spanakopita (a Greek spinach Pie)
   Hummus

— They use no compressed or processed meats.  The lamb gyros are made using braised legs of lamb.  Other gyro options include shrimp, chicken, vegetarian and on occasion, pork belly.

Shrimp Gyro Street Style – Big Ragu’s favorite item on the food truck…

 

 

 

 

— The menu will feature daily, revolving specials as well

Obviously the SAUTEED JUMBO SHRIMP is a “must eat” that will be featured on the truck, but what else are favorites?   Here are our choices ….

 

GREEK STREET FOOD TRUCK “MUST EATS:

Lamb Gyro

—SHRIMP GYRO, STREET STYLE: Stacked rotisserie chicken breasts slices, piled into a pita and topped with “street style toppings.”  Street style means:  tomato jam, pickled red onions, crumbled feta, fresh herbs, fries, and tzatziki sauce.  Quite honestly, one of the most flavorful and unique gyros we have had.  If you try one thing, this is item to grab.

 

Fresh Baklava

— LAMB GYRO, TRADITIONAL STYLE:  Shaved slices of braised lamb.  This is a throwback to the gyros of the old country with “traditional toppings.”  Traditional toppings are: tomato, tzatziki sauce, onions, smoked paprika and french fries.  This gyro is authentic.  It is like a steak sandwich, no processed meat here. Great food on the “go.”

 

— HOMEMADE BAKLAVA : The recipe is his mom’s, and it is a traditional favorite.  Sometimes they even offer baklava over ice cream.

 

NEWS !!! GREEK STREET LOOKING FOR A STOREFRONT !!

We have some exclusive scoop to end on. Greek Street is currently looking in the Centerville/Washington Township area for a brick and mortar location!  What an incredible sight a “Greek Street” restaurant would be for locals !

Thanks for reading this week’s Food Adventure feature article.   Visit us each and every week for EXCLUSIVE stories on Dayton’s best foodstuffs.  Join the 8,000 Dayton foodies that follow us on Facebook HERE

Spanikopita

Chicken Gyro Street Style

Congrats to Greek Street Food Truck !

 

 

 

Dayton Porchfest offers free music in a beautiful neighborhood!

By

Dayton Porchfest is an annual event occurring the final Saturday of August in St Anne’s Hill. PHOTO BY LIBBY BALLENGEE

Dayton Porchfest is back for a third year! It’s a day where music fills the streets and porches of St Anne’s Hill, one of Dayton’s most charming historic neighborhoods. It’s a free, family friendly event that runs from 1:30-7pm on Saturday August 24, 2019.

​Dayton has a rich musical history and active music scene, which continues today. Dayton Porchfest is committed to reflecting that in its selection of musical artists, from funk and blues to indie rock and jazz, classical and country, to bluegrass and old timey that has deep Appalachian traditions here. The event also celebrates the ethnic diversity of the region, a reflection of our “Welcome Dayton” spirit that has contributed to a significant influx of immigrants and refugees over the past decade.

​Dayton Porchfest is an initiative of The Collaboratory, a civic innovation lab that moves ideas to action. The Collaboratory provides infrastructure for people and organizations to collaboratively develop community initiatives that generate new economic, civic and creative opportunities and value. The result is a healthier, more thriving region. All proceeds from Dayton Porchfest go to support the work of The Collaboratory.

How to Go?

When: Saturday August 24, 2019. 1:30pm kickoff. 2-7pm music. Link to full . schedule – click here or see below

Where: Throughout St Anne’s Historic Neighborhood (E 5th St, just east of Keowee). Link to map – click here or see below

Who: All ages welcome!

Cost: Free (tips for musicians accepted!)

 

Local talent on display at the 5th Annual WinterFolk Festival

By

Although it’s considered “off” season for music festivals, wintertime ones are some of my favorites! We’ve all got cabin fever, and just need to get out of the house and have fun! One of the most highly anticipated of those winter festivals is right around the corner: The 5th annual WinterFolk Festival at Yellow Cab Tavern on Sat, Jan 13th.

It’s a spectacular night of  music, art, food, & fun for all ages. This includes a non-stop line-up of best roots and folk musicians from the tri-state area, including beloved acts The Repeating Arms, Tod Weidner, David Payne, Starving in the Belly of the Whale, Kyleen Downes, The Goldberrys, OldNews, Bloody Tambourine, and several more!

It’s also about this time of year, I’m missing food trucks. Come hungry and catch the Drunken Waffle serving food on-site, along with Yellow Cab Tavern’s craft brews and cocktails. This year’s event has expanded, with even more artisans and vendors selling handmade goods. It’s an all around perfect night out!

How did this event come about? Well, it was inspired by a love of music, of course, and also the venue itself, Yellow Cab Tavern. In its infancy, WinterFolk organizers could see the potential in YCT, starting the festival as a fundraiser, which led to the venue’s recent upgrades. This type of collaboration is sign of a true music community! Make sure you stop on out to support these wonderful folks!

 

How to Go?

Where: The ‘Old’ Yellow Cab Building (700 E Fourth St. Dayton, Ohio 45402) is located at the corner of Fourth St and Walnut just outside Dayton’s historic Oregon District. Plenty of FREE parking is available on and off street at the event.

Time / Cost: Doors will open at 7pm and the first performance will start promptly at 8pm. Tickets available exclusively at the door for $10, children 12 & under are free.

You Could Own The Wicked ‘Witch

By

What does the Wicked Wich have in store for Friday ?

Katie Marks, owner of the The Wicked ‘Wich of Dayton,an  award winning food truck in Dayton, has announced the truck and the business are for sale.

If you’d like to own it, here’s what you get, according to Katie’s Facebook post:

Turnkey style, ready for fast transfer to operate. Brand, equipment, and usage include (but not limited to):

-ALL recipes that attributed to the truck’s success. This includes the “Lady Marmalade,” which is a two-time finalist for Best Sandwich in Dayton.

-ALL rights to the brand including website, all social media handles, email, and logo

-1982 Chevy P30 box truck outfitted for a mobile kitchen. This includes power, HVAC, plumbing, ventilation, and serving windows, all up to health code for Montgomery County.

-All commercial equipment necessary to perform the operation. From the 2′ flattop with a 4 burner range and 2 oven combo to the turners needed to flip the sandwiches over.

-The lease to a beautifully renovated kitchen commissary area, 1500 square feet, that includes a double door reach in refrigerator and freezer, prep tables, commercial slicers, all required hand sinks, wire shelving, garage storage area, 5200w running generator, couch and tv, and more.

-List of vendors for local ingredients so there’s no product inconsistency, list of participating clients that utilize our services, and consultation of truck operation for one month.

-Transparency of sales such as records and tax returns. There is also a template that I created to specially track accounting records for a food truck, of which tracks spending to the penny and let’s you see where to cut costs for profitability.

130,000 firm.  Serious inquiries only, please.

Worth The Wait

By

A few weeks ago I met a couple girlfriends at the Yellow Cab Building for the Brunch Food Truck Rally.   Since brunch is my favorite meal of the week, I was geared up to go.  I was properly caffeinated, had cash in my pocket, and my pants had a little stretch to make way for all the yummy food ahead of me.  When I got there I was shocked by the amount of people who had the same plan in mind.  Everywhere I turned the lines were long.  I thought to myself that surely no food that came out of a truck could possibly be worth waiting for, but wait I did.

We landed on the always fresh and delightful Shakery Juice Bar since my friends and I were looking for something light and healthy to eat…but smells of waffle batter and maple syrup kept wafting in my direction.  Where was this heavenly scent coming from…? Of course the truck with the longest line of the day: The Drunken Waffle.

As I practically licked the last of my acai berry bowl, I made a mental note to wait for some waffles the next time.  Fortunately the next time came around much sooner than I had expected.  The Drunken Waffle was parked out back of the Cannery Loft Apartments the very next weekend, so my husband and I decided to give some waffles a whirl.

We ordered two meals and decided to split them.  I went relatively traditional with the “50 Shades of Swine,” a bacon wrapped breakfast sausage cooked into the waffle batter.  It was accompanied by a jalapeno maple syrup that wasn’t overly spicy, but left a nice lingering tickle on the tip of my tongue.  My husband took a left at classic and went with a dish that was full of twists and delicious turns:  The War Pig.  This dish had ham, bacon, Monterey Jack cheese, and a scrumptious herbed mayo sandwiched in between a spicy, 3 pepper waffle.  He also got a side of asparagus that were perfectly seasoned and cooked.  

All in all,  the meal was as whimsical as the names of the dishes, the flavor combinations were spot on, and the portions were not overwhelming.  Most importantly, the waffles tasted good, they were fluffy and flavorful.  I always appreciate when a restaurant (or in this case a food truck) can introduce some creativity into their food without losing focus of the basics.  The Drunken Waffle’s food is fun and exciting while still keeping the flavors at the forefront.

So the next time you find yourself in a long line at a food truck rally asking “How good can food from a truck really be?”  

Trust that it can be really, really good, and yes, it may even be worth the wait!

Where you can find the Drunken Waffle this week:

Wednesday | Air National Guard Base in Springfield (Military access required) from 11am-2pm
Thursday | WHIO (1611 S Main Street in Dayton) from 11am-2pm
Saturday | Home Depot Rally in Centerville from 11am-6pm

Brunch! Food Truck Rallies at the Yellow Cab are held on the first Sunday of every month, through September.

Monthly Food Truck Brunch Kicks Off Sunday

By

Everyone loves doing brunch on Sunday morning. Everyone loves going to a food truck rally. Now, Drunken Waffle and Smokin Bee-Bee-Q have come together to present the best-of-both-worlds with Brunch! Food Truck Rallies at the Yellow Cab on the first Sunday of every month, April through September.

“After all of the success of last year’s Brunch! we knew this was something that we needed to do again,” Beth Sparks, owner and operator of Drunken Waffle said. “Jeff at Smokin’ Bee-Bee-Q actually had the same thought and reached out to us. When we were lining up a season’s worth of events we were happy to have his help.”

In addition to The Drunken Waffle and Smokin’ Bee-Bee-Q, these monthly first Sunday rallies will feature a revolving selection of some of the area’s best trucks, all serving up their take on brunch classics.

“We do a number of brunch events pretty regularly and it’s fun to change up the menu with that breakfast influence,” Jeff Stringer, owner and operator of Smokin’ Bee-Bee-Q said. “We’re not the only ones either. It’s great seeing what the other trucks come up with.”

These monthly rallies will offer mimosas, bloody marys and local beer for sale, and featuring free live music.  “Because brunch without breakfast cocktails isn’t really brunch at all,” Sparks said.

For those interested in attending Brunch! Food Truck Rallies, the first event will take place on Sunday, April 2nd from 10am-2pm. More information can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/984657345003799/

10 ?’s with Katie Marks of The Wicked ‘Wich

By

Katie Marks is the owner of The Wicked ‘Wich of Dayton, a food truck that specializes in fresh, made to order eclectic combinations to basic build-your-own sandwiches brought to the streets of Dayton. They offer food different from your normal routine; combinations of sweet and savory on delicious local bread, along with a variety of options for vegetarians.

Not only is she passionate about the food she delivers, she’s also passionate about Dayton.  The Wicked ‘Wich of Dayton is throwing their 3rd annual launch party, with all proceeds going to TJ’s Place of Hope and Building Bridges, two great non-profit organizations in the Dayton area serving at-risk youth. Come for an evening of great music, local craft beer, raffle prizes, and amazing food!

Admission is $10 for 8 talented acts, all of which are from Dayton aside from our guest act, Jounce. Raffle tickets are $1 a piece or 6 for $5, featuring some pretty cool prizes from local businesses in the area. The truck will be accessible without the door fee, so if you’re looking for a great sandwich, come grab one!  So Katie says, “please come say hello and try the food. Not only are you getting a better quality and more convenient sandwich, you’ll be helping to make a better Dayton.”

Before the food truck reason gets rolling, we asked Katie to take time out to answer our 10 ?’s:

 

What is your favorite ingredient to cook with?

My favorite ingredient to cook with is garlic.  I think the best dishes begin with fresh minced garlic (not the jarred stuff).  It usually has a hiding spot within all of our creations, including my home ones.

 

What ingredient do you dread?

Onions.  I am so sensitive they are like mace.  Fortunately, I have a great crew on hand to make sure they are taken care of. 

 

What’s your favorite dish to make?

My favorite dish to make lately is French Toast.  My mom made it for me growing up, and I’ve always loved experimenting with different batters and toppings.  This weekend at the Brunch Rally, we are unveiling a new sandwich with French Toast as the bread.  Stay tuned, I just tried it and it’s super tasty.  (We are putting the menu on Facebook shortly)

 

What’s your favorite pig out food?

My favorite pig out food is The Root Beer Stande on Wilmington.  There’s nothing better than their Mac-and-cheese bites and a root beer float.

 

What restaurant, other than your own do you like to dine at in the Miami Valley?

This is such a difficult question, because there’s so many innovative and talented chefs in the area.  I wish I could give a top 5, although I’ll try and get away with food truck and brick-and-mortar.  PA’s Pork always has my heart with their take on different styles of cuisine, while Wheat Penny has me with their out-of-the-box style and fabulous wood fired pizza.

 

What’s your best advice for home chefs?

My best advice for home chefs would be to try something out of your comfort zone.  Don’t be afraid to mess something up, sometimes the best creations come from complete accidents or mistakes themselves.  Try out of the box combinations.  Cilantro and marmalade on a sandwich was because it was all that was in my refrigerator. 

If you could invite any 4 guests to a dinner party who would they be and why?

These questions are challenging!  My four guests would be:

1. The Wright Brothers.  I have always admired their innovation, intelligence, and dedication to a concept.  Their brilliance changed the way the entire world works, and it all started right here.  I would also want to ask about being alive through the transition from horse and buggies to fighter jets and electric start automobiles.

2. James Yancey.  Known in the music industry as J Dilla, he was a producer back the 1990’s that was celebrated for his sample methods with the very simple tools he used.  I would say he is proof that it isn’t the artist’s tools, but the artist themselves that can create beautiful masterpieces with what they have.

3. Jack Joyce, one of the founders of Rogue Brewery in Oregon.  I have always been fascinated with their business model and marketing.  The company is ran strictly word of mouth, and they have a great concept in their bottling and labeling.  Several of their ingredients even come from Rogue Farms, their own farm dedicated to the brewery.  I highly recommend the Pumpkin Patch Ale during the fall, and any of their Voodoo Donut ales they come out with every year.  

4. Paul Lawrence Dunbar. After reading his poetry, I would want to hear his story and also what his life was like in Dayton. I feel like he is a very underrated part of Dayton history, and often overlooked.

 

Seasoned sausage, scrambled egg, housemade salsa, and fresh cut cilantro all on a heated double corn tortilla

Who do you look up to in the industry and why?

I look up to Angela and Pete Olejnicek from PA’s Pork.  They have been amazing mentors and friends as we’ve navigated the food truck waters.  Angela is one of the smartest people I’ve ever met and is so talented at what she does, and Pete is also extremely talented along with handy.  It always seems like the two of them can get through anything, and have used their wisdom and experience to help me through some tough times.

 

What do you do in the Miami Valley on a day off?

I always love hiking Glen Helen, and treating myself and my partner to a local venue for the evening.  I am almost never disappointed with the local dining options, and the breweries here are incredible.  I’ll also venture out to local shows, for we have some extremely talented bands that play in the area.

 

Share a kitchen disaster, lucky break or other interesting story:

We have forgotten the bread.  Yes, the bread.  All’s I can say is thank god someone (really a member of a solid support system) could go and get it in time, and that we are all human 🙂

We are so excited for the changes and hard work we’ve put in over the winter. From the feedback we’ve received, we’ve come up with some faster logistics, opened up an expo window in the back, and have begun some new sandwiches that we cannot wait to share with you! We love you guys and cannot put into words how much we have appreciated the support over the last two years. Here’s to an amazing third season!

??Sunday we are at The Old Yellow Cab again! Only this time it’s for Brunch! A food truck rally, brought to you by The Drunken Waffle and Smokinbeebeeq. There’s some great trucks and we will have an awesome menu! Check it out in the comments section on Monday.

On the Menu:

?THIS IS PINE-AL TAP (NEW!):
Slow-cooked teriyaki chicken is paired with Havarti cheese, with sunflower kerns for a smooth flavor and crunch with pineapple preserves for a sweet finish.

?LADY MARMALADE (Best of Dayton finalist from Dayton.com two years in a row!)
Sliced almonds provide a little crunch to turkey, fused with white cheddar while paired with cilantro and orange marmalade.

?PHILLY BOB THORNTON:
Roast beef is paired with Swiss cheese, then a layer of sautéed mushroom, onion, and green pepper, then finished with our housemade garlic-parm mayo.

?NEW AGE GRILL (vegetarian):
Sautéed mushrooms are sandwiched between two slices of Swiss cheese with giardiniera (pickled vegetables, popular with Chicago-style pizza), then topped off with our housemade Cabernet ketchup.

?GRILLED CHEESE/BUILD YOUR OWN:
Default cheese is cheddar, although you’re welcome to ask about the different cheese we have that day. Add lettuce, tomato, onion, or pickle as well.
We try to source our ingredients as locally as possible ❤️
Side Items:
?IN QUESO EMERGENCY (NEW!):
Housemade queso dip with tortilla chips

?SLAW APOLOGIES:
Our fresh signature coleslaw, prepared fresh daily
?Mike Sell’s Potato Chips
?Pepsi Products and water
?Debit and credit accepted.?

Order from your office before your break or on your way home, and pick up your food ready to go! Click the link below for some mobile carryout with a twist.

For more on the Wicked ‘Wich- hear them on the Gem City Podcast.

Local Food Truck Serves up “The Best Waffle in Ohio”

By

Consolidated Food Service recently put out a list naming  “The Best Waffle in Every State of America” and in Ohio they selected The Drunken Waffle food truck.  Owned by Beth Sparks, this food truck debuted this past fall and specializes in sweet and savory waffles and waffle sandwiches.  With a mission to never serve food that would ever bore you, their eclectic rotating selection offers something exciting for every palate; Spicy 3 Pepper Waffle, Savory Herbs & Hopps, Chocolate Cake Waffles, Waffled Corn Dogs, and so much more, including plenty of vegan and vegetarian options too.

Here’s what Consolidated had to say about them:

Armed with creative titles and interesting items, this food truck roams the streets of Dayton and is available to book for events or parties. They specialize in waffle sandwiches you can eat standing up, like the War Pig, which is smoked ham and bacon cooked inside with jack cheese and herb mayo on a three pepper waffle. The chicken sandwich waffle is called What the Cluck? While the Day Tripper is full of mushrooms and the Reservoir Dog is stuffed with a battered corn dog.

Here’s where you can catch The Drunken Waffle this week:

Thurs 5-9pm Eudora Brewing Company
4716 Wilmington Pike, Dayton, OH 45440

Friday 11pm – 2am behind Toxic Brew Company
431 E 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402

Here’s a look at their menu:

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

By 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