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Gluten Free

Chips Ahoy! Launches Gluten-Free Cookie

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In a move that’s been eagerly awaited by cookie enthusiasts and the gluten-free community alike, Chips Ahoy! is breaking new ground with the launch of its first certified gluten-free chocolate chip cookie, set to hit shelves this May.

 

The debut of the Chips Ahoy! Gluten Free cookie marks a significant milestone for the iconic brand, offering an option for those seeking a gluten-free treat without compromising on taste. This latest addition to the Chips Ahoy! lineup has been years in the making, with the brand’s innovation team dedicating thousands of hours to perfecting the recipe and ensuring an unbeatable texture and flavor.

The launch follows in the footsteps of the brand’s recent success with the “MMMproved” Chips Ahoy! Original recipe, as well as its entry into the gluten-free market with Oreo Gluten Free Chocolate Sandwich cookies. Now, cookie fans can look forward to enjoying the classic taste of Chips Ahoy! chocolate chip cookies, free from gluten.
Look out for specially marked packaging denoting the new gluten-free product as it rolls out in stores nationwide this May 2024.

3rd Area Bibibop Opens Thursday!

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On Thursday, July 13th the Columbus based chain Bibibop Asian Grill, the build-your-own, fast-casual restaurant, will open its 51st location in Washington Township at 10:30am. The first 50 customers on opening day will receive a year of free bowls (they’ll get 52 meal vouchers).  First responders, healthcare workers, school faculty and staff will be offered a free bowl on opening day. All others will have a chance for $5 off a bowl by wearing orange for an opening day discount.

I had a chance to attend a preview yesterday, where the opening team shared a little history of the organization, including founder Charlie Shins dream to serve others and his community, which the inspiration for the business. The Charleys Kids foundation is a BIBIBOP partner program that collaborates with local and international programs to empower kids through education, food, and mentorship. They explained their company philosophy on well-being and how they want to support people on their journey to wholistic health and happiness, which is why they serve healthy and affordable Asian food.

Upon entering you’ll have the choice to order a bowl original or small, or if you prefer a snack sized portion get a bibicup. Bowls cost are determined by the protein you pick and for the original size bowl run from $8.49- $10.49, small bowls range from $7.19-$9.19 and the bibicup is $5. From there you’ll move down the line and select your base: romaine lettuce, super greens salad, white or purple rice or sweet potato noodles. Next choose your toppings from: black beans, potatoes, bean sprouts, roasted sesame broccoli, corn, carrots, cheese, kimchi, cucumber, egg, pickled red cabbage and sesame kale. For an extra $1 you can add pineapple.

Protein choices include steak, chicken, tofu, spicy chicken and their newest Korean BBQ beef.

Then you’ll add a sauce, the 3 most popular are:

YUM YUM-  A tangy, creamy dipping sauce that originated in Hibachi grills. Yum Yum is now being recognized as a popular American condiment that is used in a variety of different dishes.

SESAME GINGER – A sweet and savory sauce that can be used in a variety of different ways, including dipping, cooking and marinating.​

SPICY YUM YUM – Honey and Gochujang have been added to our Yum Yum sauce to create a perfect balance of sweet and spicy.

You can also choose from Sesame Oil, Gochujang, Teriyaki, Spicy Sriracha, Sesame Ginger and Ginger Teriyaki

All ingredients at Bibibop are 100% Gluten Free! Drinks offered include soda, an assortment of teas, lemonade and sparkling water.  Guests are also able to serve themselves a bowl of miso soup for free on every visit. Snickerdoodle cookies can be purchased for $1. The take Apple and Google pay in addition to cash, credit or debit cards. Bibibop also opens a fundraising option where your non-profit organization can earn 20% of sales.

They also offer catering where you can order a selection of bowls, or a traditional spread where guest can select from an assortment of choices. With endless customization, everyone can make a meal that fits their lifestyle, from vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and more.

 

Download the Bibibop app and get $5 off your first order and a free bowl on your birthday!  Bibibop is also still looking to add team members for this location.

Bibibop Asian Grill

BIBIBOP WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP SQUARE
1057 Miamisburg Centerville Rd
Dayton, OH 45459

BIBIBOP CENTERVILLE – CORNERSTONE
5225 Cornerstone N Blvd
Centerville, OH 45440

BIBIBOP UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON
1200 Brown St. Unit 140
Dayton, OH 45409

BOGO Star Wars Offers at Fairborn Bakery for May 4th

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Amber Tipton, owner of The Neighborhood Nest in Fairborn, is a big Star Wars Fan.  So she couldn’t let May 4th pass with out making some  light saber cupcakes and Star Wars cookies as well as a few of her other gluten free treats. She says she has baked over 800 cookies, approx. 300 cupcakes, we have obnoxious brownies, blue milk cupcakes and green milk cupcakes, and chocolate Chewbacca cupcakes! Butter cookies in vegan, DF, and regular. Sugar cookies in DF and regular.
A galaxy back-drop complete with light saber and R2D2 will be set-up for Star Wars fans to take photos. The shop hours on  Tuesday, May 4 will be from 12-5 PM
If customers come dressed in Star Wars apparel and take a selfie out front of the Neighborhood Nest w/the logo in the back ground and post to their social media, they will get a buy one / get one offer on Star Wars specialty goodies. If customers don’t have social media, they can bring a friend and each customer can take advantage of the buy one / get one offer.
The BOGO does not apply to coffee or mixes.  The Neighborhood Nest offers Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Vegan, Soy-free, Corn-free, Tree-nut free, KETO-friendly products.

The Neighborhood Nest

313 N. Main St.,
Fairborn, OH 45324
Current hours during Covid:
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday:  10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Local Startup Ella Bella Shipping Internationally

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Local startup Ella Bella Gluten-Free can now be found abroad!

The company landed its first international account last month, founder Mandy Groszko shared. She shipped one case each of her gluten-free flour, brownie, chocolate chip and sugar cookie mixes and two cases of her lactation cookie mix to a shop named Chisai-Bums in Okinawa, Japan.

“I am extremely excited, and just flabbergasted, that something I made and created is going halfway around the world,” Groszko said.

The Japanese shop is approximately 7,000 miles from Ella Bella’s home base in Fairborn, OH. Shipping was easier than anticipated — the presence of a US Air Force base at the destination allowed Groszko to use domestic pricing and domestic customs forms, all available on the USPS website, she said.

The Chisai-Bums store owner found Ella Bella through a closed Facebook group created for the community of mothers using cloth diapers for their new babes. The owner of a cloth diaper store in Fort Wayne that sells Ella Bella’s lactation cookie mixes posted a positive review of the cookies, along with a note about how she could sell them at a 100 percent markup.

The lactation cookie mix is the top retail product for Ella Bella, founded in 2012. Groszko launched the company when her daughter was diagnosed with a gluten intolerance.

“I wanted to be able to make a single chocolate chip cookie that she would eat and like and that my husband would eat and like,” she recalled.

She developed the lactation cookie mix two years ago after a conversation with her longtime friend Allison Hopkey Fullenkamp, owner of samozrejme, a Troy store featuring eco-friendly parenting products. The lactation cookie mix includes additional minerals and vitamins that help new moms produce milk.

Groszko sold the cookie mix at samozrejme for a year before she began marketing the product, she said.

Ella Bella is currently on shelves in 21 retail stores, primarily in the Dayton-Cincinnati-Columbus region. You can also find the mixes on shelves in California and Alaska — those shop owners also found Groszko through the post in the closed Facebook group before purchasing her products through FAIRE an online wholesale marketplace for retailers seeking unique goods for their stores.

“The dream is to get into a store in every state across the country,” she said. “I have a gluten-free product, the flour, that allows people to get back in the kitchen.”

The Ella Bella gluten-free flour is a one-to-one substitute for traditional flours, whether it’s in a roux, a fried breading or a baked good, Groszko said.

“You can cook your family recipes,” she said. “You can have that family connection, that communication, that love that happens in a kitchen, and then it’s good food to eat at the end, and those people who don’t have to be gluten-free also enjoy the food.”

Want to try the mixes for yourself? Order online or find a store near you!

New Seasonal Menu at Mudlick Tap House

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The Plate

Mudlick Tap House, located downtown at the corner of 2nd and St. Clair streets, is launching their new summer menu. According to Proprietor Jennifer Dean, the new menu will combine the lunch and dinner menu, meaning entrees will now be available all day. In talking about the new menu, Jen shared, “we’ve really put a lot of thought into creating a menu with more Gluten Free options and dishes that can be made vegetarian or vegan with slight modifications.  Our kitchen staff is great about being able to make meals that can accommodate any dietary restrictions.”

Mudlick is hosting a Gluten Free Cider Dinner this Wednesday evening. Joshua Raboin, CEO and head brewer of Redhead Ciderhouse will join Executive Chef Jason to talk you through the cider-making process while taking you on a culinary adventure highlighting the flavors of each dish paired with cider. You can do the whole prix fixe meal for $50 or order it a la carte from 5- 10pm.

scallops

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

spinach salad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wiki Leeks

When asking Jen what the highlight of the new menu are, she said “I’m really excited about the fried leeks, I was such a huge fan of  these at Olive and really have been missing these. And we’ve added a grass fed ribeye to the menu.”

ribeye

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are even some new cocktails on the bar menu including the return of the Mudlick Lemondae join the list of favorites like the Mudlick Mule, the Mason Jar Margarita and the Campfire Sling.  The whiskey of the day promotion continues, highlighting a different brand each day at discounted prices

2nd floor party space

The second floor at Mudlick, which can hold up to a hundred guests remains a popular option for rehearsal dinners, bridal and baby showers.  There is no charge for the room with a minimal spend, contact co-founder Forrest for more information and availability.  Jen told us they’ve already got several holiday parties booked, so you may want to plan ahead for December.

The Queen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking of planning ahead, when ordering your meal at Mudlick, you’ll want to be sure and leave room for dessert.

The Basil Berry

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Opera Stout cake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even the brunch menu got a little makeover!

 

Food Adventure Crew Adds “Healthy” Influence

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You may know the weekly Food Adventure blog here at Dayton Most Metro.  We visit the local mom and pop restaurants from greasy spoons, to fine dining and everything in between.  We give some of the most in-depth restaurant reviews because, unlike other sites, they visit the eatery multiple times.  No plate is unturned.  You may have attended one of our Food Adventure events over the past 10 years.

Jessie Whitesell – the Newest Food Adventurer

Today, we proudly announce the addition of a Paleo and Whole 30 guru who will bring a fresh breath of healthy eating into the mix.  Meet the latest crew member, Jessie Whitesell.  A Mom whose busy lifestyle and own health concerns, turned her on to the power of fresh, natural foods.  Using gluten free foods, and a paleo style diet, she has conquered her own health concerns from allergies to inflammation.  Jessie will bring fun videos, cooking tips, and much more to Food Adventures.   She will help you and your family who may be looking to promote a healthier lifestyle.

Food Adventures has not changed, we will still bring you the best of local food places.  We have just added a new dimension to the mix.  Jessie is a lifelong Dayton resident with a passion for healthy, nutritious, fresh local foods.  Here is her bio:

MEET JESSIE:

Yep, she is one of us !

Jessie Whitesell of Jessie Whitesell Health + Wellness is our team’s Wellness Consultant . She brings a piece to Food Adventures that focuses on holistic health and healing through whole, natural foods. Jessie is a certified health coach, autoimmune paleo coach, fitness nutritionist, behavioral coach, and personal trainer. She holds an BA in Education and a M. Ed. in Counseling Psychology.

She and her high school sweetheart are raising three incredibly active and hungry kids. Self taught in the kitchen, she has learned how to simplify feeding a busy active family a mostly paleo nutritional plan through mindful planning, meal prep, and single ingredient foods. Jessie likes to cook with in season produce and support local farmers when possible. You can often find her at the ball fields either coaching or cheering on her kids with a cooler packed to the brim of healthy, whole foods.
The Food Adventures Crew is super excited to add Jessie to the blog.  We look forward to her articles, recipes, videos and takes on local foods.  You will see her at many of our events, and we can’t wait to learn more about wholesome foods for a healthy lifestyle, and even food tips for treating specific ailments.  Stay tuned and keep following us right here, weekly on DaytonMostMetro.com!

Jessie and her family

Jessie with her husband.

Chick-fil-A Now Offers Gluten Free Bun

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This month, Chick-fil-A is introducing a gluten-free bun to our menu. Made from a mix with ancient grains—like sorghum, amaranth, millet, quinoa and teff— this new bread option makes sandwich-eating-on-the-go easier for those looking to eat less or no gluten in their diet.  Its new bun is made with quinoa and amaranth and sweetened with molasses and raisins. It contains 150 calories and costs an additional $1.15.  Chick-fil-A will be one of a few fast-food restaurants to offer a gluten-free bread.

“We know our customers are looking for more gluten-sensitive alternatives. They asked, and we listened,” said Leslie Neslage, senior consultant of menu development at Chick-fil-A. “We heard positive feedback in test markets that the bun tastes better than some other gluten-free breads. That’s because instead of rice flower, we’ve made the bun with more premium ingredients like quinoa and amaranth. Our hope is that the Gluten-Free Bun addition opens up options for gluten-sensitive customers to enjoy more of our menu.”

What’s gluten-free at Chick-fil-A?

In addition to the new bun, here’s a list of other gluten-free items at Chick-fil-A. These items are sealed to prevent cross-contamination with other items in our kitchen made with gluten.

  • Honest Kids Appley Ever After® Organic Juice Drink
  • Cinnamon Apple Sauce (Buddy Fruits®)
  • Milk
  • Simply Orange® Orange Juice
  • Waffle Potato Chips (catering only).

For guests who wish to minimize their gluten intake, here is a list of additional menu items offered at Chick-fil-A. (The fine print: Due to the handcrafted nature of our food, variations in our supplier ingredients and our use of shared cooking and preparation areas, we cannot ensure that our restaurant environment or any menu item will be completely free of gluten.)

  • Entrée
    o Grilled chicken filet (no bun)
    o Grilled Nuggets (8 or 12-count)
    o Grilled Market Salad*
  • Sides
    o Fruit Cup
    o Side Salad*
    o Superfood Side
    o Waffle Potato Fries™
    o Greek Yogurt Parfait*
  • Breakfast
    o Bacon slice
    o Sausage patty
    o Hash Browns
  • Kid’s Meal
    o Grilled Nuggets (4 or 6-count)
  • Beverages
  • Dipping Sauces and Dressings
    o Barbecue Sauce
    o Honey Mustard Sauce
    o Honey Roasted BBQ sauce
    o Polynesian Sauce
    o Zesty Buffalo Sauce
    o Chick-fil-A® Sauce
    o Garlic & Herb Ranch Dressing
    o Creamy Salsa Dressing
    o Avocado Lime Ranch dressing
    o Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette
    o Chili Lime Vinaigrette
    o Light Italian Dressing
    o Light Balsamic Vinaigrette
    o Fat Free Honey Mustard dressing

*Does not include toppings

– See more at: https://www.chick-fil-a.com/Stories/Inside-Chick-fil-A/2017/06/19/Whats-Gluten-Free-at-Chick-fil-A#sthash.LfUUgjhH.dpuf

Gluten Free Holiday Dayton Area Restaurant Guide 2015

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gluten-free1Having family in town for the holidays can be stressful, finding a place to eat that everyone agrees on, worse. Add to the mix that someone in the family has food allergies, finding a restaurant can be a nightmare. Heck, finding food at the grocery can be a headache.

Dayton has become a great place to eat, for all foodies, including those with sensitivities and allergies. The movement toward small and local has benefited Dayton and its large community of food sensitive eaters. We have a plethora of restaurants, breweries, farmer’s markets, and mom and pop shops from which to choose. Sometimes you just have to know which rock to look under to find the perfect cozy spot, but isn’t that the joy of a small niche place that nobody else knows about?

Maybe with this list of Dayton’s best kept secrets for the food sensitive, I will lift up a rock you may not have noticed before. Enjoy eating with your family this holiday season!

Local Restaurants:

Archer’s Tavern– offers a gluten free pizza

Arepas – simple yet flavorful Colombian comfort food. All  dishes are prepared on site from scratch with fresh ingredients. Most dishes are gluten free.

Bad Dog Nice Taco – Chef Leeanne is happy to suggest her GF options

Boston’s Bistro – specialize in pizza’s with a GF option

Butter Cafe  –  You can order one of their sandwiches with gluten-free bread or have gluten-free toast with your breakfast order.

Christopher’s Restaurant & Catering –  Providing traditional and innovative fare at reasonable prices, with many vegetarian and vegan options.

City BBQ – meats are smoked on-site at each restaurant, hand rubbed with spices.

Coldwater Cafe – Chef Nick is happy to prepare you many GF options.

Company 7 BBQ – nationally award winning BBQ

Corner Kitchen – this finer diner has a gluten free menu option

Crepe Boheme – if you call ahead they will make Gluten Free batter for Crepes

Dorothy Lane Market – check out their Gluten Free Support Group

Dublin Pub – Sunday Brunch – lots of options full of flavor and Gluten free

El Meson  – A mainstay of West Carrollton, this upscale restaurant specializes in Spanish and Latin American food.  Many of the dishes are naturally gluten-free, and the staff is gluten-free conscious.

Flying Tiger – satisfying Asian Fusion and American Chinese.

Fronana– a delicious, healthy frozen treat free of dairy, gluten, added sugar & artificial ingredients!  They also have cones that are gluten free, dairy free, egg free, and made out of bananas!

Fusian – very good at explaining what all they do and what proteins are or can be gluten free.

Giovanni’s – offers a gluten free pizza

Hawthorn Grill  – Plenty of gluten-free options available and can modify a dish to fit within the guidelines of any of your special needs.

Hot Head Burrito – check their allergen chart to make your order work for you

Lihn’s Bistro – the premier spot for Vietnamese cuisine which

Lucky’s Tap Room & Grille  – A hip joint in the Oregon District serving up fine craft beers, soup, salads, and sandwiches.  They have many gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options.

Meadowlark – great options for healthy eating and very familiar with gluten restrictions

Pasha Grill – An oasis for diners seeking gluten-free meals

Penny Lane art gallery

PF Chang–  has gluten free menu and uses gluten free soy sauce when asked.

Rue Dumaine Restaurant  American-meets-French cuisine from expert chef, Anne Kearney.  They are gluten-free aware and happy to assist people with special dietary needs.

Salar Restaurant and Lounge – Vegan Friendly, French, Latin, Mediterranean Restaurant

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Sinfully Gluten Free – Dayton’s only 100% dedicated gluten-free restaurant that serves pizzas, sandwiches, quiche, chicken wings, and dessert items.

Spinoza’s – Much of the food is locally sourced and the gluten free pizza’s are awesome and save room for the GF chocolate chip cookies.

Sunrise Cafe

Sushi Club

Sweeney’s Seafood

The Caroline: This Troy restaurant offers a complete Gluten Free Menu

The Chef Case: Located in the 2nd Street Market, The Chef Case offers conscious cuisine with a focus on local, healthy dishes.  They serve individuals who follow a variety of special diets including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and casein-free.

TJ Chumps – with 4 locations, this locally owned chain offers a GF menu

Wheat Penny – This upscale pizza place offers gluten free pizza and desserts offered

Local Desserts:

Communitea  – always a gluten free and a vegetarian option for our dining guests.new_banner_with_ph

Ella Bella Gluten Free – Ella Bella Cookies sells muffins, banana nut bread, lemon bars, whoopie pies, cookies, and other tasty treats.  You can call or email Ella Bella with your orders.

Neighborhood Nest – home-based bakery in New Carlisle that makes just about anything you can think of in gluten free

Oven Street

Purely Sweet Bakery

Stone House Sweets

 

*As with any food sensitivity, please talk to your server. You are your own best advocate.

This guest post written by Mandy Groszko,  the owner of Ella Bella Gluten Free, a lover of food and all things local.

Hot House! Local Chef Heats Things Up With New Sriracha Sauce

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Hot stuff in Dayton

Dayton Chef LeeAnne House, with her Housemade Sriracha Sauce !

We’ve got the boss with the hot sauce right here!  Want to heat up your Food Adventures at home?  Then look no further.

Local chef, our own LeeAnne House has made her mark in the kitchens of upscale area restaurants. Now she is out on her own, with a new company called Housemade.  Her first bottled product is a popular one, called Housemade Sriracha Sauce. She started experimenting with new sauces in her apartment kitchen and the batches grew, and so did the demand.  Now she has taken her saucy self corporate.

Believe it or not, sriracha is a style of sauce, and not a brand name.  We are all familiar with that plastic bottle with the rooster and green spout.  This gives that sauce a kick in the pants.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— LeeAnne grew up in the food industry.  Her parents at one time owned various restaurants like Lincoln Park Grille, Oregon Express, and others.  LeeAnne worked her way up from bussing tables to chief hottie.

bottling plant

Bottles of Housemade Sriracha, Ready to be Labeled

— The sauce took a year and a half to perfect.  Originally home cooked and home produced, she is now off  to the big time with the same, natural recipe.  Food Adventures have been trying her home batch sriracha sauces for months, so we are especially happy to see her recent success.

— This sauce won 1st prize in the 2014 Louisiana Cajun Hot Sauce Festival, for the best specialty chili sauce, and is being blogged about nationally from California to Nashville.  Foodies and Food Adventurers agree, it’s fantastic!

— A bottle of this sauce goes a long way, good thing there is a 2 year shelf life.

 

WHY IS THIS SAUCE A MUST EAT?

— FLAVOR:  That is the most important thing, right?  Not just heat for the sake of heat, but good flavor is what a sauce is all about.  Housemade Sriracha is sweeter, hotter and meaner than the sriracha you are used to.   There is a good amount of tang and zing to get your tastebuds rolling.

 — ALL PEPPERS in this sauce are Thai Chili Peppers, and the sauce has NO STEMS.  This is huge, because most mass produced sauces have stems ground into them, thereby changing the flavor of the sauce.  Housemade keeps the flavor truer to the pepper itself with the tedious process of stem removal.

— NATURAL INGREDIENTS:  We wont give away the recipe, just read the side of the label for the natural ingredients.  Did we mention it is vegan and gluten-free ?

— LOCALLY MADE – Whenever possible local ingredients are used, local farmers, and the sauce is assembled from Dayton to Chillicothe.  Hello, support local, buy local.  Expect different sauces from Housemade in the future !

 

The Big Ragu knows you can get Housemade Sriracha at Foremost Seafood

The Big Ragu knows where to get Housemade Sriracha, and now, you do too !

The Big Ragu loves the sauce on chili, shrimp, wings and anything mexican (nachos, tacos, tortas, burritos and sopes).

LITE BITES: Try the sriracha on egg white omelettes, roasted veggies, homemade vegetable soups, and quinoa.

 

Housemade Sriracha Sauce has made its way into local restaurants and has been appearing on specials at Lily’s Bistro, and pizzas at  Oregon Express to name a couple.  We expect more locally owned restaurants to follow this trend.  In fact, the demand has been so good, that a second batch has already gone into production.

 

WHERE CAN YOU BUY THE BOTTLES OF HOUSEMADE SRIRACHA?

— Arrow Wine & Spirits

— Clash Consignments

— Eclectic Essentials

— Foremost Seafood

— Healthy Alternative Markets

— The Spice Rack

— Yankee Street Market

 

In more ways than one, it is the hottest product in Dayton.  Housemade Sriracha, we love you, you hot thang you ….

Speaking of hotness, check out Food Adventures on Facebook  and “like” them HERE

Also, see more of LeeAnne and her hot sauce in the photo gallery below!

[flagallery gid=90]

 

Fresh Food Adventures at Fresco!

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Do you you hear that rumble? It is your stomach craving affordable gourmet food.  The answer is one of Dayton’s best kept secrets, a little restaurant called Fresco.
World class dishes made from scratch with fresh produce from Chef Jenn DiSanto and her staff are what brings loyal foodies to this one of a kind eatery.  Located at 3141 Far Hills Ave  near the Dorothy Lane intersection in Kettering since 2010, Chef Jenn has been serving her “Mediterranean and eclectic global” menu.  The Big Ragu describes the menu as Food Adventure Central.
Hello .. what’s not to love?  Even the restaurant name is based on their commitment to fresh ingredients.

If you have not heard of Fresco, or have never been there, then this is your wake up call.  Great prices and knowledgeable sous chefs that have experiences cooking outside of Ohio, result in a kitchen that cranks out amazing, extremely delicious meals.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Chef Jenn DiSanto is the only rap-music loving area chef that has studied and worked culinary magic in Belgium, New York, Connecticut and Atlanta.  You can count on one hand the classically trained Dayton area chefs, and Jenn DiSanto is one of them.  So, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS PRECIOUS RESOURCE and her expertise for priceless dining experiences!

— Clean, casual, yet professional dining room seats about 20 for dine-in lunch or dinner.  Lots of regulars, and a personable staff provide and inviting atmosphere.

Chicken Tortilla Soup: Made from Scratch

— Practically all the dishes use Organic and Local ingredients, with a commitment to FRESHNESS.

— Salad Dressings made from scratch that will tickle your tastebuds.  Typically 5 or more choices on hand every day.

— Healthy menu with Vegan, Vegetarian and Gluten-Free menu options.

— Daily specials feature one of a kind dishes.  For more info, visit frescofood.net or click HERE.

— Catering and meals-to-go are popular choices.  The menu even features the “feed a family of 4 for $28” section.  Food this good at those prices in unheard of in the Dayton area.

— Hours are Monday through Friday 11:30am – 7pm.  Remember, no weekend hours except catering or special private events.

 

In a place where EVERY menu item is spectacular, it is hard to nail down the best.  But like Fresco, Food Adventures never disappoints, so here are our “Must Eats !”

MUST EATS:

— HOMEMADE CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP:  Made from scratch using homemade chicken stock and fresh ingredients, words like “delicious” don’t do it justice.  The soup is garnished with sour cream, cheese tortilla strips.  Try this soup and you will understand why it is indescribable.  This soup is one of our favorites of all time.

Thai Chicken Sliders are a “Must Eat”

— KALE and CANNELLINI BEAN SOUP:  A perfect fix for the upcoming brisk weather.  This soup is so good, you will make ‘yummy” noises while eating.  The kale is trimmed and cooked to perfection.  It is the right partner to this incredible broth and bean combination.

— THAI CHICKEN SLIDERS:  The Big Ragu says these are the best sliders he has ever had in his life.  The sandwiches have an incredible Thai peanut sauce made from scratch that is added to a shredded chicken mixture.  Topped with lemon grass and ginger pickled cucumbers with basil and cilantro slaw for an addicting punch of flavor.

—ROASTED SALMON WITH MANGO CHUTNEY:  Before roasting, the salmon is seasoned with a house rub.  This is fresh salmon, not frozen and it is perfectly cooked for an amazing taste.  Finishing touches include a homemade mango chutney that is “to die for.”  Sides include potatoes and grilled veggies.  At $15.50, this dish is a steal.  You would pay up to double at fancy restaurants and still not touch the taste of this dinner.   The Big Ragu will go on record as saying this is the best salmon dinner he has ever had.

—SIDE SALADS:  Yeah yeah we know…you think it is just some crisp greens.. but not so fast my friend…  The real attractions here are the homemade dressings.  These “liquid must eats” are made from scratch.   One of our favorites is the White Balsamic Vanilla Bean Dressing.   Other incredible flavors of dressing include Lemon Sherry Vinaigrette, Onion Vinaigrette and a unique Bacon dressing (with no Bacon Fest

lines).    The Big Ragu recommends the Red Wine Vinaigrette as his favorite.  Eating healthy never tasted so wonderful.

Delicious Roasted Salmon with Mango Chutney. Served with crisp potatoes and grilled veggies

Honorable Mention: Grab some handmade Fried Green Tomatoes when they are featured.  They are great to share, but so tasty that we won’t share ours.   We also love the Fish Tacos every Friday.  Attention shrimp lovers, the Shrimp and Grits dinner is pretty good.  Polenta is used instead of  grits, and the combo of creaminess with the vegetables is amazing.   This article would not be complete without mentioning the great Arepas on the menu or the savory Grilled Panini Sandwiches offered.  Oh and did you know you can bring in your own alcohol when you dine in ????

Chef Jenn is one of our favorite local personalities, and her service is as “fresh” as the food.  This locally owned, family business is a must stop for anyone who appreciates homemade food, and culinary expert cooking at its finest.  Looking for a place to eat and want to change things up?  We got one for ya.. and now you know, it’s Fresco.

Want more foodie fun?  Check out Food Aventures on Facebook and “like” us by clicking HERE.  Over 2100 fans cant be wrong. Our first new like get a “free style rap session” with Chef Jen and ourselves.

Check out some of the most amazing photos we have ever posted in our gallery below from numerous Food Adventures to FRESCO !

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Olive brings a New Orleans Flair to Wednesday Night

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olive1

Jambalaya with KJB farms chorizo sausage, rice, and black beans, slow stewed in a tomato and tamarind sauce and topped with marinated grilled shrimp, avocado and pesto Greek yogurt. Served with grilled ciabatta.

Get your taste buds ready for  Walk in Wednesdays and   a taste of The Big Easy at Olive an urban dive.  Featuring atotally different dinner menu for their New Orleans summer palette adventures Wednesdays from 5-9p! No reservations needed or taken (unless you’re on your way). You can dine inside or on the fire lit patio.  They’ll  even welcome well  behaved dogs  on the patio.
The new menu will include seafood bouillabaisse, jambalaya, shrimp boil, fried green tomato sandwich, black and bleu burger, a whole different ‘rock your nosh’ (vegan and gluten free entree) and lots of creole seasonings flying in the kitchen and NOLA blues on the airwaves!

Your Guide to Living Gluten-Free in Dayton – 2013 Edition

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gluten-free-1Does Shredded Wheat leave your stomach…well, shredded?  Chances are you are in good company with the millions of Americans who have celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that hinders one from properly digesting gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye).

While the words “autoimmune disorder” seem intimidating, treatment for celiac disease is actually rather simple: just adhere to a gluten-free diet.  Considering the burgeoning number of gluten-free food manufacturers, people who have celiac disease have more options than ever including gluten-free interpretations of pizza, bread, pasta, beer, and countless other items.

Below is a guide for local gluten-free (or gluten-free friendly) restaurants, bakeries, and support groups, along with grocery stores that sell a plethora of gluten-free items, making your expedition into this specialty diet easy as “GF” pie.

Restaurants

Sinfully Gluten-Free: Dayton’s only 100% dedicated gluten-free restaurant that serves pizzas, sandwiches, quiche, chicken 226498_210821785606517_3629000_nwings, and dessert items.

Olive, an Urban Dive: A localvore favorite.  The owners of the establishment welcome patrons with food sensitivities.  Upon request, they will even craft their sandwiches with the much-loved Udi’s gluten-free bread for a nominal charge.

The Green Nature Cafe: Located in Clayton, The Green Nature Cafe is Dayton’s latest organic hotspot.  They offer a wide spectrum of raw, vegan, and gluten-free selections.

Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery: A hip joint in the Oregon District serving up fine craft beers, soup, salads, and sandwiches.  They have many gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options.

P.F. Chang’s: One of the first chain restaurants to provide a gluten-free menu.  They offer numerous Asian-fusion dishes on their impressive gluten-free menu.

The Rusty Bucket: A midwest chain with a stronghold in Ohio, they serve Americana fare.  They are known for their “gluten-free friendly” menu, which even has a list of gluten-free alcoholic drinks.

Butter Cafe: Socially informed and delectable.  You can order one of their sandwiches with gluten-free bread or have gluten-free toast with your breakfast order.

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Local Organic Broccoli Rabe, Gluten Free Pasta Salad! from The Chef Case

The Chef Case: Located in the 2nd Street Market, The Chef Case offers conscious cuisine with a focus on local, healthy dishes.  They serve individuals who follow a variety of special diets including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and casein-free.

Rue Dumaine: American-meets-French cuisine from expert chef, Anne Kearney.  They are gluten-free aware and happy to assist people with special dietary needs.

El Meson: A mainstay of West Carrollton, this upscale restaurant specializes in Spanish and Latin American food.  Many of the dishes are naturally gluten-free, and the staff is gluten-free conscious.

Uno’s: Conveniently located across from the Schuster Center, Uno’s has a gluten-free menu that includes pizzas, burgers, and beers.

The Melting Pot: An elegant fondue chain located in Centerville, they have a three-course, gluten-free menu.  They even have several gluten-free cocktails from which to choose.

Bonefish Grill: Well-known for their seafood and fish dishes, they have an extensive gluten-free menu.  You can find them at the Dayton Mall.

Keep in mind that there are copious other chain restaurants and local eateries that cater to gluten-free patrons, so this is only a partial list.  If you dine in a mixed-kitchen, you can minimize your chance of cross-contamination by dining during off-hours (giving the staff time to honor your requests), speaking with management ahead of time about their measures to prevent cross-contamination, and ordering directly from a gluten-free menu instead of requesting custom-made dishes.  Additionally, it is recommended to purchase Triumph Dining’s gluten-free dining cards, which come in 10 languages and give tips for safely dining in a variety of world cuisines.

Gluten-Free Bakeries

419097_379813925380733_1681750395_nTina’s Sweet Treats: Many of her cookies and muffins can be found at Dorothy Lane Market, but you can also place an order by phone.  Tina also bakes cakes for all occasions along with the ever-so-hip cake pops.

Sonny Marie’s: While they primarily serve the Cincinnati market, Sonny Marie’s is slowly working its way upstream, as their products can be found in Health Foods Unlimited in Centerville.  They are best-known for their Sonny Tarts, which are a gluten-free and dairy-free version of the iconic PopTart.

AllerEnergy: Bringing a twist to the gluten-free market (literally and figuratively), this Centerville-based company makes allergen-free and gluten-free soft pretzels, marshmallows, and energy bars.  You can find their products at Dorothy Lane Market, across the United States, and even Canada.

Ella Bella Cookies: One of Dayton’s newest home bakeries, Ella Bella Cookies sells muffins, banana nut bread, lemon bars, whoopie pies, cookies, and other tasty treats.  You can call or email Ella Bella with your orders.

Moondance: Based in Cincinnati, you can find products by this award-winning, gluten-free bakery in more than 20 states and 40 Ohio cities
.  Make sure to try their individual-serving size cheesecakes and brownies.

Eban Bakery: While they are located in Columbus, Eban Bakery has expanded into the Cincinnati and Dayton health food markets.  Well-known for their breads and cookies, you can find their offerings at all three Dorothy Lane Market locations.

Support Groups

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DLM Support Group

A diagnoses of celiac disease can be a radical lifestyle change, especially in terms of how you adjust your grocery shopping, cooking, and dining.  To help you navigate the initially murky waters of living gluten-free, there are several support groups located within Dayton and the surrounding communities that can offer guidance, classes, and lectures for successfully integrating the gluten-free diet into your daily routine.

Cincinnati Celiac Support Group

Gluten-Intolerance Group of Central Ohio (The Gluten-Free Gang)

DLM Gluten-Free Food Lovers’ Club

Shopping

Now more than ever grocery stores strive to accommodate to their gluten-free patrons.  Several large chains, including Kroger’s, Wal-Mart, and Meijer’s, even have gluten-free sections and/or stickers to denote gluten-free products.  Below is a list of local grocery stores and health food stores that have a higher percentage of gluten-free product listings (and a few of them even have gluten-free guides).

South Dayton area: Dorothy Lane Market (three locations in south Dayton), Trader Joe’s (Kettering), Health Foods Unlimited (Miami Township), Olympia Health Food Center (Kettering), and Earth Fare (Centerville).

North Dayton area: Healthy Alternative (two locations), Natural Food Plus (Dayton), Nutra Foods (Huber Heights), Dayton Nutra Foods (Trotwood), Starflower Natural Foods (Yellow Springs), and To Your Health (Eaton).

Additional Resources

Celiac disease has only recently gained exposure within popular culture, so new information about this condition is always being disseminated.  With that in mind, staying abreast of the latest news and research is imperative and can change (usually for the better) your experience of this diet.  For more information, make sure to visit the Celiac Disease Foundation or The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness.

 

Craft Beer Goes Gluten Free – Dogfish Head Tweason’ale Review

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Dogfish Head Tweason'ale

Tweason’ale from Dogfish Head is a gluten free, sorghum based beer brewed with strawberries and honey. This is the first 4 pack in the Dogfish Head lineup in 5 years. Dogfish Head certainly isn’t the first brewery to make gluten free beer, but this is arguably the biggest release of a beer of this type.

From the Dogfish Head website:

The No. 1 thing Dogfish lovers ask for at our pub, in our brewery and on our website is a gluten-free beer. But not just any gluten-free beer — they want gluten-free with gusto.

 

“It seems as if lots of folks who have gluten-tolerance issues are pining for an interesting beer,” says Dogfish founder and president Sam Calagione. “While there are a few well-made examples that mirror traditional beer styles, there arent any off-centered offerings.”

 

Enter Tweason’ale.

 

For our first new 12-ounce 4-packs in nearly half a decade, we replaced the classic barley foundation of beer with a mild sorghum base. The hints of molasses and pit-fruit are balanced by vibrant strawberry notes and a unique complexity that comes with the addition of a malty buckwheat honey.

 

We believe health-conscious beer drinkers and the millions of Americans who suffer from Celiac disease can cut back on gluten while relishing the distinction and drinkability of this very special brew.

 

Tweasonale is a seasonal for between the seasons. It will first hit shelves in late January 2012 and will be released four times a year through our national network of distributors.

 

This beer was pretty labor-intensive to make, but it was a beautiful process. We invited our artist friends Jamie and Kevin to come document our brew with their ultra-cool Cinemagraph process. Check out the process here.

 

Original Release Date:

 

07/2011

 

Food Pairing Recommendations:

 

Fatty fish, dried fruit, salted nuts

 

Wine Comparable:

 

Rose

 

Here is my review for this beer.

 

APPEARANCE

 

Beautiful stuff – it’s a crystal clear honey-blonde color. The head was small and didn’t stick around for very long, but there was some nice visible carbonation in the glass sort of like champagne. In fact, this beer looks a lot like champagne due to its clarity. I must say it makes me thirsty just looking at it!

 

 

SMELL

 

The strawberry comes through and creates a nice, refreshing aroma. It’s on the border between smelling like fresh fruit and artificial fruit, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing in this case. It’s followed by an unusual earthy aroma, and perhaps grassy notes and baker’s yeast. The honey is subtle, but present. Overall, this a nice smelling fruit beer.

 

TASTE

Dogfish Head Tweason'ale Label

 

This beer has some interesting flavors! The strawberry comes out, bringing some nice sweetness and slight tartness. There’s sort of a spicey character, not quite like Belgian yeast notes (clove, banana, etc) but more like fresh or candied ginger. There’s some slight earthiness in there, but not as much as the nose. A yeast flavor comes through as it warms. It almost reminds me of sparkling grape juice in terms of flavor.

 

MOUTHFEEL

 

 

This is a really light beverage. There isn’t much body to it, which makes it extremely easy drinking. It’s nice and effervescent, and it doesn’t really feel like beer. It feels more like champagne or even soda due to the dryness and the high carbonation.

 

OVERALL

 

Not a bad brew in the least bit! I grabbed a whole 4 pack, and I’m glad that I did. It’s got some really nice flavors and is super easy to drink, so this is a beverage for both people who like beer as well as people who don’t. It’s nice to see a fairly large craft brewery like Dogfish Head produce a gluten-free beer that people with or without gluten allergies can appreciate. The lack of body makes the brew a little under-satisfying, but the complex flavors make up for it.

 

Cheers.

 

SCORE: ★★★ 3/5

This review can also be found at Snobby Beer.

 

 

 

Shopping & Cooking Gluten Free

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At the 2nd Street Market this Thursday at 11:30am Chef Joe Fish will share his firsthand knowledge on how to shop and cook the gluten free lifestyle.  He’ll share his shopping tips and opinions on the best products on the market for the gluten intolerant as well as his best recipes.

While the program is put on for free, registration is requested. You can call (937) 228-2088 to register, or register online.