hungry jax

Thinking Outside the Kid’s Lunch Box

August 13, 2015 By Dayton937

“Banana Dog” – a fun twist on PB&J

It feels like summer barely started and here we are already looking to start another school year! It’s that time of year again where we make sure our kiddos have the necessary supplies, new clothes and even technology to start the school year off right. In addition to being so conscious about your student’s educational needs, let’s explore some creative and delicious options for their appetites!

After all, Food Adventures aren’t just for adults ! Dayton Most Metro’s resident foodie mom, Hungry Jax, is here for some tips on making the most of your children’s school lunches!

EQUIPMENT:

First, let’s talk about the lunch box hardware that is helpful for making health, fun and easy lunches. Obviously, a good lunch box that has a thermal lining will help keep foods fresh and flavorful while it hangs out in your kid’s locker or coatroom. Buy a mini ice pack to toss into the lunch box/bag to further ensure their food stays cold.

Depending on beverages that your child prefers at lunch, a good thermos to keep water, milk or juice cold is also important. Finally, there are so many lunch container options that help parents create their own “bento box” for kids on the market. You can find many options in the food storage aisle of your local grocery store.

SUN-BUTTER:

While peanut butter and jelly has always been a fantastic “go to” for school lunches, these days many schools are not allowing nut butters due to allergy concerns for their students. A close alternative is using Sun-butter, which is made from sunflower seeds. Sun-butter has a very similar taste and consistency to peanut butter! Some kids might notice the difference right away, but keep offering it to them and they eventually will get used to it. You can find sun-butter in most grocery stores in the natural foods section.

TOO CRUSTY?

Do your kids not like the crust on their sandwiches? Get creative! Use large cookie cutters to cut their sandwiches into fun shapes! You can also buy actually sandwich cutters that are made to cut the shapes out to as close as the edge as possible so as to not waste any food.

Now THIS is a fruit roll-up!

TORTILLAS TO THE RESCUE:

Hungry Jax will vouch that when in doubt, put food rolled up into a tortilla and a kid will eat it. Just about any sandwich filling can be rolled up and even sliced into pinwheels! One of her family favorites is taking 8oz of cream cheese and whipping it with a tsp of vanilla and tsp of lemon zest. Slather a wheat tortilla with this mixture and then add fresh fruit. Roll up and leave whole or slice it up! A refreshing lunch that’s not the same old lunch meat or pb&j! And it’s versatile! Instead of a sweet cream cheese, go savory with chopped herbs and veggies!

DO THE DIP:

Another thing that kids like to do: dip their food into stuff. Why not make some fresh humus and chop up some veggies or pitas to dip? Slice up a baguette, pepperoni and mozzarella and let them dip it in homemade marinara for a fun play on pizza.

HOMEMADE vs STORE MADE:

Are your kids a fan of those popular pre-made lunch containers found in the refrigerator section of the grocery store? You know the ones: they have slimy, pre-cut lunchmeat, cheeses and crackers? We aren’t. And here’s why: we can create our own version for cheaper and healthier. Buy a stack of the segmented lunch containers (one for each day of the week). Chop up your own meats and cheeses on Sunday night and divvy them up within the containers. The night before or morning of, add crackers, fruit/veggies and whatever else you want. Boom. You just saved yourself money and preservatives.

SMOOTH & HEALTHY MOVES:

Do your kids like smoothies? Make a batch of smoothies on Sunday. Freeze them in small containers and on the morning of school, toss one in their lunch bag (don’t forget the straw). By lunchtime, the smoothie will have thawed enough to drink! It also duos as an ice pack!

Homemade granola is a great addition to a healthy lunch!

Yogurt is another great option. Let your kids build their own yogurt parfaits! Buy a tub of yogurt and divvy it up into small containers on Sunday night (yes, we are keeping you busy on your Sundays). Chop up fruit for them to add as well as granola! Even toss in some chocolate chips for a special treat! Your kids will have fun assembling their parfaits and you can feel good that they are getting a healthy meal!

Salads are another great option where you can include healthy and fun options. Also consider pasta salads!

With a little forethought and preparation, you can provide your kids (and yourself) with healthy and fun lunch options that are more affordable and creative!

INTERNET & INPUT:

There are so many ideas out there on the internet! Start a Pinterest board and let your creative juices flow! And don’t forget to let your kids help! Make it a part of their nightly routine to put a lunch together for the next day. Get their input on what’s easy to eat but still fills them up. It only takes an extra 10 minutes a day to prepare your kids for the ultimate Lunch Food Adventure!

Check out some of our favorite go to websites for great recipe ideas!

WEELICOUS – a fantastic website for family meals!

100 DAYS OF REAL FOOD – learn how to feed your family with out all the preservatives!

EATING FROM THE GROUND UP – copycat those popular store bought favorites!

We hope our tips gave you a few new ideas to get the most out of packing your kid’s school lunch. Think outside the lunch box and your children will be grateful.

Want more scoop on everything food and Dayton area restaurants? The join the thousands who follow Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE! You can also follow the incredible food photos of Hungry Jax, Chef House and the Big Ragu on Instagram by clicking HERE.

Homemade granola bars are quick and easy and even freeze well!

Toss in a heathy muffin into your child’s lunch as a fun way to give them their veggies!

DLM Food Adventure Cooking Class Promises Some “Firsts”

August 6, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

The Big Ragu, Hungry Jax and Chef House are featured in this months DLM’s “Party Foods Class.”

Jackie “Hungry Jax” Scanlan, LeeAnne “Chef House” and Steve “The Big Ragu” Milano promise a cooking class like no other on Friday night August 14th. This event will be a mix of a party, a cooking demo, trivia night and some prize giveaways. The night is going to be as wild as Donald Trump’s hair !

The “Party Foods” class marks the first time that the Food Adventures Crew will be taking over the Culinary Center at Dorothy Lane Market in Washington Township. And it looks like a good one, filled with wine and beer as well.

Food Adventures is a popular Dayton food blog, with over 5,400 loyal Facebook followers. The trio of foodies is also known for their weekly articles on DaytonMostMetro .com that feature anything from mom and pop local restaurants, to festival events, recipes or foodie tips! From time to time the Food Adventure Crew will host dinners at local restaurants to spotlight a great place that you may not have heard about. They partner with area festivals, food happenings and even support over 50 charity events, every single year. Much more than a free Instagram account they even have one of those (#Dayton_Foodies) and a Twitter following too (@Food_Adv) !

You can also visit their website www.DaytonFoodies.com for a list of upcoming appearances.

Hungry Jax, Chef House and The Big Ragu are proud to be a part of this year’s DLM Cooking Schedule, and due to the overwhelming response, we will be back in the fall for yet another class!

Party With the Food Adventures Crew – Limited tickets available at DorothyLane.com

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves…..

HERE’S THE SKINNY on the AUGUST 14th CLASS !

WHAT: Party with the Food Adventures Crew ! A cooking class featuring the secret recipes of The Food Adventurer’s favorite party foods !

WHEN: 6PM – 9PM FRIDAY, AUGUST 14th

WHERE: 6161 Far Hills Avenue, Centerville, Ohio. Located right next door to our Washington Square store.

COST: $75 per person, tickets may be bought by clicking HERE. Limited seats are left as we are approaching a sellout….

WHAT ELSE: You will have hands on cooking, recipe copies and tastings of the following super-secret, family favorite party foods:

Artichoke Garlic Cheese Dip with Homemade Melba Toasts

— GARLIC-ARTICHOKE CHEESE DIP with HOMEMADE MELBA TOASTS

— LOUISIANA CAJUN BEER SHRIMP

— TOMATO PIE

— PARTY CHICKEN

— RED CURRY MARINATED FLANK STEAK with a SWEET ASIAN SRIRACHA SAUCE

— COCONUT BREAD PUDDING

— GRILLED PINEAPPLE SKEWERS with CHOCOLATE SAUCE

— This menu will be paired with beer and wine.

Some of these recipes even feature Chef House’s, locally made, HouseMade Sriracha which is available on Dorothy Lane Market shelves.

Come hungry and ready to have some fun. The Culinary Center will never be the same….

Meet the Food Adventures Crew !

Hungry Jax

JACLYN SCANLAN aka “HUNGRY JAX”:

Jackie relocated to the Dayton area in 2006. This Italian girl from Upstate NY found herself in a very different culinary atmosphere than what she was used to back home in Utica, NY. However, different proved to be good a she fell in love with not only this “gem” of a city, but also the food and foodies within it! Cooking is a passion of Jackie’s. She loves to use her husband, John, and two daughters, Coraline and Ashlyn, as her lab rats to test recipes out. Some of her recipes have even been published in National Food Magazines! But as much as she loves to cook, she also loves to take a night off from her kitchen and enjoy eating out and letting someone else do all the work (and the clean up)! Other foodie interests include 8 years of volunteering at the Dorothy Lane Market School of Cooking and being an Alton Brown fan since way back when he wore bowling shirts. Jackie is excited to be part of the Food Adventures team and is always looking forward to experiencing some new eats!

LEEANNE HOUSE aka “CHEF HOUSE”:

Chef House

Chef House or “The Sriracha Mamma” is all about the heat. Lover of all things spicy she is constantly in the kitchen coming up with fun new ways to whip up veggies and add a little spice. She is a Dayton native, with lifelong experience in the restaurant industry, working with some of the best chefs in the Miami Valley. She loves to keep it local especially in the summer when beautiful produce is plentiful. She is a true foodie who knows we have a lot to offer in Ohio! LeeAnne is also the owner of Housemade Sauces which specializes in a locally made Sriracha Sauce and a Hot Honey Sriracha Sauce, which have won national awards. Chef House is also the owner of the new “Bad Dog” Hot Dog Cart which features local dogs, local toppings and local buns! She is also involved in putting on the “Night Market” events at the Yellow Cab Building. She is definitely a foodie fixture around town, and an up and coming Chef.

The Big Ragu

STEVE MILANO aka “THE BIG RAGU”:

A lifelong Dayton resident, his early food influence was in his mom’s kitchen and his dad’s grill. Other incredible food memories are his grandparents’ Italian and German/Scottish cooking. Ragu’s love of food is only matched by his love of sports, travel, karaoke and just needing to be held. An attention seeking missile, Ragu’s favorite foods include Seafood, Italian Food, and Chinese/Japanese cuisine. Other hobbies include overeating and a slight attraction to deep fried menu items. Whether a locally owned business, fine dining, a dive, buffets, fast foods and even a few chain favorites, he enjoys visiting them all with a “no rules” attitude. You can usually recognize him at festivals by the sweaty guy with the food stain on his shirt. Emotionally eating his way through life with the Crew, they leave no plate unturned. Most recently, his recipes have been featured in the monthly Foremost Seafood Newsletter. This “foodie in his forties” is proud to be involved in dozens of local charity committees.

We hope to meet you at our Dorothy Lane Market Party Foods Class, where we will be cooking up a storm. Seats are limited, get yours before we sellout. Learn some new recipes,taste some fantastic party eats, and go on a full blown Food Adventure !

Tomato Pie

Coconut Sauce

Food Adventure aprons

Louisiana Cajun Beer Shrimp

Chocolate Pineapple Skewers

Chef House and her Housemade Sriracha

Housemade Sauces and salt rubs

Tomato Pies out of the oven

Tomato Pie – delicious

Cajun Shrimp peeled

Louisiana Style Shrimp

DLM class in progress

Mary Cooney teaching pasta at the Culinary Center

Homemade Melba toasts

Homemade Melba toast are the secret to this recipe

Aug-tober Fest hits Dayton, August 21st

July 30, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

The premier beer dinner event in August, is the new AUG-TOBERFEST, a Food Adventure being held at THE AMBER ROSE RESTAURANT on Friday August 21st at 7pm. There is limited seating for this beer swilling and fork flinging good time.

Amber Rose is again partnering with the Food Adventures Crew and Dayton Most Metro for this one night only bash that promises prizes, giveaways, and more. Tickets are only available online through DaytonMostMetro .com. Tickets are $30 each and that includes the tip! Tickets are Pre-Sale Only and may be purchased by clicking HERE!

Celebrate early with this sneak peek at fall called AUG-TOBERFEST, a celebration of great food and Oktoberfest beer, held in the upstairs, private banquet room of Amber Rose Restaurant.

Joe Castellano and his staff have come up with an incredible 4 Course Feast to celebrate AUG-TOBERFEST

WHAT: AUG-TOBERFEST BEER DINNER: 4 Food Courses, 4 Beers, 1 Night only

WHERE: THE AMBER ROSE RESTAURANT, 1400 Valley Street in Dayton

WHEN: FRIDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 21st, 7pm

COST: $30 each, includes gratuity – PRE PAY ONLY

Without further ado, we present the 2015 AUG-TOBERFEST MENU:

— COURSE 1 :

Hunter Schnitzel will be served at Aug-toberfest !

SAUERKRAUT BALLS and REUBEN DIP with AYNIGER OKTOBERFEST BEER

— COURSE 2:

HUNTER SCHNITZEL with SAUERKRAUT and SAM ADAMS OKTOBERFEST BEER

— COURSE 3:

BRATWURST AND KNOCKWURST with HOT GERMAN POTATO SALAD and HOFBRAU OKTOBERFEST BEER

— COURSE 4:

BLACK FOREST STRUDEL with ERDINGER DUNKEL BEER

But that’s not all

Amber Rose promises a huge 4 Course Meal at Aug-toberfest !

AFTER DINNER SPECIAL TAPPING: There will be a special after party keg tapping of yet another German beer. This beer to be named later will have special draft prices as the party continues downstairs at the bar!

Don’t forget – there will be giveaways, trivia, prizes and an overall great party. Come join us , but please note, there are limited seats available and once we are sold out, that’s it …

Hungry Jax, The Big Ragu and Chef House hope to see you at this Food Adventure. We look forward to lifting a mug with foodies and cheering Aug-toberfest.

Remember, tickets are pre-pay only and $30, which includes gratuity. BUY TICKETS HERE

Please check out Food Adventures on Facebook and “like” us by clicking HERE. 5,000 fans can’t be wrong

Look for our food article features every single week on Dayton Most Metro…. until then, see you where the food is…

Our last Food Adventure at Amber Rose was SOLD OUT

Ayinger Oktoberfest and an after party keg tapping !

After Dinner there will be Drink Specials on a mystery keg tapping !

Chef TJ and Restaurant Owner Joe Castellano deliver with a fantastic menu EVERY TIME !

Amber Rose hosts AUG-TOBERFEST !!!

If you have not been to AMBER ROSE, this is your perfect chance to get a great sampling of their food.

Amber Rose Restaurant is located on Valley Street in Dayton

UPSTAIRS BAR

McGillicutty’s: The Greatest Breadsticks in the World

July 25, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

The Best Breadsticks in the World are at McGillicutty’s, but get a side of garlic butter for dipping

The waitress brings the overflowing basket of breadsticks to the table, still steaming…. Then the look….. you glance at the others at the table. Should you grab a piece and risk being seen as rude? Do you pause and risk not getting one of the best breadsticks in the world? These are the kind of problems you will face at McGillicutty’s.

A popular Kettering icon, McGillicutty’s has always been known for their food and libations. Let’s face it, it’s bar food, and McGillicutty’s has some of the best in town. Whether it is Tuesday Night Trivia night, or lounging after a Softball game, it is the perfect place for a laid back Food Adventure.

For decades, the Food Adventures Crew has been hitting up McGillicutty’s for good eats, and here is the full scoop on this pub.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

The Mega Mug at Mcgillicutty’s – They had ’em first !

— The Kash family has been running McGillicutty’s since the early 1990’s, and are some of the friendliest hosts around.

— The location at 1980 E. Whipp Rd. was a former Noble Roman’s restaurant in the 1970’s and 80’s

— The smell of pizza dough hits you as you walk into the door, and the low key atmosphere is great. We know it is a family friendly tavern, but we prefer slinging back some drinks and grub with the adult crew.

— A solid group of regulars support the place from dart leagues to Tuesday Trivia (the best in town), and Sunday night Karaoke.

— They dont use deep fryers, they use pizza ovens to bake their menu items. The result is some inventive and delicious ways to enjoy various traditional favorites.

— Known for festival involvement, another big day for McGillicutty’s is St Patricks Day ! They go bananas on that holiday….

What is the best of this extensive menu? We’ve got the answers after years of research. Without further delay, we present our patented MUST EATS of McGillicuttys !

MUST EATS:

— PRETZELSTICKS (BREADSTICKS): When we say must eat, we mean it here. These are the best breadsticks we have ever tasted. Here is secret #1. They are called pretzelsticks on the menu, which means they are lightly salted. Secret #2 is that you must try them with the garlic butter sauce or the cream cheese sauce. Sure the nacho sauce is good and so is the marinara, but the garlic butter and the cream cheese are the top 2, no doubt. You won’t see these tips anywhere else, because nobody else knows about them, except you. Aren’t you glad to be our partners in food?

The Pepperoni Pizza from McGillicutty’s is where it’s at

— THE PEPPERONI PIZZA: The pizza is the key. Thin crust, square cut Dayton style pizza. The sauce give McGillicutty’s it’s unique taste as does the cheese and the taste of the crisp dough edges. Deluxe pizzas are great, and loaded toppings are wonderful, but for some reason we keep coming back to the basic Pepperoni as our favorite. WARNING: the pizza is served ultra hot and we fight the urge and still burn our mouth from time to time. So.. beware !

— THE MEGA MUG: Long before Mexican restaurants or any other bar had the huge mugs, McGillicutty’s had the MEGA MUG. These 34 ounce mugs are perfect for ice cold draft beers, and MEGA MONDAY’s means they are only $3.50 for domestics. No matter what day it is, get a Mega Mug of draft beer with your pizza and breadsticks. So good, so cold, so thirst quenching…

Teezers are Long Tater Tots Stuffed with Jalapeno Cheese

— THE TEEZERS: Tater Tots with spicy cheese inside. A perfect opening to a McGillicutty’s visit. We have had others, but not like these. Maybe it is because they bake them instead of deep fry them. Maybe it is jalapeno cheese inside. Whatever the reason, we can’t stop eating these bad boys with a side of cream cheese!

— THE ITALIAN STEAK SANDWICH: Served in a basket with chips, you can get a half or whole sandwich. It is a cube steak with cheese and pizza sauce. They added onions & banana peppers, all on a hoagie bun. For some reason the combo is a perfect sandwich after a Softball game, or for watching a sports event.

— THE WINGS: These are broiled, not fried, so they may be an acquired taste. Still, get them well done and get the Buffalo Hot sauce and you should be good. Different enough to try, and good enough to keep ordering. The Buffalo sauce is the best option here. We order them extra crispy, plain and dip the wings in the hot sauce.

The Philly Cheesesteak from McGillicutty’s, this is just a half, order yours whole with extra mayo

HONORABLE MENTION to the PHILLY CHEESESTEAK SANDWICH at McGillicutty’s. It s nicely flavored shaved beef on a hoagie roll. Asking for a dash of extra mayo is the secret to this one.

Did those peak your interest?

Next time when you are hungry and thirsty, try McGillicutty’s on a warm summer day, and even enjoy their parking lot patio. Casual drinks, casual grub and a sports tavern atmosphere is the appeal here. And you must order the GREATEST BREADSTICKS IN THE WORLD ! You may just even see the Food Adventures Crew inside with a Mega Mug and a pizza!

Want some more inside scoop on Dayton area eateries? Then join Chef House, The Big Ragu and Hungry Jax on Facebook HERE ! We are not food critics, we just love to eat ! We visit a restaurant many times before we write a feature article. We don’t go to a place one time and then rate it, that’s an insult to you, the reader. No stock photos here. Look for the most reliable, complete and informative reviews from Dayton’s fave foodies, Food Adventures!

Join us on Instagram: #dayton_foodies

Follow us on Twitter: @food_adv

Broiled Wings from McGillicutty’s – never deep fried

Outside McGillicutty’s on 198o E. Whipp Rd

Italian Cheese steak – the pizza sauce makes it.. We know, we eat it a lot

Pizzas here are phenomenal

Mega Mugs of Blue Moon Beer

Family Friendly Pub

At the bar

Opening hour

Tall Mugs – even of pop

Laid back, casual

Breadsticks – actually listed as PRETZELSTICKS on the menu

Battered Pickles

The Cheeseburger isnt bad

Potato Skins at ‘Cuttys

Mushroom and Pep

Up close pizza money shot

The Breadsticks we all know and love

Making Pizzas since the early 90’s and knocking it out of the park

Get Your Garlic On This Sunday!

July 16, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

The Menus in concert for FREE Sunday at 5:30pm at Garlic Fest at 2625 County Line Rd !

The Menus in concert for free, 15 Food Vendors, Bocce Ball, Cooking Demos, and Beer. Foodies and hungry people of Dayton, we proudly announce that Garlic Fest is ready for you this Sunday. Dayton Most Metro and Food Adventures has the EXCLUSIVE SCOOP on food and timeline of the day!

This is the ONLY spot that will list EVERY food vendor and point you in the way of a great garlic loving time!

Come out……. it is in your breath interest !

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— THE 2015 GARLIC FEST will be held at the Sons of Italy’s Bella Villa Hall at 2625 County Line Rd in Beavercreek

— The event is FREE & will be held from NOON – 8PM

FOOD AND TIMELINE:

The Spicy Olive Oil Company will be selling flavor infused Olive Oils, Balsamics and more

11:30am: The Bocce Classic bocce ball tournament will be underway, and food vendors will be warming up their grills and kitchens.

FOOD VENDORS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER (food booths will be open noon-8pm).

12pm NOON (Food & Beer will be available until 8pm)

1) THE AMBER ROSE RESTAURANT: Look for the kings of comfort food, to throw a Lithuanian twist into Garlic Fest. Look for some Garlic Cheese Fries and a Mini Garlic Monkey bread creation. It looks like owner Joe Castellano will be showcasing his Italian roots as well!

2) BRIXX ICE CO.: What is a festival without Brixx? Chef and owner Chris Bhai always pushes the envelope while hitting home runs in taste. His menu will have Grilled Wings tossed in your choice of sauces including Award winning Spicy Garlic, Sriracha BBQ, or Creamy Parmesan. Also, look for an Italian Bologna Sandwich on Sun Dried Foccocia with Brixx Signature sauce. Garlic Parm Chicken on roll and homemade kettle chips will please too.. The MUST EAT is Garlic Mortadella Mac N Cheese…(((BOOM)).

Brixx will be featuring their Spicy Garlic Wings

3) EL MESON: The Latin food world will be well represented at Garlic Fest. El Meson will feature their famous Paella, as well as their incredible food truck menu. Their South American gourmet food is made with love, and you can taste it in every bite. Served with incredible presentation, the food tastes even better than it looks. Our Must Eats here are the Paella and Empanadas

4) GIOVANNI’S: The Italian pride of Fairborn is no stranger to garlic. They promise to feature a Garlic and Gorganzola Stuffed Burger, and Garlic Pulled Pork Sandwich with Coleslaw, among other treats. Our must eats here are the Italian Steamed Clams. Chef Cassaundra Spaziani is bringing the good to the fest!

5) GYRO PALACE: How about a Middle Eastern spin on garlic? Look now further than the masters at Gyro Palace. They are featuring garlic hummus, chicken shawarma and falafel with garlic sauce. Last but not least, their signature Gyros are MUST EATS, and will have a garlic Tzatki sauce.

Mamma DiSalvo’s will be on hand with some garlic sauced pasta !

6) KOWALSKI HOTS: The NY Hot dog guy brings his cart to fest with a garlic twist… literally. He will feature garlic butter breadsticks and a Garlic Dog with Sauerkraut option. He will have his regular hot dog menu available too. Try the Zweigel Red Hots with coney sauce or the Hoffmans brand White Hots with Hoffman’s Mustard &onions. These are Big Ragu and Hungry Jax’s faves. Thank us later.

7) MAMMA DISALVO’S RESTAURANT: Nothing says garlic like Mamma DiSalvo’s. They will be featuring a pasta dish with olive oil, tomatoes, sauce and GARLIC! They may even add a little asparagus. Whatever the dish, make sure you try the family restaurant that has stolen Dayton’s heart for over 3 decades! Bobby DiSalvo’s pasta dishes are MUST EATS !

The Mohawk Burger from Mohawk Freestyle Grill

8) MOHAWK FREESTYLE GRILL: Beijing Garlic Street Rolls are the special feature, a menu item you cannot get anywhere in the USA except Garlic Fest this Sunday.We love Chef Aaron and his big bites with big flavors. Our MUST EAT here is the Mohawk Burger.

9) RITTER’S FROZEN CUSTARD: He will have his regular, delicious menu available… a great choice in the heat! Look for the incredible sundaes that Daytonians have come to know and love. Our Must Eat is the Peanut Butter and Chocolate Sundae!

10) SCRATCH CATERING: Ahh yes, the inventive vendor, Scratch Catering. What do they have in store? Well just one item will make your mouth water : Flash Fried Sweet Garlic Chili Chicken tossed in Garlic Parmesan Aioli Roasted Pepper and Sweet Garlic “Masa Tots” with Drawn Garlic Butter. Need we say more? When Chef Matt Hayden is around, get ready for some damn good food.

The delicious Ritter’s Frozen Custard will be on hand !

11) SONS OF ITALY’S HOLY CANNOLI BOOTH: It is like bigfoot, because not many have seen the Holy Cannoli. It is a cannoli dipped in a guarded recipe of batter. The cannoli is then deep fried until crisp. It is warm, it is gooey, it feels like you’re breaking the law. Come walk on the wild side and try a holy cannoli, or just try a regular cannoli .. you really can’t go wrong.

12) SWEET P’S HANDMADE ICE POPS: Perfect in warm weather, look for the one time only dark chocolate garlic pops! Handmade, hand crafted and one of a kind. Try them, you’ll love them. Our MUST EAT – the Nanna Cream pop!

13) TEXAS BEEF AND CATTLE COMPANY: A newcomer to the Dayton area, we are expecting some good brisket and pulled pork, offered in a garlic BBQ sauce ! We like the name and the swag, we are hoping for big things from this meat company!

14) THE SPICY OLIVE, OLIVE OIL STORE: Flavor infused olive oils that you will not find anywhere else. These oils and balsamics are some of Hungry Jax and Big Ragu’s favorite products on earth. These incredible olive oils have kicked our cooking up a notch, and are must haves for your kitchen. Look for the garlic lemon infused olive oil, along with many other garlic combinations.

Gyro Palace – Their gyros are the best with garlic Tzatziki sauce

15) VOLTZY’S: The hamburger king of Dayton is here and he is sassy and garlicky. Expect him selling some garlic burgers grilled with onions and topped with cheese. As always, insults are still free. If personality was music, owner Rick Voltzy would be a whole brass band.

16) THE BUDWEISER BEER BOOTH: The beer truck will be at the fest. Come grab beer from noon-8pm, must be 21 and over. ***Ask about buying a Garlic Fest Cup and saving money on refills.

2PM-4PM: ACOUSTIC MUSIC with DENNIS CHRISMAN. Laid back music, with this local, talented musician is sure to be a treat. Expect some classic rock and even a little country.

Oh, and there’s more at 2pm !

Try the White Hots with garlic sauce at Kowalski’s Hots

2:00PM: COOKING DEMO with “HUNGRY JAX” JACKIE SCANLAN: This wife and mom of two, hails from Utica, NY and brings her own special influence to the Kitchen. Growing up, this Italian girl was always in the kitchen and now as a mother, she is introducing her kids to culinary fun as well. Jackie has written some published recipes and is a passionate cook who has often volunteered for the DLM School of Cooking/Culinary Center over the years. She also part of Dayton’s favorite food blog, “Food Adventures.” Don’t miss her demo! Held inside the Bella Villa Hall, these free cooking demos will include step by step instructions to make some delicious eats with some highly guarded, secret recipes!

3:00PM: COOKING DEMO with CHEF JENN DiSANTO: Here is your chance to see a pro at work! Regarded as one of the best chefs in Dayton, Jenn owns her own catering business called “Fresco.“ Her style is fresh and her flavors are amazing. It is an educational experience whenever she is around a kitchen. Please don’t miss this demo, it is a rare opportunity to see one of the best in action. Held inside the Bella Villa Hall, these free cooking demos will include step by step instructions to make some delicious eats with some highly guarded, secret recipes!

The Texas Beef and Cattle Company will be there with a signature Garlic BBQ Sauce

4:00PM: COOKING DEMO with CHEF LEEANNE HOUSE: Time to heat things up! The spicy LeeAnne is known for her locally made Sriracha Sauce and Hot Honey, from her company, Housemade Sauces. Working in the food industry her whole life, she is now Executive Chef of Mudlick Tap House in Germantown. She is also featured in Dayton’s popular food blog, Food Adventures as well as a partner in the new hot dog truck “Bad Dog.”. Take this special opportunity to learn from her experience. In this cooking demo, we bet she will spice things up. Her nickname isn’t “Sriracha Mama” for nothing! Held inside the Bella Villa Hall, these free cooking demos will include step by step instructions to make some delicious eats with some highly guarded, secret recipes!

5:00PM: DAYTON’S 2015 GARLIC PEELING AND GARLIC EATING CONTEST: $100 goes to the first place winner of this contest. They will also win the strongest breath.. The Big Ragu from Food Adventures will emcee and host this contest on the stage. It will be a battle of the bulbs !

Garlic Peeling and Eating Contest winner gets $100 from the Big Ragu

5:30PM – 8:00PM: THE MENUS in CONCERT for FREE !!!!! Classic rock, 60’s, 70’s 80’s cover music and more! Watch the legendary, Cincinnati band play favorite party hits, while the lead singer kicks a few balloons while rocking the crowd!

NOTE: You may want to bring a folding chair if you plan to stay for the free Menus concert.

Be the brightest bulb in your group and join us at Garlic fest. Stop and smell the garlic! Good food, good beer, good music, all on the grounds of the Sons of Italy. A perfect match for a summer’s day. See you there…

Are you a Dayton foodie? Want more Dayton area Food Adventures? Stay tuned with the best food happenings in the Miami Valley by “liking” us on FACEBOOK HERE !

Paella from El Meson

Cooking Demo Schedule

Voltzy let us try a Garlic Burger Sample

Scratch Catering’s culinary whiz, Chef Matt Hayden will be in attendance !

Amber Rose will be rockin the Garlic Fries and Garlic Monkey Bread

Nanna Cream Ice pops from Sweet P’s OMG YES !

Local Musician/Singer Dennis Chrisman will be providing tunes during the day

Empanadas from El Meson

Come see the Holy Cannoli !

Voltzy will be selling these garlic burgers

Spicy Olive, Olive Oil store will be selling some amazing garlic oil combinations

Gyro Palace – we love your gyros

Taste the garlic goodness of El Meson’s Seafood Paella !

The Menus love food and music !

Summer Grilling Tips for Great Food Adventures !

July 10, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Italian Seasoned Salmon, and Shrimp with Montgomery Inn BBQ Sauce

Who doesn’t love a good cookout? Most Daytonians are elbow deep in grilling season this summer. From parties, to romantic dinners or family time, this is the time of the year to use that gas or charcoal grill. The Food Adventures Crew is here with some helpful tips to make your grilling experiences a success. The Big Ragu, Hungry Jax and Chef House share our MUST EATS an MUST DO’s.. Grilling out version!

— PREPARATION IS KEY: Prepare beforehand to make it easy on yourself. Marinade your meats and pre-slice veggies ahead of time instead of fumbling on the grill table. Ziplock bags work great to hold veggies doused in a bit of olive oil, and grill ready!

— MARINATE YOUR MEAT: A simple soaking can do wonders for tenderness and flavor.

Hungry Jax says “Marinade chicken in buttermilk! It makes it so tender!”

Big Ragu loves using Soy Sauce, Worcester Sauce, and Minced Garlic mixture for a simple steak marinade. For chicken, he uses a cheap bottle of Italian dressing or Olive Oil, Basil, Garlic Powder and Oregano.

Hand pressed patties from 80/20 Ground Chuck

— GET THE RIGHT TOOLS: Make sure your tongs and flipper are long enough, and that they work correctly. It will save you a few dropped sausages, or epic losses thru the grill grate.

— MEATS SHOULD BE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE WHEN GRILLING: Take cuts of meat out of fridge 30 minutes prior to grilling, so they are not cold. It won’t contaminate the meat! It will actually help you grill the meat more evenly.

— MAKE YOUR HAMBURGER PATTIES THINNER IN THE MIDDLE than the outside. Always hand patty your burgers with fresh meat, and make them thinner in the center. This is because the middle swells when you grill the burger. This helps even the playing field, and prevents your burgers becoming undercooked meatballs.

— HIGH HEAT FOR STEAKS, ALWAYS: Grill that steak and let it sit until that final flip. The result is a juicy, seared steak with great grill marks.

Grilled Sausages with Beer Steamed Onions and Green Peppers

— FISH, THE LESS FLIPPING THE BETTER: Cook fish about 75 percent then flip it once. Let the grill do the work. Wana see flipping seafood? Go to Benihana…

— DRIZZLE LIME OR LEMON JUICE OVER SEAFOOD RIGHT AT THE END OF GRILL TIME: This is always a great finishing touch of flavor.

— GRILL SALAD: Yes! Chef House says, Grill salad! It doesn’t always have to be about meat. Romaine, Belgium Endive and Radicchio are great together and hold up well on the grill. Wilt the greens and get some grill marks on there. Chop and toss with olive oil, vinegar and cheese. Chef House suggests sherry vinegar or a sweeter white balsamic with bleu cheese. Fresh herbs are always a nice touch too. Shout out to Miami Valley Spice Traders, who carries a great honey white balsamic vine

— GRILL PORTABELLA MUSHROOMS:

Chef House loves to marinate them overnight in orange juice, olive oil and garlic. So easy, and her family’s favorite.

The Big Ragu uses Worcester sauce, soy sauce and garlic powder for his Portabella Mushroom Grill Marinade.

— GRILL ASAPRAGUS: The Big Ragu uses Olive Oil and Garlic Salt when grilling these sticks of love.

Grilled Zucchini and Yellow SquashThe Big Ragu uses Olive Oil and Garlic Salt when grilling these sticks of love.

Chef House marinates her asparagus overnight in her family favorite recipe of orange juice, olive oil and garlic. Is your mouth watering yet?

— GRILL PIZZA: Hungry Jax loves this summer twist on the ole pizza pie. Make sure you have a hearty crust. Medium heat and inventive toppings are the key to pizza grilling success !

— HAVE A LOCAL LUAU: Impress your family and friends this summer and have an entire grilled meal from local vendors.

Here are some supplier ideas from Chef House:

Keener Farms, one of the the area’s best butcher blocks for grass fed burgers and brats.

Ed Hill owner of Xenia’s HILL FAMILY FARMS has great Chicken available at Dorothy Lane Market.

KJB PORK, available at the 2^nd street market.

Fresh veggies from Homefull, Patchwork Gardens or Flying Mouse. All of these local brands are found at area farmer’s markets.

— LEARN TO MAKE GREAT SAUCES: We love sauces to go along with grilled meat. Chimichurri is a huge favorite of Chef House and so versatile. Here is another tip from Chef House… www.Epicurious.com is a great site for new sauce recipes.

NY Strip Steak with Bleu Cheese Crumbles

— GRILL CORN IN THE HUSK: Here is a quick, fun idea the kids and adults will love. Get some fresh corn still in the husk, cut it at the tip. Peel back and take out the silks. Pull the husk back up and soak in water for 20 minutes. Throw them on the grill wet and watch them steam the corn on the grill. Flip until the husks are brown on all sides, peel back and serve rustic style with salt and butter.

— OVERESTIMATE YOUR MEAT: Chef House says cook more meat than you need, so you have leftovers! Especially chicken, which can be easily made into some delicious tacos the next day.

— BEER ISN’T JUST FOR DRINKING ANYMORE: Get a tin pan, and pour in 1/2 of a beer. Add some sausages and sliced peppers and onions and let steam on the grill. Touch up the grill marks on the sausages just before you serve it. Serve it with the steamed onions and peppers too, with or without a bun ! Now you’re a hero.

Dogs, Asparagus and Salmon

— THROW LIVE CLAMS ON THE GRILL: Wana impress your friends easily? Throw a dozen live clams on the grill. When they open, they’re done. It is that simple, but your friends with think it is pretty darn cool.

— HAVE A GLASS OF WATER NEARBY FOR FLARE UPS: Just in case your juices or grease catch on fire, this keeps you and the fire, in control.

— SPARE PROPANE TANK: Make sure you have an extra, FULL, propane tank on hand. Nothing says “oh Sh*t” like an empty propane tank during grilling. You never know when you are gonna run out, so don’t! Keep a spare, full tank near to your grill, in cae you have to pull the “old switcheroo.”

— PLACE GRILLED FOOD INTO SEALED PLASTIC STORAGE CONTAINERS: Especially at a cookout, flies tend to swarm to open plates of cooked meat. The answer is get some plastic lid containers and seal the cooked meats inside. Trust us, it works much better than fumbling with open plates and aluminum foil with open cracks.

Veggie Shish Kabobs

These are the tips from the FOOD ADVENTURES CREW. We hope they help you enjoy some summer cookouts by spurring some ideas.

Do you have some grilling tips you could share with us?

Please feel free to let go some of your family secrets by commenting below. We would be grateful, along with a lot of Dayton’s grilling gurus.

For more foodie news and Dayton restaurant scoop, please “like” FOOD ADVENTURES on FACEBOOK by clicking HERE .

Catch us every week, with a feature article here on Dayton Most Metro.

“We are not food critics, we just love to eat.”

Below are more photos from our Food Adventures by the grill. Please feel free to browse them.

Mahi Mahi, Pineapple and Yellow Squash

Marinated Steaks, ready for the grill

Grilling Pineapple, Mahi Mahi and Yellow Squash on a summer’s day

Squuezing Lime juice on the Mahi Mahi

Steaming Peppers and Onions in Beer with Sausages

Grilling out for Charity

Grilling Chicken

Salmon and Asparagus straight off the grill

Poolside Grilled fish and Veggies

Grilled Swordfish and Veggies

Burgers and Dogs

BBQ Chicken and Salmon

Charcoal Grilling

Grilled Wild Grouper and Grilled Endive

Grilled local veggies

Squash, Asparagus and Pork – grilled to perfection

Grilled Wahoo and Grilled Clams

The sky is the limit for our grill techniques

Poolside grilled meal

Grilled Corn in the Husk

Sausage bought downtown NYC

Grilled Asparagus and Corn

Black n Bleu Burger from the backyard

Grillin clams like a boss

Peel back the grilled corn

Grilled Zucchini and Tzatzi sauce

Full Grill – is how we do it

Start eating, it’s done !

The Top 35 Burgers of Dayton

May 22, 2015 By Dayton937 26 Comments

Two of the 20 ounce Hog Burgers from Voltzy’s. Home of Dayton’s Best Hamburger !

According to our good friends at Dayton Dining, May 28th is National Hamburger Day. Today, we celebrate with this timely article.

THIS IS THE UNDENIABLE TOP 35 BURGERS in DAYTON, OHIO. Some are well known icons, some are not. What they all have in common is incredible taste and freshness. Each is a burger in a class of its own.

For years, Food Adventures has scoured the Miami Valley, trying different places over and over again to make sure we get the definitive list. We have eaten each burger on this list at least twice to ensure placement, accuracy of ranking and consistent quality. Our hard work and chewing has paid off.

Now, without further delay, Chef House, Hungry Jax and the Big Ragu present, in order, the best 35 burgers of Dayton, Ohio.

The 10 ounce Cheeseburger from Slyder’s Tavern. “The Pride of Belmont”

THE BEST 35 BURGERS in DAYTON, OHIO

1) ” THE CHEESEBURGER ” and ” THE HOG BURGER ” at VOLTZY’S ROOT BEER STANDE: Fresh hamburgers and fresher service. Dayton’s #1 burger is in a shack, but at least they have bathrooms. We are amazed at how many people still have not tried this place. The owner Rick Volz, is known for his grumpy, yet playful attitude with the customers. If you go in the wrong door, forget to call in your order, or deviate from the regular toppings, you will feel Voltzy’s wrath. It is his “schtick,” similar to the Seinfield show’s “soup nazi.” Enduring the insults is worth it for a taste of his cheeseburgers. Voltzy grills each and every hamburger himself, and he does it to perfection. The 2 burgers here that are MUST EATS are the CHEESEBURGERS ,which are sliders and priced at 10 for $12. The other burger is THE HOG, a 20 ounce mammoth burger that he named after his ex wife. One of his sleepers is the Betty Ann Burger, named after his mom.

The Secret: His 80/20 chuck mix is ground fresh every morning. His burgers are steam grilled with onions and cheese, and topped with sweet heat mustard.

The Tank Burger with Cheese, a Cult Classic in Dayton !

2) ” THE 10 OUNCE CHEESEBURGER ” at SLYDERS TAVERN: Make sure you get the 10 ounce burger for the full experience. This is a ‘burger lovers burger,’ with a fresh taste. You get it all, lots of toppings and you can taste the seasoned meat. If you don’t get a handle on the burger early, it can get a little messy. A burger with a huge underground following, and comes in at #2. Make sure you check out “The Pride of Belmont” on Watervliet Rd.

The Secret: They use Dot’s Market fresh 80/20 Ground Chuck. “Grandma’s old iron cast stove and steel grill” in the back is also a key to cooking the burgers perfectly.

3) ” THE TANK BURGER WITH CHEESE ” at TANK’S BAR & GRILL: One of Dayton’s Iconic Dayton Burgers. It is as simple as that. This burger has a cult following of thousands and thousands of fans. People come from all over to this spot on Wayne Avenue to try the legendary burgers. Sink your teeth into one of these big, meaty legends !

The Secret: The owner Dan ” Tank” Tankersley says it himself..”Fresh, fresh, fresh… and the quality helps too.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

The "Lark Burger" from Meadowlark has a unique and distinctive flavor

The “Lark Burger” from Meadowlark has a unique and distinct flavor

4) ” THE CHEESEBURGER ” at THE PINE CLUB: You think they have great steaks? You should try their Cheeseburgers! This iconic restaurant on Brown Street, is the most unlikely place to find a good burger. But it makes sense, doesn’t it? Some of the best quality meat in town in here.. right? It’s so good that they sell their raw hamburger meat in 5 pound bags “to go.”

The Secret: They grind the hamburger meat daily, at the same time that the butchers are carving the most famous steaks in Dayton. Rumor has it that they add a little bit of ground lamb to their burgers.

5) ” THE LARK BURGER ” at THE MEADOWLARK RESTAURANT: Served on a sturdy kaiser roll with white cheddar, this is one of the juiciest burgers we have ever eaten. Trust us, and order one of these burgers. It is a sophisticated, delicious and unique tasting burger, and unlike any other on this list.

The Secret: Fresh Rosemary spice is worked into the all-natural, Ohio Beef patties, which are also seasoned in wine. The burger is as aromatic as it is delicious.

The “Jerk Burger” at Ye Olde Trail Tavern in Yellow Springs has Jerk Seasonings and Jalapenos

6) ” THE JERK BURGER ” at YE OLDE TRAIL TAVERN: Talk about a Food Adventure in a bun, this burger has a lot going on. The cheese topped jalapenos bring the burn, the beef brings the flavor, and the jerk sauce is the icing on the cake. A burger so unique, we have never had anything like it. This one is #6 with a bullet !

The Secret: They tout that they have their own special “beef blend” for their burgers. This and the inventiveness of the jerk sauce on the burger are the secret.

7) ” THE ONION STRAW BURGER ” at THE HORSELESS BUGGY EATERY: They won 3rd place in the nation for food truck’s with the best burger. We love them for the size of this burger. The presentation of this hefty burger is usually met with “ooohs and ahhs,” from people standing around at food truck rallies.

The Secret: The burger is pattied fresh daily with special seasonings. The onion straws are made fresh to order, on a bakery style Kaiser roll. These onion straws are that crunch that puts it over the top.

The Onion Straw Burger from The Horseless Buggy Eatery, a Food Truck

8) ” THE VOSS BURGER ” at O’LEARY’S PUB & GRUB: Two hand smashed patties totaling 2/3 pound of meat, with cole slaw and any other of your typical toppings. A nice Kaiser roll with a long toothpick holds it all together. This burger is messy but so delicious. One of the best burgers we have ever eaten, but get it with cheese !

The Secret: The burgers are ground daily at Zink’s Meat Market less than a block away. The high quality and fresh 80/20 ground chuck, catapult this burger onto our list.

9) ” THE BOURBON BURGER ” at BRIXX ICE CO.: A huge hamburger, that even feels warm through the bun. With lots of toppings, it is surprising, but the bourbon sauce is still very noticeable. There is no better atmosphere to enjoy a burger than inside this old building, or on the patio overlooking the Dragon’s stadium. This burger is simply phenomenal.

The Secret: It’s all in the bourbon sauce. It haunts your every bite, in a good way, letting you know “I’m still here.”

10) ” THE MOWHAWK BURGER ” at MOHAWK FREESTYLE GRILL (FOOD TRUCK): A huge burger on wheels. Chef Aaron serves up some of the best burgers in Dayton. They have a distinct taste. Truly a delicious burger with great toppings. Make sure you grab one of these, when his food truck is in town. You can thank us later.

The Secret: He uses fresh ground ribeye meat. The result is a big, juicy, delicious burger. It is as simple as that.

“The Voss Burger” from O’Leary’s Pub in Centerville

11) ” THE GOAT BURGER ” at LUCKY’S TAPROOM: A nice, filling burger with a ton of flavor. It is made of local, Dayton beef, and a pile of toppings. Unhinge your jaw and bite into a serious burger. Andrew Trick and his staff do this up right!

The Secret: The beef is from Keener Farms, which produce locally grain fed beef. The freshness is evident in every bite.

12) ” THE TASTY BURGER ” at THE HASTY TASTY PANCAKE HOUSE: Like a “Big Boy” sandwich, only better. It is juicy, tasty and filling. This is one of the lesser know burgers in town, with the biggest flavor. Every bite is like music to your mouth.

The Secret: The greasy grill of the Hasty Tasty Pancake House, seasons the burgers perfectly. The bun and tartar sauce on your tongue, seals the deal, and makes it a MUST EAT.

13) ” THE STICKY BURGER ” at ARCHER’S TAVERN: This unique burger is another MUST EAT. It is the #1 selling signature burger on their menu. Part-owner Dan Apolito says in his 5 years at Archer’s, he knows of only 2 people that tried it and didn’t like it. If you’re thinking about it, go for it! Peanut butter as a topping makes it a Food Adventure for sure !

CARVER’S CHEESEBURGER

The Secret: Peanut Butter, Bacon, & Pepper Jack Cheese give it a hot, sweet almost Thai peanut taste. They suggest you order it with no lettuce , no tomato, no onion or pickles

14) ” THE CHEESEBURGER ” at CARVER’S STEAKS & CHOPS: This burger is only available at the bar or “to go.” It is not on the regular menu, so this burger is one of the best kept secrets in town. A deliciously seasoned burger with all the ‘fixins.’ The weck style dinner bun makes it easy to eat.

The Secret: They use steak scraps to make the burgers. The burger is also served with carmelized onions and a housmade A1 aioli sauce.

15) “THE THREE CHEESE BACON BURGER” at ONE EYED JACKS: Provolone, Swiss and Cheddar cheese adorn this burger , as do 2 big pieces of bacon. This is one of the best burgers we tried, and the flavor is one-of-a-kind. It is one of those burgers that when you take a bite, you say with a full mouth “oh my gawwwsh.”

The Secret: When they mix the meat, they add herbs and spices. The result is a very distinct taste of basil and other ingredients. This burger is one of the dark horses on the list.

The “Bourbon Burger” from Brixx Ice Co. is a Food Adventure on a plate

16) ” THE PARAGON STEAKBURGER ” at THE PARAGON SUPPER CLUB: The burger is a modest 6 ounce serving, and a great deal at just $7.50. When you add the bun, tomato, lettuce and onion, it becomes a mouth stretcher on that first bite. We choose to add american cheese, mustard and ketchup to seal the deal. It is even great when ordered “to go.”

The Secret: They grind the trimmings of their filet mignon steaks for the patties of this burger. The result is lean, flavorful magic.

17) ” THE CHEESEBURGER ” at KOWALSKI’S HOTS: Yes, a burger from a hot dog stand made this list, and rightfully so. Fresh meat on a NY style weck bun, with concession style condiment choices where you doctor it up yourself. The $5 price tag is worth every bite, and when the relish, mixed with the weck bun and meat hit your taste buds, we say “goodnight Irene.”

The Secret: He puts a meaty coney sauce on the hamburger. The way the juicy meat soaks into the weck bun is a perfect vessel for delivering this burger to your mouth. We found ourselves dancing while standing and eating it at the cart.

The “Mohawk Burger” from Mohawk Freestyle Grill Food Truck

18) ” THE LARGE, CLASSIC CHEESEBURGER ” at E. O. BURGERS: Located at the Greene, not only is this a great burger place, but their shakes are killer too. Make sure you get the large cheeseburger, take your number, sit down and wait for the main event. Condiment carts at the tables have sauce toppings including A1 and Cholula. It doesn’t matter what you top it with, it is a great burger.

The Secret: They use 100% USDA Prime Beef, and the taste is terrific. Fresh, handmade patties everyday with USDA Prime Beef quality, means consistently good burgers.

19) ” THE CHEESEBURGER” at JIMMIES LADDER 11: This six ounce masterpiece is probably the best deal on our list. The burger, the toppings and the atmopsphere is 100% Dayton. We love it. With so many great items on their menu, it is no surprise that their burgers kick butt too.

The Secret: The burgers are 100% Angus meat, mixed with secret house seasonings. It doesn’t hurt that the burger is served with Mikesells Chips.

The “Goat Burger” from Lucky’s Taproom is a Masterpiece

20) ” THE URBAN BURGER ” at ELSA’S KETTERING SPORTS GRILL: Made famous by the legendary Dayton restaurant owner, Urban Suburban, this burger has been a Miami Valley favorite for decades. The recipe is untouched since Elsa’s Kettering took over, and the result is still magical. Get it with cheese.

The Secret: Fresh meat, never frozen and a pile of toppings. Big eaters with big appetites, this burger is for you.

21) “ THE GROUND BEEF BURGER” from CHRISTOPHER’S RESTAURANT: Easy to eat, and absolutely delicious. This burger is as unique as the restaurant that serves it. They pride themselves on organic, all natural burgers with no additives. The proof of that choice is in every bite. The most picturesque burger on our list, it looks like a magazine ad.

The Secret: A bakery quality, multi-grain roll holds the burger together perfectly. It is the handle that carries that non additive beef burger into your mouth, like a valet for your taste buds.

The Large, Classic Cheeseburger from E.O. Burger at the Greene

22) ” THE BISTRO BURGER ” at COCO’S BISTRO: This Angus beef burger is served with bacon, carmelized onions and the most incredible Boursin cheese sauce. One of the more unique burgers on the list, the taste is instantly recognizable.

The Secret: It is all about the creamy, rich, Boursin cheese sauce. The first bite is one of those “wow” moments. The kaiser roll is stellar too. We cant stop saying the word Boursin after eating this… Boursin, Boursin. Booooorr. siiiiine. It’s all about boursin,bout de boursin, no trouble…

23) ” THE BLEU CHEESE STUFFED PEPPERCORN BURGER ” at THE TROLLEY STOP: It is a juicy burger, made with local beef. It is stuffed with bleu cheese. You must stuff it in your mouth. Not a lot of condiments are needed for this special treat. The chef at Trolley Stop has really kicked up their menu, and this is just another example of that.

The Secret: It is made with Keener Beef, a locally raised beef, which gives a very fresh and organic feel to the burger.

The “Ground Beef Burger” from Christopher’s is Delicious & Picture Perfect

24) ” THE BIG NICK BURGER ” at NICK’S RESTAURANT: Xenia natives know this is a great burger. For the others that don’t know, welcome to another place where you can “get the beef!” The Big Nick is a tasty 1/2 pound burger, and the only place in the area where you can get a side of smelts with it. Call it a Xenia Surf and Turf ! We love it !

The Secret: They claim the perfect blend of 80/20 ground chuck. We say they are right! You have to love a burger whose call tag it, “What’s on your Big Nick?”

25) ” THE BLACK JAX AND BLEU BURGER ” at SEA JAX TAVERN: This nice sized burger is served with carmelized onions, pepper jack cheese and crumbles of bleu cheese. Lots of flavor in this one.

The Secret: The burger is “blackened” before the incredible toppings are added. The cajun spices on the meat are a nice touch.

The Hamburger Wagon in Miamisburg has been legendary fro over 100 years !

26) ” THE HAMBURGER ” at THE HAMBURGER WAGON: Any place that people that people stand in line 15 deep in the bitter cold or intense heat, just to get a taste of the burgers, has to be on this list. There is no doubt, this place has a cult following. In fact the “place” is actually a wagon in the street. Since the Great Flood of 1913, the Hamburger Wagon has been an icon in Miamisburg. The burgers are topped only with onion, pickle and salt & pepper. The pride themselves on needing “no stinking condiments.”

The Secret: The burgers are actually a mix of burger and sausage meat. Also, the grilling method of deep frying the burgers, by pressing them down with a spatula, in a large iron skillet gives the hamburgers than one of a kind “crunch” when you bite into them

27) ” THE ITALIAN BURGER ” at BLIND BOB’S: A generous 1/2 pound burger with provolone cheese, marinara sauce and carmelized onions. The atmosphere and quiet fanfare for this burger, makes for a fun experience. Definitely a hamburger not to be overlooked.

The Secret: The burger is “stuffed” with provolone, green peppers and basil. It oozes with every bite. Eat it quick, so it oozes into your mouth and not in your hand.

“The Italian Burger” from Blind Bobs is stuffed with Provolone, Green Peppers and Basil

28) ” THE APPLEWOOD BACON CHEDDAR BURGER ” at BUNKER’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL: A nice sized hamburger with bacon and cheddar cheese. You have to pour the BBQ sauce on yourself, since it is served on the side. The result is a smokehouse flavor that is a refreshing twist. This is the only burger on the list that is served with shredded cheese.

The Secret: Fresh Angus beef combined with applewood smoked bacon is the key to this bad boy. It gives a nice maple hint to the burger and shredded cheese.

29) ” THE PUB FRIES BURGER ” at THE DUBLIN PUB: A burger with fries, cheese and bacon crumbles on top. When you combine Dayton’s favorite pub fries and a great burger, you are bound to have a winner. Add the “Dub Pub” atmosphere and you have yourself a Food Adventure escape from reality !

The Secret: The cheesey pub fries topping are what puts this on the list. The burger is good, but the pub cheese fries on top, make it outstanding.

The “Applewood Bacon Cheddar Burger” at Bunker’s in Vandalia

30) ” THE DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER “ at CADILLAC JACKS: A great sports bar atmosphere for one of the best burgers in town. Make sure you get the “double” burger, it is time to play with the adults. Great flavor from the first cheesey bite, to the last.

The Secret: Fresh ground sirloin and ground chuck mix, with tons of cheese. The result is a melt in your mouth, delicious experience.

31) ” THE HAMBURGER ” at GEEZ GRILL and PUB: A solid, great tasting pub burger. This burger is one of the dark horses on our list. “Mama G” hits the mark again with her menu items. Make sure you get some cheese on it

The Secret: The meat is fresh Ground Chuck, pattied daily by hand. And that was all it took in this case.

The Double Cheeseburger from Cadillac Jack’s. Soooo Cheesey !

32) ” THE HALF POUND HAMBURGER ” at GEORGE’S FAMILY RESTAURANT: A diner that is a throwback to the “good ole’ days”. Killer food and good service. Grab a 1/2 pounder at George’s to fill your carnivore cravings. No frills, no dramatic presentation, just a damn fresh and tasty burger in a bun, on a plate.

The Secret: Fresh meat cooked on a flaming grill. The grill is so fierce, you can see it flare up from time to time if you are seated in certain areas of the dining room.

33) ” THE YUMMY BURGER ” from WHITE LOTUS RESTAURANT: A true Dayton dive with a friendly cook / owner. Here your hamburger could be cooked next to some chicken pad thai. The burger is delicious and the prices are cheap. “Yummy burger?” Hell yes it is!

The Secret: The owner will tell you that her “love” that goes into the burger is the secret. But we saw the trick. It is fresh ground meat, with garlic salt and pepper, cooked on that old, seasoned, flat top grill.

34) ” THE MINNESOTA JUICY LUCY ” at ROMER’S BAR & GRILL: This 1/2 pound burger is stuffed with provolone, pepperoni and jalapenos. The result is a tasty hamburger that oozes cheese with every bite from inside the burger. Yet another Food Adventure on a plate, this one takes it to a whole new level of taste.

The Secret: The “inside out burger” mentality of the Juicy Lucy and the unique stuffings of course. The pepperoni and jalapenos give it a salty and sultry burn in every bite.

“The Yummy Burger” from White Lotus

35) ” THE CHEESEBURGER ” at BENJAMIN’S THE BURGER MASTER: A great burger that deserves a spot on our list. The gooey cheese and the meat, it’s the simplest burger on this page. And it simply tastes great. They also have the best BBQ wings in town.

The Secret: The simplicity equals good taste. The burgers are fresh, 100% ground beef, seasoned and topped simply. Sometimes, less is more.

Honorable Mention:

” THE BIG FRICKIN’ BURGER ” at FRICKER’S: This burger is a full pound of beef. The patties are brought in fresh, not frozen. This burger stacks two of the 1/2 pound patties, resulting in a massive burger, and a great frickin’ deal at just $7.99.

The Secret: Cooked over a flaming grill. Great grill marks, and a great taste.

“The Big Frickin’ Burger” at Fricker’s is a pound of meat, flame grilled, for less than 9 bucks

” THE MAID RITE ” at MAID-RITE SANDWICH SHOPPE: They are sweet tasting, tiny, little sloppy joe like sandwiches. We are letting them slide by into the burger category. The small sandwiches are addicting and delicious. There is a HUGE fan following of this restaurant, and many people travel an hour for these little icons. The eatery is located at 125 N. Broadway St in Greenville, Ohio.

The Secret: It is the cooking technique, which is a closely guarded mystery. Some say they add sugar to the meat, others think they steam the meat in Pepsi. We have no idea, we just know we love them.

Honorable Mention Chain Burgers: “The Garbage Burger” from Max N Erma’s, The Big Boy Sandwich, and White Castle Hamburgers. These regional chains along with the Red Robin burgers are MUST EATS. We give a shout out to Five Guys and Smashburger as well… We eat it all, no self contradictions here.

“The Hamburger” at Geez Grill & Pub. A solid entry into the list.

There you have it, that’s our list of the top 35 Burgers in The Miami Valley ! Comment below and give us your beefs, take it easy on our buns…

As you can see, Food Adventures never does anything halfway, and this is no different. Notice, we have no contributed or borrowed stock photos here. All of these pictures are original, because we actually went to the places and ate the burgers at least 2 times each. Yes, multiple visits is what keeps Food Adventures on top of the pack.

Want more of the best foodie spots in Dayton? Then “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE. Join Hungry Jax, Chef House and The Big Ragu as they leave no plate unturned.

DID WE LEAVE ANYONE OUT?

IS SOMEONE IN A SPOT THEY SHOULDN’T BE?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU ! COMMENT BELOW AND TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS ON OUR “UNDENIABLE LIST” DAYTON’s TOP 20 BURGERS !

Also, check out our photo gallery below.

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Who was Dougie Apple?

May 1, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Dougie Apple

Sometimes a Daytonian’s story bears repeating.

As you know we go on many fantastic Food Adventures. One you can’t miss is about 2 weeks away.

Friday, May 15th is the Big Brews and Blues Festival. This is a blues festival with a cause. The event raises money for the Dayton Diabetes Association.

It is an amazing event, with Blues Bands, dozens and dozens of Beers to sample, and food vendors. The 2015 event is being held at Riverscape Metropark. It is not only a terrific night, but it is a festival with a purpose. Dougie Apple was a Dayton native who also had a purpose.

In fact, at the festival, a banner typically drapes a booth selling beverages for his foundation. This is where the Food Adventures Crew first learned of his story. If you have attended the festival, you may remember seeing the booth yourself.

Sometimes a person who spends a small amount of time on this earth, has a very big effect on those around them.

May 15th, 2015 – Big Brews & Blues festival for Dayton Diabetes Foundation

Such is the case of Dougie Apple, one of 6 kids who grew up in a Miamisburg, with his 5 sisters. He was boy who at the age of 12 found out that he had diabetes. When he was diagnosed it was a surprise, since there was no one else in his family who had this typically genetic disease.

He was active in sports like soccer, and he loved the Cincinnati Reds. After his diagnosis he decided to attend a camp with other kids battling his diabetes. This camp, called “Camp Ko-Man-She,” changed his life. Dougie continued to visit the camp each year, and it helped him cope with the disease. After his diagnosis as he grew up he took a job at King’s Island. He even worked at a local car wash, to feed his interest in cars. He then decided to work at the camp as a counselor, helping mentor other children with the disease.

Dougie’s journey from camp attendee, to counselor and eventually camp director. He affected literally hundreds of lives for the positive, by comforting kids, and making them forget about their illness.

Meanwhile Dougie was dealing with an illness of his own. He received a kidney transplant and pancreas transplant from a donor family who lost a child named Daniel. The Apple family and Daniel’s family became close, and still are to this day. As Dougie continued to have a positive influence on Dayton area kids with diabetes at camp, his illness unfortunately took an unexpected turn for the worse. On February 3rd, 2012 Dougie Apple succumbed to the diabetes, which he fought so hard to conquer.

At his funeral, his family was overwhelmed by the crowd of young people who made the trip to his funeral. They shared stories about how Dougie helped them get through a tough time in their childhood, or helped them get enough courage to give themselves diabetes shots. He had affected so many lives, and the result was staggering. The family wants to keep Dougie’s intentions alive, so they set up The Dougie Apple Tree Fund, and continue to raise money in his name.

Over the past 3 years, the Dougie Apple Tree Fund has raised approx 5 thousand dollars per year. They donate the funds to the Diabetes of Dayton charity. The request is that some of these monies go to send children to the camp that Dougie attended. It is a chance to help these kids to live a normal existence. If you attend the festival, please stop by the Dougie Apple booth and buy a bottled water or a soft drink can, you will be quenching your thirst and helping quench the desires to find a cure for diabetes.

Blue Bands Throughout The Night

So please, consider attending the

BIG BREWS & BLUES FESTIVAL

Friday night, May 15th from 5-9pm at Riverscape.

Tickets are $30 prepay or $40 at the door.

Besides great blues bands, there will be approximately 70 beers to sample. The Food Adventures Crew is honored to be a part of this event, and hope you will be too.

Come celebrate the lives of those who are fighting diabetes, by helping them find a cure.

This is not an event that lines corporate pockets, it is an event that affects real people in the Dayton area. Make sure you help make a difference as well.

If you would like to donate or learn more about the Dougie Apple Foundation, please send an email to [email protected].

Hope to see you with some Big Brews at the festival ! Below are some photos from previous year’s events, please browse the gallery.

Are you a Dayton Foodie? Then join the over 5,000 foodies in the Miami Valley area following Food Adventures on Facebook HERE !

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Brixx Adds New Menu Items in Time for Dragon’s Season

April 2, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

New “Brixx IPA” brewed exclusively by the Dayton Beer Company fro Brixx Ice Co.

A Soft Pretzel as big as a steering wheel? That’s just one of the new “Must Eats” that Brixx Ice Co. has added to their new menu this week, Dont worry, Brixx kept all of your old favorites like the Build your own burger, meatloaf and more. They have just branched out and are experimenting with some new choices, to see if they become favorites.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Owner Chris Bhai and his staff have been in training and are ready with their newest menu.

— Some of these items are so new, they weren’t available for ordering at press time… these specialties were…

The Spicy Chicken Sandwich – Free range chicken breast with spicy sauce, on a kaiser roll

The Hawaiian Chicken – Chicken breast served with a grilled pineapple

Braised Beef Burger – 1/2 pound burger with beef shoulder and gravy on top

Pork Pleaser Burger – 1/2 pounder topped with pulled bbq pork and bacon

Italian Beef Sandwich – with peppers and all

Deep Fried Turkey and Bacon Sandwich – The bacon may be deep fried too

Deep Fried Turkey Hot Shot Sandwich – open faced with the works !

Turkey and Waffles – Brixx’s take on a Southern classic

Food Adventures was however, able to get their mouths on some of the new specialties Brixx is trying out.

We found some delicious choices that are simply, MUST EATS !

Hand Breaded Mac n Cheese Bites, as Big as Baseballs

MUST EATS:

— BRIXX IPA: The first must eat, is a must drink. It is the house IPA, brewed for Brixx exclusively by The Dayton Beer Company. The beer appears milky and cloudy, but tastes true to the form of a mild IPA. In other words it is slightly “hoppy” if you like that groove.

— THE GIANT SOFT PRETZEL: This thing is as big as a steering wheel. It is served with a cold beer cheese made with Dragon’s Milk Beer, which really makes the whole appetizer. It is one of those food items that you can’t stop eating. We could drink the beer cheese dip as a soda.

— MASHED POTATOES and GRAVY SIDE ITEM: New item, but the homemade stuff we have come to expect from Brixx. You won’t see people leaving this side dish on their plate.

— SRIRACHA GINGER BBQ DRAGONS TOES: Whether you get boneless or traditional, this sauce is incredible. You feel the heat up front, then the sweet ginger taste smolders by. Nothing says wings like a mouthful of this flavor. Wow this stuff is good, and packs a small explosion of heat!

Sriracha Ginger BBQ Dragons Toes, Hot and Delicious !

— MAC N CHEESE BITES: These aren’t bites, these are snowball-sized spheres of hand breaded mac n cheese. Leave it to Chris Bhai and Brixx to push the envelope with this sinful menu item. These appetizers are rich, creamy and crunchy all at the same time. This appetizer is our bet to become a fan favorite.

There you have it Food Adventure fans. Now it is your turn to step up to the plate. Whether it’s the new IPA or the new appetizers, Brixx gives you even more reasons to take a swing at their menu with your taste buds. Spring has sprung, and the Brixx’s new menu has begun.

Please check out our gallery below with original photos of the new menu items. No stock or contributed photos here !

Are you a foodie? Want more fun info about dining spots in and around Dayton? Then join the 5,000+ fans who “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE. Don’t forget to check us out each and every week with a feature article here on Dayton Most Metro.

This is Hungry Jax, The King, Chef House and The Big Ragu saying “See ya at the Brixx.”

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Local Food Event to Feature “Rhinegeists and Poltergeists”

March 26, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Amber Rose Restaurant hosts “Rhinegeists & Poltergesists” one night only on April 17th

What do you get when you mix 4 courses of great food, 4 great beers, and ghosts? The answer is at The Amber Rose Restaurant on Friday night, April 17th. The beer and dinner pairing is called “Rhinegeists and Poltergeists,” and is the brainchild of Food Adventures food blog and Dayton Dining. The one-night-only event will feature beers from the Cincinnati Brewery, Rhinegeist, paired with the unique tastes of The Amber Rose Menu. There will also be paranormal investigators on hand with new 2015 study findings on the “haunted” restaurant. Tickets are on a pre-pay basis and only available online through DaytonMostMetro.com.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

WHERE: THE AMBER ROSE RESTAURANT – Dayton’s premiere restaurant for European comfort food, in a historic building built in 1912. Practically every menu item is made from scratch, with Lithuanian influences. The Food Adventure will be held in the upstairs private party room.

WHEN: APRIL 17, 2015 at 7PM

COST: Tickets are pre-pay only, $35 per person, and includes tip! TICKETS CAN BE BOUGHT at THIS LINK

FOOD MENU: Owner Joe Castellano and his stellar staff have come up with this 4 Course meal offering:

Course 1: Garlic Chicken & Gouda Flat-bread, Smoked Salmon & Dill Flat-bread

Course 2: Shiitake Mushroom Angel Hair Pasta

Course 3: Roasted Pork Tenderloin topped with Major Grey’s Chutney and served with Cheesy Grits

Course 4: Chocolate Pecan Pie

4 Course Dinner, Served with 4 Beers !

RHINEGEISTS:

Here are the beers that will be featured from the Rhinegeist Brewery in Cincinnati

Course 1: Rhinegeist Rakau: an American Pale Ale

Course 2: Rhinegeist Fool: a Saison Farm House Ale

Course 3: Rhinegeist Zen: a Session Pale Ale

Course 4: Rhinegeist Hustle: a Red Rye Ale

POLTERGEISTS:

As many of you may know, The Amber Rose is supposedly a haunted venue. The ghost is believed to be the daughter of the former house owner. She is a playful ghost named Genevieve Ksiezopolski aka “Chickie.” Employees have many stories of glasses flying off of shelves, lights being turned on and even the appearance of a poltergeist. Take for example this case, where a cook claimed to see a full apparition of a lady in a long dress who walked into the room, then turned and walked away. When the frightened cook alerted the staff, they quickly pulled the security surveillance camera footage. What they saw at the same time the cook claimed to encounter the ghost was this: click to see video.

“Chickie,” one of the ghosts believed to haunt The Amber Rose

A local, three person “ghost hunter” crew will be investigating the Amber Rose facility in the weeks leading up to the dinner. They have appeared on on National Television! Their work has been featured in “America’s Most Haunted,” “My Ghost Story”, and Haunted Ohio VI. Independent Paranormal Investigators Kat Powell and Shelly Suittor met in 1999 as tour guides for the Ohio State Reformatory, Prospect Place, and Snow Hill Country Club. Teaming up with Alicia Soich in 2012, they’ve logged hundreds of hours of field research and private investigations across the state.

What will their findings be? Will they be contacted by “Chickie” or some other poltergeist?

This promises to be the biggest and baddest Food Adventure to date. Get your tickets HERE before they are all gone. We are expecting a sellout crowd of about 100 foodies, beer lovers and fans of the supernatural. We will stick around for some cash bar drinks after the event and discuss beers and hauntings !

Join The Big Ragu, Hungry Jax, The King and Chef House for an unforgettable night of food, fun, and spirits.. literally and figuratively.

For more fun on Dayton’s best places to eat, “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.

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Drive Thru Pizza Hits Dayton

March 12, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Brew & Brews Drive Thru, now serves Fresh, NY Style Pizza

You may have seen the new Brew & Brews Drive Thru that popped up on 741 across from Home Depot. They have the usual drive thru fare, such as beer, wine, pop, chips and candy. But did you know there is now a full blown pizzeria inside as well? Yes ! The addition is called B & B Slices. Now you can get whole pizzas or slices on the go. Whether customers call ahead or just swing by, B&B is sure to have something freshly made to please your pizza cravings.

Yes, a Food Adventure in your car !

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— The drive-thru joint is called B & B Slices and is located at 326 N. Springboro Pike in Miamisburg.

— B & B Slices owners are Johnny and Michele Rivera former owners of Johnny’s Slice of NY Pizza. So, if are fans of that place, you can expect the same New York style pizzas.

— Other items available include 3 ingredient calzones for $6 and subs for $6.50.

— Everything is produced with fresh dough, made daily by Johnny himself.

— They have not set firm hours yet, but we assume roughly 11:30-7pm is when you can expect the saucy, cheesy goodness of B&B Slices.

MUST EATS:

New York Style Slices – We prefer Pepperoni or Cheese

— SLICE OF PEPPERONI PIZZA: The hallmark, the flagship if you will. These New York Style slices are a great bite on the go, and a match made in drive thru heaven. The slices are big enough to curb your hunger, but wont stuff you. Fold the slice, take a bite and get your craving in a drive-by.

— CALZONES: Homemade, handmade and perfectly made with fresh dough. Pick your favorite 3 ingredients, and get afork for some marinara dipping action. One of the best in the land.

— WHOLE PIES: Load up the toppings or keep it simple with just cheese, you can’t go wrong with a B & B pizza. If you are feeling really hungry, order one of their signature Brooklyn Brawler Pizzas, which is a mammoth stuffed crust style pizza.

Our Food Adventures Crew love fresh, original ideas like this one. The dough is just as fresh as the concept, and Chef House, The Big Ragu, The King & Hungry Jax are suckers for fresh dough. So the next time you are driving down 741 with a little hunger pain, you might want to drive through Brew and Brews for a slice of paradise.

Hungry for more Dayton eats? Then “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking here! Is your preference food porn? Hit us up on Instagram HERE.

Remember, we are not food critics, we just love to eat !

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Hungry Jax Shares A Recipe From Her Hometown: Utica Greens

March 3, 2015 By Dayton937 2 Comments

“Utica Greens” is a spicy Italian dish from Upstate NY.

The Food Adventure Crew have come up with a brand new feature that you’ll will see in upcoming months called “KITCHEN ADVENTURES.” Here we will list some of our favorite all time recipes that will release the inner foodie in you. We are also hoping these recipes will impress your family and friends. Don’t worry, we won’t tell them where you got it. It will be our little secret.

Our inaugural installment comes to you from our resident foodie mom, Hungry Jax. May we present to you…

KITCHEN ADVENTURES: UTICA GREENS

Hey all! “Hungry Jax” here. About 9 years ago my husband and I relocated to the Dayton area from our hometown of Utica, NY. Nestled at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, Utica is a culinary treasure that is slowly, but surely making it’s name as one of the most delicious places to eat in the US. It is a city rich in Italian culture and cuisine! Upon relocating, I was homesick, not just for family, but for the culinary creations that are unique to the Utica area. So my kitchen became a laboratory with weekly experiments to recreate these hometown dishes that I love so dearly (talk about a Food Adventure!). I find that these dishes are ones that I love to share with my new friends here in Dayton. Sharing with them not just a great dish, but part of who I am and where I have come from. I’d like to share with you all one of these special dishes and I hope that you enjoy this recipe and maybe even take a stab at making them!

So my dear fellow Food Adventurers, I give you: “Utica Greens“.

I know what you’re asking yourself: “What’s a Utica Green?” “Utica Greens” is a spicy Italian dish made up of escarole, garlic, pancetta, hot peppers, cheese and breadcrumbs. Typically served as a side dish but can easily become a meal with a hunk of Italian bread! I also like to mix these in with penne to make a fun pasta dish, or even cook up with eggs in an omelet or frittata!

Hot Cherry Peppers

It should be noted that the peppers for this dish, Hot Cherry Peppers, are hard to find around here. I have found them fresh at Jungle Jims, as well as at Meijers from time to time. You can find them jarred, but typically those are sweet and not hot. Mild will work fine and if you want to spice thing up, just add more red crushed pepper. I have my brothers mail me these peppers when I am not back north to stock up on them myself!

For this dish you will need:

3 heads Escarole chopped and cleaned well. This type of green can be very “gritty” so I have found it best to let the chopped leaves soak in a sink full of cold water to allow for any dirt on the leaves to sink to the bottom. Rinse once more and then you should be good to go!
One small bag baby spinach
3 cloves of garlic, minced
3-5 chopped Hot Cherry Peppers
3/4 cup Italian Bread Crumbs
1 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese (or Parmesan – I use a mixture of both)
1/8lb Prosciutto or Pancetta chopped
Olive oil
Salt, pepper and red crushed pepper to taste
Mix together an additional ¼ cup bread crumbs and ¼ cup cheese, set aside

Cut and thoroughly clean the escarole. Add the greens to a large pot of salted water. After water comes to a boil, cook the greens for about 4-5 minutes. Do not cover pot as it will turn your greens brown. Remove and drain.

In a frying pan add olive oil and heat. Fry Pancetta until crispy. Remove from pan and let sit on paper towel to drain.

The Finished Product. Mangia!

Next, add garlic and hot cherry peppers. Cook for just about one minute.

Add the greens and cook just until heated through. Make sure to stir often. Add the spinach a handful at a time until wilted. Add salt, pepper and red crushed pepper to taste.

Take off heat, stir in breadcrumbs and cheese . Top with extra breadcrumbs and cheese and broil for a few minutes to crisp! If the greens look too “wet” don’t hesitate to add more breadcrumbs. You will find that they are crucial for flavoring the dish. Same with the cheese. So add and taste as you go.

Now tear yourself off a big piece of crusty Italian bread and go to town! This will serve about 4 people (or just me).

These also freeze great which makes it easy for me to grab a batch out of the freezer for holidays or unexpected dinner guests!

I hope you enjoy these as much as my family and I do. Let me know if you give it a try!

Mangia!

~ Hungry Jax

Want more Food Adventures and scoop on local eateries?

Follow Hungry Jax, Chef House, The King and The Big Ragu on Facebook HERE !

Buttercream Bliss at The Cakery

February 26, 2015 By Dayton937 1 Comment

Classic Cakery: Chocolate Cake with Buttercream Icing

DISCLAIMER: You may need a tall glass of milk in order to read about our latest Food Adventure.

When the Big Ragu asked Hungry Jax to name one of her favorite places to eat in the Dayton area, she didn’t even hesitate to yell out “THE CAKERY!” She went on and on about their buttercream frosting and how it reminded her of a bakery back in her hometown. So when an opportunity arose to highlight this local bake shop for an article, Hungry Jax about bit off Ragu’s hand claiming this mission! Sure, Chef House, Big Ragu and The King have had a delicious Cakery cake here and there at Birthday Parties, and have even picked up a cake, but our stops have mostly been drivebys. Not the case with Hungry Jax, who’s obsession with the greatness of the Cakery has made her a mini-expert. So on a cold and snowy day, the Food Adventure’s crew ventured out again to see what Hungry Jax was so hyped up about. And we were not disappointed with this full blown Food Adventure!

From buckeyes to wedding cakes, The Cakery can satisfy any craving big or small! This family owned business has been around for almost 20 years, and once you taste their products, you’ll see why! The Cakery opened in July of 1995 (located at 140 Woodman Drive). In 2008, Tom and Karla Kennedy became the third and current owners. Their daughter, Jamie Burchfield, had started working at The Cakery in 2002 after graduating from pastry school. Jamie started out as a cake decorator and most recently has taken on the role of Office Manager after the birth of her second son last year. After seeing a rising need to serve their loyal customers from Jamie’s hometown of Troy, OH and the areas north of Dayton, the Kennedy’s expanded the business. In May of 2013, the Troy location opened (1875 W. Main St.) and has been going strong ever since. We had the privilege of sitting down with Jamie to learn some delicious and fun facts about their crafty creations.

This is our kind of 6 pack!

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— The Cakery prides itself on baking all of their goods “in house” and they have the grocery list to prove it. At 1,000lbs of powdered sugar and 200lbs of butter per week, The Cakery ensures that each and every creation is of the best quality and taste!

— There are three main traditional frostings offered for their cakes and cupcakes: Buttercream, Chocolate Buttercream, and White Vanilla Cream. Each week they go through 25 five-gallon buckets of the traditional Buttercream, 8 buckets of their Vanilla cream, and 3 of the Chocolate! But the flavors don’t end there. You’ll also find cupcakes topped with snickerdoodle frosting, lemon, strawberry, peanut butter, caramel, orange cream and more!

— The peak season for weddings tends to be from May-October. During this time, The Cakery averages anywhere from 6-10 Wedding cakes per weekend! And don’t worry Brides, Jamie will ensure that your vision for the cake of your dreams is met. The artists behind the scenes, have made cakes taller than Kindergarteners with all different types of embellishments from fondants and fresh flowers, to pearls and candles. Check out the gallery on their webpage to see some of their amazing creations!

— Zagat.com voted their buckeyes as “The Best in Ohio” and most recently honored as Dayton Magazine’s “2014 Best in Dayton” bakery, beating out other top local confectioneries!

MUST EATS:

— CHOCOLATE CAKE with TRADITIONAL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING: Keep it classic Dayton. You can’t go wrong with indulging in this mainstay. The chocolate cake is moist but not too dense. And the creamy buttercream frosting has just the right amount of sweetness without being overpowering. This is an annual combination for Hungry Jax’s birthday cake! The Big Ragu has enjoyed these at many parties. For The King, it was love at first bite.

Chocolate cupcake with buttercream frosting!

— SNICKERDOODLE CUPCAKE: Yes, you read that right. The beloved cookie has been transformed into a cupcake that will leave you wanting more! This cinnamon sugar cupcake is topped with an equally delightful cinnamon frosting.

— ICED BUTTER COOKIES: A soft cake-like sugar cookie topped with the traditional buttercream frosting. You can buy these strait out of their display cases or order them to be decorated for a special occasion!

— BUTTER CREAM SHOTS: Fan of frosting? Well here you can buy a shot-sized dollop of buttercream to indulge in. Be aware though, side effects include an immediate rush of pure joy and contentment that will leave you wanting more! We love crazy foodies who do butter cream shots with us.

—CREAM PUFFS These little puffs of joy are filled with a light and creamy mousse. Absolutely terrific, The Big Ragu and The King claimed these as their favorite.

— Somewhere over the the “RAINBOW CAKE“: This cake is a layer cake sold by the slice. The layers are actually the tops of cakes that the bakers shave off when leveling out a cake prior to decorating. Instead of wasting these perfectly delicious cake shavings, the bakers created a layered cake out of them, alternating the cake layers with strawberry preserves and buttercream frosting. This cake varies slightly from day to day depending on what types of cakes are being made.

Rainbow Cake: No pot of gold is necessary at the end of this rainbow!

— FLAVORED CUPCAKES: Along with the traditional cupcake flavors of chocolate and white cake, you’ll also find a large variety of specialty cupcakes. Orange cream, strawberry lemonade, strawberry cream, peanut butter and jelly, almond, and banana are just a few. Each of these are topped with unique frosting s to complement the fun flavors of the cake.

— FILLED CUPCAKES: In addition to the tasty flavors, The Cakery also creates cupcakes that are filled with frosting, mousse, or custards. Some flavors are cookies and cream, key lime and chocolate truffle.

— BUCKEYES: Zagat.com got it right! These peanut butter filled bites of delight are truly some of the best around! The King could have eaten a couple dozen of these things.

Honorable Mention: Gourmet cakes that deserve mention are the Carrot Cake, Spice Cake, and Humming Bird Cake (tropical cake made with pineapple and coconut with an apricot filling). The King, loved the carrot cake. Also, don’t forget the Layer cakes, which can be filled with a variety of fruit preserves, fresh fruit, custards, mousse and more!

The choices and combinations of cakes and desserts are endless! Cakes start around $17 and cupcakes at $1.50. If you have a special order to place, be sure to give them at least 2-3 days notice to ensure that the bakers can meet your needs.

If you’re a bride, it’s highly recommended you book them once you have a sate set as their schedule fills up fast. They also have a variety of goodies you can order, such as brownies, tarts, pastries, cookies, and other treats that you can indulge in.

Shots are on us !

So, the next time you have a sweet craving or need a cake to celebrate a special event, let the creative team at The Cakery meet your needs. Stop in and try some of these tasty treats and let us know what you think! Check out their website for more information, or follow them on Facebook!

The next time you are hosting a party, and need some desserts, stand up on your chair and announce to the family.. “LET THEM EAT CAKERY !”

Please browse of photo gallery below, and leave your comments about The Cakery. We would love to hear your take!

Follow Food Adventures on Facebook for more foodie scoop from all over Dayton !

We are not food critics, we are just four people that love to eat !

You can check out our weekly feature articles here on Dayton Most Metro every Thursday.

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Food Adventure Scoop: Our Fave Olive Oil Store Coming to Austin Landing!

February 19, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

“The Spicy Olive” carries the highest quality of Olive Oils and Vinegars!

Finally, we can let out a secret we have been dying to share with our fellow foodies for months! One of our favorite shops is tentatively set to open at Austin Landing in May, 2015. It is called The Spicy Olive and can satisfy any pallet of needs! This unique tasting emporium carries a large variety of specialty olive oils and balsamic vinegars that are of the utmost quality! And yes, you’ll get to taste them all! Looking to amp up the flavors in your kitchen? Need to find your favorite cook a gift? Want a fun place for a foodie date? Look no further than The Spicy Olive !

The Food Adventures Crew appreciates not only great places to go out and eat, but also places that will bring the flavors of high end dining right into your own kitchen! And dear foodie friends, this place does just that! For the past couple of years we have been heading down 75 south to the town of West Chester, and using Spicy Olive’s products. Hungry Jax introduced the rest of the Food Adventure Crew and we were hooked !

As you all know, we typically feature Dayton foodstuffs. So, when we found out they were coming to the Gem City, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to highlight this unique and delicious shopping experience! There are so many incredible oils and vinegars to sample. Rest assured, your Food Adventures Crew tried them ALL! And you’ll find a decent stock pile of them in our own home kitchens at any given time!

Melanie Cedargren, owner and founder of The Spicy Olive

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

—While eating her way through culinary masterpieces on her travels to Italy, owner and founder, Melanie Cedargren fell in love with the rich and pure quality of FRESH olive oil. So much so that she was inspired to bring back this freshness and superb taste. And we are SO glad that she did! In September of 2012, her dream came true and she opened her first store. It is a unique shop that allows you to taste and combine any and all of the oils and vinegars offered.

— Cedargren and her staff (many of whom started as loyal customers), run two stores south of our Gem city: one located in West Chester (7671 Cox Lane, West Chester, OH 45069) and the other in Cincinnati’s Hyde Park (2736 Erie Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45208). The third store will be at Austin Landing, and Food Adventures is the first to spill the beans on this new location! At each store, you will find around 20 different olive oils and specialty oils along with 30 balsamic vinegars! But you won’t get overwhelmed with options, because the staff has made it easy for you to combine flavors and even provide recipe cards to help you create culinary masterpieces!

— The Spicy Olive, prides itself on the fact that their oils are purchased using a “bi-hemispheric” model, ensuring that the freshest oils are purchased during peak seasons. These oils travel from Italy, Greece, Spain, South Africa, Brazil and many other places all depending on when their peak season is. The balsamic vinegars are all aged 12-18 years and are imported from Modena, Italy! These oils and vinegars are then infused by their supplier, Veronica Foods Co. in California. The Spicy Olive is different from chain olive oil shops as they (and their supplier) pride themselves on not being a franchise, allowing them to keep their business more personable and their products of highest quality.

Each bottle is filled for you right on the spot!

— Bottles are filled on the spot for you and run anywhere from $11-$25. Also sold are specialty olives, jams and spices from local vendors! Need a gift? Here you’ll find gift baskets as well fun pasta and serving dishes. At the West Chester store you can also purchase fine wines from “UnCorked at The Spicy Olive”, ran by Scott Hau, located in the back of the store. Also offered are cooking classes with local chefs! And if that wasn’t enough, they have started a cosmetic line that is based with their pure olive oil and fragranced with essential oils! These products are also all natural.

Like we said, we literally have tried every oil and vinegar in this store. We have compiled a list of our favorites. They are a list of what we feel are the best flavors, and best successes we had, when cooking at home with these products.

The list is big, but they are all MUST EATS !

MUST EATS:

BUTTER OLIVE OIL: Yes, you read that right. The world of butter and olive oil have united and created something that you can indulge in without feeling the guilt! Hungry Jax frequently uses this on homemade popcorn for a healthy alternative! It’s also great for roasting vegetables!

VERMONT MAPLE BALSAMIC VINEGAR: Your mouth will be very happy to taste this one! The sweet, but not over powering flavor of the real maple syrup dances deliciously with the balsamic vinegar creating a product that you can drizzle on chicken, salads, fruit and so much more!

TUSCAN HERB OLIVE OIL: This is one of their top sellers! And it’s not secret as to why. The flavor combinations of the herbs infused of oregano, rosemary, sage and garlic provide a complete package to toss this with some pasta and top with fresh Parmesan cheese! Or you can just grab hunk of crusty bread and dip away! Again, the possibilities are endless!

Proper storage ensures that light and temperature do not decrease the quality of the products!

ESPRESSO BALSAMIC VINEGAR: Who knew that coffee and vinegar could work? Well it does. Try making your self a glaze to top off a steak with this one! Spicy Olive suggests pairing this with the Blood Orange Olive Oil for a flavorful pork marinade!

BLOOD ORANGE OLIVE OIL: Another big seller! There is no mistaking the citrus zip that this oil has! This oil is infused with REAL orange. Replace the oil in your favorite brownie recipe with this!

HARISSA OLIVE OIL: Like spice? Well this oil will help kick up the heat in any dish you serve it! Roasted chili peppers, cumin, garlic, cinnamon and caraway are flavors that pack this oil with it’s flavorful punch!

TOASTED SESAME SEED OIL: This is like no other sesame seed oil that you have tasted. Go out and buy a wok. Trust us, you’ll want to stir fry everything in this oil! The Big Ragu had struggled for years, but was never able to get that”Chinese Restaurant” taste to his stir fry dishes. This product finally solved his problem, and the aroma in the house is like Chinatown!

STRAWBERRY BALSAMIC VINEGAR: Vinegar on dessert? Yup. It works. Drizzle this beauty on top of your strawberry shortcake and you’ve just wowed your guests with a layer of unexpected flavor.

Homemade Cheddar Popcorn

SICILIAN LEMON WHITE BALSAMIC VINEGAR: One of the Big Ragu’s favorites. Use this when pan searing calamari, shrimp and scallops. We have had great success cooking with this vinegar, but it makes a great salad dressing when mixed with olive oil ! We eat in on spinach salad most!

FROG JAM: Figs, Raspberries, Oranges and Ginger make up the flavors of this jam. On toast or on crackers, it will make your morning shine. you will never think of the word “frog” the same way again!

Honorable Mention: The Cilantro and Roasted Onion Olive Oil is fantastic with seafood. So is the Milanese Gremolata Olive Oil with its garlic, lemon and mint flavors from Italy.

We can go on and on with all the flavors they offer! Garlic, Wild Dill, Basil are just a few more of the olive oils. The gourmet line of oils include Truffle Oils, Sesame, Almond and Walnut. Ever try Lavender Balsamic Vinegar? Well here you can! What about Mango? Dark Chocolate? Blueberry?

Can’t wait until the Austin Landing opening in May? Then head on down to one of their Cincy locations today and check it out! Melanie and her staff are ready to take you on a culinary journey that will have you coming back for more! Explore, because your kitchen will never be the same again.

The Spicy Olives products are high quality because they supervise how, when and where the olives are pressed, to the flavors they are infused with, and even down to the proper way to store them. The Spicy Olive elevates olive oil and vinegar to create superb dishes beyond your salad bowl! Don’t miss stopping into this store in the future. your kitchen will never be the same. Olive this place, well …we all do!

Please check out our photo gallery below of The Spicy Olive’s products and how we put them to use!

Want more scoop on Dayton food happenings? Follow Hungry Jax, Chef House, The Big Ragu and The King on Facebook by clicking HERE.

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Flavors in Centerville Offering Healthy Meal Plans “To Go.”

January 10, 2015 By Dayton937 1 Comment

Zucchini Boats from Flavors are Delicious !

Today, The Food Adventures Crew shows you an easy way to keep your New Year’s resolutions for healthy eating. Flavors in Centerville continues to launch their “Meals by Flavors” option, where you can plan your healthy meals for the week. You can pre-order 1 meal, or as many as you want. Imagine that, full on, healthy Food Adventures in convenient packages!

We all love Flavors Eatery for their one-of-a-kind, healthy food specialties, that taste delicious. They have so many dishes that taste amazing, yet are low calorie, low carb and packed with nutrients. When new owner, Ryan, bought the Centerville location from Elaine and Rich, he stayed true to their menu. One of his visions was adding this meal program that helped him lose weight.

Now, you can get certain meals “to go” and keep your waistline healthy throughout the week. With “Meals By Flavors” you can turn your resolution, into a lifestyle.

To stay skinny you gotta know the scoop.. so here it is…

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

Centerville Flavors Owner, Ryan and his son

— The concept is simple. Stay on track with your diet by substituting legumes and vegetables for your favorite carb foods. The idea is to “fool” your tastebuds into thinking you are eating your favorite foods. A perfect example is using shredded Zucchini noodles instead of spaghetti or pulverized cauliflower instead of rice. The menu is developed to taste good, and deliver all the nutrition and protein your body needs, in a low fat meal. Simply stated, the flavors are so good, you don’t miss a thing because it satisfies your cravings.

— You must email [email protected] to request a menu, and to place your orders too . Orders take approx 48 hours to prepare, and may be picked up at the Centerville location at 865 E. Franklin St.

— Orders are typically packaged in air tight containers, so that when refrigerated, they will last a few days. Some dinners will last longer than others, depending on ingredients and packaging.

— Menu prices typically run between $6 – $12, depending on the dish. Please note: the $12 meals were sometimes enough for two meals, and we have big appetites.

Now, we present a Food Adventures first. Our all-time healthiest list of “Must Eats,” thanks to “Meals By Flavors”

MUST EATS:

— ZUCCHINI PIZZA BOATS with TURKEY PEPPERONI & MIXED GREENS SALAD: Hulled zucchini filled with marinara sauce, spinach, fresh basil, fresh oregano, and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. The boats are then topped with a little bit of thinly sliced, fresh mozzarella and turkey pepperoni. (In the past we have also seen these offered with lean ground beef). The result is a cross between a pizza and a potato skin, with hardly any calories. Fantastic must eat, at the top of our list.

Stuffed Green and Red Peppers

— FISH TACOS: The fish offered is usually Salmon and/or Tilapia, and sometimes Wahoo whitefish. The fish is seared and served with a cup of spicy Boom-Boom sauce, two low-carb tortillas, and Flavor’s signature salsa loaded with lime and fresh cilantro. It also comes with a side of apple and vegetable slaw lightly seasoned and placed on a bed of fresh baby spinach.

— CHUNKY CHICKEN SALAD: One of our Food Adventure faves, right off the flavors menu! It starts with spinach and romaine salad with hand-pulled roasted chicken. Also packaged are black beans, apple and veggie slaw, sunflower seeds, cheddar-jack cheese, and of course, Flavors House Sauce. Light, fresh and delicious, this chicken salad is a must eat, no brainer.

—ROASTED RED PEPPER PIZZA: The dough is actually a low carb tortilla. It is then loaded with spinach and roasted red, green, and yellow peppers. Add to that a generous portion of chicken and cheddar-jack cheese blend. This meal is served with a side of buttered, poached carrots.

— AVACADO COOKIES: Made with nothing except Avacado these dark black cookies are amazing and a guilt free treat.

Honorable Mention: Red and Green Stuffed Pepper Dinner: A big meal of peppers stuffed with homemade refried beans, roasted chicken, spinach and topped off with salsa. It is served with a side of mixed veggies.

Also the Smoked Brisket Salad deserves a mention. Thinly sliced smoked brisket on a mix of romaine and spinach leaves. Meal also includes apple-veggie slaw. The salad is also topped with a bed of black beans, sunflower seeds, and Flavors House Sauce!

Flavors Eatery always pleases, and their “Meals By Flavors” program is no different. Brillant usues of legumes, vegetables and sauces make guilt free seem so easy.

But our article doesn’t end here…. With Flavors Eatery there are 3 other important things we would like to mention.

**** 3 OTHER THINGS TO NOTE ***

1) The Flavors Eatery in Centerville now serves dinner every day until 9pm, except Tuesday and Sunday. This is great news for many of us that enjoy flavors, but wished they had extended hours. Our prayers have been answered!

2) There is a Flavors Eatery now in Downtown Lebanon, at 4 South Broadway, where Rich and Elaine have expanded their franchise! They are running the new restaurant just like the original ! Stop in and say hello to this great mom and pop team !

3) Bottles of FLAVORS AMAZING HOUSE GARLIC SAUCE are available at Dorothy Lane Market. What are you doing sitting there? Grab a bottle already ! This sauce goes great on anything from chicken and seafood, to salad and nachos.

So get on your computers, email [email protected], and tell them you want the “Meals by Flavors” menu. For those of us with a busy lifestyle, it keeps your diet on track during the week!

Want to keep on track with all the foodie happenings in Dayton? Then “like” Food Adventures on Facebook, and join the thousands that know, we set the cutting edge trends that other follow. Keep up with the Food Adventures crew of Hungry Jax, Chef House, the King and the Big Ragu and comment on your favorite eateries.

Also – check out our 50 photos below of Flavor’s best items !

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Some Opened, Some Closed – 2014 Dayton Restaurant Changes

January 1, 2015 By Dayton937 1 Comment

Murphys Irish Pub opened this year in Bellbrook

Murphy’s Irish Pub opened during 2014 in Bellbrook

Here we go with a look back at last year’s Miami Valley food happenings. That’s right 2014, the year in Dayton food.

Who opened? Who closed?

Dayton Dining & Food Adventures have the scoop on the restaurant movers and shakers of the Miami Valley! So all you foodies, take a stroll with us down memory lane, and don’t forget a fork.

Newcomers to the Dayton food scene are as follows:

**** OPENED IN 2014 ****

1) TAVERN ON MAIN, Centerville: They dropped the Beef O’Brady’s moniker and went independent in 2014. This Centerville pub, features a sports bar menu and 37 different beers on tap.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sushi from Sumera, Click to Enlarge

2) BASIL ON MARKET, Troy: This summer saw the opening of this downtown Troy restaurant. The bistro style menu features Italian dishes mostly, with steak, Irish and Thai dishes too. Call it a “completely global menu.”

3) TJ CHUMPS, Huber Heights: The local growth continues as this sports bar funds an expansion into the Huber Heights market. What can you expect? More great food from steaks to salmon, as well as casual favorite like burgers and wings.

4) LITTLE YORK TAVERN, Troy: The former owners of LeDoux Restaurant, opened this expansion on Main Street in Troy. People are drawn to their pizza menu and more!

5) AUSTIN LANDING CHAINS, Springboro: The Austin Landing development has a couple of restaurant additions, albeit chains. Firebird’s Wood Fired Grill out of Charlotte, NC is an upscale version of J. Alexanders. Also, a 15 year old breakfast chain, Another Broken Egg, opened to crowds in 2014 at the Landing as well. You may also recall many people going ape over the opening of another chain with a cult following, Dewey’s Pizza.

Sea Jax is another new star in 2014

6) CROSSROADS BBQ, Fairborn: Priding themselves on BBQ cooked low and slow, this eatery also offers wings, pizzas and sandwiches. This family owned spot has a few signature items you gotta see to believe, like the “McGooey.”

7) LA COLOMBIANA, Beavercreek: Authentic Colombian restaurant located near the Fairfield Commons mall. A family owned business, this unique dining experience that promises to be a cultural lesson in Food Adventures.

8) AREPA’S AND CO., Kettering: The 2nd Street market veterans opened a second location in the area of Dorothy Lane and Wilmington Pike. Maybe this is the restaurant that will finally take hold in that location. Attractions are fresh Colombian comfort food, unique menu items and great patio dining in the summer months.

Tuna Tar Tar at Firebirds Grill, the new place at Austin Landing

9) SEA JAX, Centerville: Ron Sweeney teamed with sous chef Renee Cole to develop a menu of Specialty Burgers, Seafood and craft beers on tap. The place has been busy since its opening earlier in 2014 and they’ve just announced they’ll be open for lunch starting Jan 13th.

10) ZETLAND STREET RESTAURANT, Bellbrook: Up and coming chef Zachary Stringer, leads the way on this fine dining menu. With tasty dishes like Bacon Jam Burgers to Ginger Miso Salmon, you cant go wrong.

11) CARILLON BREWING COMPANY, Dayton: Food and Beer Menu inspired by Dayton’s early settlers. Look for a hodge podge of German and Irish inspired dishes, much of them comfort foods.

12) KETTERING GRILL & CAFE, Kettering: Located at 3800 Wilmington Pike they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Salads, Sandwiches, Seafood and Burgers seem to be the base of the menu.

13) SUMERA, Kettering: Touted as “the American sushi company,” this place takes a unique direction with the sushi. With inventions like the “Peanut Butter and Jelly Roll,” they make fans of people who aren’t sushi lovers. They also accommodate the sushi lovers with traditional fare.

Winan’s Chocolates is now at The Greene

14) WINAN’S CHOCOLATES, Beavercreek: They opened a presence at The Greene in 2014. It may be a perfect fit for shoppers to relax with coffees and candies while people watching on the patio.

15) THE OLD ARCANA, Arcanum: It’s a bit of a drive through farmland to get there, but the quaint homey feel of this restaurant was a much needed addition to the town. Serving up breakfast, lunch, dinner and some amazing bakery goods, and often featuring live music, too.

Unfortunately, some businesses bit the dust in 2014. The Big Ragu, The King, Hungry Jax and Chef House, fondly remember these now defunct, Gem City eateries.

**** CLOSED IN 2014 ****

1) THE BAGEL CAFE, Kettering: Locally owned breakfast and NY Deli style bagel shop with longtime ties to the Dayton area. In slow decline over the past few years, unfortunately this eatery with the best bagels in town, couldn’t survive the down turn.

2) THE FILLING STATION BAR & GRILL, Riverside: Linden Avenue bar and grill that once housed after-parties for the Gem City roller Girls. We are gonna miss their wings and salads the most. Good news is that some

Are Reese’s Pieces Sundae’s gone forever now that Friendly’s closed?

3) THAT CREPE PLACE: Located in the Greene, they couldn’t muster the revenue to keep up with the rent. Crepe lovers don’t fret, Crepe Boheme at the 2nd Street Market will fill your cravings quite nicely.

4) STACKERS, Dayton: We were sad to see this locally owned sandwich shop close on S. Smithville Rd. The place could not get a break, as it was targeted by vandals and really never recovered from those losses.

5) PONDEROSA, Riverside: Although this long standing throwback near Airway Rd closed, there is still one more Ponderosa franchise in Englewood.

6) TWO CHINESE BUFFETS: Ichiban Seafood Buffet and Golden Dragon Buffet closed in 2014. Both were located less than a mile from each other on 725 in Centerville. Looks like we will have to search elsewhere for mounds of crab legs, and overflowing plates of stuffed mussels and sushi.

7) FRIENDLY’S RESTAURANTS: Five locations closed abruptly in the Dayton area during 2014. Bad news for all of us who love Reese’s Pieces Sundaes and Clam Boats.

We are going to miss the Salmon from Amelia’s Bistro

8) CHAMMPS, Centerville: The unexpected closing of this chain was early in 2014. Since then, we hear a new tenant is slated to move in during 2015!

9) AMELIA’S BISTRO, Bellbrook: We were sorry to see this fine dining establishment go the way of the dinosaur. They had some of the best salmon dishes in the business.

10) HAZEL GRILL, Miamisburg: Located behind the Dayton Mall, this spot housed Dayton’s first Max n Erma’s restaurant for decades. Sadly, the place could never create a large amount of positive buzz. Since Hazel couldnt make it, we suggest Max n Erma bring back the telephone tables and the beer spicket shaped like two giant boobs.

11) TAGGART’S PUB, Dayton: After 17 years at the location on Patterson Rd., Taggart’s closed its doors. We would frequent the bar for special events and Steak Frys after golf outings.

bread [pudding fromRoot 48 made with Bills Donuts

Root 48.. we will miss your Bread Pudding made with Bill’s Donuts !

12) WOODY’S BAR-B-QUE, Beavercreek: Cheap prices, good bbq and incredible homemade pies. This closing hurt us, as we loved the owners and the food.

12) THE TROPICS, Kettering: Rumored to be another casualty in the argument between parking lot rights during Fraze Pavillion concerts. Sad to see, as we loved visiting their restaurant and seeing them at the AMBUCS chili cookoff.

14) TWISTED ROOT / ROOT 48, Centerville: After a car literally plunged into the wall in the restaurant, then called Savona, things never were the same. Another twist of bad luck erupted as the newly named Twisted Root faced a lawsuit to change their name. Now enter Root 48, a casual version of Chef Keith’s creations. For some reason the concept never caught on, and the place closed a few months later.

15) SIDELINE BAR & GRILL: The newly revamped spot on the split of Woodman and Wilmington Pike, in the former Perkins/Starlite location. We are going to miss their killer menu item, Deep Fried Babyback Ribs. Unfortunately the fans never caught on to this sports bar, and it was forced to shut its doors.

16) GRANNY’s 4200 PLACE, Moraine: We sure miss the great breakfasts, especially the biscuits and gravy and the great homemade pies that were a staple of this homey place.

Fried Ribs - only in Dayton at sidelines.. not anymore

When Sidelines Bar closed in 2014, we lost the only Deep Fried Ribs appetizer in Dayton

In 2014, we also saw a Dayton Icon, Neil’s Heritage House, reduce their hours to only holidays and special events

Our Springfield friends who owned El Herradura Mexican restaurant, closed the doors recently, but plan to reopen in 2015. We wish them success.

**** WHAT’S AHEAD IN 2015? ****

THE CORNER KITCHEN, Oregon District: Wow, how times have changed in the Oregon District. Remember Sloopy’s, the drunken 90’s meat market dance club? Well, it is about to house a restaurant that strives to be a “finer diner.” We look for great things from this place!

GINGER & SPICE ASIAN BISTRO, Dayton: This Asian restaurant will be opening in late January on Brown Street. Owner Grace Peng has a long resume of cooking in some top shelf restaurants, including the long gone Steve Kao’s.

EL RANCHO GRANDE, Dayton: Coming to the corner of Stewart and Brown Street, will be opening their 7th area Mexican eatery.

MACK’S TAVERN, Centerville: The yet unopened bar that won Dayton’s Best Bloody Mary contest, is slated to open in January. Stay tuned for a sneak peek at the menu over the next few weeks.

THE DAYTON BEER COMPANY, Dayton: Thirty six taps have been installed and work continues on this 2nd location for Pete Hilegman, one of the pioneers of our region’s brewery explosion. Located at 324 E. Second St, in the old Weiler Welding Building, just a quick walk from the baseball stadium.

PERSIS INDIAN GRILL, Miami Township: In the spot that formerly housed Boosalis Baking (now located in Cross Pointe Shopping Center) it looks like finishing touches are coming on the construction for this modern Indian eatery that will serve lunch and dinner.

AIRWAY KITCHEN, Riverside: Where once there was a Ponderosa on Airway, there will soon be a greek buffet restaurant, owned by the same family that operates the Starlite Dinner.

So we promised not to name names yet, but 2 of our favorite south of town spots are both working on second locations and sadly we know of one other that will cease operations at the end of January…. stay tuned to DaytonDining for all the tastiest news in town!

Did we miss a place? Who did we forget? Please check our gallery below for photos of the new spots, and the other spots that are now closed forever. Also, don’t forget to “LIKE” Food Adventures on Facebook by CLICKING HERE. It’s a foodie paradise…

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