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Jackie

Dunkin’s Next Generation hits Dayton

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Jackie from Food Adventures tours the New State of the Art Dunkin, Donuts

You may have noticed a significant increase in new Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants opening up around the Dayton area over the past few years. Dayton is definitely “runnin’ on Dunkin’.”  Most recently there has been a lot of buzz about a new location at 5901 Far Hills Ave.  The Food Adventures Crew had the opportunity to get an exclusive tour (and tasting!) of what’s being referred to as the first “Next Generation Dunkin’” in our area!  We sent our lovable in-house blogger to tackle the assignment which is near and dear to her heart.  Take it away HUNGRY JAX !!

 

Ok, I hear some of you getting ready to post about chain restaurants vs. local.  We live in a delicious city full of locally owned coffee and donut shops that leave us with so many choices for good old fashioned homemade deliciousness.  And it’s no secret that I support the donut industry in our area.  But the awesome thing about this region is that there is room for all!   Some of you may recall that I am a transplant from Upstate NY. We travel back and forth to see family frequently.  One thing I love about Dunkin’ is that no matter where you go, you can count on the same products and quality to be offered. Dunkin’ is one of our trusted pit stops when embarking on a family road trip!  I like to compare it to Catholic Mass, no matter where you go, you’ll know what to expect!

 

The newest Dunkin’ Donuts is locally franchised by the Gilligan Company.  Patrick Gilligan left a career with BP oil back in 1993 to start his own

Donuts Up Front

business with the goal of franchising different gas stations and restaurants.  Based in Columbus, the Gilligan Company has grown its’ business from Columbus to Cincinnati employing over 900 people. They uphold a commitment to their employees as well as the communities that they serve. Most recently, the local Dunkins’ franchised by Gilligan raised $5,000 for Dayton Children’s Hospital. Just one of many ways this company has wanted to give back to the community!

 

Ok, but enough about people and places. Let’s move onto what this new Dunkin’ Donuts experience offers!

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON THE NEXT GENERATION of DUNKIN’ DONUTS:

—Immediately upon entering, you’ll notice that they changed the layout. The donut cases, which used to be behind the counter, are now up front so that you can get and up close and personal inspection of which frosted delight you’ll be taking home! The aesthetics of the building is also more modern, keeping the look fresh and new.

State of the Art Coffee Machines grind the beans

—They have also increased being more energy-efficient. The company has designed these new stores to be 25% more energy-efficient. In addition, they have also switched over to a double-layered paper cup. Now you will have the same cup for both coffee and specialty hot drinks, where as before, there were the old Styrofoam cups and the brown paper cups. This change allows for staff to be more efficient when making drinks (no searching for specific cups or lids) as well as eliminating the need for a sleeve a the cups will keep your liquids hot but your hands comfortable!

 

—Dunkin’ has also embraced the necessity of smart phones. If you download the Dunkin’ App, you will be able to place mobile orders. A nice feature on this is that you can load your order earlier in the day, and the when ready to pick it up, you can click “prepare my order” and it will be fresh and ready with minutes of your arrival! Yet another bonus for those of us with kids or not wanting to take a long pit stop on a road trip. What’s even better is that you also have the option to either pick up in the store OR in the drive thru! The newer Dunkin’s have a lane specifically for mobile order pick-ups!

Maple Bacon Chipotle Croissant

—Ok so what changes have there been to the food? Lots! There are always specials running for new products as well as the classic goods. I got to try some of the new sandwiches offered!

 

Here is a run down of my MUST EATS for DUNKIN DONUTS:

 

  • BROWN SUGAR MAPLE CHIPOTLE BACON BREAKFAST CROISSANT:
    • Limited time only! This is their classic Bacon Egg and Cheese sandwich with a kick to it! The chipotle sauce adds the spice and the brown sugar bacon balances it out with a crispy sweetness! Not up for a change? The original Bacon Egg and Cheese Croissant is on special for 2/$5!

 

  • DUNKIN DONUTS ENTIRE $2 MENU:
    • You can indulge in a Wake Up Wrap! These are egg and cheese tortilla wraps. You can also include bacon, sausage or ham!

Power Breakfast Sandwich

  • POWER BREAKFAST SANDWICH:
    • This is a veggie delight! At just 370 calories, you get a Veggie Egg white scramble, turkey sausage and cheese on a multi-grain bun!  A pocket sized Food Adventure.

 

  • VARIETY OF DONUTS AND BAGELS:
    • There are always the standard classics of the famous donuts – from the Boston Kreme, to the Jelly and Chocolate Glazed  Also, who could forget the munchkin donut holes?  And if you haven’t tried their bagels, give them a shot toasted with cream cheese (multiple flavors to choose from!).

 

MUST DRINKS — COFFEE!!!!  For Jackie, Dunkin’ is really all about the coffee….

Dunkin Donuts has high expectations for their coffee! With these new stores, your beverage will be treated with TLC from start to finish! For their original, dark and decaf coffee, they are now being brewed in what is called a “Soft heat” process. No longer will you coffee sit on top of a heating element in a glass carafe. The old process would leave coffee tasting burnt. This newer process gently heats the coffee within the thermos. There is also an indicator light letting staff know when it’s time to brew a fresh pot to ensure that you’re always getting a quality cup!

The newest drive thru includes a mobile lane

 

For those of you that appreciate a specialty coffee drink, you’ll be pleased to see that the beans will be freshly ground and each drink made fresh to your order! Additionally, if you like a chilled beverage, the “Premium Pours” cold beverage station is up and running. Here you can get iced coffee, cold brew, and iced tea all “on tap”! In addition, you can try the new NITRO Cold Brew Coffee! This is a fantastic upgrade to the traditional cold brew process as they infuse the drinks with nitrogen, creating a light tasking drink that’s refreshing and will keep you running! A cool thing about this process is that there are not nitrogen tanks. Instead the system pulls the nitrogen from the air!

 

Once again, the new location on Far Hills is the only “Next Generation Dunkin’” in our area! But keep an eye out as the existing stores will transition eventually bringing the tasty and innovative changes across the area. So swing on over, taste some new and old goodies, and let us know what you think!

Are you a Dayton Foodie?  Then tune in each week for a feature article from the Food Adventures Crew.  We are a blog that will leave no plate unturned.  Follow Food Adventures on FACEBOOK by clicking HERE.

Bacon Maple Croissant Sandwich

Pumpkin Spice Season

Cold Coffee Specialties on Tap

Chocolate with Sprinkles

It’s a Jelly

Nuts about Dunkin.

Glazed Goodness

Kids runnin’ on Dunkin

Chocolate Glazed

Bagel and Cream Cheese with coffee

Stack em up

These taps will pep you up

So mobile nowadays

State of the Art Equipment

Tme savers

Newest Heating and Cooling techniques

Daytons First and only new generation store is in Washington Township near 48 and Whipp Rd.

Jz Says it is all about the coffee

shots!

Bagels

Wrap up

chocolate glazed

It is all about the coffee at Dunkin for us

Whole Lotta Love

SPRINKLES ! The Dunkin Donuts Mascot follows Food Adventures.

Geez Louise .. Look at that delicious cross section

Boston Kreme Donut

Jackie tests Sprinkles icing …

El Toro’s Taco Tuesday Taking Dayton by Storm

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We splashed some free salsa on these Tacos !

It was 8:20pm on Tuesday night at the El Toro Restaurant across from the Greene with the Food Adventure Crew.  People were lined up in the lobby and jammed in the bar area waiting for a seat.  The hostess said it would be a 20-30 minutes wait.  This is the scene all day at Taco Tuesday, every Tuesday at El Toro Restaurants across the Dayton area.  The feature is $1 Crunchy and Soft Tacos all day.  And it has taken the Dayton area by storm.

 

HERE IS THE SKINNY ON EL TORO’S TACO TUESDAY:

— TACOS are 1 DOLLAR EACH

— Choose CRISPY OR SOFT TACOS

— Choose one of 3 meats: GROUND BEEF, SHREDDED CHICKEN, OR PORK

— Each Taco comes with shredded CHEESE and shredded LETTUCE.  One of our “fat kid tricks,” is pour the free tableside  salsa on your taco too, and of course a drop of the hot sauce in a bottle that sits at each table.

— Taco Tuesday Special is good all day from 11:00am – 10:30pm

Soft Tacos are $1 on Taco Tuesday at El Toro

 

The tacos are delicious and you can fill up for about 4 or 5 bucks and walk out stuffed.  The special price is about a third of what tacos are normally.  Throw in the free chips and salsa and you have a helluva deal and a cheap Food Adventure.    No wonder  El Toro has seen packed houses on Tuesdays.

 

WHERE TO GET $1 TACOS at EL TORO ON “TACO TUESDAYS”:

EL TORO BEAVERCREEK:  1375 North Fairfield Road, Beavercreek, OH 45432

EL TORO BELLBROOK:  4421 State Route 725, Bellbrook, OH 45305

EL TORO CENTERVILLE:  2335 Centerville-Miamisburg Rd., Centerville, OH 45459

EL TORO DAYTON:  2915 Harshman Road, Dayton, OH 45424

EL TORO ENGLEWOOD:  9190 N. Main Street, Englewood, OH 45415

Shredded Chicken and a Beef Crunchy Taco

EL TORO HUBER HEIGHTS:   8321 Old Troy Pike, Huber Heights, OH 45424

EL TORO KETTERING:  448 Indian Ripple Road, Kettering, OH 45440

EL TORO MILLER LANE:  6770 Miller Lane, Dayton, OH 45414

EL TORO SPRINGBORO:  710 Gardner Rd., Springboro, OH, 45066

EL TORO SPRINGFIELD 1:  2100 S. Limestone Street, Springfield, OH 45505

EL TORO SPRINGFIELD 2 : 2017 N. Bechtle Avenue, Springfield, OH 45503

EL TORO VANDALIA:  794 Northwoods Blvd., Vandalia, OH 45377

 

Not a taco fan or busy on Tuesdays?  May we suggest some of our patented MUST EATS ..

MUST EATS at EL TORO RESTAURANT: 

— GUACAMOLE DIP:
Perfect mix of avocado, onion, tomato and spices. We don’t know how they do it … they just do it.

— DINNER COMBO 18:

Guacamole Dip – the best !

A Chile Relleno, an Enchilada and a Chalupa.  The best of the best other

menu items.

— CHICKEN or STEAK FAJITAS:
Or get them “mixed” and they will include both chicken and steak. The sizzling fresh veggies and that charred taste in a tortilla is second to none. Ask for Sour Cream for sure,  hese.

— SEAFOOD CHIMICHANGAS:
The best ones in town by far.  A nice drizzle of white cheese sauce on top makes it a Tex-Mex Classic.

— Fried Ice Cream
End your night on a high note. A carmelized, honey ice cream creation with drizzled chocolate.

 

OTHER DAILY SPECIALS at EL TORO:

Monday:
12 oz Margaritas – $3.99

Tuesday:
12 oz Margaritas – $3.99

Chicken Fajitas

Wednesday:
24 Oz. Domestic Draft Beers $1.95

Thursday:
Bottled Mexican & Domestic Beers $1.95

Saturday:
Chicken Fajitas $9.99
Kids Meals $3.99

Sunday:
$1.99 Domestic Draft Beers (Budweiser, Bud Light, & Miller Lite)

 

That does it boss, get to El Toro with some hot sauce.  Our tip on Taco Tuesday- hit an early lunch at 11:30am and beat the crowds.

Make sure you get both some crispy and soft tacos.  It will make your Tuesday !

Visit us next week and every week for another Food Adventure article exclusively on Dayton Most Metro !!

Follow Food Adventures on Facebook HERE  

Feel free to browse more potos below and leave a comment…

Chile Relleno

Seafood Chimichanga

Taco, Rice , Enchiladas

Our buddy the King – cant pass up Fried Ice Cream !

Simple Soft Taco

Fish Fajitas

Seafood Chimichangas

Some of the best salsa ever…

Refried Beans and Rice

We doctored these up

Now we added Guac and sour cream

Soft Tacos

Crunchy Tacos with Salsa

Try the crunchy Shredded Chicken and a Beef Taco

The chemistry lab we always wanted

Chips and Salsa

One of the many El Toros

 

Shantz Express- Food Truck and Future Restaurant

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The Shantz Express is here

We love Food Trucks.  I mean who doesn’t? Mobile, locally owned places filling up hungry patrons anywhere they can get on 4 wheels.  The inventive menus always allow for a Food Adventure.  And when the trucks form a rally?  It’s like a dream !  An instant food court powered by generators !

One such truck that has flown a bit under the radar, is Shantz Express Food Truck.  But lately, they have been making some big leaps and bounds.

HERE IS THE SKINNY on SHANTZ EXPRESS FOOD TRUCK:

— Owner Bill Shancey had a pizza place in Pittsburgh, before moving to Dayton more than 16 years ago.

— The menu features, Sandwiches, Gyros, Pulled Pork Nachos, Cheesesteaks, Subs, Pizza, Wings, Fries, Burgers, Dogs and Pierogies.

— They have just announced they are opening a restaurant at  5993 Bigger Road next to Bee-Gee’s Market near the Centerville / Kettering Border.  The location is near the Victoria Secret call center which could mean some serious lunch carry out business and they hope to be open in October and to continue to keep the food truck out as well.

Buffalo Hot Wings at Shantz Food Truck

— The owner is sometimes flexible and was able to make a private party with just a few hours notice.

We have visited the truck 3 times and always have been impressed.   Whether a Food Truck rally or a pool party, Shantz Express pleased the masses.

Here is our list of  MUST EATS from our times at this wonderful food truck….

 

“MUST EATS” AT SHANTZ EXPRESS FOOD TRUCK:

— BUFFALO HOT WINGS:
They are crispy with a kick and a little tang to them. These wings are what put Buffalo on the foodie map.

 

— GARLIC BUTTER WINGS:
Possibly the best food truck wings in Dayton. These are served wet, and with a few napkins. The results are quiet patrons gnawing on the wings in pure delight.

Pierogies in Garlic Butter

— THE SHANTZBURGER with CHEESE:
Have you ever had the burgers at the Rootbeer Stand or The K in Springboro?? This burger is just like those. It is a delicious taste of summer and a throwback top the burgers of the 60’s with bellhops. We loved it , great flavor on a soft bun.

 

— PIEROGIES:
Polish people of Dayton unite ! This take on the pierogie is a deep-fried, almost crunchy version served in a buttery garlic bath. The result is a mixture with the garlic mashed potato filling that is simply divine. Dip, bite and repeat for maximum effectiveness.

 

— THE CHICKEN PARM SANDWICH:
Deep fried chicken sandwich with a slice of mozzarella cheese and homemade tomato sauce. Pretty good stuff for a food truck ! His sauce is the same as Shauncey’s former pizza place in Pittsburgh.

 

—THE PHILLY CHEESESTEAK:

Philly Cheesesteak

Flavorful, hearty and filling are the strengths of this sub. He must have spent some time in Philly learning the cheese steak trade…

 

Honorable Mention: The French Fries, which are slightly reminiscent of McDonalds… whose of course are the best. Also, try a GYRO but make sure to ask them to grill the onions and add extra tzatziki sauce. It makes it all good.

 

They do have pizza, but we found the other items to be the menu stars.

So, there you have it hungry foodies, your best chance for success when devouring some Shantz Express.  We look forward to the new “brick and mortar” place, as they say.  For us, it means enjoying Mr. Shauncey’s food year round !  Ohh, those wings though …..

Are you a Dayton area foodie? Food Adventures is your mecca !  Join us on Facebook for daily posts and here for weekly feature articles on DaytonMostMetro.

Feel free to browse our gallery below and we will see you at the next food truck rally !!

The Shantzburger with Cheese

Chicken Parm

French Fries

Shantz Burger

Shantz Burger with Cheese

Hot Wings

Pizza !

Gyro Sandwich

Buttery Garlic Wings

Keep Truckin

Pierogies in a cup – butter sauce in bottom

Oozing Chicken Parmesan sandwich

Pizza Pie

Gyro

 

 

 

2 New Films, 2 “Best Actresses” at THE NEON

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Hello Dayton Most Metro!

We’re moving along in a big way this weekend. If you still need to see LA LA LAND – now the highest grossing film in THE NEON’s history – Thursday will be your last chance to catch it with us. If you still need to see 20TH CENTURY WOMEN, Sunday will be your last chance to catch this gem at THE NEON. On Friday, we will open two very different films that have something in common. JACKIE and ELLE both have lead performances that have been nominated for “Best Actress” at this year’s Academy Awards. Natalie Portman gives an incredible performance as Jackie Kennedy – one that has garnered her numerous awards this season. Isabelle Huppert, one of my favorite actresses, has never been nominated for an Oscar before (which is hard to believe given her stunning body of work) – but she just won “Best Actress” and ELLE also took home “Best Foreign Film” at this year’s Golden Globes.

Showtimes and additional information can be found on our website – www.neonmovies.com …but you can check out the trailers here:

 

In the coming weeks, we have numerous special events – from one time only screenings to our upcoming Oscar Party.  Stay tuned to our website for the latest.

See ya at the movies,

Jonathan

Numerous Oscar Nominations for Films at THE NEON

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Hello Most Metro!

We were all set to move forward with JACKIE this weekend, but the execs at Lionsgate (the distributor for LA LA LAND) were insistent that we hold their hit for another week…and with good reasons. 1) LA LA LAND is still performing well. 2) LA LA LAND just scored the highest number of Oscar nominations ever received – 14 in all (tying with ALL ABOUT EVE and TITANIC). 3) In just under 4 weeks, LA LA LAND has become our #2 “Highest Grossing Film Ever” at THE NEON. Over the course of this upcoming weekend, it will likely move into the #1 spot! All that said, we will hold both LA LA LAND and 20TH CENTURY WOMEN for another week. I know that many of you are anxious to see Natalie Portman’s Oscar-nominated performance, but we promise that JACKIE will open on Feb. 3.

Speaking of Oscars, NEON titles performed very well this year. Past/current films that received nominations are: MOONLIGHT, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, LOVING, NOCTURNAL ANIMALS, A MAN CALLED OVE, THE LOBSTER, 20TH CENTURY WOMEN, LA LA LAND, and LIFE, ANIMATED. Nominees that are still on their way to us include JACKIE, ELLE, THE RED TURTLE, I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO, TONI ERDMANN, and all of the OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS (and possibly more). Of all the nominations, a couple “snubs” stood out to me. Annette Bening is absent from the list for 20TH CENTURY WOMEN. The film was recognized for “Best Screenplay,” but her role deserved recognition. Secondly, I was disappointed to not see EAGLE HUNTRESS among the nominations. Though “Best Documentary” is full of heavy hitters, I think this stunning but subtle, quiet film speaks to many issues and deserved more recognition.

For showtimes and descriptions of numerous special events at THE NEON, visit our official site: www.neonmovies.com

We hope to see you soon!

Jonathan

 

MAN CALLED OVE Returns and LOVING & MOONLIGHT Stay at THE NEON!

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2410c881d-ce06-8d19-1c0709c9f6ea9edbHello Everyone!

Thanksgiving weekend was bustling at THE NEON. Many thanks to everyone who came out to support our two award-winning films. Speaking of awards, we were very happy to read about MOONLIGHT cleaning up at the Gotham Awards this week (the first big awards of the season). Over the past two years, the Gotham Awards have predicted the Oscar for “Best Picture” (SPOTLIGHT and BIRDMAN)…thus we think MOONLIGHT will continue to be a major player this year.

We will hold both LOVING and MOONLIGHT for another week. In addition, we have one more treat to rotate back into the mix – A MAN CALLED OVE. We had to let go of OVE last week because we had other commitments…but now, due to popular demand and the fact that we have space, we’re bringing OVE back for a handful of screenings. Don’t let it slip by!

This Saturday will mark the beginning of the Family Holiday Film Series . On Saturdays in December, we’ll present films that are suitable for the entire family – sponsored by The Dayton Holiday Festival, Channel 99.9 and THE NEON. These films are FREE for children 12 and under and only $2 for general admission. On December 3 at Noon, we’ll screen ARTHUR CHRISTMAS . On December 10, we’ll screen HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS – starring Jim Carrey. And lastly, on December 17, we’ll screen the holiday classic IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (the big screen is the best way to see it). Please spread the word with your friends and neighbors…we’d like to see packed auditoriums each week.

Our friends at 4Mary.org have two more screenings of APPARITION HILL on the books. “Join 4Mary.Org for a night at the movies! A few years ago, 4Mary.Org organized screenings of the independent film THE TRIUMPH, and it was a terrific success. Now, from the same director, comes the new feature film APPARITION HILL about an unlikely group of pilgrims who journey to the same little-known village of Medjugorje. Two screenings remain: Thurs Dec 8 at 7:30pm and Mon Dec 12 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $10 each and are only available online via this LINK. All proceeds benefit the 4Mary Youth Pilgrimage to Fatima in 2017. For more info, contact info@4Mary.org” (taken from press notes) To watch a trailer for this film, click this LINK.

We just received permission to have a preview screening of NOCTURNAL ANIMALS on Thursday, December 8 at 7:30. This was one of my “Top 3” films at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. It’s a stylish and dark thriller from famous fashion designer Tom Ford, and I’m so glad we’re able to bring it to town. (My other 2 favorites from the festival were MOONLIGHT and LA LA LAND.) I’ll provide more details about this film in next week’s newsletter.

Don’t forget that we offer NEON Gift Certificates in $5 and $10 denominations – perfect for all of the film lovers in your life! Gift certificates are available in our lobby during traditional hours of operation.

Thanks for your continued support!
We hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Tuesday, Nov. 29 – Thursday, Dec. 8:

MOONLIGHT (R) 1 Hr 50 Min
Tues day – Thursday (Nov 29-Dec 1): 2:45, 5:15, 7:45
Friday & Saturday (Dec 2 & 3): 2:30, 7:30, 9:50
Sunday (Dec 4): 2:30, 7:30
Monday – Wednesday (Dec 5-7): 5:15, 7:45
Thursday (Dec 8): 5:15

LOVING (PG-13) 2 Hrs 3 Min
Tuesday – Thursday (Nov 29-Dec 1): 2:30, 5:10, 7:40
Friday & Saturday (Dec 2 & 3): 11:40, 2:10, 4:45, 7:20, 9:45
Sunday (Dec 4): 11:40, 2:10, 4:45, 7:20
Monday – Wednesday (Dec 5-7): 2:30, 5:10, 7:40
Thursday (Dec 8): 2:30, 5:10

A MAN CALLED OVE (PG-13) 1 Hr 56 Min
Friday (Dec 2): 12:00, 5:00
Saturday (Dec 3): 5:00
Sunday (Dec 4): 12:00, 5:00
Monday – Thursday (Dec 5-8): 2:45

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (PG) 1 Hr 37 Min
Saturday: Noon

APPARITION HILL (PG-13) 1 Hr 55 Min
Thursday: 7:30

NOCTURNAL ANIMALS (R) 1 Hr 56 Min
Thursday: 7:30

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
Dec 8 – NOCTURNAL ANIMALS
TBD – MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
TBD – LA LA LAND
TBD – LION
TBD – EAGLE HUNTRESS
TBD – ELLE
Jan 27 – JACKIE

TIFF 2016 – Day #7

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csqaun7wgaqgaq3Hello Everyone,

Thanks for coming back!  Today was my last day during this trip when I have to  wake up before 6am!  I saw three more films (which takes me to 24 total), and I had a nice dinner.  Though there was an invitation to meet up for late drinks, I had to turn it down.  I’m simply too tired and getting more than 4 hours of sleep sounds much better.

My first film of the day was PATERSON, by Jim Jarmusch – who has a cult-like following.  This film stars Adam Driver as “a working-class poet in a small New Jersey town who practices his craft amidst the quiet magic of everyday life.” (TIFF on-line catalog)  As always, Jarmusch finds both humor and pathos in the idiosyncrasies and mundane routines of his characters.  That said, I think this film is his most accessible.  And though not a lot “happens,” I was engaged and liked peeking in on these rather charming characters.  (There is not trailer available, but here’s a clip.)

JACKIE, the new film about Jackie O’ starring Natalie Portman, was next on my list.  Directed by Pablo Larrain (who also has a film about Pablo Neruda at the festival), this film takes a look at the assassination of JFK through the point of view of Jackie.  The film opens with Jackie greeting a journalist just a few days after the assassination. As she answers questions, we get her version of the story – both anecdotes about the making of the TV special when she led press through the White House as well as her account of what happened in Texas and preparing for the funeral.  She is very candid, but she also makes quite clear that she’ll have the final edit on the piece that is written.  When the journalist says that he just wants the truth, it is finally said that “I will settle for a story that’s believable.”  That sentiment is the film in a nutshell.  It took me a little while to buy Portman as Jackie, but eventually she won me over.  Fox Searchlight picked up this film within the last 48 hours, and they plan to have it released in time for Oscar season.

jackie-1

My final film of the day was UNA – a new film based on the play BLACKBIRD, directed by Benedict Andrews and starring Rooney Mara & Ben Mendelsohn.  This is the story of a young woman in her mid-20’s confronting a middle-aged man at his place of work. It’s been 12 years since they’ve seen each other…and that was when she was 13 and he sexually abused her.  It’s my understanding that the play is just two characters…and adapting it for the screen seemed a bit forced to me.  From ducking behind boxes and into bathroom stalls to hide from other workers, it seemed a bit of a stretch to buy the actions of the characters.  I ultimately had really mixed feelings.  The material is intriguing and bold, but I didn’t buy the set-up (trouble with the man’s position at work is a tangent that seems oddly tacked on).  In addition, I feel like the material didn’t ring with honesty.  SPOILER ALERT…don’t read more if you don’t want to know too much! The director spoke of each character having “unfinished desire” for one another.  I’d be anxious to hear a true feminist read of this material/adaptation.  By the end, I didn’t hate it, but I also can’t recommend it.  There is no trailer for this film, but here’s a clip:

I’ve got three films tomorrow and I get to sleep in until 7:30!  I also plan to meet an old friend for dinner – someone I met in line for Almodovar’s TALK TO HER back at the festival in 2002.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan

Introducing NEW Food Adventures Crew & Fried Chicken at Lily’s Bistro ($25 Gift Card)

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Food Adventures Just Got More Adventurous !

Food Adventures just got a whole lot more adventurous….. and you can benefit by winning a $25 gift certificate to Lily’s Bistro in the Oregon district.

*** FOOD ADVENTURES WITH BIG RAGU and THE CREW ***

Blazing the trails in the foodie forums since 2008, Food Adventures has developed a large following…

Today, we add some big players to the mix.  They include Chefs, Foodie Fanatics, royalty and an appetite for Dayton that has never been bigger.  Although we have a couple of new faces, FOOD ADVENTURES with BIG RAGU and THE CREW, is still the same FOOD ADVENTURES you have come to love.  We will continue to have the MUST EATS, killer food photos that make your mouth water, and multiple visits to a place before we write an article.  Will continue to give you “THE SKINNY” on our favorites.  Follow our relentless pursuit of the best eats in the Miami Valley!

Together, your humble Food Adventurers will seek out locally owned restaurants, unique places off the beaten path, and even give our slant on some familiar favorites. Whenever we visit a place, we call it a “Food Adventure.”  You can expect pictures of each Food Adventure we embark on. You can expect us hugging waiters, visiting mom & pop establishments, posting nostalgic blogs, tongue-in-cheek comments and emotionally eating our way through life.   We don’t take ourselves seriously, enjoying the adventure all the way.  “We are not food critics, we just love to eat!”  Food Adventures won’t limit ourselves, we try it all – NO RULES !  We will leave no plate unturned.

You know the Big Ragu already ...

You already know The Big Ragu

We will continue to set the trends, host Food Adventure dinner events, and give our unique spin on Dayton’s best “Mom and Pop” places in the Miami Valley.  Food Adventures with Big Ragu and the Crew will continue to attend and support numerous local food and charity events.   We eat it all, and the photos are ours. No stock pics here.  We aren’t a share and click site.  We are Dayton Originals, so all of our stuff is original content. Often imitated, never duplicated, accept no substitutions.

You can find us here:

Facebook Page: Facebook.com/foodadv

Website: DaytonFoodies.com 

Twitter: @food_adv

Instagram: Instagram.com/Dayton_Foodies

 

Our recent “Meeting of the Mouths” happened last Sunday at Lily’s Bistro on Chicken Dinner night.  We will get into the Must Eats from that night shortly, but first…,

Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to MEET THE NEW CREW !

 

Chef House - expert foodie !LEEANNE HOUSE aka “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!

Chef House’s Top 5 Favorite Local Places for a Food Adventure :

(in no particular order)

1) Meadowlark (they do veggies right!)

2) Rue Dumaine (it never disappoints)

3) Fresco (best chef hands down)

4) Oregon Express (favorite pizza since I was a kiddo)

5) My kitchen ! …  duh!!!!

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JACLYN SCANLAN aka “HUNGRY JAX”:

Jackie relocated to the Dayton are in 2006. This Italian 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 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 looking forward to experiencing some new eats!

Jackie’s Top 5 Favorite Local Places for a Food Adventure:

1) Lock 27

2) The Cakery

3) Sweeney’s Seafood

4) Dorothy Lane Market

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 And our final Food Adventurer…
The King - all smilesBLAKE KING aka “THE KING”

After hopping the globe with the Air Force, The King recently touched down in Dayton with his wife and daughters. Flying recon for great local food, the Big Ragu has set the course for his newest wingman, and he is logging some serious mileage. The King is a dessert FREAK! There is no shake too shaky, pie too flakey, nor cake to…cakey for this lunatic. He wants to find the best dessert in Dayton. Please help him. He needs it, a lot.

The King’s Top 5 Favorite Local Places for a Food Adventure:

1) Taco Loco

2) Jet Freeze

3) Bill’s Donut Shop

4) Hasty Tasty Pancake House

5) Submarine House

 

 

Now to the food of the day .. not a typical article for us, this is just about one dinner …. The Sunday Chicken Dinner at Lily’s Bistro

Get your hens ready….

HERE’S THE SKINNY: 

— The dinners go from 5pm – 9pm on Sundays only

— The menu is pretty much fried chicken, with the sides, appetizers, and desserts changing from week to week.

— The prices are $9 for a 2 piece dinner, $16 for a 1/2 chicken dinner, and $28 for a whole chicken

— Sides are $3,  good prices, no clucking around

Now we ruffle our feathers and give you our patented.. Must Eats!

 

Buttered Johnnycake..

Johnny Cakes at Lily’s Bistro. Click to Enlarge the Goodness

MUST EATS:

— JOHNNY CAKES:  It might have been chicken night, but the appetizers and sides stole the show !  We couldn’t stop talking about the Johnny cakes. Pancakes, as an appetizer? This was right up our alley. The King wished he could have bottled the scent to keep by his pillow at night. Made with jalepeno, for just enough contrasting kick to the sweet buttery mapleness.   These cakes were  slathered in butter and syrup and simply amazing.  Who would have thunk it?   Crispy, sweet and spicy made for a perfect combination, and Chef House’s favorite dish of the night.

— SMOKED SALMON DIP:  Another great appetizer of the night, served with bagel “nuggets.”  We started out polite, then found ourselves thumb wrestling for the last bits.  Addicting, and addiction is an ugly thing.

— HOMEMADE MASHED POTATOES: We are talking the real deal, mashed with decent sized chunks in them.  We wondered why conversation stopped, it was as if all the Food Adventurers discovered these at the same time and were very quietly stuffing their faces.

— COOLDADDY COCKTAIL:  This spicy cocktail is a must.  Who could pass up a drink that features Chef House’s Sriracha sauce? Tequila, handmade pepper syrup, strawberries, cilantro are also among the ingredients.

— BEIGNETS:  Pronounced “Ben-yays.”   Known in some circles as “pizza frite”, “zeppole” or fried dough, these puffs of dough are a perfect end to a rich dinner.  Ever so slightly covered with sifted powdered sugar, Big Ragu had white on his “man bib vest” in no time.

 

Smoked Salmon Dip with Bagel nuggets - a must eat

Smoked Salmon dip, made in house, with Bagel Bites

Honorable Mention:  The mac n cheese and hand breaded, fried okra deserve a nod!

Thank you for reading our special  Food Adventure with Big Ragu and the Crew!

We always visit a place multiple times before we write a story, so we are ready for a trip back to Lily’s.. want to join us?  COMMENT BELOW on the story for a chance to win!

**** CONTEST **** WIN a $25 Gift Certificate to LILY’S BISTRO WITH BIG RAGU AND THE CREW !!   Just comment on the story below for a chance to win.  One entry per person, please.  A winner will be chosen at random.  We will revisit this restaurant for an another Food Adventure and you are welcome to join us !
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