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Best Local Spaghetti Sauces in a Jar + *Win 3 Jars*

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Giovanni’s will be selling their sauce in jars soon !

Food Adventures  has the scoop!! Here is an announcement that is 60 years in the making… for the first time since the 1953 history of the Giovanni’s restaurant, they will be selling their sauce in jars !

Yes, Giovanni’s, located at 215 W Main St. Fairborn, has announced that some of their in house sauces will be available for purchase in mass quantities.  They plan to start selling the jars at the restaurant and some local grocers in the northern Miami Valley area. Managing owner Cassaundra Spaziani says they are a couple of months away from being available in stores.  She said they are currently working on developing artwork/photography for the labels on the jars.  The mystery is whether her father, Tony Spaziani, will be on the label or not.  It has yet to be decided.

Givoanni’s Marinara over Gnocchi

They are going to start with 2 sauces:

1) GIOVANNI’S MARINARA:
An old Spaziani family recipe, this sauce typically tomato based, and seasoned with garlic, onions and spices.

2) GIOVANNI’S PUTTANESCA: 
An aromatic sauce that combines tomatoes, onions, black olives, anchovies, capers, garlic and oregano, simmered with olive oil.

*** LEARN HOW TO WIN 3 JARS OF SAUCE BELOW !

Ranking other Dayton jarred sauces: Mamma DiSalvo’s

Oh you know we love the sauces at Giovanni’s in Fairborn.  And the marinara from Franco’s Italian Ristorante is delightful.  Even Jimmy’s Italian Kitchen, and Palermo’s & Troni’s family have their spots in Miami Valley eats.  And wow, what about Roost Modern Italian! But in today’s Food Adventure article, we are also going to talk about the local sauces that you can find in jars or cans for your eating pleasure at home.

Chef House, the Big Ragu and of course Hungry Jax know all about homemade spaghetti sauce.  It is what we grew up on, it is what we prefer.  But sometimes we don’t have 2, 4 or 6 hours to tend to the sauce.  Well Chef House always does 🙂  she cray cray..

So when in need, The Big Ragu likes to get local for premade spaghetti sauce.  Sometimes in a pinch he cracks open a jar.  Whether it is for manicotti to mostaccioli, from eggplant parm to baked ziti.  Which local ones are the best?  We have the breakdown, so learn from us !

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON THE BEST LOCALLY JARRED SPAGHETTI SAUCES:

1) MAMMA DISALVO’S MARINARA SAUCE:  
In Big Ragu’s opinion, this jarred sauce is the closest thing he has found to his family recipe.  And the taste is fantastic.  The thick tomato sauce is slightly sweet, with chunks of basil and tomatoes.  When you heat this sauce, sometimes a little olive oil rises up to the top, just like it is

Annarinno’s Marinara over Spaghetti

supposed to…. You don’t need to add a thing to doctor it up.  We are going to be honest, the sauce isn’t cheap, but it is worth it.  In our list, all heads must bow to this #1 iconic Dayton jarred sauce.  Also available in a spicy version, which is second best. Did we mention their incredible house salad dressing for sale in jars too?

 

2) ANNARINO’S MARINARA SAUCE:  
A dark horse squeaks in at #2.  The great flavor surprised us and the sauce has a terrific flavor.  If you have yet to try this brand, give it a shot.  We tried it on spaghetti a couple of times and were really impressed. As much as you can be from jarred sauce  (Again, ain’t nothing like the real thing baby). They sell various flavors from mushroom to meat sauce, but we prefer the Marinara.

 

Schiavone’s Marinara over Rigatoni


3) SCHIAVONE’S CANNED MARINARA SAUCE:
This versatile sauce comes in a can, and needs a bit of doctoring up with oregano and basil, then it is perfect.  It is a great base sauce for baking pasta dishes.  Many of you may remember the fantastic restaurant in Middletown where this sauce originated.  Long closed down, only the canned sauce remains as a reminder of that wonderful Italian eatery.  Take advantage, and try some of this old school sauce.  This is a very basic building block for a great meal.

 

4) ZAPPIA’S MARINARA SAUCE:
A newer Dayton sauce, this one has a rich taste and good flavor.  This family might be known for local car dealerships, but the sauce could eclipse that.  It is an old family recipe passed down from Zappia generations back in Italy.  Definitely worth a pick-up, if you have not tried this jarred sauce.  One of the places it is available for purchase is the Flying Pizza Downtown.  Try it, you’ll like it !

 

 

 

5) CAPOZZI’S SPICY MARINARA SAUCE: Here is an example where we like the spicy version better than the original.  This marinara has a nice flavor and a kick to it.  Great over pasta and even with another splash of red pepper to get Food Adventurous.  We are lucky to have so many local families with great sauce recipes for us on the “go.”  This sauce is more nutritional than most on the market and it is even low fat, low cholesterol, and low sodium based.

Capozzi Family Sauce

 

 

6) LAROSA’S MARINARA SAUCE:
The pride of Cincinnati sauces ends the list. From Kings Island to the Kentucky shore, Buddy LaRosa has been wowing the crowds with his sauce for decades.  From pizza to pasta, this familiar sauce will have you licking your lips.  This basic sauce again is not only great on pasta, but lends itself to baked dishes like lasagna.

There you have it  – scoop on Giovanni’s and Dayton’s best local jarred sauces !  Now how about some freebies???

***** WIN 3 FREE JARS OF YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL SAUCE ! *****

LaRosa’s Original Recipe

Comment below and tell us which local sauce is your favorite and which one you would like to try 3 jars of?   You have 7 choices – Giovanni’s, Mama Disalvos, Annarino’s, Schiavone’s, Zappia’s, Capozzi’s or LaRosa’s.  One person who comments will be picked at random next Monday (note: if you choose Giovanni’s we have to wait til it is available….).

 

Feel free to browse the photos below of some of Dayton’s greatest canned spaghetti sauces.

For more great food topics and pictures, hit Food Adventures up on Facebook and “like” us by clicking HERE.

 

LaRosas’s Sauce over pasta

LaRosa’s over Spaghetti with a pinch of cheese

Mamma DiSalvo’s sauce with Manicotti is amazing

Mamma DiSalvos’s Marinara over Manicotti with fresh basil and fresh garlic

Baking Manicotti with DiSalvos’s sauce

Schiavone’s sauce over pasta

Zappia history

Annarino’s meaty version

We prefer the marinara to the mushroom

Cooking with Annarino’s sauces

Capozzi’s sauce with spaghetti and Parmesan cheese

Giovanni’s in Fairborn will soon be jarring spaghetti sauce !

The sauce taste you love is coming to a grocer near you !

Congratulations to Giovanni’s on their plan to start selling their sauce in jars too !

 

 

 

 

 

Red, White and FOOD! Americana Fest Vendors Announced!

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Hungry Jax with a pretzel from “Moms Homemade Goodies”

ATTENTION FOODIES !! One hundred thousand people will descend into downtown Centerville this Monday July 4th for the Americana Festival.

Sure there is a 5 k run early at 7:30am

You bet there is a parade at 10am.

And who could forget fireworks at 10pm later that night.

But Food Adventures has advanced notice on something close to our hearts…  FOOD VENDORS !! What restaurants are going to be in attendance?  What to eat?  We got it all for you right here.  We will make order of this crowded party of patriotism.  So sit in your lawn chair and listen to this scoop on the best eats at this festival

Pork Chop Sandwich from BlackJack Grill

celebrating our independence!

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— This is the 43rd Annual Americana Festival

— From 9:30am  – 5pm  is the Street Fair.  It runs from the instersection of 48 and 725, down to Bills Donut Shop, and will be filled with FOOD vendors.

— There are also food vendors at Benham’s Grove and tucked back into Activity Center Park in the kids play area.

Crawfish Etouffe from Cajun Specialties – A MUST EAT !

 

— The key to this festival is to GET THERE EARLY… or go very late.  Food crowds are lightest at 10-11am and 4-5pm.

— Parking is rough, you may have to walk a few blocks, so suck it up buttercup

— We suggest bringing a light lawn chair with you, so you can go off to the side and sit and eat comfortably.

Kowalski’s hots will be grilling Upstate NY brand dogs all day with coney sauce

So now we get to the meat of the story – where to go, what to eat, who to drink.  The Big Ragu, Hungry Jax and Chef House have decades of experience at this festival and will be in the mix again this year for an epic Food Adventure ! We have some of the food vendors who are going to be in attendance, and list some of our faves and best foodstuffs.

The Greek Booth is amazing – get the classic GYRO

Here they are, in alphabetical order, our patented ……

AMERICANA FESTIVAL MUST EATS:

— BLACKJACK GRILL: Huge porkchops as big as Shaquille O’Neal’s hand. A definite must eat if you’re hungry.

— CAJUN SPECIALTIES: Formerly “LeDoux’s,” this festival vendor has some incredible crawfish etouffe and gumbo. Dont miss this booth!

— CHESTER’S STEAK BURGERS: Get a damn steakburger with cheese already….

—CORK N BOTTLE’S AMERICAN GRILL: Incredible burgers and sandwiches even down to a grilled cheese.

Nellys Chicken is gonna be there – charcoal grilled !

— EL MESON’S FOOD TRUCK: Get some empanadas at this fantastic eatery.  They will be at benhams grove, and the menu is constantly changing from “must eats” like paella, to shrimp tacos.

— FRICKER’S:  The BBQ boneless wings are amazing here.  Dayton iconic sports bar with some of the best frickin chicken around.

Sweet P’s Handemade Ice Pops will cool you off

— FRONANA:  Healthy, ice cream like dessert made with mashed bananas.  Go for the chocolate fronana, a dream on a spoon…

— GREEK STREET FOOD TRUCK:  New guy on the block.  The 2 “must eats” here are the “Street Style Chicken Gyros”  and the “Street Style Shrimp Gyros.”  No shrimp? Get Baklava !

— HAMBURGER WAGON:  Get the double burger, it is a

The Hamburger Wagon is pulling into Americana Fest

crunchy delight !  105 years of customers cant be wrong…

— HARVEST FOOD TRUCK: Their salmon in the Land n Sea BLT is remarkable.  Perfect day to chomp on this..

— HUNGER PAYNES FOOD TRUCK:  Get the PB & J Croquettes or the Salmon ones… Oh my.. goodness…

Well hello there Zombie Dog … arent you the popular one ?

— ISLAND NOODLES: Vegetarians unite! Try the Asian, wok fired noodles stir fried with garlic and ginger… with veggies in a  light “island sauce.”

— J.T.’s STOVETOP BBQ: Pulled Pork with, extra bbq sauce.  It doesn’t count unless you drip sauce on your shoe.

— K & H CONCESSIONS:  Corn on the cob is their specialty, get one and live a little….

— KERNEL DAVE’S KETTLE CORN: Bags of kettle corn. Eat some now, save some for the fireworks or next movie night…

The street style gyro from Greek Street – we lke the chicken and shrimp verisons best

— KONA ICE:  Shaved ice and snow cones.   Get the blueberry and raspberry mix option.

— KOWALSKI’S HOTS:  One of our faves.  This guy has exclusive brands of upstate New York made hot dogs.  Get the Red Hot with coney sauce.. it isn’t spicy it is just a red colored, big hot dog.  Dont want a dog? Get a “Hamburg,” Rochester NY Style with coney sauce

— LAROSA’S PIZZERIA:  The must eat is a slice of pepperoni pizza.  Take yourself back to Kings Island 1982 in one swift bite.,…

— MOM’S HOMEMADE GOODIES:  A family that makes the most incredible hand tied soft pretzels.  Get a pie too !

A Super Taco from Pita Pockets

— NELLY’S CHICKEN:  The “must eat” is the half chicken, it has that amazing, cooked over charcoal taste.  Get yucca fries if you really want an incredible treat,

— OLD TEXAS SODA COMPANY:  Handcrafted Root Beer is the must drink here.  On a hot summers day, you will down two of these without blinking.

Fronana scooping up some great flavors

— PITA POCKETS:  Try the super taco.  It is a tostada shell loaded.  Good eats, good street food.

— REISTMILLER’S FUNNEL CAKES:  It is Americana Fest, get the damn funnel cake and powder your nose!

We like to run with sparklers through the crowd, holding food, yelling “get out of the way”

— SANTORINI’S GREEK FOOD:  Man mountain Dean sized Gyro Sandwiches are the way to go here.  Just get the traditional ones.

— SWEET P’S HANDMADE ICE POPS:  The “Berry Berry Good” pop is a favorite.  A refreshing bet on a hot July day.

— THERESA’S ICE CREAM: Butter Pecan or rocky road will always please at Amerciana Festival

— ZOMBIE DOGZ:  Dayton’s favorite food truck always has our favorite.. “Juan of the Dead.” or “The Nibbler.”  Let’s face it, you cant go wrong with a Zombie Dog…

Funnel Cakes, the filet mignon of carnies everywhere !

 

There you have it sports fans, the MUST EATS for JULY 4th, 2016’s AMERICANA FESTIVAL !  Often imitated, never duplicated, Food Adventures can be found on Facebook HERE.  Like us on Facebook, love us in your hearts.

We wish our fans a happy, long weekend of fun filled family time with loved ones, celebrating the 4th of July.  That’s where we will be, and making sure the best summer food is within reach !

See you next week and every week on Dayton Most Metro…..

Enjoy some more photos below, from Americana Festivals of years past….

 

 

Roasted Corn on the Cob for sale

El Meson Food Truck will be at Benhams Grove

We eat it all – Nellys chicken – the Bolivian chicken experts

LarRosa’s Pizza – get a slice on 48 in the street

The pulled pork here is tremendous

Slapping Giant Porkchops on BlackJack Grill

Santorini Greek Food – get the mound in your mouth

Free, amazing smells at the Greek booth

Jaun of the Dead – Zombie Dogz Rule

If you see Harvest – go for the seafood, last resort a local wrap is always on hand

100,000 food adventurers

Frickers !! Oh hellz yez the boneless BBQ is the hit here

Happy 4th from our crew to yours

Corn dogs, Fries

The Amazing Soft Pretzels

A Footlong from Kowalski’s hots – Hoffmans, Zweigels and other brands

Baklava from Greek Street

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LaRosa’s 40+ Year Spaghetti Pigout Tradition

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All you Can Eat Spaghetti Mon & Tues at LaRosa’s

LaRosa’s Family Pizzeria has had the best dinner deal in town, for four decades.  It is called “Spaghetti a  Plenty” Nights.  We decided to revisit this weekly special and see if it is still “bowling” folks over.

We found out, kids love it, grown ups love it.. so what’s going on here?

Oodles and oodles of noodles… enough for several Food Adventures, that’s what’s going on here.  It is a chance to indulge at a nominal price.

Since the 1970’s LaRosa’s has been serving up the Monday and Tuesday “All-You-Can-Eat” Spaghetti deal for adults and for kids.  The Big Ragu remembers those 70’s nights in Centerville and Lebanon taking advantage of the special treat.  If you love pasta, this place has been the mecca for your craving at the beginning of each week.  It is a tradition to “pig out” and loosen your belt after the meal….

Do you love your spaghetti with chunky marinara sauce, full of tomatoes?  Or are you the meat sauce type, even loving a big old meatball in the middle of your spun noodles.  This dinner has all the fixings and is crazy cheap.  How Cheap?  99 cents cheap for kids and $5.19 for adults.  From the Oregano to the Parmesan, this night will have you and your family dancing in your booth seats.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

Looks like it is Meatball Mania on this Food Adventure

WHAT: “SPAGHETTI-A-PLENTY” NIGHTS at LaROSA’S PIZZERIA.. it’s ALL-U-CAN-EAT Spaghetti!  Capeesh?

WHEN:  MONDAY and TUESDAY’s from 4pm – close.

COST: 99cents for  kids, $5.19 for adults. (Sometimes they charge you $1 for meat sauce)

Ok , so The Big Ragu, Hungry Jax and Chef House have super secret codes and we are gonna share with you the way to get the most of this special if you are a pasta lover.  We will channel your inner Italian …especially like the Italian in us!

 

ROUND 1: DINNER SALAD –  This isn’t your typical “side salad.”  They are generous with shredded mozzarella, covering your mixed greens plate, and serving your favorite dressing on the side.  Dig it, it is cold, refreshing and delicious.  Even served with an olive or 2, make sure you shake, shake shake some of that Parmesan cheese on top.

 

ROUND 2: SPAGHETTI WITH TOMATO SAUCE:  Order this first.  A big portion, how we like it, with a LOT of sauce.  Buddy LaRosa’s own family recipe of sauce, that has stood the test for 6 decades. Ask for the TEXAS TOAST here and work it into your noodle spinning.  Did we forget to mention.. sprinkle the oregano, hot pepper, and Parmesan cheese on your “Sketty Mountain.”

 

Salad Included.. Do it up !

ROUND 3: SPAGHETTI with MEAT SAUCE:  Finish strong, even asking for a meatball in the middle.  They serve this and other “refills” as half portions.  So hey, deal with it… meaty, so good.  Ask for the BREADSTICKS option on this round, so you take advantage of all the amenities

 

**NOTE: Your kids don’t like sauce?  No problem!  They have a butter sauce available, so the noodles are served plain… go ahead, if you want it this way, put your “lunch hooks” in the air and wave…

That’s our system, after this you are on your own.  You could keep going, ordering more servings or eat forkfuls off your kids plates and a pound of spaghetti like Hungry Jax.   Another option is spill half of it down your chest like The Big Ragu, leaving stains as memories of past Food Adventures.

Want something besides spaghetti?  Well we have a few patented “Must Eats” that you want to sink your teeth into.   And away we go ….

 

Pepperoni Pizza – it put Kings Island on the International food map

MUST EATS: (BESIDES SPAGHETTI A PLENTY) 

— PEPPERONI PIZZA: Why just pepperoni? Because it is the pizza that put Kings Island on the International food map.  Come on, the pizza tastes so good.  Whether you are sitting in a wet bathing suit on a bench after “Waterworks” water park, or in a booth with your favorite pizza pal.

— GARLIC FRIES: Dripping with freshly minced garlic and butter, what’s not to love.  Your breath might be rank, but your mouth will be smiling.

— LASAGNA: A brick of lasagna, smothered in sauce and cheese.  Try it and get lost in gooey, cheesey, saucy heaven.  A labor of love, brought to you by Buddy LaRosa.

 

But this week it was all about the spaghetti.  It was about fork spinnin, sauce drippin’, bread dippin’ good eats.  “Spaghetti A Plenty” is a CHEAP, fun way to get the family together.  It has been going on for 40 years.. why don’t you stop at LaRosa’s Pizzeria and see why ?  See you at tables….

Chef House says follow Food Adventures on INSTAGRAM HERE if you know whats good for you.  Be a Facebook fan with our entourage of foodies by clicking HERE

All you want, endless “Spaghetti A Plenty”

Forkfull

Menu shot

Tomato Sauce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big Ragu and his ancestor ????

Pepperoni Pie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Garlic Fries

Fun for the whole family

Meat Sauce.. but of courrrse !

Breadstick for dipping, CHECK !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buddy Larosa

The Starch Stare

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hungry Jax and her daughters run on PASTA POWER !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meat Sauce

We love our breadsticks

Hangry? Get Texas Toast

Get to twirling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Mr bubbly

Cheese , PLEASE

I see a MEATBALL on top…

Lasagna – ohh baby

The Three Wiseman of LaRosas

Fresh, cold, crisp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Americana Festival: 5k, FOOD, Fireworks & Fox

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Pork Chops on the Grill

Run, eat and watch fireworks in the street. The Americana Festival is celebrating 41 years strong with this year’s event in downtown Centerville.  This year we have the star spangled scoop on some new Food Adventure attractions and happenings.

The Big Ragu is a lifelong Centerville guy, so this festival is close to our homes and our hearts.  We cant think of a better way to celebrate freedom and the good ole’ USA, than this event.

 

Here is a day in the life of a 4th of July Food Adventurer at the Americana  Festival:

7:30am:  5K RUN at Centerville Stadium.  Why?  So we can eat all day, guilt free, that’s why !

9:30am: Sneak between the chairs lining the streets, dart across State Route 48 and see what food vendors are open early.  Ragu actually had a 9:45am cheesesteak 2 years ago.

10:00am: Watch the AMERICANA FESTIVAL PARADE. We hope to march in he parade someday, carrying flags with cheeseburgers on them, and wearing sequin shorts…

 

Harvest Mobile Food Truck will be at the Festival

11:30am – 4:00pm:  STREET FAIR: We are excited to be checking out these MUST EATS !!

—HARVEST MOBILE:  Who else loves the healthy “Local Wrap?”

— ZOMBIE DOGZ:  The Nibbler Dog ! Heck, any hot dog they have is a true original and something you wont taste anywhere else!

— EL MESON FOOD TRUCK: Empanadas to die for !

— MOM’S HOMEMADE GOODIES: Incredible Soft Pretzels

— SANTORINI’S GREEK KITCHEN:  The Gyros are must eats.  They are grilled fresh by these guys in from Indianapolis.

— TIM HORTON’S:  You may need the coffee for some quick energy

— OLD TYME POPCORN:  Kettle Corn experts !

— LaROSA’S:  You gotta get some pizza slices from this Cincinnati icon

— CINDY LOU’S BBQ:  Any BBQ entree is delicious here !

— KONA ICE:  Cool off with a SnoCone cup with tiger’s blood sauce !

El Meson will be at the Street Fair

— CORK N BOTTLE’S AMERICAN GRILL:  Any one of their sandwiches are delicious, cheap, and a handful !

— BLACKJACK GRILL:  The best grilled porkchops in Dayton

—NELLY’S CHICKEN:  The rotesserie roasted, Bolivian recipe chicken is nothing short of amazing on flavor !

As you can see there are gonna be plenty of options to light your fireworks.  We didnt even mention the carnival type food, or local places within walking distance like SWEENEY’S SEAFOOD HOUSE, JOHNNY’S SLICE OF NY, BILLS DONUTS, MARION’S PIZZA, CITY BBQ, GRAETERS ICE CREAM, ROOT48, and MCDIGGERS PUB.

We will also be hanging out with Fox and Friend’s Brian Kilmeade who will be in town promoting his new book!

10:00PM: FIREWORKS AT CENTERVILLE FOOTBALL STADUM.  We usually cap off the night by attending the fireworks with family, after napping off a food coma.

 

Show your patriotism this Friday.  Whether it is chanting USA, or wearing a US Flag t-shirt, we hope you have the time of your life.  We suggest you do just that in downtown Centerville on the 4th !
Even Uncle Sam will be there, and so will The Food Adventures Crew.

Want be a good American?  Then “like” FOOD ADVENTURES on Facebook HERE.  We are often imitated, never duplicated.

Check out our Americana Food Photos below !

[flagallery gid=93]

Favorite ‘Kids Eat Free’ Places in Dayton

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Still feeling it in the pocketbook from all those back to school clothes and supplies?  Then listen up, because we have some Food Adventure scoop for you.

We have compiled a list of The Big Ragu’s and Crew’s favorite “Kids Eat Free” places.  Gather up the gang, but make sure you know these basic guidelines:

— Generally each “free kid’s meal” is earned with 1 paying adult.  So if you are in the Brady Bunch, it looks like only Bobby and Cindy get free grub.  Well, unless you bring Alice and Sam the Butcher.

— Also, there are age limits on the “kids” (typically 10 and under).  Don’t expect your Senior Prom King son to get a zero cost meal anytime soon.  Make him mow some lawns or something.

Without further ado,  here are our favorite KIDS EAT FREE spots in the Dayton area.

Whether your kids are angels or brats, it won’t cost you a dime at these Miami Valley eateries:

STEAK THYME: Kids eat free Wednesdays after 5pm at this underrated restaurant in Kettering.  May we suggest a cheesesteak?  If not, how about a burger or gyro ?

LA PINATA:  Niño’s eat free every Sunday at this hot spot in Centerville.  Kids love the free chips and salsa.   It really doesn’t matter what they order, it will be a delicious combo of corn tortilla, beans, rice and cheese.  Great, cheap Mexican food here!

THE SUBMARINE HOUSE: Kids eat free everyday after 4pm at this East Coast style sub shop .  We don’t suggest they try the super duper cheesesteak challenge until they are 21.   Instead they will want to go with winners like the cheese pita pizza or the chicken tenders and fries.

FRICKER’S: Every frickin day, kids 10 and under eat free.  Wings, chicken chunks, boneless wings and burgers are the most popular.  Gourmet kids love the Frickin Chicken Pizza.

OINKADOODLEMOO: Tuesdays, kids eat free in the Oakwood restaurant.  That is a good deal, because good bbq isn’t cheap.

SKYLINE CHILI: Wednesday nights, kids eat free!  Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that this Cincinnati style chili place is an acquired taste.  Finicky kids will eat the plain hot dogs all day long !

DE’LISH CAFE: Kids eat free Thursdays until 8pm.   This is an upscale bistro, with some gourmet dishes.  Show your kids the great food photos on the website, before you go there.

FLYBOY’S DELI: Tuesdays and Thursdays 5-8pm, no cost for kiddos.   Like the marquee says, “Eat in New York City, without leaving historic Dayton.”  They offer 4 pizza choices and 4 panini choices.   From Buffalo chicken pizza to ham sandwiches, make sure you take them to the rooftop seating area for a fun Food Adventure.

Kids Eat Free every Frickin’ Day at Frickers

EARTH FARE: Thursdays 4-8pm, kids eat free.  The organic, gluten free and healthy food choices here are endless.

WG GRINDERS: Kids eat free everyday.  This Columbus based eatery has great sub sandwiches.  Some are colossal creations!

 

CHAIN FAVES:
QDOBA MEXICAN GRILL – Fun atmosphere at Qdoba where after 4pm on Sunday nights, you guessed it, kids eat free !!  Get the kids involved topping their own “lil burrito.”  Good, Mexican street food and it’s pretty healthy!
BEEF O’BRADY’S -Already a kid’s paradise, this place features a  ‘kids eat free’ night on Tuesdays from 4-8pm.   The chicken nuggets always score a touchdown with the little ones.

 

ALMOST FREE:
LAROSA’S – Kids get unlimited spaghetti dinners for 99cents on Mondays and Tuesdays !  Buddy LaRosa’s gang will make your kids smile with this deal.  We see sauce stained cheeks in your future.

Kids Eat Free at La Pinata on Sundays !

 

Nothing beats good free food.   It is a great money-saver for families on a budget.   So take advantage of these deals,  especially at the restaurants you may already frequent.    Maybe there is such a thing as a free lunch!

Want more food, fun and serious eats with couple of kids at heart?  Check out FOOD ADVENTURES on Facebook, HERE !

Browse the photo gallery below from some food shots from our favorite KIDS EAT FREE places.  Did we miss one?  Which “kids eat free” spots are your favorites?  Comment below and let us know !

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Walking Dead Food Adventure & Zombie Dogz at Horror Hound Weekend

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‘Juan of the Dead’ Zombie Dog

Here is something you will not see anywhere else.  The Big Ragu and Crew had a VIP experience at last weekend’s Horror Hound convention in Sharonville.  We had a Food Adventure with Merle & Daryl Dixon from The Walking Dead (Norman Reedus and Michael Rooker)!  Featured along with the Cast of the Walking Dead and many celebrities was a Dayton’s own,  Zombie Dogz.  Typically a food truck, it was a little different this time for the gourmet hot dog masters.   They operated out of a catering booth inside the convention center.     Owners of  Zombie Dogz,  Lee and David VanArtsdalen and Horror Hound Magazine’s Eric Crowley personally invited us to the event and set us up for an unforgettable Food Adventure.

The Big Ragu and Crew shared some iconic Dayton foods with the celebrities:

We had a Zombie Dog with a Reservoir Dog.  That’s right, we dined and joked with Michael Madsen.  Michael was a great sport, and he didn’t carve our ear off.   He shared some good Hollywood stories and laughs with us.  We also learned he was telling other celebrities about his time with us and the Zombie Dogz.

Legendary horror film director John Carpenter also enjoyed one of Dayton’s Zombie Dogz with us, while he was wearing some pretty sweet black velvet sweat pants.  It was almost as scary as his film “Halloween.”   Meeting this giant of the film industry was priceless.

We gave a hungry Twisted Sister Frontman Dee Snider some Mikesell’s Good n Hot Potato chips.  In fact, the whole cast of his show “Holliston” shared the bag.  What does Dee wanna do with his chips?  ‘He wants them hot, HOT !’   This Celebrity Apprentice star loved the taste of Mikesells, and we were not ‘fired’ in the boardroom.

Dee Snider from Twisted Sister & Celeb Apprentice loves Mikesells Chips

The star of the scary Candyman movies Tony Todd, loved the box of Esther Price Candies we gave him.   He enjoyed them so much, he gave us a high five the next day.   Even movie stars like the Candyman love Esther Price Candies !

Remember the classic 60’s TV show The Munsters?  Well, we ate Muenster cheese with Eddie Munster, thanks to Murray’s Cheese from Kroger in Centerville.  Eddie, played by Butch Patrick, appreciated it so much, he signed a photo for us!

The  Big Ragu and Crew ate lunch with Bengals Defensive Tackle Domata Peko .  We enjoyed some LaRosa’s Pizza while sitting with his family.  Domata is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.  He is also a horror movie fan like us,  and was excited to meet the various celebs.

Where else can you see this kind of stuff?  Only here, only Food Adventures and Dayton Most Metro.  Often imitated, never duplicated.

The Big Ragu also shared French Bread and Perrier Sparkling Mineral Water with 80’s babe Diane Franklin from the movie “Better Off Dead.”  If you saw the movie, you get the significance of the food items, ‘and to drink…. Peru’ .  These days Diane is promoting her new book “Diane Franklin: The Excellent Adventures of the Last American, French-Exchange Babe of the 80s.”  You can buy the book here on Amazon.com.

We hung out with other famous horror actors including Lew Temple, Sid Haig, Tom Savini,  Irwin Keyes, Robert Mukes and many other costumed monsters.  The original car from the movie Christine was there, we wanted to take it to the Root Beer Stande Drive in but she turned us down.  Special mention to our friends at S.T.A.R.S Cincinnati, a costumed fan group of the movie “Resident Evil.”  They do charity appearances and their slogan is “We kill zombies for charity.”  Speaking of Zombies….

The “Calling in Dead” Zombie Dog has Mac N Cheese on top

About Zombie Dogz:

Have you tried a Zombie Dog?  These hot dogs are so big, that they almost look like kielbasa sausages.  The menu at Zombie Dogz is pretty simple.  It all starts with large, juicy all beef hot dog.    The hot dog is placed into a wonderful sandwich roll, strong enough to hold the hot dog and ingredients intact.  What makes a zombie dog special is the choice of toppings.  Each Zombie Dog has a creative name based on those toppings.  The menu is constantly evolving with new creations, but The Big Ragu and Hungry Jax ate these hot dogs all weekend and want to share our favorites.

Zombe’ Grande – The all beef hot dog is topped with cheese queso sauce, lettuce, cilantro sour cream, jalapeno bacon bits and crushed corn chips.  The mix of the cheese sauce and crushed corn chips are a gooey, tasty combination that won us over.  This was definitely one of our favorites

Juan of the Dead – An all beef frank topped with Swiss cheese, homemade bbq pulled pork, sweet and tangy mustard and pickles.  The pulled pork and pickles really make this gourmet hot dog.  The Big Ragu say this is a must eat!

The Nibbler – This time they wrap the hot dog in bacon, then smother it in spicy chili.  The zombie dog is then topped off with diced red onion, sweet & tangy mustard, and shredded muenster cheese.  This one really woke up our taste buds and is a Food Adventure in your mouth.

Owners Dave and Lee VanArtsdalen of Zombie Dogz, with Co-founder/Marketer Michael Whitaker

Calling in Dead  – This over the top creation tops the hot dog with homemade mac n cheese.  The creamy mac n cheese is cooked in truffle oil for a magnificent flavor.  The final touch in this hot dog is a sprinkle of truffle salt and cracker crumbs.  This hot dog was so rich, we could hardly finish it.  It packed a powerful punch on our appetites, but we couldn’t stop eating it.

Brain Daddy – This was the most Caribbean style hot dog that we tried.  The all beef dog is topped with slow roasted mango habanero pulled pork.  It was also topped with pineapple-cherry salsa.  The final dash of white and black sesame seeds finishes this masterpiece.  This gourmet dog promises to have your taste buds dancing the mambo.

The Horror Hound Weekend was incredible. We got to meet Dayton horror film makers like our pals from Concept Media Films.  We even bought a couple of their Dayton-made DVD’s!  Meanwhile The Big Ragu was distracted by the Jersey girls over at GorgeousAndGory.com.  Supporting local people and making new Food Adventure fans seemed to sum up this fantastic experience.

This Zombie Dog is called “The Nibbler”

Miami Valley foodies should keep their eye open for events featuring the Zombie Dogz Food Truck and their unique creations.  The hot dogs will satisfy your hunger at the not so bad price of $6.50 per dog.  There are even have veggie dog options.  Want to catch Zombie Dogz Food Truck’s next event?  Then visit Dayton’s Crafty-Con on April 5th.  The event will be held from 5pm to 11pm at the Yellow Cab Building on 700 East 4th St.   Tell the zombies that The Big Ragu sent you !

 

Feel free to comment on the Zombie Dogz Food Truck below.  Also share any thoughts about Horror Hound Weekend as well.

“Like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking here, unless you are scared of zombies and good times.

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Food Adventures Invades the “Taste of Centerville”

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The 2nd annual “Taste of Centerville” happened on June 15 in the Heart of Downtown Centerville from 6-9 pm.  The event benefited Food4Summer, which is a charity started by partnerships between Centerville churches.  Food4Summer  furnishes nutritious meals to low income children in the Centerville area when school is out for the summer.

The Taste of Centerville started at the registration booth where we paid $20 each to sample items from various Centerville eateries.  Many local businesses opened their doors and offered discounts to participants of the event.  Centerville is the home of The Big Ragu, so we had to check out this event.  It was a classic Food Adventure, and the photos tell the story on this one.

Key Lime Pie Cupcakes from Sweet Dot’s Cupcakes in Cross Pointe Center.

 

It was a hot evening, but it did not stop us from hitting every food booth along the “Taste of Centerville.”   We walked the four corners of the event, emotionally eating our way through warm and cheerful Centerville.  There were a slew of vendors, but The Food Adventures Crew is here to sort them out for you.

Meadowlark Restaurant ‘s Hot Dogs with Slaw & a Spicy Relish .. Amazing taste!

Below is a list of each restaurant and our favorite food selections from each booth:

Meadowlark – Chef Wiley wowed the crowds with her spin on a Classic Slaw Dog.  A filling, refreshing taste at one of our favorite places on earth.

Sweet Dot’s Bakery Cafe – The friendly manager of this establishment gave us small Key Lime Cupcakes with Icing.  These tiny bites were terrific, with the homemade taste of love in every morsel.

Murray’s Cheese – This New York company sells its cheeses in Kroger.  We enjoyed the Aged Cheese Plate with 3 pieces of savory and delicate cheeses.  Great stuff !

Graeter’s served up samples of their light and refreshing Peach Ice Cream.

Savona – Offered a gourmet Grilled, Stuffed Free Range Chicken Skewer appetizer.  The chicken on the skewers were rolled in a way that it was like Grilled Chicken Cordon Bleu on a stick.

LaRosa’s Pizza – We were pleasantly surprised with their fantastic Boneless Wings.  They had 3 great sauces that tickled our tastebuds.

Graeter’s Ice Cream – Refreshing Peach Ice Cream cooled us off on this evening.  Always busy, this Cincinnati company has a good following in Centerville.

Horton’s Hoagies – New family owned restaurant with fresh hoagies and subs.  We loved their Sub Samples, and are eager to visit this place !

The Melting Pot – They offered Chocolate Fondue with Strawberries and Rice Crispie Sticks.  Irresistible treats at this booth!

DiBella’s Old Fashioned Subs – Huge samples of Turkey and Ham Subs on various types of buns were stacked at this booth.  Big mouths needed for these big sandwiches.

Louisiana Grill’s Bourbon Chicken over Rice

Louisiana Grill – The friendly staff served out sample tastes of Bourbon Chicken Over Rice.  It was a rich and flavorful combination.

Johnny’s Slice of NY Pizza – Of course we loved another chance to taste a small slice of New York.  Owner Michele and her daughter served up delicious sample squares.

 

Unhinged – Not a food store, but they hand fed us tasty treats and told us home baked goodies are in the lobby from time to time.  Definitely a place to visit again!

City Barbecue – The Pulled Pork and Pulled Chicken station was phenomenal.  They had each of their BBQ sauces out, so you could drizzle your own topping to the slow cooked goodness.

Panera Bread – We enjoyed the Pastry and Cookie Display, and sampled some tasty homemade items.

Mama Disalvo’s – One of our favorite stops had a Salmon Rigatoni in a Creamy Tomato Sauce.  It was amazing how our samples were cooked to perfection.

Pulled Pork Sliders from Archer’s Tavern.. everything they serve is good!

Unique Celebrations Tea Room – Hospitality was second to none, and they had some Homemade Light Desserts that were simply dreamy.

Archer’s Tavern – Pulled Pork Sliders Topped with Slaw gave festival goers a great taste of a great eatery.  Even owners Dan Apolito and Mike Fullenkamp were on hand.

Sam’s Club – This station passed out bottled water, so we wouldn’t pass out from dehydration!

Sweeney’s Seafood – We tasted the wonderful Grilled BBQ Shrimp on the patio and met the new chef.  We could have eaten the entire display.

Smoothie King – The samples of Strawberry Smoothies were so good, that The Big Ragu dribbled some down his shirt.

Buffalo Wings and Rings – They walked around handing out samples of Garlic Parmesean Boneless Wings and Hot Buffalo Boneless Wings too.

The Hot Sex Roll from Kabuki. We ate a lot of these hoping to reap some kind of benefit.

Kabuki – Earlier in the month, we received a personal invite to the festival from Kabuki’s management, for which we are grateful.  This station was one of our favorite stops of the night.  The Hot Sex Sushi Roll and Playboy Sushi Roll were so good that it caused us to do erotic dance moves on the spot.

The Water Store – Ionized Water with a unique, fresh taste.  We loved the friendly staff and the great tasting ionized water that you can have in your home by purchasing their attachment.

Caribou Coffee – No coffee, but instead they gave out Sparkling Teas and Juices.  A most refreshing station on this night, so we went back for seconds.

The Big Ragu devoured this Jimmy John’s Turkey sub in record time

Jimmy John’s – Freshly wrapped Turkey and Ham Subs were given out by the friendly greeters.  The freshly shredded lettuce gives their sandwiches a nice crunch and flavor.

Whew!  What a FOOD ADVENTURE !!  It was nice to see a community get together for a great cause and enjoy some wonderful food.   THE BIG RAGU is looking forward to next year’s “Taste of Centerville.”

Were you at the June 15th event?  If so, please leave your thoughts and comments below!

Did you know Food Adventures has a Facebook page?  Click here to “like” the page

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