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Chicken Louies Making a Comeback

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That famous taste you know is coming baaaccck !

Food Adventures has some secret scoop.  It is so secret in fact that we can’t release all the details of the deal, but we can tell you . absolutely that an iconic chicken stop is about to be reborn in Dayton.

Chicken Louie’s, a favorite for decades in the Dayton area, had a shop on N. Main St. and a store on the west side called “Lou’s Broaster Hut.”  Known for their broasted whole wings served plain or spun in one of 3 sauces, this “carryout only” spot became legendary in status.  Known for soulful sides, and late hours, people would travel miles or just walk up to the window to get a taste of Lou’s famous chicken.

Lou’s Broaster Hut was on 3rd Street

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON THE DEAL:

— In 1958, Chicken Louie’s began slinging wings in Dayton, and locals went berserk over the broasted style of cooked wings.  Marinated overnight, then deep-fried in a pressure cooker, the chicken had a distinct taste and the sauces complimented the chicken perfectly.  The menu featured wings, legs, thighs and breasts, and literally showed the price of each from 1 to 100 pieces.

Broasted Chicken and more

— Chicken Louie’s hit hard times in the turn of the century, as Lou had to take care of his ill mother.  He ended up closing for a while and selling to  his managing partner who ran the restaurant a little past Lou’s death in 2012.

— Chicken Louie’s was resurrected in 2014 in an unlikely place.  The same managing partner opened a side shop in the Super Subby’s restaurant in Miamisburg on Main St.  The shop served a limited Chicken Louie’s menu of wings, pies and broasted potatoes.  The location had spurts of greatness but never took hold in the Miamisburg community as expected.  As business dwindled, the Subby’s closed in December, 2018.

Coming in 2019

— Two private investors have stepped forward and bought all of the original equipment and recipes from the Chicken Louie’s establishment.  They will not only offer the famous broasted chicken wings, but they plan to offer the full original menu.  This means legs, thighs, broasted potatoes in butter, peanut butter pies, sweet potato pie, fish dinners, shrimp dinner, dinner rolls, cornbread and all the sides you remember.  Also available will be the 4 famous sauces: BBQ, mild, medium and hot.

— The plan is to open the first Chicken Louie’s in the city of Dayton proper, sometime before fall.  A site has been bought, signed and sealed, but we are not at liberty to disclose the exact location.  We can tell you that remodeling is about to begin.  The site layout will be similar to the popular carryout location on N. Main Street, that served up good food for decades.

Sweet Potato Pie

— The strategy is also to open a 2nd store eventually in the north or west Dayton area.  Again, we are not at liberty to disclose exact location plans, which would be premature of the 2nd location at this point.

Rarely is a Dayton iconic restaurant reborn from the ashes.  But, this will happen, and Miami Valley foodies will once again be able to enjoy Lou’s chicken.  Until the site opens, we will be licking our lips and deciding how many wings, pieces of shrimp and fish we are gonna order with our broasted potatoes.

See you at the window of Chicken Louie’s… real soon !

Are you a Dayton Foodie?  Then follow our weekly articles exclusively here on DaytonMostMetro .com.  We also have a Facebook page with nearly 8,000 followers.  Click here to like our page.

Feel free to browse our gallery below of Chicken Louie favorites.

Sauces

Famous dinner rolls

Hot Wing

Medium Wing

A mild whole wing

Broasted Potatoes

Peanut Butter Pie

BBQ Wings

Chicken Louie’s was on N Main for decades

 

 

“Scratch Food” Caters the Suzy Pender Memorial for the 14th year

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BBQ Baby Back Ribs from Scratch Event Catering

In all of our Food Adventure articles, we feature extraordinary people doing extraordinary things. And even then some people stand out among the rest.  Take Chef Matt Hayden for example, owner of Scratch Event Catering.  He has owned bars, eateries, and learned to hone his culinary skills. Whether it is  taking an egg to whisk it, or smoking brisket, he is on top of it all.  He donates times to various charities, and never boasts or asks for recognition.  Matt does it for his love of the cause, and his love of pleasing people with good food.

One such event is the Suzy Pender Memorial Golf Outing.  This annual event will have its 14th golf outing this Saturday at Jamaica Run Golf Course.  Suzy was a Centerville native who had a love for golf and children.  She passed away unexpectedly in 2001,  at the age of 30.  She was an absolute angel, who was taken from this world, way too soon.  The golf outing honors her memory and helps causes that were close to her heart.  The purpose of the event, is to raise money to buy stuffed animal Teddy Bears.  These bears are given to hospitalized children to help comfort them.  Tens of thousands of bears have been given to children at Miami Valley Hospital over the past 14 years.

Matt Hayden has also been there over the past 14 years donating his food, time and resources to make this event what it is today.  Matt’s wife Carey along with a committee of Suzy’s friends, run the benefit without a hitch.  Saturday’s event  has already sold out the maximum  # of golfers.  Again, we can’t say enough good things about the committee that organizes this golf outing each year.  The door prizes and fun times are second to none.

Scratch Event Catering typically makes and incredible BBQ buffet spread featuring all you want baby back ribs, pulled pork, roasted chicken and some tasty southern style soul sides.  It is nothing short of a great Food Adventure !  Every year we see Matt running around, serving hot food, and providing a delicious and filling meal.  He and his staff work hard, and it shows in the end product.

Chef Matt Hayden, a Dayton Native who gives back to the Community

Today we recognize Matt’s dedication of 14 years and counting to this charity.  We also say THANK YOU, for giving back to the community, year after year.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

Want to donate to the Suzy Pender Memorial Fund ?  Email Debbi  at KinderdineD@yahoo.com

Do you need a catering company with some savory food or a healthy menu?  Contact Scratch Event Catering at (937) 567-7850.  Learn more about Chef Hayden in his DMM 10? interview.

Please feel free to browse some photos of the last 14 years of the Suzy Pender Memorial Outing, catered by Scratch Food.

 

Want to stay on top of the best food happenings in Dayton?  Then “like” Food Adventures on Facebook HERE !  All food, all Dayton, all the time !

 

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MikeSell’s Introduces “Beer Can Chicken Flavor” & More…

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In stores Aug 22nd

New “Beer Can Chicken” flavor hits shelves August 22nd

Dayton’s hometown potato chip has done it again.  Mikesell’s has released two new, unique flavors in their line of snacks! And Daytonians are the beneficiaries of the great taste.

Looks like you Food Adventurers have a couple more MUST EATS on your list.  We were lucky enough to sample a couple of bags before they are out in stores.  Here are Food Adventure’s take on the new flavors.

 

— BEER CAN CHICKEN FLAVORED POTATO CHIPS:  We love the name and the idea is unique.  The flavor is very muted and soft.  Mikesells lovers will find not much variance of flavor from the regular groovy chips.  The chips are almost a “Chicken Broth” flavor, so it is very subtle.  Eatability factor is a 10 out of 10.  We could munch on these all night and day.  These are Mikesells for sure!  This chip would great with some french onion dip.

 

— SOUTHWESTERN QUESO CHEESE CURLS:  The puffs with no husk are back with a bold flavor.  These have a little kick from the jalapeno flavor, but not too much.  The perfect amount of zestiness and heat make these cheese curls eatable by the handfuls.  Grab a bag of these for a party pleaser snack.  Your sassy Food Adventure in a bag

 

Mikesells two new flavors are definitely a tale of two contrasts.  One flavor is fairly subtle, and the other is fairly bold.  The one thing that they have in common is they are tasty and addicting.  We will be munching these up all over town.  Hope you grab a bag and try these Dayton Originals for yourself.  They will be available in stores AUGUST 22nd !

 

Want more Dayton Originals?   Then “like” the often imitated, never duplicated “Food Adventures” on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Check out our photos below of the new products from Mikesells !
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The Greatest Potato Salad in the World *** Win 2 lbs & Cabbage Rolls ***

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John Mott with his great potato salad

Third Generation Owner John Mott with his Famous Belmont Catering Potato Salad

Are you aware that the greatest potato salad in the world is in Dayton, Ohio? The Big Ragu knows…

YES, it is true!  But many Daytonians already knew that Belmont Catering is the potato salad mecca of the Midwest.  If you are like us, their potato salad has been a special treat at your family functions and holidays for decades.

We will have many foaming at the mouth for this giveaway:

****Comment on the story below and one winner will be chosen at random.  The prize is 2 pounds of Belmont Catering’s famous potato salad and 6 of their cabbage rolls !!

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Belmont Catering has been providing the best potato salad you have ever eaten for over 35 years.  It is a Food Adventure in a container….

— Family owned for 3 generations, today’s owner John Mott still sticks to the basics that made the company a success.

— Located on 730 Watervliet Rd. near the intersection of Smithville, you may sometimes see a line out the door. 

— The potato salad is such a cult classic that former Dayton residents have it shipped overnight all over the USA.  One person even overnighted a huge cooler of the stuff to Manhattan in New York City and paid $100 in shipping!  Who does that, unless it is the best potato salad in the world.

Freshly peeled by hand

On busy weekends, Belmont Catering Hand Peels 2,000lbs of Potatoes. Yep, a TON of Potatoes

— Belmont Catering goes through about 500 pounds of potatoes a week, and on holiday weekends they go through 1,500 – 2,000 pounds of potatoes.  Yes, that is a ton of potatoes.   The staff told us that 50 pounds of potatoes makes about 65 pounds of Potato Salad.

— Our biggest tip is CALL AHEAD.  It is best to call in your order 1 or 2 days ahead of time.  If you just stop in, it will be rare for you to find what you need because everything is usually sold out since items are made to order.  You can thank the Food Adventures Crew later for this advice.

 

MUST EATS:  

— THE POTATO SALAD:  OBVIOUSLY .. at $4.25 a pound, there are lines out the door for this stuff.  but why is it so good?  Is it the pimentos?  The Mustard? The Mayonnaise? NOOOO !

Here is the secret to the world’s best potato salad:

1) The potatoes are peeled, rinsed, then SHREDDED like hash browns.  This gives a distinct, one-of-a-kind texture and no hard chunks.

2) No chunks of eggs in the salad.  This is potato salad, not egg salad.  Eggs may or may be in the recipe, but you won’t see any ….

3)  Cleanliness.  The kitchen is immaculate.  The Montgomery County Health Inspectors have given Belmont Catering the highest marks over their last 19 visits to the kitchen.

4) Third Generation Owner, John Mott is still using his Grandmother’s recipe.  And by the way, her recipe will blow your mom’s potato salad out of the water.  It is reminiscent of the movie “What’s Up tiger Lily” where they hunted down a similar recipe, “a salad so delicious you could pltoz.”

 

Storefront on Watervliet

Storefront on 730 Watervliet Ave., Inside is the World’s Greatest Potato Salad

Oh but that’s not all.   Belmont Catering did not build its business on potato salad alone.

There are more, MUST EATS such as:

— CABBAGE ROLLS:  $6.80 for 6 of them, they are also a cult favorite.

— THE BBQ PULLED PORK: Outstanding flavor, and sold at $6.90 a pound

There are many more items, but these are our top favorites.   You can find a list of pick up items HERE, we cannot stress enough the need to call ahead..

And then there is the CATERING aspect of their business.  If you need an event catered, breakfasts, cookouts, or boxed lunches, these are your go to guys.  They pretty much deliver a Food Adventure to your event.   Belmont Catering has built this business for decades with great food and service.

With Labor Day Weekend right around the corner, now is a perfect time to treat yourself to some of the World’s Best Potato Salad !!

Cabbage Rolls - frozen to go, or made fresh to order

Cabbage Rolls – Frozen or Made Fresh to Order

Get down to Belmont Catering on Watervliet, and pick up a taste of great potato salad, but call ahead!  No cookout, picnic, holiday or family event is complete without it!

 

****Who wants to win some of their great food?  Comment below for your chance to win ! ****

Food Adventures is going to giveaway 2 pounds of their famous potato salad and 6 cabbage rolls to one lucky reader!!

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment below on this story, telling us why you want the goods.  One winner will be picked at RANDOM next week.

There is another way you can be a winner in general, like  Food Adventures on Facebook by CLICKING HERE !  Anything else is just a generic copy..

Check out our photo gallery from our visits to Belmont Catering, below.

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