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Slice of Springfield

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Sample pizza from up to ten area pizza shops, then vote for your favorite while enjoying live entertainment.

Pizza competition will be held from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m., with live music from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person. Tickets purchased before Janurary 20 will receive a free beer, wine or cider ticket. Tickets usually sell out before the event, so buy your tickets now.

Tickes for kids under 12 can be purchased at the door, the evening of the event for $10 each, including a free non-alcoholic beverage.

 

Benefits Partners for the Parks supports Clark County parks through National Trail Parks and Recreation District.

44 Years of Flying Pizzas ** Win a Large Pizza **

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The Sicilian Square and a Hand Tossed slice in the back

Dough can be seen flying in the air through the windows at 223 N Main Street in downtown Dayton.  The familiar window sign, hustle and bustle is all part of “The Original Flying Pizza.”

The owners, the Graci family have been tossing pizzas downtown for 44 years, and they are still going strong.  One slice at a time, they have stolen the hearts and stomachs of many Daytonians by serving their special New York Style Pizza recipe.

 

 ** YOU CAN WIN ONE OF THESE LARGE, 1 topping PIZZAS BY COMMENTING BELOW (winner chosen at random).**

 

How did a mom and pop from Sicily, make their American dream come true?  Only Food Adventures has the scoop!

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON HOW FLYING PIZZA BECAME A DAYTON ICON:

Brothers Tony and Frank Graci share a laugh at the pizza shop

FROM SICILY to THE USA :
In 1958, long before becoming icons in Dayton, John Graci and his wife Frances left Sicily for the United States.  They settled in New York City.  After getting a job at “Sam’s Pizza,”  John honed his pizza making skills.  In a twist of fate, that building would soon be torn down to build the World Trade Center.

 

FROM NEW YORK CITY to DAYTON, OHIO:
John and Frances decided to drive and visit John’s brother and his girlfriend who were in Middletown Ohio.   As fate would have it, they got a flat tire in Dayton.  John and Frances thought Dayton was a vibrant, fun city and full of life, with a lot going on.  They thought it would be a great place to raise a family.  The Graci family left the Big Apple for the Gem City.  Before you know it, in 1971 they had their own pizza shop downtown.  They had two sons, Tony and Frank.  John and his pizza were becoming a favorite, and he was even appearing on TV on Clubhouse 22 with Duffy the Dog and Malcom, showing his pizza tossing skills.

That was the early 70’s and the pizza business continued to grow in the 80’s and 90’s with cousins opening  stores in Columbus, Mason, Fairborn and Centerville.

 

The Original Flying Pizza Downtown

PRESENT DAY – THE ORIGINAL FLYING PIZZA DOWNTOWN, 2015
Now, the next generation runs day to day operations downtown.  Tony and Frank Graci can be found greeting customers and slicing pies daily.  They still use that patented “Graci dough toss” every day.

— The Orginal Flying Pizza is located at 223 North Main Street in Downtown Dayton

— NY style pizza by the slice, or whole pies.

— Two types of pizza: (You can win a large one topping pizza free by commenting below)
1) Hand tossed NY style huge slices
2) Sicilian Squares – a thick, more bread like crust topped with special tomato sauce (old school)

— They have calzones and desserts too

— Hours are Mon – Sat 10:30am -7pm, closed Sundays

— They serve beer, as well as host private parties

— There is a parking garage and you get the first 30 minutes free if you ask the cashier for a parking validation

Now you know the story, so let’s dive into the food….

A Slice of Cheese Hand Tossed on the right, a Sicilian Slice of Cheese on the left

Ladies and gentlemen, we now present The Original Flying Pizza’s “Must Eats.”

 

MUST EATS:

— HAND TOSSED CHEESE PIZZA (SLICE or WHOLE PIE):  This is it, the mainstay, the staple, the foundation of a Dayton icon.  The mozzarella cheese is perfect, the sauce is perfect, the dough is perfect… every time.  They call it “Neapolitan Pizza” which is the name for the style of pizza made in Naples, Italy.

WHEN YOU BUY A SLICE:  The slices are big.  If you order one, they turn around and heat it up in the oven for a couple of minutes.  It will be hot as hell when you get it.  We burn our mouth every time.  You have been warned.

WHEN YOU BUY A PIE: It doesn’t matter if you fold it and eat it or let it hang and get under it.  This stuff is the best.  They tape the box closed to piss off those of you who want to steal a slice on the way home.

 

Frank Graci lets some dough fly at Flying Pizza, Downtown Dayton

— THE SICILIAN SQUARE CHEESE PIZZA:  A thicker, more bread like crust, rubbed with olive oil and dusted with garlic and a special marinara sauce.  The ending finish is the thick sprinkles of melted mozzarella cheese.  It is the cap, on a piece of perfection.

WHEN YOU BUY A SLICE:  The slices are Big Squares.  Every piece has crust,  some have one side of crust, corner pieces have 2 sides,.  Very filling, very good.

WHEN YOU BUY A PIE:  A big square  pizza either 6 or 9 pieces.  This stuff is so simple and delicious, yet different than any pizza you have ever tried.

 

— THE CALZONE: The secret here is they use ricotta cheese in the calzones.  The fresh dough seals the deal, literally.  The only drawback is that every calzone is Pepperoni and Sausage, so deal with it.  Yes, they have one type of calzone.

 

— SIDE OF 3 MEATBALLS SAUCE and CHEESE: All beef meatballs, marinara and mozzarella, they heat it up, you eat it down.  It is like a bowl of cereal for Italian people.

 

Honorable Mention:  The BREADSTICKS at the Centerville location are the closest things to the old Noble Romans that we have ever eaten.

 

So there is your guide to another epic Food Adventure.

Now take a chance at winning a FREE LARGE PIZZA with ONE TOPPING by leaving a COMMENT BELOW!

A winner will be chosen at random on SATURDAY…

And don’t forget to”like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking here!

Pepperoni and Sausage Calzone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meatballs in sauce with cheese

A peek inside the breadstick bag from the Centerville location

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Centerville location bread sticks

Bite into a Square

We buy Pizzas from Flying Pizza and steal slices on the way home

Sicilian Square

The Big Ragu and Tony Graci from Flying Pizza

Deluxe Slice

 

 

 

 

Slices of heaven

a view to a crust

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frank is able to take phone orders and spin pies at the same time

Sausage slice

2 Dayton Icons

Mikesells and Flying Pizza – matched perfectly

Top that

Special stuff

Door to the famous Original Flying Pizza !

Deluxe love

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clubhouse 22 – Duffy the dog, Malcolm McCloud and John Graci

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meatballs, sauce and cheese

Fork a piece of meatball

Calzones and dipping sauces

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fearsome 15: Top Guilty Food Pleasures in Dayton

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Frisch’s Hot Fudge Cake is Sinful

We all have them, we all need them… guilty pleasures.   As we get older, we try to eat healthier, but once in a while, you gotta splurge.  Dayton is a great place to do so.   Sure, there is fear in seeing the calorie count, and scary scale readings the following week… but sometimes you gotta have a ghastly, full blown Food Adventure.

So without further ado, we present present our list of the Top 15 Guilty Food Pleasures of the Dayton Area:

 

15) THE FOOTLONG CHILI DOG at THE ROOT BEER STANDE: Long and strong, we came to get the friction on.  This wiener is a mouthful of goodness and a ruined shirt waiting to happen.  Eat it in your car, roll up the windows so no one can see,.  But we know… this is one of your guilty pleasures.

 

14) FRICKER’S RIBS & WINGS DINNER:  This huge meal comes with a half rack of ribs, those famous fried chicken wings, cole slaw, roll and an side.  Finger lickin’ good, and a naughty belt buster for sure.

 

13) THE PEANUT BUTTER SUNDAE at JET FREEZE:  Homemade peanut butter sauce, ice cream, whip cream, nuts and a cherry on top.  The peanut butter sauce alone is so sinful that it catapults it onto the list.

 

12) THE BROOKYLYN BRAWLER PIZZA at JOHNNY’S SLICE of NY:  When you serve a giant, stuffed pizza as big as a spare tire, it has to be a guilty pleasure.  Big eaters of the Miami Valley come from far and wide not only to eat this giant creation, but to see if 2 of them can finish it in 30 minutes or less to get on the wall of fame.  Filled with various meats and cheeses, this guilty pleasure is for serious eaters.

 

11) THE SEAFOOD PLATTER at TREASURE ISLAND: Deep fried scallops, a cod filet, frog legs, fried shrimp and stuffed crab on a plate with 2 sides.  You can taste it all, but don’t test your cholesterol that day.  The over the top moment of this dinner is when they serve you some drawn butter for dipping.  Oh, behave !

 

10) ALL-YOU-CAN EAT FISH at the HASTY TASTY PANCAKE HOUSE:  For just $7.25, you can literally fill yourself to the gills.  Breaded and crispy, it is one of the best ‘bangs for your buck’ as far as sinful meals go.   The fish is Alaskan pollock, and when you add the sides, rolls and butter slabs, the wheels come off the diet train.

 

9) BROASTED CHICKEN at GEORGE’S FAMILY RESTAURANT:  Deep fried in a pressure cooker, this stuff is guilty fun for the while family.  Moist inside, the chicken is always cooked to perfection. Get some heavenly comfort food sides and complete this trip to dream street.

 

North China’s Crispy Shrimp: Rich, Spicy Flavor with a Touch of Sweetness

8) CRISPY SHRIMP at NORTH CHINA:  One of our favorite Chinese restaurants serves us a sweet sauced, deep fried shrimp dish that will knock you on your socks.  The taste, the crunch, the bites of sauce mixed with rice.  Overdone richness?  Guilty as charged.

 

7) POTATO SKIN CUPS at ANGIE’S FIREHOUSE:  Stuffed with chili, bacon, onions, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, green onions, jalapenos and sour cream they are a beautiful piece of work.  You will find yourself eating an entire plate of these and passing out in a food coma.

 

6) BISCUITS & GRAVY at TANK’S:  Delicious, artery clogging goodness.  Although this legendary spot on Wayne Avenue has many treasures, we find this to be our most guilty pleasure.

 

5)  THE HOT FUDGE CAKE at FRISCH’S:  We know, this is semi-local and more of a regional treat, but it deserves a spot on our list.  Hot, steaming fudge, hitting the cool cake and ice cream.  The feeling of the whip cream and hot fudge on your lips is worth every calorie.

 

4) THE PANZAROTTI at MAMMA DISALVO’S:  This is pretty much a calzone that is the size of a small kid.  Imagine an extra large pizza full of toppings and cheese, that has been folded in half.  Served with dipping sauce, it is like cutting into a turkey to begin eating.  Go all out and dip your forkfuls into marina or ranch.  It is absolutely delicious.

Click to Enlarge: Broasted Chicken from George’s Family Restaurant

 

3) THE HOG BURGER at VOLTZY’s:  Voltzy says he named the burger after his ex-wife.  All we know is that this mammoth 20 ounce burger melts in your mouth, and you find yourself saying “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.”

 

2) CASSANO’S BIG CHEESE PIZZA:  Like Vic Cassano Sr said “It’s one heck of a pizza.”   That famous Cassano’s crust and sauce, loaded with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, olives and finished off with a m0und of cheese.  The proof is in the taste.

 

The Big Bo BJ Breakfast Sandwich from B&B Carryout

1) THE “BIG BO BJ” at B&B CARRYOUT:  Get your mind out of the gutter, this is a breakfast sandwich.  And it is one helluva guilty pleasure.  This craziness is a bun with sausage, a fried egg, a hash brown patty, American cheese,strips of bacon and hot pepper cheese.  You won’t feel that guilty, because the every bite is just so darn good.  A handful of greasy, gooeyness, with great flavor.  If you haven’t tried the Big Bo BJ, you need to grab yourself one.

 

Do you feel guilty yet?  Naughty nibbles indeed.  Honorable Mention to : Paragon Supper Club’s Paragon Supreme Dessert- a peanut butter and chocolate ice cream mousse, Marion’s Super Cheese Pizza – delicious, Tank’s Chili Cheese Fries-out of this world, and Submarine House’s Super Duper Cheesesteak– triple the meat and cheese & 16 inches long.

DID WE LEAVE ANY OUT?  WHICH OF YOUR FAVORITE GUILTY PLEASURES SHOULD WE HAVE INCLUDED IN OUR LIST??

Please comment below and let us know !

For more fun from Dayton’s one-of-a-kind foodies visit FOOD ADVENTURES with THE BIG RAGU, CHEF HOUSE and HUNGRY JAX on FACEBOOK and “like” us HERE .

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