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All You Can Eat “Sushi Club” Hits Dayton + ** win free sushi **

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Alaska roll

The Alaska Roll up front, Raw Pepper Tuna and Raw Salmon in the back

Attention sushi lovers, you aren’t gonna believe this.  For the first time ever, an all you can eat sushi restaurant has opened in the Gem City.

This special place, called the “Sushi Club” has been open for a couple of weeks in West Carrollton.  Now, before you start thinking of the side sushi at a Chinese buffet, let us stop you, because you’re wrong.  This place is more like a Brazilian Steakhouse setup, but for sushi.  Actually, it is just a sushi restaurant, with an option to pay $16.99, and order sushi rolls until you are full.  That’s how it works. And the quality is great !!  Your humble Food Adventure Crew have already visited the place a handful of times, and we are hooked!

***Contest*** Want to win a free all you can eat sushi experience???

Comment below on why you should win and one lucky person will be chosen at random and will win dinner with the Food Adventures Crew at the Sushi Club!

Sexy on the Beach

Click to enlarge this roll called “Sexy on the Beach”

You certainly don’t have to get the all you can eat option, but it’s the best deal in the place.  So get ready to grab some chopsticks, pour some soy sauce and stir in some wasabi.  It is time to indulge to your hearts content!  Time for your own Japanese Food Adventure !

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— The Sushi Club is located at 2098 S. Alex Rd in West Carrollton

— The best deal is the all you can eat sushi rolls, for $16.99, available all day long.   There are 47 different sushi rolls for you to choose from.  You can order 2 at a time, and the waitress will bring out your order and you can place another order and so on until you are done.  The meal is served with salad, soup and an orange for dessert.  The salad is an amazing lettuce and mango salad with creamy dressing.  Sometimes, edamame is also served on the house.

— If you want to order Ngiri sushi slices or sashimi raw slices, the fee is and additional 25cents per piece.  But it is totally worth it to try 4 or so pieces each visit.   The raw sushi pieces are fresh and delicious.

— The staff couldn’t be friendlier.  They are very helpful, and always willing to explain the menu with a smile.

— Not a sushi fan?  No problem! The menu features Hibachi Steak, Chicken, Shrimp and Lobster too !

 

With so many choices, let’s just say you can’t go wrong.  From mango topped to tuna topped, from yellow tail to salmon roe, whatever you like, Sushi Club will deliver a roll that will blow your mind and your mouth!

After trying nearly 40 rolls, we give to you our patented MUST EATS at the Sushi Club !!

 

MUST EATS:

The Incredible Roll

The Incredible Roll

— THE ALASKA ROLL: Raw salmon, cucumber and avocado .  A simple roll, highlighting fresh salmon.

— SPICY YELLOWTAIL ROLL:  This roll is a rarity in the sushi world.  Raw yellowtail tuna is chopped and mixed with spicy mayo.  The result is a creamy, fresh, raw taste.

— SEXY ON THE BEACH ROLL:  We don’t know if they meant to name it the drink name and messed up or what.  But we don’t care, it’s that good. Spicy yellowtail on the inside, topped with tuna and salmon

— THE INCREDIBLE ROLL: Shrimp Tempura and avacado, topped with spicy crabmeat, eel and sweet chili sauce.  A huge blend of flavors in this one promises to become one of your favorites.

— THE TUNA AMAZING ROLL:  Crabmeat, cucumber and cream cheese, topped with pepper tuna, eel and spicy mayo.  Whoever named this roll, got it right.  Its amazingly naughty.

The Fancy Sushi Roll

The Fancy Roll

— THE SOUTH ALEX ROLL:  A deep fried roll with smoked salmon, avacado and cream cheese.  It is topped with scallions, eels sauce and spicy mayo.  Very filling, this one will put a dent in your all you can eat plans.

 —THE FANCY ROLL: Tuna, Salmon and avacado, topped with whitefish, miso, and spicy mayo sauce.  A nice, big mouthful or flavor.

— THE TUNA ROLL: Raw tuna, and avacado, back to the basic melt in our mouth sushi on this one.

 

Honorable Mention: A couple of items here are worth mentioning because they are good and because we have not seen them in other sushi place before.  Try the raw “Pepper Tuna” Nigiri.  It’s lightly coated with black pepper.   Also try the Fish Tempura roll.  We have never seen these before and it’s not bad.  Finally, they offer Raw Tilapia sushi.  We again have never seen this anywhere before, and it was very much like yellowtail sashimi.  We also love the fact that they have a nice sake selection, and we enjoyed a beer we had never seen on draft before, Kirin Ichiban, one of our fave bottled beers since the early 90’s.

Tuna Roll and Tuna Sashimi

Tuna Roll and Tuna Sashimi

Now… about the free sushi..

***** WIN A FREE ALL YOU CAN EAT SUSHI DINNER ! *****

Put a comment in the story below and 1 lucky person will win an all you can eat sushi feast with the Food Adventures Crew.  One winner will be chosen at random next week !

 

If you come to the Sushi Club, you won’t ever have the “I just spent $20 on sushi and I am still hungry” problem.  Instead, satisfy your sushi cravings and treat yourself!  Tell them the Food Adventures Crew sent you ! You won’t regret giving this place a try.  Roll on !

Speaking of rolls.  We literally have ordered every sushi roll on the menu, so please check out our gallery below for killer pictures on what to expect.

Also – visit Chef House, The Big Ragu, Hungry Jax and The King on Facebook by clicking HERE.   5,000 fans can’t be wrong.

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Quick Serve Sushi Rolls Out In Kettering

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10749993_365874560244475_7567986784487767817_oThere’s a new quick serve restaurant in town, as SUMERA officially opens its doors today at 4313 Far Hills Avenue, in the strip mall that also hosts a Chipotle and Firehouse Subs.   Open from 10:30am to 10pm seven days a week, you can eat in or have your meal packed for take out.

While traditional Sushi restaurants focus on raw selections like Salmon, Smoked Salmon, Spicy Tuna and Tuna; SUMERA makes Sushi accessible to the masses by adding cooked products like steak, chicken, tofu, shrimp, and peanut butter and jelly – and you can choose it in a roll or a noodle bowl.

As you walk down the order line you can choose one of their eight specialty rolls featured on the menu or create your own:

California

Crab Stick, Cucumber, Carrots, Avocado, Green Onion, Sweet Soy, Sesame Seeds

Steak House

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Here’s the surf & turf with a soy wrapper I enjoyed last night.

Steak, Asparagus, Red Onion, Shiitake Mushroom, Blue Cheese, Sesame and Toasted Sesame Seeds, Horseradish Sauce

Chicken Bacon

Chicken, Bacon, Carrots, Asparagus, Green Onion, Cream Cheese, Ranch, Bacon and Blue Cheese Crumbles

Surf and Turf

Steak, Crab, Shiitake Mushroom, Asparagus,Blue Cheese, Red Onion, Sesame and Toasted Sesame Seeds, Horseradish Sauce

 

Shrimp Tempura

Shrimp Tempura, Green Onion, Cream Cheese, Asparagus, Sesame and Toasted Sesame Seeds, SUMERA Sweet Sauce

Veggie

Mushroom, Cucumber, Asparagus, Carrot, Avocado, Red Onion, Pickled Radish, SUMERA Sweet Sauce, Sesame and Wasabi Sesame Seeds

PB & Jelly Roll

Peanut Butter and Jelly on a Soy Wrap with Crushed Peanuts

a guest enjoying a Pocky stick for dessert

a guest enjoying a Pocky stick for dessert

The fun part is you can customize any of the rolls or bowls, any way you like, adding or omitting carrots, green onions, mushrooms, jalapenos, avacados or other veggies and then you can customize your meal by adding toppings like bacon, sesame seeds, eel sauce, wasabi mayo, crunch tempura or many others options.

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Ray Wiley, Kelly Gray, Matt Curtis and Tim Tefs

Opening any new restaurant is a risk, but the ownership team behind this new fast causal sushi joint have some pretty good successes behind them already.  Leading the team is Ray Wiley, founder of Hot Head Burrtios, a concept he began right here in Kettering in 2007.  Hot Head currently has close to 60 locations, some company owned, many franchised.  He also is a franchise holder of 7 Subways in the area. Kelly Gray brings her real estate knowledge to the team as a successful Dayton commercial realtor.  Matt Curtis is a 30 year veteran of restaurants, having worked with Skyline Chili, Subway and is a current owner of 13 Hot Head Burritos restaurants.  Tif Tefs owns 10 Subway restaurants, co-owns 5 Hot Head Burritos restaurants and was former owner and area developer for a full service sports bar chain.

 

While it will take a little time to get this first Sumera rolling efficiently, plans are already under way to add two more locations in 2015.  Realty expert Gray shares they are looking in Beavercreek and near Austin Landing for the next locations.

Stop by our DaytonDining facebook page where we’ve got a grand opening gift card giveaway so you can check out SUMERA on us!

 

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Haunted Houses, Pad Thai & ***FREE DVD CONTEST***

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Chicken Pad Thai - a staple of the menu

Chicken Pad Thai – A staple on the menu at Siam Pad Thai.

What does Pad Thai have in common with Haunted Houses?  That’s easy.   A Food Adventure, celebrating today’s nationwide DVD release of local horror film “Haunted House on Sorority Row.”  Want to win a free autographed copy of this scary ass movie?  All you have to do is comment below, and one winner will be chosen at random.

The Food Adventure Crew recently sat down with the film’s director, Henrique Couto and cast members Erin Ryan and Joni Durian..

The Food Adventure took place at Siam Pad Thai on Wilmington Pike, a favorite spot of both Big Ragu & Henrique Couto.  We ate and talked about the film, various favorite foods and favorite horror flicks.  Everyone was very excited about the release of the DVD.  We let the noodles and the comments fly!

 

First, let’s start with the film HAUNTED HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW…… now available on DVD ! Want a copy?

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Locally filmed thriller, with suspense, blood, guts and boobs..  check out the intense trailer HERE !

— Dayton’s own, Henrique Couto is making a name for himself in independent movie circles.

 

Henrique with his new DVD !

“Haunted House on Sorority Row” was filmed locally. The DVD is now available on Amazon.com, or win one by commenting below !

MUST SCREAMS:

— The DVD may be bought at these retailers: Amazon.com,  Game Swap at the corner of Dorothy Lane and Woodman Dr. and FYE at the Fairfield Commons Mall.  

— If Amazon needs to restock, you may have to wait a few days, but in the meantime order our favorite film, by Henrique, last year’s dvd Babysitter Massacre !

— You can find more of  Henrique’s items HERE.

You may recall that The Big Ragu went to the theater showing of “Haunted House on Sorority Row” earlier this year at Englewood Cinemas.

What makes this film so special?  Henrique says it is his scariest movie of all time.  Joni believes the scenes of pure survival in the house, comes across strongly in the film.  Erin thinks the psychological, role driven aspects of each character, gives the film its frightening feel.  As for you the viewer, well you gotta a pick up a DVD and see for yourself.

We also got a chance to ask the group some questions about their favorite scary movies, restaurants and more !

See how you stack up to their answers:

 

 

Who loves what

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you didn’t eat any popcorn during the flick, we are about to eat.  We also hope we didnt scare you with the spooky, locally made, must see movie.. if we did, just relax.

 

 

Coconut Milk Soup

Coconut Soup – delicious and unique. Click to enlarge

Now let’s talk Thai – Oh yeah, we talk Thai.. we talk Thai gooooddd.  *** SIAM PAD THAI *** to be exact!!  Now can you deal with this?

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Since 2008, owner “Fon,” has brought her recipes from past restaurants she owned like Ban Thai, and Yummy Burger

— Seating is limited to about 30 people in this little spot, located at 3027 Wilmington Pike

— Attractions include Thai Specialties and Sushi !

 

With our many visits to Siam Pad Thai, we have developed some favorites, we list as “must eats.”

MUST EATS:

— THAI TEA: Feel free to send us thank you cards for this tip.  A mix between an iced tea and a milkshake, this is one of those “you gotta try this” items.

— COCONUT SOUP: Warming to the soul, this soup contains lime leaves, tomato, mushroom, lime juice and of course coconut milk.  Perfect for a cold day, actually perfect for any day.  A delicious taste of Thai.

The deep fried Terminator Roll

Deep Fried Terminator Roll: Try it and “you’ll be back”

— SOFTSHELL CRAB:  One of the only places we know of that serves this delicacy year round.  It is a delicacy and dare we say Food Adventure on a plate.  Get over your fear, because this crab is edible, shell and all !

— THE PAD THAI:  It doesnt matter if you get chicken, shrimp or vegetable, this is the real deal and some of the best stuff in town.  Our filmmaking pal Henrique Couto agrees and pegs this his favorite dish at his favorite restaurant.

— THE DEEP FRIED TERMINATOR SUSHI ROLL: Sushi roll with Cream cheese, cooked salmon, eel sauce, sesame seeds, then deep fried in a light batter.  They must call it a Terminator Roll because once you try it… “You’ll be back.”

Honorable Mention:  The Mango Dessert served with sticky rice and coconut milk is a good one.  Also, seafood lovers will love the Seafood soups in a Clay Pot for a nice Food Adventure.  There are a few variations of seafood,noodles, etc. so choose your interest.

 

****PRIZE CONTEST****

ONE lucky fan who comments and shares the story will get a free DVD copy of “Haunted House on Sorority Row,” autographed by the director Henrique Couto !
The winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday.

Thanks to Henrique, Erin and Joni for joining us on an official Food Adventure!

Had enough to eat?  After seeing the film and eating at Siam Pad Thai, you will know the difference between a Columbian Neck Tie, and a Pad Thai.

If you want more of Food Adventures, then you MUST CLICK LIKE on Facebook HERE !!!

Until then, check out our sexy, scary and scrumpious photos from our  visits over the years to SIAM PAD THAI !

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A Second Helping of .. KABUKI

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Fresh Salmon and Fresh Tuna at Kabuki: Test Your Food Adventure Limits

“Please, sir, I want some more.”  —Oliver Twist

Food Adventures has a new, original feature called a “Second Helping of…” 

Food Adventures already sets itself apart from the rest, because we dine at a place many times before an article materializes on Dayton Most Metro.   From time to time, we will revisit some of our favorite Miami Valley eateries, and let you know about new specialty items that are delicious, or standard fare that you “gotta try.”   This is not a recycling of an old article, but some new takes on the menu.  You can still expect the same killer “food porn” photos, and “must eats.”

This time, we dive into one of our all-time favorite Food Adventure spots.   So sit down, pull yourself to the table, and enjoy a second helping of.. KABUKI !

You may recall our original article on Kabuki Korean and Japanese Restaurant, in Centerville, if not CLICK HERE.   The restaurant continues to ‘pack em in’, and has a loyal following, like no other sushi spot in the Dayton area.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

Del Sot Bibimbob: A Korean Dish

— Located at 848 S. Main St. in Centerville, the menu is mostly Japanese, with a touch of Korean specialties as well

— The secret to this restaurant’s success is fresh, delicious food.  The kitchen area and sushi bar are immaculate.  We believe that a clean environment is especially important when serving raw food.  It also shows respect for the art of sushi !

— Pay attention and save with coupon specials through email, mail and facebook!

— Warning, peak hours may become crowded in this cozy, tight dining room.

 

Kabuki is a perfect place to get out of your comfort zone and experience a true Food Adventure.   Try something new and wild.  This is the spot to do it !  We have ordered almost everything on the menu and love theses sushi rolls: Boston Roll, Playboy Roll, Mexican Roll, Rock N Roll Roll, and the Spider Roll, along with some other favorites:

 MUST EATS:

Tuna Tataki: Seared for Your Pleasure

— SHRIMP TEMPURA ROLL:  A must eat for the sushi beginner.  The roll is stuffed with cooked, fried shrimp. What’s not to love?

— DEL SOT BIBIMBOB:  From the Korean menu, this is a true Food Adventure pick.  The dish is served in a hot stone bowl.  It includes mixed vegetables& beef served over steamed rice , all topped with a fried egg.  It is served with a side of hot & spicy sauce.  Big Ragu liked it so much, he actually danced and sang a new Hanson  song “MMM Bibimbob.”

— RAW SALMON (SAKE):  This is a slice of uncooked salmon on top of rice.  Yes it is raw, but drip some soy and wasabi on it, and it melts in your mouth.  We don’t know the secret, but Kabuki has some of the tastiest salmon in town.  We just keep coming back for more.

— RAW TUNA (MAGURO): A raw piece of tuna, over a small ball of rice.  So hearty, it is almost like a piece of steak.  So full of protein, one bite will make you feel nourished and alive.  For $2.75 per piece, it is an exotic delicacy.

— ATLANTIC ROLL: A seafood lovers dream, with specialties from the ocean.  This roll is filled with spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, & avocado.   On top of the roll is snapper and wasabi sauce.   Grab a pair of chopsticks and work some magic.

Honorable Mention: Not in the mood for experimenting?  Then try the Chicken Teryaki or Katsu Chicken Meal, guaranteed to please the “meat and potato” types who love BBQ Chicken.

 

With healthy eating a concern to so many people, we will share a favorite menu item that will keep you bathing suit ready .. Wear it to the restaurant, we don’t care.

LITE BITES:

Kabuki: One of Dayton’s Best

 — TUNA TATAKI:  This ‘must eat’ is big on taste, light on calories.  It is a plate of seared, ahi tuna, splashed with a citrus vinegar sauce.  A cross between cooked and raw, this dish is a simple ‘back to the basics’ taste of sushi.  The fresh tuna is healthy and pleasing to the tastebuds, which makes it a win-win combination.

 

Looking for a great lunch or dinner option that isn’t the same old thing?  Then take advantage of the offerings at Kabuki like we do, and have yourself your own Japanese and Korean Food Adventure.  You will not be disappointed.  With a website name like EatAtKabuki.com, you know this stuff is good.

Want more good stuff from Food Adventures?  Then join the thousands following these “foodies in their forties” on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Check out our Kabuki photos below for some of the most incredible food in the Gem City.

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Second FUSIAN Location Coming to Centerville

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1662075_802077903140940_58978525_nFUSIAN, a fan-favorite fast-casual sushi restaurant, will open a Centerville location in the Spring of 2015.  The new location will occupy 1800 square feet at Oak Creek Crossing, a mixed-use retail development on SR-725 that will also be home to Whole Foods.  “When finding real estate it’s all about timing,” said Co-Founder, Zach Weprin. “We’ve been very patient and strategic in the Dayton area, and we think we’ve found the perfect spot for our brand. It’s been worth the wait.”

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Founders Stephan C. Harman, Zach Weprin and Josh Weprin.

Founded in 2010, by Dayton natives Josh Weprin, Zach Weprin and Stephan Harman, FUSIAN has become a favorite not only for its new take on sushi, but also for it’s commitment to the local community, sustainability, and a superior sushi dining experience. In the last year-and-a-half, they have created a Sushi in Schools program which serves sushi to 18 regional High School cafeterias. “It’s created an amazing bond between us and our communities,” says co-founder Josh Weprin. “We created something that has united kids, their parents, school administrators, and FUSIAN through something that is very familial; food. It’s been nothing short of amazing!” “Dayton is where we grew up!” said co-founder Stephan Harman. “With our store on Brown Street and now a store in Centerville, our roots are only getting stronger here.”

FUSIAN positions itself in the fast-casual arena as an accessible option for both sushi veterans and newcomers alike. Diners are offered traditional and modern sushi rolls with signature proteins such as raw tuna, salmon, and yellowtail as well as roasted chicken and braised steak. “We like to tell people, if you love sushi, you’ll love FUSIAN, if you’ve never had sushi, you’ll love FUSIAN!” says Josh Weprin, “It’s our way to encourage people to rethink sushi.” FUSIAN is committed to sourcing superior ingredients, promoting positive health, and affirming social responsibility. Additionally, FUSIAN accommodates diners with most food allergies and dietary restrictions, including gluten-free, as well as offering vegan, and vegetarian options.

479852_607056205976445_1263526897_nThe founders set out to create a place where discerning diners could eat everyday. They sought a place that broke down sushi stereotypes and misconceptions in an engaging and interactive environment. On the FUSIAN experience, co-founder Stephan Harman expressed that, “It starts with what your eating but it doesn’t stop there…” he adds, “You’ve got five senses, and we feel that the FUSIAN experience is best crafted when you use all of them. We like good music, great food, and great attitudes… it’s what unites our customers with our team, our food, and our community.”

FUSIAN has accrued many accolades regionally including, “Dayton’s Best Sushi” in 2012, 4 Best of Cincy mentions and one of the Cincinnati Regional Chamber of Commerce’s “Top 10 under 10” in 2011.

Follow FUSIAN’s journey at facebook.com/eatfusian and fusian.com

Foremost Seafood: The Freshest Fish in Dayton

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Owner Tom Patterson with a fresh fish order

Hey seafood lovers, Food Adventures with The Big Ragu & Crew is about to change your world.  There is a little known secret that has been in the Miami Valley for 30 years.  It is called Foremost Seafood, and it’s located at Woodman Center Drive in Kettering.   It is a seafood distributor, that has a retail store open to the public.  What’s the big deal?   Foremost gets daily shipments (not Sundays) of fresh caught seafood from Boston, Virgina, Florida and Alaskan suppliers.  This allows Daytonians access to an incredible variety of nautical fare and ensures the freshest seafood.  This is the type of access that is usually only found in mega cities.

It started with owner Tom Patterson, who in 1983 was typically listening to music like David Bowie in the basement of his parents home.  From that house he sold his first shipment,  fifty pounds of shrimp to the meat manager at Dorothy Lane Market, Helga.  He still provides seafood to Dorothy Lane Market to this day.  Over the years he has quietly built and empire and runs the buying for the business.  This is important because he is an expert.  Tom has a degree in marine biology from South Florida University.  He worked on shrimp farms in Ecuador in the late 1970’s.  During this time he also was setting trends in Galveston, TX by helping develop new shrimp farming technology.  His knowledge is Dayton’s gain, as this hometown boy is now a successful businessman, bringing quality eats to the Foremost faithful.  And they are faithful, most of his business is from customers that have been visiting the retail store for over a decade.  Today, deliveries from Boston and Virginia arrive by truck the next day, while seafood from Alaska and Florida are flown in specially to Dayton airport.

***HERE’S THE SKINNY:

Live Softshell Crabs are available in season, at Foremost Seafood

— Foremost Seafood is NOT a restaurant, it is a storefront to buy fresh seafood.  Think of it as a mini seafood market.

— Foremost provides seafood for most of the upscale, locally owned restaurants in Dayton.

— The fish they sell were caught on ‘day boats’ (only 1 or 2 days at sea).  Translation: these are the freshest fish available and were not sitting in a ship’s cooler for two weeks.  Only the highest quality is the rule at Foremost Seafood.

— The fresh fish is not displayed, it is kept whole and sliced only at the time of the order.  The reasoning is to keep air and light from deteriorating the meat of the fish. “Be loyal to the fish” is their mantra.  You order from a price list of fresh fish, they trim the fish and bring your order out for the ‘ok’ before they wrap it.

— Locally owed since 1983 by Tom Patterson and his wife Pam.  Another true mom and pop establishment.

Fresh Carolina Shrimp – Never frozen

— Experts handle the fish once it arrives in Dayton.  People like Chef Tony Coletta who worked at Garstkas and Chef Nate Young currently at the Oakwood Club

— Foremost offers over 300 varieties of fresh and frozen seafood specialties.

— Hours are a little tricky: Tuesdays – Fridays 9am -6pm, Saturday and Monday 9am-noon, Closed Sundays

 

***MUST EATS:

Fresh Carolina Shrimp:  Caught just a couple of days ago, these huge shrimp run about $14.99/lb and have never been frozen, which in Ohio is practically unheard of.   Taste the freshness without having to travel to North or South Carolina.  These shrimp are usually the 21-25 count per pound variety, and are absolutely incredible.

Scottish Salmon: Foremost usually offers 4 types of fresh Salmon, but The Big Ragu & Crew recommend the Scottish Salmon for some killer grilling this summer !!

Chef Tony Coletta & the Big Ragu holding a fresh, Wahoo fish that was recently caught in Hawaii

Cherrystone Clams:  Yes, they are alive.  You can shuck them and eat ’em raw, but our favorite is to steam them then dip them in butter.  Either way, be prepared for a fresh taste of the ocean!

Sushi Grade Tuna:  This tuna is super-high quality and can be sliced and eaten raw.  If sushi isn’t your style, consider coating the tuna with red pepper, sesame seeds or any spicy rub.  Then pan-sear it on all sides (even the edges).  We tried it both raw and cooked and loved it all.   Check out our photo album below where we cooked lots of Foremost items and holla’ at your foodie boys.

 

Fresh Tilapia:  You can still see the knife marks on the filets where it was carved.  Talk about fresh!  This mild fish is a favorite, even for the pickiest eaters.  Try it baked for 20 minutes at 350degrees.  Use your own spices, Don’t ask us, we aren’t chef’s we are just two guys that love to eat !  Check out their table of free recipe cards.

Soft-Shell Crabs: This delicacy is for serious eaters!  They are alive.  You can’t get any fresher than that.  The most popular way to cook these are breaded and pan seared.  They are also used in local sushi houses stuffed into ‘spider rolls.’  Softshell crabs are consumed entirely.  That’s right, eat the whole thing, shell and all.  Only for true Food Adventurers, and The Big Ragu, Chef House, and Hungry Jax  say they are delicious ! 

Crab Dip:  This slightly spicy dip is so addicting, you will have to lock the refrigerator.  Get some wheat thins or melba toasts and go to town on this stuff.  Made from a mixture of pseudo-crab sticks and cream cheese, it is perfect party snacking.  Food Adventures will not be held responsible for brawls over the last scoop.

What are you lookin at? Fresh Red Snapper

A couple of side notes:  With the demand for fresh seafood, (over half of it coming from Boston),  once in a while they run out of items.  It is the nature of fresh offerings.   But there are so many other choices like Blue crab from Virgina, Snow Crab legs, live oysters, the list goes on an on.  Fresh fish that we have been buying for years include Red Snapper, Grouper, Wahoo, Bronzini and Halibut.  Also, special orders such as live lobsters need to be pre-ordered.   They even offer do it yourself fish frys where pricing is based on pounds of fish purchased.

For years, The Big Ragu, Chef House and Hungry Jax have been hitting up this place for our party food needs, cookouts, or just a craving for some fish at home.  It is truly one of our favorites.  Foremost Seafood’s philosophy is simple, freshness and being loyal to the integrity of fish in regards to handling.  Owner Tom buys the best and sells the best.

Now you know about yet another Dayton gem.   Our city is lucky to have access to this fresh food.  Don’t forget to visit the free recipe table. Whether you want to eat healthy, or just love fish, get yourself into Foremost Seafood and see for yourself.  There is nothing fishy here.

Check out our stunning photo album below and “like” Food Adventures on Facebook HERE.  Come on, don’t be shellfish….

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Kabuki: Colorful Plates, IncredibleTastes

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Sushi is probably one of the most beautiful foods that you will ever eat.  Whether cooked or raw, nothing beats the taste of freshly made sushi.  Chef House, Hungry Jax, The Big Ragu know two types of people, those who love Kabuki Korean & Japanese Restaurant in Centerville, and those who have not been there.  In a small, stand alone building on 848 S. Main St, Kabuki offers up Korean and Japanese specialties with an extensive and inventive menu.  They make great fresh food, and they do it right.

The Rock n Roll Sushi Roll, beautiful and delicious

Jax loves to indulge in the “Rock n Roll” sushi roll.  This colorful display consists of flying fish roe, shrimp tempura, crab, & cream cheese deep fried then topped with three kinds of sauce.  Definitely one of the most flamboyant and tasty dishes you will ever have.  Chef House enjoys the “Boston Roll.”  This is a simple sushi roll combining the tastes of cooked shrimp, lettuce, avocado and cucumber with Japanese mayo sauce.

The Spider Roll at Kabuki Korean and Japanese Restaurant

The Big Ragu would recommend you try the “Spider Roll”, which is made with Soft Shell Crab for an extremely delicate and a rare tasty treat.  Is fresh raw sushi your gig?  If so the Big Ragu would recommend the salmon, tuna or any sashimi listed on their menu.

This restaurant serves miso soup or spicy noodle soup with entrees and sushi dinners.

Kabuki has much more than just sushi or soup. They offer a Japanese Dinner menu with Teriyaki dishes and many more entrees.  Kabuki also features a Korean Menu with noodle specialties and other dinners like Hue Dup Bop.   Sounds like a Hanson song, but instead it is mixed raw fish and vegetables over steamed rice served with Korean sweet & spicy sauce.

The common denominator of the menu items is that they are fresh, tasty, and presented well on your plate.  Every time we have been to Kabuki, the servers were friendly and attentive.  Check out this family owned restaurant for a romantic date, or a fun culinary experience.   It may be a small place in size, but Kabuki delivers big on flavor.  We cannot think of a better place for a true  FOOD ADVENTURE!

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Have  you been  to Kabuki?  Please  share your opinions below !!

 

JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI Opens Friday at THE NEON

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Hello Everyone,

Audiences are certainly talking about KEVIN. After almost every screening of WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN, members of the audience have stuck around to talk about the film. Though dark and unsettling, this smart and masterful film will stick with you…and discussing it makes the experience even stronger. We’re going to hold it, along with JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME, for one more week. In addition, we will open a new documentary that has garnered quite a fan-base since it premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last spring – JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI. This is the first documentary of 2012 to gross over a million dollars. That’s a rarity for documentaries…and a sign that audiences are loving it!

Synopsis for JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI: “Jiro Dreams of Sushi is the story of 85 year-old Jiro Ono, considered by many to be the world’s greatest sushi chef. He is the proprietor of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a 10-seat, sushi-only restaurant inauspiciously located in a Tokyo subway station. Despite its humble appearances, it is the first restaurant of its kind to be awarded a prestigious 3 star Michelin review, and sushi lovers from around the globe make repeated pilgrimage, calling months in advance and shelling out top dollar for a coveted seat at Jiro’s sushi bar. For most of his life, Jiro has been mastering the art of making sushi, but even at his age he sees himself still striving for perfection, working from sunrise to well beyond sunset to taste every piece of fish; meticulously train his employees; and carefully mold and finesse the impeccable presentation of each sushi creation. At the heart of this story is Jiro’s relationship with his eldest son Yoshikazu, the worthy heir to Jiro’s legacy, who is unable to live up to his full potential in his father’s shadow.” (taken from Magnolia Pictures) Click this LINK to be directed to the film’s official site.
If you’re in the mood for sushi after the screening, don’t forget that your ticket stub will get you 15% off your meal from SA BAI – our new neighbor.

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The 12th Dayton Jewish International Film Festival is ready to kick off. This wonderful, international film festival has a focus on the lives and issues of Jewish people, but it’s open the community and essential viewing for those who love good cinema. The following is a list of films that will screen at THE NEON:
Sun, Apr 29 at 5:15 – EICHMANN’S END: LOVE, BETRAYAL, & DEATH
Tues, May 1 at 9:30am – DAVID
Thurs, May 3 at 7:10 – REUNITING THE RUBINS
Sun, May 6 at 2:50 – SHOLEM ALEICHEM: LAUGHING IN THE DARKNESS
Sun, May 6 at 7:10 – KADDISH FOR A FRIEND
Tue, May 8 at 7:10 – SALSA TEL AVIV
Thur, May 10 at 7:10 – BERLIN 36
For the complete line-up of films and ticket details, visit the official site.

For those of you who use Facebook, we finally have an actual page…not just a “group” page. We will soon be fazing out the old group, so please LIKE us by visiting our page – which now has a very easy address: www.facebook.com/neonmovies

For remaining showtimes for this week (you only have a couple days left to see THE RAID: REDEMPTION), visit our site.

We’ve added some great new titles. Check out our “Coming Soon” list below.

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

SHOWTIMES for
Fri. April 27 – Thur. May 3:

JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME (R) 1 Hr 23 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 1:00, 3:00, 7:30
Monday – Wednesday: 3:00, 7:30
Thursday: 3:00

JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI (PG) 1 Hr 21 Min
Friday, Saturday: 1:15, 3:15, 5:15, 7:30, 9:30
Sunday: 1:15, 3:15, 7:30, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:15, 5:15, 7:30

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN (R) 1 Hr 51 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 5:10, 9:30
Monday – Thursday: 5:10

COMING SOON:
As always, all dates are tentative.
Many of these dates will change.
In some rare cases, titles may disappear.
May 4 DAMSELS IN DISTRESS
May 11 FOOTNOTE
May 25 DARLING COMPANION
May 25 THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
June 1 SOUND OF MY VOICE
June 15 WHERE DO WE GO NOW?
June 29 MOONRISE KINGDOM
July ? BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
July ? TO ROME WITH LOVE

Food Adventures Heads South of Dayton to Kyojin Sushi Buffet

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The Raw Sushi Buffet Bar – click to enlarge

Sushi, one of your Food Adventurer’s favorite foods.  Let’s get this straight up front, not all sushi is raw.  There are many types of cooked sushi that involve shrimp and crab for example.  But, we crave it all, specialty rolls, sashimi, hand rolls, nigiri, you name it.   So you can imagine our delight the first time we heard about a sushi buffet south of Dayton off of I-71 near Cincinnati.  We know, this is DaytonMostMetro.com, but once in very blue moon, we spread our wings and have to tell our fellow foodies about a special place outside the Dayton area.  This is one of those times.

The place is called Kyojin and it is a truly unique place.  They have sushi, lots of it, probably 40 different kinds of rolls on their buffet, and for dinner they add more items including sashimi, raw scallop, flying fish roe, and giant clam sushi.  Please check out our picture album below and you will see the vast variety of items.  When we first tried this restaurant, we ate so much, we had to go directly to IKEA to walk it off.  So here is a tip, if you go .. pace yourself!

The Dinner Buffet Includes Seared Ahi Tuna, and Tuna Sashimi

The restaurant is setup with 5 buffet bars and a dessert cabinet and ice cream freezer.  The 5 buffet bars are a sushi roll bar, a raw sushi bar, a Chinese food bar, a shrimp/mussel appetizer bar and a salad/fruit bar.  There is even an area for edamame(soybeans), tofu, and a wasabi and ginger area.  In the evenings, the dinner menu includes a hibachi option as well as skewered duck, squid and shrimp offerings on the side hibachi area.  We also love the steamed mussels and peel and eat shrimp available,and we have never seen a raw calamari nigiri offered anywhere else.  Other items of interest include raw calamari rolls, and the dinner treats of flying fish roe, raw scallop rolls and seared ahi tuna sashimi.

Kyojin is truly a dream for the seafood and sushi lover, and the prices are not bad either.  For lunch the price is $9.95 and dinner is $16.95.  But here is a tip, on their website kyojinohio.com you can show them the online coupon on your phone and get $1 off each lunch and $2 off each dinner purchased.  We think it is a good value.  Is it the best sushi we have ever had? No, but it is pretty decent.  It is actual sushi chefs preparing good food.   It is not comparable to the Chinese buffets that offer the side sushi.  This place is much better than that.

Kyojin offers the normal soft drinks, and they offer $5 specialty cocktails.  Kyojin is one of our guilty pleasures, especially for the Big Ragu, as some like the traditional sushi bars and their offerings.  We challenge the “sushi snobs” to try this place and let us know what you think.  But Kyojin is a great place for a sushi novice to finally try a lot of different types of sushi, cooked, or raw and see what they like, without having to order an entire roll.  They even have some vegetarian rolls and seaweed salad with pasta for you non meat eaters.  We even saw a sushi roll with chicken!

Our most recent trip to Kyojin was a challenge, while Ragu was challenged by  Shawn to a sushi eating contest.   Shawn stopped in his 40 something piece to go get some Chinese food, while Big Ragu matched his football number by eating 71 pieces of sushi.  It was our comic relief for the day watching the “sushi eat off.”

There is something for everyone at this place.  The Big Ragu’s favorite items on the buffet are raw salmon on rice, the kani (crab nigiri) and the raw tuna roll.  We enjoyed the shrimp tempura roll, the Cincinnati roll, and coconut shrimp on the Chinese food bar.

Big Ragu called his plate “Mount Va-sushi-us”

Do you love sushi?  Have you ever tried it? Sushi pro or sushi rookie, Kyojin is worth the trip.  Take a drive south on I-71 and the Fields Ertel exit, and Kyojin is just a minute away.  It is an incredible deal to get all the good sushi you can eat.  Check it out, you will be glad you gave it a chance.  All you can eat sushi, that’s how we “roll.”

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Have you been to Kyojin?  What did you think?  Please comment below.

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Kyojin Japanese Buffet
12140 Royal Point Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45249
P: 513-683-2628
kyojinohio.com