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Stone House Tavern & DMM’s Food Adventures Hosts Local Beer Tasting Dec 15th

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A Beer Event is coming to Stone House Tavern on December 15th

Calling all beer enthusiasts! Would you love to talk to the people that brew your favorite beers? Dec 15th will be your chance to mingle and drink with the owners of 5 area brewing companies.

Stone House Tavern is teaming up with the Food Adventures Crew for this one-night-only party!   They have pulled the chairs out of the bar, and will even host an after party with drink specials.

Stone House Tavern is only releasing 50 tickets for this pre-pay only event.  It is also a great chance to sample some of the best kitchen creations from Stone House!

You can only order your tickets online, by clicking HERE.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

WHAT: “STANDING ROOM ONLY” – a night with LOCAL BREWERS (Finger foods and appetizers included).

WHEN: DECEMBER 15th, 7pm-9pm  “after party ” with drink specials and cash bar 9pm–?

WHERE: STONE HOUSE TAVERN at 258 S Main St WAYNESVILLE

PRICE: $30 per person, includes gratuity (6 beers, finger foods/appetizers).  

Pre-pay only, limited seats, TICKETS MAY ONLY BE BOUGHT ONLINE HERE

 

The area brewers to be featured:

They will be in attendance !

LOCK 27 BREWING CO. – The brilliant brainchild of businessman and home brewer turned  entrepreneur, Steve Barnhart.  Located in Centerville, Lock 27 has made a huge impact in the area with its European “Gastro Pub” feel.  Meet Steve and learn his story about how he followed his brewing passion, and took a chance to fulfill a dream.

 

THE DAYTON BEER COMPANY – Meet owner Pete Hilgeman, the trailblazer and the first in Dayton area to start the “rebirth” of brewing locally due to changes in state laws.  Hear about his original bar on Dorothy Lane and undertaking the project of opening a second beer hall type location at the corner of 2nd and Madison Streets in Downtown, Dayton.  They have also started canning their products for regional distribution.

 

The Dayton Beer Company is coming !

RIVERTOWN BREWING CO., CINCINNATI – Trend setting brewery owned by Jason Roeper, located in Northern Cincinnati.  Talk personally with Rivertown brewing managers, and discover their passion for beer, philosophy on brewing, and innovative ideas to expand his business in the future.  This brewery is becoming a “little giant” in Cincinnati, due to their increase in bottling production.  This is a great chance to learn about “whats next” in the craft beer scene.

 

YELLOW SPRINGS BREWERY – Another local brewery that is under expansion and has begun canning  their brews.  Meet the owners and brewers behind this popular brewing company.  Learn about their philosophy on beer and what is important to them, as they continue to achieve more and more success.

 

Rivertown from Cincinnati

WARPED WING BREWING CO. – One of Dayton’s more popular breweries, Warped Wing has been pushing the envelope in partnerships and distribution.  They were the first brewery to start canning beer in Dayton in over 50 years.  Nick Bowman, partner/owner always has interesting stories on what is coming next, and how their new kitchen offerings will  affect the growth of their brewery.  Learn about the company and their dedication to honoring famous Daytonians with their product.

 

Does this sound like a great Food Adventure event or what?

Time to get your tickets and get ready to mingle wells and jingle bells.  This is a great early Christmas gift for any craft beer lover, or treat yourself to a nice night out.

REMEMBER:  5 Breweries, 6 Beers, One night only – Gt your tickets before we sell this thing out !

In attendance will be the Food Adventures Crew : Big Ragu, Hungry Jax and Chef House, as well as owner/partner of Stone House Tavern, Dan Apolito!

A popular brewery

Want more beer, food and fun?

“LIKE” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE

 

We pulled the chairs, its just beer and brewers !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yellow Springs will be in town !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Locally Owned Housemade Sauces Introduces Green Sriracha

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Locally made Green Serrano Sauce is coming to store near you

Your favorite locally owned hot sauce company, Housemade Sauces, is going GREEN.  Serrano Green that is...  Local Chef LeeAnne House has released some more bottles that she hopes will be as sought after as her previous sauces.  LeeAnne has worked in the food industry her entire life, and comes from a family of restaurant entrepreneurs.  We have the scoop on Chef House and her latest culinary creation.

*** And we are giving a FREE bottle away to a lucky, random reader who comments below ***

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY on THE NEW SERRANO GREEN HOT SAUCE:

— Serrano peppers, tomatillos and pineapples are the main ingredients for this Serrano Green sauce

— Housemade puts pineapples into a juicer to make this sauce.   Then they boil the sauce to reduce it by half for a thick sauce with a huge punch of flavor.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY on CHEF LEEANNE HOUSE:

— A lifelong Daytonian, LeeAnne has worked in restaurants since she was a kid clearing tables.  Her recent past jobs include being an assistant or Executive Chef at a couple of Dayton area, fine dining  establishments and caterers.

— Today, Chef LeeAnne House wears many hats .

1) She is the partner in “Bad Dog, Nice Taco” food and catering.

2) She is part of the popular food blog,  “Food Adventures” featured weekly on Dayton Most Metro.

3) Chef House is also the owner of the wildly popular Housemade Sriracha Sauces.

4) LeeAnne also helps organize the local “Night Market” events at the Old Yellow Cab Building

 

You can find Housemade Sauces at Dorothy Lane Market, Foremost Seafood,  Treadway Gardens and various local vendors.   Chef House has accomplished a lot in the past 2 to 3 years with her Housemade Sauces.  Here is a breakdown that shows how far she has come, and highlights some of the best products in her inventory.

 

Chef House cooking up a big batch of her new Green Serrano Sauce

THE HISTORY of HOUSEMADE SAUCES:

— Housemade made a splash in the Dayton area in 2013, with its first sauce, a red sauce, called Housemade Sriracha.  It is a delicious condiment made with red Thai chile peppers.  A sweeter version of the traditional srirachas sold in stores, it quickly sold out on local area shelves.  It won a national sauce competition, winning first place in the 2014 Cajun Hot Sauce Festival of Louisiana.

— In 2014, Chef House then released her second product “HOT HONEY,”  a local honey, infused with red thai chiles.  It was another huge hit regionally.  It also won a competitions, gaining 2014’s Best Hot Specialty at “Jungle Jim’s Weekend of Fire.”

— Housemade also released SPICE RUBS in 2014 partnering with Miami Valley Spice Traders.  The flavors of  Thai chili sriracha rub, tomatillo-serrano salt, smoked sriracha salt and chili sriracha salt were a hit for local cooks and chefs.

— PEACHY SRIRACHA SAUCE, burst on the scene in Fall 2015 to rave reviews.  It is her familiar sweet spicy sauce, with all natural ingredients and gluten free, which is typical of Housemade products.  The sauce is very versatile, from toast topping to spicing up spreads, dips and various dishes.  The sky is the limit with this one.

— Saturday November 21st, 2015, Housemade will debut it’s GREEN SERRANO  SAUCE at the Night Market at at 700 E. Fourth Street at the Old Yellow Cab Building in Dayton.

*** WE ARE GIVING AWAY A FREE BOTTLE of GREEN SERRANO SAUCE to a random winner who comments below on the story.
The comment section is after the photos

 

What is next for this local sauce company?  Stay tuned to Food Adventures and DaytonMostMetro .com for upcoming developments.

Also, make sure you follow FOOD ADVENTURES on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Serrano Peppers for the sauce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jason Kramer, of Housemade Sauces, bottles up from fresh Green Sauce !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A chef’s work is never done !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockpiling sauces for Holiday sales

Bottling party at my place ….

Capturing the flavors in a bottle

All smiles late into the night, bottling the good stuff !

Draining some sauce into the a large pot

Some of the special jars available at the Night Market Nov 21st

Stirring up some magic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Green Serrano – ready for use

Testing phase of Green Serrano – experimenting with various flavor levels

Cartoon version of Chef House

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Housemade Jams for sale – rare

Peachy Sriracha – she is sometimes called the Sriracha mama

Salts – rub me

Best stuff = Hot Honey

The bottle that started it all – Sriracha sauce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mikesells: Tins and New Flavors? ! WIN CHIPS !

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These tins will be in stores next week !

Mikesell’s Snack Food Company is bringing back the holiday tins for the first time in 15 years!  They are also going to introduce some new flavors in 2016 and we have the scoop.

The Food Adventures Crew was lucky enough to sample the new flavors  and we are so excited about the throwback tins, that we are giving away some free chips!

 

***Want to win some of your favorite hometown potato chips?  ***

Then comment below and we will award 3 winners the new tins that are coming to stores next week!

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Since 1910, Mikesells Potato Chips have been a part of Dayton life, and still remain family owned today by DW Mikesell’s descendants.

—  The tins were wildly popular in the 70’s and 80’s, with throwback designs, celebrating anniversaries such as the 75th and 80th years in business.

— Next week, for the first time in 15 years, grocery stores will start carrying Commerative Tins of Mikesells chips, just in time for the holidays.  The tins each contain 2 sealed bags of chips.  Tins will be available for a limited time only.

 

— You can also order the tins online by clicking HERE.

 

Korean BBQ is one of the new flavors being considered for 2016

NEW FLAVORS BEING CONSIDERED for 2016:

Mikesells had been testing flavors at the Dragon’s games and at Unversity of Dayton.  Food Adventures was lucky enough to get a private sampling of the candidates, some of which will go into production in 2016.   Here are the flavors and our comments on them.

— HOT ROASTED GARLIC and DILL:  One of the favorites, look for this one to be a hit. Who doesn’t love garlic?

— JALAPENO RANCH: A nice ranch dusting, not overpowering, with a slight kick at the end.  Again, not too hot, just enough to take notice.  Chef House, the spicy food queen of Dayton, had a smile after sampling these!  This was one of Hungry Jax’s top picks too!

— LOADED CHEESEBURGER:  The most complex chip, even down to tasting the ketchup.  The flavoring brains behind this chip is brilliant.  Hungry Jax simply described them as “Aweseome.”

— HONEY BUTTER:  The flavor fad that has hit South Korea, may be coming to Dayton.  This Honey Butter chip has a very subtle taste, almost muted.  A very easy going chip, and would be perfect with dip.

Chef House, Mikesells Marketing Director Luke Mapp, and Hungry Jax

— SMOKED GOUDA: Probably a long shot, as it seems to have a pretty adult palate.  May need some tweaking, but they are definitely on to something unique..

— KOREAN BBQ: Very eatable chip, and such a disctinctly unique flavor.  We could see Daytonians eating the whole bag here… Hungry Jax voted this as her favorite and The Big Ragu rated this flavor near the top.

— CREAMY WASABI: This one had more bounce to the ounce than expected.  The little zing at the end is a perfect flavor finish.  The chip was The Big Ragu’s favorite.

 

WHAT FLAVORS WILL MAKE THE CUT?

As Luke Mapp,  ‎Director of Sales and Marketing explains, we wish we could offer them all, but the problem is limited display space.  He said that in grocery stores and other outlets, when you introduce new flavors, it often means you have to yank one of the current flavors.  All of it is due to limited shelve allowances.  Luke knows his stuff.  He is the great grandson of founder D.W. Mikesell and has had a lifelong involvement in the company.  We want to send out a special thank you to Luke and his staff for being so accommodating on our taste test and facility tour.  It was a fun and fascinating evening.

Behind the scenes at Mikesells, fresh out of the fryer !

Dear chip lovers and fellow foodies, stay tuned over the next 12 months to see which flavors will make it into stores!  But remember, you heard about them here first!

One last comment, Mikesells is introducing another product in February that we were able to sample.  Unfortunately, we were sworn to secrecy about its existence.  All we can tell you is that is was probably the best thing we tasted that day.   Stay locked in to Mikesells and Food Adventures, and we will spill the beans as soon as it comes out in stores!

 

*** COMMENT BELOW FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A TIN OF MIKESELLS POTATO CHIPS ***

The comment section is after the photos…..

3 winners will be chosen at random on Thursday, November 19th.

Want to stay a winner?  Are you a foodie? Then join the almost 6,000 local fans of Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Mikesells – new tins (on the right)

Jalapeno Ranch chips

The Food Adventures Crew at Mikesells Snack Food Company Headquarters

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zee cheeps are magnifico !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inside the office by the DW Mikesell photo with Chef and Hungry Jax and Hungry Jax’s kids

Creamy Wasabi Chips !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tins of past

Hungry Jax looks like an ant, compared to the pallet of Potato chips

Potatoes for the product !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Potatoes, uncooked and recently sliced

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chips coming down the conveyor belt and being measured

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tins are BACK !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Packaging station

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, back at the Mikesells office …

The amount of chips moved is amazing

Factory tour

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Homemade Pies at Ghostlight Coffee

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Pumpkin Maple Pie – A new Vegan twist on a Thanksgiving favorite

Need homemade pies for Thanksgiving?  Consider a new source: Ghostlight Coffee on Wayne Ave.  You can place your order now for pickup just in time for the holidays.
Dayton Dining and Food Adventures were lucky enough to get some pies from the ladies behind these  made from scratch pies,   Mandy and Mara.  Delivered in custom made personalized  boxes, the packaging alone set our expectations high and we have to stay these pies really get high marks!

Here is your chance to take some pressure off of your Thanksgiving cooks, and let Ghostlight’s bakers do the work.

 

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Order pies in person at Ghostlight Coffee at 1201 Wayne Ave. or go to GhostlightCoffee.com

— Your pie order can be picked up on your choice of 3 days (11/23, 11/24, and 11/25/15)

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Mara and Mandy, bakers at Ghostlight Coffee, hostedt a dessert tasting event last Monday.

These are the eight featured foods on this new “pies from scratch at Ghostlight Coffee” menu.

NEW TREATS:

— MAMA SMITH’S FANTASTIC APPLE PIE:  A perfectly made dutch apple style pie.  Old fashioned, and an American tradition.  Chef House is on record as saying this is her favorite of the pie selections.

— THE KENTUCKY BOURBON PECAN PIE:  Crunchy and creamy, with an almost honey taste, this pie is terrific.  The Big Ragu and Lisa from DaytonDining are on record as liking this one best.

— THE PUMPKIN & MAPLE PIE: A unique combo, the pie is soft and luscious.  Dairy free and egg free, it is a twist on pumpkin pie with a maple syrup combo.

— GLUTEN FREE CARAMEL APPLE PIE: Tina’s Sweet Treats makes this flavored pie for Ghostlight Coffee.  It is covered with a nice coating of handmade caramel sauce.

FullSizeRender

The Big Ragu enjoyed Ghostlight Pies From Scratch

— THE GHOSTLIGHT THANKSGIVING PIE:  A 10 inch Pumpkin and Maple pie with a Kentucky Bourbon Pecan pie stacked underneath.  This is like Dayton’s pie version of a Tur-duck-en.  We love the no rules approach and inventive boldness!  This is a Food Adventure item for sure!

— PUMPKIN SNICKERDOODLES: The classic cookie is back for the holidays.  The traditional taste with a pumpkin mix.

— FALL TONIC AUTUMN BLEND COFFEE: A special coffee featured as a blend with any of these desserts.

— GLUTEN FREE DINNER ROLLS:  From Tina’s Sweet Treats, these rolls are in just in time for the holidays.  We may ruin the health factor by adding some butter…

Some of these items may be available at Ghostlight to eat, right now.

Thank you to Ghostlight Coffee and owner Shane Anderson for sharing these sweet comfort foods with us.

Food Adventures thinks many Daytonians will take advantage of this special, limited time pie offering.

 

Want to take advantage of more food scoop around the Miami Valley?  Then, ” like Food Adventures on Facebook” by clicking HERE.

Limited time !

Look at those Bourbon Pecan Pies !

Outside of Ghostlight Coffee

From Scratch by Ghostlight Coffee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pies can be ordered to be picked up 11/23-11/25/15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since 2011

The Big Ragu and owner of Ghostlight, Shane Anderson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kentucky Bourbon Pecan Pie

Mara and some baked Ghostlight goodies

Pecan pie twist like no other

Barista Capital of Dayton

Pumpkin Maple – a twist on an old favorite

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fresh Pie

Pumpkin Maple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Order Form

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Adventures Cooking Class at Austin Landing

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Bottles of flavor infused Olive Oils

Are you looking for some  perfectly unique culinary tips? A new shop on Austin Landing may have the experience that is just what you are looking a for, with this one night event on November 12th.

The Spicy Olive, known for their flavor infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars, are hosting a cooking class this Thursday.  The class will feature our MostMetro  Food Adventures Crew, who will prepare at least 8 dishes to sample.

Each dish will feature an olive oil or balsamic that is sold at the Spicy Olive store.

Please note there is limited seating and tickets are pre-pay only.

Call 937-247-5969 to purchase yours through Wednesday.

**Please note reservations are needed and walk-ins will not be able to attend the class.

 

 

Vats of flavor infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars are available throughout the store

HERE IS THE SKINNY on the event:

WHEN: THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12th, 6:30pm

WHERE: THE SPICY OLIVE STORE, Austin Landing at 3650 Rigby Rd., in Miamisburg 

COST: $35 per person, includes recipes, demos and taste samples of at least 8 items

*** TICKETS ARE PRE-PAY ONLY and may be purchased by calling 937-247-5969 ***

 

This is a one night only event, where the Spicy Olive teams up with the crew from Food Adventures. These three local food bloggers share a life-long passion for local food, fresh ingredients and terrific eats !   Let’s meet the guest culinary team!

 

MUST KNOWS about the Food Adventure Crew:

 

— CHEF LEEANNE HOUSE:  “Chef House” owns and operates her own local hot sauce company called “Housemade Sriracha.”  She also runs a popular local food cart and delivery service called “Bad Dog, Nice Taco.”  Before owning her own businesses, LeeAnne had been a Chef at a few upscale, locally owned restaurants.  Growing up in a culinary family, she has been employed in the restaurant industry her entire life.

 

 

— JACKIE SCANLAN:  This mother of two brings a lifetime of cooking experience to the table.  Growing up in an Italian family in upstate New York, she has fallen in love with the Dayton food scene over the past decade.  Known in Food Adventure circles as “Hungry Jax” for her insatiable appetite for good food, she is never short on great recipes.  For years Jackie has been an integral volunteer at the Dorothy Lane Market School of Cooking.

 

 

— STEVE MILANO: The final guest cook is also known as the “Big Ragu,” a founding member of the popular Food Adventures blog, which highlights the best Dayton area foods.  Steve has written recipes for Foremost Seafood‘s monthly newsletter and has helped organize some of the Food Adventure dinner and beer pairings that have become favorite events for local foodies.

 

The Spicy Olive is a Specialty Olive Oil Store with locations in Cincinnati and Austin Landing

— OTHER PLACES YOU HAVE SEEN THE FOOD ADVENTURE CREW:
    DaytonFoodies.com
    Living Dayton TV Show,
    Dorothy Lane Market Culinary Classes
    Weekly Articles on DaytonMostMetro .com
    Garlic Fest Cooking Demos at Bella Villa Hall
    Gem City Podcast
    Rock N Green Tomato Festival Pie judges
    AMBUCS Chili Cookoff, guest judges.

 

Here is the TENTATIVE Menu: 

Big Ragu:
Seared Scallops with lemon olive oil and balsamic
Sesame Chicken with Japanese Sesame Seed oil

 

Hungry Jax:
Popcorn trio-
Mexican Hot chocolate with Harissa Olive Oil
Cheesy fingers cheddar popcorn using butter olive oil
Paisan popcorn using Coratina oil
Overnight French toast with Maple Balsamic

Pan Searing Scallops with flavor infused Olive Oil

Chef House:
Braised beef with espresso oil over goat cheese polenta
Chicken Taco with coconut or peach balsamic.

 

Don’t miss this unique chance to get a seat for this event at, The Spicy Olive.  There will also be plenty of time to browse the store and see the unique offerings of balsamics and olive oils on site, as well as many more specialty items.

We will be all oiled up and see you there!

For more of Dayton’s best food scene, “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Flavored Balsamic Vinegar for sale on site

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scallops

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’re coming to your city !

Hungry Jax and her daughter visit the new store on Austin Landing !

When life gives you lemons, make Lemon infused Balsamics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Menu for the night

The secret to Oriental cooking

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Come watch us Whip and Ney Ney

Sesame Seed chicken

Cooking Calamari

All the information you need

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cool Winter Ahead for Jet Freeze

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Pumpkin Ice Cream Cone and a Pumpkin Sundae

Dayton’s beloved soft serve ice cream mecca, Jet Freeze, is heading for uncharted territory.  They have decided to stay open throughout winter!  The eatery will be open for the remainder of the year and plans to stay open year round

Jet Freeze has a new flavor they are carrying through the end of October… PUMPKIN ICE CREAM !  No one else in Dayton has soft serve pumpkin ice cream, so get a taste of fall before they pull the plug on this flavor.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Jet Freeze is located in Beavercreek at 4014 E. Patterson Rd.

— They are staying open year round, with winter hours of 11am-7pm everyday.

— New menu items such as soups and additional sandwiches can be expected

— They take credit cards now, and limited seating in dining room and stone tables by front  parking lots.

— Opened in 1957, they have had 3 generations of management in the owner’s family.

— Why is the soft serve so delicious?  The answer is fresh milk.  We saw them pouring gallons of Reiter milk into the machine that mixes the 95% fat free treat.

— All of the menu items are favorably priced.. even the largest soft serve cones are a little more than $2. It is very cheap to eat here …

A Flurry and a Footlong Dog

Jet Freeze has chocolate and vanilla soft serve as their mainstays and these cones are delicious.

But we have a few MUST EATS, that you need to know about.

 

MUST EATS:

 

PEANUT BUTTER SUNDAE:
Homemade peanut butter sauce, mixed on site.  It is a secret recipe, guarded by a few.  We think it is addicting and one of the richest, best tasting sundaes we have ever eaten.  Get whip cream, nuts and a cherry. Those extras make the sundae.

 

FOOTLONG HOT DOG:
Nothing super special, just a cheap, good throwback.  You can’t get a good footlong anywhere anymore these days.  Grab it with onions, mustard and relish.. or go full out 1970’s NY Coney style chili dog.

 

STRAWBERRY SOFT SERVE ICE CREAM:
They also specialize in strawberry ice cream, a flavor that is rare in soft serve circles.  The management told us the strawberry flavoring is specially mixed by employees for that great one of a kind taste.  It is some of the best strawberry ice cream we have ever had.

 

The Banana Split from Jet Freeze

BANANA SPLIT:
Your typical sundae with 3 scoops of vanilla, one drizzled with hot chocolate, one with pineapple topping, and one drizzled with strawberry flavoring.  Two banana boats down the side make this a massive monster of a sundae.

 

BLUEBERRY SOFT SERVE ICE CREAM:
Only available late May through early September, this is the same as the “smurf ice cream” offered at King’s Island.  It is rare and hugely popular.  We bet you fall in love with this one too.


Honorable Mention: Hot Fudge Sundae (always a winner), and the Butterscotch or Banana Malt Shake which will melt you into your chair with pleasure.  Did we mention the BBQ Sandwich ain’t bad too ?

Stay tuned to this old school ice cream shop, as they add new menu items.  Even when it is cold outside this winter, they will be cooler inside.  Survive the winter’s deep freeze, at Jet Freeze !  We are glad to see them decide to stay open year round, we guess “cooler heads prevailed.”

Want more foodie scoop on the Miami Valley?  Join the over 5,000 fans that “like ” Food Adventures on Facebook here.

 

Please browse our photos below for more on the deliciousness that is Jet Freeze.

 

Crack the shell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sprinkle Sprinkle little star

Eat in or leave

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blueberry

Look at that line for ice cream

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New York style Footlong Coney beyatches

Peanut Butter Sundae

Peanut butter sundae

Food Adventures is loved and loves back

New Obsession chocolate in Waffle Cone

Mesmerized

Whip cream much?

Hot fudge Y’all

Banana Malted Shake – call the law

Dip it and rip it

Scoop in a cup

The Big Ragu and our foodie pal Mindy who loves Jet Freeze !

Blueberry Sprinkles

Blueberry aka Smurf Ice Cream is our obsession

 

Blueberry Ice Ceam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its a male

Peanut Butter sundae

Crazy double fisting

swirl it, stuff it

Hot fudge sundae

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coney Dog

What is the Secret to their Peanut Butter sauce?

Meet us here

CLOSED?? $%&^^$%$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s the Great Pumpkin…Spice!

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No doubt one of the most popular flavors that takes this season by storm is that of Pumpkin Spice. Most people either love it or hate it.  We here on the Food Adventures Crew vote that we LOVE it and our Gem City gives us plenty of options to indulge! So grab your hoodies, yoga pants and Uggs as we indulge in the areas best seasonal coffees and treats!

 

Starbucks, the founder of the "PSL", serves up a great latte hot or iced!

Starbucks, the founder of the “PSL”, serves up a great latte hot or iced!

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— The Pumpkin Spice Latte (aka “PSL”) craze started back in 2003 when Starbucks first launched their newest flavor. Up until that time, their recipe remained unchanged.   The result was Starbucks most successful seasonal item.. EVER.  This year they launched their all natural flavorings for their PSL and this method proves to be superior.

— Many chains, including Saxbys, and local coffee spots  have also created their own versions embracing the higher quality of all natural flavorings.  

— Apple and Sriracha are the #2 and #3 most popular fall coffee flavors, respectively.

Hungry Jax, The Big Ragu and Chef House took on the challenge to test out some of areas beloved javas.  So if we seem a little hyper,  you’ll know why!

 

MUST DRINKS!:

— STARBUCKS: Known as the creator of this seasonal phenomenon, we felt that starting off with them would be most fitting. Starbucks continues to serve up a quality latte proving that their changes to all natural ingredients was a good move! Hot or iced you’ll get your daily caffeine kick with a delightful seasonal twist!

 

— DOROTHY LANE MARKET: Hands down this latte blew us away as one of the best ones in the area! DLM also prides themselves on an all natural version. Made with real pumpkin and spices this is the quintessential version of “Autumn in a Cup”! In addition, we need to give a shout out to another hit seasonal drink of theirs, the DLM Maple Apple Cider made with their own DLM 100% maple syrup! As always, DLM never disappoints!

 

DLM's all natural flavorings make us like this drink a latte!

DLM’s all natural flavorings make us like this drink a latte!

— WINAN’S CHOCOLATES and COFFEES: This local chain has a Fall drink menu that will make you salivate! Their Pumpkin Pie Latte is more subtle in flavors but leaves your feeling warm and toasty. Other seasonal drinks that they offer are an Ultimate Apple Cider, Stuffed Chai Latte, Hot Buttered Toffee Latte, the Autumn Twilight, and a S’mores Latte! Add any of their amazing chocolates and you’ll be experiencing ultimate indulgence!

 

— GHOSTLIGHT COFFEE: Located in Historic South Park at 1202 Wayne Ave in Dayton, Ghostlight Coffee maybe not be a chain, but this java stop would no doubt hold it’s own in a coffee throw down! Their seasonal creation is a Pumpkin Coconut Latte made with their own syrup! And Food Adventures got the latest scoop that Ghostlight is currently creating a Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Latte that will kick off soon!  While you’re there, grab a jar of Hawthorne Homestead’s “Lumberjack Pumpkin Butter”!

 

— THE BOSTON STOKER: One of our most coveted local coffee roasters takes a different spin on fall flavors! While Boston Stoker does not offer a pumpkin spice latte, this season they will whip you up an Orange Honey Latte or Cold Brew Horchata! One of our favorite things to do at Boston Stoker is to ask the barista’s what their favorite drink creation is.  Hungry Jax got to experience a talented barista’s secret iced tea that tasted JUST like an apple pie! So don’t hesitate to go off the menu and trust the creative minds behind that coffee bar!

 

— SAXBYS: Yes yes, it’s another chain. But it’s important to honor the places that are taking pride in delivering a quality product. And Saxbys is doing just that. They too have jumped on the natural flavorings chain and their Pumpkin Spice Latte packs on the seasonal flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg!

 

We would be remiss if we didn’t highlight at least some of the seasonal pumpkin treats that are being served up in the area! So after you’ve grabbed your cup of joe, hit up these places to further your pumpkin spice addiction!   So here are a few of our patented MUST EATS for a pumpkin spiced Food Adventure…

 

Pumpkin Cookie with Caramel Icing is one of the many seasonal treats at DLM!

Pumpkin Cookie with Caramel Icing is one of the many seasonal treats at DLM!

 

MUST EATS:

— DOROTHY LANE MARKET: No one should be surprised that this local powerhouse also dominates in their bakery department.  To compliment your latte, you can choose to indulge in their caramel frosted pumpkin cookie, pumpkin roll or even a pumpkin cupcake! And let’s not forget “Aunt Dorothy’s Pumpkin Pie” all made from scratch and in house!

 

— ASHLEY’S PASTRY SHOP: We’re frequent flyers at Ashley’s! And their seasonal treats just keep calling to us! Located at 21 Park Ave in Oakwood, this bakery has something for everyone! Their seasonal delights include pumpkin iced cookies, muffins, cakes, pies, rolls and even pumpkin cheesecake!

 

— BILL’S DONUTS: This well known Centerville donut shop has also embraced the pumpkin craze! You can choose form a cinnamon sugar pumpkin donut or a glazed pumpkin donut! Or do what we did and don’t choose at all and eat both…

 

Dunkin' Donut's Pumpkin Muffin is a seasonal favorite!

Dunkin’ Donut’s Pumpkin Muffin is a seasonal favorite!

 

— DUNKIN’ DONUTS: While Dunkin’ does offer a pumpkin spice latte, we actually are even bigger fans of their pumpkin muffins! This moist muffin is topped with a cinnamon crumb topping and a drizzle of frosting. With some new locations in the area, we want to give a shout out to the longer established Dunkin’ Donuts location on Rt 741 buy the Dayton Mall! Their service is always top notch!

 

So there you have it fellow pumpkin spice lovers! So many options of seasonal drinks and treats in our area! Be sure to check these out and let us know what others you have grown to love!  Lots of these flavors will go into the fall and some beyond Thanksgiving.

Something else you should check out is our FOOD ADVENTURES page on Facebook!  Please “like” us here.

Please browse our photos below and comment on your favorites.  All feedback is welcome.

Look for Food Adventure articles weekly only on Dayton Most Metro !

Be sure to ask the Barista's at Boston Stoker to make you one of their own creations!

Be sure to ask the Barista’s at Boston Stoker to make you one of their own creations!

We like to snack on one of Winan's Opera Creams while sipping on their Pumpkin Pie Latte!

We like to snack on one of Winan’s Opera Creams while sipping on their Pumpkin Pie Latte!

Pumpkin Butter sold at Ghostlight Coffee will make any piece of toast special!

Pumpkin Butter sold at Ghostlight Coffee will make any piece of toast special!

You can't eat just one of Ashley's Pumpkin Cookies!

You can’t eat just one of Ashley’s Pumpkin Cookies!

Winan's has a ton of options for fall flavors!

Winan’s has a ton of options for fall flavors!

Bill's Donuts never disappoint!

Bill’s Donuts never disappoint!

Ghostlight Coffee creates a fun and delicious atmosphere!

Ghostlight Coffee creates a fun and delicious atmosphere!

Buy one pie from Ashley's for yourself, and one to share!

Buy one pie from Ashley’s for yourself, and one to share!

Yankee Trace Friday Fish Frys Return

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$14.95 All You Can Eat Fish Frys Through Nov. 20th

The Golf Club at Yankee Trace has brought back their fish frys for a limited time this fall, and the Food Adventures Crew has the scoop.  The “All U Can Eat” events will happen each Friday night from 5pm-9pm at the restaurant inside the clubhouse.  The tradition continues through November 20th, and will return during Lenten season as it has for many years.  the hand breaded haddock is some of the best in town, and the fact that it is endless, means you wont walk away hungry.  Each dinner comes with endless deep fried haddock, cole slaw and french fries.  Here is the down low on one of the best kept secrets in Centerville.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— WHAT: Friday Evening Fish Fry Dinners

— WHERE: The Golf Club at Yankee Trace’s Restaurant, 10000 Yankee St., Centerville Ohio 45458

— WHEN: Every Friday night 5pm-9pm from now through November 20th

— COST: $14.95 per person

** Important: Reservations are required (937) 438-3585

 

Swim up to Yankee Trace and dive in to this deal.  An all you can eat Food Adventure awaits!

Follow The Food Adventures of Hungry Jax, The Big Ragu and Chef House on Facebook by clicking here and “liking” our page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now until Nov 20th, Fish Fry Fridays !

Haddock

Dining Area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dog’s Breath Tavern Hosts “Buckets & Trucks”

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“Buckets and Trucks” every Thursday in October

Each Thursday, for the rest of October, The Dogs Breath Tavern in Kettering will be featuring an event called “Buckets & Trucks.”   On these nights, a couple of featured food trucks will invade the parking lot on 1912 E. Whipp Rd., and the bar will host domestic buckets of beer for 11 bucks.

October 15th, the featured Food Trucks will be Hunger Paynes and Dayton Urban BBQ.  It promises to be a good night for a Food Adventure.  Trucks will be ready to serve by 5pm and will be there until about 9pm.

Hunger Paynes is known for their “croquette” style menu and the BBQ from Dayton Urban is terrific, especially the pulled pork sandwich.

 

Here are our TOP 5 MUST EATS for the night:

— PULLED PORK SANDWICH from DAYTON URBAN BBQ:
Good, and a little sloppy when that cole slaw is added.  You won’t care, it is worth every bite.

 

— SALMON CROQUETTES from HUNGER PAYNES:  
Crunchy on the outside, soft and tasty on the inside.  A Food Adventure favorite.

 

Dayton Urban BBQ Food Truck will be at Dog’s Breath on Thursday 5pm

— DOUBLE BUTTER BURGER from DOG’S BREATH TAVERN:
A Mountainous burger, slapped with cheese in between.  A Big burger that will fill you up, and make you smile.

 

— MAC n CHEESE CROQUETTES from HUNGER PAYNES:
Gooey, and hot.  Love it served on a handful of homemade Saratoga chips.

 

— HOMEMADE “DOG BONES” from DOG’S BREATH TAVERN:
Flavors from Philly cheesesteak, to pulled pork and ham n cheese, these hand rolled egg rolls are stuffed with various favorite fillings on site.

 

Come out to Dog’s Breath Tavern for a chance to visit two great food trucks, and get some drink specials.  Please note that menus are subject to change and that new creations may be better than anything we have tasted yet!  We hope we gave you a tip on what to look for for a great Food Adventure this Thursday evening.

So take advantage of “Buckets and Trucks” every Thursday in October at Dog’s Breath Tavern.

For more scoop on Food Adventures each week, follow us on Facebook and “like” us by clicking HERE.

 

Hunger Paynes Food Truck

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fried Mac N Cheese Croquettes from Hunger Paynes

Pulled pork from Dayton Urban BBQ

Ham n Cheese “dog bone” from Dog’s Breath Tavern

Dog Breath’s Double Butter Burger

Inside Dog’s Breath Tavern

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top 5 Must Eats at this Weekend’s Sauerkraut Festival

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Get the German Sundae and it supports the American Legion Hall

More than seven tons of  sauerkraut is expected to be served at this weekend’s Sauerkraut Festival in Waynesville.  But, this isn’t some locally named gig.  They call it the Ohio Sauerkraut Festival, so listen up from Cleveland to Chillicothe and from Pisgah to Perrysburg.  These hungry people are coming to celebrate the German food and heritage, and of course, the almighty Sauerkraut.  That’s right, they are all on a Food Adventure.  Who knows better about food than Hungry Jax, The Big Ragu and Chef House?

Let’s get down to it and discover what all the fuss is about the Sauerkraut Festival.  Let’s head on down, close to where State Route 48 meets State Route 42.

 

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— More than 350,000 people are expected to attend with over 400 vendors of all sorts from more than 30 states.

WHEN: Always the 2nd weekend in October, this year’s dates are:
— Saturday, October 10th 9:00am – 8:00pm
— Sunday, October 11th 9:00am – 6:00pm

#1 Must Eat – Sauerkraut Donuts

WHERE:  Downtown Waynesville, North Main Street area.  LOTS of WALKING as the festival stretches the entire length of Downtown

 

What the heck is Sauerkraut?  Answer : Fermented cabbage.  Some complain about the smell or the taste.  But we cut right through the whiners and found the best eats… even the crankiest festival goer will enjoy these top 5 mouthwatering suggestions…

Drum roll please, strike up the Oompa band as Food Adventures delivers our patented Top 5 MUST EATS for The Ohio Sauerkraut Festival.

 

MUST EATS:

— SAUERKRAUT DONUTS:  #1 by a landslide… not even close.  Warm, soft, sugary and sweet.  They are amazing and we aren’t sure where the sauerkraut is, but the donuts are tremendous.   Get these damn donuts if you do nothing else all day.  But we warn you, get there early as the line get long.  Kids love them, and adults love them more…

— PUMPKIN FUDGE:  Find the fudge trolley.  Run, don’t walk.  They have various fudges, but here is the unique opportunity to get some pumpkin fudge.  When else in a Food Adventure do you get that chance?  Very rich and delicious, the fudge will have you craving something to drink, but you wont be sure what you want to drink.

Pumpkin Fudge – oh yeah, take some home too

— GERMAN SUNDAE: This is a bowl of chopped Potatoes, Sauerkraut, Cheddar Cheese, Sour Cream, Bacon Bits and an olive.  It looks like a sundae, but the bowl is a hearty, savory and salty favorite.  Can’t lose with this winner.  Great for sharing on the go.. a walking treat.

— HAWG DAWG:  A Giant hot dog with sauerkraut and mustard.  One of the biggest dogs we have even seen and stop with the jokes.  Take a bite outta this wienee and support Waynesville Athletic Charities.

— PULLED PORK  & KRAUT POTATO SKINS:  The dark horse out of nowhere, is the potato skins.  They have some pulled pork and sauerkraut on them, and the result is a tasty twist on your typical potato skins.  Worth a try, they are one-of-a-kind.

 

There are so many more food choices, but these are our TOP 5 MUST EATS for the fest.   Please note, some area spots like Stone House Tavern may have a limited or adjusted menu during the festival.  Our advice… GET THERE EARLY.. you won’t beat the crowd, but the crowd will be slightly less.

Tired of less?  Do you want more FOOD ADVENTURES?  Then join us on Facebook and “like” us by clicking here.

Browse more food photos from Sauerkraut Festival, below:

Potato Skins with Pulled Pork and Sauerkraut

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hawg Dawg

The donut Line

Thousands of peeps

Makin donuts

Donut machine

Best Eat of the fest

Friends and family love the fest

Fudge

#1 MUST EAT – donuts !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweeney’s Celebrates 21 years with 4 Course $21 Menu

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Celebrating 21 years in business !

Sweeney’s Seafood Bar & Grill in  Centerville, has just turned 21 years old !  To celebrate this milestone Sweeney’s is having a special menu now through Sunday Oct. 4.   It features a 4-course meal from Chef Kruse‘s “select your own dinner” menu for only $21.00.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— You may choose one item from the 4 categories APPETIZERS, SOUP/SALAD, ENTREES and DESSERT.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL MENU

— Sweeney’s is located at 28 W. Franklin Street in downtown Centerville

 

— HOURS:

Mon – Thu:  4pm – 9:30pm

Fri -Sat:  4pm – 10:30pm  

Sun:  4pm – 8:30pm

 

 

The Food Adventures Crew are big fans of this special menu. While all of Chef Kruse‘s choices are winners, we have a few “suggestions” about the menu’s MUST EATS !

 

— PUMPKIN SHRIMP APPETIZER : Truth be told, we love their breaded shrimp, so when  we heard the panko breaded shrimp were going to have a pumpkin yogurt dipping sauce, we were sold.  A specialty dish, rarely seen, and perfect this time of year.

Clam Chowder from Sweeney’s

— ESCARGOT APPETIZER:  Yes, snails are must eats.  Cooked in a buttery garlic sauce, the strange delicacy is a delicious acquired taste.   Typically served with mushrooms in the sauce, it is a wonderful and yet again, rare treat.  Try a Food Adventure on your fork!

— NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER:  Sweeney’s has some great soups, and this is one of them.  Chunky potato cubes, creamy broth and loads of clams in this one.  Thick soup, served with tableside bread.  Bring on the crisp weather.

— PECAN ENCRUSTED SALMON: Fresh salmon, cooked perfectly.  If you love fish, this is the one for you….

— CRAB and SCALLOP STUFFED SOLE: A rich tasting dish, mixing the crab and shrimp lover, with the fresh fish lover in you.  This is a very unique looking dish, and a Sweeney’s specialty.

 

Use this opportunity to have your own Food Adventure celebration at Sweeney’s Seafood.  Don’t forget, they have a nice selection of microbrews on tap too.  This menu matches up perfect with wine or a nice beer.  Happy 21st !

Chef House, Hungry Jax and The Big Ragu share a Food Adventure article each week on Dayton Most Metro.

For more info on area restaurants and must eats, “like” FOOD ADVENTURES on FACEBOOK by clicking HERE.

Please browse our photos below for more of Sweeney’s Seafood dishes.

As they say at Sweeney’s…. Sea ya soon !

A Centerville tradition for over 2 decades

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Escargot and a mushroom on bread –

Clam Chowder – Thick and Chunky – like the Big Ragu

Happy 21st Birthday to Sweeney’s Seafood House !

Crab and Scallop Stuffed Sole

Great Selection of Microbrews on Draft at Sweeneys

Facing 725

Escargot and Mushroom on a piece of bread

A Garlic Buttery Food Adventure – ESCARGOT ! Yes, snails

Back door of Sweeneys

Starting things off with a salad

In New England they call it “chowda”.. at Sweeney’s we just order and eat it…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Osaka: New Buffet with Conveyor Belt Sushi

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Raw Salmon Sushi & Raw Salmon Sashimi

A new Japanese / Chinese Buffet called Osaka has opened behind the Dayton Mall and the Food Adventures Crew has the scoop after a few visits.  The newly remodeled building formerly housed Max & Erma’s for decades, and most recently Hazel Grill.  The place is basically a buffet, yet they are trying to distinguish themselves by doing a few things differently.

One attraction at Osaka, is the “Conveyor Belt of Sushi.”  Now, this is not the typical conveyor belt sushi at restaurants that winds its way around the dining area and is priced based on color of the plate you pick up.  No, this is just a side attraction and part of the “All You Can Eat” concept.

But this concept is a bit different at Osaka Sushi and Hibachi Buffet.

 

Owner/ Manager John Weng of Osaka Buffet

Gone are the metal steam pans, replaced by large family style, white serving dishes.  Each dish looks more appetizing.  Owner/Manager John Weng told us that this allows for a smaller quantity on each dish, in the hopes that no buffet item sits too long.  Beyond that, this buffet is similar to the ones you have seen in the past, although this one seems a little cleaner.

We have visited Osaka four times since it opened, and have tried virtually every menu item.  Here are the Food Adventure findings…

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Osaka Sushi & Hibachi Buffet is located at 8901 Kingsridge Dr.

— Buffet prices are as follows: Lunch = $8.95, Dinner = $14.95

— Not a fan of “All you can eat?,”  that’s ok ladies, you can order from a full Sushi, Japanese and Chinese Menu.

— Hours are: Monday – Saturday 10:30am – 10pm, Sundays 10:30am – 9:30pm

Prawns on the Buffet

— Buffet highlights include:

A sushi conveyor belt with plates of 2-3 pieces of sushi

A raw hibachi bar and grill, where you mix your ingredients and a hibachi cook stir fry’s your mixture with your choice of sauce.

Appetizer area and Main Entree bars

Soup, Fruit and Dessert areas

 

With dozens of menu items, what are the best eats?  From Duck to Crab Sushi, we sort through it all and give you our patented MUST EATS !

 

MUST EATS:

— THE SALMON SASHIMI:  Scope out the conveyor belt for the pieces of raw, sliced salmon with no rice.  These slices are fresh and melt in your mouth.  Absolutely the best item on the conveyor belt of love.

Spicy Crab sushi with Flying Fish roe on top

— THE HIBACHI RAW BAR & GRILL:  Take advantage of your own mini-Mongolian Grill.  Whatever your concoction of meats and veggies, may we suggest you ask for your mixture to be cooked in the Brown Hibachi Sauce.  It is absolutely delicious.

— SPICY CRAB SUSHI with FISH ROE on TOP:  These are easy to spot, because they have colorful fish eggs sprinkled on top of the sushi roll in colors of green,black or orange.

— THE CRAB ANGLE:  These huge, triangular deep fried snacks are STUFFED with crab and cream cheese.  The result is a big, filling couple of bites of cheesy goodness.

— THE DUNGENESS CRAB:  Hardshell crabs, cut in half and separated at the leg joints.  The leg joints are then battered and stir fried with a brown sauce.  The result is a crab crackin’, shell suckin’ good time.

— CHEESEY MUSSELS:  Baked Mussels in the shell, covered with creamy cheese mixture.  Perfect description would be “they’re heavenly.”

— RAW OYSTERS:  Rarely seen on buffets in Dayton, take advantage when you see these bad boys laying out on ice.

Honorable Mention: The Crab Nigiri Sushi was huge and delicious.  Also, the Fried Shrimp  are nothing short of addicting.

 

The Conveyor Belt of Sushi runs the entire time, replacing and adding plates constantly.

So there you have the lowdown on Osaka Sushi and Hibachi Buffet, the newest buffet in town. Smaller plates, less waste, fresher food

is their philosophy.  They have some great items, we are fans and hope the restaurant takes hold for a long time.

Osaka is a perfect place to push your pallet comfort zone.  Try new things from crawfish to frog legs.  Come out to Kingsridge Drive by the Dayton Mall and experience your own little Food Adventure.  P.S., the conveyor belt doesn’t work if you sit or stand on it … just kidding, but don’t try it anyway…

Want to try something fun?  Go to Facebook and “Like” Food Adventures by clicking here.  Join the thousands that like us on Facebook, and love us in their hearts.  Are you an Instagram Junkie?  Then follow us there at #dayton_foodies

In the meantime, browse the photos below from our visits to Osaka Sushi and Hibachi Buffet.

Serving plates, no steam pans – smaller quantities means fresher items

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A view of the Sushi Conveyor Belt in the corner of the Buffet Area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pepper Pork and General Tso’s Chicken

Crab Angle – These are incredible and gooey and cheesy and OMG

The sign out front on Kingsridge Dr.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baked Salmon

Stacking the sushi plates

Some Pink Sushi

Shrimp Tempura with Fish roe on Top

Half of the Buffet Area

Crab and Avacado roll

Crispy Duck !

Hibachi Area, Sushi Area and Buffet Area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raw Oysters on the Half Shell

Baked, Cheesey Mussells

 

 

 

Mini tiramisu

Dungeness Crab

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the best fried shrimp around

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A full plate at Osaka Sushi and Hibachi Buffet

Dungeness Crab – incredible stuff

Crab Nigiri – (Cooked Crab Sushi)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mussels with Cheese and Fish Roe on top

Shrimp and Crawfish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Desserts

Raw Oysters and Kimchee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crawfish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spicy Salmon and Avocado

Hibachi cooked right before your eyes

Fruit Bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salads

A night at Osaka

Food Adventure in Progress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sushi conveyor Belt

Raw ingredients for Hibachi

Serving Dishes instead of Steam Pan Raiders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Serving Dishes on the Buffet – smaller quantity on the plates, means fresher items

15 MUST EATS at DAYTON’s OKTOBERFEST

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The Cream Puff from Schmidt’s – our #1 Item

This weekend mark’s one of Dayton’s biggest festivals and Food Adventures of the year, …Oktoberfest!

Held at the Dayton Art Institute, it is a plethora of Beer, Crafts, Cigars and Food.  Some blogs will give you tips on parking, but The Big Ragu, Hungry Jax and Chef House have been eating and drinking their way through this festival for about 40 years.  So who better than the Food Adventure Crew to sort through the food with their hundreds of thousands of calories in expertise?

Grab your lederhosen and let’s dive in….

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

WHAT: Dayton’s 44th Annual Oktoberfest, a celebration of German food and culture

WHERE:  The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park North, Dayton Ohio

WHEN:  

— FRI, SEPT. 25th – PREVIEW PARTY SPECIAL EVENT – 7pm-11pm, COST $95 at the gate

— SAT, SEPT. 26th –  Noon – 11:00 pm, COST $7 at the  gate

— SUN, SEPT. 27th – Noon – 7pm, COST $7 at the gate

 

Now you know where to be and when.   So bring some money and get your eat on… Dayton’s Oktoberfest, where everyone is German for the day !

Get Pumpkin or Apple Strudel at The Strudel Factory Booth

Drum roll and Accordion intro … here we go with our patented feature, the Dayton Oktoberfest’s 2015 “MUST EATS !”

 

MUST EATS:

— #1  SCHMIDT’S CREAM PUFFS: 
Of course the #1 item is one so creamy and rich, you will pass out from pleasure.  The line might be long, but the end result is worth it.  Grab one of these huge cream puffs from Schmidt’s Booth, all the way from Columbus.  The cream puff is as big as half your head, and more delicious than 100 movie stars.

 

— #2  CHERRY or PUMPKIN STRUDEL from THE ORIGINAL STRUDEL FACTORY:
Another OMG moment at the festival, is when you introduce your friends to this little number.  Hungry Jax and The Big Ragu agree that  the Apple Strudel  and Pumpkin Strudel steal the show.  The food lines are not bad at this booth , and the strudel is fresh out of the oven.

 

— #3  THE BRATWURST in the METTS and BRATS TENT:
We are not sure if these are a German Club item or Dayton Art Institute.. we just know with a little sauerkraut, or Dusseldorf mustard, these babies go great with beer.  Chef House’s pick of the fest.  She could hang out in this booth all night, and with the beer trucks of course!

 

— #4  THE GERMAN POTATO PANCAKES from THE “HEY HEY” FOOD BOOTH:
Giant, delicious and cheap.  Unfortunately everyone knows about these, so the line is a little long sometimes.  Don’t fret, good things come to those who wait, and it’s not like the line to the Beast at Kings Island. But these big potato cakes are beasts in themselves.

 

— #5  THE GERMANATOR at ZOMBIE DOGZ:
Dayton’s #1 food truck rolls in with this hot dog smothered in braised beef brisket, beer cheese and topped with fried onions.  Another original item, where they knock it out of the park.  Fight the line, and get the rewards of this one of a kind, big wiener.  What’s on your zombie?

 

Pulled Chicken Sandwich from Smokin Bar-B-Que – Add some of their excellent BBQ Sauce !

— #6  THE PULLED CHICKEN SANDWICH from SMOKIN’ BAR-B-QUE
This Oregon District mainstay, comes in with an entry like a lightning bolt.  The pulled chicken is perfectly cooked, but the secret is in the sauce.  All foodies know that a condiment table can be where the magic happens and puts the ying to the yang.  In this case it is true.  Find the extra BBQ sauce bottle and squirt some more on your sandwich.  Close the bun, take a bite.  If some sauce drips on your finger, just get a canvas and hang an inspired finger painting in the art museum.

 

— #7  THE SOFT PRETZEL BOOTH:
Happiness is a warm pretzel.  We are talking so fresh you can hardly hold it.  We mean it, right out of the oven into a napkin, to warming your heart.  Soft inside, with the perfect outer crust, this pretzel is meant for some mustard and beer.  Warning:  you might crave a second one later in the night.

 

— #8 THE CRAB CAKES from BROCK MASTERSONS:  Seared on a flat grill, these gargantuan crab cakes are the best in town.  So good, that you will want two.  Also a thumbs up for the sauce served with the cakes.  It is the perfect touch and very tasty.  The crab cakes are full of flavor and worth the treat.

 

Chicken on a Stick from Bangkok House – Shockingly good !

— #9  THE HAMBURGER at THE HAMBURGER WAGON: Hamburg, Germany.. that’s a town, right?  Well this Hamburger Wagon is as old as many towns.  Finishing their 103rd year, it is fair to say they are a Dayton icon.  We suggest the Double Burger, it is our newest rage at the wagon.  And as always “they don’t need no stinkin’ condiments.”

 

— #10 CHICKEN ON A STICK at BANGKOK HOUSE BOOTH:
The strange looking skewer, the incredible smell off the grill.  This busy booth sells all kinds of specialties, but the one to grab is the Chicken on a Stick. The marinated chicken comes out perfectly grilled and the result is a cross between somewhere between tender chicken, and other bites having a slight jerky feel to it.  A “must eat at Oktoberfest !

 

The Huge German Potato Pancakes from “Hey Hey” food booth !

— #11  THE SUPERFOODS BURGER at BRIXX:  
Quinoa, spinach, avocados, cranberries and turkey  A surprise Food Adventure on a bun that we weren’t expecting.  Chris Bhai has done it again with his “out of the box” thinking. ion a burger?  YES! But the best thing is the taste!

 

— #12  THE PUB CHEESE FRIES from DUBLIN PUB:
Most Daytonians are familiar with these rich sinful cheese fries.  These hunger busting pub fries, topped with cheese and bacon, deserve a spot on the list.  Everytime we order these we find people reaching into our basket and snagging a bite.  Grab a batch of these hometown favorites. The are Chef House’s guilty little pleasure!

Dublin Pub’s Cheese Fries have become Legendary

— #13  THE WIENERSCHNITZEL SANDWICH from the GERMAN SCHNITZEL BOOTH:  
Pretty much a fried pork tenderloin looking sandwich.  It is a good sized sandwich that is easily shared.  There is also schnitzel under the Brats and Metts tent in the German Food line.  I’m sure a cabbage roll or potatoes would go good with this.

 

— #14  THE TRADITONAL GYRO from the GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH BOOTH:
So you thought Greek Fest was your last chance in 2015 to get these?  Think again!  Take advantage of this rare chance to get the same gyros served at Greek Fest.  The only other time you can find these is at World a ‘Fair,  We recommend the traditional gyro with everything on it.  We feel it is much more flavorful than the chicken gyro.

 

Hot, fresh, soft pretzels for sale at Oktoberfest

—  #15  THE ROADHOUSE PORK CHOP from THE BLACKJACK GRILL: 
A giant pork chop, plus a huge grill means the most eye appealing site at the festival.  There is nothing quite like watching these huge porkchops cook.  Served as a sandwich or by themselves, this is your chance to get a big slab of meat for yourself.  Dab it with some of the Blackjack BBQ sauce and it’s time to go to town.

 

Honorable Mention: The Cabbage Rolls and Saeurkraut Balls are also Food Adventure favorites.

 

There you have it!  Our lists of the 15 Oktoberfest foods that need to meet your mouth this weekend.  Did we miss any?  What are your favorites that we should have mentioned?  Please comment!

Also, browse our photo gallery below for killer pictures of the MUST EATS !

As for beer choices, you are on your own, we are having a food baby and can’t be bothered.  But if you want more foodie news, from the Miami Valley’s Food Adventures blog, then “like us on Facebook HERE.

Brats and Metts (Bratwurst and Metwurst)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who Doesn’t Love Oktoberfest ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Germanator from Zombie Dogz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brixx’s Superfood Burger – delicious !

Another chance to grab a gyro like the ones at the Greek Fest Gyros in 2015

Hungry Jax – not a reluctant foodie in the least

Hello Hamburger Wagon Burger ! HAMBOOOGA !

Black Jack Grill’s Pork Chops … cooking up nice, Frau

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We walk around the whole day calling everyone “My Little Strudel !”

Reuben Sandwich from Brock Mastersons

German Pastries everywhere

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

German Pastry Pretzels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A couple Hamburger Wagon Burgers

Grillin Chicken

Seriously Good stuff

Pork chops on the Black Jack Grill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

German Chocolate Sundaes !

Crab Rangoon

LeDoux’s Crawfish Etouffe

According to Big Ragu ….

Don’t eat the Limburger Cheese Sandwich at any cost !

Brats on the Grill

Wiener Schnitzel Sandwich

Sauerkraut Balls for sale

Cream Puffs are works of art.. that’s why we ate them in the Art Institute

Even huge Cinnamon breadsticks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crab Cake from Brock Mastersons

Like a Twinkie Cream Puff

Apple strudel – one of the best things in the fest

Kibbe Beef Sticks from the Lebanese Church

Oompa Band !

Creme Horny Bayb-ee – yeah baybee

Elephant Ear

The Chicken on a Stick OMG that glaze !

Love the whole wings from Brixx

Beef Schwarma from Lebanese Church

Beer, Cigar – Ragu is loaded

Brixx Burger

Crowded

German Cannoli ???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who’s Food is Better? Italian Fest or Greek Fest?

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The Greek Fest Gyro – one of the joys of festival weekend

Two heavy hitters in the Dayton festival world go head to head every year for attendance the weekend after Labor Day.  These 2 festivals are the Greek Festival and the Italian Festival.  Why do they both hold their big events on the same weekend?  We don’t know, but we do know that when asked if they would move the festival to another weekend, both sides aren’t budging.

We decided to compare the festivals under our favorite topic.. FOOD.  What happens when these two ancient nations and cultures collide in a battle of the culinary worlds?  The food Adventures Crew asks you, Dayton…

Which festival has better food, GREEK FEST or ITALIAN FEST ?

Chef House, Hungry Jax and The Big Ragu have decided to put decades of eating experience at each festival to the test, with the most definitive and exhaustive comparison to date.   Most of these foods only come around once a year, so our mouths have been watering for months.

Which festival is the better Food Adventure?

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

The Cannoli from Italian Festival

— Dayton’s Italian Festival, called the “Fall Festa” by the people at the Sons of Italy is held at Bella Villa Hall at 2625 County Line Road.

     Hours are:
     Friday, Sept. 11 – 6pm to 11pm
     Saturday, Sept. 12 – Noon to 11pm
     Sunday, Sept. 13 – Noon to 8pm
***Admission and Parking are free.  Shuttle service available for parking from Reynolds & Reynolds lot.

 

— Dayton’s Greek Festival is held at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church at 500 Belmonte Park, North (next to Dayton Art Institute)

     Hours are:
     Friday, Sept. 11 – 11am to 11pm
     Saturday, Sept. 12 – 11am to 11pm
     Sunday, Sept. 13 – 11am to 6pm

***Admission: Friday from 11 am to 5 pm admission is FREE (come for lunch). The rest of the weekend, admission is  $2 per person, children 12 years and under are free,  Parking is free on streets surrounding the church.  Shuttle service available from Grandview Hospital, Shaw Avenue.  Grafton Medical Center Parking Lot on Forest Avenue and  Eye Clinic Parking Lot,Grand Avenue.

Time to lace up the gloves and put the napkins in your collar.. let’s find out who has the best food !

Loukoumades (honey puffs)

The Battle of the MUST EATS at the ITALIAN FEST vs. GREEK FEST HAS BEGUN !

 

*** ICONIC MAINSTAYS ***:

GREEK GYRO vs THE ITALIAN SAUSAGE SANDWICH
GREEK PASTITSIO vs ITALIAN CALZONES
GREEK MOUSSAKA vs ITALIAN MEATBALL SUB
GREEK PIZZAS vs ITALIAN PIZZAS

Chef House: Greece wins battle of the mainstays –
Big Ragu: Greece wins – The Gyro takes the cake and outshines them all
Hungry Jax: Italy wins battle of the mainstays – Meatball sub, please !

 

*** FULL BLOWN DINNERS*** :

ITALIAN STUFFED SHELLS DINNER vs GREEK LAMB SHANK DINNER
ITALIAN SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS vs GREEK CHICKEN DINNER

Chef House: Greece wins battle of the dinners with the Lamb Shank choice
Big Ragu: Italy wins with Stuffed Shells all day long
Hungry Jax: Greece wins the dinner battle in a close one

 

Cavatelli – a simple pasta dish at the Italian Fall Festa

***OFF THE BEATEN FOOD PATH***:

GREEK DOLMADES (STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES) vs ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP
GREEK TRIGONAS (SPINAKOPITA) vs ITALIAN CAVATELLI

Chef House: Greece wins, I love the Spinakopita the Dolmades are wonderful !
Big Ragu: Italy wins as Cavatelli has my heart !
Hungry Jax: Italy wins the off the beaten path battle. I want some wedding soup !

 

*** WINES,  BEERS & MORE ***:

ITALIAN PERONI BEER vs GREEK MARATHON BEER
ITALIAN RED MORETTI BEER and GREEK ALFA BEER
ITALIAN WINES vs GREEK WINES
ITALIAN RASPBERRY SPARKLETINI vs OUZO

Chef House: Greece wins, fuller tasting beer, Ouzo and I love their wines
Big Ragu: Italy wins because of the Sparkletini but tell the boss that the Moretti regular lager is sorely missing
Hungry Jax: Italy wins the battle of the wines, beers and more…

 

A Spinach Pie (Spinakopita) and a Cheese Pie (Trigona) from the Greek Festival

*** DESSERTS AND PASTRIES ***:
GREEK BAKLAVA vs ITALIAN CANNOLI
GREEK LOUKOUMADES (HONEY PUFFS) vs ITALIAN TIRAMISU
GREEK PASTRY BOOTH vs ITALIAN COOKIE BOOTH

Chef House: Greece wins the dessert battle – the baklava and pastry booth is amazing.
Big Ragu: Italy wins – lock me in a room with Tiramisu and Cannoli
Hungry Jax: Italy all the way in the desserts and pastry battle

 

What is your take on who has the better food? Tell us with your comments below.

In the meantime here are 3 little known eats from each festival that are some of our favorites:

GREEK FEST  –
BAKLAVA SUNDAE – Maybe the best thing at Greek Fest
GREEK FRIES – lemon juice drizzled with seasonings make this a nice treat
GREEK LEMONADE – Refreshing on a festival day – add a little alcohol to boot 

 

ITALIAN FEST –
RASPBERRY SPARKLETINI CHAMPAGNE – this stuff is the most addicting thing at the festivals

Stuffed Shell dinner

PASTA FAGIOLI SOUP – Dark horse of good eats
SFINGI – Italian funnel cake – see if they will deep fry a cannoli for ya too !

 

On a non-food note, Chef House wants to make sure that the Greek Fest gets a shout out for the incredible dancers.  The Big Ragu loves the band led by George Karras.  Hungry Jax has been known to cut a rug at the Italian Festival to some traditional Italian American classic songs as well.

 

We learned one thing today – YOU CANT LOSE WITH A FOOD ADVENTURE TO EITHER FESTIVAL.. YOU JUST HAVE TO KNOW WHAT TO EAT !!

 

For more scoop on Dayton’s best foodie spots, “Like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE

Browse the photos below for a full view of the festival foods !

Greek Beer

Lamb Shank Dinner

Pastitio at Greek fest

Greek Pizza

Italian Fest Raspberry Sparkletini chug

Italian cookies

Greek Baklava

Greek Fries

Italian Pizza

Greek Beers and Gyros

Ahh zoop , zoopa doop.. Italian soups 1

Italian sausages

Greek Pastries

Calzone Guy

Italian Fest Pizza

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haunted Dayton Beer Dinner Returns to Amber Rose

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“Rhinegeists and Poltergeists 2” is coming BACK to the Amber Rose on Friday night October 2nd.  This is the long awaited return of the successful 4 course, 4 beer dinner. Tickets are pre-pay only (CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS).  Earlier this year, the event sold out and over 110 people packed the private, upstairs area of the “haunted” Amber Rose Restaurant.

 

POLTERGEISTS:

For the last 20 years, staff at the restaurant say that there are ghosts and apparitions that appear at all times of the day.  There are also claims of unexplained phenomena such as glasses and dishes being tossed, lights going on and off and more.  One of the ghosts  is believed to be the daughter of the former house owner.  She is a playful spirit named Genevieve Ksiezopolski aka “Chickie.”  Does she haunt the restaurant?  Take for example this incident, where a cook claimed to see a full apparition of a lady in a long dress who walked into the room, then turned and walked away. When the frightened cook alerted the staff, they quickly pulled the security surveillance camera footage.  CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT THEY SAW ON THE SECURITY CAMERA.

Join us and 100 foodies for Rhinegeists and Poltergeists

 

NEW FINDINGS:

For the last couple of months, an independent paranormal investigating team has been taking sound samples, photos, and kinetic energy studies and have made some new findings.  We unveil the new evidence on October 2nd,  and also highlight some of the discoveries from the past investigations done by the three person team.    Independent Paranormal Investigators Kat Powell and Shelly Suittor met in 1999 as tour guides for the Ohio State Reformatory, Prospect Place, and Snow Hill Country Club and teamed up with Alicia Soich in 2012,  This “ghost hunter” crew has appeared on National Television!  Their work has been featured in “America’s Most Haunted,” “My Ghost Story”, and Haunted Ohio VI. They’ve logged hundreds of hours of field research and private investigations across the state.

What will their findings be?  Will they be contacted by “Chickie” or some other poltergeist?

This promises to be one the biggest and goosebump raising Food Adventures to date. We are expecting a sellout crowd of over 100 foodies, beer lovers and fans of the supernatural.

Hunter Schnitzel

Hungry Jax, The Big Ragu and Chef House will stick  after the dinner for some cash bar drink specials and a keg tapping.  We will be talking beers and ghosts with attendees.  The paranormal investigators will answer questions as well.

Prepare to be creeped out !!

 

WHAT:  “Rhinegeists and Poltergeists” Food Adventure 4 course dinner, with 4 beer pairings.  Seating is limited to 100 frightful foodies!

WHERE:  The Amber Rose Restaurant on 1400 Valley Street in Dayton

WHEN:  Friday Night, October 2nd, 2015 at  7pm

COST: $35 per person – includes gratuity

TICKETS ARE PRE-PAY ONLY and ARE ONLY AVAILABLE HERE – seating is LIMITED !!

***FEATURES: EVERY attendee gets a souvenir pint glass from Rhinegeist Brewery.  There will also be door prizes, trivia and of course the “PARANORMAL FINDINGS” and evidence presentations!  Do ghosts exist at Amber Rose?  You be the judge!

 

FOOD MENU:

Owner Joe Castellano and Chef TJ have put together the following four course meal:

Rhinegeist Brewers will be in the house talking about their beers

COURSE 1:  Sauerkraut Balls and German Bier Cheese Dip
COURSE 2: Beer Braised Bratwurst & Knock-wurst with Hot German Potato Salad
COURSE 3: Hunter Schnitzel with Amber Rose Bacon Sauerkraut
COURSE 4: Black Forest Strudel

 

Trevor from Rhinegeist Brewery will be on hand educating the crowd about his Cincinnati Brewery and their philosophy on beer.

RHINEGEISTS: 
BEER 1: Rhinegeist – German Style Hefeweizen
BEER 2: Rhinegeist – Oktoberfest
BEER 3: Rhinegeist – Seasonal Special Release!
BEER 4: Rhinegeist – A Surprise Tapping!

AFTER PARTY:  Cash Bar Downstairs, Special Keg Tapings, Drink Specials

Join the Food Adventure crew for RHINEGEISTS and POLTERGEISTS – get your tickets for this beer dinner here!

Make sure you “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE

Chef House and Hungry Jax at RhineGeists and Poltergeists #1 in April 2015

The ghost thought to haunt AMBER ROSE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chef House and Hungry Jax take in the ghostly evidence

Rhinegiests and Poltergeists 2 !

You may see a GHOST

Madame Ragu believes in ghosts

Hey tiger – grab a Rhinegeist on Oct 2nd with us

Hungry Jax, Trevor from Rhinegeist, Paranormal investigator Shelly, Big Ragu and Amber Rose owner Joe Castellano

Door prizes from our last event

Independent Paranormal Investigative team of Alicia, Shelly and Kat

Chef House and Hungry Jax at the first Rhinegeist & Poltergeists dinner !

The food at Amber Rose is Lithuanian Style and delicious

Grab your Wiener Schnitzel with us October 2nd

HAUNTED ! Don’t believe us? See for yourself !

Amber Rose – good food and ghosts inside

October 2nd – we cross the streams

Bier Cheese – we want a bucket of this stuff

Who ya gonna call ??

Bratwurst and Sweet Sauerkraut

Cougars are welcome