Food Adventures

Ron Holp – Going Strong at 86 Years Old

June 21, 2018 By Dayton937 2 Comments

It’ 5:30am at Ron’s Pizza Tavern in Downtown Miamisburg. Owner Ron Holp is checking stock and orders, and doing what all business owners do. One difference, Ron just had his 86th birthday. He has 4 generations of his family working with him, churning out those famous thin crust pizzas the town has learned to love.

This is a big year for Ron. He has had some family health scares, but things are looking good. Ron just finished the planning of the Rock n Green Tomato Festival , which was a success. He did some TV spots for the fest and looks like his is closer to 70 years old than 90. Ron is a huge part of the bi-centennial events in Miamisburg that roll through this weekend. Today, he sports a beard in honor of the “Brothers of the Brush” a group recognizing the 200th Year of Miamisburg. He has a pacemaker and occasionally a bout with gout, but for the most part, he doesn’t slow down.

We asked him what was the secret to his success. He laughed and said “Bourbon!” He said he does take an occasional shot of whiskey and thinks there is something to it.

He is a legend in town, greeting all his customers when he can. He loves reminiscing and is the information master for whats going on in Miamisburg. He always has his thumb on the pulse of the city and knows who is doing what. He is a talker, a great story-teller and a genuine man. His love for the city is apparent and his passion for his pizza tavern is still there. His tales are legendary from buying the earliest Cassano’s franchise to serving pizzas to mobster Sam Giancana in the 1950’s and 60’s when Sam was dating a girl in town.

Now it’s 2018 and Ron is more likely to be taking calls from suppliers than gangsters. Today our Food Adventures Crew pays tribute to a true Dayton legend who is also a complete gentleman.

Happy Birthday Week Ron… now… what’s to eat ?

MUST EATS:

If you have never been to Ron’s it is all about the PIZZA ! So here are our favorite pies …

— PEPPERONI PIZZA
Get this traditional favorite Pie with extra sauce here…

— DELUXE
If you like big sausage chunks.

— THE BIG RAGU’s FAVORITE:
Try a pizza with pepperoni, onion, mushroom, green peppers, anchovies and extra sauce.

NEVER BEEN TO RON’s? Visit them at 1 South Main Street in Miamisburg.

The staff is friendly and the fun atmosphere adds to the great food. Have a thin and crispy Food Adventure! See you on the patio !

Feel free to browse our photos below. Follow Food Adventures on FACEBOOK by clicking HERE.

Ron meeting with city planners about a festival

The Donk! Kettering’s Buckin’ Donkey is Kicking !

June 13, 2018 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

The Frosted Flake French Toast Sandwich

Once upon a time there was the Buckin’ Donkey on Wilmington Pike. After some admitted mistakes by management, it closed, only to be reborn a couple of years later at the Moraine/Kettering border at 2866 S Dixie Dr. Owner Sean McKown is hitting his groove almost a year in, and the feedback from customers has been tremendous.

If you are true foodie, you need to check this place out for your own Food Adventure.

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON BUCKIN’ DONKEY:

— All of the food items are made from scratch , except the veggie burger patty and breads. Decades of experience at other restaurants, is highlighted in the Buckin’ Donkey’s food offerings.

— The atmosphere is of a bar, with a sports slant, but don’t let that fool you. There full kitchen menu is as full as their bar selections.

Old Chicago Style Beef on Weck

— The owner has developed relationships with Ohio craft beer companies and carries a nice choice of revolving beers on tap.

— The menu is uh.. UNIQUE… it is a bachelor pad meets sports bar type of menu. Over the top, inventive sandwiches and burgers, and some of the best pies around. Our tip here is try it, you might like it, no matter how crazy the menu item sounds.

— The Buckin Donkey is known to have few Steelers Fans in the house, but is friendly to all sports fans. Owner Sean McKown is a Pittsburgh native, who has been in Dayton for over 20 years. Decor and menu items show a Pittsburgh and Polish food influence.

We have discovered some NEW “MUST EATS” from our various visits over the past year and we just had to share them, along with some old favorites. So without further delay, Food Adventures presents the “Must Eats” for the DONK !

MUST EATS at THE BUCKIN’ DONKEY:

— FROSTED FLAKE FRENCH TOAST SANDWICH (Only available on brunch menu Saturday and Sunday 11am-2pm)
Sausage, Bacon , Egg and Cheese in between 2 slices of Frosted Flake French toast. Add hash browns for a buck. This is a guilty pleasure worthy of the Food Network.

— OLD CHICAGO STYLE BEEF ON WECK:
This is the menu item that shuts up the nay sayers. Some of our friends are addicted to this item, it is all they will order. Served with “au jus” it is one hell of a dipping good time. And one hell of a sandwich with Italian style, sliced beef, roasted in its own juices.

—HOMEMADE JAMBALAYA
Ever have a cup of something incredible? This is one of those times. Spicy and flavorful, it needs a squirt of Tabasco sauce and you are in dream land. It has rice, sausage and just the right flavorings. Bucking Donkey also has fantastic GUMBO !

Cajun Turkey Pizza

— PEANUT BUTTER PIE
Sean makes his own pies. This one is his specialty. It is one rich, delicious dessert. This is the start of your pie addiction at the “ba donk a donk…. If you like peanut butter.. open up and say Oh my!

— THE CAJUN TURKEY PIZZA
In a world of pizza, this one is unique. It is the typical Dayton thin crust, but the splash of Cajun seasoning and Cajun flavored turkey works with the cheese.

— THE BREAKFAST BURGER (Only available on brunch menu Saturday and Sunday 11am-2pm)
This is a monster creation, must have been dreamed up in Sean’s bachelor pad or college days. It is their beef and sausage patty, served on a fresh biscuit, topped with egg, sausage gravy, hash browns and melted cheddar cheese. This is a brunch choice that your taste buds won’t soon forget. It works. It is a home run !

— THE PIEROGIE BURGER
Their typical burger topped with two whole pierogies. It turns that first bite into a creamy bite of deliciousness. This is a perfect example of the Pittsburgh / Polish heritage influence often seen on the menu. These are the creations you wont see anywhere else,.

Homemade Blackberry Pie

— BLACKBERRY PIE
So flavorful,. so unique. Again, a homemade specialty from Sean’s kitchen. It is a perfect refreshing dessert for summer and is usually served cold. The whipped topping brings just the right amount of creaminess.

HONORABLE MENTION:
We would be remiss if we did mention two more menu items: first the “PORKY THE PIG DONUT BURGER” which is a mixed beef and pork patty, topped with 3 strips of bacon and american cheese served on a glazed doughnut. Yeah its nutz.

How about the “FOUR CHEESE GRILLED CHEESE?” The sandwich has a blend of Swiss, American, provolone, and Parmesan cheeses served on thick Texas toast, and grilled to perfection.

WHEW !!! What a list. What a kickin’ menu. They are bucking the traditional menu items, and they are doing it with friendly service. The waitress and bartenders are always attentive and excited to share the latest specials. They enjoy the food as much as we do.

The bar area

The infamous BREAKFAST BURGER

THE BLT

Peanut Butter Pie

Hash Browns

BLT SANDWICH

DINING ROOM

Grilled cheese

Take advantage of the return of the BUCKIN’ DONKEY and stop by the restaurant. They are located in the former “Murray’s Place” on S. Dixie. There is a small patio too, but the real attraction is the menu. The wacky concoctions make for a one of a kind eating experience. Next up on their creation list is the ABE FROMAN “THE SAUSAGE KING OF CHICAGO” PIZZA – It will have 3 types of sausage with a healthy dose of cheese. We can’t wait for our next Food Adventure at the Buckin’ Donkey !

Thanks for reading our article. We have a new one every week right here on MostMetro. Feel free to follow our Food Adventures blog on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Good Eats at the Rock’n’Green Tomato Fest

June 5, 2018 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

This Friday June 8th and Saturday June 9th, Miamisburg will be rocking.

The annual Rock N Green Tomato Festival is celebrating its 8th year in a big way.

The festival kicks off Friday at 5pm, and the live music will go throughout the weekend.

Festival hours are FRIDAY 5pm -11pm and SATURDAY 11am- 11pm

Oh and there will be plenty of food and drink.

We have the EXCLUSIVE list of the food vendors that will be there… here they are … in alphabetical order

Hamburger Wagon will be there

COLORFUL CREATIONS:
Nachos and Cotton Candy

GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY FOOD BUS
Chicken Salad, Burgers, Mac n Cheese, Pies, and Dumplings

GREEK STREET FOOD TRUCK (Friday Only):
Street Gyros, Baklava, Greek Specialties

THE HAMBURGER WAGON
Famous Mini Hamburgers, Potato Chips

HUNGER PAYNES FOOD TRUCK (Saturday Only)
Croquettes of different flavors

THE ICE CREAM TROLLEY
Premium, Hand dipped ice cream

KONA ICE
Sno-cones of all flavors

RONS PIZZA
Fried Green Tomatoes, Green Tomato & Bacon Sliders

SALTY DOG FOOD TRUCK
Hot Dogs, Burgers, Sandwiches, Salads

SCHIAVONES
Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs, Italian Sandwiches, Italian Specialties.

THE SHORT ASS FOOD BUS
Sloppy Joes, Chicken Sandwich, Meatloaf, Deviled Egg Salad, Pork Chop Sandwich, Shredded Beef, Mac n Cheese

SINSATIONAL SANDWICHES:
Gourmet Burgers, Hot Dogs, Corn Dogs, Fresh Cut Fries and Jumbo Tenderloin Sandwiches

TOTALLY AWESOME KETTLECORN
Lemonade, Kettle Cooked Popcorn, Gourmet Popcorn

WINKS TREATS
Warm Cookies, Caramel Apple Bowls, Hot Dogs, Cotton Candy, Soft Pretzels, Walking tacos, desserts

OTHER ATTRACTIONS:

CRAFT BOOTHS
Local businesses

PONY RIDES
Fun for young kids

DUNK TANK
Dunk a Miamisburg citizen

KIDS BOUNCY HOUSE
Every kids favorite

FRIDAY PIE-DAY – GREEN TOMATO PIE BAKING CONTEST:
Mz Pickles, Ron’s Pizza, Bennetts Publical and Ms Hartman local baker face-off !

CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT SATURDAY:
$250 to the winner

HAMBURGER WAGON EATING CONTEST:
Who can eat the most in 2 minutes

HULA HOOP CONTEST:
Whole lotta shakin goin on

LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY:
5pm – THE REVELATORS
730pm – BLAIR CARMAN and the BELLVIEW BOYS (Rockabilly like Jerry Lee Lewis)

BLAIR CARMAN – A Jerry Lee Lewis Style band

SATURDAY:
Noon – 2pm – NIGHT MAGIC BAND

3pm-5pm – The DRUNK UNCLES
730pm – RYAN ROTH and the COMEBACK SPECIAL – 14 piece Vegas Style Elvis Tribute band

Come out for a family friendly, fun Food Adventure, filled with Rock Music and so much more….

Beers on Ron’s Pizza Patio

Crowded Park

Ice Cream Trolley

Cornhole Tournament

Maters

Mozzarella stuffed meatballs from Schiavones

Green Tomato Pie Baking Contest

Kona Ice

Hula Hoop champ

City Sub Champ to Be Crowned June 9th!

May 30, 2018 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Come to the Centerville Submarine House Saturday June 9th and watch some people eat some subs… oh and you could win $10,000.

Yes … 10 grand …. and you can rock the night away with local band STRANGER who takes the stage at 7pm.

The Submarine House will crown the 2018 Super Duper Cheesesteak Challenge Champion on Saturday June 9th at the Centerville Bar and Grill Location at 503 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd. The fast and furious action will take place at 5pm. This is the Finale of the contest and will pit each store champion vs store champion in a chow down showdown that promises to leave no crumbs.

HERE’S THE SKINNY on THE SUPER DUPER CHEESESTEAK CHALLENGE:

CHOMP CHOMP !

For several years, the Submarine House has hosted the annual Super Duper Cheesesteak Challenge. Hungry Daytonians have stepped up to take on the task of eating a 16 inch Super Duper Cheesesteak. That means a Cheesesteak with triple the meat and triple the cheese, and the works toppings. To beat the challenge, you have to eat all the deliciousness in 16 minutes or less. Over the past couple of months each Submarine House location has had competitions to crown a “store champion” with the fastest time. On June 9th those champs along with a couple of past city champions collide. Again, this year the Centerville Submarine House is hosting the shindig. Please come out and join the dozens and dozens who will be in attendance, seeing history take place.

Can anyone beat last year’s champion, CLAYTON NAYLOR, who ate the sub in about 2 minutes?

SUBMARINE HOUSE GIVES BACK:
This is also a celebration with the culmination of all the Submarine House location donations. One of the most touching moments will be the presentation of a check donation to the Pink Ribbon Girls. These funds were raised by the cheesesteak challenge and by donations from Submarine House owners, employees and customers. Over the past few years, the Danner family, who owns the Submarine House, have contributed tens of thousands of dollars to local Dayton charities. They have solidified their reputation as one of Dayton’s most giving restaurants. Won’t you come out and support the cause as well?

Also, winners will include Submarine House customers as well. Submarine House will be raffling off cash prizes of $1,000 and $10,000 dollars respectively. That would be a nice kickstart to your summer. You can order a lot of subs with 10 grand… but we digress…

STAY FOR THE AFTER PARTY, LOCAL ROCK BAND “STRANGER” IN CONCERT !
Do you love 80’s music? Then you have yet another reason to come to the Submarine House June 9th. At 7pm, 80’s cover band Stranger takes the stage. End your night by rocking out to some great tunes.

What a great opportunity to come have dinner and drinks and watch the jaw dropping action. There will be some big mouths chomping on those “16 inches of heaven.” Stay for the live rock music afterwards !

About the PINK RIBBON GIRLS LOCAL CHARITY:
Pink Ribbon Girls provides Healthy Meals, Housecleaning, Transportation to Treatment and Peer Support to individuals with breast and women’s reproductive cancers free of charge. The charity helps local women. Real Dayton families are supported by them everyday.

So join the fun June 9th – here is the scoop:

BEHOLD THE 16 inch SUPER DUPER CHEESE STEAK

2017 Championships crowd

2017 champ Clayton Naylor with PInk Ribbon Girls charity

Brody Danner, Pink Ribbon Girls Represetative and Radio personality Jeff Stevens

Food Adventure Crew Adds “Healthy” Influence

May 23, 2018 By Dayton937 1 Comment

You may know the weekly Food Adventure blog here at Dayton Most Metro. We visit the local mom and pop restaurants from greasy spoons, to fine dining and everything in between. We give some of the most in-depth restaurant reviews because, unlike other sites, they visit the eatery multiple times. No plate is unturned. You may have attended one of our Food Adventure events over the past 10 years.

Jessie Whitesell – the Newest Food Adventurer

Today, we proudly announce the addition of a Paleo and Whole 30 guru who will bring a fresh breath of healthy eating into the mix. Meet the latest crew member, Jessie Whitesell. A Mom whose busy lifestyle and own health concerns, turned her on to the power of fresh, natural foods. Using gluten free foods, and a paleo style diet, she has conquered her own health concerns from allergies to inflammation. Jessie will bring fun videos, cooking tips, and much more to Food Adventures. She will help you and your family who may be looking to promote a healthier lifestyle.

Food Adventures has not changed, we will still bring you the best of local food places. We have just added a new dimension to the mix. Jessie is a lifelong Dayton resident with a passion for healthy, nutritious, fresh local foods. Here is her bio:

MEET JESSIE:

Yep, she is one of us !

Jessie Whitesell of Jessie Whitesell Health + Wellness is our team’s Wellness Consultant . She brings a piece to Food Adventures that focuses on holistic health and healing through whole, natural foods. Jessie is a certified health coach, autoimmune paleo coach, fitness nutritionist, behavioral coach, and personal trainer. She holds an BA in Education and a M. Ed. in Counseling Psychology.

She and her high school sweetheart are raising three incredibly active and hungry kids. Self taught in the kitchen, she has learned how to simplify feeding a busy active family a mostly paleo nutritional plan through mindful planning, meal prep, and single ingredient foods. Jessie likes to cook with in season produce and support local farmers when possible. You can often find her at the ball fields either coaching or cheering on her kids with a cooler packed to the brim of healthy, whole foods.

The Food Adventures Crew is super excited to add Jessie to the blog. We look forward to her articles, recipes, videos and takes on local foods. You will see her at many of our events, and we can’t wait to learn more about wholesome foods for a healthy lifestyle, and even food tips for treating specific ailments. Stay tuned and keep following us right here, weekly on DaytonMostMetro.com!

Jessie and her family

Jessie with her husband.

“Beers & Steers” at Kennedy Vineyard

May 17, 2018 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Located at: 3911 OH-722, New Madison, OH 45346

Do you love beer? How about a good burger? Are you a wine lover? Like live music? We have it all here for you.

Kennedy Vineyard and Big Rack Brewery in New Madison, Ohio are excited for an announcement.

They are teaming up with Food Adventures, DaytonDining and DaytonMostMetro.com to hold a special one night event called “BEERS and STEERS.” It is a day an evening party filled with good food, craft beer, local wine and live music.

“Beers and Steers” will take place SATURDAY JUNE 30th. The winery opens at 1pm, live music starts at 2pm, and dinner is served at 4pm. Live music will continue into the evening and the vineyard will close at 10pm .

“Beers and Steers” will have Live Music all day

Tickets are $20 per person and includes admission, dinner, live music, and a drink ticket for wine or beer. Additional drinks may be bought as a cash bar. TICKETS MAY ONLY BE BOUGHT ONLINE BY CLICKING HERE.

Come relax and enjoy and incredible day at the vineyard. rain or shine (the party can be moved to the barn in case of bad weather).

Vineyard owners John and Louisa Kennedy will be serving their famous, thick local beef burgers and sides. Dessert is also part of the deal. There are patio seats, but feel free to bring your own lawn chairs if you like.

HERE’S THE SKINNY on KENNEDY VINEYARD:

— Known for the past few years as a winery with a cult following, the vineyard recently expanded. In summer 2017, the family opened up Darke County’s first brewery “Big Rack Brewery” on the same grounds as the vineyard.

John Kennedy serving up homemade food

— Three generations live on the homestead, from grandma to the grandaughter. All contribute to the working farm. You may see some chickens and crops if you keep your eyes peeled. Parts of the farm have been turned into the winery. The tasting room is the old corn crib. You may even get a welcome from the family’s young daughter, who is very sweet.

— John and Louisa Kennedy are the owners of the winery. They have poured a lot of dedication and hard work into making the place a comfortable and delicious experience. It is a welcoming spot and place that every Daytonian should visit.

Darke County’s first brewery

— Thirteen years ago, John’s mom started planting the grapes. John, who grew up in the home, took over production and in 2014, the tasting room was opened.

—The Winery address is 3911 State Route 722, New Madison, Ohio. It is just a few miles off of an exit on I-70 West not far from Greenville/Arcanum.

—Kennedy Vineyard’s philosophy is to make the wines in small batches. This keeps the wines young, and helps preserve the fruity flavors. Many of the bottle’s labels are artwork from friends, family and customers. Some are drawn from photos taken at the winery by friends or family.

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON “BEERS and STEERS”:

—WHEN: SATURDAY JUNE 30th,
Winery opens 1pm – Beer and Wine Available
Live Music 2pm – 9pm
Dinner served 4pm
Winery Closes 10pm

Wine and Beer Bash on the grounds with live music

—WHERE: KENNEDY VINEYARD and BIG RACK BREWERY
3911 OH-722, New Madison, Ohio 45346

—WHAT: “Beers and Steers” A cookout with live music, food and drink! You get a drink ticket for a beer or glass of wine, a dinner of a thick, local beef burger with sides and dessert. There will also be live music 2pm – 9pm. A Relaxing day at the vineyard – BRING A LAWNCHAIR if you want as patio seating is limited. Cash bar for additional drinks open from 1pm – 10pm

—COST: $20 per person – TICKETS CAN ONLY BE BOUGHT ONLINE BY CLICKING HERE

See you for this beer, wine and food bash, with local eats and live music.

Recipe of the Month: Baked Swordfish and Raspberry Sauce

May 8, 2018 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Baked Swordfish with Raspberry Sauce

The feature monthly recipe from the Food Adventure Crew is one of the Big Ragu’s creations. It is a fun, delicious meal, that is sure to impress your friends.

Today we highlight a healthy fish dinner and even offer up some side ideas that mimic the local steakhouses. The best part, this is a fairly easy recipe. Make yourself look like a champ with little effort.

Do you love seafood? The Big Ragu sure does, and works with it constantly. One of the most important challenges in Dayton is getting your hand on the good stuff. That is the FRESH good stuff. Let us recommend Foremost Seafood in Kettering for the absolute freshest and most diverse choices in town.

That being said, lets dive into this MUST EAT dinner !

HERE IS THE SKINNY on BAKED SWORDFISH with RASPBERRY SAUCE:

BAKED SWORDFISH with RASPBERRY SAUCE (feed 6 people)

Ingredients:
6 Swordfish filets , 8oz each
Butter, salted, 6 square pad slices
Lemon juice, 6 Tbsp
Paprika, 2 tsp
Garlic powder, 2 tsp
Fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Worcestershire Sauce (splash)
2 Tbsp white wine vinegar
½ cup fresh raspberries
2 tablespoons of honey

Directions :

- Lay filets on an oiled baking dish . Squeeze lemon juice on top of each piece of fish. Place a square slab of butter on top of each fillet. Sprinkle paprika, garlic powder and black pepper on top of fish.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, finish off under the broiler for 1 minute

Raspberry Sauce:

Mash the raspberries in a small bowl, whisk in the vinegar, Worcestershire and honey. Spoon the sauce over the fillets Garnish each piece of fish with a sprig of thyme.

Looking for some sides to accompany the fish? How about these two recipes, Sweet Stewed Tomatoes and Garlic Buttery Steamed Green Beans

SWEET STEWED TOMATOES:
Serves 8

Ingredients:
1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes, including juice
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
1/2 sweet Vidalia onion (diced)
16 toasted bread cubes
1 ¼ sticks of butter
1 cup sugar
½ cup Brown Sugar

Directions:

Add a little olive oil to a sauce pan, add the diced onion and stir on medium heat until they start to carmelize
Drain the whole tomatoes can and add to the pan. Add diced tomatoes and their juice in the saucepan. Add butter and sugar. Simmer, uncovered, twenty minutes, stirring occasionally. Add bread cubes and serve in small bowl

GARLIC BUTTERY STEAMED GREEN BEANS:
Serves 6

Ingredients:
1 1/4 pound fresh green beans (trimmed)
2/3 stick butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

Place your green beans in a bowl or container with ¼-1/2 inch water. Microwave them for 3 minutes to steam them..
In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the butter, brown sugar, garlic salt, and pepper. Stir until the brown sugar is completely dissolved. Add the green beans and stir the green beans until they are coated. Cook for 3-5 minutes, until green beans appear done. Place beans and about half the sauce into a serving dish and they are ready to serve.

Enjoy the other photos from our recipe below.

Come back to DaytonMostMetro.com EVERY week for a feature Food Adventure article on Dayton foods. We are Dayton’s #1 Food blog for over 10 years, and a favorite of Miami Valley foodies. Festivals, cooking classes, weekly features, killer photos and more. We are much more than a social media account.We are FOOD ADVENTURES!

10 Mouths Needed for Super Duper Cheesesteak Qualifier

May 5, 2018 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Can you eat 2 of these?

Each year, the Submarine House hosts the “Super Duper Cheesesteak Challenge” in which a person must devour a 16inch long Triple cheesesteak sub with “the works” toppings in 16 minutes or less. The 2018 proceeds go to the Pink Ribbon Girls.

Again this year the Food Adventure Crew hosts a charity event qualifier to help add donations to the Pink Ribbon girls. This year the site is the Centerville Store on Sunday May 20th, 3pm.

We are looking for 10 WOMEN or MEN to take the Super Duper Cheesesteak Challenge and see if you can beat the sandwich! This is all about charity so each “EATER” or contestant is asked to make a minimum $20 donation to be considered for the event.

Also, if you eat the sandwich fast enough, you may qualify in the top 10 of the Centerville store times and be vaulted into the store championship in a few weeks. BRING YOUR FAMILY – A percentage of all food and drink that night will go to Pink Ribbon girls. Join the fun….

HERE IS THE SKINNY ON THE EVENT:

— WHEN: SUNDAY, MAY 20th, 3pm

— WHERE: SUBMARINE HOUSE CENTERVILLE – in the Normandy Square Shopping Center at 503 Miamisburg Centerville Rd, Washington Township, OH 45459

—WHY?

#1 It is HILARIOUS to come out and watch this event, and it is not only a blast, but it can be eye opening as well

#2 Come participate or just watch and eat and drink. The great menu at Submarine House goes from Pizzas to Subs and more. And remember a portion of your bill goes to CHARITY ! We will also be taking donations that night.

#3 Bring your friends for a fun time. We are hoping to pack them in and raise $$ for PINK RIBBON GIRLS..

SPREAD THE WORD !

WANT TO PARTICIPATE AS AN EATER IN THE QUALIFIER????

Make your donation to the Food Adventures Crew Challenge, which will be donated to the Pink Ribbon Girls!

You can also donate even if you don’t want to be a part of the challenge!

Can you handle 16 inches of Heaven ?

JUST WANT TO WATCH AND SUPPORT THE CAUSE?

Show up at the Centerville Store and cheer on your favorite participant… 3pm , Sunday May 20th . A portion of all monies spent from 3pm – 5pm will be donated to THE PINK RIBBON GIRLS of DAYTON ! They support local women fighting breast cancer.

Get all your foodie scoop on the Dayton area by following The Food Adventures Crew on Facebook.

THE SUPER DUPER CHEESESTEAK ! 16 inches of heaven !

Don’t Fear The Reaper at Pisanello’s

May 2, 2018 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

We got a Reaper Pizza and divided it in 4 flavors !

In the Dayton suburb of Franklin, one pizza reigns supreme, Pisanello’s Pizza . This restaurant has quietly been spinning out pies for the past 30 years. Inside the community of Franklin, they have gained a loyal, cult following. Pisanello’s makes hundreds of pizzas each weekday and thousands of pizzas on the weekends. Outside of Franklin, this place is a well-kept secret. But now, The Food Adventure Crew is letting the masses know about this.

One of their biggest attractions, literally, is the Reaper Pizza – a 34 inch monster with your choice of toppings. They even have an eating challenge called the “Reaper Challenge” where 2 people must eat the pizza in 30 minutes to succeed. But we say, order the Reaper pizza with a group and let the Food Adventure begin!

Now to learn a little bit about the Pisanello’s secret….

Welcome to Pisanello’s in Franklin

HERE’S THE SKINNY on PISANELLO’S PIZZA:

—Pisanello’s Pizza started in Alliance Ohio in the early 1960’s. It branched out to Kent, Ohio and eventually Bowling Green, Ohio, in October 1964. Jerry Liss, of Kent, Ohio, started the Bowling Green business after working for Ron Pisanello. Jerry chose Bowling Green, because of the growing student population of Bowling Green State University. With his wife Sylvia, they ran the store for 50 years, to great success. It is still a success today.

—With over 15 franchises in Ohio and Michigan, the chain is strong.

— The Franklin Pisanellos is celebrating their 35th year in business. Owner Tom Combs and Marketing director Bruce Horstman run a well oiled machine. Busy weekends are no problem, as the staff is always hustling with great service.

— Staying with a family theme and atmosphere, no alcohol is sold or allowed on site.

Spicy Asian Wings – the best on the menu

— The pizza dough is made from scratch every day and the sauce is made in-house, with the famous San Marzano brand tomatoes from Italy.

— Sharing the restaurant with sister company TLC Catering, Pisanello’s hosts parties in any of the 3 floors of their building and the party rooms are incredible.

MUST EATS at PISANELLO’S PIZZA:

—THE REAPER PIZZA:
Behold the Masterpiece. This behemoth, 34 inch pizza is sliced into squares, although you can ask for pie slices. The one topping Reaper starts at $34.95 and the deluxe gets up to $54 bucks. You can get up to 4 different sections with different toppings.

—SPICY ASIAN WINGS:
An amazing combo of tang and heat, these are the best wings we have had at a pizza joint in the Dayton area. Although they are baked, they maintain a crisp crunch and stay true to the Buffalo Wing style.

—LOADED TATER TOTS:
Who doesn’t love tater tots? Jackie and Ragu devoured these on the spot during our visits. Get them loaded with cheese and bacon. Sour cream? YES ! or…. dip them in ranch or ketchup !

—ANY PIZZA:

Loaded Tater Tots

We were very impressed with the pizza on our visits. They have a nice selection of toppings and we have loved our pies from cheese, to loaded deluxe. The Hand tossed is our favorite style, aka the traditional style. Great Crust, great sauce, the foundations of what makes great pizza, and they have excelled at both.

—MILD WINGS:
The slight tang to the Buffalo Wing. Mild, yet a bit of flavor, this is the perfect wing to compliment pizza. They are great, and you could eat ton of them.

—CHEESEY BREAD:
A must eat appetizer at Pisanellos.The cheese topped crust is great for dipping and savoring. A solid choice to open the meal.

—KIDS MAKE YOUR OWN PIZZA OPTION:
The most fun a kid can have is making their own pizza, right? This is an ingenious meal where they serve the kids raw ingredients, of crust, cheese, and sauce, and the child makes their own pizza. You then give the pizza uncooked to the server who pops it in the oven and in a few minutes, the kiddos are eating their own creations.

Don’t forget the pizza by the slice deal “2 huge slices and a drink for $5.95.”

Also, we cannot stress enough the amazing beauty of this building. The upstairs floor are refurbished party rooms. They are perfect for your next meeting or get together.

So many great tastes, so little time. Although this place has been here 35 years, so you have all the time in the world….

The bottom line is that this is a great pizza pub, with delicious pies. Go there with some friends and try the REAPER… or go with your immediate family and get a pizza of your choice. We are sure you will find it a tasty stop with friendly service. It isn’t just Franklin’s little secret anymore ….

Love food? Then check Food Adventures out on Facebook HERE. We write a feature article every week right here on Dayton Most Metro. See you next week !

Top that

Main Dining Area

more tots and a sandwich

perfect for meetings and parties

by the slice

More upstairs rooms

Dough fixer

Party time

Busy Kitchen

Pizza by the SLICE

Philly Cheesesteak

Cheese and onion

Mild wing

Taking on the REAPER !

Fun times – Franklin Ohio

Murals

Cheseey Bread

The 34 inch REAPER PIZZA !

Pizza with Green Peppers

Make your own pizza

Logo

Spicy Asian wings

Kids make your own pizza

Box it

Rocky’s Pizza Ring to Host Farewell Pizza Party

April 29, 2018 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Pepperoni Pizza at Rocky’s

Yo Adrian… time to say goodbye … one last round.. down but not out …

As many of you local foodies know, an iconic area pizza joint, in existence for over 40 years is closing its doors forever this summer.

40 lucky fans will close down 40 years at Rocky’s Pizza Ring with one last pizza party and trivia bash.

Although the restaurant closes June 30th forever, the owners are teaming up with Most Metro’s own Food Adventure Crew for an “Underground Food Adventure” on Saturday night May 19th. The party will feature all you want pizza, trivia and door prizes. Tickets will be $12 each, and will include pizza, soft drinks and a surprise.

Tickets will be sold online at DaytonMostMetro.com and DaytonFoodies.com.

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS.

HERE IS THE SKINNY ON THE ROCKY’S FAREWELL PIZZA PARTY and MOVIE NIGHT:

—WHEN: SATURDAY MAY 19th
The pizza party starts at 9pm

—WHERE: Rocky’s Pizza Ring, 3273 Seajay Dr, Beavercreek, OH 45430

—WHAT: All you want pepperoni and cheese pizza and soft drinks.

—COST: $12 per person, GET YOUR TICKETS ONLINE BY CLICKING HERE !

— Only 40 tickets will be sold, once they are gone, they are gone.

— Beer will be sold separately at a cash bar.

HURRY and get your tickets now, as we are limiting this once in a lifetime Food Adventure to 40 seats. Come say farewell to Rocky’s Pizza Ring one last time. Join us for a night of nostalgia, good food, and a surprise. We will also have some trivia and door prizes.

Seating will be in the fun atmosphere of a boxing ring, with memorabilia adorning the walls.

WE PITY THE FOOL WHO MISSES THIS EVENT !!!

For more food fun and events, follow Food Adventures on Facebook HERE

Green Tomato Fest Looking for Vendors & Cornhole Teams

April 26, 2018 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Winks treats will be there

Attention Food Trucks and Craft Vendors….

Miamisburg’s Rock n Green Tomato Festival is looking for you. Same goes for you bag tossing, cornhole lovers. There is money to be made for all involved !

The Festival takes place two days this year: JUNE 8th 5pm – 11pm and JUNE 9th from Noon – 11pm

All the forms you need can be downloaded, filled out and sent in from www.RockNGreenTomato.com

FOOD TRUCKS and FOOD VENDORS WANTED:
Vendor Cost for one day : $125
Vendor Cost for two days : $150
So far the Food Vendors include Winks Treats, Kona Ice, The Hamburger Wagon, Rons Pizza’s Fried Green Tomato and Sliders Booth, The Ice Cream Trolley, and more !

Vendor Setups

CRAFT VENDORS / COMPANY VENDORS WANTED:
10 foot x 10 foot Booth Cost for one day : $50
10 foot x 10 foot Booth Cost for two days : $75
(No food or drink sales at Craft Booths)
So far Craft Booths include MidUSACredit Union, ABC FOX 45, Rock n Green T-shirt Booth, Avon, LeafFilter North LLC, and Color Street

CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT
11:30am check in on SATURDAY JUNE 8th
Cost: $20 per 2 person team in advance, $30 if you pay the day of the festival
Prize Money: Winning Team gets $250

Checks and forms should be mailed in to
ROCK N GREEN TOMATO FEST
PO BOX 322
MIAMISBURG, OH 45343

Questions?

Vendors: (937) 380-6723 , [email protected]

Cornhole: (937) 847-2442, [email protected]

That’s not all – the Festival features Rock n Roll Bands Friday and Saturday night with feature acts closing down the festival respective nights. Friday the Rockabilly, lightning fast piano talents of Blair Carman. His style is much like Jerry Lee Lewis. Saturday concludes with feature act Ryan Roth and the Comeback Special. They are a 14 piece Elvis tribute band, Vegas Style. You do not want to miss these free rock shows.

A Hula Hoop Contest, a Hamburger eating contest and a Pie Baking Contest fill in the festivities on Saturday. The festival sponsor is MiduSA Credit Union and the emceee is Jim Bucher.

This will be the 8th Annual Rock N Green Tomato Fest.

The festival takes place in the newly rennovated River View Park. We suggest you bring a folding chair if you are going to stay and listen to the band.

Ron’s Pizza will have the beer garden patio open both days and will be serving green beer and food.

There is even a Donut run 5K Saturday Morning June 9th.

For all the information on all of the events, please visit www.RocknGreenTomato.com

Thank you for reading our Food Adventure feature. Look for our articles exclusively, every week on Dayton Most Metro. Follow us on Facebook HERE

Fest in full force

Fried Green Tomatoes !

Green tomato Pizza

Ron’s Patio

Former Food Trucks

Fest in full force

CRAFTS ! FOODS !

Burger Eating contest

Legendary Burger Wagon

Bands All Day

The Ice Cream Trolley will be there

Lemonade

Food lineup

Hamburger Wagon burgers

win $250

KONA Ice

Green tomato slider

Scuavines MEatballs

KONA ICE

Inside The Greene’s New Restaurant – Ace Asian Cafe!

April 18, 2018 By Dayton937 1 Comment

Ace Asian Cafe will specialize in 3 types of cuisine: Chinese, Japanese and Thai food.

The restaurant will open in the former Choe’s Asian Bistro location. Ace Asian Cafe plan to start serving food this Friday, but they are not sure of the exact time. As crunch time approaches, management has set that day as the target. The carpenters and management are hard at work finalizing the menu and details.

NOW HIRING !
Ace Asian Cafe is looking for servers, dishwashers and table bussers. The jobs promise to be in fun, face paced environment. Please call 937-320-0002 for information.

The restaurant will feature a sushi bar, an upstairs dining area and a full wine area loaded with wine, sake and booze. The windows have been decorated in Asian Koi goldfish designs to match the inside dining room’s accent shades.

HERE’S THE SKINNY on ACE ASIAN BISTRO:

New Sign outside Ace Asian Cafe

— Opening at 4394 Juniper Way in the Greene Town Center

— Hours:
MON-FRI 11:30am – 10pm
SAT – NOON – 11pm
SUN – NOON – 9pm

—Menu will feature Chinese, Japanese, and Thai Cuisine

Menu Highlights:
— Sushi Rolls
— Hibachi Style entrees
— Sashimi
— Nigiri
— Kung Pao
— Szechuan
— General Tsao’s
— Pad Thai
— Soups

You can view Ace Asian Cafe’s Facebook Page here. A full website will be added soon as well as menus and photos to Facebook.

Sushi Bar Area

Their brand new TWITTER account is here and their INSTAGRAM account is here.

The owners of Ace Asian Cafe are part of the team that originally opened up Choe’s, but then they sold it to another group and the restaurant closed. Expect moderately fine dining and a sleek atmosphere, with a grand piano. The owners are looking for a weekend piano player, call 937-320-0002 if interested.

This gourmet restaurant is soon to be a popular destination for Miami Valley diners seeking a Food Adventure. If the end product is as good as the expectations, they should have no problems keeping this cafe busy.

BROWSE THE GALLERY BELOW FOR MORE SNEAK PEEK PHOTOS INSIDE THE NEW ACE ASIAN CAFE !!

For more Dayton area food scoop, check back here at Dayton Most Metro each week fro a new article from the Food Adventure Crew. Our food blog can be found on Facebook HERE

Sushi Bar up close

Stairway to upstairs room

Last minute touch ups

Decorative sake shelves

logo

Looking Out at the Greene

One of the main dining areas

Another Bar Area

Rock n Green Tomato Fest Expands

April 11, 2018 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

There is going to be an Elvis sighting in Miamisburg again this summer…and maybe Jerry Lee Lewis as well…

The Rock N Green Tomato Fest is expanding and will now be held over 2 days in June. Previously the festival was one day.

Organizers have announced that the “Rocking” will take place on the following days & nights:

Friday Night June 8th 5pm-11pm
Saturday June 9th 11am-11pm.

Green Tomato based foods and old time Rock n roll will be the features once again for this popular event held in the park behind Ron’s Pizza , downtown Miamisburg.

This is a great family event with kids bouncy house, food trucks. craft vendors, cornhole, hula hoop contests, hamburger eating contests and even a pie baking contest. DO NOT MISS this annual extravaganza highlighting the green tomato !

There will be Food Truck Vendors

HERE’S THE SKINNY on the 8th ANNUAL ROCK N GREEN TOMATO FESTIVAL:

— The event is at RIVERFRONT PARK IN MIAMISBURG (behind Ron’s Pizza)

—Festival Sponsor is MID USA CREDIT UNION and the emcee is local celeb JIM BUCHER from BuchTVGuy.com

— FESTIVAL HOURS:
FRIDAY June 8th, 5pm – 11pm
SATURDAY June 9th, NOON – 11pm

Friday, June 8 Lineup of Activities:(subject to change)

Fried Green Tomatoes

—5pm FOOD TRUCKS and CRAFT VENDORS

—5pm Live Music with “THE REVELATORS” rock band.

—8pm BLAIR CARMAN and the BELLVIEW BOYS (Honkytonk, Rockabilly, Memphis style piano rock n roll)

**We suggest you bring lawnchairs !!!**

Saturday, June 9 Lineup of Activities:

— 9AM – ROCK N DONUT RUN 5K

—11:00AM CORNHOLE TOURNMENT SIGNUP, STARTS NOON

—NOON – FOOD TRUCKS and CRAFT VENDORS

Blair Carman is rocking the piano like no other

— NOON – Live Music “NIGHT MAGIC” Rock Band

—NOON – 9pm – KIDS BOUNCY HOUSE

— 2:30PM – HAMBURGER WAGON‘s BURGER EATING CONTEST

—3PM – Live Music – “THE DRUNK UNCLES” Rock Band

— 4:30PM – HULA HOOP CONTEST

— 5:30PM – GREEN TOMATO PIE BAKING CONTEST, with the FOOD ADVENTURES CREW

—7:30 PM “RYAN ROTH and THE COMEBACK SPECIAL” (14 Piece, Vegas Style Elvis Tribute Band)

Green Tomato Pizza

The Eighth Annual Rock ‘n’ Green Tomato Festival, sponsored by MidUSA Credit Union, is sure to be a hit for the entire family. Events and entertainment performed live outside in Riverfront Park next to Ron’s Pizza in Downtown Miamisburg! Come join us for a day filled with Great Food, Vendors, Contests, Cornhole Tournament and some great FREE, Live Rock ‘n’ Roll Music throughout the entire day.

THE ROCKING GREEN TOMATO FESTIVAL IS TAKING VENDOR APPLICATIONS – CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT A FORM AND PAY

For information regarding the Event, Vendor Space, Sign up for Cornhole Tournament, or to be a Sponsor call us today at:

Events: (937) 974-0027, [email protected]

Sponsorships: (937) 974-0027, [email protected]

Vendors: (937) 380-6723 , [email protected]

Cornhole: (937) 847-2442, [email protected]

Welcome

Hamburer Wagon

Fun Family Festival

Pie Contest Winner

Hula Hoop warm ups

green tomato slider

Green Tomato Pie

Ryan Roth

Ready to Rock n Roll ?

Blair Carman is coming to town

Pie Baking Contest

Hamburger Eating Champs with Bucher !

Archer’s Kettering Wine Dinner Pairings + Ticket Giveway

April 10, 2018 By Dayton937 8 Comments

Beef Tenderloin and “Borne of Fire” Cabarnet

April 19th promises to be one of the tastiest days in Dayton.

***Now you can win a free ticket to attend****
Just comment on the article below and a winner will be chosen at random.

Today the chefs at Archer’s in Kettering have confirmed a final menu for the CORKS and FORKS Dinner event.

This is a 4 course Food Adventure complete with wine pairings

Here is the lineup just announced !!!!

FIRST COURSE:
WINE FLIGHT 1:
J. PINOT GRIS
FOOD COURSE 1:
BANGING SHRIMP and SPINACH DIP
(Made with 3 cheeses)

SECOND COURSE:
WINE FLIGHT 2:
ROSEHAVEN ROSE
FOOD COURSE 2:
GRILLED ROMAINE HEART CAESAR SALAD
(Served with shaved Parmesan and grape tomatoes. We may showcase Archer’s “Cardinal” dressing.)

THIRD COURSE:
WINE FLIGHT 3: BORNE OF FIRE CABERNET
FOOD COURSE 3:
BEEF TENDERLOIN:
(Served with a wild mushroom red wine sauce, on a bed of mashed potatoes.
Possible Salmon option for those who do not like steak)

FOURTH COURSE:
WINE FLIGHT 4: RISATA MOSCATO D’ASTI
FOOD COURSE 4:
APPLE CRUNCH CAKE
(Apple Pie topped with brown sugar, yellow cake, and mixed nuts.
Key Lime pie option for those with nut allergy)

Apple Spice Cake

GET TICKETS NOW – Seated is limited to the first 40 tickets sold.

HERE IS THE SKINNY ON THE EVENT:

—“CORKS and FORKS”
4 COURSES, 4 WINE PAIRINGS Just $40
(Menu subject to change)

—THURSDAY APRIL 19th, 6:30pm

—ARCHERS KETTERING, 2030 E. Dorothy Ln, Kettering

TICKETS MAY BE PURCHASED ONLINE BY CLICKING HERE…

Again, seating is limited and once seats are gone, they are GONE !

****WIN A FREE TICKET BY COMMENTING BELOW !****

WINNER CHOSEN MONDAY AT RANDOM.

Don’t forget to follow Food Adventures here each and every week. Original articles, original photos and more.

Follow Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE

Seafood Shines at Old Bag of Nails

April 4, 2018 By Dayton937

British Style Fish and Chips

A lot of pubs have been popping up around town. One of the most popular has been The Old Bag of Nails Pub in Cross Pointe Shopping Center in Centerville. The packed parking lot at the corner of Alex Bell and State Route 48 has been steady since the restaurant opening, in November, 2017.

Recently, neighboring Schlotsky’s Deli has closed its doors, making Old Bag of Nails the end cap on Cross Pointe Center. The Food Adventure Crew has gotten a chance to visit the pub a half a dozen times and have had a good sampling of the menu at different times of the day. We have found the menu to be pretty seafood dominated, and those were some of our favorite dishes.

Let’s get started giving you the scoop….

HERE IS THE SKINNY on THE OLD BAG OF NAILS PUB:

— The Old Bag of Nails is a chain based out of Columbus. Owner Mike Purdum and his staff manage 13 restaurants located from Northern to Southern Ohio.

— The menu is extensive and eclectic, featuring favorite pub foods to unique creations you won’t see anywhere else in town.

New England Clam Chowder

— The bar has a great list of craft beers on tap. Usually from Bells Brewery to local Dayton brews, you can find something for every palate, event the Bud and Miller Lite lovers.

— Located at 101 E Alex-Bell Rd. Suite 191 in Centerville, their hours are 11am-10pm everyday except 11am-9pm on Sundays.

So what’s the best stuff on this big menu? We can help you there, with our patented .. MUST EATS !

MUST EATS at THE OLD BAG OF NAILS PUB:

— BRITISH STYLE FISH and CHIPS:
Everyday is a fish fry at Old Bag of Nails Pub. This dinner is their big daddy, this is their house specialty. It is a filling plate too, with two huge whitefish filets, thick steak fries and a scoop of cole slaw. If you try one thing on the menu, this should be it ….

— THE NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER:
Oh it is good. Nice and creamy and loaded with clams and potatoes. There is a hint of bacon, but the recipe stays true to showcasing the clams.

Mussels and Shrimp Appetizer

— MUSSELS AND SHRIMP APPETIZER:
Over a pound of Mussels with Shrimp steamed in white wine and butter. The plate is served with Garlic Bread and is a delicious combo.

— BLACKENED SALMON CAESAR SALAD:
A generous slab of salmon over a Caesar Salad bowl (ask for a small salad). The salmon is cooked slightly rare, so if you do not like that, let the server know you want your salmon cooked more.

— DYNAMITE SHRIMP DIP APPETIZER:
An interesting and unique dip made of shrimp, cheese and hot sauce. It is a little bit oily, but strangely addicting. Served with toasted pita triangles, you will find yourself spooning heaps of the dip onto your chips.

—FRIED OYSTER BASKET:
These Oysters are delicious and plump. We recommend this over the Oyster Po Boy because the oysters get lost in the sandwich, sub bun and toppings. The basket is the way to go, but this may be a special and sometimes not available on the menu. Ask your server about this one. The scallop and chips dinner is ok, but the oysters are much better.

—DEEP FRIED CORN ON THE COB SIDE DISH:
This dish is a side option to many meals. It is an option you MUST EAT. Deep fried corn on the cob. It has a splash of butter and Parmesan cheese. Easily our favorite side dish.

Dynamite Shrimp Dip

We have tried many other entrees and apps, but those are the best of the best. We have an extensive photo gallery below of dishes for Old Bag of Nails so please check them out below. The prices are a little higher, but that is because seafood specialties are typically higher in price. Shrimp Lovers will love that Wednesday nights is an all you can eat shrimp and chips deal, so they can get their bang for their buck.

If you aren’t a seafood fan, go for the Specialty Cheesburgers. Old Bag of Nails has a couple big options with lots of delicious toppings.

The decor is nice and open. Service is sometimes slow, but that is because a lot of the menu is homemade. Good things come to those who wait….

Food Adventures has weekly feature articles right here on Dayton Most Metro. We have been highlighting all of Dayton’s food stops for the past 10 years. Often imitated, but never duplicated, our no rules approach has gained us a cult following. You too can follow us on Facebook by clicking here.

Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad

French Onion Soup

British Style Fish and Chips

Burger and tater tots

The lights of heaven shine on our foodie pal Curt as he takes a bite of his burger.

Fish filets longer than your knife

Blackened Whitefish sandwich

Tuna Salad Sandwich

Scallops and Chips

Clam Basket

Gaylords Favorite Burger

Oyster Po Boy and Deep Fried Corn on the Cob

Dynamite Shrimp Dip

Boom Boom Shrimp appetizer

Gaylords Favorite Burger with BBQ Sauce

Dayton Pays Tribute to Franco

March 28, 2018 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Restaurant Entrance

Dayton has lost a friend. Franco Germano, the restaurateur who started an iconic Italian eatery in Dayton 41 years ago, passed away this past weekend. The 73 year old had bravely battled cancer over the past couple of years. He never let up, he never quit. He even visited his hometown in Italy recently. Franco was a one-of-a-kind with a personality as big as his work ambition.

Dayton is paying tribute to Franco today, Wednesday March 28th, we will toast Franco and all are invited. The event will be held at 5pm at FRANCO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT, 824 E 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402

Click here to see Franco’s obituary and funeral arrangements scheduled for April 2nd and 3rd, 2018.

The Big Ragu last visited with Franco at a retirement party for his longtime bartender/server Rick Busch. It was quite a Food Adventure. We got to sit and spend a couple of hours talking with Franco, and we were grateful. If you have ever had a conversation with Franco, then you know what we mean when we say it was priceless.

HERE’S THE SKINNY on the LIFE OF FRANCO GERMANO:

— Franco was best known for his “Franco’s Italian Restaurant” which he opened in 1976. It has been an anchor in the Oregon District ever since.

Franco with 2 of his grandchildren

— Franco Germano was born in Italy and immigrated to the U.S. in the 1960’s. After a stint in the United States army, he began washing dishes at a local restaurant. But he had dreams of one day opening his own place, with his own family recipes.

—Franco’s hometown was Duronia, Italy. He had a huge aerial photo of his hometown on the wall of his restaurant which he referred to often.

— The native Italian was a very active member in various parts of the Dayton sports community. His passion for playing soccer led him from adult leagues to helping coach at Carroll High School. Franco was also a football fan and was known for his passion for the Cincinnati Bengals and legendary tailgate parties. He supported his favorite local sports teams like the Dayton Dragons and UD Flyers Basketball as well.

—His restaurant is known for his “World Famous Spaghetti Dish,” which is an olive oil based mushroom sauce tossed in pasta. Manicotti, Lasagna, and Calamari are other favorites on the menu.

Wed March 28th, 2018 5pm Francos restaurant will celebrate

SIDE NOTE FROM THE BIG RAGU:
Being a fellow Italian it was always fun seeing Franco. I met him first in 2000, but had only started talking to him in the past few years. He treated me like he knew me his whole existence. We would talk about our family roots in Italy. Franco would ask me questions about my heritage and I would ask him questions about Italy. If we weren’t talking food or family, we always talked Bengals, Flyers Mens Basketball and local golf courses. We also chatted about other local Italians we knew and the circles where most Italians hung out. Franco was always very happy to hear how much we enjoyed his food. I loved watching him cook on Living Dayton, and we talked about cooking recipes frequently. He usually had a joke or a phrase during the conversation that was a memorable piece of advice. It was fascinating to hear his life stories and I tried to learn from his experiences. Our humble blog pays homage to a Dayton legend. Thank you Franco, for over 4 decades of dedication. We will miss you.

Follow Food Adventures on FACEBOOK HERE.

Enjoy our gallery below of great memories of Franco’s.