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Dayton Dining

IHOP offering 58-cent pancake stacks July 13th

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In celebration of their 63rd anniversary, IHOP is offering up 58-cent pancakes at restaurants across the nation. A short stack, which is three pancakes, usually costs about $5.59.

The price is a nod to the year IHOP began. The chain opened in 1958 in Toluca Lake, a Los Angeles suburb. Today, there are over 1,600 locations nationwide.

The offer is valid for one day only on Tuesday, July 13, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Any guest who visits a participating IHOP location can order a short stack of pancakes for just 58 cents. The deal is limited to just one order per guest, for dine-in service only.

 

 

6930 Miller Lane
Dayton, OH 45414
Hours:
Sunday – Thursday  06:00am – 10:00pm
Friday & Saturday   6:00am – 12:00am

Voltzy’s Burgers Return at Garlic Fest

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VOLTZY’S IS COMING TO GARLIC FEST !

Foodies are marking their calendars for Saturday, July 24th, for something they thought would never happen. That is the day where Voltzys Hamburgers make their triumphant return at Dayton’s Garlic Festival.   

As many of you know, restrauteur Rick Volz passed away earlier this year seemingly bringing an end to  30 year career of serving up some of Dayton’s freshest burgers with side of sarcasm.   The run was over, so we thought … but former manager of Voltzy’s has other ideas.  Sammy Bowman has decided to keep his legacy alive.  She is planning on continuing the business, and the first step is a rebirth at Dayton’s Garlic Festival at Carroll Hgh School on Saturday July 24th, frm 1pm -10pm.

New Owner Sammy Bowman

 

Voltzys new owners will be on hand as a food vendor serving up those sliders topped with grilled onions, cheese and sweet heat mustard.  There will even be a garlic option!  Sure you can deviate from the toppings, but you might get scolded !  The new staff will be grilling burgers on Rick Volz’s old catering grill !

WHO ARE THE NEW OWNERS ?

For years Sammy Bowman worked as the “right hand girl” at Voltzys, as his assistant.  From orders to cashier, and food prep to customer service, Sammy helped in every aspect of the business.  As Rick became ill, she helped him the last few years in every aspect of his health struggles.  Dozens of doctors and hospital visits, years working with Rick, left Sammy with a desire to carry on.  Things are tight lipped about what will happen with the negotiations of the current location in Moraine which remains closed, or if they will be moving.   One thing is for sure, if this event goes well, you can expect more bookings of private events and festivals.  It looks like the road back will be one step at a time, and Sammy is taking the leap of faith with pride.  She knows “Voltzy” would be happy to know they are carrying on his tradition of good food.  We agree….

About Garlic Fest
SATURDAY JULY 24th
CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL
4524 LINDEN AVE, DAYTON 45432
1pm-10pm
www.GarlicFestDayton.com

Free Admission
Live Bands, Beer, 15 Food Vendors
Cooking Demos, Dunk Tank, Garlic Hall of Fame
Beginner Bocce Tournament, Craft Vendors
$100 Garlic Eating Contest, Gambling/Casino
Indoor air conditioned, and outdoor seating

 

Volzy and Sammy work a side gig

Those cheese burgers !

 

 

 

His Legacy rolls on ….

Sueño Doesn’t Disappoint

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Free valet parking as you pull up on Third Street in the Webster Station area of downtown Dayton and enter the doors of the newly opened Sueño. Once inside you immediately feel like you’ve left Dayton and arrived in a hip dining establishment in a large city! The atmosphere is impressive as soon as you enter.

Greeted by a lovely staff and escorted to our table we pass a busy bar. Across the dining room from our table is a platform kitchen with wood fired open flame oven.
We are greeted by Jade our informed server and her assistant Marie. Jade took us on a tour of the menu with answers to all of our questions and fabulous suggestions.
From the Botonas (snacks for sharing) menu we chose guacamole and sikil p’ak (pumpkin seed hummus) both served with house made chips topped with a little cumin and acid(lime juice). Both were amazing and delicious!
Then it came time to choose entrees – Jade was careful to suggest just how to place the order so that everyone’s food arrived at the same time. From the platos pequeños (small plates) menu my friend chose Taco de Cochinita – three tacos with Adobe marinated pork, salsa tamulado and pickled red onion.
From the Hearth menu another friend selected Carne Asada. Beautifully seasoned steak bavette with chimichuri and frijoles charros. I chose the pork al pastor with grilled pineapple, caramelized onion and morita salsa. These dinners are large enough to share – but we didn’t! Two of us also ordered from the Verduras (vegetables) menu a dish of charred corn mixed with cascabel spice, cilantro, queso fresco and crema mixed together and served cold. This was a great balance to the dishes that were a taste explosion.
As if that wasn’t enough…we had to have something from the Postres (dessert) menu – there are two options so we chose one of each. A scoop of Mexican chocolate (house made) ice cream topped with pieces of spicy pepita (pumpkin seed) brittle and arroz con leche – rice pudding with roasted summer peaches and marscapone.
This is a dining experience and one that lends itself to a fabulous date, celebration or just a Wednesday night dinner – in a place that takes you away!
Do yourself a favor and make reservations now!

Sueño

607 E 3rd St.
Dayton, OH 45402

(937) 453-0008

Click for online reservations

Miamisburg DORA District Starts Serving July 8th

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DORA stands for Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area. This is a specific area, spanning several streets, where patrons can purchase alcoholic beverages from participating businesses and then take those drinks outside to enjoy. With a DORA beverage, you can explore Miamisburg, its retail establishments, or enjoy your evening in Riverfront Park.

When you participate in the DORA, businesses will give you a special DORA cup. You are only allowed to drink alcohol purchased from a business if it’s labeled in a DORA cup. The specially made DORA cups will have the logo printed right on the cup.  The DORA covers the area from the river to Second Street and is valid Thursday – Sunday only. Businesses will have stickers in their windows to let you know if DORA drinks are welcome in the establishment or not.

Places to grab a drink in the Miamisburg DORA:

  • Bennett’s Publical
  • Good Time Charlie’s
  • Bullwinkle’s
  • Legion
  • Eagles
  • Ron’s Pizza & Ribs
  • Plaza Theater
  • A Taste of Wine
  • Watermark
  • Curious Styles
  • Star City Brewing
  • Lucky Star Brewing
  • TJ Chumps

Beer Tasting Event Returns to Ballpark

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Great American Beer Tasting will return on Saturday, September 11 from 2:00  to 6:00 pm at Day Air Ballpark. The Dragons and Heidelberg Distributing have partnered for this annual event for 13 years, bringing a wide variety of beers, ciders, and seltzers for fans to try.

Each beer tasting ticket provides twenty 4oz. samples, a raffle ticket for high end prizes, the 2021 shirt (while supplies last), a 2021 souvenir pint glass with 4oz. and 8oz. pour lines, access to activities and games on the field, and more. Tickets are $30.00 in advance and $40.00 the week of, starting Friday, September 3.  Designated driver tickets are available for $5.00 and provide a 2021 souvenir pint glass, five 4oz. samples of non-alcoholic beverages at the event, and a voucher for a complimentary soda or water.

Fans can sign up online at www.daytondragons.com/beertasting. Gates will open at 1:30 p.m. with ID checks starting at 12:30 p.m. Fans in attendance will be able to sample over 100 different beers, ciders, and seltzers from big name breweries as well as local breweries in the Dayton area.  Great American Beer Tasting is presented by Heidelberg Distributing. Learn more at www.heidelbergdistributing.com.

 

 

Chef Matt DeAngulo Teaches Cooking Classes at Gem City Market

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Chef Matt DeAngulo, who was once the head Chef at Citilites at the Schuster Center and is now serving meals to those in need via his Miami Valley Meals nonprofit, will be teaching a series of cooking classes at the Gem City Market.

Chef Matt teaching at Gem City Market

Each class features a short lecture followed by an interactive session. The class will focus on the basic techniques anyone can use to build flavor in their home-cooked meals and make them taste better!

Classes will be taught in the Gem City Market’s Teaching Kitchen, which is just inside the Gem City Market entrance at 324 Salem Ave, Dayton, OH 45406. Parking is available in the lot behind the market. Please note MASKS ARE REQUIRED inside the Teaching Kitchen.
All class sessions are FREE and open to the public, with pre-registration online suggested.

The 90 minute classes are offered on July 9, 16, 23 and 30 at 2pm.

 

Condado Bday Bash

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If your love for tacos, queso, guac ‘n margs isn’t enough of a reason, here’s some more convincing:
• We’re servin’ up one FREE taco* per person
• We’ll be handing out peel + win cards** — and everyone’s a winner! Prizes include t-shirts, gift cards, free tacos, ’n more

Restaurants on Summer Vacation

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Many of our local restaurants are taking some time off this summer to give their staffs a break and enjoy the 4th of  July holiday. So before you head out for a meal, check to make sure your favorite eatery isn’t on vacation:
George’s Family Restaurant will reopen on July 5th

Geez Grill & Pub will be closed July 4th & 5th

Hoshi Ramen is closed July 2 – 5
Jimmy’s Italian Kitchen will reopen July 5th at 3pm
Central Perc is closed July 3-5
Nutmeg Cafe is closed July 3-5
Tony’s Italian Kitchen is closed July 3-5
The Caroline will be closed July 4th – 6th
Company 7 BBQ will close  July 4th Through July 8th
Penn’s Thai Grille will be closed July 4 – 12
Giovanni’s will reopen July 8th
Mamma DiSalvo’s will reopen on July 14th
Restaurant will reopen Aug 12th
If you know of other’s we should add to the list, please comment below in the comments.

Grand Opening Celebration For Lord of the Wingz BaldHead Tones Kitchen

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Steve Earnesto first started cooking wings at home and then began selling them to friends and was cooking at a local bar. The rave reviews of his wings inspired him to open his own place.  His buddy Chef Baldhead Tone had earned a reputation for making awesome taco’s on Gettysburg.

So in June they joined forces and opened  Lord of the Wingz and BaldHead Tone’s Kitchen in a strip center at 6556 Union Rd.  They are open Tuesday-Saturday 11am-9pm.

BaldHead Tone and Steve on opening day.

Talking with the manager Stephanie, she shared that some of their best sellers include the honey lemon pepper wings, the jerk chicken tacos and the Lord’s Mega Platter that comes with chicken chunks with your choice of sauce, fried potatoes, 2 fried corn and a sweet Hawaiian roll.

Photo by Michael Worsley

They are celebrating their grand opening this Saturday, July 3rd from 2-8pm with a family friendly celebration that includes a bouncy house, vendors that will feature slushies, desserts,
t-shirts and more.

There is also a 60 seat banquet room available to guests at no cost with food purchase. Future plans include adding a liquor license for the restaurant.

 

North High Beer Tasting at The Caroline

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Join us on Wednesday, June 30th at 6:30 pm to try out some great new brews from Columbus’s North High Brewing!
Neil from Premium Dist. will be joined by Kelsey from North High to serve as our hosts for the evening, and will be our guide through a selection of delicious brews including:
  • FIVE PALE ALE- DRAFT
  • COVER CROP BLONDE ALE
  • GRAPEFRUIT WALLEYE-PALE ALE
  • HONEY WHEAT
  • BLUE 5 INHERIT STARS IPA
  • …AND MORE!

Lucky Star Introduces New Summer Menu Additions

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Lucky Star Brewery just announced it will be adding some summer menu items this Wednesday.  New additions include:
Jalapa-popper burger-Hamburger patty topped w/ jalapeño popper spread(jalapeños, cream cheese & bacon) all layered on a sesame seed bun served w/ a side of fresh cut fries.
Mexican street corn-corn on the Cobb w/ butter, cotija cheese, lime,salt & chile powder.
Fajitas(sorry no pic) steak, chicken or beans w/ grilled onions & bell peppers. Served w/ 3 flour tortillas, chips, sour cream & salsa.
Mexican fruit cup- a cup of fresh watermelon, cantaloupe & cucumbers topped w/ fresh lime juice & chile powder Mexican mix.
Staying on the menu – loaded fries
And  loaded nachos
and of course every Tuesday is taco Tuesday with a rotating menu of $1.50 tacos!

Lucky Star Brewery

219 S 2nd St
Miamisburg, OH 45342
(937) 866-2739
Hours:
Tuesday- Thursday: 3:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Friday: 3:30 PM – 12:00 AM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Dayton’s Newest Food Celebrity

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People often assume it is all about the food when I travel for bbq or to judge barbecue competitions. I will stipulate that the food is good, but the people I meet are more interesting than the food.

This past weekend was no exception. I was in Franklin Indiana for the Hoosier BBQ Classis, a KCBS sanction Master Series competition. This two-day competition brought more than 50 teams from across the midwest to a small town in South Central Indiana. I was most excited to see a few of my favorite teams, like Ale Yeah from Columbus Ohio, and the BBQ Bus father-son duo from Chicago.

Photo from instagram.com/bluesmokeblaire

Then I learned that Dayton Ohio’s own Erica Blaire, team Blue Smoke Blaire, would be in attendance with her mom for the contest. Still relatively unknown to most of Dayton, she has been the subject of lots of talk in Dayton’s online foodie community in recent weeks.

It only took one minute and I was able to find her among the dozens of other teams cleaning up after Saturday’s contest. Every team knew exactly who she was and where she was set up. One knock on her RV door and were sitting by her cooling smoker on Saturday afternoon chatting all things BBQ.

First of all, she is not like the other competitors on the KCBS circuit. Most of the field looks like me. Late 40’s, early 50’s, caucasian, a little overweight, and mostly male. Erica is none of the above. Dark skinned, decidedly prettier than the field, Law School grad, and formally trained as a sommelier. And. And. She’s featured on the current season of Food Network’s BBQ Brawl, Season 2.

Erica is not a caterer, she is not a seasoned competitor, but just like those other teams set up around her, she is passionate about perfecting the art and science of barbecue. And just like those other teams, she is generous with her time, stories, and her hospitality overflows. That is why the other teams have so quickly come to admire her and have welcomed her to the BBQ competition family.

Her journey is not the story I’ve heard from a hundred teams. Like her brand of BBQ, it is uniquely Erica. She holds a Psychology Degree from Wright State and attended Law School at Rutgers, followed that by practicing criminal defense in Miami Florida. Looking for a new challenge, she moved to Napa and pursued additional training as a Sommelier. That training further fueled her love for all things food and drink taking her to San Diego California putting that training to work in the finest SoCal resort hotels.

It was her return back home to Ohio where the bug for BBQ hit. As she told me, it was her dad that encouraged her to pursue BBQ. So she did. She jumped right into the deep end in the midst of the pandemic entering virtual and in-person contests.

Photo from instagram.com/bluesmokeblaire

While still a practicing attorney and new mom, it was her contribution to The Pitmaster’s Cookbook that put her on the map. This award-winning cookbook was a project that grew from a social media pitmaster group. Soon after, one thing leads to another, and she finds herself in Austin Texas cooking for Bobby Flay, Michael Symon, and Eddie Jackson for the 2nd Season of BBQ Brawl.

My love for BBQ has put me in the pits and kitchens in Austin, KC, and Memphis. I’ve met Tootsie and Clay, Aaron Franklin, Miguel Vidal of Valentina’s, Joe from SLAP’s, and chatted with Flora Payne in Memphis, but they were all BBQ famous before I ever met them. Erica is just getting started and soon you’ll hear her name and you’ll know that means Blue Smoke Blaire BBQ and Dayton Ohio.

Join me in following Erica’s journey on the Food Network, bluesmokeblaire.com, or at instagram.com/bluesmokeblaire.

Catch Season 2, Episode 2 of BBQ Brawl on Food Network this week. I’ll be watching and rooting for Erica, one of Dayton’s own, telling everyone I know, that I know her.

Giovanni’s 4 course Dinner- Dine In or Carry Out

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JUNE 8th from 4-7pm… Giovanni’s is offering a special 4 course dinner, once again, for $33.95/person!
This special is available for dine-in or carry-out!
Call 937.878.1611 to order OR to make reservations.
Dinner choices will be requested at the time of take-out order OR reservation.
****
1st Course (choice of 1) :
– Mussels – with fresh tomatoes and red onion in a garlic white wine & butter sauce served with garlic bread
– Bruschetta – tomato and olive served with toasted Italian bread
– Sausage and Italian Seasoned Stuffed Mushrooms topped with provolone
2nd Course (choice of 1) :
– 7 Layer Salad
– French Onion Soup
– Spring Mix Salad (Peach Vinaigrette )
3rd Course (choice of 1) :
– Roasted Chicken Ravioli
– Lemon Herb NY Strip
– Mediterranean Baked White Fish
Dessert Course (choice of 1) :
– Spumoni Ice Cream
– Panna Cotta with a fresh berry sauce
– Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae

Wright Dunbar BBQ Joint To Shut Down

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Texas Beef and Cattle Company announced today that they will cease retail, dine in, and carryout operations effective 27 June 2021. They will fulfill  catering obligations through the end of July and expects to vacate the Wright Dunbar location they’ve occupied since June of 2016 shortly thereafter. 

After months of reflection, surviving a Third street Bridge closure since January 2020, followed by an unprecedented pandemic since March 2020, and now extremely difficult labor shortage and ballooning meat prices, all the residual result of said pandemic, Texas Beef & Cattle Company has decided to take a step back, regroup, recharge, and reimagine TBCC version 2.0.   

 

James Nunez, Pitmaster and owner of Texas Beef & Cattle Company said “This is a very difficult decision and one we have not taken lightly. This has always been a labor of love.  We have poured ourselves into bringing Real South Texas Barbacue to the region. Our goal was to create a little piece of Texas right here in Dayton, Ohio.”

Texas Beef & Cattle Company has sincerely appreciated the support of all its customers, members, and community throughout the past 5+ years and look forward to seeing all of you again in the not-too-distant future. 

The Pitmaster continues “Erica Hubler and the Wright Dunbar Board have been wonderful landlords to Texas Beef & Cattle Company.  We encourage you to continue to support this hidden gem part of town!”

Stop by 1101 W. Third St. Dayton, OH – Texas Beef & Cattle Company over the next two weekends: June 19th and 20th and 26th and 27th to show your support.


Order bulk meat for your freezer, buy some Merchandise – who knows what a Texas Beef & Cattle Company version 1.0 T-shirt will get you in the future – or set up your next fandango.

Hours will be Saturday’s 3pm-9pm and Sunday’s 12pm-5pm. 

Follow Texas Beef & Cattle Company on Facebook, Instagram, and sign up for the email list on their website to be kept in the loop on their future plans.

Quest for The Best Soul Food

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I grew up just south of Dayton. In between Springboro and Lebanon and I grew up eating beans and cornbread on Sundays. The cornbread was made in a cast-iron skillet, and the beans were cooked all day on the stovetop. Sometimes the beans, or peas, would have a piece of ham, most times not. My little brother and I ate them with a wedge of onion. Fried potatoes were cooked in an electric skillet in lard or Crisco.

At my grandma’s apartment in Alabama fried okra, canned tomatoes that she put up, and a “mess” of greens were always part of Saturday dinners. She never cooked on Sunday. I always classified these foods as southern. A roasted chicken, a ham bone in a pot of peas, and that cornbread, white cornmeal, no sugar, baked in a skillet with lard. I now can make that cornbread and will sometimes buy a quart of buttermilk so I can eat soak the cornbread in a glass of the buttermilk and eat it with a spoon like my dad did.

It wasn’t until I was older that I learned in the north this is called soul food. Soul food scholar, author and fellow BBQ Judge Adrian Miller, says this about soul food:

“My contention is soul food is really the interior cooking of the Deep South that migrates across the country. I think of soul food as an immigrant cuisine and ultimately a national cuisine, because black folks just landed in all parts of the country.” -Adrian Miller

My grandma was born in Georgia, poor, lived in Alabama for the last 75 years of her life and worked in cotton fields, factories, and kept house for an old rich guy in the little city where she raised 7 kids on her own.

Like many others, she took the cheapest and least desirable foods and made created meals that created some of my favorite memories with my cousins and Alabama family. After her death, I began to search out the foods that reminded me of her table and the recipes my mom took from her mother-in-law’s kitchen. I have found two places that fit the bill perfectly here in Dayton.

Benjamins The Burger Master
1000 N Main St Dayton, OH 45405

When I need some beans and greens, my first stop is Benjamin’s Burger Master on Main. Most of you go there for the burger, but I go for the cornbread, collard greens, and pintos, or soup beans they always have on the line for lunch. There are always bbq ribs, made like my mom did in the crockpot, and fried chicken wings as well. But I am there for the memory of those soup beans poured over a piece of cornbread with a dash of hot sauce. When I close my eyes I can taste and smell the memories of that little eastside apartment where my cousins gathered in the tiny kitchen.

Huffies BBQ
925 McArthur Ave Dayton, OH 45417

Recently my work has me working on Edwin C Moses and that means Huffies BBQ is around the corner. This family-owned spot has been there forever. Literally. Their menu has it all. Black-eyed peas, pinto beans, fried okra, collard greens, ribs, and chicken. I had the greens, peas, and bbq ribs recently and the flavors were all there. There’s more to the menu, including burgers and fries, but that’s not what I am after when I am there.

I think southern food, soul food, is a lot like bbq. It takes a lot of time and love to create something special from foods that are often overlooked as cheap or difficult.

There has been a bevy of places that create some amazing food that gets close. Eden Spice in West Carrolton has the best fried cabbage. Stuffed Enuff on North Dixie didn’t survive the pandemic- but is still doing pop-ups,  and Fat Boyz BBQ hits all the right notes as well if you find them around town.

Where do you go for soul food and when can we meet for lunch?