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Dayton Dining

Dayton at Work and Play: Bridget Walker

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Bridget Walker at Sweets Boutique Bakery & Cafe in Xenia. When I first visited the shop Bridget told me a bit abut how she came to be in business.


“I started baking cakes for people when we were stationed in England. The families of some of the airmen on base didn’t like English baked goods, so I started baking and selling birthday cakes. Personally, I liked some of the English baked goods, and I often sell hot cross buns here.”

“When we returned to the U.S. I baked cakes out of my home. The business grew, and I needed more space, so I opened Sweets Boutique (28 East Second Street in Xenia).”

Operating during the pandemic has been tough, but I understand that her sale of boxed lunches has boomed. People get a cookie and some fresh baked bread with each lunch

Sweets Boutique
Bakery & Cafe

28 E 2nd St Xenia, OH 45385
937- 372-2224
Tues 11am – 5pm
Wed – Sat 11am -2pm 

Beers Brewed by Women To Celebrate International Women’s Day

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International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day is a worldwide annual event that takes place on March 8th of every year in conjunction with International Women’s Day.

It is an event open to all women working in or interested in beer to learn, network, and make friends—so join in, collaborate, enjoy brewing, enjoy the produce and try and get as many women involved as possible!

According to a Brewers Association benchmarking survey, women make up only about 7.5% of professional brewers. In order to help women advance careers in the craft beer industry, several Ohio breweries have encouraged their employees to participate in women’s brew days.

Here’s a list of beers created and brewed by women in celebration of International Women’s Day in the Miami Valley:

 

Alematic Artisan Ales

6182 Chambersburg Rd, Huber Heights, OH 45424
(937) 813-8901
Alematic hosted their first guest brewer, Andrea from Nocterra Brewing in Powell OH, to create a blueberry pale ale called Blue Ocean Floor. The beer will be available on draft at the Huber Heights taproom on Sunday, March 7.

Branch & Bone Artisan Ales

905 Wayne Ave, Dayton, OH 45410
937.723.7608

For their third annual International Women’s Day brew, the women of Branch & Bone Artisan Ales chose to make a mai tai IPA with lime, cara cara orange, tangerine, almonds and vanilla. Thanks, It Has Pockets Vol. 3 was also dry hopped with the Pink Boots hop blend. Cans are available for pickup and shipping today, with a draft release coming on Friday, March 5.

Carillon Brewing Co.

1000 Carillon BlvdDayton, Ohio  45409

On Monday, March 8 from 11am – 7pm they are holding a Women’s Brew Day where the female  staff of Dayton History take the helm on a batch of our historical Carillon Coriander Ale.  This special Monday opening  is to share the  educational standpoint as the brewery is usually closed on Monday. The public  is invited to come in on Monday, enjoy our ales, and engage with our female staff members and brewing team as they brew this historic Coriander Ale recipe.  The recipe comes from an 1831 publication entitled “Receipts For the Husbandman and Housewife” , essentially a guide on how to properly raise a family, emphasizing the brewing of beer by the housewife as an essential role in maintaining the health and wellbeing of the family.  The female role as the primary brewer that dominated most history waned with the advent of the industrialization of the beer brewing process, but Dayton has boasted several female brewery owners in its past, and that has carried over into present day.

Crooked Handle Brewing

760 N Main St, Springboro, OH 45066
(937) 790-3450

This Springboro brewery will hold a women’s brew day for their staff on Monday, March 8, making a pale ale with the Pink Boots hops blend.

Lucky Star Brewery

219 S 2nd St, Miamisburg, OH 45342
(937) 866-2739

The Mayor of Miamisburg, Michelle Collins will be joining joining as they brew a be brewing a Saison; Ball & Chain that day.

 

N.E.W. Ales

1521 First Avenue Middletown, OH 45044
(937) 823-9716

A women majority-owned brewery, N.E.W. Ales is making a West Coast Style IPA with pineapple, and calling it “Hoptaschick”! The IPA is 7.5% ABV. Born from the idea that women enjoy a mouthful of hoppy bitterness, Hoptaschick delivers just that. Featuring heavy doses of Strata and Topaz hops, then splashed with 11 pounds of pineapple per BBL, you’ll find notes of citrus and pine in perfect balance. To spread the work about women’s brew day, and to give back to the community, they had a local, female artist, Liz Paulson, draw up a design to sell as a sticker, with parts of the proceeds going to the Women’s Hope House in Middletown. They will start selling Hoptaschick when their Biergarten reopens March 26th and then they will be open Fridays 5-10 and Saturdays 4-10.

Roundhouse Depot Brewing

217 W, Chillicothe Ave.,Bellefontaine, OH 433115
540-323-1295
Owner Kathy Troyer brewed Hopped the Tracks, a hoppy brown ale, for release around International Women’s Day. More of Kathy’s small batch brews will be released throughout the month of March.

 

Southern Ohio Brewing

818 Factory Rd, Beavercreek, OH 45434
(937) 705-6690

Their Pink Boots Brew is occurring on Sunday. The Brewery has a strong woman’s presence. With the help of the head brewer, all the women of the brewery have worked on developing the recipe for the brew.

 

Star City Brewing

319 S 2nd St, Miamisburg, OH 45342
(937) 701-7827

In honor of International Women’s Day the ladies of Star City Brewing have made a Spicy Honey Brown Ale which we’re calling “Honey, I’m feeling spicy.”  They are going to tap their beer on Saturday the 13th, because it’s a longer, busier day and $0.50 of every pint sold on the 13th will be donated to the Artemis Domestic Violence Center of downtown Dayton.

Yellow Springs Brewery

305 N Walnut St Ste B, Yellow Springs, OH 45387

(937) 767-0222

They brewed Little Dancer Wheat Ale with Ginger and Blueberries- This complex and refreshing wheat ale was brewed on International Women’s Day by the amazing ladies that work at our brewery. The recipe was designed by one of their brewers, Rebekah Little, who also led the brew day.! They will  be tapping it on International Women’s Day, Monday, March 8th at 3pm in the  taproom. They’re also donating a portion of sales to Pink Boots Society for educational scholarships and programming.

Aullwood ‘s Box Brunch To GO

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Don’t worry about missing our delicious Pancake Brunch this year — Aullwood’s traditional event is going safe and socially distanced! Order a Pancake Brunch Box for two or four people, pick up your box at Aullwood Farm, then make a brunch-at-home featuring delicious pancake mix, fresh eggs, sausage, maple syrup and Cuties mandarins! Two person Brunch Boxes are $20, four person Brunch Boxes are $40.
Visit https://aullwood.audubon.org/BrunchOrder or click on TICKETS on this page to order your Pancake Brunch Boxes for pick up now! You can also print and complete the Pancake Box Brunch 2021 Order Form there and mail it in or drop it off at Aullwood Farm during our regular business hours, or order by phone at 937-890-7360. Don’t delay, orders must be received by 12 noon on Friday, February 26.

Fatbacks 2.0

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No one is more excited about the return Fatbacks Barbeque than me. For more than five years this little spot on Linden Avenue has been my favorite go-to barbecue spot. Today would’ve been the eighth anniversary of the restaurant formally owned and operated by Larry “Bub” Britton.

There has been a passing of the keys (and pit) to the new proprietor Curtis Fackler. Curtis is a friend and former student of Bub’s. Curtis is a New Carlisle native who has big plans for Fatbacks while keeping the charm and menu the same as it was under Bub’s ownership.

Curtis took the keys it recently and I had a chance to sit down with him to  talk BBQ and specifically the future of Fatbacks.

Curtis told me he has already began to make some tech upgrades including new point of sale system that will allow online ordering and is investigating adding Uber Eats to increase local awareness of this locally known and adored bbq spot.

Curtis said there are no changes planned for the menu and mentioned that he is looking into more local sources for the beef and pork. Curtis is also coaxing as many of the staff back as possible. The longtime pitmaster has already agreed to return. That kind of knowledge and skill isn’t easy to come by.


Curtis lives just blocks away from the Linden Ave address where the restaurant operates and is home base for the popular Fatbacks Catering business.

During our chat I learned that the he and his partners are waiting on final health department inspections and certifications. Red tape can take time but the kitchen and smoker are ready to go on short notice. Under Larry’s coaching they have started ordering food and supplies for the upcoming grand re-opening.

Curtis Fackler

I asked Curtis if folks will be seeing Bub around the shop in the coming weeks. He said that Bub is committed to a successful hand off and will be around for an undetermined amount of time but will always have a seat at FatBacks.

I did learn a few more facts about the owner and what we can expect in 2021.

1) He’s a big Red’s fan and we may see some sports memorabilia among the Pig Hall of Fame collection that adorns the walls

2) He’s working to finishing the Fatbacks food truck that Bub started (he estimated its 90% ready)

3) Pending approval from the health department we can expect to be eating brisket, ribs and those famous pig pops in Mid-March.

Happy 8th Anniversary to Fatbacks and best wishes for a great year ahead.

Falafel Meal Sale For Charity

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St. Ignatius of Antioch is hosting a Falafel Meal sale this Sat, Feb 27th from 10am – 2pm.

The meal combo includes: One Falafel Sandwich (Fried Vegetarian Chickpeas patties topped w/ tahini sauce, mixed veggies, & wrapped in pita bread), one piece of Nammoura (baked dessert made w/ semolina flour, yogurt, & topped w/ simple syrup), and one 1.5oz bag of Lays Potato Chips for $10

100% of the proceeds will  be supporting a needy family in their parish.  Pre-order online.

Pick up is at St. Ignatius of Antioch Maronite Catholic Church, located at 50 Nutt Road in Centerville.

 

Free McDonalds Crispy Chicken Sandwich

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McDonald’s is set to rollout a trio of new chicken sandwiches this February: the Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Deluxe Chicken Sandwich.  Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald’s USA added that the new sandwich would “jump-start our chicken journey,” suggesting more chicken products to come. McDonald’s launched Spicy Chicken McNuggets this past fall, its first new McNugget flavor in the United States since the item was introduced to the US menu in 1983.  Popeyes, which saw its new sandwich offering sell out just two weeks after it launched nationally in August 2019, has pointed to the sandwich as one reason that it continued to grow during the pandemic. Chick-fil-A, known for its line of chicken sandwiches, has been growing steadily for years.

All three McDonald’s sandwiches will offer a new fillet of all-white meat chicken and a novel crispy breading. The Crispy Chicken Sandwich serves as a simpler option with the fillet and pickles while the Deluxe Chicken Sandwich arrives with the additional lettuce, tomatoes and mayonnaise. Meanwhile, those with a more adventurous palate can opt for the Spicy Chicken Sandwich with crinkle cut pickles and spicy pepper sauce.

“We’ve heard our customers loud and clear, and we know they’re craving more chicken options,” McDonald’s VP, Innovation Linda VanGosen said in a statement. “We’re confident all chicken fans – from traditionalists to spice enthusiasts – will discover a new menu favorite they’ll come back for time and time again.”

McDonald’s Crispy Chicken, Spicy Chicken and Deluxe Chicken Sandwiches will be available starting February 24.

On Thursday, Feb. 25 starting at 5pm, McDonald’s is offering the first 100 cars in the Drive-Thru a FREE new Crispy Chicken Sandwich, no purchase necessary! One sandwich per car, available while supplies last.

Giovanni’s Wine Dinner Carry Out

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Comfort Food warms the soul… when someone else cooks that comfort food, it’s even better!
This Tuesday, February 23 Giovanni’s is offering  their Italian Pot Roast with salad & dessert for carry out.

There are several options to enjoy this dinner!
$40.00 dinner for 2 without wine | $55.99 with Wine.
****
Call 937.8787.1611 to reserve yours for pick-up 2/23 from 4-6pm at 215 W Main Street in Fairborn.

Fish Fry Season Kicks Off in the Miami Valley

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Tonight is the official start of fish fry season in the Miami Valley! More than just a meal – it’s a Friday night tradition, but for the 2nd year in a row the pandemic has put a crimp in this beloved Lenten staple.

In an effort to assist you in getting your fix, we’ve pulled together a guide of some of the best fish fries around town and beyond. Whether you choose to dine-in or carry-out, we hope you find a bit of joy in the observance of the time-tested tradition.

Remember: Be safe. Be kind. Wear your mask. And tip generously.

Grab some fish at these spots tonight:

 

Carry Out Fish Fry

St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church 519 Liscum Dr, Dayton

Fish: Whiting or Tilapia Sides(2) French Fries or Baked Beans or Cole Slaw Dessert: Assorted Cakes Dinners $10, Sandwiches $8…

Antioch Shrine Center Fish Fry

Antioch Shrine Center 107 E. First St, Dayton

$10 per plate and $15 for all you can eat. Desserts are available for a donation and a cash bar will…

$10 – $15
For our full list of upcoming Fry events, please click here.  We will continue to update our list as we hear from organizers, but we have heard that Incarnation is not doing their fry this year. Yankee Trace has done a Friday Fish Fy in the past, but their dining room is getting a remodel and won’t be open until April.

Restaurants Offering Friday Fish Dinners:

THE BISON AND THE BOAR

3377 US 35 E, West Alexandria, OH

All You Can Eat Codfish yet, tomorrow is your chance! Only $16 for All You Can Eat Codfish – comes with fries and your choice of salad!
SLYDER’S FISH FRY: 
836 Watervliet Ave., Dayton
Three pieces of walleye for $7.75. Served with fries and slaw.

GEORGE’S FAMILY RESTAURANT:
5216 N Dixie Dr, Dayton
$9.99 gets you Endless Pollack fish, fries and cole slaw offered year round on Fridays after 4pm.

COMPANY 7 BBQ
1001 S. Main St., Englewood, OH 45322

Friday Lent Specials: 7oz Yuengling Battered Haddock Filet Sandwich w/2 Sides or as an entree w/2 Sides & Corn Bread. Cheddar or American cheese is available for all sandwiches for just .50 cents…..$12.25

 HASTY TASTY PANCAKE HOUSE:
3509 Linden Ave, Dayton
Endless fish fries and cole slaw offered 52 weeks a year on Fridays. What a deal!  The fish is delicious, light, huge pieces cooked with a perfect crunch.  $9

Photo credit: The Big Ragu

 

Greenfire Fresh to Close At End of the Month

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Chef Rob Scott has announced that Tipp City’s Greenfire Fresh, which he took over from previous owner Art Chin on July 7th, will close for good on Feb 27th.
According to his post on facebook:
“There are many factors that have lead us to this extremely hard decision.
While Covid certainly hasn’t helped the journey- I’m sure I’ve made my own share of mistakes along the way too.
Also due to new codes and regulations, it has become financially overwhelming to bring our kitchen up to code, in order to serve you as best as possible.
It has been such an amazing ride with Greenfire.
From feeding all of you wonderful people, to the gained friendships, and extraordinary humans we have met along the way.”
He encourages everyone to “Grab a drink and fresh inspired food and give Greenfire the send off it rightfully deserves after 26 years of serving the community!”

Home Brewing: A Four Class Series at Star City Brewery

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Ever been interested in making your own beer? The state of Ohio permits you to make up to 100 gallons of beer a year for personal consumption, so why not take advantage of it? This is your opportunity to learn just how it’s all done, and how you can do it for yourself! Join Star City Brewing Company and their friends from HBYOB “Home Brew Your Own Beer” as head brewer Chad Klehamer guides you through the steps needed to turn grain into one of the world’s most ancient and delicious beverages.

For the Home Brew Classes at Star City Brewery, you’ll experience four 30-45 minute brewing classes with increasing levels of home brewing education moving from Beginner to Advanced. Each class includes one beer voucher, to be enjoyed each day of the class, lunch during the final class, and one growler fill of the class-made beer when it is ready.

Cost: $60 (no refunds) at the brewery or with a small fee here on EventBrite.

Class 1: Saturday, March 13 at 11am Intro to Beer and Brewing

Class 2: Saturday, March 27 at 11am All Grain Brewing

Class 3: Saturday, April 10 at 11am Ingredients and Recipe Creation

Class 4: Saturday, May 1 at 8am Putting it all together, Brewing a full batch in the Star City brewhouse (Lunch will be provided.)

Serbian Dinner at The Eintrach Club

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On Sat, Feb 20th from  the Eintrach Club at 2707 Old Troy Pike will be serving up a traditional Serbian Dinner. Membership in the club is not required for attendance.

On the menu:

Happy Hour: 4:30 to 5:30p

Assorted Greek-Serbian Appetizers

Special Beverage

Dinner: 6:00pm

Greek Salad

Home Made Cevapi – small sausage-like grilled portions of minced meat. Serbian ćevapčići are made of either beef, lamb or pork or mixed.

Kajmak- a Croatian fresh, unripened or “new” cheese made from unpasteurized, unhomogenized milk.

Hard Dinner Rolls w/Butter

Homemade Bienstich- a dessert made of a sweet yeast dough with a baked-on topping of caramelized almonds and filled with a vanilla custard, Buttercream or cream.

Coffee. Hot Tea

 

Dinner is $15 per person and reservations are required and can be made by emailing [email protected].
Reservation deadline is Wed, Feb 17th. Masks are required for all guests.

Vandalism & Destruction Closes Chicken Head’s

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Store front of The Chicken Spot

In the early hours of Valentines Day 2021, Chicken Head’s, restaurant which is more than symbolically located in the “heart” of the NorthWest Shopping center, suffered damage  (vandalism) to critical equipment forcing the immediately closure of the restaurant.

Owner Anthony Head shared this post on facebook:

“While our streak of making every payroll will remain intact, we will not be able to resume operations open until we replace it and ultimately relocate.

What started out as a “love letter” to our city has become, in just two short years, a destination fried chicken spot in Northwest Dayton.  As one of the few black owned restaurants in the area, we  were just beginning to hit our stride.  Our community collaborations were treating our legion of local fans to creative takes on classics as well as supporting many other small business vendors.  We continued to win fans as recently as last night (2/13/21) while others have sung our praises and given us fuel to keep firing up the peanut oiled filled pressure cooker everyday.

After besting every challenge presented to our operation during these pandemic times, we fell victim to the “only ship that won’t sail.”  While all legal remedies will be pursued, our community goes without what has become a gem in the resurgent west side of Dayton and our employees without work (for the time being).

While our story has been temporarily “paused” we are reaching out to those who have supported us in the past to reopen better, get working folks back to work, and continue to build the next great chicken spot.   The unique flavor profile and experience of our crispy, juicy chicken  relied most on a pressure fryer that retails new for 12,842.50 :(.  We will more than likely be relocating and purchasing new cooling and cooking equipment and had been in talks to start a food truck (sooner than later 🙂

Regardless of the outcome of this campaign, we are so very grateful to have served Dayton some of the “best damned chicken” and plan on doing more in the very near future!”

 

If you’d like to support the Chicken Head’s Restaurant Relief and Rebuild Fund a go-fund me page has been set up.

Grist Grand Opening This Friday

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Opening this Friday, at the corner of 5th and Ludlow, Grist Provisions will bring back hand-made pasta, breads and specialty provisions to Dayton.

Casey Van Voorhis and her husband Patrick originally opened at the District Provisions space on Wayne Ave, but they were outgrowing their space, their lease was ending and then Covid-19 happened.  During the pandemic they had a chance to really evaluate what they wanted in their new space and Casey shared with us that her dream was to be on a corner with great big windows where people could watch their pasta and bread creation.  And it just so happened that the ideal space was available.

Photo courtesy Natalie Vella Skilliter.

So after many month of remodeling the former Third Perk location, building a kitchen with a three door oven for baking breads, and lots of prep space, Grist will open it’s doors to the public this Friday, February 12th with a ribbon cutting at 10am.  Filling the display cases will be up to 15 types of pasta, including papparedelle, tagliatelle, raviolli and tajarin, 7 different sauces and freshly baked breads like focaccia, ciabatta, baguettes and sour dough loaves.

You’ll be able to dine in for a sandwich, salad or dessert or pick up a grab and go meal – pasta, sauce and bread for two for about $25. You can even order online for easy pick up.  You’ll find a wall filled with specialty treats, like their  house pickled veggies, amazing condiments and more.  There’s even a wine nook in the new space (liquor license is pending- the state is backlogged and predicts it may take a couple of months to be issued) that will be perfect for food and wine pairings.

They’ll be hosting their  third Cooking Together collaboration with The Ronald McDonald House Chairities of  Dayton on March 20th , where they  guide you through cooking a three course meal. They provide a majority of the ingredients and the recipe packet for you to follow along. .

Also on the future agenda- cooking classes.  Casey explains that providing education and knowledge about cooking is a part of their mission.  Casey and Patrick met years ago at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. They started dating just before their 8 month externships where they flew to opposite ends of the country, Patrick at the Greenbrier in West Virginia, Casey at Bouchon in Yountville, California. They were fortunate to move up the ranks at Michelin starred restaurants like Quince and Acquerello as well as at Jane Bakery. Several years later they had the opportunity to be co-executive chefs together at Spoonbar restaurant in Healdsburg, California, focusing on hand-made pasta and refined but relatable cuisine.

Deciding where to go next, they explored Asheville, NC and other cities, checking  websites to see what was available.  Casey said when they saw how much Dayton had to offer, compared the affordability and the support for the entrepreneurs, it just made sense to make Dayton home.  Growing up in Greenville and being near family was another important factor.  Her mom was working the counter, they are using eggs from the family farm and Casey’s sister helped with the new shop, even painting the mural on the wall.

So they’re back, with the intent to provide provisions for the down to earth home cooks and to give them the tools they need; to be a grist for the mill.

Grist

46 W. 5th Street
Dayton, OH 45402

(239) 293-6135

Hours:
Tuesday through Friday 8 am to 7 pm
Saturday 10 am to 7 pm
Sunday 10 am to 5 pm

Dayton’s First Donut Fest

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Planned2Give, a local event planning business that hosts fundraising events for nonprofits in the Miami Valley, has really struggled, as the pandemic has truly shut down most of their events. But they’ve decided to launch a new event, that can be successfully executed during the pandemic.
Dayton Donut Festival on Tour! is a self-guided tour of the Miami Valley’s  locally owned donut shops, which kicks off this Friday, Feb 12th and runs through Sunday, Feb 21st.   Purchase a coupon booklet for just $25 and you’ll get a coupon that can be redeemed for 3 donuts at each of the 10 stops on the tour, during each shops regular hours (a couple are even open 24 hous), which are noted in the booklet.  According to P2G co-founder Jeff Jackson, “it feels good to create an event that will draw traffic to these small independent shops at a time when business is slower due to the pandemic.”
Participating donut shops include:
  • Ashley’s Pastry Shop – Oakwood
  • Bear Creek Donuts – Miamisburg
  • Bill’s Donut Shop – Centerville
  • Donut Haus – Springboro
  • Donut Palace – Huber Heights & Trotwood
  • Duck Donuts – Dayton
  • Evans Bakery –  Old North Dayton
  • Jim’s Donut Shop – Vandalia
  • Neighborhood Nest- Fairborn
  • Stan The Donut Man- Kettering
Ticket sales benefit Miami Valley Meals, who serve those who are affected by food insecurity, by providing bulk nutritious chef-prepared meals to organizations that feed the hungry. In March of 2020 Miami Valley Meals began work to support a project addressing pandemic needs. Co-founded by Chef Matt DeAngulo, Bill Evans and Amanda DeLotelle, the mission was to employ pandemic furloughed culinary professionals to quickly and efficiently bulk prepare frozen meals from recovered food for distribution through organizations that feed the hungry.  By “serving those who serve the hungry,” we hope to support efforts of existing operations through food, freeing up their resources to focus on their missions and outreach.  This community organization is making such a huge difference in our community, currently serving over 5000 meals each week.