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Dayton Dining

Milano’s Turns 50

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That local place with Atlantic City Subs and Pizza has turned 50.  This is today’s Milano’s.

It is hardly recognizable today from the original Milano’s on Brown Street.   Gone are the old ovens and the standing room only lobby where you had to wait for you name to be called to grab your sub.  Today’s Milano’s is now a family friendly sports pub with a quite substantial menu and beer list.

There are now 3 locations in the Miami Valley.

The Milano’s on Brown Street remains and in years past, stores were added in Miamisburg on 741 and in Beavercreek near the Fairfield Commons Mall.  But, Dayton Originals like THE FOOD ADVENTURES CREW remember when there was only one Milano’s on Brown Street.   Purists will tell you, the subs tasted better then, because the old ovens were ‘seasoned’ from years of spices burnt into the baking area.  Whether you love the “old school, dirty Milano’s”, or the “clean, modern Milano’s”, you can’t deny that this has been one of the most popular eateries in the Miami Valley for 50 years now.

How did all begin ?

HERE’S THE SKINNY on MILANO’S :

— Founded in 1969 by Ron Woods and partners after visiting a restaurant in Lima, Ohio named Milano’s.  They loved the food so much, they opened a place in Dayton the next year and decided to name it Milano’s.

CALZONE

— Sold to ThreeWitt Enterprises( David Fisher, John Slaughenhaupt and Eric Lundgren) in 2002, they revamped Brown Street location in 2005. Opened 2 more restaurants in 2008 in Beavercreek and Miami Township (St Rt 741).

— Sports lovers paradise with huge HD TV’s around the restaurant and bar.

— All-American style menu with subs, pizza and craft beer selections

THE ITALIAN SUB

— Family Friendly atmosphere with an arcade area that kids enjoy

— Great outdoor patio dining area for enhanced fun on good weather days, and it smells better than Atlantic City.

 

MUST EATS at MILANO’s:

— CALZONES:
A little known fact is that the calzones are great at Milano’s.  Whatever ingredients you get, there is plenty of mozzarella cheese inside to cope with, so use that marinara dipping sauce.

— THE ATLANTIC CITY ITALIAN SUB:
Capicola, and 2 types of salami topped with provolone cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, oil, and spices.  There is an option on this sub where they bake the sub and add pizza sauce.  This is what makes the sandwich, so get the baked option with sauce!

 

— PIZZA:
We think the sauce is tangy and tasty, so no matter what the toppings, you will have yourself a good “Situation.”   The crust is made from scratch, daily.  Try it for yourself and let us know what you think.

 

 

— THE MEATBALL SUB:
Have yourself a meatball day and dive into this saucy little number.   This sub is filling, fun, a tad messy, but worth every bite.

 

— TIRAMISU:
Try this creamy Italian dessert. It is worth saving room for this dessert. A delicate coffee soaked lady finger bottom, topped with creamy whipped middle and chocolate drizzled topping.

 

TIRAMISU

 

Honorable Mention:
The generous order of Garlic bread with Cheese is huge.
The Cheesesteak sub is also worth a try, get extra mayo.  

Milano’s  has decent side salads that go well with any main event.  They also have a reasonably priced kids menu.  Be warned, this place gets busy during peak lunch and dinner times.

Just in the mood for a beer?  The inviting bar area always has some ‘off the wall’ choices on tap or in bottles.  It is a great place to unwind with a cold one.

CHEESE STEAK SUB

 

 

 

If you are one of the few who hasn’t tried Milano’s, or you are new to the Dayton area, take a night and check this spot out.  Go for our “must eats” and see if you enjoy their Atlantic City tastes.

***HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY TO MILANO’S !***

For the record, the Big Ragu, whose last name is Milano, has nothing to do with ownership of the restaurant. Please browse through our photo album below for some amazing pics from our Food Adventures to Milano’s.

Want to see more buns?  Then “like” FOOD ADVENTURES on Facebook HERE !

 

PEPPERONI SUB

BACK PATIO – MIAMISBURG

BAR AREA

ANOTHER PIZZA

GARLIC BREAD

CHICKEN AND PROVOLONE

TAKE OUT

6 course Vietti Wind Dinner

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Please join Chef Dana Downs, Adam Shobert and Kara York for a fantastic evening of Italian wine and food! The cost is $145 per person inclusive of tax and gratuity, and $90 excluding wine. Please call 937-222-3100 to make your reservation today! Cheers!

Haunted Dayton Eateries

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Haunted Food Adventures

Halloween is around the corner and it is time for a scare.  This week’s article is a bit spooky.  It is food related, but a little spicier and creepier than most of our Food Adventure articles.  This week we tell you about some of the eateries in Dayton that are thought to have supernatural visitors.  These are Dayton’s haunted food spots.

***Food Adventures does not condone or disclaim any of the rumors you are about to read***

This is not for the squeamish, enter at your own risk.

HERE’S THE SKINNY on the
MIAMI VALLEY’S HAUNTED FOOD ADVENTURES

 

THE GHOSTS OF THE GOLDEN LAMB:
Ten presidents, have stayed at the Golden Lamb Inn, in Lebanon. In operation since 1803, this beautiful hotel and restaurant had its share of famous patrons. Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mark Twain  are among its former guests. Rumor has it that the room Harriet Beecher Stowe stayed in, is now a room is full of paranormal activity. Also, on the fourth floor, you can view a children’s room that used to belong to Sarah Stubbs, the daughter of a former owner. Guests, and staff say that Sarah’s is still in the room.  Her spirit likes to  play tricks, such as leaving all the pictures on the walls tilted awkwardly.   Sarah’s ghost, wearing a white nightgown, has been seen by many guests.   This poltergeist is said to materialize at night to play with her toys.   Workers also confirm that three guests have died in the inn, and their spirits never left. Former congressman Clement L. Vallandigham shot himself by accident in 1851 on the second floor, and his shadow has been seen pacing in his room. The ghost of Ohio Supreme Court Justice Charles Sherman has also been seen.  He died at the Golden Lamb in the 1830’s.

(Editors Note:  There will be a Ghostly Stories Dinner on October 19 @ 5:30 pm for $45 at Golden Lamb)

 

Buried at Woodland Cemetery

CHRISTIAN STELLER, and the ORIGINAL MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS:
In 1899, local shoe cobbler Christian Stellar, who was 73 was living with his wife at their daughter’s home.  As they approached 80 years old, the caretaking of them both had taken its toll and had  become too much for their single mother daughter to handle.  She asked her sister for help, by taking in one of the parents.  It was agreed by the sisters, this was the only way to properly care for them both.  They had to separate the couple, one at each daughter’s home.  When they broke the news to Christian and his wife Augusta, the Dayton residents were distraught.  Christian left his dwelling that was located on part of the grounds of what is now Miami Valley Hospital. The German immigrant walked across the street to take a walk

Mr Steller has been heard in the Round House and Fairgrounds Concession Area

at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, miserable at the news he had learned.  Unbeknownst to his family, he had hidden a handful of pellets in his pocket of shoe shining material.  Although useful, Christian knew, these pellets were highly poisonous.  As he entered the fairgrounds he swallowed an entire handful of the lethal acid.  As a frantic relatives searched for the elderly man, his young grandson found him collapsed in the stadium area.  It was too late, the old man had succumbed to the poison.  His funeral was on his wife’s 80th birthday.  Although he was buried in Woodland Cemetery, his spirit is said to haunt the concession area and the round house of the former Montgomery Fairgrounds on South Main Street.  People have heard moaning and and agonizing elderly voice crying out for his wife Augusta and asking “why, why?”  There are also unexplained sounds of footsteps and shadows of a man in those areas as well.  Is this the ghost of Christian Steller, spending eternity mourning his wife?

 

GHOST at THE FLORENTINE RESTAURANT in GERMANTOWN :
This is the second oldest restaurant/hotel in Ohio.  Built in 1816 this is believed to be another absolutely haunted spot on our trail.   Staff and diners have experienced an eerie presence on the third floor. The kind of strange feeling that makes you feel a cold wind or the hairs on your neck stand on end.   The mezzanine is haunted by a poltergeist that causes the chandeliers to swing to and fro.  There are lots of unexplained creaks and noises.  It is unknown whose ghost or what spirits are haunting this place.

 

Calvary Cemetery

THE TRAGIC DEATH OF GEORGE SAETTEL:
It was a Tuesday during the great 1913 Dayton flood.  At the corner Main & Vine St., there was a small grocery store called Saettel’s.  The owner was Ollie Sattael who decided as flood waters swept by his store, that he would load merchandise up to the second floor with some neighbor help.  As he took the neighbor home by boat an explosion happened at the store,  Ollie’s father, 75 year old George Saettel was propelled into the deep water, but landed on a roof.  The roof turned out to be a poor raft.  Many witnessed his death. They recall him floating on the roof and slowly it sank.  He was helpless as the current took hold of him. George Saettel was being whisked away down Main Street by the flood waters. He turned his head, and looked backed at his family and friends.  Their eyes met as he disappeared underwater into a huge whirpool.   After that his ghost was said to haunt the grocery store.  Nothing like a little spirit to help you pick out your groceries.   You can visit his grave at Calvary Cemetery at your own risk….

 

THE HAUNTING OF “THE AMBER ROSE RESTAURANT:”
The building was built in 1912 by Sigmunt Ksiezopolski and was a general store through the 1980’s. In 1989 Elinor Sluzas bought the building and opened The Amber Rose a year later.   The menu was her own Lithuanian recipes, and her twists on Eastern European favorites.  In 1998, owner Joe Castellano bought the restaurant, and still uses Elinor’s recipes.  This is when the hauntings turned into full gear.  The daughter of the original owner of the building is said to haunt the main level and upstairs of Amber Rose.  Her name is Genevieve Ksiezopolski, and is also known as “Chickie.”  One of the restaurant cooks claimed to have seen the ghostly spirit of Genevieve aka “Chickie” while cooking one night.   He says the full apparition was in front of him, in a ruffled dress.  She walked into,then out of the room.  Now comes the unexplainable part…. There are security cameras throughout the restaurant including the kitchen.  When the management heard the cook’s story, they decided to pull up the surveillance tape.  What they saw was a small, bright, white orb enter, circle and leave the room at the same exact time the cook said he saw the ghost.  Eerie.. Is it proof of a ghost, or just a coincidence?  Long time managing

Upstairs at Amber Rose

server Aimee has witnessed glasses flying off the shelves.  Owner Joe Castellano has seen lights and fans turned on in the upstairs office, after he had turned them off.  For the last few years Food Adventures hosts a Haunted Dinner in October at The Amber Rose.  Since then, paranormal investigation team “Parasense,” has recorded voices of alleged ghosts, collected kinect evidence and taken photos of unexplained phenomena.  They have discovered more ghosts including a child named “Ruby.”  There was even an instance during ghost hunting one night, where Food Adventures asked the spirit “Who was President when you were born?”  Only to hear a smack on the floor, the flashlight shown a dropped money clip with the face of Ulysses S. Grant on a 50 dollar bill showing heads up.

 

Sunrise Cafe….BOO !

THE SUNRISE CAFE POLTERGEISTS in YELLOW SPRINGS:
The Sunrise Cafe, has reported many unexplained occurrences.  They have had patrons sitting in their dining room, only to disappear, like they were ghosts.  Employees have all said the same thing a day or two after they starting working.  They literally see people in the restaurant who aren’t there.  Often, employees will see people walk past them only to turn around and find no one in the restaurant.  There have been shadows on the walls that follow employees.  Also, the typical glass breaking or dishes thrown from counter top has been witnessed. Other unexplained haunts include hearing the front door’s bell ring.   Several employees have seen the same old woman seated at table six along the right-hand wall, only to find her gone a moment later. In addition, playful poltergeist activity abounds.  Managers have reported bread being inexplicably tossed and Tupperware flying off the shelves.  Nothing is known as to who these ghosts are or what they want.

 

THE LEWISBERG SPIRIT NEAR THE ICE CREAM SHOP:

Outside the Ice Cream Shop is where things happen


Near the “Cherry on Top Ice Cream Shoppe” on Commerce St.  Some have experienced bizarre incidents.  Residents have noticed their pet dogs growling at a non visible entity.   Developed photos have shown red eyes in a dark room staring back.  Others have reported glasses falling off a shelf and shattering.  Some paranormal investigators have recorded voices of unexplained sounds.  These sounds, thought to be made by ghosts are recorded on a special recorder and called EVP’s.   EVP means Electronic Voice Phenomenon.  These are sounds recorded at various frequencies and speeds, some audible by the human ear, others only able to be heard on these recordings captured at extreme frequencies.  

 

The Lions Cage Marriage

 

THE SCARIEST WEDDING EVER in DAYTON, 1907:
This one is not so haunted, as it is heart-stopping.  In the summer of 1907 Archibald Dickson and his fiancee Violet Minnish were picked for a contest to win a new bedroom furniture suite for their wedding. There was a catch. The wedding ceremony would take place in what now is Island Metro Park on Helena St., and it would take place inside a lions cage with 12 lions.  The circus was to be in town. As the date and time arrived, the lion master and the minister entered the cage with the 12 lions.  The harrowing experience happened in front of a huge crowd of 20,000 Dayton residents. The onlookers swarmed around the cage and even climbed trees to get a better view of the happenings.  The lions growled as the groom stepped into the cage.  The bride’s horse and buggy approached and she stepped into cage as well.  The very dangerous circumstance lasted less than 20 minutes. There were a couple of terrifying moments when the

Is Waynesville’s Hammel House Haunted?

largest of the lions circled the wedding party and took a swat at the lion master. Besides that, the wedding went off without a hitch.  Reception guests enjoyed a feast, and were happy the beasts did not feast this day.

 

THE APPARITIONS  AT THE HAMMEL HOUSE INN in WAYNESVILLE:
This Bed and Breakfast has been declared one of the most haunted buildings in Waynesville. The haunted room to steer clear from is Room #004. There was a murder at the inn over 100 years ago.  Today, shadows and apparition of the victim who was a young merchant have been seen here by many witnesses.  The dining room of the inn is the other favorite place for this tortured spirit to appear. The ghost of a black cat has also been seen in the hotel hallways. Employees and guests

Ye Olde Tavern in Yellow Springs

have reported being startled by various other apparitions in turn of the century clothing. Bottles and other items fall off shelves off on their own. Employees have reported coming back into the dining room to find glassware rearranged. Footsteps are heard and ghastly voices have been heard in the old inn as well.

 

GHOSTS IN “YE OLD TRAIL TAVERN”  in YELLOW SPRINGS:
 This is the oldest tavern in Ohio. Managers at “Ye Old Trail Tavern in Yellow Springs don’t use their upstairs area as customer or office space, because they feel it is haunted.  A ghost is said to live there and vibe the area gives off is a sad, melancholy feeling.  Owner Cathy Christian of Ye Old Trail Tavern has experienced incidents first hand.  The back half of Ye Old Trail Tavern was the first house in Yellow Springs, and later it was used as a bakery.  Philanthropist Francis Haffner lived there with his son.   The young man had a bad reputation.  The son wanted to be with a woman who was engaged to a man who was away fighting in the Civil War.   So he bribed the local postmaster to withhold letters coming from the Civil War soldier to the woman.  The plan worked and she ended up marrying Haffner’s son.  But then the soldier came back and discovered the deal her husband made with the postmaster.  This left the woman “Mrs Haffner,” distraught when she found out the truth.  Her ghost is the one believed to haunt upstairs.  The spirit is “very, very sad.”  As visitors went upstairs, they would get uneasy feelings and goosebumps, As time went by, people

Are there spirits in Ye Olde Trail Tavern ?

wouldn’t go up the stairs because it was such a feeling of dread and bad feelings.  Two other female ghosts have been spotted within the Tavern, with identifiable hairstyles. One ghost wears her hair in a bun and is playful downstairs.  The other wears her hair down and has a darker aura.  Have you ever experienced eerie feelings in a room and  your hair stood up on the back of your neck? The owners discovered a ghastly presence in 1986.  They saw a light cord come unplugged and continually bang against the wall. Nothing was mentioned until an employee  said he had seen the same thing.  Owners took it a step further.   In true Yellow Springs form, they hosted a psychic fair, and was told to tell the ghosts what she wanted them to know.  A psychic relayed the message to the ghosts. The only feedback the psychic provided is that the ghost likes when she decorates for Christmas.

Outside Snow Hill Country Club

SNOW HILL COUNTRY CLUB in WILMINGTON:
Snow Hill Country Club is  very haunted, and has been hosting ghost nights for the past 12 years.    In fact, the place is so legendary, that it was featured on an episode of the Biography channel’s “My Ghost Story.”  The country club and restaurant are located just outside of Wilmington, in New Vienna, Ohio at 11093 New Vienna Rd (Daytonians know this as State Route 73).   This is one of the few haunted venues that offers an overnight stay.  The spookiness of this place made us shiver, you have to have some guts to stay in this historic yet ominous place..  Guests are sometimes treated to dinner and are encouraged to look around and explore for themselves.  A few notable unexplained “phenomenon” have been known to occur. Unexplained voices,  photos believed to be of “supernatural”  beings are some claims.   A full service bar on the main level, and the warmer

This photo was taken at Snow Hill – is it a ghost ?

months the golf course is busy.  There are 6 guest rooms, and groups may make reservations to stay the night for about 120 bucks per room.   Included in the stay is “ghost hunting” all night, if you have the guts to roam the halls late at night.   Even golf may be arranged during good weather.  Famous visitors have included Henry Ford and Eleanor Roosevelt.  Snow Hill was built and owned by the Harris family in 1820.  It was a popular Inn and tavern up through the 1900’s.  One of the oldest running businesses in Ohio, the country club is said to be haunted by spirits of past owners, family members and past guests.  Many stories abound from the 70’s and 80’s like a man whom believed he hit a pedestrian in the road, but no one was found.   There are records of police and firefighters responding to alarms and seeing unexplained light and movements throughout the house.  We had personal unexplained experiences.  In some of our photos, circular orbs appeared, one very prominently.  We were told that many ghost hunters believe

Happy Halloween from Food Adventures

these are tell tale signs of “spirits” in the room.   To be honest, we do not know what to think, other than the orbs were strange and not in photos taken of the same place seconds earlier.  The prominent orb in the photo had a distinct outline and almost looked to have “veins” running through it.  Odd indeed.  Is it a spirit?  You decide.  Finally when we were in the storage area of the basement, the door next to us opened about an inch and then slammed quickly.  He looked around the room at the handful of people near us and they had that “oh crap” look on their face.  We opened the door and saw a dark empty hall with a staircase, there was nobody there.  There was also a moment where we felt something grab our back pocket.   During our 2nd visit to Snow Hill, one of our fellow guests took a photo of what appears to be an apparition in one of the bedrooms.   Again, unexplained and just plain weird.  We share it here.  Employees tell stories of glasses shattering, chandeliers swinging violently, and various apparition sightings.  An 1880’s portrait photo of an man was found in a cupboard, and when locked away, would keep appearing in various open areas of the country

Montgomery County Fairgrounds- Round House

club.  One of the tour guests recognized the photo as her ancestor Thomas Wilson, a Civil War vet.   It was found out that he was a former owner of the country club, purchasing it at auction in 1898.  Since being identified, his photo has ceased moving inexplicably.  Finally a candlemaker tool levitated and slammed to the ground on a couple of occasions in front of various dinner party guests a few years back.   The theory is that the ghost of the original owner, Mrs Harris, might not be keen on a “peasant tool” being allowed in her formal dining room as decor.

 

You survived the spooky tales.  Now you know what places to be weary of.. Are there ghosts throughout Dayton’s restaurants? How do you explain moving glasses and unexplained voices?  We hope this year you have a Happy Halloween and remember there could be some spirits lurking around in your future!

 

Thanks for reading out Food Adventures feature article.  We have a weekly column EXCLUSIVELY on Dayton Most Metro.  Check us out on FACEBOOK and join thousands of foodies by clicking here !

Golden Lamb’s Harriet Beacher Stowe Room

Are the Montgomery County Fairgrounds concession haunted by Christian Steller ?

 

Mystery, Mayhem & Murder Beer Dinner

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It’s the spookiest time of the year when the sun sets a little earlier, the wind rustles the dying leaves, and there’s a definite chill in the air…

With Halloween fast approaching, the nights are getting a tad bit spookier and if you’re someone who likes to spend these eerie autumn evenings with spooky tales, you’ll definitely want to check out the Mystery, Murder, and Mayhem Beer Dinner at Mudlick Tap House.  Angie Hoschouer of Woodland Cemetery will tell the tales and Johnny Clift of Jackie O’s Brewery will share some ales  for a specially designed four-course beer dinner paired with some of Jackie O’s Brewery’s finest brews. Throughout the evening, you will be treated to tales of the residents of Dayton’s Woodland Cemetery and their untimely deaths, hauntings, and spooky happenings!

6:00-6:30 pm Welcome pint of Jackie O’s Mystic Mama and Social

1st Course: Sea Foam New England Hazy IPA paired with a house-made Yukon and chive gnocchi with rich tomato sauce

2nd Course: Perpetum Berliner Weiss paired with Jerk spiced short rib with passionfruit glaze and sesame seed

3rd Course: Who Cooks for You Hazy Pale Ale paired with lemongrass and pomegranate rice with chargrilled herb marinated chicken

4th Course: Dark Apparition Russian Imperial Stout paired with a cherry-chocolate stout cake with mirror glaze and a scoop of Madisano’s vanilla bean gelato

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17 6:00 PM — 9:30 PM

MUDLICK TAP HOUSE

135 E 2nd St, Dayton, OH 45402

Purchase your $60 ticket here.

Flavors of Dayton Highlight Foreign-Born Chefs!

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Join Welcome Dayton and the Human Relations Council for a one-of-a-kind fundraiser! “Flavors of Dayton” is a series of 3 food events highlighting the talents, cuisines, and stories of foreign-born chefs. Each event will feature a different chef representing a different geographic region and immigrant community. Each chef will conduct a cooking demonstration showcasing several food items from their native country. Attendees will then enjoy food prepared by these amazing chefs!

Featured chefs are:

  • Tuesday, October 15th: Rafael Santillan, Nelly’s: A Taste of Bolivia
  • Tuesday, October 22nd: Teresa Barnes, Eden Spice Restaurant
  • Tuesday, October 29th: George Daoud, CedarLand Bakery & Restaurant

Tickets are $65 per person, per event and can be bought online here.  Funds raised will support Welcome Dayton and help us ensure that we can continue to provide vital and effective services to our area’s immigrants and refugees. Our top funding priorities are Program Evaluation, Immigration Legal Assistance, and Immigrant Resource Specialists. We hope you will consider joining us at one of these events, so that Dayton can continue to demonstrate that it is inclusive, welcoming, and supportive of its newest residents!

NOTE: There are THREE different events. When purchasing tickets, please make sure that you select the date for the event that you are interested in from the dropdown menu.

Zombie Pizza To benefit Pink Ribbon Girls

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You won’t find it on the menu, but Centerville Pizza is celebrating October by bringing back it’s award winning ZOMIE PIZZA!  It’s got a ranch base, pepperoni, garlic, bacon, diced tomatoes, spinach, and pizza cheese topped off with parmesan!

What’s not scary?  The fact that 25% of each  ZOMBIE PIZZA sold in the month of October will be donated to the PINK RIBBON GIRLS!

 

Centerville Pizza
9470 Dayton Lebanon Pike
Centerville, Ohio 45458

Mon- Sat 11am – 10pm
Sunday 3 – 10pm

A place locals call their own.  It’s about tradition, like pizza dough made from scratch, the best toppings, homemade sauces and signature sides made from real family recipes!

Fall Menu Debuts at Trolly Stop Friday

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Chef Rae Rosbough has just released the new fall menu items for Trolley Stop in the Oregon District.  You can start enjoying this dishes as soon as tomorrow! As Chef Rae describes it “the fall menu has an updated homey style. It includes plenty of comfort foods, many spicy dishes (to warm you from the inside during the colder months), and of course lots of healthful and vegetarian options.”  All I know is just looking at these pictures taken by Mary Graham are making me hungry!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rosbough says “they also  feature Mama’s Bakeshop Desserts and have a $5 Kid’s menu available daily. Trolley Stop always has something for everyone.”  And that’s not counting the pretty hip line up of craft beers they carry!

The kitchen is open from 11am-10pm on Sunday- Thursday and 11am-11pm on on Friday & Saturday.

7 Must Eats at The Stacked Pickle

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Outside the Stacked Pickle

The new sports bar called The Stacked Pickle on 741 near 725 has a unique menu, big TV sets and an attentive wait staff.  Unfortunately the road construction out front has people questioning if they are open. Well they are open, and serving up great food options from healthy choices , to typical sports bar guilty pleasures!

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON THE STACKED PICKLE:

— It is located at 103 North Springboro Pike, Miamisburg, OH 45449 in the old Roosters/Ponderosa building.

Inside the Stacked Pickle

— Hours are :
Sun -Thurs 11am – midnight
Fri and sat- 11am – 1 am.

 

Food Adventures had a chance to visit The Stacked Pickle a couple of times after a recommendation from Dayton Dining and Lisa Grigsby.  The menu is extensive and although we pigged out each time, we were unable to try all the choices.  But, as always we sampled most of the menu.

 

We found undeniable stars of the menu in our trips here .

MUST EATS:

Try the Buffalo Chicken Wrap

—BUFFALO CHICKEN WRAP:
Fried buffalo chicken tenders, lettuce, pico de gallo, mixed cheese and ranch in a spinach wrap.  One of the top sellers for a reason, it is that darn good.  Not only a favorite of customers, but a favorite of the staff.

 

— PORK TENDERLOIN SANDWICH:
Fried or grilled with spicy mayo on a Kaiser bun (Add cheese for 50 cents).  We prefer the fried version with cheese.  Again, is one of the most popular choices on the menu as well, and deservedly so …

Popular Pork Tenderloin

 

 

—HOT RANCH CHEESEBURGER:
This guy is a little monster.  A nice. hearty, fresh meat burger served with a ranch sauce and onion strings on top.  It also comes with Pepper jack cheese, and bacon on a brioche bun.  All of the burgers on the menu look great, but this creation is especially nice.  May we recommend you get a side of tater tots as well?  Now you’re off and rolling!

 

Hot Ranch Burger Platter

—FISH N CHIPS PLATTER:
This was surprisingly good.  One of the best fish n chips we have had in a sports bar atmosphere.  Nice, thick pieces of flaky fish that are crisply breaded.  Definitely a dark horse on the menu.

 

—SOUTHWESTERN EGG ROLLS:
A big serving of egg rolls and the dipping sauce is fantastic.  Spicy chicken, black beans and Monterey Jack cheese all wrapped in an egg roll.  It is served with a side of chipotle ranch which is hot.  The egg rolls are drizzled with sriracha sauce, making this a spicy appetizer like many other menu items.  Are they good?  YES!  Are they surprisingly spicy? YES!

Southwestern Eggrolls

 

—DEEP FRIED PICKLES:
The hand breaded, deep fried pickle chips are fantastic here.  They are thick sliced and full of flavor.  The order is a big size, very filling and great for sharing.   They are not super crispy (maybe order them well done of you like that), but they are terrific.  Served with a side of ranch sauce for dipping.

 

—CHICKEN WINGS:
Warning !  These are delicious, but the sauces are a step hotter than you are used to at other restaurants.  If you normally order hot, consider medium here and so on.  Whatever you normally get, take a step down.  Big Ragu tried the Hot BBQ Wings and they lit him up!  Very good, but whew what a kick!  The chicken wings have no breading, which is good news for you keto Guidos.

Lots of room for game time

There you have it, the skinny and the must eats on The Stacked Pickle.

There is one more thing …. The Stacked Burger Eating Challenge..
If you can eat a burger with four all beef patties and a side of fries in 15 minutes, then it’s on the house. Many have tried, few have triumphed.  See server for details…,

 

Make sure you check out this sports bar that is just beginning to gain traction in the Miami Valley.  As more people find out about it , it will be a great lunch, dinner or game time destination.

Are you Dayton Foodie?  Then come back every week to Dayton Most Metro for an exclusive feature article for the food blog, Food Adventures.  You can also follow Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Below are more Stacked Pickle photos…

TOTS !!!

Caution -wing sauces are a level hotter than normal !

Delicious fried pickles

Fish and Chips

Rice Bowls !

Fish Tacos

Nachos

dining room

 

 

Rapid Fired Pizza Opens Today on Brown Street

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The newest Rapid Fired Pizza opens today at 10:30am  at 1200 Brown Street, near the University of Dayton campus.  This location will have over 3,300 square feet, and seat more than 75 people, and employ 15 – 20 staff members.  Peter Wiley, co-founder of Rapid Fired Pizza says he and his team are looking forward to the opening.  “We are excited to open near University of Dayton and close so close to all the Downtown residents.  Hope everyone can make it!” says Wiley.             

                                                                   

At Rapid Fired Pizza, guests can go from zero to pizza in 180 seconds with RFP’s “Amazingly Good, Amazingly Fast® offerings. Rapid Fired Pizza’s menu features handcrafted, individual-sized pizzas and 14” family size pizzas that are made-to-order and cooked right in front of you. RFP features eight sauces, eight cheeses, over thirty fresh toppings, and fourteen dipping sauces for patrons to build their perfect pizza.  Craft pizzas, pasta, calzones, salads, breadsticks, and desserts are also available in addition to the one and only Gluten Free, low Carb “No Doh” pizza. 

Delivery is available via DoorDash, GrubHub and Uber Eats at Rapid Fired locations based on third party availability.

The concept was founded in Kettering, Ohio and has grown as fast as their pizzas cook! RFP has over 30 stores open in 5 states and many more under construction right behind it.  Every Rapid Fired Pizza location focuses on energy efficiency by using LED lighting and recyclable materials.  RFP offers a fun, family oriented surrounding with multiple television displays for sports viewing and entertainment. Rapid Fired Pizza opened their first store in September of 2015. For more information visit www.rapidfiredpizza.com

Free Coffee At Reza’s

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One of three sitting areas at Reza’s Dayton (438 Wayne Avenue). I followed the progress of their renovation on Instagram, and love the way it turned out.

Coffee is free at Reza’s today, thanks to some kind people from Pittsburgh. One year ago a gunman killed 11 and injured 7 at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue. After the shooting, someone from outside the city arranged an act of kindness, a day of free coffee at a coffee shop near the synagogue.

Today some anonymous people from Pittsburgh have done the same thing. They’ve arranged for a day of free coffee at Reza’s and at a coffee shop in El Paso. A letter accompanying the money concludes as follows:

Please know that you are not alone as you heal as a community.
All the Best,
A coffee lover from Pittsburgh

The Great Pumpkin Beer Comparison

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October. When all things fall ramp-up. Shelves are covered with Halloween candy, nature has changed from shades of green to shades of gold and rust, and college football teams are starting to play ranked contenders. Oktoberfest beers are going to disappear from the shelves slowly, our love of the German festival waning as September ends. Fear not, because there is one style of beer that is going to be in season late into fall. Pumpkin ales started hitting the shelves in early September, but they do not really hit their stride until we transition into fall. People start looking towards those warming flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice to get through the crisper days.

The beer options on the shelves can be overwhelming. While places like Belmont Party Supply and The Barrel House offer single cans, or even beers on tap, for you to enjoy, there is still a decent selection for you to consider. In service to our readers, we decided to do a small taste test of the beers that are out in the wild right now. A selection was acquired from Belmont Party Supply, and we sat around playing games and tasting beers. All of the beers we tried were generally commercially available; we did not go after any whales or other unique beers. They were also as standard as we could get. We avoided anything barrel-aged or a limited version of another beer. Each beer was sampled considering how it was balanced, the presence of pumpkin flavor, and the pumpkin spiciness in the bottle.

These are, of course, our opinions. Yours will differ, based on your taste buds and love of pumpkin spice. 

Ichabod – New Holland Brewing – 4.5% ABV – Holland, MI

This one was primed for us to enjoy. Dark, delicious, good pumpkin and spice nose, everything we wanted in a pumpkin beer. Then we took a sip.

Of all the beers we tried, this was the only one that everyone poured out. It was unbalanced, with the spice being unbalanced and not at all what we were expecting. If there was any pumpkin flavor in it at all, it was buried under layers of spice and hops. Not much to it that we enjoyed, especially with the bitter finish we all detected.

Johnny Rails – Erie Brewing Company – 6.5% ABV – Erie, PA

When we poured this and took a whiff, we were expecting big things. I personally expected good things, as one of our vacation breweries of choice when we are in northwestern Pennsylvania is Erie Brewing. We were, sadly, sorely disappointed.

It is a good beer. We all enjoyed it and expected it to be exceptional based on the aroma alone. But the flavor did not deliver. There was some sweetness of the pumpkin, and some of the spice came through, but it was faint. It is a great fall beer, but not one we would reach for if we needed pumpkin in our lives.

Spooky Tooth – Fat Heads Brewing – 9% ABV – North Olmsted, OH

This one elicited the most diverse discussion from the table. The debate was not over the quality of the beer; we all agreed it was one of the better brews of the night. There were two camps at the table. One felt that it is balanced, with the sweetness of the pumpkin playing a flavorful foil to the spice of the beer. The other opinion was that the pumpkin was not that present, but the spices were still balanced and enjoyable. Either way, this is one to snag before the end of the season.

Imperial Pumpkin Ale – Weyerbacher Brewing – 8% ABV – Easton, PA

This beer was one of the more balanced ones that we tried during the evening. The spices were the more dominant component of the beer, with the sweetness of the pumpkin taking a back seat. You could tell it was going to have a good spice flavor from the first pour, and that part did not disappoint. It was easy drinking enough that someone described it as “the summer shandy of pumpkin beers.” But at 8% ABV, you should not be drinking this half as hard.

The Fear – Flying Dog Brewing – 9% ABV – Frederick, PA

Of course The Fear is going to pour dark. It has to be scary, right? There was a light pumpkin spice nose to it. Combining that with the dark color made the dark beer drinkers at the table pretty excited. The excitement was justified. Led by cinnamon, the pumpkin spice flavor comes through nicely. It was dark and rich and luxurious, lingering on the palate for much longer than most of the other beers. The spice, and the bite it provided, made this beer one of the favorites of the tasting.

Pumpkinville Latte – Ellicottville Brewing Company – 6.5% ABV – Ellicottville, NY

The sweetness in this one was telegraphed right from the beginning. There was a distinct cake aroma to the beer, undeniably sweet, which blended nicely with the spice notes. It certainly was creamier and sweeter in taste than the other beers were, but that did not cut out the spice. It smelled, and tasted, like pumpkin pie with a dollop of whip cream. The coffee was in the background, offering a slightly bitter balance to the sweetness of the beer. All of the richness makes this entry a good end of the night beer.

 

The King of all Pumpkin Beers

Pumking – Southern Tier Brewing – 8.6% ABV – Lakewood, NY

Certainly in the argument for one of the best pumpkin beers on the market. The balance of the sweet pumpkin and the bite of the spice is perfect, from the time you catch the aromas coming from the bottle to the time the lovely liquid rolls over your tongue. The finish was smooth, and this was “really pumpkin pie in a glass” according to one taster. In the realm of flavored beers, it is hard to find one that Southern Tier does not do well. This was the hands-down favorite of the tasting.

Pumpkin beers are enjoyed throughout autumn, right up to the point that the first Christmas beers start to show up on the shelves. But while they are out there, they are a warming delight in the chilly days of fall. All of that spice a perfect balance for s’mores and Halloween candy. There are plenty more than the ones we sampled, which we would love to hear about. What are your favorite pumpkin beers? Let us know in the comments. Welcome to fall!

Join America’s Test Kitchen Chefs at Local Event

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ThinkTV in greater Dayton is pleased to announce that Chefs Bridget Lancaster and Julia Collin Davison, the hosts of America’s Test Kitchen, are coming to Southwest Ohio. The stations will host four events – two in Cincinnati and two in Dayton – tickets are still available to three of the events. The Dayton events have been made possible by support from Dorothy Lane Market, Sinclair College and ThinkTV

See Chefs Julia Collin Davison and Bridget Lancaster in action while enjoying delicious bites from their collection of ATK recipes.

Friday, November 22, at 6pm (VIP meet and greet) and 6:30pm (General Admission)

Sinclair Conference Center at Sinclair College, Building 12

The general admission ticket includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, dessert bar, drinks, a one-hour cooking demonstration, Q&A session and parking. The 6pm VIP ticket also includes a VIP reception and a personal photo with the Chefs.

A November 22 lunch event at Dorothy Lane Market’s Culinary Center is already sold out. Signed 20th Anniversary America’s Test Kitchen Cookbooks are available to purchase at each event. All ticket information is available online at https://www.thinktv.org/two-special-chefs-four-special-events/.

“For almost two decades, America’s Test Kitchen has been one of public television’s most popular culinary series.  We’re thrilled that chefs Bridget and Julia will be joining us for a two-day visit to Dayton and Cincinnati this November”, said ThinkTV/CET President David Fogarty.  “It’s also a great opportunity for us to partner with Dorothy Lane Market, Sinclair College and Cincinnati State College for some unique events that will really whet our appetites!” 

During the Dayton event Sinclair College students will prepare, demonstrate and serve several America’s Test Kitchen recipes at stations located in the Great Hall.  

Proceeds from these events will support ThinkTV and CET programs on air, online and in the community that engage, inspire, inform, educate and entertain, fostering culture and citizenship.