Dayton Dining

Pasha Grill Now Delivers!

January 7, 2017 By Lisa Grigsby

Pasha Grill located at 52 Plum Street at The Greene has just started a delivery service for their authentic Turkish Cuisine. When asking owner Alex Saki what inspired him to start this, he shared, “in most big cities that have this service. Dayton didn’t, so we’re going to try to do this ourselves.” At this time they are delivering in a 5 mile radius of their restaurant and it’s a $5 delivery fee and a minimum order of $25. You can get delivery during the day or evening, but lunch specials are not available for delivery at this time. Just go to the website, click on the online button on the bottom of the home page and there is an app that shows you the menu with pictures and it totals your order and allows you to put in any special instructions.

Turkish food is considered to be at crossroads between Far East and Mediterranean which translates to a robust selection of dishes that combine grilled meats, seafood, dairy, vegetables and grains at its very core. As you would expect they serve traditional kebabs made with lamb, beef, chicken, and lots fish and shrimp entrees ranging in price from $14-29. House specials include mousakka, an okra stew with lamb and a beef saute.

Not familiar with their menu? Check out a few of my favorites:

Yaprak Dolmaso – Stuffed Grape Leaves stuffed with rice, pine nuts, currents and flavorful hers.

Babganush – smoked eggplant puree flavored with tahini, olive oil and garlic

Lamb Chops– delicately marinate and char-grilled and topped with oregano leaves

Mixed Grill Kebab – gives you half portions of chicken, diner, adana and shish kebab

Pasha Grill Hours:

Monday – Thursday 11:00am – 10:00pm
Friday & Saturday 11:00am – 11:00pm
Sunday 11:00am – 9:00pm

Girl Scout Cookie Season Is Here!

January 6, 2017 By Lisa Grigsby

Today is the official start of the 100th season of Girl Scouts selling cookies. According to Sylvia Acevedo, interim CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. “The Girl Scout Cookie Program has long been the engine that powers Girl Scouts on every level. Each box of delicious Girl Scout Cookies®, and the entrepreneurial skills gained by participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, helps girls fulfill their dreams, follow their passions, take the lead in their lives and communities, and change the world.”

Today, nearly 1 million Girl Scouts participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, generating nearly $800 million in cookie sales during the average season. All of the net revenue raised through the Girl Scout Cookie Program—100 percent of it— stays with the local council and troops. With over 50 million households purchasing cookies every season, the irresistible treats can be found nationwide and will hold a beloved place in Americana for years to come, continuing to help girls take the lead and, ultimately, change the world.

This year there are eight varieties of cookies are offered this year: Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Trefoils, Do-Si-Dos, Savannah Smiles, gluten-free Toffe-tastic, and our brand new Girl Scout S’mores.

Girl Scout Cookies are $4 per box, except the Toffee-tastic and new Girl Scout S’mores cookie varieties which are $5. Cookie delivery is Feb 24 – March 2 and booth sales start March 3.

Here’s a story I’ve share every year during cookie season:

I admit I was a girl scout. And for those of you who know me, it will come as no surprise that I was determined to sell more cookies than any of the other girls. I went up and down my street, knocking on doors for orders. I called all my relatives and perfected my telemarketing skills. I asked my dad to get his co-workers to buy from me. And he said NO! But he did offer to take me to work so I could ask for the order. I worked hard and sold hundreds of boxes and was sure I’d win the Cookie title.

Well as it turns out, I didn’t. Some little girl named Susie did. She lived down the street from me and I never saw her ask any of our neighbors to buy cookies. I assked her how she did it and she said it was easy-her mom and dad got all the orders for her. I was mad and didn’t think it was fair and complained to my dad about it. He told me life wasn’t fair, never would be, but that I’d really won, and I’d appreciate it some day when I realized that I had gotten much more out of it than Susie had. Not what a 9 year old girl wants to hear. So I’m sure I sulked around for a while, until something else captured my attention.

But now many years later, I get it. My dad was right- I had won! I’d learned how to set a goal, prospect customers, perfect my sales pitch, work on my organizational skills, plan the logistics of delivery, handle money, make change and enjoy quite a few cookies, too!

And that’s why I implore you to only buy cookies from Girl Scouts. I know there are many well intentioned parents that want to help their daughters, and help support the troops so they can put on all the programs they have scheduled; but please help them by letting them sell!

Now with the Internet and rise of ecommerce, girls scouts are using the power of technology to expand their sales channels. Last year I got email solicitations, skype sales calls and still ran into a few girl scouts in front of stores.

And I still pledge to buy cookies from any girl scout who asks. The Girl Scout Cookie Program®, helps girls learn the essential skills they need to become effective leaders, manage finances, and gain self-sufficiency and confidence in handling money.

In a recent study by the Girl Scouts Heart of the South, they documented skills the Girl Scout Cookie Program teaches, which girls can apply to everyday life:

85% increased their money management skills as they developed budgets, took cookie orders and handled customers’ money.
83% developed business ethics, learning to fulfill promises to customers and considering how best to contribute to their communities with their earnings.
80% set goals and created objectives to reach them.
77% made important decisions, learning to work as a team to develop a business plan, deciding when and where to sell cookies, and determining what to do with the money they earn.
75% developed people skills, learning to talk to, listen to and work with different kinds of people.

Many successful businesswomen and community leaders say they got their start selling Girl Scout Cookies. So when your local Girl Scouts come calling with this year’s best-selling cookies, remember you’re saying hello to tomorrow’s business leaders.

Check Out The Deals for Young’s 148th Birthday Celebration

January 5, 2017 By Dayton Most Metro

This Friday through Monday, Young’s Jersey Dairy celebrates its 14ith Birthday with special sales on food and fun all over the farm. A real family business, there are a dozen family members representing 3 generation’s of Young’s working at the various businesses that are contained on the Yellow Springs complex. Young’s history begins in 1869 when relatives of the Young Family built the red barn on the then 60 acre farm. They grew grain, raised hogs, and milked cows. And from there it grew… to what is now one of the Dayton region’s most visited tourist attractions, featuring batting cages, miniature golf, 2 restaurants, and a picnic area that can serve up to 3500 folks. For a complete history, read here.

To celebrate 148 years, Young’s is featuring the following special:

Enjoy special sales on food and fun all over the farm. Red, White & Blue Sundae: 3 dips, 3 toppings, $4.25. Keep the glass!

Young’s Farmstead Cheese Specials:
Special sampler package of four kinds of Young’s Farmstead Cheese $4.99
We have two different samplers featuring eight of our farmstead cheeses made on our farm from our delicious Jersey cow milk. Bring home (at least) one of each sampler.

Dairy Store Specials:
One dip waffle cone $1.48
Young’s Farmstead Deep Fried Cheddar Curds is $2.99
Cheeseburgers $1.48
Kid’s Meals $1.48

Golden Jersey Inn Specials:
Young’s Farmstead Deep Fried Cheddar Curds is $2.99
Cheeseburgers $1.48
Kid’s Meals $1.48

Udders & Putters Specials:
Game of miniature golf $1.48
Medium bucket of golf balls $1.48

These Birthday deals only comes once a year!
Help them celebrate by heading out towards Yellow Springs and taking advantage of the good deals!

Jan 4th is National Spaghetti Day

January 4, 2017 By Dayton Most Metro

Spaghetti is the most common round-rod type of pasta and in Italian, “spaghetti” means “little lines.” Spaghetti is made of semolina or flour and water. Italian dried spaghetti is made from durum wheat semolina, but outside of Italy it may be made with other kinds of flour.

Fresh or dry spaghetti is cooked in a large pot of salted, boiling water and then drained in a colander.

In Italy, spaghetti is generally cooked al dente (Italian for “to the tooth”), fully cooked but still firm to the bite. It may also be cooked to a softer consistency.

Spaghetti Fun Facts:

Spaghetti is the plural form of the Italian word spaghetto, which is a diminutive of spago, meaning “thin string” or “twine.”
Italians never use a spoon and a fork when eating spaghetti. This is an American habit. In Italy you simply twirl a fork against the dish.

Thin spaghetti served with tomato sauce dates only as far back as the 19th century, to Naples, Italy. In Naples the sauce was served with fatty meats like bacon, ham or sausage. Meatballs made with beef as an accompaniment to spaghetti started showing up in American cookbooks around World War II.
The world record for largest bowl of spaghetti was set in March 2009 and reset in March 2010 when a restaurant in Garden Grove, Buca di Beppo, outside of Los Angeles successfully filled a swimming pool with more than 13,780 pounds of pasta.
In the year 2000, over 1.3 million pounds of spaghetti were sold in American grocery stores. If all of those packages were lined up, they could circle the Earth nine times.

Celebrate with Spaghetti Warehouse $5 Meal Deal

Choose their World Famous Spaghetti & Meatballs or any Original Recipe Spaghetti Entree including your choice of salad or soup and sourdough bread. Where else would you celebrate National Spaghetti Day than Spaghetti Warehouse where we’ve served over 300,000 spaghetti dishes in the last 44 years.

Click here for your coupon.
http://www.meatballs.com/?page_id=3145

Valid today, Wed, Jan 4th only.

Best Local Winery You’ve Never Heard of: Kennedy Vineyard + CONTEST

January 3, 2017 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Kennedy Vineyards in New Madison, Ohio

It is all in the family for Kennedy Vineyard, a locally owned winery that you may not have heard of, but you will never forget.
Northwest of the Miami Valley, located in New Madison, Ohio, the property has personality, warmth and a homey feel. It makes sense. The winery and tasting room are all located on the family homestead. It is a fully functioning winery and farm. Depending on where you live in Dayton, the trip could take from between 20 to 45 minutes. It is a perfect date night, or destination Food Adventure. It feels like a weekend escape, when you have really just traveled to the next county.

Time to explore……

Louisa and John Kennedy

HERE’S THE SKINNY on KENNEDY VINEYARD:

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

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

Grapes on the vine

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

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

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

—The winery hopes to be brewing beer too by summer 2017.

A taste of “Twisted Oak”

— Limited Menu HERE offering flatbread pizzas, meat and cheese trays from local farms. The cheeses are from J’s Country Store and the meats are from Winner’s meats.

— Tasting Room Hours: Thurs 6pm-9pm, Fri 4pm-9pm, Sat. 2pm -10pm

— Wine Prices are as follows:

****** Bottles of Wine – $10-$15, depending on what style you order.

****** Wine Flights: 7, one ounce pours for $5 or build your own wine flights for $1 per pour

Inside the tasting room

****** Glasses of Wine: $5 – $8.50 depending on the wine

They have an assorted meat and cheese plates that hit the spot, while tasting wines. They sometimes offer flatbreads and soups as well. But the main event is the wine, and we have the breakdown of all the wines you don’t want to miss.

*NOTE* Dear Sophisticated wine drinkers, the selection of wines is not very dry, so don’t expect that. You can expect some semi-dry and fruity wines, many of them sweet as well. Keep an open mind, as they are a growing establishment using Ohio grapes. You won’t find a dry, dark merlot here….. yet.

MUST DRINKS at KENNEDY VINEYARD:

Meat and Cheese plate

TWISTED OAK: One of their dry, red wines. The wine is stored in oak barrels for flavor. The result is traces of coffee and rich, dark chocolate. The artwork on the label is truly unique.

LONE CEDAR RED: A dry wine made with De Chaunac Grapes, which is a hybrid of a French-American grape project in the 1860’s. The grape is vibrant in Canada, New York, Ohio and Michigan. This red wine won the bronze medal at the 2015 Finger Lakes International wine competition. Named for a lone

A view of the vineyard

cedar tree that survived on the farm.

DARKE KNIGHT: One of the Big Ragu’s favorite wines. It has black cherry and blackberry undertones. The vineyard describes it as “a full bodied, red wine.” A little too sweet for Hungry Jax tastes, this was a 2015 Finger Lakes International Wine Fest Silver Medal winner.

The youngest Kennedy on site showing off some fall squash harvest

RED NECK GIRL: The #1 selling wine at the Kennedy Vineyard. Is it the name or the soft and sweet taste. This wine dances with fruit flavors like cherry and raspberry. Refreshingly delicious, this wine was also a Silver Medal winner at the 2015 Finger Lakes International wine fest

EMERICK SKY: Semi Dry crisp white wine, with refreshing citrus flavors. Artwork on label is from a photo taken of the sky above Emerick Street.

RIESLING: The Big Ragu also pegs this as his other favorite. A sweet, refreshing taste , almost like champagne. Very light, white almost clear wine. The flavor is so nice and all day drinkable. The Big Ragu drank this one so fast, John Kennedy looked at him and said “You’re not much of a sipper are you?”

Delicious wines

LOVE AT FIRST WHITE: A signature white wine from Kennedy Vineyard. Big Ragu loves this one as well. Cold, refreshing and sweet. Fall in love with the sweetness and the bold flavors of the Niagara Grape.

RED NECK LOVE: This is an invention of the staff. It is actually a glass of half “Red Neck Girl” and half “Love at First White.” The result is a popular sweet blush. This one is a lot of fun and in the spirit of a Food Adventure.

BLACKBERRY WINE: Very fruity flavors abide in this one. A little deep, yet subtle, it is a great sipping wine. This wine is the 2nd most popular wine at Kennedy Vineyard.

Making “Red Neck Love”

RESILIENT: Their blush wine. Pink in color, refreshing and semi-sweet wine. $1 off all bottle sales goes to the Epilepsy Foundation

And now we turn to ones that are sold out until next year….

MUST DRINKS THAT ARE “OUT OF STOCK” UNTIL NEXT HARVEST:

Patio area

KV SUNSET: A dry, red wine, this is their Estate Reserve wine. This means the grapes were grown on premises and processed from vine, to crush to bottle at the winery. There were limited quantities of this one due to a limited quantities of a special “Chambourcin Grape” grown at the vineyard. It is a French-American Hybrid grape, and rare at Ohio wineries. KV Sunset is also the winery’s dryest wine. This is their rarest bottle of wine, and since they only brew a limited small batch, it goes quickly. Maybe you will get a taste in 2017. This is their dryest wine on the menu.

Grandma Kennedy talks with the Big Ragu

CHARDONNAY: This popular, dry white wine has a subtle oak taste. It is light tasting and has hints of citrus flavor. They are looking to get this favorite back in stock, real soon.

TRAMINETTE: A semi-dry white wine, this is a well balanced product. There are tastes of apple and pears, with a spicy end and aftertaste.

We have been to Kennedy Vineyard a four times now with friends, and this place has stolen our heart. It is a great story about a charming local

Darke Night wine – not Batman, but Darke County

family, who are delivering a fun product. Make sure you take the time to stop by this vineyard.

Now, we have an announcement…………..

*** SUMMER FOOD ADVENTURE “WINE AND SWINE.” at KENNEDY VINEYARDS SAT JUNE 3rd, 2pm-10pm ***

We are having a Food Adventure dinner event at Kennedy Vineyards for next year.

We are hosting at a 200 person limit, hog roast and barn party called “WINE AND SWINE.”

$25 per person, get your tickets at this link

Blackberry Wine

Attendees will each get a bottle of wine and a full Pork BBQ dinner.

SATURDAY JUNE 3rd, 2017 SCHEDULE:
2pm-4pm CASH BAR and Mingle on the vineyard grounds,
3pm-5pm Acoustic Music
4pm – 6pm Hog Roast Dinner to include:
1 bottle of wine per person. Pulled Pork, homemade BBQ Sauce, Homemade Slaw, homemade Cheesey Potatoes, homemade Baked Beans
7-9pm Rock Band
6pm – 10pm CASH BAR

This promises to be a blast, so please GET YOUR TICKETS NOW !

LET’S GET SOME EARLY BUZZ STARTED… pun intended

THE BIG RAGU, CHEF HOUSE and HUNGRY JAX have decided to give away 2 tickets to this event to kick off the new year !!

That is a $50 value – all you have to do is comment below and one person will be chosen at random next week to win 2 tickets to JUNE 3rds WINE AND SWINE event !!!

Check out more photos of the vineyard below.

Giving away 2 tickets to the WINE and SWINE Food Adventure event – comment below

Chickens on the farm

Big Ragu sips wine and ponders the year

Ohio Grapes

Vineyard

More Vineyard

Love at First White

Welcome to Kenney Vineyard

John and Louisa

A working farm

Tasting all the good stuff

Used corks

Fall at the Vineyard

Twisted Oak

At home with ” Apple of My Eye”

Sipping at home

The homestead

Ragu cooks with the wine

Kennedy Vineyard – a secret you now know about

Fall dried up

Autumn on the farm

Winery decor

Beautiful label

Lone Cedar Red

Sipping Emerick Sky

Scallops with wine

Grapes

Warm inviting and fall colors

A Dayton Lesson for 2017

December 31, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Kim and Craig Jolly and their family

Here is a story you won’t soon forget. This is Steve Milano aka The Big Ragu. Typically I write about local restaurants and local eats. No Food Adventures today. Today, instead we give you some food for thought.

While most people are making plans and new year’s promises, others are making very simple ones. Their new year’s resolutions are to continue the fight, to live, to survive. This article is not only about a lifelong Dayton resident, it is about every person right now who is in a life and death battle with an illness. It is a lesson for all of us to remember.

Craigs Cat Scan

Flashback 30 years ago, to August, 1987. The Centerville football team locker room empties as the players trot down the gravel to the practice field. It has been a long 8 months of weight lifting and conditioning. The original crowd in January of 100 perspective players has dwindled down to about 50. The ones who are left are preparing for their first game. One of those who persevered is a sophomore named Craig Jolly. Craig was strong, and motivated. Even then he was a fighter and a survivor in every sense of the word. I know. I was a senior playing offensive line too, and he was right there every practice, every step of the way.

New medicines and experimental treatments are a source of hope

Today, Craig has a family. He has a local home with his wife Kim and two young daughters. Unfortunately, Craig has something else. He has a battle to fight. But that is ok, because to his family, he is Superman. On July 14th, 2016 Craig was diagnosed with a Grade 4 Glioblostoma tumor, the most deadly and aggressive form of brain cancer there is. He was told then that the median life expectancy was 16 months.

Ironically this being the holiday season, jolly is a word used quite often in songs, holiday movies and tv shows. Their whole life, they lived with this name, Jolly. They are straining to hold onto that faith and their namesake.

His sister, Heather summed up the situation best on his DONATION PAGE:

Craigs sister Heather tries and comfort her brother’s pain in the hospital

Craig doesn’t live like he is dying. Craig lives like he is living.
And he always has. My brother has an enthusiasm for life, like I’ve never known. He effortlessly fills a room. He’s not just a piece of a part, he’s the whole show. He tells the jokes, and then he laughs at them too. And once you’ve heard his laugh you’ll remember it all your life. It bounces off walls and echoes down halls and it is unbelievably and undeniably infectious.

Craig isn’t just living, Craig is life.

Craig after a chemo treatment #oursuperman

He is the pulse of our family. The heartbeat of our home. And the first love of my life.
I have watched Craig fight, everyday these last 5 months. Everyday he fights. But he’s not just fighting cancer he’s fighting all the sadness and headache that comes with its demons.
That come with dying. But you’d never know. If he gets down, he gets back up.
Every. Single. Day. He fights.
He fights for happiness, for love and for joy. He fights for laughing and smiling and living out loud. He fights for Kim and for Evan and for Anne.
And everyday he wins.
I will be in awe of his strength, determination, and optimism for the rest of my life. I will be devoted, admire and respect him, for the rest his.

Craig has decided not return to work. His wife Kim has taken an immediate indefinite leave of absence from her work to devote herself to his round the clock care. They have spent money investigating countless studies, trials and equipment in pursuit of any glimpse of hope. But it doesn’t matter. Their commitment to each other is endless. .

Craig’s sister Heather describes Kim and Craig’s interaction:

Kim and Craig Jolly

Kim’s look is one of unconditional, unwavering, endless love. She has been our rock. Craig’s is one of a man completely still smitten, 20 years later. I see gratitude in his embrace and the hardest part is, I see an apology in his eyes.
I’m sorry we didn’t get forever. I’m sorry you’ll raise our children alone.

A PLAN OF ATTACK:

Heather goes on to explain that in late November/early December, doctors learned that Craig’s tumor despite being cut out, despite being radiated, despite being starved with a ketogenic diet, despite being poisoned with chemotherapy, is back, and has very aggressively grown and spread throughout his brain. But here’s the thing, you’d never know that either. Craig’s entire brain is swollen, shifted past midline, and infected with tumor. And yet he’s still just laughing, loving, living Craig. Is it sheer willpower? Or is it a miracle?

Endless tests, xrays and more

Surgery: Craig had decided to go forward on December 29th, with a very involved tenuous second craniotomy where they will remove all areas of tumor, a significant part of his brain and then inject a trial vaccine into the cavity to try to eradicate it. Craig fully understood the risks and possible outcomes. But you see, Craig is a fighter. He wants to go down swinging.
He wants to live life… living, as his family says.
Craig knew that regardless of the outcome, the knowledge gained from this trial will eventually help others.

The family asked Craig the week of his diagnosis 5 months ago if his sister could make him a “Go Fund Me” page, knowing very well

Craig and his daughter

the catastrophic cost that come with terminal diagnosis’s. His pride just smiled, shook his head and declined.
“We’re okay he said, we don’t need it now.”
This time Heather didn’t ask him. This time she is asking anyone to help. He needs it now.
Heather wanted to raise money so Craig could enjoy these moments free of financial worry. So he can have some relief to spend time with his family stress free. So he can continue to spend his time living his life living, for all the days of his life.

Heather writes: “And I would be absolutely grateful beyond measure, if you would help me. #oursuperman”

UPDATE DECEMBER 28th – THE POWER OF POSITIVITY, PERSEVERANCE and PRAYER:

The family has been holding onto hope this holiday season. Again, Craig’s little sister writes on her Facebook page:

Superman and his sister Heather

“Hope has been a word that’s hard to get close to these days. Hope has an electric fence wrapped and entangled around it; you can only get shocked by it so many times before you stop trying to get near it. There’s been so many times along this journey that we’ve gotten too close to Hope only to be jolted, thrown back in the air, and dropped to the ground.

But that wasn’t today. Today Hope knocked one out of the park.”

Craig explains why in his Caring Bridge Entry below.
#lovewins #thepowerofprayer #oursuperman

“I’ve never seen anything like it.” Not exactly the words you expect to hear from your neurosurgeon the night before brain surgery. My pre-operative MRI was significantly improved to the point that he had to double-check to be sure it was still mine. Mid-line shift was gone, swelling was down, and new lesions are now imperceptible. The main tumor that was 5.7 (and too large for me to qualify for the Tocogen trial) was now at 4.3cm. They’ve already submitted paperwork to see if I can re-qualify for the Toca trial, but for now we are standing down – no surgery tomorrow!!

And. . . exhale. This punctuates a couple day stretch where both car

Craig and his sister Heather share a laugh

batteries died, our dishwasher and sink broke, our basement flooded and we had to rush to the hospital to get a platelet draw again to see if I could even do surgery. Seriously, what a roller coaster.I’m gonna curl up in a warm bed and sleep well tonight. Or maybe now. Now feels good. . . “
Craig

It is great news heading into the new year and we wish Craig continued improvements. We hope this story is an inspiration and lesson to many. Please note as you ring in the new year. Some have resolutions that may be way different than yours. Take a lesson from perseverance and never giving up.

We wish a fantastic new year to Craig and his family and everyone who took time to read this article.

In 2017, you never know who will step out and be a superhero, but the Jolly family definitely has a #Superman.

If you would like to help donate to Craig’s cause, click the Go fund me links above or go to his Caring Bridge site HERE.

Craig Jolly and his sister Heather

Free Pizza at Newest Rapid Fired Pizza Today

December 30, 2016 By Lisa Grigsby

As a celebration of the opening of the 9th Rapid Fired Pizza store today, guests will be treated to a FREE pizza.

This promotion will run from when doors open at 11am at 2001 E. Dorothy Lane in Kettering (formerly home to Krispy Kreme) until 8pm or until supplies last.

Guests can choose from a thin crust 11″ pizza or the 9″ pan pizza, which they can choose to top from up to 35 ingredient and 8 sauces and then watch their pizza be made in just 180 seconds. Guests will be responsible for purchasing their own beverages or craft beers.

The fast growing Rapid Fired Pizza was founded by Ray Wiley, who also created Hot Head Burritos. He expects to open up to 25 more Pizza stores across the state in 2017 with Middletown, Greenville, Oxford, Westerville, and Portsmouth coming up next.

The Quest For Dayton’s Best Dive Bar Continues

December 29, 2016 By Lisa Grigsby

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the colloquial use of the word dive to describe a “drinking den” or “other disreputable place of resort” comes from the fact that these types of establishments were originally housed in cellars or basements, into which “frequenters may ‘dive’ without observation.

The Urban Dictionary defines a Dive Bar as

“A well-worn, unglamorous bar, often serving a cheap, simple selection of drinks to a regular clientele. The term can describe anything from a comfortable-but-basic neighborhood pub to the nastiest swill-slinging hole. You don’t need to dress up; we’re just going to the dive bar down the street. “

The August 2010 issue of Playboy magazine described a dive bar as:

A church for down-and-outers and those who romanticize them, a rare place where high and low rub elbows—bums and poets, thieves and slumming celebrities. It’s a place that wears its history proudly.

Our own Mixologist Brian Petro has been leading the team on the exploration of Dayton’s Dive Bars in 2016 and over the past year there’s been some serious exploration of these bars, as well as some even more serious discussion on what defines a dive bar. We do agree that most dive bars serve very affordable drinks and are most likely to be populated by folks in their neighborhood. From there are opinions were about as different as the establishments we visited. Guess we’ll just have to keep exploring and chat more.

“It’s hard to define what makes a dive a dive, but you know it when you see one.”

Here are the places we’ve visited in 2016. Click on the name to read more about the experience we’ve had at each of these places. They are listed in the order that we visited.

Miami Valley Sports Bar – the addition of Tillie’s Tap Room make elevate this out of the dive bar category

Dog’s Breath Tavern – look for the $2.42 specials on Tuesday evening and food trucks are welcomed

Phone Booth Lounge – food and drink prices priced right

Sure Shots – a nice selection of music on the juke box, and the soft glow of a Jägermeister machine

Time Out Cavern – throws one of the best Derby watch parties in town

Diplomat Lounge– this is a place where darts appear to be king

McGillicutty’s – extensive food menu and some of the best wings in town and just 50 cents on Monday

Mack’s Tavern – got national buzz for leaving coupons on cars that stayed park and cabbed home

Adrienne’s White Rabbit Lounge – intimate and welcoming

Dr. Doodles Lounge – hard to find, but easy to feel comfortable here

Dark Horse Tavern – closed in July reopened in November

As we roll into 2017 what dive bars should be on our list to visit? How do you define a dive bar? Make your suggestions in the comments below:

The Pine Club Continues to Break The Chains!

December 29, 2016 By Joshua Stucky

Among the new chain restaurants that seem to pop up daily along the Brown Street corridor, lives one of Dayton’s greatest treasures, The Pine Club. Somehow, and against all odds, the steakhouse staple continues to buck the trend of local restaurants losing out to chains. Certainly, no easy task in an area overwhelmed by Paneras, Chipotles and whatever new ‘make-it-your-way’ eatery opens. At the Pine Club, success comes down to loyalty, customer service and a great place to eat!
Don’t take my word for it, instead, listen to the voices of ‘foodies’ around the country, and the world. It was no surprise to Daytonians when they read in USA Today that the Pine Club was ‘one of the best steakhouses in the United States.’ People that live here are well aware, so much so that the online orders are fast becoming a mainstay of locals.
And of course, people shared the news when Gourmet, Fortune and Saveur Magazines all recognized The Pine Club as one of the ‘Nation’s Great Steakhouses.’ For many, knowing about the quality of Pine Club products sends them to a local grocery for the world renowned stewed tomatoes, delicious steakhouse sauce, and a personal favorite, Thousand Island dressing.

Dayton felt deep pride when the Pine Club was named by the New York Times as one of the ‘Top 10 Greatest Traditional Dining Institutions in the World!‘ That’s correct, World! With news like that, a crowded bar and packed weekends is inevitable, and an expectation!
What shocked Dayton; what threw people for a loop; what solidified their thought and feelings was when the Food Network came out with the Pine Club being chosen one of the ‘TOP 2 STEAKHOUSES IN AMERICA!‘ What the ?? I mean, there are hundreds of places to have a steak in the U.S., and one of the top 2 is right here?? In Dayton?
You betcha! You cannot last 70 years without learning the lessons of how to be good, be better, be the best! There is a reason they refer to it as “A Landmark in Dayton!”
Somehow, it excites Daytonians when they open the door at 1926 Brown Street, see the packed house, and they hear those satisfying words, ‘It’s going to be 45 minutes to an hour….have a seat at the bar!’ And we continue to reply, “Yes!! Yes I will. I will because I love my local gem! I love the tradition of it! I love my PC!’
Do yourself a favor…remind yourself why eating out still matters. Why local restaurants need the respect the rightfully deserve. Support the very people putting effort back into our community! Grab an oversized steak knife, pour on the Red and Blue dressing & rediscover what the rest of the world is just recognizing….we have the best of the best here in Dayton!
For more info, check out the Pine Club’s website at www.thepineclub.com. You can place orders, read their history and leave comments there! Visit them at 1926 Brown St, Dayton, OH 45409-2411.

Drinking Prosecco Is Good For You

December 29, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

Italy is responsible for the phenomenon that is Prosecco, which, in 2013, edged ahead of Champagne in terms of bottle sold around the world (307 million versus 304 million respectively). It is light and fizzy, delicate and fruity. Because the wines are aged in large tanks with less pressure Prosecco bubbles are lighter, frothy and spritzy with less persistence as compared to champagne. Finer Prosecco wines often exhibit notes of tropical fruits, banana cream, hazelnut, vanilla and honeycomb. A standard pour of Prosecco has about 121 calories and costs about $13 for a good entry-level bottle.

5 Reasons To Drink Prosecco

1. It’s Good for your heart
According to scientists at the University of Reading, drinking one glass a week of prosecco a week can lower your blood pressure and increase the circulation to your heart thanks to polyphenols, the technical name for plant chemicals with antioxidants, found in the bubbles.

According to a paper in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, drinking one or two glasses of prosecco before sex can heighten your libido thanks again to the antioxidants. The antioxidants increase the blood flow to your downstairs getting you in the mood. Cheers!

4. It can lower your risk of diabetes and Cancer
A study from Canada showed that wine, including the sparkling variety, can lower your risk of developing diabetes by 13%. However, it’s worth noting that people who already have diabetes should take care while drinking alcohol as it affects their blood sugar levels.

5. Prosecco can help fight off colds

Drinking can feel like the last thing on your mind when you’ve got a runny nose and a chesty cough, but a glass of prosecco a day really can keep the doctor away. Apparently, drinking one glass of prosecco can minimise your chances of developing a cold in the first place by 60 per cent.

Cheers to good health!

2016: The Year in Dayton Food

December 28, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Tilapia over Rice at Archer’s Kettering

The Dayton food world had comers and goers in the year 2016. Lots of eateries opened and some closed. We said goodbye to some old favorites and said hello to some new and exciting cuisine.

Today, Food Adventures looks back on the year in review. If you are a foodie, check out our list below. You will see a lot of new places in the Miami Valley that will spark your interest!

Get a fork, spoon and your nostalgia caps on as we explore the “The Year in Food.”

*****RESTAURANTS THAT OPENED in 2016*****

ARCHERS TAVERN, KETTERING: Taking a successful restaurant philosophy and expanding it to Kettering has seemed to work out well

Bean and chicken Arepas from “Arepas and Co.”

for the owners of Archer’s. If the first couple of months are any indication, look for continued success at this location on Dorothy Lane in the old Tumbleweed location.

AREPAS and CO. – DOWNTOWN: This Columbian restaurant opened it’s 3rd location in old Olive Dive spot. Besides a strong cultural menu, they offer catering to parties big and small. Delicious, fresh and food choices you won’t find anywhere else.

BAR 145: This restaurant chain is open at Austin Landing. It is known for burgers, lots of beers on tap and a section of the restaurant that holds vintage 80’s arcade games and live music on the weekends. Definitely a fun place to check out.

Golden Graham Donuts from Bear Creek Donuts

BAR LOUIE: Austin Landing landed this chain in 2016. A slightly more casual version of the one at the Greene, you can expect the same happy hour and burger specials. And try the totchos – yes, tater tots in your nachos…

BASIL’S ON MARKET: North Patterson Blvd is the expansion location for this 2nd restaurant opening (the original one is still in business in Troy). Incredible food photos on their Facebook page scream “You gotta come eat here.” They have some amazing looking food and a huge patio overlooking the water.

BEAR CREEK DONUTS: Inventive, locally owned donut shop in Miamisburg that raises the bar on toppings. One trip to this place, and you will be hooked. Golden Grahams on Donuts? Yeah , they got that.

Margherita Flatbread Pizza from BJ’s Taphouse

BIBIBOP ASIAN GRILL: This Columbus chain finally lands in Dayton near U.D. and has plans for a couple more to come. The Korean inspired meals start with steamed rice, topped with your choice of grilled meats or tofu and a mix of fresh vegetables and Asian sauces.

BJ’S RESTAURANT & BREWHOUSE, FAIRFIELD COMMONS: That craft beer brewing chain with the great appetizers, opens up another mammoth eatery near Fairfield Commons mall. The menu is solid from top to bottom.

BLUE NOTE BISTRO and LOUNGE: New jazz hall and restaurant on 23 E. Central Ave in Miamisburg, which offers Sunday brunch. Over the summer, they expanded dining and music hours. Their Facebook page usually details the happenings.

The Monte Cristo Sandwich from Cheddars – Yes, it is deep fried

BRAVO, FAIRFIELD COMMONS: The familiar Italian chain, expands in the Beavercreek/Fairborn area. Must eats are the ravioli, and of course we love to dip the bread in that olive oil mixture, all night long.

CARMELLA’S ITALIAN KITCHEN: Just opened in the old Murphy’s Pub location on Wilmington Pike. Their menu features Italian foods and sandwiches.

CHEDDAR’S SCRATCH KITCHEN: Chain out of Irving, Texas, with dozens of locations reaching up into New York. Big portions and a huge menu with semi-reasonable prices. Think TGI Fridays on steroids or a casual version of Cheesecake Factory (with no cheesecakes.) The new popular place at The Cornerstone development on Feedwire Rd. Warning: Long waiting list during peak times.

The Chicken and Steak Fajitas from Chuy’s

CHUY’S, FAIRFIELD COMMONS: This Mexican chain is popping up stores quickly and the newest one is a location near the Fairfield Commons Mall. Great guacamole dip starts out each meal right. Try the margaritas and the Elvis Presley Memorial Combo of Enchiladas.

CRAFTED and CURED: Two local men started this in Spring, 2016. The concept is a cured meat shop, with over 60 craft beers on tap, featuring ales, stouts, ciders, sours and meads. Of course the menu will feature rare meats and cheeses. Read Chef House’s scoop HERE on her MostMetro article. And they’ve just announced that 3 more food businesses will be joining them in 2017- a deli- Local Hero Butchery & Fare, a seafood option- Jack Lukey’s Oyster Saloon & Caviar Bar and Mediterranean goodies from Glasz Bleu Oven.

Chef House with a brew at “Crafted and Cured”

D20: A Bar With Characters- Board games and brews on draft are the hallmark for this new place in the shopping center adjacent to the Whipp Rd Kroger. Local owners Andrew Sparks and Christine Cooper have come up with the concept, and the drinking and dining area look inviting. The D20 reference is a slang name for a Dungeon’s and Dragon’s 20 sided dice.

DARK HORSE TAVERN (closed in July -reopened in Nov.): They abruptly closed in July 2016, but the love of this place caused a deal to transfer the ownership and keep the menu and music alive. Known for bands and BBQ, it is a great watering hole, with a huge bar. Opened back up in November, Manager Nikky Vontz is getting this place running right!

DON PATRON MEXICAN GRILL of FAIRBORN: They have 2 Ohio locations, the latest being on 2632 Colonel Glenn Highway. Specialties include Carnitas, Burritos, Fajitas and of course, Tacos. They even have wings.

DOUBLE D’S FIT-Q MEAL PREP: Waynesville’s BBQ boys have opened a brick and mortar place in downtown Lebanon.

Double D’s BBQ on a Cornbread Waffle

Owners Dan Velemirov and Dustin Seyersdahl are known for some great traditional BBQ. They also have a signature sweet cornbread waffle and BBQ hot shot.

DOUBLEDAYS, SPRINGBORO: One of Dayton’s most popular locally owned restaurants, expanded to another location in front of the Dorothy Lane Market Springboro in the old Sammy’s El Pueblo building. New location, but the same old favorites remain. If you have not tried their homemade soups, you are in for a treat. They also showcase an extensive sandwich, burger and dinner platter menu.

Doubleday’s Greek Chicken Soup- now in Springboro too

FREDDY’S FROZEN CUSTARD & STEAKBURGERS: A new fast food chain hits Dayton. It is a cross between Steak and Shake and Culver’s. Quick smashed burgers on the grill, hot dogs and custard sundaes are the signature of this quick bite. Drive thru or dine in, and you will enjoy this throwback meal.

GYRO DELIGHT: Some good buzz is going about this new gyro shop on Wilmington Pike. They have familiar treats like Shish kabobs, Greek fries, chicken gyros and traditional gyros. They also carry exotic Mediterranean food like baklava, shawarma, moussaka and dolmades.

JOHN ANTHONY’S SOUTHERN CUISINE: This spot opened

A Double Cheeseburger from Freddy’s Steakburgers and Custard

in summer 2016 on Salem Ave. They feature salads, fried catfish, collard greens, fried chicken & waffles. Soul food at it’s finest, even down to the fried okra.

KUPBOP: The latest quick eatery on Woodman Dr. highlights the lighter, healthier side of Korean cuisine. The “Create Your Own” seems to be the way to go. This is the Korean version of Chipotle.

MARILYN’S GRILL: This restaurant has been serving Soul food on North Main since January. Daily specials like Pork Chops, and Lemon Pepper Wings are crowd pleasers. Other items like chicken and dumplings, or Philly Chicken subs look unreal.

OinkadoodleMoo is back in Miamisburg

MIKE’S NASHVILLE HOT: The new “go to ” place for Southern fried chicken at Austin Landing. Hand breaded chicken in strips, or whole pieces, spicy or not. They also have a slew of sides and a perch option, with a 2nd location coming to Centerville on 48.

MURRAY’S PUB: Opened in January, 2016, then in December, 2016 announced it would be transitioning into the 937 Grill and Taproom. Two new owners are taking over. Look for an expanding bar menu and continued drink specials.

Panda Express in Bellbrook. The only Chinese Drive Thru, has cheese wontons

OINK-A-DOODLE-MOO: Miamisburg is the new location for this place, formerly in Kettering. Great BBQ, sauces and sides are the tradition here. Located at 40 N Main St in Miamisburg, they have a full catering menu too.

OLD BAG OF NAILS PUB: Cross Pointe’s latest restaurant is one of a group of Columbus owned eateries. They have an extensive menu of burgers and sandwiches, and many seafood entrees like Scallops, Blackened Tuna Steak and Fried Clams. A nice soup and dessert offering round out a large menu of options.

Panera in Huber Heights is now serving delicious onion soups.

OLD SCRATCH PIZZA and BEER: The word is out about this new pizza place, and the feedback has been great. They have red sauce options, white sauce options,salads, sandwiches and a full craft beer list. Create your own pizza, or choose from the dozen options they have. Located at 812 South Patterson Blvd. there’s even a great private room for parties or meetings.

PANDA EXPRESS: Dayton’s only “drive thru Chinese restaurant” is here. This eatery is owned out of California with sites all over the USA including mall courts. Menu choices are simple and traditional. Choose from chicken or shrimp in sweet sauces or fried.

Pastrami Sandwich from Primanti Brothers, a chain out of Pittsburgh

PANERA BREAD, HUBER HEIGHTS: The familiar chain with the bread bowl soups, pastries and more. Huber Heights, you too now, can enjoy the fun.

PHILLY PRETZEL FACTORY: Centerville just held a ribbon cutting at this location on S. Main Street near Lock 27. Big, Soft Pretzels are the love here, with various toppings and dips. Get ready to make and bring back some memories with your first bites.

PIZZA FIRE: The fresh toppings pizza place where you run down the line and top it yourself. The new location is on 4325 Far Hills Ave in Kettering.

PRIMANTI BROTHERS: The famous Pittsburgh chain is now in Dayton too, near the Fairfield Commons mall. Overstuffed pastrami sandwiches, reubens, and are all the rage here. Are they as good as the original? You be the judge.

Rapid Fired Pizzas are popping up all over. They have a Blueberry Dessert Pizza !

RAPID FIRED PIZZA (4 new locations): Fairborn, Centerville, Bellbrook and Huber Heights, locations are all news and have all been thriving and Kettering opensthis Friday with FREE pizza. Quick Pizzas and Quick huge salads for about $7.95. With topping choices like ricotta cheese and sun dried tomatoes, what’s not to like?

SKY ASIAN CUISINE: The upscale Sushi restaurant that took over the struggling location at the corner of Wilmington Pike and Woodman’s fork in the road. All the discussions we have heard about this place have been very positive.

SMITH’S BOATHOUSE RESTAURANT: On the Great Miami River, in Troy, Ohio, this upscale dinner place specializes in Seafood and Steak. A fun, elegant setting, and the owners are lifelong locals who seem to really care about the food quality.

Loose Meat Sandwich from Spent Grain Grill. New inside Warped Wing 2016

SPENT GRAIN GRILL: Inside Warped Wing Brewery, this literal hole in the wall place serves tremendous amounts of food to a busy, thirsty brew crowd. From loose meat sandwiches to the tater tots, we are fans of this new place. Spent Grain literally uses the waste from the brewing process to make pizza dough and bread for their burger and sandwich buns. Good idea, and it fills a need for tasty food while drinking locally brewed beer.

STAGECOACH CAFE: New Carlisle has a quaint new eatery that is turning heads. With 35 facebook reviews and all of them 5 stars, it is time to give credit where due. Specials like Lasagna and Chicken and Noodles, point to a place with comfort food. There saying is “Stop in and try the homemade difference.” It looks like it is time for a a Food Adventure.

TABLE 33: With the saying “grow, share, eat,” they are blazing a unique trail in the breakfast food jungle. They use locally sourced products and have faith based philosophy of turning no hungry person away. Located at 130 West 2nd Street, they offer weekend brunches as well.

James Nunez and his wife have a restaurant now on West Third Street.

TABLE of CONTENTS CAFE: Xenia area cafe owned by Cassaundra Lee. It is actually inside the Blue Jacket Bookstore. They have a daily menu with coups made from scratch. Hand baked items are available for dine-in or takeout.

TEXAS BEEF and CATTLE CO.: Originally know for festivals, these caterers now have a restaurant where patrons can own a share of the establishment. Being an owner has its privileges such as price breaks and more. Owner James Nunez and his family make some of the most succulent beef brisket we have ever tried. Their BBQ sauces and rubs are amazing. Get to 1105 W 3rd St, these people know what they are doing.

TOKYO JAPANESE GRILL & SUSHI: New full service sushi restaurant with hibachi and Japanese soup choices as well. Located across the street from the Cornerstone development on Feedwire Rd, it has been open since April, 2016. Menu offers deals on larger pieces of sushi orders.

VICTOR’S TACO SHOP: Recently opened at 1438 Keowee Street, there is also a location at 1002 N. Broad St. in Fairborn. This colorful drive thru specializes in Tacos, Rolled Tacos, Quesadillas and Todstadas.

Zombie Dogz: now on Brown Street Serving “Juan of the Dead” and others

THE WANDERING GRIFFIN: The newest Brewery and watering hole has a unique design. They have a couple bars and a coffee bar called Wanderlust. The menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner is getting great reviews. You may recall this place used to house Quaker Steak and Lube near Wright State’s Campus, just off Colonel Glenn Highway.

THE WRIGHT PLACE: Completely remodeled restaurant inside the Holiday Inn, across from Wright State. This eatery looks to pull guests in with historic decor and great food. Using local foods and a “chef’s garden,” Chef Justin White looks to kick things up a notch on his menu.

ZOMBIE DOGZ: Dayton’s most popular food truck has a brick and mortar location on Brown St. in the old Shish Wraps storefront. David and Lee VanArtsdalen have really pushed the envelope over the years, and now you can have all of your favorite dogz – check out their menu here. How can anybody not love this fun place?

“Street Style Gyros” are must eats at the Greek Street Food Truck

*****NEW FOOD TRUCKS IN 2016*****
GREEK STREET FOOD TRUCK: Owner Chris Spirtos has taken his street Gyro recipes to the Dayton streets with great success. They have one of the more grueling schedule of appearances, and it has led to many being exposed to their great foods. Our faves are the baklava, spanakopita and “Chicken Gyros, Street Style”

LATIN AREPAS FOOD TRUCK: A family operated food truck, that also offers catering. The menu includes classic Venezuelan,Colombian, Latin American, and Tropical cuisine. Menu items include Arepas, Tacos, & Empanadas. They are Vegan & Vegetarian Friendly, with Gluten free choices.

MENEHUNE TIKI BUS: This is the only double decker food truck in Dayton, and it is a stunning sight. Although dogged by a couple of unfortunate mechanical issues and a wreck, they are back and bringing their Hawaiian and South Pacific food to the Miami Valley masses. The Kalua Pork Grilled Cheese sandwich is a “must eat.”

Menehune Tiki Bus is a two story Food Truck

SON OF A BISCUIT: Dayton’s Breakfast Food Truck featuring Biscuit and English Muffin Sandwiches. Brad Manning, the owner prides himself on quality ingredients so he only serves Landes Fresh Meats from an old fashioned farm market in Clayton that specializes in Farm-Harvested Beef & Pork. This Food Truck makes it easy to want to “rise and shine.”

And now … sadly, some of our favorite Food Adventure spots closed this year as well…

We give a tip of the hat to those we will miss.

*****RESTAURANTS THAT CLOSED in 2016*****

Bad Dog, Nice Taco is missed !

BAD DOG, NICE TACO: Our own Chef LeeAnne House and Brian Johnson teamed to bring you a hot dog and nacho cart that spoiled us with toppings from feta to freshly made housemade sauces. Currently Chef House is in Chicago, and when we asked about a re-opening possibility for Bad Dog, she said “never say never.” Stay Tuned.

THE BARNSIDER: After more than 41 years, the Barnsider restaurant served its last meal in May 2016. Known for prime rib and shrimp dinners, you can still buy their cocktail sauce at local grocers and Foremost Seafood.

No more Bob Evans French Toast on Harshman Rd

BOB EVAN’S: The location on Harshman Road, near Stebbins High School closed in 2016. We hope the students of Stebbins are still able to get biscuits, gravy and pancakes at acceptable intervals.

BOSTON’S BISTRO: July 2016 marked a historic closing. After 35 years of business, owner Dave Boston closed his establishment on N. Main Street. Much of his business has been at the old Sports Page location. It was a building his father built. Boston’s was known for being the first place to sell multiple craft beers in the Dayton area. He started selling craft beers in the 1970’s. Dave said he would reopen at another site if the deal was right.

David Boston, in his now closed pub

CORLEONE’S CENTERVILLE: This spinoff pizza joint was the 2nd location for Corleone’s, tucked into a shopping center on 725 behind Fricker’s. It never quite took off, even though they had some tremendous pizza and pasta options. Thankfully the Patterson Rd. location is still open.

DESIGNER DOGS: It opened in January, 2016 inside the Fairfield Commons mall, and closed in September. Inventive toppings on the hot dogs included shout outs to various cities and states. The owners promise a return in some fashion, noting a deal in the works to mass produce their dogs. Hopefully we see them again real soon.

Corleone’s in Centerville closed. We miss the pasta dishes .

DON PABLO’S, FAIRFIELD COMMONS: They were one of the first restaurants to open around the Fairfield Mall. Decades later, they would close in 2016 citing lack of business. We are sad to see them go as their drinks and chips with salsa were some of the best around town.

DT’s KITCHEN CARRYOUT: They opened in March and closed in December, 2016. The menu was a broad diner menu from Quesadillas to Fried Shrimp Dinners. We hate to see locally owned restaurants close, especially when the customer reviews looked so good.

Inside Sushi Cafe one last time

ECLIPSE COFFEE and TEA: Locally owned coffee shop located on Wilmington Pike between LaRosa’s and Frisch’s. Maybe the location was tough, because it looks like the product was superior. They carried quality coffees and teas out of Seven Hills, Ohio.

KAI SUSHI CAFE: One of Dayton’s first sushi restaurants. The crowds had dwindled over the years with increased competition. An empty parking lot seemed the norm the last few months, and after a couple of transfers of ownership and a legal dispute, the restaurant could not continue to operate. We hope this old Howard Johnson building on Byers Rd. gets a new tenant soon.

KRISPY KREME: January, 2016 was the closing date for cult favorite. The national donut franchise could not keep up with local

No more “Hot Fresh Now” light. Damn you Krispy Kreme !

favorites. Although it will close, regional bakeries will still be pumping Krispy Kreme product into various gas station convenient stores around town.

LAROSA’S, HUBER HEIGHTS: Buddy LaRosa decided to pack this one in during 2016. The Cincinnati based company could not get the business they wanted to stay open. But don’t worry although the 7375 Old Troy Pike location is closed, there are others around Dayton and of course Wayne students can still get slices at King’s Island.

LaRosas closes in Huber Heights – no more all you can eat spaghetti

LOGAN’S ROADHOUSE, FAIRFIELD COMMONS MALL: A surprise to many, corporate cited high rent and low income for the closing. If you people would have just not thrown your damn peanut shells on the floor.

MAX n ERMA’S SPRINGBORO: Located at 710 Gardener Rd, off of State Route 741, this restaurant closed in January, 2016. We love Max n Erma’s. We love this regional chain and concept from the Garbage Burger to the drinks. Hopefully another one will open in town, soon.

Chopped Steak and Sweet Potato from Logan’s Roadhouse

MCKENNA’S GRILL: This restaurant on Presidential Drive in Fairborn, inside the Holiday Inn, closed to make way for “The Wright Place.”

MURPHY’S IRISH PUB: This locally owned restaurant closed in late 2016 and was replaced by Carmella’s Italian Kitchen. It’s sister restaurant Paddy’s in Centerville remains open.

OSAKA SUSHI and BUFFET: Dayton’s first conveyor belt sushi restaurant, was an upscale buffet that just never

Sangria at Max n Ermas

caught on. There was a strong regular customers of Asian descent, but the big crowds were few, forcing them to close. The owner has promised to renegotiate the rent and reopen as a hibachi restaurant much like Sake or Benihana.

Osaka Sushi Buffet and Hibachi has closed on Kingsridge

QDOBA, BROWN STREET: This eatery closed July 2016. It was located in the heart of the busy restaurant district across from University of Dayton.

SHISH WRAPS: Simon Abboud owned this health conscious restaurant that turned Mediterranean street food into some wonderful creations. We were very sad to see this place on Brown Street go. Their hummus, tabouleh and sauces were all made from scratch. Their shish wraps always left us “shish faced.”

SUSHI CLUB: February, 2016 marked the end for this “all you can eat” made to order sushi place on Alex Rd. We had hit this spot many times and always had a good meal. Maybe the food costs did them in, but they never could seem to capture the big crowds although they had a regular following. We were surprised it closed so quickly and really miss the food.

Fajita Rancher Bowl from Qdoba

TASTY MEASURES CAFE: Although they made their own deli meats using Sous Vide style cooking methods, the business crowds were not enough to stay open. Unfortunately this locally owned cafe on Jefferson Street closed in June, 2016.

UNCLE SUNNY’S HOMESTYLE CAJUN FISH & CHICKEN: A family owned spot on 131 Cincinnati Ave in Xenia, it was all about the fried fish and chicken. The reviews were great, and although they originally were going to be a 24 hour restaurant, that never came to fruition. The owners are hinting at another project in the works, so stay tuned.

A Shish Wrap

That does it for the movers and shakers of this year. Do you have a comment about any of the places that have closed or opened? Please leave your thoughts below.

Do you have any predictions for 2017 ?

We look forward to more Food Adventures in 2017. If you would like more on the Dayton food scene, follow us on FACEBOOK by clicking HERE.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all, and to all a good bite!

Sushi Club – all you want sushi closed on Alex Rd.

Side of Lobster at Logan’s Roadhouse – CLOSED by Fairfield Commons Mall

Archers Kettering is HERE !

Bad Dog Nice Taco’s Breakfast Omelette taco

Chuy’s Elvis Enchiladas – a tribute to the King

Zombie Dogz – DEAD DIXIE dog

A Hot Dog from Freddy’s Steakburgers & Frozen Custard

Panda Express – Honey shrimp and General Tsao Chicken

Rapid Fired Pizza has lots of sauces !

Spent Grain’s cheesey gravy tots – inside Warped Wing

End of an Era – Boston’s Closes

All you can eat Sushi Club closes on Alex Rd. in 2016

The Greek Street Food truck cooking spinikopita

Kai Sushi Cafe – a last sushi roll

The Pork Grilled Cheese from Menetune Tiki bus – food truck

Cheers to The First Year at Crooked Handle

December 22, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

Contrary to Rumors, Local Deli Not Closing!

December 21, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

We’ve been hearing rumors of Charlie’s Deli and Catering closing at the end of the year for a while now, but a quick phone call to owner Rod Vangas yesterday put an end to that. Rod said he and his wife Becky had been talking about it, but instead they’ve just recently hired a manager, which will allow them to take on a lighter roll and allow Charlie’s to continue serving up great sandwiches six days a week.

Located at 429 Troy Street, this popular German influenced sandwich shop has been feeding the masses since 1964. They are located in Old North Dayton for a reason. Back in the early sixties, the area was not called Old North Dayton, but was nicknamed “Texas” or “Parma.” Many German immigrants and families from Eastern Europe occupied the neighborhood. Charlie’s Deli was created to match the demand for authentic German fare and imported items.

Started by Charlie Vangas, the deli is now owned by Charlie’s son Rod Vangas and his wife, Becky. They still hold on to tradition here, and even have a photo of Charlie with Channel 7 news legend Don Wayne. But the old school atmosphere is only the beginning. Charlies Deli and Catering prides itself on serving tasty sandwiches with freshly sliced lunch meats Monday thru Friday from 7:15 am – 6 pm. They are open Saturdays 9am – 3pm and closed on Sundays. The menu has a wide variety of tastes and you could spend a lunch hour just reading the uniquely named sandwiches (click here to see what we are talking about). The prices are a great value, with most sandwiches ranging from $4.50 – $6.75. We love the great choices of breads and buns for your sandwich, and appreciate that they use Springfield’s own Woeber’s Mustard varieties on many sandwiches.

Whether your sub choice is a Reuben or a Cuban, you will be back for more. Even the pulled pork is dynamite sandwich. Want a goal for 2017? If you eat all of the sandwiches on the menu, you get a free Charlie’s Deli T-shirt ! We also enjoy many of the side dishes at Charlie’s, like the cole slaw, potato salad, and those wonderful pickled eggs.

With winter in full swing, now is a good time to enjoy the specialty soups at Charlie’s. Regulars flock to get Chicken Spaetzel Soup or the Wisconsin Cheese Soup. More traditional hot soups include country potato, vegetable beef, and ham and bean. Don’t forget about their chili! It is meaty, old fashioned and hits the spot. Want something hot but a little more filling? Try their famous cabbage rolls. The family recipe is a hit with the locals and is sure to please your taste buds.

“Santa, We’ve Been Naughty with Food”

December 20, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Has this face been nice?

Dear Santa,

“You see us when we are sleeping, and know when we’re awake. /We know we better be good, but some shortcuts we just had to take.”

The Food Adventures Crew admits it. We made the naughty list. Today we come clean about our secret shortcuts we use from time to time while in our kitchens.

THE BIG RAGU HAS BEEN NAUGHTY:
The Big Ragu has a secret. It is a blemish on his Food Adventure career… Yes it is true, sometimes he fakes it. Sometimes, when in a pinch and he needs some marinara sauce, he turns to a locally jarred sauce. It is one of the only ones

The Big Ragu gets help on occasion

he trusts. Mamma DiSalvo’s Marinara Sauce has saved him in many a tight spots. From parties, to last minute luncheons, it has saved him from Manicotti to Mostaccioli. When faced with hours and hours of cooking down a home made spaghetti sauce, sometimes he gets a little help from Mamma! The sauce is the closest thing to The Big Ragu’s family recipe that he has tasted in a jar. Ahh and the stress it saves. Seriously, Foodies out there, this is the best jarred sauce in the WORLD. Honorable mention to 2 other sauces: Schiavione’s and Zappia’s, both made locally! I’m sorry Santa, shhhhhh no one knows!

HUNGRY JAX HAS BEEN NAUGHTY:
Jax has a secret. Yes, this impeccable home cook has a naughty short cut. Not even her Elf on a Shelf knows about this one. Her bad Food Adventure act? Sometimes she uses American cheese in my mac and cheese. To top it off, she uses

Jax Mac n Cheese

the Boar’s Head Sharp American Cheese instead of Kraft. (This is actually a great tip for you cooks out there who love a rich Mac n Cheese. Hint #2 add maple sausage crumbles into your mac n cheese.) Ahem .. Dear Santa, I am sorry I have been bad, and if you think I deserve coal in my stocking, I will use it for summer cookouts.

Adopt puppies like me through Miami Valley Pit Crew

CHEF HOUSE HAS BEEN NICE:
Dear Santa, I have been nice. I would never do anything like those culinary shortcuts, as you know. If you need a wooden spoon to spank the other two, you can borrow one of mine. Now to reiterate my Christmas list, let’s go over it again shall we Santa? To start with, I want a HUGE de-stemming machine, something that can really breakdown the peppers for my sauces. Also, an endless supply of empty glass bottles would be nice. And a cleaver, remember? A BIG cleaver. One last thing… how about one more little sweet puppy from the Miami Valley Pit Crew, who rescues local dogs? (Miami Valley Pit Crew is a great organization that has helped place dozens of dogs into loving homes. Locally owned, it is a great Dayton area charity to support this holiday season). That’s all, Santa. (Here is a tip though… the frozen gnocchi at Trader Joe’s is a great product if you don’t have time to make your gnocchi from scratch).

Have you been naughty or nice this year? Do you have any shortcut culinary confessions you want to share below?

Please comment and tell us about your naughty Food Adventures!

From all of us at Food Adventures, we with you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a very prosperous New Year.

Have you been naughty ?

Chef House needs some pepper peelers, Santa !

Big Ragu uses Mamma DiSalvos Jarred sauce when he doesnt have enough time for his own sauce

Chef House has been nice – she wants some more cutlery, Santa

Jax uses Boars Head instead of Kraft for her Mac n Cheese

Jax is a whiz in the DLM Culinary Center

Chef House at a Spicy Olive Cooking Class

Mac N cheese with Maple Sausage – Hungry Jax made it

More empty bottles please !

When it is gonna take hours and you got minutes.. Ragu fakes it

Manicotti from Ragus Kitchen – he didnt use DiSalvos Sauce this time

Kitchen Perfection

A scoop of Hungry Jax Mac N Chese

Dear Santa – maybe one more play pal for these guys?

Dear Santa – a pepper processor would be great, thanks !

Hello .. my name is Big Ragu and this is my manicotti

Sometimes Ragu is nice …

Being A Nerd Is Not Dead: Welcome D20!

December 19, 2016 By Brian Petro Leave a Comment

This place is going to become a critical hit.

Anyone who has ever sat down for a session of games knows the drill. The players all gather around a table, or several tables, and start to spread out cards, dice, and meeples. Beverages are chilling in the fridge, and friendly banter is flowing. Then the games begin. Sometimes you sit down to a long, intense game of Arkham Horror. It could be a night of a few quick games of Ticket to Ride, Smash Up, or King of Tokyo. Or you look at the four games just mentioned and wondered what the hell are you playing. When you started gaming, it was Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. Of course, when you started gaming the drink options were Mountain Dew or Coke. Board games have expanded in the last five years like craft beer started to in the mid-to-late 90’s. There are stores full of European style and other modern games like there are stores full of craft beer from all over the world. These two forces have been emerging in other cities, and have finally made it to Dayton in the form of D20: A Bar with Characters.

The story above is probably familiar to Andrew Sparks, co-owner of D20. He has been a game enthusiast for as long as he could remember. His D&D game was strong, and it grew into a lifelong love of games and gaming. It is something that his wife and co-owner Chrissy Sparks have in common. They also share a love of craft beer, something he developed during his time managing Belmont Party Supply. D20 emerged from the realization that if this was something their friends enjoyed doing, why not invite other people to do it as well? After another bar concept had fallen through, he found a vacant cell phone store on Whipp Rd. to be the perfect place for his new concept. Then Andrew and his crew went to work.

There is a little something for everyone!

When you walk in and look around, everything in the bar was hand selected and hand made by Andrew. Even the stacks and stacks of games were brought in from his collection. There is a handful that are donated, but the vast majority are his. The tap list, covering twenty taps in all, were also hand selected by them. Not a beer person? They have already thought of that. Knowing that a gaming place was going to attract a wide variety of people, they offer a selection of cocktails and mocktails. Mead and ciders are available, as are teas and other non-alcoholic options. You need to pace yourself when someone pulls out Carcassonne. If you are planning on playing through dinner, have no fear. The owners have worked that out as well. Their neighbors at Peking Garden are willing to walk next door to deliver, and a wood-fired, artisan pizza place will be moving in soon. During their soft opening, they had more than a few visits from Cousin Vinny’s.

Their soft opening was a huge success. So much so that the owners extended it an extra three hours to accommodate all of their guests. But they are not going to rest on the huge buzz of opening night. They have events planned soon. They are working with the Ohio Pathfinder Society (Dayton Chapter, of course) to set up some game nights at their venue. They are also planning their affairs, introducing people to games like Cards Against Humanity and Settlers of Catan. Andrew is looking for games that are easy to explain to new gamers, introducing them to games that are different that old standbys. Though if you want, Monopoly, Life, and Stratego are available for you to play. There are games for everyone.

Roll a twenty-sider to decide your next beer…

Andrew and Chrissy want to turn D20 into a gathering place. With comfortable couches and plenty of tables, seating and unique games to explore, they are well on their way. The air was thick with chatter, and the bartenders were keeping busy with patrons celebrating a victory or tending the sting of a narrow loss. Craft beer enthusiasts in the area can come in and enjoy a few pints, and gamers can sit down and either learn a new game, like Hive, or play a familiar one with friends. Either way, Dayton has a great new hang out south of town. Game on!

D20: A Bar with Characters is located at 2144 East Whipp Rd Kettering, OH 45420. You can contact them at (937) 221-9873. Information about the bar, their tap list, and coming events is listed on their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.

New Years Day Brunch at Fifth Street Brewpub

December 18, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

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