Dayton Dining

Check out Brunch at Chappy’s

February 20, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Exciting news from our friends at Chappys Tap Room and Grille, starting tomorrow they will be serving brunch from 11am -2pm on Saturday and Sunday. You can start your day with one of their many beers on tap or try their brand new Bloody Mary made with Belle of Dayton Vodka, their new housemade mix and garnished with Pickled Okra, Celery, Olives and a strip of our new Praline Bacon. (It’s practically a meal in itself!!)

Here’s the menu,

CHAPPYS BIG A** BEER BISCUIT BOWL

10.95

Our homemade Beer Biscuit topped

with an egg cooked your way with choice of

Grilled or Fried Pork Chop or Fried Chicken Breast,Zink’s Sausage Patties or Applewood Smoked Bacon

Topped with Sausage Gravy and Cheese and served with Home Fries

CHICKEN & WAFFLES – 9.95

Homemade Vanilla Belgian Waffle served with two Fried Chicken Tenders, Home Fries and

Your choice of Regular or Spicy Tabasco Syrup

PO BOY BREAKFAST SANDWICH – 8.95

Toasted French Bread with an egg cooked your way,

mayo, cheddar cheese and

Your choice of Applewood Smoked Bacon or Zink’s Sausage Patties, served with Home Fries.

THICK CUT PRALINE BACON – 6.95

A ½ Lb. of bacon (4 strips) coated with carmelized brown sugar and molasses topped with Pecans

CREATE YOUR OWN BRUNCH

Homemade Big A** Beer Biscuit and Gravy – 5.95

Belgian Waffle – 5.95

Two Eggs cooked your way – 2.95

Home Fries – 2.95

Applewood Smoked Bacon (4 strips) or Zink’s 3 oz. Sausage Patties (2) – 3.95

Homemade Big A** Beer Biscuit – 2.95

Chappy’s is located at 2733 West Alex-Bell Road, Dayton, OH 45459. There second location (the former Champp’s) is still a couple of months away.

Food Adventure Scoop: Our Fave Olive Oil Store Coming to Austin Landing!

February 19, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

“The Spicy Olive” carries the highest quality of Olive Oils and Vinegars!

Finally, we can let out a secret we have been dying to share with our fellow foodies for months! One of our favorite shops is tentatively set to open at Austin Landing in May, 2015. It is called The Spicy Olive and can satisfy any pallet of needs! This unique tasting emporium carries a large variety of specialty olive oils and balsamic vinegars that are of the utmost quality! And yes, you’ll get to taste them all! Looking to amp up the flavors in your kitchen? Need to find your favorite cook a gift? Want a fun place for a foodie date? Look no further than The Spicy Olive !

The Food Adventures Crew appreciates not only great places to go out and eat, but also places that will bring the flavors of high end dining right into your own kitchen! And dear foodie friends, this place does just that! For the past couple of years we have been heading down 75 south to the town of West Chester, and using Spicy Olive’s products. Hungry Jax introduced the rest of the Food Adventure Crew and we were hooked !

As you all know, we typically feature Dayton foodstuffs. So, when we found out they were coming to the Gem City, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to highlight this unique and delicious shopping experience! There are so many incredible oils and vinegars to sample. Rest assured, your Food Adventures Crew tried them ALL! And you’ll find a decent stock pile of them in our own home kitchens at any given time!

Melanie Cedargren, owner and founder of The Spicy Olive

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

—While eating her way through culinary masterpieces on her travels to Italy, owner and founder, Melanie Cedargren fell in love with the rich and pure quality of FRESH olive oil. So much so that she was inspired to bring back this freshness and superb taste. And we are SO glad that she did! In September of 2012, her dream came true and she opened her first store. It is a unique shop that allows you to taste and combine any and all of the oils and vinegars offered.

— Cedargren and her staff (many of whom started as loyal customers), run two stores south of our Gem city: one located in West Chester (7671 Cox Lane, West Chester, OH 45069) and the other in Cincinnati’s Hyde Park (2736 Erie Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45208). The third store will be at Austin Landing, and Food Adventures is the first to spill the beans on this new location! At each store, you will find around 20 different olive oils and specialty oils along with 30 balsamic vinegars! But you won’t get overwhelmed with options, because the staff has made it easy for you to combine flavors and even provide recipe cards to help you create culinary masterpieces!

— The Spicy Olive, prides itself on the fact that their oils are purchased using a “bi-hemispheric” model, ensuring that the freshest oils are purchased during peak seasons. These oils travel from Italy, Greece, Spain, South Africa, Brazil and many other places all depending on when their peak season is. The balsamic vinegars are all aged 12-18 years and are imported from Modena, Italy! These oils and vinegars are then infused by their supplier, Veronica Foods Co. in California. The Spicy Olive is different from chain olive oil shops as they (and their supplier) pride themselves on not being a franchise, allowing them to keep their business more personable and their products of highest quality.

Each bottle is filled for you right on the spot!

— Bottles are filled on the spot for you and run anywhere from $11-$25. Also sold are specialty olives, jams and spices from local vendors! Need a gift? Here you’ll find gift baskets as well fun pasta and serving dishes. At the West Chester store you can also purchase fine wines from “UnCorked at The Spicy Olive”, ran by Scott Hau, located in the back of the store. Also offered are cooking classes with local chefs! And if that wasn’t enough, they have started a cosmetic line that is based with their pure olive oil and fragranced with essential oils! These products are also all natural.

Like we said, we literally have tried every oil and vinegar in this store. We have compiled a list of our favorites. They are a list of what we feel are the best flavors, and best successes we had, when cooking at home with these products.

The list is big, but they are all MUST EATS !

MUST EATS:

BUTTER OLIVE OIL: Yes, you read that right. The world of butter and olive oil have united and created something that you can indulge in without feeling the guilt! Hungry Jax frequently uses this on homemade popcorn for a healthy alternative! It’s also great for roasting vegetables!

VERMONT MAPLE BALSAMIC VINEGAR: Your mouth will be very happy to taste this one! The sweet, but not over powering flavor of the real maple syrup dances deliciously with the balsamic vinegar creating a product that you can drizzle on chicken, salads, fruit and so much more!

TUSCAN HERB OLIVE OIL: This is one of their top sellers! And it’s not secret as to why. The flavor combinations of the herbs infused of oregano, rosemary, sage and garlic provide a complete package to toss this with some pasta and top with fresh Parmesan cheese! Or you can just grab hunk of crusty bread and dip away! Again, the possibilities are endless!

Proper storage ensures that light and temperature do not decrease the quality of the products!

ESPRESSO BALSAMIC VINEGAR: Who knew that coffee and vinegar could work? Well it does. Try making your self a glaze to top off a steak with this one! Spicy Olive suggests pairing this with the Blood Orange Olive Oil for a flavorful pork marinade!

BLOOD ORANGE OLIVE OIL: Another big seller! There is no mistaking the citrus zip that this oil has! This oil is infused with REAL orange. Replace the oil in your favorite brownie recipe with this!

HARISSA OLIVE OIL: Like spice? Well this oil will help kick up the heat in any dish you serve it! Roasted chili peppers, cumin, garlic, cinnamon and caraway are flavors that pack this oil with it’s flavorful punch!

TOASTED SESAME SEED OIL: This is like no other sesame seed oil that you have tasted. Go out and buy a wok. Trust us, you’ll want to stir fry everything in this oil! The Big Ragu had struggled for years, but was never able to get that”Chinese Restaurant” taste to his stir fry dishes. This product finally solved his problem, and the aroma in the house is like Chinatown!

STRAWBERRY BALSAMIC VINEGAR: Vinegar on dessert? Yup. It works. Drizzle this beauty on top of your strawberry shortcake and you’ve just wowed your guests with a layer of unexpected flavor.

Homemade Cheddar Popcorn

SICILIAN LEMON WHITE BALSAMIC VINEGAR: One of the Big Ragu’s favorites. Use this when pan searing calamari, shrimp and scallops. We have had great success cooking with this vinegar, but it makes a great salad dressing when mixed with olive oil ! We eat in on spinach salad most!

FROG JAM: Figs, Raspberries, Oranges and Ginger make up the flavors of this jam. On toast or on crackers, it will make your morning shine. you will never think of the word “frog” the same way again!

Honorable Mention: The Cilantro and Roasted Onion Olive Oil is fantastic with seafood. So is the Milanese Gremolata Olive Oil with its garlic, lemon and mint flavors from Italy.

We can go on and on with all the flavors they offer! Garlic, Wild Dill, Basil are just a few more of the olive oils. The gourmet line of oils include Truffle Oils, Sesame, Almond and Walnut. Ever try Lavender Balsamic Vinegar? Well here you can! What about Mango? Dark Chocolate? Blueberry?

Can’t wait until the Austin Landing opening in May? Then head on down to one of their Cincy locations today and check it out! Melanie and her staff are ready to take you on a culinary journey that will have you coming back for more! Explore, because your kitchen will never be the same again.

The Spicy Olives products are high quality because they supervise how, when and where the olives are pressed, to the flavors they are infused with, and even down to the proper way to store them. The Spicy Olive elevates olive oil and vinegar to create superb dishes beyond your salad bowl! Don’t miss stopping into this store in the future. your kitchen will never be the same. Olive this place, well …we all do!

Please check out our photo gallery below of The Spicy Olive’s products and how we put them to use!

Want more scoop on Dayton food happenings? Follow Hungry Jax, Chef House, The Big Ragu and The King on Facebook by clicking HERE.

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Cellar Dweller’s 3rd Anniversary Celebration

February 18, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Cellar Dweller Brewery is turning three and will host an anniversary party to celebrate.

It will take place from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday at the brewery, located at Valley Vineyards in Morrow. Sam Shaw Band will perform from 2-6 p.m., followed by Bibs & Barefeet from 6:30-10:30 p.m. Tastings and pints will be served all day, and specialty keg tappings will be offered. Food – hot dogs, metts, brats and sides – will be available a la carte from 1-9 p.m.

10?’s with Chef Don Warfe

February 16, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Don Warfe was born in California, but as a military kid he moved around a lot, lived in Japan, and eventually his family came to Dayton where his grandparents lived. He grew up always cooking and while working at Buddkan, a fine dining restaurant in Philly that featured Asian fusion cuisine, he realized that food was truly his passion. He had found his career and moved from restaurant to restaurant to grow his skills, including a stint in upstate New York, five years with Fleming’s and then became part of an opening team at a Colorado eatery where he served as an Executive Chef.

It was at this job that Gordon Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares reached out to him and asked him to consult with them on a few episodes. On the show he’d help introduce new menu items and help work with the kitchen crew to ensure success. Chef Don would then stick around after the TV crew left, for a few weeks to to stabilize the new menu, train the front and back of the house staff and ended up staying at one of the featured restaurants for almost a year.

After a working hundred hour weeks for years, he needed a break. He came back to Dayton to visit his family and decided to stay for a while .He had a friend that worked at the Trolley Stop and they were looking to rework their food offerings. Chef Don was hired as a consultant to bring fresh, locally sourced dishes and greater variety to their menu. And while he was transforming the menu at this Oregon District business, there was a lady transforming his life. Chef Don fell in love with Mindy and her son Theo and will be getting married soon.

While still running the kitchen at Trolley Stop, he’s also taken on a side job, consulting with Mike Schwartz, of Belmont Party Supply, on his new joint coming to Centerville, Ollie’s Place. A long time in planning, Mike’s new venture will be a tap room, whiskey bar and carryout. Chef Don is writing the menu, designing their kitchen and training their staff. Look for it to open in April with 60 beers on tap and “awesome food, ” according to Warfe.

And between both jobs, Chef Don took time to answer our 10 questions:

1. What is your favorite ingredient to cook with?

This varies seasonally. I love using local ingredients. The local pork shoulder that I get from KJB Farms always makes me happy.

2. What ingredient do you dread?

Salt and Pepper. Just kidding. I’m not a fan of using processed foods. I really don’t like using Chicken Base.

3. What’s your favorite dish to make?

I love making so many different dishes. I love to cook fish and just about any meat. I really enjoy making Paella.

4. What’s your favorite pig out food?

My special lady and I love to make antipasti boards and pig out late at night sometimes. It’s pretty amusing what items can end up on the board. It’s interactive and so much fun to share the experience together. It can range from smoked herring to chile chocolate to spicy kimchi. It’s pretty personal so I won’t say anything else about it.

5. What restaurant, other than your own do you like to dine at in the Miami Valley?

I feel like I haven’t dined out very much in Dayton. There are still a lot of restaurants that I am waiting to go try. I really like Little Saigon.

6. What’s your best advice for home chefs?

I would suggest that home chefs go to the local farmer’s market. It’s such an advantage for your cooking. You’re supporting local economy, using fresh quality ingredients that are better for you and ultimately taste better. I would also suggest that people have fun cooking. Take a recipe and make it your own.

7. If you could invite any 4 guests to a dinner party who would they be and why?

Anthony Bourdain. Because he knows food and travel. I would love to hear the stories he could tell after a few drinks at the table.
Alice Waters. Again, I would love to sit there and just humbly listen to her experiences and enjoy a meal with her.
Christopher Walken. His voice at the dinner table. I would ask him to read all of our books out loud.
My grandmother, because I miss her very much. And of course Mindy would be right beside me serving as my c0- hostess for our dinner party.

Chef Thomas Keller

8. Who do you look up to in the industry and why?

Thomas Keller, because his cuisine seems so true. He is so ingredient driven and a master in this field. He has been a major influence on chefs today to embrace local ingredients from farms, fisherman, and gardens. His techniques are so sound and quality driven. I don’t know any chefs that aren’t inspired when they open The French Laundry Cookbook.

9. What do you do in the Miami Valley on a day off?

Never the same thing. I love spending time with my ‘soon to be’ wife and her son. We play games in the park, or in the grocery store, or in the book store, or in the house. I enjoy having dinner with my family and relaxing. I’m currently reading all the volumes of the graphic novel, The Walking Dead, and watching Twin Peaks episodes.

10. Share a kitchen disaster, lucky break or other interesting story:

Lucky Break: I was contacted by Gordon Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares to work as a chef consultant on the show in Colorado. It was my job to train restaurant staff their new menu and teach them how to function properly as a restaurant. They asked me to be on film for my last episode and it was a thrill to work with one of my favorite chefs. This also answers the kitchen disaster part of this question. Before the transformation, there were some pretty bad practices in place.

Dayton’s Housemade Sauces: Taking Oregon District by Storm

February 12, 2015 By Dayton937 1 Comment

Taking the Oregon District by Storm

A local company called HouseMade, has been heating up the local food scene with their sauces, particularly the HouseMade Sriracha sauce. Ground zero of this inferno seems to be the Oregon district. Lovers of spicy food have delighted in the surge of sriracha around the Fifth Street area. The cause of the local warming of the taste buds is Dayton area Chef, Leanne House.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Chef House developed her signature sauces throughout her culinary career, but only started bottling them last year. Since that time the bottles have exploded in popularity.

— The past 12 months have definitely been a whirlwind for her. In that time she has grown her business 1000 fold, joined the blogging team of Dayton Most Metro’s own Food Adventures Crew, and accepted the job of Executive Chef at Mudlick Tap House. She will be launching her new menu in the coming weeks. Did we mention that in the same time frame, her sriracha sauce won 1st place at a hot sauce competition in Louisiana, and her hot honey sauce won 1st place at Jungle Jim’s Weekend of Fire event?

— Whats her secret? It is twofold. First she uses Ohio grown peppers, and everyone knows Ohio produce rocks. Secondly, her workers take the time to peel the stems off of each and every pepper. Other sauces leave the stems on, but there are no bitter pepper stems in her sauce !

— Dayton homeless charity, HOMEFULL, is growing peppers this year for Housemade. They will team with Ohio farms Folsom and Pine Farm, in Columbus, who will start the seeds. Homefull will grow the plants to maturity, and expect to grow over 1000 pounds of peppers this year. The eventual goal would be to grow all the peppers needed for the year here in Dayton, creating more jobs at Homefull, thereby benefiting Dayton’s homeless population. Housemade is all about giving back to the community.

Chef House in front of her Housemade Sauce Display at Dorothy Lane Marrket

— Housemade Sauces and other products have crept their way through the nooks and crannies of the Oregon district, or as she has named it, the “Oregon Trail.”

Here are places in the Oregon District area that have Housemade Sriracha sauces and products in stock, or feature them in their food menu:

THE “OREGON TRAIL” INCLUDES:

1. THE OREGON EXPRESS – Their “SRIRACHA PIZZA” is one of our favorite pizzas of all time

2. SPICE PARADISE – Local spice grocer has sauces and rubs for sale

3. LILY’S BISTRO – They feature the local sriracha in their kitchen and are one of the only restaurants in Dayton to feature the sauce in their bar drink offerings

4. TOXIC BREW COMPANY – Porn or prawn beer & bloody beers featuring Lily’s bloody Mary mix and Housemade Sriracha

5. LUCKY’S TAP ROOM & EATERY – A recent addition to the “Oregon Trail,” having just bought some Sriracha to feature on their menu

6. THE TROLLEY STOP – Not originally in the trail, but they are another recent addition. Look for them to feature the sriracha in their menu and maybe bar drinks

7. ECLECTIC ESSENTIALS – Art, Jewelry, antiques, and now Housemade sauces and products !! One of our first vendors!

8. CLASH DAYTON – Art gallery, clothing store, and a great place to get Housemade Sriracha! One of our first vendors!

9. THE DUBLIN PUB – Now featuring Housemade sauces at their restaurant

10. WHEAT PENNY OVEN & BAR – Has recently featured the locally made sriracha on their pizzas

HouseMade has over 60 vendors throughout Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

Full list of Dayton Vendors CLICK HERE . Full list of Dayton Restaurants featuring Housemade CLICK HERE. List of Columbus, Cincinnati, and more vendors CLICK HERE

Housemade now offers Salts & Rubs

MUST EATS:

— HOUSEMADE SRIRACHA: The flagship sauce. Sweeter, bolder and better than the srirachas you are used to. No bitter stems in this locally made sauce !

— HOUSEMADE HOT HONEY: This Thai Chili hot honey makes anything it is drizzled on taste amazing. Warning-highly addictive.

— HOUSEMADE SALTS & RUBS: One of a kind rubs for your meats including: Tomatillo-Serrano, Thai Chili and Smoked Sriracha flavors respectively. Spice up your life with these babies!

— HOUSEMADE JAMS: Limited availability. Our fave flavors include Vanilla-Pear and Pineapple-Mango ! Homemade and one-of-a-kind fresh tastes.

What is next for Chef LeeAnne House?

She will be featuring quite a few of her products at Mudlick Tap House.

The Hard to find Jams from Housemade are Extremely Delicious

1. Tomatillo serrano smoked salt in the fresh greek yogurt cheese ( I am making this)

2. Sriracha in the house made chorizo

3. Sriracha in the pimento cheese

4. Hot Honey will be appearing in Chef House’s cakes. Mudlick Tap House will have a daily offering of fresh cakes at the bar. It will be one of the first things you see when you walk in.

Chef House’s lifelong passion has been the culinary world. She was raised in area restaurants owned by her parents. In recent years, she has been lucky enough to share kitchens with some of Dayton’s best chefs. Benefit from her hard work, by getting some of the best sauces on the planet! Get on the bandwagon and join the thousands in Dayton that are eating up the Sriracha sauce and other HouseMade creations.

Check out more of CHEF HOUSE and the FOOD ADVENTURES CREW here on FACEBOOK !!

Feel free to browse the gallery below of Dayton’s own, Housemade Sauces !

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There’s A New Thursday Night Dinner Spot – $40 Gift Certificate Giveaway

February 11, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Make plans to head to Leo Bistro Thursday night for dinner. As part of Dayton Art Institute’s new hours Leo Bistro is now open from 4-8pm every Thursday night. With a new menu featuring Tuscan Flatbread Pizzette, cabbage rolls, salads, sandwiches and more. Thursday evenings will also feature half-price bottles of wine and specialty Filet Burgers. Leo Bistro is powered by Elite Catering and features an innovative menu that demonstrates what happens when food meets art!

Leo Bistro also serves lunch, Tuesday – Sunday, with a menu that includes soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees, as well as desserts. You will find daily specials, a children’s menu, “Quick Takes” items for museum guests, and a new wine/bar/appetizer list.

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Beer-battered Atlantic Cod with Parmesan Garlic Fries

You can make reservations by calling 937-512-0146 or email them at [email protected]

Here’s a peek at some of the new menu offerings:

Appetizers

Bruschetta Board –Red and Yellow Tomato Bruschetta mix,
complimented by an Olive Tapenade and a White Bean Relish withMascarpone Cheese, Honey Goat Cheese, and a

Sun Dried Tomato Cheese Spread served with Olive Oil Toasted Crostinis 8.99

Stuffed Mushrooms (3) – Italian Turkey Sausage,Spinach, Roasted Tomatoes, and a blend of spices 5.99

Mac & Cheese Croquettes – Breaded Macaroni and Cheese Rounds, fried and served with a
Spicy Ketchup dipping sauce (3) – 5.99 or (5) – 7.99

Leo Bistro Entrees:

Tuscan Flatbread Pizzette –An 8” flatbread topped with a rich Spinach Dip, Roasted Tomatoes,

Fresh Mozzarella and Red Onions 7.29 ~add grilled chicken for 2.00 more

Fish & Chips– Beer Battered Atlantic Cod paired with our Parmesan Garlic Fries and

served with Malt Vinegar and Tartar Sauce 9.99

Cabbage Rolls –Fresh Boiled Cabbage Leaves stuffed with Ground Sirloin, Wild Rice, Onions and

Peppers topped with a Light Tomato Sauce and served with a side salad 9.29

DMM Giveaway

We’ve got a $40 gift certificate to Leo Bistro for one of our loyal DMM readers. For your chance to win, fill out the form below, like and share this article on your facebook or twitter page and use the hashtag #DMMFreebie! We’ll announce the winner Friday, Feb 13th.

Congrats to our winner Mike Teague!!

Bruning’s Wine Cellar to Host Wine Appreciation Series

February 9, 2015 By Dayton Most Metro

Learn wine from an expert and get more out of each sip. Do you want to learn to talk intelligently about wine, or start your own collection? Are you a serious wine lover looking to deepen your knowledge? Either way, this five week series presented by Micheal Freeman of Vintner Select will cover wine tasting techniques, explore characteristics of different wine regions around the world and more.

The classes kick off on Monday, Feb 23rd from 6-8pm at Bruning’s in Beavercreek and continue each Monday through March 23rd. Cost for all five week course is $100 and includes wine tasting, cheese and crackers, formal instruction and all class printed materials. The last class of the series will be a wine and food pairing.

Space is limited and you can call 937.426.4950 to reserve your spot or just stop in at Brunings at 2476 Commons Blvd. .

El Meson’s Valentine Meals Start Monday

February 8, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Valentine’s Day can be a very hectic and stressful holiday. Between family, kids, work and all the other day to day issues modern couples face the holiday meant to showcase love between two people can become a backseat, last minute event. “This is why we decided to make Valentine’s Week! Couples and groups can choose any day during the week leading up to the 14th to celebrate the holiday at their leisure at El Meson.” Bill Castro, owner, said.

Valentine’s Day falls on Saturday, Feb 14th this year. Saturday, as in the busiest day for restaurants. Anyone who has ever tried to make reservations for Valentine’s Day knows that you need to make it early. “With the holiday falling on a Saturday this year, we have already received many calls and reservations for the 14th. It was pretty apparent to us that we needed to open it up to multiple days so that everyone who wanted to celebrate with us would have the chance.” Bill continued. “We’ll be featuring a three course prix fix menu every day during Valentine’s Week (Feb 9th – Feb 14th)

Diners will receive a choice of two entrees which will include salad, side dishes, & dessert to share” Castro said.

Special Lovers Menu for 2-

Asado-Meat Platter for 2 – grilled beef fillets, chicken breasts & chorizo on a sizzling plate

Mariscada- Seafood Platter for 2 – grilled grouper, tuna, sea scallops, shrimp & calamari

Both featured menu entrees include two salads, two side dishes, & dessert to share

He went on to mention that dinner will be less expensive earlier in the week, Mon – Tues – $20 per person, Wed – Thurs – $25 per person and move up to Fri – Sat – $35 per person. “On Friday and Saturday we’ll also have a roaming Mariachi to make the dining experience even more memorable” Bill finished.

For diners interested in experiencing Valentine’s Week at El Meson, we encourage you to make your reservation early. You can make a reservation by calling them at (937) 859-8229.

White Castle: Yes or No ? Comment to Win a Crave Case of Sliders !

February 5, 2015 By Dayton937 40 Comments

Nothing like the smell of a White Castle. Same applies 5 hours later

The White Castle Hamburger in its Natural Habitat

Sliders. People either love them or hate them. Only Food Adventures would tackle such a volatile subject. What is your opinon? We need your vote by commenting below, and there is a prize at stake. We ask the question: White Castle….. YES or NO ?

One lucky winner will be chosen at random to win a bonus prize. If you win and your vote was YES, you get a Crave Case of 30 White Castle hamburgers. Eat them yourself or give them as a gift to your favorite foodie.

If you win and your vote was NO, we can negotiate another burger gift card (Voltzys or Hamburger Wagon, etc).

But this is your chance to be heard.

Do you crave their food or do you despise it? Stand Up! Be Heard !

White Castle….. YES or NO ?

WHERE DO THE FOOD ADVENTURES STAND?

CHEF HOUSE: “My vote is NO. I seriously don’t eat fast food.”

HUNGRY JAX: “My vote is YES. They remind me of my mom’s ‘steak umms’ sandwiches, so for me it’s nostalgic.”

THE KING: “My vote is NO. This vote is based on the after effects.”

White Castle: Do you love ’em or hate ’em ?

THE BIG RAGU: “My vote is YES. The secret is, don’t eat more than 4 at a time, and you will crave them again.”

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— White Castle locations in the Dayton area are a dying breed. Only 2 remain, one at 5201 Salem Bend in Trotwood, and one at 6901 State Route 123 in Franklin. The next 2 closest locations are in Middletown and South Lebanon. But the chain, still has a cult following.

— The first White Castle hamburger was served in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas. However, since 1933 the company’s headquarters have been in Columbus, Ohio

— For all you romantic types, every year on Valentines Day, White Castle offers to reserve a candlelit table for two, complete with a server.

For those of you who have never had the pleasure of a White Castle burger, Hungry Jax and The Big Ragu scoured the menu for our “MUST EATS. ”

Onion Chips: the Crispy Catalyst, for a Full Experience

MUST EATS:

— CHEESEBURGERS: The tiny hamburger patty has 5 curious holes punched in the meat, like a #5 on a 6 sided dice. It is steam-grilled with onions and topped with cheese and served with pickle on a bun. Some people grab some ketchup and mustard packets to add later, others are purists and eat them “as is”

— HAMBURGERS: Same as above, but with no cheese. This is the famous “slider.” People have been known to throw down 10 or more of these bad boys. Caution: It is nicknamed “slider” for its gastro intestinal wrecking power of sliding in, and sliding out.

— ONION CHIPS: Delicious and addicting. But beware, these are the catalyst for stomach grumbling and mixed with sliders, can produce super powered “Dutch Oven” options at night.

— DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER: This sandwich is White Castle’s big hunk of burning love. This is a double stacked cheeseburger and is surprisingly filling. Two of these and you are good to go.

Now, it’s your turn. We need you vote thumbs up or thumbs down to White Castle. Yes or No to Slider utopia !

PLEASE COMMENT BELOW FOR A CHANCE TO WIN !

For more crazy and original foodie fun, check out FOOD ADVENTURES on FACEBOOK by clicking here !

Browse the gallery below for the myth and legend of White Castle Hamburgers.

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Amber Rose Announces Craft Beer Dinner

February 4, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Make plans now to head out to Old North Dayton for a four course craft beer dinner, which kicks off a year long celebration of Amber Rose’s 25th anniversary. Originally built in 1910 by Sigmund Ksiezopolski, it ran as a general store and deli named Sig’s up until the 1980′s. The family ran the general store downstairs and resided upstairs as their family quarters. The National Guard stayed with the family during the Great Flood of 1913. In 1989 Elinor Sluzas acquired the building with the intention of opening a restaurant. Before the scheduled grand opening there was a horrific fire and a portion of the building had to be rebuilt. The restaurant officially opened for business in 1990. Elinor may have retired but her recipes have stayed the same.

On Thursday, February 26th at 6:30pm Amber Rose will host a tasting for beer and foodie fans in their upstairs dining room. Owner Joe Castellano shared the pairing menu with us:

First Course
Bratwurst & Braised Cabbage Bruschetta
Beer Pairing: Hofbrau Original

Second Course
Brown Sugar Chipolte Salmon with grilled asparagus with citrus glace
Beer Pairing: Warped Wing Ermal’s Belgian Style Cream Ale

Third Course
Tomato & Cheese sausage stuffed pork loin with orzo pilaf
Beer Pairing: Erdinger Dunkel
Fourth Course
Chocolate Raspberry Mousse
Beer Pairing: Deschutes Black Butte Porter

To reserve your seat for just $30 for call Amber Rose at 937.228-2511. The restaurant is located at 1400 Valley Street, with plenty of free parking in their own well lighted parking lot.

The Super Bowl – One Long Session for Beers!

January 30, 2015 By Brian Petro

Super Bowl XLIX is here. Is your beer fridge ready for it?

The Super Bowl XLIX festivities begin at noon on Sunday, February 1. Pundits are going to spend the entire day analyzing the players, discussing past Super Bowls, and making deflated ball puns. The game itself starts at 6 PM, and will end around 11 PM after all the awards have been given out and more analysis of the game. That is a long drinking day for anyone. You have to pace yourself through a day filled with salty snacks, good friends, and lots and lots of fine, locally crafted beer. Fortunately, British brewers thought of this decades ago, and developed something called a session beer.

During World War I, production of material for the war effort was important. Parliament created a law that allowed for two drinking sessions a day; one at lunch and one at dinner time. Since drinking was much more limited, any typically could only be done at a bar, people would have a few more at lunch then they normally would. They did not want to go back work around dangerous equipment inebriated, so British brewers started to brew beers that were lower in ABV. They typically capped at 5%, but many went as low as 3%. Pilsners, bitters, and pale ales were the styles that were used, offering the most flavor while delivering a love tap of alcohol.

The United States does not have the same fondness for low ABV beers. The legacy of the “little beer” began just before Prohibition as a desperate attempt by then president Woodrow Wilson to stop the inevitable. He proposed that beers of no more than 2.75% ABV be brewed, minimizing the harsh effects of the terrible affliction of alcohol on a delicate public. Clearly, that did not work, and the country dried up for thirteen years. The first beer that came out after the Volstead Act was repealed but before the 21^st Amendment went into effect? 3.2% beers. Our legacy with them is much more contentious, thus when the craft beer movement rolled forward, the LAST thing brewers wanted to do was create beers in the Budweiser range of ABV. The ABV War began, trying to create bigger beers, beers full of flavor and alcohol. The winning brewery at this point in time is Brewmeister’s Armageddon out of Scotland, ringing in at an overwhelming 65% ABV. Most beers like this are brewed once for effect, then retired.

A dark day in U.S. history, but a good time for session beers.

Session beers just came back into vogue in the last ten years as a reaction to all of the high ABV beers flowing through the country. Founder’s All Day IPA may be the beer that brought this type of beer to the general attention of the public. This great Michigan brewery sells this in a fifteen-pack, acknowledging that you can sip on this all day and still be able to function at your desk on Monday. It was mentioned more than a few times as a great session beer by the people I spoke with. The 4.7% ABV is perfect for a long session of drinking, and the hops ensures that it is not boring to drink. Fat Head’s Sunshine Daydream out of Cleveland is another highly recommended session beer, creeping up to 4.9% ABV and still delivering with refreshing flavor.

Looking for a local, low alcohol growler fill for the big game? Here is a list of what was found on tap (or in a can) around the Miami Valley. Not all of these fall into the session beer category, but they all hover around the 5% ABV range.

Lock 27 – Pugilist’s 4.7% ABV seems light for a beer with a fighting name. Session beers are not all light and hoppy. Here is an irish stout whose punch is in the flavor, not the spirits. Order some of their Smoked Wings while you are there. You will not be disappointed.
Yellow Springs Brewing – If you are going to go to one brewery for all your low ABV beer needs, this is the place to go. They have the biggest selection of tap beers that fall into this category. Their Kerfluffle, an English Mild beer, is the lowest on the list at 3.1% ABV. They also have Daily’s Comet Saison (3.8% ABV), Handsome American Brown Ale (5.5% ABV), Ryatt’s Eviction English Pale Ale (5.0% ABV) and Zoetic Citra American Pale Ale (5.2% ABV). A little something for everyone!
Dayton Beer Company
This should be enough for Sunday, right?

– Patterson Pale Ale, at 5.5% ABV, is higher on the list for a session beer, but a delicious option. While you are there, get a growler of their award winning Java Man Cometh (7.0% ABV) to help celebrate if your team wins, or cry into if they lose.
Warped Wing Brewing Company – They have some heavy hitters in their line up (Baltic Argonaut at 11.5% ABV would make a short session), but they offer their own Self Starter Session IPA at 5.2% ABV. Ermal’s Belgian Cream Ale at 5.4% ABV and their delightfully unique Wedding Beer at 4.5% ABV are options for Super Bowl growler fills.
Fifth Street Brewing – For my money, kolsch is my favorite style of lighter beer. FSB’s 1600 Kolsch (5.0% ABV) and Deluge Pale Ale (5.4% ABV) are both excellent beers to add to the game day menu.
Star City Brewing – If you already have plans and will have to miss their Super Bowl Potluck Extravaganza, you can enjoy their kolschy Blonde Ale at 3.8% ABV or Weizen Star Hefeweizen at 4.8% ABV at home with a much different pot luck.
Lucky Star Brewery – While you are in Miamisburg, you can stop by this brewery as well and pick up their Ojos Locos Mexican Lager at 3.9% ABV or their Redemption Red at 5.3% ABV. Their Wicked Step Mutha Double Stout weighs in at 9.9% ABV, but would be a delicious late game addition to cap off the party.
Toxic Brew Company – Relax. There is always some Practice Yoga (5.6% ABV) to enjoy during an all-day football binge. Sign up for the Shuffle Board League while you are there so your sports enjoyment can last after football is over. Abby’s Cure at 9.6% ABV came highly recommended for Sunday, but as a tasty treat with your all day sippers.
Eudora Brewing Company – Another award winning craft brewery in Dayton, their Sundowner Blonde Ale weighs in at 5.0% ABV. Supporting them means you are also supporting charity:water, providing clean water to those with no access to it.
Hairless Hare Brewery – Hello friends up north! The American Ale here sits at a sessionable 4.9% ABV. And is there anything more American than watching the Super Bowl?

Just discussing some dinner plans after the game.

Not enough options? Belmont Party Supply has many, many selections for session drinking. Cincinnati favorites like Madtree offers Lift at 4.7% ABV and Rhinegeist releases Cougar at 4.8% ABV for you to consider. Rivertown’s Little Sipa IPA at a nice and light 4.5% ABV is another Cincinnati option on the table. The new kid in Ohio, Boulevard Brewing Company, has their Pop Up Session IPA that sits at a respectable 4.3% ABV and 80 Acre Hoppy Wheat at 5.5% ABV. Fans of New Belgium Brewing can get their hands on Slow Ride Session IPA sitting at 4.5% ABV. You can also pick up He’Brew’s Dry Hopped Session Pale Ale (5.5% ABV) or Heavy Seas’ Cross Bones Session IPA (4.5% ABV) there. If you want a little more heavy in your seas, their Loose Cannon IPA is an amazing choice with a little more punch (7.25% ABV).

The Super Bowl has become more than just the championship game for the NFL; it is a cultural event that brings people together with friends for good food and good company. Whether you are cheering for the New England Patriots, the Seattle Seahawks, or just a halfway decent Super Bowl ad, session beers are one way to sip on great beer all day and still be ready to shout, cheer, cry, and celebrate when the game begins. Now, time to start researching the wings and nachos. Cheers!

Hasty Tasty Waitress Enters 41st Work Year

January 29, 2015 By Dayton937 2 Comments

Betty Has Served over a Half Million Customers in 41 Years !

Sometimes on our Food Adventures, we run into a personal story that is extraordinary. Such is the story of a waitress at the Hasty Tasty Pancake House on Linden Avenue. Her name is Betty (last name witheld by request). She, herself is an icon at one of the most iconic eateries of Dayton. For 41 years she has hustled and bustled, promptly serving food to patrons. Now 75 years old, she shows no signs of slowing down and still runs circles around people half her age.

Betty’s tale is one of hard work and dedication. She is very humble and never seeks praise or admiration. Betty never complains and very rarely calls in sick.. She is a throwback to when waitresses were truly career waitresses. She possibly holds the record for current servers in the Miami Valley for longevity. We know of no other current server who boasts 41 years at the helm. What an amazing accomplishment!

She has seen owners of the restaurant come and go, and has served many regular customers, some of whom have since passed away. She has been the constant in the revolving world of pancakes, sausage and “Tasty Burgers.”

The Food Adventures Crew is honored to present the scoop on the legendary “Betty from The Hasty Tasty Pancake House.”

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— It all started in September 1974, when Betty, formerly a stay at home mom to 5 boys, took a job as a waitress in the same year her first grandson was born.

— If you want to visit Betty, she works Tuesdays – Saturdays, 3pm -10pm

— Betty made a conservative estimate, telling us she averages about 50 customers a day. Food Adventures did some math and figured 50 customers a day, 5 days a week, for 40 years, means she has served approximately 520,000 people. That’s enough customers to fill up the Nutter Center 50 times.

Click to Enlarge These Magnificent Pancakes

— Her most famous customer? Red Allen, a famous Bluegrass singer. Betty says he was a good ole’ Kentucky boy who loved to regularly order beans.

— Her oldest customer? A man who lived to the ripe old age of 103 years old. He was a regular at the Hasty Tasty Pancake House, which gives many of us foodies hope that pancakes are healthy for you!

— Although Betty does not own the Hasty Tasty, it is like a family business to her. Her son Chuck, is one of the cooks on staff

— Her secret to success? She drinks a lot of Kool Aid and has fun at her job. “Your job has to be fun,” she says with a smile.

Betty has a great sense of humor, and is one of the sweetest, most attentive servers we have ever encountered. Congratulations Betty on starting year #41. We wish you many more years of success and happiness.

Is this article making you hungry? Are you craving the food at Bunny’s Hasty Tasty Pancake House?

Then let’s not waste anytime showcasing Food Adventures patented list of MUST EATS at the Hasty Tasty !

MUST EATS:

— THE PANCAKES: This is a no brainer. This place is a Dayton icon named the pancake house.. you get the pancakes, Einstein.

— THE TASTY BURGER: Hasty Tasty’s slightly bigger version of the Frisch’s Big Boy sandwich. And guess what, it is just as good, right down to the tartar sauce… if not better.

— ALL U CAN EAT FISH FRY: $7.25 for all you can eat deep fried pollock filets. You get sides like homemade bread and the incredible cole slaw. Add a side of shrimp for 99 cents !

Betty and Her Son Chuck who is a Cook at Hasty Tasty

— THE PECAN WAFFLES: This one also blew us away. The bottom line is they do breakfast right. Available all day, every day. Oh so good.

— FRIED CHICKEN DINNER – This is the Parkmoor’s original recipe. For those that don’t know, Parkmoor was a Dayton restaurant icon in the 1960’s. The chicken is crispy, delicious and a HUGE serving !

— CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS: Thursday night special that will bring you back to your mom’s or grandmas kitchen table. So much comfort food, so little time. We found paradise on a plate. Keep the trendy, pretentious stuff. This is where their staff eats after work.

If you have not visited The Hasty Tasty Pancake House, get your butt in there. It is a greasy spoon with great eats and cheap prices. Tell Betty we sent you !!

Want more foodie fun? Join the thousands following The Food Adventures Crew on FACEBOOK HERE . Catch all the food filled antics of Chef House, The King, Hungry Jax and The Big Ragu. We don’t visit a place one time. We make multiple Food Adventure trips to an eatery before these articles are written, so you get a real feel of the entire menu and restaurant. True foodies, we devour it all, NO RULES !

Please browse our photo gallery below from our Food Adventures to Bunny’s Hasty Tasty Pancake House.

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Coco’s Does Sunday Brunch In February To Benefit Stivers

January 28, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

For seven years Coco’s Restaurant has opened in February to serve brunch to benefit Stivers School for the Arts. Each week a different group of student artists perform while you enjoy a scrumptious meal and fifteen dollars from each plate served goes directly to the school. The musical students aren’t the only ones involved. Enjoy an oversized painting of Blue Dancers” by Edgar Degas, which was re-created by 19 Stivers art students during the school’s annual Winter Showcase. The 17-foot-by-17-foot large-scale work will be displayed at the restaurant during February.

The brunch menu will include fillet and eggs benedict with a house demi-glace, Huevos Rancheros, and a Mexican-inspired dish of tortillas with eggs and green chili sauce. Or select a vegetarian frittata, French toast, Italian grilled cheese, Coco’s famous burger, bourbon shrimp salad or a winter spinach salad.
Reserve your Sunday in February:

Feb 1   The Stivers Strings
Feb 8   The Stivers Singers
Feb 15   The Stivers Concert Pianists
Feb 22   The Stivers Jazz Quintet

Reservations from 10 am to 1:30 pm.
Tickets are $30 per guest ($15 is a tax-deductible donation). Call 937.228.Coco (2626) to make your reservation by Jan 26th.
It takes a village to support arts education. Make your reservations today! Coco’s is located at 250 Warren St in downtown Dayton.

Dayton Food Truck Competing For Burger Of The Year

January 27, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Burgers come in various shapes, sizes and with too many ingredients to list in one place. While basic burger can be defined by a ground beef patty on a bun, over the years, there have been numerous attempts to remake the classic, while other chefs have spun the burger with various meat patties (veggi and vegan as well). Because of all of these variants, MobileCuisine.com wants to find out which food truck you think serves the best burger.

Nominations have come out and Dayton’s own Horseless Buggy Eatery is in the running for this national title. Vanessa & Gary, owners of this oversized mobile kitchen have been recognized for their Onion Straw Burger. Let’s help them claim the title and get Dayton’s Food Truck community on the national map! You can find them most weekday’s at the VA Hospital from 5:15-8pm and this Friday you can catch them at Eudora Brewing Company on Wilmington.

To vote just click here! You can vote once from each IP address, so vote from your computer, your phone and your tablet and share this with your friends! Let’s help Horseless Buggy claim the title of the 2015 Food Truck Burger of the Year.

Here are the finalists:

Bernie’s Burger Bus – Houston, TX

Bone Daddy’s – Boston, MA

Chef Toddzilla’s Mobile Cuisine – Roswell, NM

Culinerdy Cruzer – Sacramento, CA

Eat Me, Drink Me – Long Island, NY

Gilbo’s Grill – San Antonio, TX

Horseless Buggy Eatery – Dayton, OH

Lonestar Cheeseburger Company – San Angelo, TX

Master Bacon – Charlotte, NC

Roaming Buffalo – Buffalo, NY

This poll will close on Friday, February 6th, 2015 at 11:59 PM. The truck with the most votes from this poll will be declared our winner.

If you have any issues with submitting your vote (only 1 per IP address) please feel free to submit your vote to contest [at] mobile-cuisine [dot] com.

Preview Nights Set For The Barrel House

January 21, 2015 By Lisa Grigsby

Next week there will be several opportunities to tour and enjoy The Barrel House (and to give us a chance to practice on live guests and get your feedback before we officially open)! They will be holding soft open events the evenings of Jan 26-28!

Tickets are $5 per person (max two people) and include light appetizer fare, a chance to hear and talk with the staff and owners, and to experience the space first!! Each session is 1-1/2 hours and limited to 30 attendees, so that we can take the time to thank each of you personally and get your feedback! Please bring your ticket, photo I.D., cash or credit cards for drink purchases, as we need to practice using our system (and we can’t give alcohol away for free!). You can reserve your preview night tickets online.

The Barrel House

The Barrel House is an independently owned and operated, beer & wine bar and carry out, located at 417 East Third Street in Dayton, Ohio. It’s kind of like a coffee shop for beer & wine providing:

growler fills from our 18 beer taps AND beer & wine bottle sales for carry out!
draft beer and wine, with light food offerings and a comfortable lounge area, with free wifi to enjoy onsite!
you can even carry in food from Olive, an urban dive, right across the street from us!

Come on in, have a drink, sit with us for awhile, meet some friends, wait for a table at Olive, an urban dive across the street or pick up some wine and beer to go. We’d love to be your favorite spot and your favorite shop! Join us downtown! www.barrelhousetap.com 937.222.GRWL (4795).

**Parking for The Barrel House is behind the building!! Please use the back entrance for this event!

Archer’s Tavern Announces Menu for “50 Shades of Grape” Event

January 20, 2015 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Not “tied up” on February 10th ??

Then you should know that the Food Adventures Crew is teaming with Archer’s Tavern and Dayton Most Metro for a one-of-kind Wine Pairing Dinner on that night. Dubbed a “50 Shades of Grape Food Adventure Event,” it promises to be at sold out capacity, with tickets being pre-pay only.

The dinner is a brainchild of Food Adventures with Big Ragu and the Crew, and is obviously timed with the release of the popular book to movie release, “Fifty Shades of Grey.” Archer’s was the perfect venue for this event. Partner Dan Apolito and manager Myron Yoder worked with the kitchen staff to develop a menu that rings true with fans of the book. The result is a 4 course dinner, paired with 4 glasses of wine. The powers that be have chosen to keep the wine pairings a secret, much in the spirit of the blindfolds in the book’s story line.

It should be an exciting night with many door prizes, gift certificates, and giveaways, including 2 tickets to the upcoming movie “50 Shades of Grey.” As always, these Food Adventures always hold many surprises. This one may include a blindfold taste test or two.

Wanna join us?

HERE’S THE SKINNY :

WHEN: TUESDAY NIGHT, FEB 10th, 2015 from 6:30pm – 8:30pm

WHERE: ARCHER’S TAVERN in CENTERVILLE

WHAT: 4 FOOD COURSES, 4 WINES

COST: PRE-PAY ONLY – LIMITED SEATING $35 per person, includes the tip

HOW: TICKETS MAY ONLY BE BOUGHT ONLINE THROUGH Dayton Most Metro –> CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS BEFORE IT SELLS OUT !

MENU ANNOUNCED !!!

COURSE # 1: BACON WRAPPED MISSION FIGS STUFFED WITH BLEU CHEESE, to be served with a mystery wine #1

COURSE # 2: SEASONAL MELON AND PROSCIUTTO SALAD, to be served with mystery wine #2

COURSE #3: COCOA AND CHILI RUBBED FLANK STEAK, WTH A COCOA MERLOT REDUCTION SAUCE, to be served with mystery wine #3

COURSE #4: LEMON SYLLABUB, a light and creamy parfait like dessert, to be served with wine #4

We are excited to be a part of the menu showcases of Archer’s on this fun filled evening. Get your tickets before they sell out !!

The entire Food Adventure Crew of Chef House,The King, Hungry Jax, and The Big Ragu will be in attendance autographing any of your fuzzy handcuffs, gray ties and boxer shorts that you bring to the dinner. We are also happy that Dayton Dining’s Lisa Grigsby will be joining us!

If you are a Dayton area foodie, then make sure you like Food Adventures on Facebook HERE !

Feel free to browse our photo gallery below .. Mr Grape will see you now ….

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