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Tap into Craft Beer Fundraiser

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Miami Valley Beer Fest
features Big Beers and Barley Wines!
 Saturday, Oct 9th from 2-6pm the Roundhouse at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds will  be filled with unique and interesting beers that you won’t get a chance to try anywhere else.

In 2009 Mike & Donna Schwartz, owners of Belmont Party Supply, teamed up with Resident Home Association to bring Miami Valley Beer Festival to the Dayton area. Planning for a boutique, quality event, the first year was a great success. Over 300 people attended  and this year the goal is to double the event, yet still keep it intimate.

Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Admission includes a tasting glass, door prizes, raffles, live entertainment and allows you to sample 20 unique craft beers.  Live music will be provided by skilless villains.  Food will be available for purchase, provided by local restaurants like Chappy’s and Thai9.

You can pick up tickets at Belmont Party Supply,Brewtensils, 5th Street Wine & Deli, Blind Bob’s, Boston’s Bistro, Chappy’s Tap Room, Harrigan’s Tavern, Jimmie’s Cornerstone Bar, King’s Table, Miami Valley Wine & Spirits, One Eyed Jacks, Oregon Express, Peach’s Grill, South Park Tavern, Thai 9, The Pub and Trolley Stop.  Tickets are also available online. All ticket proceeds benefit The Resident Home Association (RHA). Learn more by viewing the video.

Mike Schwartz of Belmont Party Supply & Aaron Spoores of Cavalier Distributing

What advice do you have for first time attenders?
This is not an event where you should show up to the bar two hours early and start pre-gaming.  Come with a fresh palate as you will want to enjoy every nuance of this fundraiser.   Drink Responsibly..   there are a lot of beers to try, most with elevated alcohol percentages.  Make sure you get some food.  There are great area restaurants involved so have a bite.  Deja Blue is a sponsor so make sure enough water.   Dress accordingly..  this event is inside the roundhouse but it is not heated..  This is a giant part of the ambiance and the experience.

What makes this festival different from Ale Fest?
First off, both are great events for the Craft Beer Movement.    Ale Fest I think has an attraction to a wider array of drinkers.  They offer something for everyone.   Pedestrians, Experience and Geeks.   Where Miami Valley Beer Fest sort of cuts out the Pedestrian level.  MVBF is set up to basically only be a 500 person event that focuses on Big Beers and Barley Wines.   Which isn’t a bad thing..  its really kind of neat..  its chillier outside which screams “BIGGER BEERS” We will have Port barrel aged barely wines, Russian Imperial Stouts aged in 16 yr old Scotch Whiskey Barrels, Belgian IPA’s, smoked porters, trappist ales, old ales and even a Punkin beer.

I hear there will be some really special beers featured,  can you tell us about them?

The whole list is special, but the highlights are:

Cask Conditioned Flying Dog Ragin Bitch. This beer is dry hopped with simcoe hops. Cask conditioned ale is unfiltered and unpastuerized. Yeast is active going through secondary refermentation. Its also naturally carbonated..

Variety of barrel aged Barley Wines. Calvados, port, cabernet, bourbon, and aged scotch whiskey barrels.  To see a bigger list of featured beers, click here.

AND NOW A CHANCE TO WIN FREE TICKETS…

We have THREE PAIRS OF TICKETS to give away!.  Simply comment on this post and tell us about your favorite craft  beer and we’ll randomly choose winners on Friday, Oct 8th .  Be sure to enter your correct email address, (which will not be made public).  We’ll contact the winners by email and post their names here as well!

UPDATE:  Ticket Winners Trang, Kim and Shannon will be enjoying their brews tomorrow courtesy of DaytonMostMetro.com!


10 ?’s with Chef Joe Fish

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imgres-1Chef Joe Fish is a graduate of the CIA (that’s The Culinary Institute of America) in Hyde Park, NY.  During his studies he had an externship at at the world famous Savoy Hotel in London, where he was on a brigade of chefs who had the great honor of preparing breakfast and lunch for the Royal Family including the late Princess Diana.  He then traveled the world participating in Guest Chef work in Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin and Munich before returning to NY.  He has worked in venues ranging from 4 Star New York Times rated restaurants, Zagat rated historic hotels to Corporate Dining facilities including time spent at the World Trade Center.

Chef Fish was recruited to come to Dayton back in 2007 to take over as Executive Chef when Pacchia went through one of its transformations.  Just as Joe, his wife Tonia and daughter were settling into a house in the Oregon District, Owner Glen Brailey sold the business and his position was eliminated.  Until recently Chef Fish commuted to Columbus for work at Whole Foods, but  Chef recently accepted a position as Head Production Chef at UD.  But being a man who likes to stay busy, he’s also opened The Chef Case at the 2nd Street Market.  The Chef Case focuses on Local, Organic, Free Range, Hormone free products,  focusing on sustainable food service solutions including actively recycling and composting.  Oh and did we mention, Chef also does private catering, teaches cooking classes and advocates for locavores.

In between both jobs Chef Joe managed to squeeze in time to answer our 10 questions:

What is your favorite ingredient to cook with?
Right now I am really a fan of quinoa.  Quinoa is a grain alternative that is actually in the grass family. My Wife was diagnosed with Celiac last year so I have been experimenting with a lot of wheat alternatives. Quinoa is considered a superfood, it has very high protein content and it’s easy to digest, it also has lots of important nutrients.

What ingredient do you dread?
Fresh Horseradish Root, it’s a root like yucca, it has to be peeled and grated. The fumes that come off one horseradish stick will make you cry, it feels like you have rubbed jalapeño juice in your eyes or just diced 100 pounds of onions.

What’s your favorite dish to make? img_4498
In the fall I really look forward to making my Eggplant Napoleon. It’s a dish that I came up with at while at Pacchia. It has two ingredients that most people don’t think of putting together but the unique smoky flavor that results is a big favorite of mine.

What’s your favorite pig out food?
Well, it comes delivered in a box, it has very little mess, you can keep the leftovers in that same box. Even when it is bad it is still pretty good…  a Chef’s dream, a great meal with no cleanup –it is a well know fact that I love pizza.

What restaurant, other than your own do you like to dine at in the Miami Valley?
If I have a babysitter, then it would have to be Rue Dumaine, I really love what Anne is doing.  If I don’t have a sitter then it’s a tossup between Amar India and Thai 9.

What’s your best advice for home chefs? Educate yourself about our agriculture in the states; learn about GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and hormones, big agro, the new pesticides, and about the benefits of eating a local diet. Learn what is in season in the Miami Valley and how to handle those ingredients. All produce that is not local and/or not in season is treated with a gas which changes the molecular make up of that food, and not in a good way!

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

1) My Late Father, 2) Augustus Escoffier because he was the father of modern cuisine, 3) Marco Pierre White because I would love another chance to convince him to hire me! 4) Marty Holzberg, Certified Master Chef -a great friend in culinary adventures, cooking for a Master Chef is a whole different ball of wax.

Who do you look up to in the industry and why? I look up to almost all the people at my imaginary dinner party above because they are culinary rock stars but beyond that I guess, I really look up to Ferran Adrià and dream of getting that reservation and taking my Wife back to Spain where she grew up.

What do you do in the Miami Valley on a day off? imgres-2
At present I work 7 days a week, 5 days at UD and 2 days at The Chef Case the 2nd Street Market so, I don’t have a day off right now. When I do have a day off honestly the first order of business is sleep. But a big part of the reason that we moved back to Dayton and stay here is because of all there is to do, festivals, kids activities, parks and some great shows.

 

Share a kitchen disaster, lucky break or other interesting story.
While working at the Savoy Hotel in London a salad was called over the loud speaker in French with something at the end I did not understand, not being fluent in French.  “Oeuf de Caille en salade garble garble”,  quail egg salad, difficult because it has a sunny side up quail egg and a whole cooked quail on top. I made the salad and sent it out. Not a minute later the Sous Chef came back screaming my name. She said –insert heavy British accent- “Joe Look On This!” Hurriedly I turned to the pass and Ellen yelled “What’s wrong with this? Me-blank “um I duno, it is a quail salad” Ellen: “it’s a quail salad, but it’s for Paul McCartney and he’s a  %$^&@#$ vegetarian! -Plate flies at my head… “Now do it over in half the time!”

 

 

‘Boro Bistro Now Open In New Location

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Once located in the heart of downtown Sprinboro, they now are neighbors to Dorothy Lane Market at 722 N. Main Street, in the MarketPaceat Settlers Walk.  Owner Corrie Hassenjager opened the original location in 2004 as a healthy restaurant with great food and a comfortable atmosphere. With the new move, she’ll be able to seat about 70 and will continue to offer her menu of sandwiches, wraps, salads, pizza, smoothies and shakes. Most menu items run in the $6-$10 range, with large specialty pizza’s topping out at $16.

When I visited tonight,  sister Jenny was working the counter and said they’d been pretty busy so far during their soft opening.  She said they still have a few decor touches to work on , but the overall atmosphere is upscale casual.  Seating is mostly tables of 4, with seating for 8 at the bar.  A beer and wine menu is still being tweaked. A grand opening will be planned soon.  Wine tastings and live entertainment are also in future plans.

The restaurant will be serving up lunch and dinner Monday – Saturday from 11am – 8pm.  The menu is available on the ‘Boro Bistro website, but the rest of the site has not caught up with the new location yet.

Drink Pink! Support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with “Stoli Bombshell”

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Behold the 99-calorie “Stoli Bombshell.” Beneath its beautiful exterior, it packs a mighty good punch…against breast cancer.   For the 25th Anniversary of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar at The Greene  will donate 100% of the sale of each Stoli Bombshell to support the Avon Foundation for Women Breast Cancer Crusade.

This cocktail for a cause is $9.95 , or for those of you watching your wallets, you can take get a  true deal when you take advantage of Fleming’s 5 for $6 til 7 happy hour.  It’s a great way to enjoy the atmosphere of this top rated restaurant on the cheap! And good news for beer lovers – Blue Moon Belgian White Ale is now part of the deal at two bottles for $6.

5 FOR $6 ’TIL 7 BAR MENU

5 COCKTAILS
VINTAGE VODKA MARTINI, Smirnoff Vodka
CLEAR COSMO, Svedka Vodka
POMTINI, Smirnoff Vodka
TROPICAL MARTINI, Malibu Coconut Rum
NEW STOLI BOMBSHELL, Stoli Vanil Vodka — 99 Calories

5 WINES BY THE GLASS
CHARDONNAY, Canyon Road, California
PINOT NOIR, Mark West, California
SHIRAZ, Morse Code, Australia
MERLOT, Red Diamond, Washington
CABERNET, Sensual, Argentina

5 APPETIZERS
TENDERLOIN CARPACCIO
SWEET CHILE CALAMARI
WICKED CAJUN BARBECUE SHRIMP
SEARED AHI TUNA
JUMBO SHRIMP COCKTAIL

4432 Walnut Street, Dayton, OH 45440
937-320-9548

Monday-Thursday 5 PM – 10 PM
Friday & Saturday 5 PM – 11 PM
Sunday 4 PM – 9 PM


Granny C’s Bakery: A Family Affair

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Walking into a bakery can be an exercise in dietary discipline.

The very nature of a bakery is one of indulgence, with rows of sweet treats on display – seemingly begging to become one with all who walk through the shop doors.

Now keep in mind, when I say bakery, I mean a real bakery.

Not Wal-Mart.

Not Meijer.

A real bake shop.

Granny C’s Bakery in Huber Heights on Old Troy Pike is that genuine bake shop – where you’re greeted by the smell of sugar and warm dough fresh from the oven, the sight of crisp confections that were rolled, twisted and shaped by hand, and the sound of controlled chaos emanating from the back room as trays of cookies slide onto metal racks, mixers hum and whir in the background and bodies move vigorously to prepare the day’s delights.

Streaks of flour and frosting form abstract patterns across the aprons of bakers as these artisans create edible expressions early in the morn.

The true success of Granny C’s, however, isn’t in the frosting or fruit filling – it’s in family.

“My retirement was gonna go from my pocket to these four kids anyway,” jokes Rebecca McDaniel, owner of Granny C’s. “I may as well make ’em work and learn how to make a living.” Two of those ‘kids’ are daughters Tina Fiore and Sarah Taubert, co-owners of Granny C’s Bakery. Their husbands bake and help out as well. Travis McDaniels, Rebecca’s husband of 41 years, rounds out the nucleus of the bakery.

From left to right: Tina Fiore, Travis McDaniel, Rebecca McDaniel, and Sarah and Ben Taubert.

A true family affair.

Rebecca’s pastry experience began back in 1969, when she was employed at Dixie Donuts as a donut maker before being promoted to shift supervisor. “I was the first woman supervisor at Dixie,” recalls McDaniel. “I worked there about a year doing donuts. I never thought I’d use it again!”

After the stint with Dixie Donuts, Rebecca stepped away to have a family and operate an in-home daycare. “My kids never got store bought cookies or anything else,” she says. “I always liked to bake and I made them home-cooked meals. They loved it, and I got to stay at home with my kids.”

When the kids got older, Rebecca worked as a real estate agent before handling accounting duties for Southern Ohio Kitchens for ten years. When the opportunity presented itself, her baking and small business backgrounds gave her the experience she needed to open up shop in Huber Heights.

She flung open her doors on February 1 and hasn’t looked back since.

“I don’t care if I get one penny back from my investment,” she says. “If we get to be profitable and these kids can make a living…I’ll be happy.”

Who is Granny C.?

Kathryn Cope, "Granny C."

“Granny C. was my grandmother,” says Rebecca McDaniel. “She was a very nice lady. I loved my grandmother very much. She was a very special person. She was my only grandparent since I was one year old and she was always there for me. She was a very active, wonderful woman.

“Granny had a girl scout troop…she was with girl scouts her whole life. In the 1930’s, she drove her girl scouts to the West Coast. To this day the girls [from that troop] get together and meet every Christmas. She was very active in church, and very active in the Harrison Township community. Grandmother was just a special person.”

Everything at Granny C’s is original. The icing, cream filling, flavorings and glazes are all from scratch. “Nothing comes from a bucket,” says McDaniel. The store’s variety of fresh baked breads are all original recipes.

“We’re always looking for recipes.”

And she means it. Customers have brought in their family recipes for the bakery to make for special occasions. The only extra charge is the cost of the ingredients. They also take special orders on pies. “We do a killer pecan pie,” boasts McDaniel.

Sarah Taubert, head cake decorator, appreciates the freedom she has from working within the family environment. She’s responsible for about ninety percent of the wedding, birthday, graduation and specialty cakes that leave the bakery. “I worked at Sam’s Club for a while and couldn’t really be creative.  People walk in here and say, ‘this is what I like, this is the color I like…go for it!’

“You never know who’s going to walk through the door,” she adds.

But if you think Granny C’s is just about sweets, you’re mistaken. They have a robust catering menu from Maple Bacon Cocktail weenies, tiny sausages wrapped in bacon and smothered in brown sugar, to Southwestern Roll Ups, a zesty tortilla treat.

And if you’re on the road in the early morning driving either to or from work, the shop has an added convenience for you: a drive-through service that allows you to pick up the “Red-Eye Special”, a cup of coffee and two donuts for $2.00, without leaving your vehicle (from 6-8 a.m.).

With the commitment to quality and community, Granny C’s Bakery is poised to be around for a long time.

Granny C’s Bakery

5115 Old Troy Pike

Huber Heights, OH 45424

937-236-1230

To visit their website click here.

To visit Granny C’s facebook page, click here.

Rue Dumaine hosts Alsatian Wine Dinner

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This Thursday, September 30th, Chef Anne Kearney and her crew will present a special menu pairing food with Alsace wines, best known in France for charming whites.  Dinner will be served from 5pm – 9pm and is $70 per person. Reservations are suggested and can  be made by calling the restaurant at 610-1061.  The menu is listed below:
Albert Mann Crémant d’Alsace-Pinot Blanc

Toasty goat cheese crouton with apple** chutney
House cured ham with pear** relish
Palette à la Diable- Braised pork shoulder

Albert Mann Vin d’Alsace- Riesling 2008

Flammekueche- tartlet on a thin crispy crust with caramelized onions, Alsatian Munster cheese, bacon and mushrooms, all drizzled with a bit of heavy cream right before it goes into a hot oven to bake up golden delicious.

René Mure Gewurztraminer 2008

Pan-seared, spiced salmon atop house made kraut** with caraway, apples** and Brabant potatoes**, served with a spiced whole grain mustard sauce.

Marcel Deiss-Pinot Gris 2005

Griddled pheasant** sausage served with agri dolce, quick braised kale** and wild rice spaetzle

Marcel Deiss Muscat d’Alsace 2005

Apricot**& almond tartlet with toasted almond-caramel ice cream

Spinoza’s Craft Beer Dinner Showcases Pennsylvania Brewer

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Victory Brewing Company  was founded in 1996 and has quickly established itself as a brewhouse that has successfully produced a huge variety of  distinctly flavored beers. Not familiar with Victory?  Here’s your chance for a great introduction, on Tues, Sept 28th at 7pm as Spinoza’s  in the Fairfield Commons Mall hosts a beer dinner with representatives from the renowned Victory Brewing Company on hand to talk about craft brewing and the unique style of their beers.

This is a reservation-only event and will no doubt sell out quickly. Please call Spinoza’s at  937-426-7799 for reservations and information. Cost is only $26.95 per person plus tax & gratuity.  Bellow is the menu and beer pairings:

Welcome Beer:  Prima Pilsner (draft)  Style German Pilsner ABV: 5.3%

Heaps of hops give this pale lager a bracing, herbal bite over layers of soft and smooth malt flavor. This refreshing combination of tastes makes Prima a classy quencher in the tradition of the great pilsners of Europe.

Paired with Pizza “sushi” rolls with Citron Vodka Smoked Salmon, Cream cheese, and Mango Wasabi Coulis

APPETIZER:  Golden Monkey Ale Style: Tripel ABV: 9.5%

Strong and sensual, this golden, Belgian-style ale glows. The richness of German malts and Belgian yeast are tempered by a sparkling approach and overall light body. Abundant herbal, fruity notes make this one to savor.

Paired with San Marzano Creamy Tomato Soup with Fresh Baked Crostini

SALAD:  Hop Devil (draft)            Style: American IPA ABV: 6.7%

Menacingly delicious, with the powerful, aromatic punch of whole flower American hops backed up by rich, German malts. HopDevil Ale offers a roller coaster ride of flavor, coasting to a smooth finish that satisfies fully.

Paired with Toasted Curried Couscous and Chickpea Salad on a bed of hydroponic Bibb lettuce

INTERMEZZO TASTE:  Old Horizontal Style: Barleywine ABV: 11.0%

A luxurious, warming barleywine rich with aromatic hops and dark, candied fruit character that hides its epic strength masterfully.

Served with Danish Blue & authentic English Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese

ENTRÉE:  Hop Wallop Style: Double IPA ABV: 8.5%

We celebrate the pioneering spirit of old Horace ‘Hop’ Wallop and those who dare mighty adventurous things in this vivid, robust ale. As our annual homage to the hop harvest, expect loads of aromatic splendor and bitter beauty.

Paired with Fresh Ground Free Range Buffalo Stromboli with Ricotta Cheese, Sun Dried Tomato Pesto, Gruyere Cheese, Ripe California Olives and Hop Wallop-Roasted Corn Aioli

DESSERT:  Storm King (draft) Style: Russian Imperial Stout ABV: 9.1%

With a huge, Pacific Northwest hop aroma & character upfront, Storm King subsides into massive, roast malt complexity. Rich and substantial, it will warm your heart.

Paired with Duo of Dark Chocolate and Espresso Mousse served in a French Chocolate Cup

Good Eats at Local Festivals

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As a foodie I have to admit fall is often a hard time to choose from so many great festivals featuring some great eating.  Here’s a quick rundown of some of the options to tempt you this weekend:

DAI’s Oktoberfest – preview tonight and continuing Saturday  & Sunday, read all about it here.

Chocoolate Festival on Saturday at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds features  50 booths full of  fudge, brownies, candy, cake & things “like chocolate covered Jalapeno peppers & chocolate covered crickets.

Applefest on Saturday  turns downtown Lebanon into a craft festival, with lots of live entertainment, old fashioned apple cookoff featuring bread this year.

Germantown Pretzel Fest is Sat and Sun – It’s free and packed with great
food, unique crafts, live entertainment and of course-pretzels!

Enjoy your weekend, I know I will!

Fall Equinox features 30 Wines under $30

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This Wednesday, Sept 22nd Coco’s Bistro will host  another of it’s 30 under 30 wine tastings. Featuring West Coast wines the Fall Equinox Tasting allows guests to choose  6-8 to sample 30 wines offered for only $30.They will also be serving light appetizers along with the tasting from their new fall appetizer menu that’s going to be coming out real soon.

While you’re there be sure to check out the plans on the lobby wall for the new Coco’s location, currently under construction on Warren Avenue. The new location will allow for more parking- about 40 more spaces than they currently have, private dining rooms for special events and a much larger bar area with it’s own menu that will stay open later. The actual dining area will stay about the same size, but the addition of special event space will be  a major bonus, for the community.  Coco’s has often hosted special events, but the current layout just isn’t very conducive and the noise level makes it almost impossible to hear.   The new space even has a large outdoor dining space designated on the blueprints.

To reserve your spot for the wine tasting or to ask about the new location call 937-228-2626.

Monday Night Dinner & A Movie Deal

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In a very affordable package the Sunrise Cafe and the Little Art Theatre have partnered to present a Monday night dinner and a movie package for just $20.  The catch- you have to arrive in Yellow Springs for dinner by 6pm to take advantage of the this deal to make the 7:30 showing.

The Sunrise Cafe is known for using locally grown and organic food  and has many vegan and vegetarian option. There is no deep fryer or microwave in the restaurant,

Thai Peanut Tofu

so you can count on lots of fresh, home made options.  There is a special menu to choose from for the Dinner & a Movie promotion and it starts with  your choice of soup or salad. The entree choices include Sunrise Crab Cakes, a 5oz Waguy Sirloin, Thai Peanut Tofu, a Surf & Turf option and several pasta and risotto options as well.
Desserts change weekly and according to  the restaurant they’ve been featuring a lot of homemade sweet potato or pumpkin baked goods lately.  The package does not include drinks, tax or gratuity. And for drink options, be sure and check out the extensive wine list or enjoy one of their signature cocktails like the tart raspberry martini or even a blueberry fizz.

The Sunrise Cafe is located at 259 Xenia Ave and Little Art is just down the road at 247 Xenia Ave in Yellow Springs.


DAI Oktoberfest 2010 – Bringing Together Art, Music and Beer!

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Yes, it is that time of year again – time for one of the biggest and most popular festivals in the Dayton Region… welcome to the DAI Oktoberfest 2010!  This festival is as old as me (now 39 years old) and happens 9/25 – 9/26 outside of the Dayton Art Institute, with a popular Friday night preview party the night before.  And DaytonMostMetro.com has FREE TICKETS to give away – details at the end of this article!

I had the pleasure of talking to this year’s co-chairs – Margo and Greg Rubertus, long-time volunteers and associate board members with DAI.  Oktoberfest is quite a production, with 15 subcommittees and over 800 volunteers.  In fact, this year so many people volunteered that they had to turn away around a hundred people!  This year the festival is presented by MillerCoors and features several domestic & specialty beers, 10 different craft beers, a cask opening (Saturday 1pm), beer & wine tastings and sixteen unique international beers with Spaten as this year’s German Beer Sponsor.  But this event is not just about beer – since it is a DAI event, one can find a dazzling display of artisan pieces, unique food items, kid-friendly art activities and live music on two stages.  And even if it rains, the tented area between the International Beer booth and the Main Stage has been extended to provide guests with a more enjoyable atmosphere, no matter what Mother Nature might bring!  A good thing, because the DAI Oktoberfest 2010 expects over 30,000 attendees!

Another great addition to this year’s event is a bigger, better-than-ever Craft Beer Tent. Both the size of this popular tent and the number of craft beers offered have been increased. Savor a delicious craft brew while catching the big game on a large-screen TV – it doesn’t get much better!

The Home Brew Beer Contest is back by popular demand, to highlight some of the area’s most talented artists in the libations medium. Though samples are not available for public consumption, pre-appointed guest judges will decide who has Dayton’s best home brew through multiple tastings at Oktoberfest!

The MeadWestvaco FamilyFest provides free art activities and games for the kids from noon – 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Kids may also sign up for the free ProLiance Energy Museum Kids Club.

Free parking and shuttle service are available for Oktoberfest on September 25 and 26. Park at Imperial Packaging Corp. on Edwin C. Moses Blvd. (about one mile east of UD Arena) and take the free shuttle to and from Oktoberfest. Visitors may also park downtown and take the free RTA Oktoberfest shuttle from stops along Main Street, Second Street and Fifth Street in the Oregon District.

Oktoberfest hours are noon – 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 25, and noon – 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 26. The museum’s galleries will be open noon – 6 p.m. on Saturday, with guided tours available from 6 – 7:30 p.m. The galleries will be open noon – 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Advance tickets for Oktoberfest are $4 for adults and seniors and $2 for students (ages 7-18). Tickets purchased at the gate are $6 for adults, $4 for seniors (60+) and $3 for students (ages 7-18). Children 6 and under are free.

Oktoberfest advance tickets may be purchased online at www.daytonartinstitute.org/oktoberfest, at the museum’s Visitor Services Desk during regular museum hours, or by calling 937-512-0136. Advance tickets may also be purchased at Arrow Wine & Spirits (all locations), Bee Gee’s Mini Mart, Culinary Company, Cuvee Wine Bar & Cellar, Dorothy Lane Market (all locations), Dublin Pub, LexisNexis and South Park Tavern.

The annual Oktoberfest Preview Party takes place Friday, September 24, from 7 – 11 p.m. Preview Party guests enjoy complimentary draft beer and wine, live entertainment by local favorite Velvet Crush, and great socializing and networking in a casual, less-crowded atmosphere. Guests will also have the first opportunity to purchase beautiful hand crafted wares by local and national artisans. The museum galleries, including the special exhibition Modern Masters from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, will be open to Preview Party guests from 7 – 10 p.m.

Space is limited and advance purchase of tickets for the Preview Party is recommended. Advance tickets are $45 for museum members and $55 for non-members. All Preview Party tickets purchased at the gate are $80.

Preview Party advance tickets may be purchased at the museum’s Visitor Services Desk during regular hours, by calling 937-512-0136, or online at www.daytonartinstitute.org/oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest 2010 receives support from Presenting Sponsor MillerCoors, Preview Party Sponsor Steve R. Rauch, Inc., Supporting Sponsors Clear Channel Radio, Liberty Savings Bank, MeadWestvaco and ProLiance Energy, and Patron Sponsors Arrow Wine & Spirits, Coca-Cola, Dayton City Paper, Grandview Hospital, Greater Dayton RTA, Imperial Packaging Corp. and Time Warner Cable.

AND NOW A CHANCE TO WIN FREE TICKETS…

We have SIX PAIRS & THREE FOUR-PACKS to give away, good for either Saturday or Sunday.  Simply comment on this post with your favorite things about Oktoberfest (or what you look forward to if you’ve never been) and we’ll randomly choose winners on Wednesday September 22.  Be sure to enter your correct email address, which will not be made public.

UPDATE (9/23/2010): Congratulations to Shana, CJ, Andrea, Mike, Brian, Kim, Melissa, Zack, Jane – you all have won DAI Oktoberfest tickets!

Sandwiches Now On The Menu!

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Downtowners just got another lunch option.  The  Boston Stoker on 2nd Street across from the Schuster Center will be test-marketing a limited lunch option.  You’ll be able to choose a mesquite turkey sandwich, a deluxe ham sandwich, and a veggie sandwich with hummus, sprouts and spinach. Prices will  be $6.95 for a half sandwich box lunch to $7.95 for a whole sandwich box lunch, which comes with a side of fruit or a bag of chips.  Company officials have had success with this program at their airport location and may expand this program to other existing stores in the future.

A Burger That’s Good For You?

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I’ve been hearing it for years, yet I’ve never actually had a buffalo burger.   Buffalo burgers have less cholesterol, less fat, and less calories than beef hamburgers and chicken hamburgers. The American Heart Association recommends buffalo burgers because they contain no hormones or antibiotics. The burger is high in nutrients such as protein, zinc, and vitamin B12. Buffalo burgers are more healthy than beef because a buffalo does not store fat.

According to a chef friend of mine, buffalo meat tastes better than beef. He says the flavor is similar but buffalo has a “lighter, sweeter flavor” and “doesn’t leave a greasy feel in your mouth.” He also reveals buffalo has a “much livelier flavor” but isn’t “gamy”- hmm -sounds worth trying!

If you’re curious about  Buffalo Burgers- you can try one this Saturday as Dorothy Lane Market hosts a cookout featuring the lean sweet meat from 11am – 6pm at all three locations. For more info.

All The Chili You Can Eat!

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This Friday the South Dayton Chapter of AMBUCS, a national charity that helps people with disabilites, will host it’s 25th annual Chili Festival and Casino Night at Polen Farms in Kettering.  Your $16 ticket includes as much chili as you can stomach, $8 in drink tickets, live music by Corky’s Old Time Rock and Roll and Las Vegas style casino games, bingo and door prizes, too!
Local eateries serving up chili include:

  • TANK’S
  • CHRISTOPHER’S
  • CHILI’S ON SR 725
  • AMELIA’S
  • HARRIGANS
  • DOT’S MARKET/THE BULL PEN
  • CHIMNEY’S INN
  • GEEZ BAR & GRILL
  • BEEF O’BRADY’S
  • CADILLAC JACK’S – KETTERING
  • BRUNCH CLUB/FAIRWAY INN RESTAURANT
  • SUGAR VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB
  • BENHAM’S CATERING
  • DAYTON COUNTRY CLUB
  • VINNY’S BAR AND GRILLE
  • ATRIUM GRILLE & DELI
  • DAYTON CONV. CTR./ARAMARK
  • MOMMA DISALVO RISTORANTE
  • TINK’S BAR AND GRILL

Guests will vote for the Best Chili!  Get your advance tickets online for $16 or pick up at the gate for $20.  Event runs from 6 -11pm.

Labor Day Weekend Pizza Sale

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Here’s a great chance to sample some amazing gourmet pizza’s as Spinoza’s will offer 25% off all their pizza’s this holiday weekend.  The staff favorite  Yin Yang is olive oil and garlic with fresh spinach, spicy chorizo sausage, gorgonzola cheese, glazed walnuts, mozzarella and provolone. Or try the Pizaro, which is Middle Eastern hummus topped with smoked Gouda cheese, Mexican chorizo sausage, grilled chicken, and roasted red peppers. Vegetarian fans will love the classic Margherita- Garlic infused olive oil, Roma tomatoes, mozzarella, provolone, and Romano cheese with fresh basil after the bake.  Can’t decide, just order 1/2 and 1/2!

Pizza’s are all hand-tossed and baked in traditional hearth ovens and you can even get a whole wheat crust.  Another thing to appreciate at Spinoza’s is the ever changing list of craft beers on draft.  No coupons are needed to take advantage of the 25% discount, but lunch specials are excluded.

Spinoza’s Gourmet Pizza and Salad
Friday, September 3rd starting at 4-10pm
Saturday 11:30am – 10pm
Sunday Noon- 7pm
Monday 11:30am – 9pm

The Mall at Fairfield Commons

Corner of North Fairfield Rd and Pentagon Parkway- Entrance B near Sears

937-426-7799