Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

Lisa Grigsby

Volunteers Needed For Heritage Festival!

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Looking for something to do this Memorial Day weekend?


Come out and volunteer at the 2011 Dayton Heritage Festival!  Volunteer opportunities are available in 2-4 hour shifts from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Volunteers are needed in the Kid Zone, the main entry greeting visitors, assisting in directing parking traffic, the beer garden, operating the Wright Flyer Simulator, and to help withclean up immediately following the festival.  Volunteers will receive an event t-shirt, premier, free parking, bottled water during their shift, and a food voucher.

For more info contact Jennifer Dean at 9372932841 ext. 119.

A Beer Lover’s Sunday!

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Starting at noon on Sunday, May 15th The Pub at The Greene will host the 5th PUBFEST featuring tastings of 25 beers not currently on the menu.  For the $35 advance ticket ($40 at the door) guests will get a souvenir tasting glass, and 20 sampling tickets.

“Tasting tables will be set up all around the room and along with the beer there will be 4 sparkling wines, 3 rums and a buffet featuring appetizers, salads, desserts and entree samples as well,” according to Assistant Bar Manager Erika Russ.  Guests will be provided with tasting notes for each product to help them remember what they’ve tasted- often the hardiest part about these events.  The folks from The Wharf will be set up on the patio for those that would like to purchase and enjoy cigars with their beer.

Special guests will be owner and brewmaster, Mike and Kathleen Dewey, of Carmel Brewing, a family owned brewery started in 2005 in Union, Ohio. Mt Carmel’s best seller is the Amber Ale, followed closely by their Nut Brown Ale.   Let’s hope they bring some samples of their new line of beers that will feature bigger flavors and higher alcohol. The first one — Hopton — is out now.  Mt Carmel recently negotiated a distribution deal with Heidelberg and has been appearing  more often on tap around the Dayton area more and more.

PUBFEST will run from noon to 4pm this Sunday, hope to see you there!
For more information, stop on by The Pub and ask your favorite bartender!

PUSH is searching for SINGLE Men!

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“He’s a great guy! I wish I was attracted to him.” Ladies, how many times have you said this about your best single guy friend? Well here’s your chance to do something wonderful for him- nominate him for the 2nd annual Men in the City Charity Bachelor Auction.   Hosted by Professionals United for Sexual Health (PUSH), a group of Planned Parenthood Advocates who  support the organization through creative fundraisers  like the auction.

According to their Facebook page:

We want to hear about your adorable, hard working, passionate, SINGLE, brothers, fathers, ex-boyfriends, friends, neighbors, co-workers, doctors, trainers, bartenders, bosses and/or elected officials!

Or gentlemen you can nominate yourself!

The Miami Valley’s most eligible bachelors will be auctioned off for charity.

WHERE: The Dayton Racquet Club
WHEN: August 19th, 2011
TIME: 7 pm-10pm, after party to follow at 10pm in bar.

Criteria for Nominees:
– Over the age of 21

Please send all nominations to [email protected]

INCLUDE:

-Your Name
-Your Email
-Nominee’s Name
-Nominee’s Age
-City
-Nominee’s Occupation/Industry/Field
-Nominee’s Phone #
-Nominee’s Email Address
-List 3 adjectives that best describe the nominee
-Explain why this person would make a good bachelor.
-2 Pictures or URL for their photo on Facebook, Flickr or another photo site:
-Will this person be willing to promote their event to friends?

Nominations will end on Wednesday, May 31st.

Candidate Selection
Please note that in the past, the number of nominations received has exceeded our capacity for auction participants and therefore, not every nominee may be selected to participate in the auction. A nomination is not a guarantee of participation in the auction; however, we will do our best to include as many nominated candidates as possible.

Another awesome event brought to you by PUSH – Professionals United for Sexual Health

Hats & Horses – Derby Doings in Dayton

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Every year as May roles around there is  a lot of talk about the Kentucky Derby.  Recipes start floating around for the quintessential Mint Julep or Derby Pie.  Women start discussing hats- and this year the talk was kick-started early due to the Royal Wedding. Heck, I even know the difference between a downbrim and a Fascinator, something my grandmother would have been so proud of, if she were still here.  People that never seem to care about horse racing suddenly talk handicapping. Last year I enjoyed the Derby Day Brunch at Brio, but never even saw the race.  This year something got into me and I’ve decided to make the trek down to  Churchill Downs.  So if you want to get caught up in all the hoopla,  here are some great events to celebrate the greatest two minutes in sports.

Color of Energy hosts  a Derby Day Preview Party
Wed, May 4th 6:30pm

Kicking off  “And Their Off,” a horseracing photographic exhibit by John Engelhardt, A Color of Energy gets you ready for The Derby . John is a longtime employee of River Downs in Cincinnati and a resident of Oakwood.  He has a great collection of horseracing scenes that tie in with the upcoming Kentucky Derby. Color of Energy gallery will be hosting along with Judge Dan Gehres and Tom Archdeacon.  The party will feature Engelhardts photos, Ed Meyer a professional handicapper from Kentucky gives his derby predictions and a live throughbred race horse will be outside!!  It wouldn’t be a true Dereby party without the singing of Run for the Roses & My Old Kenutcky Home and Dale Walton will be on hand to do that!  Sidebar will be serving Hotbrowns and Derby pie and providing a cash bar. Original jockey silks will decorate the day and this will be a great forum for Derby stories, history and a preview to what promises to be a great event.

13th Annual Derby Day Dash 5K and Youth Fun Runs
Sat May 7th 8am – 11am

Start the day off by participating in The Derby Day Dash, a charitable fun run that benefits Life Essentials, an organization that helps people who slip through gaps in community services. The day is family friendly and consists of a 5K run/walk, a Tot Trot for ages 3-5, a Kids Canter for the 6-8 year olds and the Guys & Girls Gallop for ages 9-10.   All events start and finish at Fifth Third Plaza in downtown Dayton.  The first 75 registered children between the ages of 6 and 10 will be fitted for a free safety helmet.  All children registered will receive a free ticket to the Beach Watherpark.
There are also team contests with prizes for the largest team, best team name and as appropriate for the day, a hat contest.  Don’t worry, a hat check will be provided for racers, as no hats are to be worn during the race. After the races their will also be drawing for door prizes.  For more information call 586-0545 or email

The second annual Crown Jewels™ of Dayton Derby Day Brunch Sat, May 7th 10am – 1pm

The event generously hosted by Brio at The Greene includes a buffet brunch and in true Derby-style, mint juleps. Other activities will include a “Hat Strut” by our guests, a silent auction and roaming models from merchants at The Greene. Guests will also get their picture taken by the official Derby Day photographer and everyone will receive a Run for the Pink Roses commemorative glass.

All proceeds from this Crown Jewel’s™ event go to further the work of the Kettering Medical Center Foundation’s Women’s Wellness Fund. The fund provides free screening and diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds and prostheses to uninsured women (and men) in our community. It also provides education on breast cancer and other women’s health issues through the Cindy Wilde Vogel Memorial Library located at the Kettering Breast Evaluation Center. Procedures may be scheduled at any accepting mammography facility in the area (not just a KMC affiliate) and the Women’s Wellness Fund will cover the cost. To date over 8000 people have been able to use this life saving service.  Tickets for the Crown Jewels Derby Day Brunch are $40.  Many of the calendar models are selling tickets for this even or you can call Tina at 937-259-7927 to order your tickets.

JLD Derby Party
Sat, May 7, 4-8pm

The Junior League of Dayton invites you to put on your Derby hat and sip Mint Juleps while you watch the most exciting tow minutes in sports with them as they host a watch party at The Wine Loft at The Greene.  Tickets run $30 for members and spouses, and $35 for non-members.  Tickets include 2 drink tickets and a spread that will include Hot Browns, Pimento Cheese Toasts, Mint Julep Lamp Chops, Shrimp & Cheese Grits and Thourghbread Pie.  You can purchase tickets online or by mailing check to the Junior League of Dayton Office. Ticket Purchase Deadline is Friday, May 6th at Noon.

Class Explores Wine in the Movies

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Wine and culture seem to go hand in hand. Many  movies feature wine as key plot elements or scene builders.  A Taste of Wine is hosting a 4 course series of wine tastings, beginning May 4th,  that will focus on wine being poured in the movies.  Lead by fine wine specialist, Laruen Wiethe of Cutting Edge, guests are encouraged to do their homework by watching the following movies:

Bottleshock – In 1976, Steven Spurrier, a sommelier in Paris, comes to the Napa Valley to take the best he can find to Paris for a blind taste test against French wine. He meets Jim Barrett, whose Chateau Montelena is mortgaged to the hilt as Jim perfects his chardonnay. There’s strain in Jim’s relations with his hippie son Bo and his foreman Gustavo, a Mexican farmworker’s son secretly making his own wine. Plus, there’s Sam, a UC Davis graduate student and free spirit, mutually attracted to both Gustavo and Bo. As Spurrier organizes the “Judgment of Paris,” Jim doesn’t want to participate while Bo knows it’s their only chance. Barrett’s chardonnay has buttery notes and a Smithsonian finish **Watching Sideways  – A wine tasting road trip to salute Jack’s final days as a bachelor careens woefully sideways as he and Miles hit the gas en route to mid-life crises.

Sideways– Miles is a failed writer living a meager existence in San Diego as an English teacher. With his career seemingly fading and the fate of a book hinging on a publisher’s decision, Miles is depressed with himself and what he hasn’t achieved. Jack is a television actor whom some recognize but not many do, as if he were a minor actor who got a taste of success. With his best friend Miles, the two embark on a road trip through California’s wine country. Miles wants to give his friend a nice sendoff before married life, while Jack simply wants to have a fling beforehand. As they’re both nearing middle age with not much to show for it, the two will explore the vineyards while ultimately searching for their identities.

Advance registration for this class is required and class will meet each Wed starting May 4th through  May 25th from 7- 8:30pm at A Taste of Wine in downtown Miamisburg. Class costs $10 and each week there is a $15 supply fee payable to the instructor.  Please refrain from wearing perfumes, colognes, or after shaves as this does affect the tasting of the wines.

New Holland Beer Tasting

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The newest Darling of the District, Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery, will join the beer tasting craze that has been spreading throughout the better beer houses in the Miami Valley.  This Tuesday at 6pm you can join the tasting for $25, or get your ticket in advance to save $5.

BEERS FOR TASTING ARE AS FOLLOWS:
HOPIVORE
MAD HATTER
MAD HATTER OAK AGED
MAD HATTER IMPERIAL IPA
SUNDOG
ENVIOUS

If you haven’t made it to Lucky’s yet, it’s located at 520 East Fifth Street, in the building that housed John Henry’s, Blue Moon and the original Coco’s Bistro.  Their menu, like the decor,  is simple and well executed, featuring burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and salads.  Menu items are welcoming for vegetarians and include vegan and gluten free items as well.  Service is friendly and accommodating – we may be the lucky ones to have this  new downtown eatery!

Restaurants Offer Tax Relief Deals

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Whether you’re mailing, filing for an extension, or already e-filed your taxes, you deserve a break,  and some national chains are ready to give it to you. Here’s where you can find free food and discounts on tax day:

Arby’s has declared Friday, April 15 as Free FryDay at locations nationwide.  Arby’s signature Curly Fries are beloved for their appealing shape and flavor. To receive a free value size of these perfectly seasoned ringlets, you must print off a coupon from Arby’s Facebook page and bring it to any Arby’s location during regular business hours on Friday, April 15.

Cinnabon will offer two free Classic Cinnabon Bites from 6 to 8 p.m. as part of its Tax Day Bites promotion  on Monday.

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MaggieMoo’s Ice Cream and Treatery will be issuing a ‘Sundae Stimulus’ in the form of a free mini Crumb Cake Fundae on Monday, from the hours of 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

McCormick & Schmick’s Reel in the $10.40 dinner & drink specials at the bar on April 18, plus you’ll get a gift certificate for — you guessed it — $10.40 that’s good for your next visit. Taxes aren’t due until April 18 this year, but early birds will also receive a tax relief gift certificate for $10.40 on April 15 during happy hour.

P.F. Chang’s Tax Relief special: Get 15 percent off your dine-in or carry-out food and beverage bill. (Alcohol and happy hour items excluded)

DJ Dragonfly’s “Mega-Mix” debut a Guiness Book of World Records Attemp

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For Mark Browning, better know as DJ Dragonfly, releasing a CD isn’t enough of an event. So why not release 2 CD’s in one night.  And to add a little extra excitement to the night, he’ll  attempt to create a world record for the most tracks sampled in a 1 hour DJ set.  DJ DJ Dragonfly’s “Mega-Mix” incorporates 193 samples from a wide variety of genres blended into a unique concotion that everyone can enjoy.  According to Browning, “This mix is guaranteed to be unlike anything people have heard before, but its presentation is welcoming due to the familiarity of the tracks involved.”

The other cd being released is called “Seven Shades of Solace” and brings about a very different mood than the “Mega-Mix”.  This drum and bass collection features crisp, gnarly beats with some rap vocals and some female vocals.  The album speaks to the emotions of inner turmoil, struggle, and a chance to express “realness”.  Seven Shades of Solace is anything but lighthearted and will bring about quite an impact through its raw nature.

Both pieces are highly creative as well as thought and emotion provoking.  This event will be full of excitement and topped off with lots of local favorites.

The Double CD Release Party will be held  on Sat, April 16th starting at 9pm at One Eyed Jacks,  which is located at 2368 Col. Glenn Hwy in Fairborn. Drink specials that night will include $3.50 cherry bombs and $6 pitchers.

Line Up includes:
Trunk Bound Regime
God Bless & Asher Jones
DJ Pluto
Giant Fist
DJ Katy Day
DJ Cory D

Hey Dayton- Show Us Your Peeps!

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Boxed in sets of five, Peeps are marshmallow candies,  created by a Russian immigrant and hatched each Easter season at a factory in Bethlehem Pennsylvania. Over the years peeps have become diverse, first expanding from the original yellow chick to an array of pastels.  Next came bunnies and then in a recent campaign the candy has been touted as “Peeps – Always in Season” and they’ve started making them in other shapes, like ghosts at Halloween.  They are made from marshmallow, corn syrup, gelatin, and carnauba wax.

People are obsessed by peeps. There’s even a documentary about “The Power of the Peep” that premiered in 2009 and took home an award at the NYC Food Film Fest.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAUUL-Ypdu8′]

There are Peep eating contests,  Peep Throwing contests and over 30,000 You Tube video’s featuring peeps- many of which concentrate on destroying Peeps.  Peeps are sometimes jokingly described as “indestructible”. In 1999, scientists at Emory University performed experiments on batches of Peeps to see how easily they could be dissolved, burned or otherwise disintegrated, using such agents as cigarette smoke, boiling water and liquid nitrogem.  They claimed that the eyes of the confectionery “wouldn’t dissolve in anything.” Furthermore, Peeps are insoluble in acetone, water, diluted sufuric acid and sodium hydroxcide, according to Wikipedia.

Peep shows have popped up around the country.  No, not that kind of peep-get your mind out of the gutter.  Peep art shows.  Photo contests, peeps in doranma’s, themed events like peep-powered works of art. Peeps have been made into prom dresses, jewelry and even dipped in chocolate, for the newest Peep treat.

Well now DaytonDining is getting into the peep show business.

Post an original peep work of art on our DaytonDining Facebook page by Sunday, April 24th and we’ll award our favorite peep art a $100 gift certificate to Fleming’s Prime Steak House & Wine Bar.  We’ll notify and post the winner on Monday, April 25th.

Here are a few peep shots for inspiration!  Can’t wait to see your peeps!

Junior Legaue encourages Junior Chefs

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The goal of the Junior Leagues’ Kids in the Kitchen initiative  is to empower youth to make healthy lifestyle choices and help reverse the growth of childhood obesity and its associated health issues.  Kids in the Kitchen will take place from 11:00am – 2:30 pm on Saturday, April 16, at The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, 2600 DeWeese Parkway. The event will be open to children and their parents/guardians, and is included with regular museum admission fees.  This special event is included in the price of general admission for the Boonshoft Museum.

Kids in the Kitchen  will featuring seven different HEALTHY LIFESTYLES stations including: a guest Zumba Instructor, Jennifer Keyes, certified Zumba instructor for children; Dayton Children’s Medical Center’s “celebrity chef” Jeff Delahunt, Director of Dietetics & Nutrition at Children’s Medical Center; Wright Smiles Pediatric Dentistry will be sharing an activity on dental care; chef hat decorating, and much more.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVZ1yrVisDw&feature=player_embedded#at=80′]

Kids in the Kitchen fits perfectly with the Junior League of Dayton’s current advocacy outreach program, POWER (Program of Wellness Education and Resources).  Working in conjunction with Dayton Children’s with sponsorship from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.  One of the POWER outreach programs, Healthy Lifestyles, provides a nutrition and physical awareness program to area adolescents.  Actives include recognizing proper meal portion sizes, how to read a nutrition label, food comparisons, fast food restaurant pitfalls, and the benefit of exercise. For more information about the Junior League of Dayton and Kids in the Kitchen, visit their website at www.jldayton.org.

DLM Springboro to host a Foodie Fantasy!

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Does a room full of chocolates, pastries, beer wine and gourmet appetizers get you giddy?  Well then you may want to quickly pick up a ticket for the Dorothy Lane Market Spring Pastry & Food Show on Thurs, April 14th from 7-9pm.  According to Dorothy Lane Market’s Jennifer Dahm, General Manager of the Washington Township store,  “We’ve changed the name from the Springtime In Paris Show to reflect the fact that we sample more than just desserts at this show.  We’ll have our pastry chefs building and creating dessert showpieces.  Chef Carrie, our corporate chef, will be presenting a heavy line up of  hors d’oeuvres that are sure to balance out the sweetness from the pastry. ”

In shows past Ghyslain’s chocolate sculpture has been the center of attention.  This year the Canadian chocolatier will be there in person, with his chocolate wheel, using the sweet treat to create a decadent masterpiece.  You’ll have the chance to sample beers and wines, with local distributors on hand to guide your pairing experience.

The best part of this show is that is very intimate. Only 150 tickets are sold, and according to Dahm, as of Friday afternoon there were only about 50 ticket left.  You can reserve your ticket online or stop by the counter of your favorite Dorothy Lane Market location.  See you there!

Drinking Down The Bunny Trail

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After having a great time on the Santarchy Pub Crawl, Jennifer and her friends decided they should do something like that again.  Inspired by a few cocktails, the first Dayton Bunny Hop Pub Crawl was born.  On Friday, April 22 the pre-party will start at Flanagan’s Pub.  At 6:30pm you’ll board the bus for the ride to the first stop. But pace yourself, the event is scheduled to run until 1:30am.
For those of you thinking about playing along- you better act quickly.  As of Thursday night there were under 20 seats left on the bus.You can follow the Bunny on Twitter @DaytonBunnyHop for updates in times and locations.  Once the bus fills up,  if you would like to join the trail and follow the bus you are welcome to. Texts will let you know where we are and what kind of drink specials are being offered.

According to the facebook page for $20 you will get a pair of bunny ears, Easter treats, and a charter bus ride to several Dayton area bars.  You’ll want to bring cash, as the bar visits are quick and you won’t have time to open and close a tab. Promoters will work with bars to have drink specials at each stop.  You are also welcome to bring a cooler on the bus- but be cool, don’t try to bring cocktails into the bars.

To make sure ther are no drunk driving peeps you may want to book a hotel room, and the organizers have set up a discounted block at the Dayton Marriott- within walking distance of Flanagans.  If you book before April 19th it’s $91.53 with taxes.  Ask for the BUNNY HOP ROOM BLOCK .

For more info call 937-5050-HOP.

Bake Sale For Japan

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Bake Sales.  We’ve all done them, mostly in school,  I know I was the queen of cupcakes for student council.  We baked, and brought in sugary delights to make a difference for whatever project we were taking on, and somehow we always seemed to raise enough money to make a difference.

So imagine what would happen if bakers across the states, country and even continent all decided to host a bake sale to help a country across the world that’s been devastated by  natural disaster.  On Saturday, April 2nd there will be a  simultaneous national bakesale hosted at bakeries, restaurants, and other businesses featuring baked goods made by some of the most talented professional and amateur bakers across North America.  Bakesale for Japan is organized by Samin Nosrat, a California  Chef,  who proved she’s got talent for corralling community philanthropy when she coordinated a Bay area bake sale that raised $23,000 for Haiti earthquake relief last winter.

In Dayton, Boosalis Baking & Cafe will donate 20% of sales on April 2, 2011.  f you call ahead and place your order by close of day Thursday March 31st.  Chef/Owner Matt Boosalis says he’ll have your favorite scones, croissant, brownies or bread baked fresh Saturday morning, bagged and waiting for your pick-up.  Learn more about Matt from  his  10?’s interview on DaytonMostMetro.com in Sept 2009.

All proceeds will go to Peace Winds Japan, the fund devoted to streamlining disaster response plans in Asia.  If you’re looking to bake or know of a spot that could spare a table, contact Samin and get baking, America. If you know of other bakeries participating, let us know in the comments section below.

Boosalis Baking & Cafe
9486 Springboro Pike, Miami Township
937-424-0636

10?’s with Chef Bob Silva

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Bahn Mai Thai is independently owned and operated by Bob and Judy Silva located in Washington Township since 2005.  Chef Bob was born Dumnuan Nahiran in Bahn Mai, Thailand.  As an Air Force kid, he moved every 4 years, living in exotic countries such as Japan and the Philippines. He learned his fabulous cooking technique, which he describes as country Thai from his mother who ran a roadside stand outside of the Taklee and Utapao Airforce Bases in Thailand during the Vietnam War.

Together he and wife, Judy, bring an American flair to the Thai dining experience with a creative fusion of east meets western cuisine with award-winning dishes like Roasted Garlic and Chive Rangoons, winner for best use of Garlic at the Cox Arboretum Garlic Fest in 2008 pictured here and Twice Cooked Fish-distinctly flavored with authentic ingredients,  like kaffir lime leaves.  

In 2008 Bahn Mai  was named to the Dayton Daily News Hidden Gems list.

And now the ten questions:

What is your favorite ingredient to cook with?

I love basil because it’s the key ingredient in my favorite dish, Pad Kapow Basil Stir Fry.
(Special Bonus- Chef Bob’s Pak Kapow recipe is included at the end of this post.)

What ingredient do you dread?

Seafood. There are a couple of dishes & appetizers that I make well and that are popular at the restaurant, but in general I just don’t like preparing it.

What’s your favorite dish to make?

Basil Stir Fry!! I eat this everywhere I go when I’m in Thailand.

What’s your favorite pig out food?

Mexican! Everything goes with a margarita…

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

Bravo’s Italian and Linh’s Restaurant.

What’s your best advice for home chefs?

Never stop practicing and don’t be afraid to experiment with different foods and cooking methods.

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

1.              Anne Heller (former food critic from Dayton Daily News). She loved my Thai style of country cooking.

2.            Ming Tsai (TV food star, ex-Daytonian). Then I hope he would see what great food and chefs we have here at home.

3.            My wife and her friends. Who doesn’t want to cook for a bunch of beautiful women?

4.            Anyone solely stuck on Chinese food. We need to expand their horizons!

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

TV celebrity chefs – They have great skill, showmanship, and personality. They have the opportunity to reach so many people and expose them to new cultures, food and cooking techniques that they may have otherwise not known about.

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

I dine at other restaurants in between visiting music stores and pawnshops, searching for that ever-elusive guitar that will make me sound like Van Halen!

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

My kitchen disaster happened during my first ever, live cooking event on Channel 22/45, local Dayton morning news.

I had been waiting patiently for about 20 minutes with my pan on the stove (and the heat on because I could go live any minute). The camera panned my way as the morning anchors Nathan and Asia began to introduce me and the dish I was about to cook. I poured the cooking oil into the hot pan and then….Poof!! The pan caught fire! Smoke was billowing everywhere as the stunned anchors quickly recovered with jokes, “Our station is so hot we’re on fire!” I was able to put out the flames and fan away the smoke even though I was stunned myself.

After regaining a bit of composure, I attempted to cook again. In went the oil and….Poof! Fire and smoke again!!! I wanted to run and hide but thanks to the witty anchors we all made a joke of it and pushed on. I cooked and the camera was able to catch me stirring up stuff, despite the smoky scene….

What became of this? Lots of phone calls to my house, something to add to the station’s blooper reel and most of all a great story to tell people…and video evidence to prove it.

Bahn Mai Thai Cafe is located at 725 Lyons Road in Centerville
(in the same shopping center as Arrow Wine behind Sam’s on 725)

You can visit them for lunch Mon – Fri from 11-2:30pm and dinner Mon – Thurs 5-9pm, and Fri & Sat 5-9:30pm.  They are closed on Sunday. Reservations are not required, but can be made at 937.435.0624.


Pad Kapow (Chicken and Basil Stir Fry)

Photo Courtesy ARC Ohio Dream Cookbook

3 T vegetable or canola oil

3-4 cloves of garlic, minced

1-5 Thai chili peppers, minced
(the number of peppers depends on your spice level)

7 ounces of chicken (sliced or minced)

1/2 small yellow onion, sliced

1/2 small green bell pepper, sliced

1/2 small red bell pepper, sliced

2 T of oyster sauce

2 T of Golden Mountain brand seasoning sauce

½ T of fish sauce

1 t of white pepper

2 t sugar

1/2 cup of holy basil

Heat frying pan to medium high heat, add vegetable or canola oil.  Sauté garlic and Thai chili peppers together, taking care not to let the garlic burn.  Add chicken and stir fry, constantly stir the contents around to avoid burning.  When chicken looks half cooked add the onions and bell peppers, stir.  Add Oyster and Golden Mountain sauces, stir.  Add fish sauce, white pepper, sugar, stir.  Add he basil leaves and give it a quick stir fry, remove from heat and serve with jasmine scented steamed rice.

Beer- It’s What For Breakfast at Spinoza’s

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This Saturday morning head to the Fairfield Commons Mall for a  special Beer Breakfast featuring Dogfish Head’s seasonal classic “Aprihop Ale” at Spinoza’s. Brewed with luscious apricots and finished with whole leaf hops, this fruity, citrusy, cedar, thirst-quenching India Pale Ale is the fruit beer for the hop head. Available straight from the keg as beer god (Sam Calagione) intended or piped though an infuser filled with fresh raspberries for a unique flavor experience!

The beer starts pouring and the breakfast pizzas start baking at 10 am. Please call 937-426-7799 for more information and reservations.
Live music provided by David Simpson (old school/funk/R&B).

Menu:

9″ Breakfast Pizza

Available on whole wheat or original crust  $9.95

Hammerhead
Fresh eggs, mozzarella, gorgonzola, applewood smoked bacon, and Italian San Marzano tomatoes

Bull
Fresh eggs, fontina, mozzarella, bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, and Italian sausage

Tiger
Fresh eggs, smoked gouda, mozzarella, black beans, roasted red peppers, chorizo sausage

Mako
Chopped corned beef brisket, hash browns, gruyere cheese, and diced tomatoes

Tropicana Orange Juice  $2    Champagne   $4      Mimosa   $5       Sangria   $4

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Downtown Restaurant Hosts Spring Wine Dinner

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In a building that one housed a downtown grocery store,  Benham’s Restaurant has been operating a restaurant on Warren Avenue since the 1970’s.  On Thurs, March 24th they will host a wine dinner featuring wine and food pairings with special guest expert Michael Freeman of Wine Trends.

The five course dinner, which starts at 6:30 pm runs $55 per person, gratuity not included.  The menu is as follows:

Starter
Avocado Cilantro Soup

Salad
Seared Duck Breast Salad With Guava Dressing

Mark West California Chardonnay, 2008
Deloach Russian River Valley Zinfandel, 2008

Entrée
Roasted Leg of Lamb with minted lamb jus
Yukon Gold Potato Puffs & Garlic Creamed Peas
Vegetarian Option
Grilled Polenta with Shiitake Mushrooms and Balsamic Glaze
A to Z Oregon Chardonnay, 2008
Deloach Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, 2008

Cheese
Gorgonzola Cheese and fresh fruit

Dessert
Chocolate Mousse With raspberries
Graham’s Six Grapes Port

For more information or to make the required reservations, call (937) 228-7041.