Lisa Grigsby

As part of their 25th anniversary celebration Bellbrook Chocolate Shoppe at Cross Pointe Centre in Centerville will host an “All You Can Eat Chocolate Party” on Sunday, Oct. 25th from 4-6pm, in the store’s kitchen, to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness. Enjoy all of the 95 varieties of chocolate made at the shop.  Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the Shoppe or by calling (937) 436-5066.  I’ll be the one there with my mouth full! 🙂

Owner Betty Blose attributes the popularity of her chocolates to the fact that they are handmade with her “signature” blend of milk and dark chocolate to create varieties that include creams, truffles, enrobed and molded items. It’s the only blend sold at the family’s Centerville store, and they use this rich chocolate to create everything from chocolate heart-shaped boxes filled with strawberries dipped in chocolate and cakes made of layers of shortbread cookies, iced with chocolate, to their Bellbrook pretzel, a pretzel rod dipped in caramel, rolled in toffee pieces and finally dipped in chocolate.

Chocolate is one of the most popular sweet-tasting treats in the world and has been for centuries. But part of the myth surrounding chocolate is that if it tastes so good, it must be bad for your health.

But the surprising news from the scientific community is that this reputedly decadent treat actually has some health benefits:

* Cacao, the source of chocolate, contains antibacterial agents that fight tooth decay. Of course, this is counteracted by the high sugar content of milk chocolate.
* The smell of chocolate may increase theta brain waves, resulting in relaxation.
* Chocolate contains phenyl ethylamine, a mild mood elevator.
* The cocoa butter in chocolate contains oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated fat which may raise good cholesterol.
* Drinking a cup of hot chocolate before meals may actually diminish appetite.
* Men who eat chocolate live a year longer than those who don’t.
* The flavanoids in chocolate may help keep blood vessels elastic.
* Chocolate increases antioxidant levels in the blood.
* Mexican healers use chocolate to treat bronchitis and insect bites.
* The carbohydrates in chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain, resulting in a sense of well-being.

Miami Valley Beer Fest is a true craft beer tasting, featuring an incredible variety of beers from some of the finest craft brewers in the country.  Organizer Mike Schwartz, has long been know to beer afficionados and home brewers all over the region, as he and his wife Donna operate Belmont Party Supply.  Mike  is excited to finally present an amazing selection of over 100 craft beers for a tasting this Saturday, Oct 24th.  From 2-6pm attendees will be encouraged to sample this hand picked selection of beers at the Roundhouse at the Miami Valley Fairgrounds on Main Street across from Miami Valley Hospital.

For a flat fee of $35 guests will get 20 samples and looking over the list of Stout’s, Porter’s and Pale Ale’s, there will be plenty of rare beers unknown to the masses. Proceeds will benefit RHA, a nonprofit agency that provides residential services and supports for people with developmental disabilities in Montgomery County.

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With a live band (Skilless Villains) and food on sale from Chappy’s and Thai 9, I can’t think of a place I’d rather be this Saturday.

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Smashburger opens today in The Shoppes at 725. In recognition of local flavor, Smashburger will offer a Buckeye Smashburger designed especially for the Ohio market.  One dollar from each Buckeye Smashburger sold through Friday, Oct 23rd will be donated to the Thank You Foundation of Dayton.  This group strives to improve the overall quality of life of Veterans, Military Personnel, and their families by focusing and supporting efforts for Education & Employment, Health & Welfare, and Morale & Recreation for the community we serve.

Named for the cooking method used to create the perfect burger, Smashburgers are either a one-third or half-pound ball of 100 percent fresh-not frozen-Angus beef smashed on a flat grill to sear in superior juicy flavor. To further the ‘better burger’ experience, Smashburgers are served on a toasted artisan bun and topped with a selection of real cheeses, the freshest produce, and distinctive toppings including haystack onions, guacamole or even a fried egg.

Smashburger is known for its savory burgers, but the restaurant also serves up delicious Smashchicken sandwiches, Smashdogs, and Smashsalads, with sides like veggie frites and rosemary and garlic-seasoned Smashfries. Burger lovers can pair their meals with beer, wine, Häagen-Dazs shakes, and root-beer floats.

Amy Kessling and her partner Tom Rodenkirch have more than 40 years of restaurant experience between them, mainly with Wendy’s. They  hold the area franchise rights for southwest Ohio.  In addition to the first location, which will employ about 30 people, Kessling said they are looking near the University of Dayton and the West Chester area for their next locations.

As of this Sunday, restaurants with Sunday sales permits will be able to sell wine and spirits two hours earlier under a new state law that takes effect this weekend.

The law, which was built into the state budget, allows restaurants with D-6 liquor permits to begin Sunday sales at 11 a.m. instead of the current 1 p.m.  So now your french toast can be complimented with the classic brunch Mimosa, made with fresh O.J. and champagne.

Not sure what drink compliments your breakfast?  Pacchia in the Oregon District has made it easy by suggesting cocktail pairings  for you:

Challah French Toast, sausage, home fries, fresh fruit – Mimosa

The German 2 eggs, Goetta, smoked sausage, potato pancakes, fried apples
– a beer

The Irish -2 eggs any style, sausage, bacon, baked beans, roasted tomatoes and toast – a traditional Irish coffee

The American -Omelet Your Way, home fries, 2 buttermilk pancakes-Bloody Mary

The Mexican -Huevos Rancheros, home fries – a Breakfast Margarita

Some Brunches worth checking out:
Jazz Brunch at Michael’s Sun 11am – 3pm
Brunch & A Movie at The Winds starting Sun’s at 10am
Cena, Sun 11am – 3pm
Madison’s Bistro, Sun 10am-2pm
Meadowlark, Sun 10am- 3pm
The Caroline, Sun 10:30am – 1:30pm
Yankee Trace, Sun 10am – 2pm

Serving Brunch on Sat & Sun:

Barbie’s Bistro
Dublin Pub
Pacchia

Did we miss your favorite brunch?  Let us know.

Located just east of the Oregon District, Franco’s Ristorante Italiano serves up recipes right from the old country.  Owner Franco Germano explains, “ my culinary experiences began in my home in Italy, and have now been carried all the way to you.”

You’ll find a menu stuffed with traditional offerings from appetizers like calamari, stuffed ravioli and antipasto, with entrees including the house specialties Marsala & Piccato offered over your choice of chicken, veal, fish or shrimp, as well as the pick your own pasta dishes, with limitless creations.

To celebrate their 34th anniversary this month, Franco’s is offering a 2 Dine for $34 Dinner Special during the entire month of October:

Insalata or Zupppe
Choice of pasta: Spaghetti, Fettuccine, Ziti, Capellini, Ravioli or Lasanga
Choice of Sauce:  Marinara, Meat Aauce, Italian Sausage, Meat Balls or Alfredo, Spumoni Ice Cream & a soft drink

The celebration will continue with a very special 6 course Dinner and Wine Tasting on Monday, Oct 19th beginning at 7pm.  Advance reservations for $65 per person (tax & gratuity included) will be required and can be made at 222-0204.  Menu includes:

Antipasto
Baked Zucchini and Eggplant with Fresh Mozzarella Cheese and Tomatoes topped with Balsamic Vinegar, serve with Focaccia Bread

Insalata
Caesar Salad

Primo
Boneless Beef Rib Alla Toscana with Linguine in a Tomato Sauce

Secondo
Vitello Alla Milanese Medallions with Asparagus and
Garlic Mashed Potatoes in a Marsala Wine Sauce

Dolce
Caffe Bianco Gelato

Buon Appetito!

Join the members of HYPE on Thursday, October 15th from 5:30pm – 7:30pm at Harrison’s in Tipp City for Homecoming Night.

HYPE is an organization formed by a group of Young Professionals (at the urging of the Covington, Piqua, Tipp City and Troy Chambers of Commerce) with a shared interest in ensuring the Northern Miami Valley is a great place to live, work, play and grow – now and in the future. By opening doors to social engagement, community involvement and professional development, HYPE seeks to establish and empower a community of young leaders capable of supporting long-term success for the region.

Support your favorite college football team and wear a shirt with their logo. Featuring a 50/50 raffle, flip cup and other “college” games, $1 drafts, and a door prize of a 4-Pack to Harvestfest on October 31st in Tipp City.

Sing your favorite 80’s tunes and sign up to participate in our wing eating contest! For $25, contestants will compete for a chance to represent HYPE during the wing eating contest at the October 31st Harvestfest in downtown Tipp City. Participants get a free T-shirt and all the wings they can eat for five minutes. For more info contact
[email protected]

Celebrate Local Food Week at Rue Dumaine as they feature a Friday lunch menu filled with products grown and purchased locally.

Roasted sweet potato* soup with house cured pancetta -$4.5

Swiss chard*-goat cheese* pie-$6.5

Grilled fresh fish (TBD), olive oil crushed purple potatoes*, arugula*, and tomato*-almond relish -$11

Pan-seared chicken livers*, agri-dolce relish*, roasted potatoes*, and wilted kale*-$12

Curried chicken* salad sandwich on sesame semolina bread* with bibb lettuce*, and crudité* -$9

Apple*-quince* galette -$4.5

*Miami Valley grown or produced

Madison’s Bistro Local Food Menu includes:

Fall Squash Chowder – $3.95
Pears, Roasted, Fried, Frisée, Prosciutto, Balsamic Vinaigrette – $6.95
Chicken & Butternut Squash Risotto – $12.95
Apple, Pear and Dried Cranberry Crumble with Vanilla Ice Cream – $6.95
or the entire 4 courses for $26.95

You can make reservations by calling 435-7080 or online at
www.madisonsbistro.com

Other restaurants serving local menu’s this week include Coco’s Bistro, Pacchia and Rue Dumaine. “We think it’s important for people to understand that there is an amazing bounty of fresh, locally grown food available right here in the Miami Valley,” said Noreen Willhelm, chair of Miami Valley Grown. “Whether you’re looking for chicken, honey, pumpkins, cheeses, fish, sausage or collard greens, you can find it within a 50-mile radius of Dayton.”

For the last few years, food advocates have been working to introduce their own communities to the concept of supporting local growers and food producers, in an effort to reduce the need to ship food across the country and to highlight the flavors and variety of regional produce.

“It’s a question of food security,” Willhelm said. “When we buy locally, we know where our food is coming from and where it’s been and there’s much less likelihood that the supply can be disrupted.” The movement really took off in 2008 when gas prices in the United States spiked, causing significant price increases to cover the cost of shipping food from places like California to Ohio.

For other Local Food Week activities, please visit Miami Valley Grown