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Dayton Dining

Smokehouse BBQ Bacon Sandwich and New Pineapple Dragonfruit Beverages at Chick-fil-A

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Chick-fil-A® is celebrating the start of spring with vibrant new flavors to kick-start the warmer days. Starting March 17, the Smokehouse BBQ Bacon Sandwich returns to menus nationwide, this time featuring three options for Guests to create their own customized smoky twist. Also making its debut – and a perfectly sweet pairing – are the new Pineapple Dragonfruit beverages, also available at participating restaurants nationwide for a limited time.

A Bold Twist on Backyard Flavors: Smokehouse BBQ Bacon Sandwich
This spring, the Smokehouse BBQ Bacon Sandwich is back – this time with three filet options for Guests to customize their sandwich – original and spicy, alongside the classic grilled filet. The juicy chicken is paired with crispy bacon hand-tossed in a brown sugar and black pepper blend, topped with Colby Jack cheese, green leaf lettuce and a smoky BBQ sauce, served on a toasted, buttery, sweet yeast bun.

 

FPO

Spring’s Sweet Escape: Pineapple Dragonfruit Beverages

Chick-fil-A’s new Pineapple Dragonfruit beverages combine sweet and juicy pineapple flavors, along with a unique, tropical dragonfruit twist, featuring a line-up of four refreshing options:

  • Pineapple Dragonfruit Frosted Lemonade
    • This treat combines Chick-fil-A® Lemonade (or Diet Lemonade) and our signature Icedream® dessert, mixed with natural pineapple and dragonfruit flavors.
  • Pineapple Dragonfruit Lemonade
    • This combination is a mix of classic Chick-fil-A® Lemonade (or Diet Lemonade) and natural pineapple and dragonfruit flavors.
  • Pineapple Dragonfruit Iced Tea
    • Freshly-brewed daily from a blend of tea leaves, the Pineapple Dragonfruit Iced Tea mixes classic Iced Tea with natural pineapple and dragonfruit flavors.
  • Pineapple Dragonfruit Sunjoy®
    • This beverage combines Chick-fil-A’s Sunjoy® beverage (Chick-fil-A® Lemonade and freshly-brewed Sweetened Iced Tea) with natural pineapple and dragonfruit flavors.

“As warmer weather approaches, our Guests are craving flavors that are reminiscent of longer, brighter days and time spent outside with family and friends,” said Allison Duncan, director of menu & packaging at Chick-fil-A. “We’re thrilled to bring back the Smokehouse BBQ Bacon Sandwich, with an expanded lineup of options for our Guests, alongside our new Pineapple Dragonfruit beverages which offer a deliciously sweet and refreshing balance to the smoky BBQ flavors.”

Testing a New Take on a Classic Treat
Chick-fil-A is also introducing two new ways to enjoy its signature Icedream® dessert with a playful twist on a classic – the Icedream Spin and Icedream® Float, testing exclusively in participating restaurants in Chicago, Salt Lake City, San Diego and Tampa, Fla.  

  • Icedream Spin
    • This new spin on a classic treat features our signature Icedream dessert hand-spun with your choice of fountain beverage for a creamy texture and delicious taste.
  • Icedream® Float
    • A classic float, with your choice of fountain beverage, made special with a swirl of our signature Icedream dessert.

Both options are available now for a limited time at participating locations in test markets.

Customers can check the Chick-fil-A® App or contact their local restaurant for availability of these menu items. To read about Chick-fil-A’s menu, innovations and more, visit chick-fil-a.com/press-room.

Dayton at Work and Play: Chef Dane

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Conversation with Chef Dane Shipp at the Nood Bar, one of the four restaurants at the Silos (801 East First). I asked Chef Dane how he got into the food business.
“I went to Sinclair part-time and eventually got into their culinary program. I was also working at Chappy’s Tap Room. After 8 years at Chappy’s I went to Lock 27 and became their executive chef. When the pandemic hit in 2020 I had to lay off almost everyone at Lock 27. I was doing all of the ordering all of the cooking and all of the cleanup – and making less money. I quit and became an executive chef.”
“The pandemic was a great time to be an executive chef. People couldn’t go out to restaurants but they still wanted to have dinner parties and eat good food. Just a few weeks after I started I had a 4 month backlog of work. Some of the people I cooked for then have been great supporters of my restaurants.”
“In 2023 I opened my first restaurant, at 416 E Fifth in the Oregon District. It’s called “Culture.” It only seats 36 people so it has a cozy atmosphere.”
I saw an article in “Eater,” a website dealing with food all over the world, that included Culture in their list of the top 18 restaurants in Dayton. The article mentioned an item on your menu called the Drip Burger. What’s that?
“We change our offerings often, but the Drip Burger is always on the menu. It’s made with local Honey Creek beef, farm-made American cheese, caramelized onions, pickled cherry peppers, and Drip sauce on a potato bun.”
The Nood Bar has a whole different menu than your first restaurant. Tell me about that.
“When I was younger I had three roommates from Laos and I fell in love with the Asian food they cooked. The Nood Bar takes their Asian style dishes and puts our own twist on it. Take our chicken ramen, for example. My roommates from Laos wouldn’t have topped their dish with collards.”
“I like being located here at The Silos and I think it’s going to be even better once the weather warms and patio seating opens up. We’re getting a lot of large groups and families, because with four restaurants sharing the same bar and seating area there’s food to appeal to everyone.”
Nood Bar at The Silos
810 E 1st St.
Dayton, OH, 45402

authentic noodles, bao buns, and dumplings, a celebration of Asian cuisine

Tuesday – Thursday 4-10 PM
Friday 4 PM – Midnight
Saturday 11 AM – Midnight
Sunday 11 AM – 7 PM

 

Famed Restaurant Famil to Celebrate Golden Anniversary

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The Blue Berry Cafe is going to celebrate their Golden Anniversary – FIFTY YEARS of owning and operating restaurants in the Miami Valley!!!

They have put together a 6 course meal, paired with 5 wines (optional) for Sunday, April 27th at The Blueberry Cafe in Bellbrook.

Since 1975, the family has owned and operated a total of 5 restaurants in the Miami Valley!
The Barnsider Restaurant (1975-2016) The Wellington Grille (1998-2022)
The Blue Berry Cafe Bellbrook (est 2004)
Harrison’s Restaurant (est. 2005)
The Blue Berry Cafe Kettering (est 2024)
They will share the the menu in a couple of weeks and it will featuring FAVORITE dishes from each of their restaurants !
Note* While the menu will not be Gluten Free, we can and will make the dinner GF by request!
Price:
With wine
$115 per person +tax+gratuity
Without wine
$100 per person + tax+gratuity
To reserve text Kelley at 937-545-8278!

Pi Day Dining Deals

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March 14 is commonly referred to as Pi Day, a day that aims to celebrate the ratio of the circumference of a circle.

The number is known as 3.14 or π and can actually go on forever. The most accurate value for Pi, according to Guinness World Records, is more than 62 trillion digits (62,831,853,071,796 to be precise), calculated in August 2021 by the University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland.

While the day is popular in math circles, it is also a day for those looking to score great deals on actual pie, pizza pie and other circular treats.

Are you looking for a discount or freebie? We have you covered. Here’s what to know about which companies are offering deals on March 14 this year.

BD’s Mongolian Grill

At BD’s Mongolian Grill, customers can get apple pie rolls in-store for $3.14 on Pi Day.

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse customers who dine in on March 14 can get a second Pizookie for $3.14 with the purchase of a regularly-priced Pizookie. The offer can’t be combined with the Pizookie Trio, Pizookie Party Platter or $13 Pizookie Meal Deal.

Burger King

Burger King Royal Perks members can get a free Hershey Pie with any purchase of $3.14+ on Pi Day. The single-use offer is valid at participating U.S. locations and can be redeemed in the chain’s app or website for order ahead. The offer can’t be combined with other deals and isn’t valid in Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. territories.

Old Scratch Pizza

Swing by any Old Scratch before 3:14 PM and grab a 12” Margherita pizza for just $3.14. No complicated formulas, no quizzes—just a ridiculously good deal on our classic Neapolitan pie.

Papa Johns

Papa Johns rewards members who buy one large or extra-large pizza at regular menu price on March 14 will get another of equal or lesser value for $3.14. Between March 14 — 20, rewards members will also get exclusive Pi Day offers all week.

Perkins

Customers who visit Perkins restaurants on Friday, March 14 can present this coupon and get a free slice of pie with any entrée purchase. The offer is valid on all pies at select locations, according to the company. The restaurant offers flavors such as Banana Cream Pie, Homestyle Apple Pie, and Chocolate French Silk Pie, among others.

Taco Bell

Taco Bell rewards members can enjoy a Mexican Pizza for $3.14 on Pie Day. The single-use offer is valid on app orders and excludes third-party delivery orders.

SOUP DRESSED UP Fundraiser for Stivers

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IT’S JUST AROUND THE CORNER, STIVERS SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS COMMUNITY! Come in from the cold and warm up with delicious soup donated by some of Dayton’s most talented chefs! Join us on Friday, March 14th for SOUP DRESSED UP 2025! Ten dollars buys you a ceramic bowl of your choice handmade by one of our incredible students, a serving of soup, bread, a dessert and a drink! All proceeds benefit the wonderful ceramics department at Stivers. Don’t forget to bring extra money with you! There will be MULTIPLE raffle prizes ranging from gift cards to exciting experiences to pieces of art. Won’t you be a part of supporting our burgeoning artists? It will be an unbelievable evening of art, food, fun and music! We’ll see you there!

Call 937-542-7448 for more info

Restaurants That Offer Special Lenten Menus

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No meat during Lent on Fridays?

Maybe you thought Lent was just giving up one food like chocolate or, we hope not, coffee. But there are more rules surrounding food you eat during Lent than that, it’s just that it’s becoming less common to follow the fasting and abstinence rules associated with the time leading up to Easter. These fasting and abstinence practices are part of the Catholic celebration of Eastertide, with churchgoers foregoing meat and all foods containing “flesh meat” products on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and every Friday during Lent. Fish is not included in this and is allowed on Fridays, which is why you see so many fish frys between now and Easter.

Here’s a round up of menu’s created just for those of you who are honoring the no meat on Friday’s tradition.
If you know of others we should add to the list, either put in the comments below or drop us an email.

Archers Tavern

9496 Dayton Lebanon Pike, Centerville
2030 E DOROTHY LN, Kettering, 

Bullwinkles
19 N Main St, Miamisburg
George’s:
5216 N Dixie Dr, Dayton
Tuna salad plate, greek Salad, cod sandwich, Triple grilled cheese, waffles, meatless biscuits and gravy, and many more!

 

Hanks’s Local

2529 Patterson Rd, Dayton,
937-254-7527

 

Mulberry & Main

130 Main Street, Brookville

Bob Evans

Bob Evans’s Lent-friendly menu features wild-caught Alaska Cod, shrimp platters and more.

The restaurant said the menu is high-quality, natural, and sustainable. It will be offered daily at all locations and there will be kid’s portions available, to include the entire family.  The restaurant chain considers the annual recipes a core staple of its menu. It will offer a Fish Fry Platter for $12.99, a Fish Fry Sandwich for $12.49 and a Fried Shrimp Dinner for $14.19.

Rip Rap Roadhouse

6024 Rip Rap Rd, Dayton

Corner Kitchen Announces Closure

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We received this press release this afternoon:

“With heavy hearts, Corner Kitchen  announces that this will be their final week of service. For the past three years, we have poured our passion and dedication into creating memorable dining experiences, and it has been an absolute honor to serve this community. We are incredibly grateful for the amazing customers who have celebrated life’s moments with us. Your support, laughter, and shared meals have meant the world, and we will truly miss each and every one of you.

As they prepare to close, their focus remains on our incredible team. They are working diligently to assist our staff in finding new opportunities and ensuring a smooth transition for them. Their talent and dedication have been the heart of Corner Kitchen, and we are committed to supporting them through this change.”

Their final service will be Sunday brunch.

 

Final week:

Tuesday – Thursday: 5 PM – 9 PM Friday: 5 PM – 10 PM
Saturday: 11 AM – 3 PM | 5 PM – 9 PM Sunday (Final Service): 11 AM – 7 PM

We remain hopeful for the future of the Oregon District and for the businesses that continue to call it home. It has been heartbreaking to witness the decline in foot traffic and the impact on so many of our neighbors. We sincerely hope to see this beloved community thrive once again.

Additionally, if you are interested in purchasing furniture, equipment, or the liquor license, please contact us at [email protected].

From the bottom of our hearts thank you, Dayton. We love you and will cherish the memories we’ve made together.

 

Freakin Rican Carryout & Catering Now Open

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Owner Adrian Padilla is proud to serve food from his island in his new Dayton carryout shop. Having moved to the area in 2019, and operated a food truck for a couple of years.  When the spot he’d been eyeing on Smithville became available he rented it.  Sadly the restaurant hood was stolen during his remodeling, putting his plan on delay for a while.  Having grown up in business, Padilla’s grandmother had 2 restaurants in Puerto Rico.  He will be using family recipes.  He shared this menu, though says it will grow as he gets him team up to speed.
2615 S. Smithville Rd.
Dayton, OH, 
937-951-2043
11 am – 11 pm Mon – Thurs
11 am  –  3 am Fri & Sat
noon – 9 pm Sundaydelivery available  via DoorDash or Grubhub.

A Taste of NOLA

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Anywhere else, it’s just another Tuesday but at the Tap House, it’s Mardi Gras! Join us for New Orleans-inspired cocktails (think Sazeracs and Hurricanes) and other New Orleans drinks, alongside dishes like gumbo and beignets.

 

  • Downtown Hurricane14

    Plantation Pineapple Rum | Zaya Gran Reserva | Green Chartreuse | House-Made Grenadine | Passion Fruit Syrup | Fresh Lime

  • Vieux Carré14

    Four Roses Bourbon | Hennessy | Sweet Vermouth | Benedictine | Peychaud’s Bitters | Angostura Bitters

  • Sazerac 13

    Rye Whiskey | Simple | Absinthe Rinse | Peychaud’s Bitters

  • King Cake Old Fashioned14

    Plantation Pineapple Rum | Smith and Cross Rum | Cinnamon Syrup | Pecan Syrup Vanilla | Holiday Pie Bitters

  • Parade Time11

    Vanilla Vodka | Grand Marnier | Bailey’s Irish Cream | Ground Cinnamon

  • Brandy Milk Punch11

    Brandy | Half & Half | Vanilla Simple | Freshly Grated Nutmeg

Soup

  • GUMBO7/11

    A stew of dark roux, okra, trinity mix, and vegetables rendered in drippings from andouille sausage and chicken

APPETIZERS & SHAREABLES

  • Fried Boudin Balls14

    Fried Cajun appetizer made with spicy pork and rice sausage served with a cajun remoulade

  • MUFFULETTA DEVILED EGGS10

    Our deviled eggs have been muffuletta’d (new word). The act of muffuletta-ing involves a creole twist to our Blue Plate deviled egg filling and topping them with salami, ham, provolone, and olive salad

  • Grilled Shrimp Maque Choux20

    (6) Cajun spiced grilled Gulf shrimp over Maque Choux topped with chopped bacon and green onion

ENTREES

  • Muffaletta18

    Sesame seed round loaf with olive salad spread, capicola, salami, ham, and provolone Served with garlic herb oil

  • Fried Oyster Po’Boy25

    Cornmeal-crusted and cajun-dusted oysters, flash fried and served on a crusty baguette with remoulade, shredded greens, and house pickles. Served with fries.

  • Jambalaya20

    Chicken, andouille, and shrimp dance with aromatic spices, trinity vegetables, and simmered with Basmati rice

  • Cheddar Biscuit Crawfish Etouffee28

    Classic Louisiana stew crawfish vegetables, shrimp stock, and thyme served over house-made green onion cheddar drop-stye biscuits.

  • Shrimp & Grits24

    Large Gulf shrimp sautéed with andouille sausage, tomatoes and onions, all southern spiced and simmered in a flavorful broth and served over cheesy, chive grits

Desserts

  • BEIGNETS7

    Warm southern fried pastries tossed in powdered sugar

  • KING CAKE9

    A flakey cinnamon dough with sticky icing, decorated in the colors of Mardi Gras. Your choice of cinnamon cream or pecan praline cream.

The Great Pancake Pick up

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FREE! NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED!
NEW location for 2025!!!
Our pancakes taste even better when served at Caesar Ford Park! This is the same great event, just a location to accommodate more people. FREE as always, pancakes, sausage and REAL maple syrup will be served right through your car window…so no need to even get out of the car.
Donations are always appreciated as they help to support it for the future.
Limit of one breakfast per person; large orders may not be able to be accommodated and/or may be required to wait momentarily.

Century Bar’s New General Manager

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Owner Diane Spitzig was so excited to share that the bar is back open again and she’s done a bunch of hiring in the past week.  Keith Milligan, who was most recently the Beverage Manager at the Marriott of UD has taken on the managment roll and is bringing three bartenders wih him. He’s got 25 years of bar experience and an extensive knowledge of bourbon.

Diane also wants to thank all the other bars that reached out to her and offered support as she basically had to restaff the business after Joe Head and Kelli Nikanowicz resigned.  And while she said she in shock for a few days, she feels really good about the new crew.

The bar is currently open from 5 p.m. to 1 am Sunday through Thursday and 5 pm to 2 am Friday and Saturday. Once the staff becomed fully trained they will begin opening daily at 3pm.

The Century Bar

18 South Jefferson St,
Dayton, OH 45402

There’s A New Food Truck in Town

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Hawgies Way Corn Dog

Tasty Bacon’s is  the new kids on the block running an Americana style food truck serving up fresh smash burgers, hand dipped corn dogs, and our loaded potatoes. A couple of their specialty items are the smack burger (a double party smack burger, loaded with our house made mac and cheese, millionaires bacon bits grilled onions and our specialty smash sauce) and our tasty way corn dog ( a 1/4 pound hand dipped corn dog butterflied and loaded with mac and cheese, millionaires bacon bits and chives)

They  are from the Fairborn/ Beavercreek area but are starting to expand our reach onto other parts of the Dayton area.

This weeks schedule is
Tuesday Beavercreek Home Depot for lunch from 10-6, or until they sell out.
Wednesday great @Blue Sky Coffee  serving breakfast from 7-10am
Thursday Beavercreek Walmart from 11-6pm
Friday mikes motorwerks from 11-2 for lunch and then the game haven from 4-9pm

To book them for an upcoming event click here.

Celebrate Fat Tuesday with Paczki

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Every year just before Mardi Gras — also known as Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday, it’s a  day of feasting before the Christian fast known as Lent. While Carnival and Fat Tuesday are celebrated in many different ways worldwide, one festivity, in particular, is especially delicious: Paczki (pronounced as “pohnch-kee)  Day. The tradition is Polish, but it’s honored in many different communities.Paczki is the plural form of the word, while the singular form is paczek, which is pronounced “pohnch-eck”. Paczki are spherical, deep-fried balls of dough that are filled with jam, curd, or custard. Once fried to a golden brown, they are traditionally topped with a dusting of powdered sugar, covered in granulated sugar, or enrobed in a clear glaze and topped with diced orange peels.

The difference between paczki and donuts is the ingredients in their dough. Paczki uses an extra amount of enriching ingredients, yeast, grain alcohol, and high-gluten flour. Together, these create a richer-than-brioche dough, but far chewier with little to no crumbs. The use of grain alcohol creates a less oily product as well because the grain alcohol evaporates as it fries in the oil, which prevents excess oil absorption in the dough.

Additionally, many types of donuts use cake or pastry flour, smaller amounts of enriching ingredients, and baking soda or baking powder instead of yeast. Therefore, donuts are more crumbly and less rich-tasting than paczki.

Baker Benji’s in Old NorthDayton are offering the following:

They  HIGHLY recommend calling to pre-order your paczki for Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday! First day for paczki in the store front will be FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21st.
Call or text 937.228.4151 to order!
You can also find them at Dorothy Lane Market, Ashley’s Pastry Shop, and Central Pastry in Middletown.

Travel the World with Food & Wine

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Each station will feature a different bottle of Los Vascos, a food pairing, and a wine expert to tell the story behind the bottle.

For those who love the cultural history behind the cuisine, our Executive Chef, Micheal Inferrera, will be on hand to discuss the evening’s menu with you. Add color and context to your tasting as you learn about Chile and the history of Los Vascos in South America.

Menu and Pairing:

Palta Reina

jumbo lump crab stuffed avocado, citrus remoulade

paired with Los Vascos Sauvignon Blanc

Churrasco

grilled skirt steak, charred long bean, smoked manchego, chimichurri

paired with Los Vascos Gran Reserva Syrah

Cazuela

braised cod, shrimp, squid, coconut and tomato broth

paired with Los Vascos Chardonnay

Humitas en chala

corn leaf, sweetcorn, and cheese

paired with Los Vascos Gran Reserva Carmenère

Pastel de Choclo dulce

ground dry aged beef, onions, chicken, olives, hard boiled egg, dough made of fresh corn

paired with Los Vascos Gran Reserva Cabernet Franc

Empanada de Chocolate

fried dark chocolate turnover

paired with Los Vascos Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

A cash bar will also be available for guests.

Dayton At Work and Play: Nate Lansangan of KungFu BBQ

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Four food vendors are now open at The Silos. Each operates out of a 20 foot shipping container located in a corner of the building. In the center you have a bar and lots of seating. I plan to sample food from each vendor, starting with KungFu BBQ.
I asked Nate about the origins of his business.
“In 2020 my father and I cooked 20 meals and served them to friends in the food industry” Nate told me. “They liked our food and posted about it on social media. Their encouragement lead us to cook at a few pop-ups and then to buy a food truck in 2021. The food truck was successful and lead to us being invited to open a spot at Wright Pat and now this location at the Silos.”
What’s your food background?
“My mom grew up in Hawaii and is Japanese and German. Dad’s parents were Filipino and German. Both cooked family recipes that I love. I also learned a lot cooking at a boy’s school in New York. The kids came from 18 different countries and when I’d enlist them to help in the kitchen they’d show me how to cook some of their favorite foods from home.”
My favorite item from your menu is something different – your pulled pork grilled cheese sandwich. How did that come about?

“I knew people would expect a barbecue restaurant to have a pulled pork sandwich, but I wanted to make ours special. We start with great pork, smoked over cherry wood and apple wood to give it a sweet, slightly fruity taste. Then I added cheese and a peach melba sauce. That tasted good, especially when I learned the best way to toast the bread (from Baker Benji in Dayton’s Old North End) but I felt it still needed something. Apple sauce is often served with pork, so I tried apple slices in the sandwich. I also switched to Havarti cheese, because it goes well with fruit. The result is perfect, at least to my taste.”
The sandwich is also perfect to my taste. The only problem is that I may not sample anything else on the KungFu BBQ menu. I may just stick with that sandwich.

810 E. First
Dayton, OH 45402

Tuesday – Thursday 4-10 PM
Friday 4 PM – Midnight
Saturday 11 AM – Midnight
Sunday 11 AM – 7 PM