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Holiday Beers

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‘Tis the season! Sure, you can have some Egg Nog, but with all of the Holiday-themed beers all over the place this time of year why not grab a brew? But where do you start? Here’s a short list of beers that are available in the Dayton area that are sure to give you a festive attitude (but hopefully not too festive, if you know what I mean). Each has a link to either a written or video review of the beer.

Happy Holidays!

 

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

Sierra Nevada Celebration AleSierra Navada‘s Celebration Ale is an american IPA brewed with fresh hops, meaning that the hops were used in the brewing process very soon after they were harvested. This is a seasonal beer that comes out every year in winter. This 6.8% ABV IPA contains no spices or other adjuncts. Read the review for this beer.

 

 

 

 

 

Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza

Jolly Pumpkin Noel De CalabazaNoel De Calabaza is brewed by Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales in Dexter, Michigan. This beer is released once a year around the Holidays. Unlike other “Christmas” beers, this ale features no spices or adjuncts. Like all Jolly Pumpkin brews, this beer is open-fermented and aged in oak barrels. Batch 903, bottled 10-3-11. 9% Alcohol by volume. Enjoyed on 11-23-11. Read the review for this beer.

 

 

 

 

Great Lakes Christmas Ale

Great Lakes Christmas Ale This is the Snobby Beer Review of Christmas Ale from Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland, Ohio. This beer is released once a year in November and December, and sells out extremely quickly. It’s a winter warmer, and is brewed with cinnamon, ginger, honey, and Yule Tide Cheer. There’s a Facebook page dedicated to this beer, and it has almost as many Likes as the Great Lakes page!. Watch the review for this beer.

 

 

 

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale This is the Snobby Beer Review of Christmas Ale from St. Bernardus in Watou, Belgium. This beer is released once a year in Winter. Similar to the Abt. 12, and classified as a Belgian Strong Dark Ale, this beer comes in at a hefty 10% ABV. The label on the bottle claims that this beer can be aged for up to 15 years due to the living yeast that remains in the bottle. This is the most recent offering from St. Bernardus, which was brewed all the way back in 1946! Watch the review for this beer.

Here we come a-wassailing!

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Why, we would to a warm drink!

It is a scene is almost every classic Christmas movie. People outside going door to door, freezing, singing songs of good cheer to their friends and neighbors. In this age of synced iSomethings and radio stations with twenty four hour holiday music, we take for granted that holiday music (or any music at all, really) is so readily available. At the time caroling started, in the later part of the Middle Ages, people did not have all of the musical options we have today. People of the community would wander through town and sing to their neighbors, and for their singing would be rewarded with a glass of warmed, mulled wine. That something was called wassail, from the Anglo Saxon phrase “waes hael”, which translates to good health. And what is more traditional and social than wishing your neighbors good health? It is a recipe that ranges from high end ingredients to nonalcoholic ones, and is the precursor to many other holiday punches, like eggnog.

The tradition of the wassail toast is written as early as the 12th century. At a noble banquet, a woman came out carrying a goblet full of wine and offered it to the guest of honor and said “waes hael”. According the record, the proper response to waes hael is “drink hael”. Then the person who offers the goblet drinks, then the person honored drinks. This proved much more effective in protecting royalty and nobles from poison than floating toast in wine and hoping for the best. Wassail was only enjoyed by the rich initially because it was expensive to create. Its traditional base is red wine, with rare spices like ginger, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg added for more flavor.

Good cheer to you trees! Please give us some apples.

Like any good game of historical telephone, as time went on the details became a little jumbled. It went from a personal salutation at feasts to a passing of the cup to the entire party. Next time you are at a big to do, think about sharing big cup of wine with everyone in the room. As it trickled down, the wish for good health was no longer confined to humans. Farmers would have a wassail cup for their livestock to encourage them to grow and be healthy. People would toast the good health of the apple trees to make sure the crops came in well, or soak bread with wassail to ward off evil spirits. The English added said apples to the drink as, opening the door to other fruit. Towards the 17th and 18th centuries, people would go from door to door singing, and the hosts would kindly offer them a glass of wassail for their talents. That, as they say, is where our problems began.

Once people realized that there was something to be gained from the tradition, it started to go downhill. The wine was replaced by brown ale (since that is what they could afford), and the spices and fruit were replaced by crab apples, which happened to pop in the warm, frothy beer. This concoction became known as Lamb’s Wool, since the froth on top of the beer looked like wool. This is what became taken from house to house, with almost a demand for payment for bringing by this poorer wassail. This was also coupled by a general decent of the holiday. The Puritans tried to banish holiday celebrations in early America because of how wild they had become, often including break ins, cross dressing, and other debauchery. Charles Dickens and other authors of the time tried to keep the older images alive through their books. There was a spike in wassailing in the 1820’s, but the reality was that the light festivities and merry making had become so sinful it lead to an English bishop to comment that “(m)en dishonour Christ more in the twelve days of Christmas, than in all the twelve months besides.” By the beginning of the 20th century most of the traditions of the wassail had been abandoned or handed off to children, who got small gifts instead of a sip of warmed alcohol. It is still carried on in very rural parts of England and the United States.

Warm, delicious, spicy...and ready to serve!

There is no real recipe for the punch, but there are some commonalities to the ones that are out there. A red wine or a brown beer is usually used, sometimes both in the same recipe. There is also a variety of spices added, typically Christmas spices like cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon. Apples have also become a part of the recipe, with other fruit like oranges and lemons. Every now and then, you will see eggs as an ingredient. Do not fall for this. At some point eggs were added to try and thicken up the drink, and they have migrated into a few of the recipes you will find. It is not advised to add them. Most recipes I have seen and tried are just as good without the eggs. There are even recipes out there for nonalcoholic versions,

A Traditional Shropshire Wassail Recipe (via history.uk.com)

10 very small apples
1 large orange stuck with whole cloves
10 teaspoons brown sugar
2 bottles dry sherry or dry Madeira
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3 cloves
3 allspice berries
2 or 3 cinnamon sticks
2 cups castor (superfine) sugar
12 to 20 pints of cider according to the number of guests
1 cup (or as much as you like) brandy

Core the apples and fill each with a teaspoon of brown sugar. Place in a baking pan and cover the bottom with 1/8-inch of water.

Insert cloves into the orange about 1/2″ apart.
Bake the orange with the apples in a 350° oven.
After about 30 minutes, remove the orange and puncture it in several places with a fork or an ice pick.

Combine the sherry or Madeira, cider, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, allspice berries, cinnamon, sugar, apple and orange juice and water in a large, heavy saucepan and heat slowly without letting the mixture come to a boil.

Leave on very low heat.

Strain the wine mixture and add the brandy.

Pour into a metal punch bowl, float the apples and orange on top and ladle hot into punch cups.

Serves 15-20

Here is a beer based recipe, thanks to Imbibe:

1 qt. brown ale
8 oz. dry sherry
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
3 apples
finely grated peel of 1/2 lemon
1/2 tsp. each ground nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Peel and core two apples and cut in thick slices. Place in layers in a baking dish and sprinkle with the brown sugar. Drizzle with 2 oz. of brown ale. Bake until the apples are very tender, about 45 minutes. Chop the apples and their cooking juices in a food processor until smooth. Place in a saucepan over medium-low heat and add the remaining ale, sherry, lemon peel and spices. Simmer gently for a few minutes. Peel and core the remaining apple and slice. Add the slices to the bowl and serve while still warm.

This is a time of year that breeds good cheer and plenty of social gatherings. If you are looking for something new to add to the holiday traditions, try one of the above wassail recipes, or look around the web for one of your own. It is a very tasty, warming drink, perfect for this chilly time of year. Waes hail!

 

 

Rue Dumaine Offers Goodies-To-Go Market

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This Wednesday, Dec 21st the Rue Dumaine open house market will take place from noon until 3pm!  The success of Rue Dumaine’s booth at the Centerville Farmers Market was the inspiration for these open house markets.  I missed the pre-thanksgiving open house and from what I hear, your best bet is to call ahead and pre-order, because the goodies go quickly.

According to Chef Anne Kearney you should look over the list below, and give Bonnie a call at 610-1061 with your order  to secure your items. Bartender Evan and co-owner Tom have selected and priced for retail 1 sparkling, 1 red and 1 white wine perfect for any holiday party drop-in or to sip on as you tackle the pile of gifts. Pick up a bottle to share with your lovelies on Christmas Eve or to take over to mom’s house on Christmas Day, see details below.

Just a few of the items they are offering:
• Cured ruby red trout sides-6-9oz sides sold to you cyro-vaced- $9/#
• Brian’s house smoked ham-1#-3# pieces, Brian is very proud, it is good stuff. Purchase a piece to slice for sandwiches or cube up for your New Years Day black eyed peas $10/#
• Butterscotch blondies with caramel, peanuts and pretzels, YUM! I believe this is the perfect balance of salty and sweet. Sold in four piece packs $3.5.
• Peppermint chocolate brownies, great for the office or your sweet aunt Patti. Sold in four piece packs $3.5
• Tom’s GraNOLA of love, good and good for you! $7 per bag
• Peanut butter with flax seed and local honey-start you year off right- protein, omega 3 fatty acid and it taste great too! 7oz.-$3.5 or 15oz.-$6.5
• Apple dumplings-honestly buy one to eat after you have wrapped the last gift…warmed with a scoop of gelato. 2 large dumplings-$4
• Bar mix-spiced pepitas, cheese nips, rosemary lavash and oat bundles- great hostess gift. $5
• Brian’s awesome truffled cheesy dip with mushrooms and spinach…A few friends stop by to say happy holidays and this will save your ass as far as on-the-fly good eats. 12oz. of some really tasty stuff. $5.5 • Hot cocoa mix made with awesome French extra brut cocoa. Santa and the kids will love it, mom too. $4/8oz.
• Blue cheese-walnut pave $5/6oz. • Apple-thyme chutney $5/8oz.
• Country pate, YUM! $6/ 6oz.
• French bread croutons, brushed with olive oil, seasoned and toasted until golden brown. Pick up a bag to take over to moms for the cheese tray to make a few canapés with the pate for you. $2.5/ 6oz. bag • If you are interested in some of our fiery Dijon or whole grain mustard, we can make you up a container for you. $6./ 8oz
• Almond-raspberry coffee cake- $6/serves 6-8
• Chocolate whoopie pies with Italian mint buttercream $4/ 4 pieces (2” each) per pack
• Cranberry pop-tarts with orange scented frosting, YUM again!! $3 each
• Spiced pecans, spiced but not spicy. $10/#
• Roasted butternut squash** soup $4.5/16oz., $8/32oz.
• White bean-Arugula smear $3.5/8oz.
• Balsamic vinaigrette $3.5/8oz., $6/15oz.
• NV Gruet Brilliant New Mexico Sparkling wine- A wonderful fine bouquet dominated by green apple and grapefruit flavors. A truly classic house style sparkling with ultra fine bubbles! Priced for retail sale.
• Cameron Hughes Chardonnay Lot 220-This wine shows classic buttery qualities with subtle sorbet notes on the finish. On the palate, this wine is rich and full with a bold mid-palate of Meyer lemon and nuances of baking spice. Priced for retail sale.
• 2009 Rock & Vine, Cabernet Sauvignon-Medium bodied, with a solid core of blackberry and dark cherry fruit and hints of tobacco notes followed by great texture, sweet tannins, and dense weight. This wine is very drinkable. Priced for retail sale.
• Possibly a few more items will appear, it is simply a matter of time before we think of something else, thanks.

Rue Dumaine Restaurant and Bar is located a half mile east of I-675 on OH 725, at 1051 Miamisburg- Centerville Road.

Comfort Food on Wheels!

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Who says gourmet restaurants have to stay stuck in one place? Fressa, the newest traveling food-truck to hit the streets of Dayton, pleasantly proves that home-cooked entrees, fresh sides and tantalizing desserts needn’t be located in a sit-down restaurant in order to be delicious. “Fressa” by definition means, “to chow down” or “stuff oneself”, which, the owners Matt and Lisa Halpin encourage lunch-breakers to partake in during every Fressa-filled meal.

I spoke with Matt Halpin about his intriguing “comfort-food” truck and he explained,  “Comfort food means a lot of different things to different people… It’s about what you had growing up and what reminds you of that. We want people to experience new things and see that comfort food can mean more than what they think it does.”

But… comfort food, on wheels? Matt and Lisa explained that having a restaurant-truck instead of a stagnant, unmoving restaurant allows Fressa to “take that great tasting, gourmet food to the streets.” The mobility of Fressa also allows the restaurant to offer lunchtime deliveries to businesses, catering to all kinds of events and easier accessibility to more locations around Dayton. Matt elaborated, “There is a lot of potential for Dayton to be a real foodie town and since Dayton is looking to attract more people and businesses downtown, trends like food trucks are a great thing.”

Let’s talk about the food: Fressa stands out from the likes of greasy lunch-break options, instead housing a menu bursting with local ingredients, seasonal offerings and of course, hot-from-the-kitchen comfort food. The menu spotlights on the kind of food that reminds you of home, warms the soul, and just flat-out makes you feel happy. Matt explained, “The idea of modern, gourmet comfort food lets us have a lot of freedom when it comes to what we serve. But no matter what, it has to make people feel good.”

Where can you find the bright orange Fressa truck? Matt says, “We are at the Sugarcreek Farmer’s Market and we also do lunches for local businesses. Facebook and Twitter let our followers know that we’re there.” Fressa wants to be able to gain more parking locations to spread the Fressa-love throughout the city, but because the city of Dayton is still working out regulations for food trucks and parking rules, they’ve had a few set-backs. Hopefully by May, Fressa will be perfectly parked at the Courthouse Square for lunchtime.

Matt said, “At this point we are trying to be the best food truck that we can be. It’s hard to picture Fressa being a sit down restaurant but I will admit I would like to have a brick and mortar restaurant of my own some day… Who knows, we could always have both.”

Well, what should you order? Comfort food of course! Matt and Lisa recommend the Apple Bacon Grilled Cheese and Chocolate-Covered Homemade Potato Chips, topped off with a Pumpkin Crème Brule for dessert.

So keep an eye out for this bright orange restaurant-on-wheels, Fressa has pulled into Dayton!

Food Adventures – Small Bites 12/15/11

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Welcome to our new Food Adventure feature called “Small  Bites.”

Every other week or so, The Big Ragu and Crew will give you a quick rundown of some of his favorite things.

Some of our’s  SMALL BITE:

— The Grilled Cheese Sandwich from Meadowlark Restaurant

Grilled Cheese at Meadowlark – click to enlarge

The grilled cheese sandwich has a reputation for being a simple, inexpensive and tasty sandwich.  We have died and gone to grilled cheese heaven!  We recently visited Meadowlark Restaurant in Centerville, Ohio and tried the White Cheddar and Apricot Chutney Grilled Cheese Sandwich.  Arguably, this is one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches ever!  Imagine slices of White Cheddar with house made Apricot Chutney blanketed between two slices of Dorothy Lane Market Artisan Bread.  Have we gotten your attention yet??

 

— The Pizza at South Park Pizza Tavern

One of our Favorite Pizzas – Click to enlarge

Pizza has got to be one of America’s favorite foods and one of our favorite pizzaa is made at the South Park Pizza Tavern in Dayton, Ohio.  They have traditional and gourmet pizzas on your choice of white or wheat crust. We are hooked on the Seafood Blanc pizza on the whole wheat crust.  Along with great tasting pizza, they also offer a variety of good beers on tap and some of the areas hottest local bands.  This place is the real deal!

Try it on a Monday night, because it is buy one pizza, get one free night, but you can be sure the place will be packed.

 

 

THE BIG RAGU’s  turn to CHOMP:

— Whopper or Whimper?

Have Whopper’s Gotten Smaller?

Is it us, or is the Whopper Sandwich from Burger King smaller than it used to be??  The Big Ragu has a hard time believing that the sandwich they serve today is the same size as the mammoth sandwiches he remembered from the 70’s and early 80’s…  Same great taste, he just feels it is a smaller version.  What are your thoughts?

 

 

 

— The Breadsticks at McGillicutty‘s

Click to enlarge this picture of the Greatest Breadsticks Ever

The Big Ragu says absolutely, without a doubt, the best breadsticks are at McGillicutty’s restaurant in Kettering.  If you want them with a little salt on them, then you need to say “Pretzel Sticks” when you order.  These steaming hot, buttery and fluffy breadsticks never disappoint.  Each basket is served with 2 dipping sauces, and they have a large variety to choose from.  May we suggest the nacho cheese dip, the cream cheese dip, or the garlic butter dip to accompany the perfect breadsticks.

 

Please Check out FOOD ADVENTURES  on FACEBOOK by clicking here.

“Like” us to become an official fan!  Look for our posts on DaytonMostMetro.com every Thursday !!

What are your thoughts on this week’s “Small Bites.”  Please comment below….

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Turning Tradition on Its Edge

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The end had come. It was 2006 and Neil’s Heritage House had closed its doors. Fifty years in the making, booming past being just a bar in 1946, even surviving the fire of the ‘60s. This venue was here in the horse and carriage days, before Kettering even existed! 24,000 square feet of tradition was coming to a close at 2323 W. Schantz Avenue in Kettering. But Serena Walther Leventhal, the granddaughter of the previous owner, couldn’t let that happen. She and her husband, Eric Leventhal, picked up and moved back to Ohio from their Californian home. “I grew up in this building,” said Serena, when I had the chance to sit down for an interview with her, “I hadn’t been back since I left at seventeen for New York.” Eric is four generations Los Angeles bred, but the duo had “nothing happening in 2006” so they packed up and moved to the Dayton area so many of us call home. Neil’s was officially restored, after what one may call a grueling process, and opened its beautiful wooden doors to the public again on November 29 of this year.

The restoration of Neil’s, though completely worth it, was “quite a process.” The building hadn’t been winterized, so basically the entire place needed to be gutted and redone. As Serena described, they didn’t change anything structurally, just mechanically. It was especially important to Serena to keep the building’s structure intact: “I’m an architect, so I love this brick building.” Unfortunately, since customers had been smoking here since 1946, all new ceiling tiles were needed, and the original bar had to come down. The result of all the blood, sweat, and tears put into these 24,000 square feet? An environmentally sound building that still has its integrity. The kitchen’s set up and space is already phenomenal as “the chef was a kid in the candy shop when he saw the kitchen.” All that needed to be done before it could be used was the resurfacing of the stoves and they were on tap. And speaking of taps, the bar was reinstated as a gorgeous marble countertop on which craft beers and hand-selected wines are served.

Eric and Serena Leventhal, courtesy of Fleur de Leigh Photography

Once everything physically was in place and the permits were issued, that very next day Neil’s was expecting to host 300 people. The staff wasn’t even fully trained, but the day ran extremely smoothly. “Ever since then, we’ve had phone calls every day for big events,” stated Serena. “We’ve been turning the restaurant over two times during the day and two and a half at night!” To just think of what an experience these guests would have missed out on if the Leventhals hadn’t made Ohio their new home! The eating experience is “comfortable, yet there is a sense of tradition.” They cater to all ages and aim to turn tradition on its side, to provide a new spin to the old standard Neil’s Heritage held back in the day. Branching off of this idea of tradition, the restaurant, deemed with the classy title “The Tenderloin Room,” also features a lot of genuine family photography hanging on the walls that make for great conversation pieces.

 

Sticking to this theme of a twist on the traditional Neil’s, their new and improved menu still has some favorites from the past selection. Serena explained how she wasn’t originally going to keep anything from the old menu, but the phone kept ringing with more and more requests for the original menu. Serena and her husband decided to keep the two most signature items to keep—their Chicken Supreme, a breaded chicken breast with Supreme sauce, and the Pork Tenderloin, which is breaded, pan fried,

The clasic Chicken Supreme

and topped with mushroom gravy. Their menu also offers a lot of new, unique items, even those that are on the lighter side, too. There’s a good mix of old and new, of classic and lighter. I would guess that comes from the great dynamic of this husband and wife pair—Serena is more California in her culinary taste, leaning toward lighter, newer takes on cuisine, while Eric gravitates towards a traditional meat and potatoes dish. As far as her favorite: “I switch everyday!” So as of the morning we sat down for this interview, her favorite was the Southern Burger, topped with a fried green tomato. Yum! She told me she was literally dreaming about it the other night. With the customers, the burgers and salads have been a big hit, as well as the salmon and of course, the classic Pork Tenderloin. What’s so great about their food is that it’s all fresh! They don’t even own a freezer and have never copped any ingredient from a can; every item on their menu is made from scratch each day.

 

It’s been less than a month, and according to Serena, it’s still a work in progress and will be for a long time. What’s still to come? Serena’s hoping to promote local artists. She has a lot of wall space, with the Tenderloin Room and three other banquet areas downstairs and 1,800 people have walked through here already! So there’s a great opportunity in the making for Dayton artists! Also to come—Serena is hoping to get a blog started soon, where customers can interact and give feedback, because for Neil’s Heritage House, customer service and satisfaction is most important. The customer is always right and Neil’s staff is attentive and more than willing to accommodate as best they can.   A different take on tradition, great customer service, and a stellar menu—sounds like a unique combination that is sure to ensure Neil’s Heritage Center’s success! Neil’s really is a “Dayton institution” because everyday someone new comes in with a personal story of how Neil’s has impacted their life. So future generation, it’s our turn to get in on the fun. It’s time for us to make memories we can come back and visit after fifty years. Personally, I think after this week of final exams is over, it’s time for one of those juicy hamburgers. So what say you?

courtesy of Fleur de Leigh Photography

Neil’s Heritage House
neilshh.com     937.298.4115

Lunch: 11:00 AM-2:00 PM Tues-Fri

Dinner:  5:00 PM-10:00 PM Tues-Thurs 5:00 PM-12:00 AM Fri-Sat

Check them out on Facebook, too!

A True Demonstration of Care for Locals’ Health and Lifestyle

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One week ago today, I had the most amazing tour of a grocery store. That’s right. A grocery store. With all the recent hype around the word “organic,” it certainly was interesting to discover this grocery only provides organic and conventional (all-natural) edibles, as part of their Food Philosophy. I had the privilege of experiencing the grand tour of the entire store, and I owe my special thanks to Emily, my tour guide and supplier of bountiful information, for inspiring me on my quest to model my own food philosophy after that of Earth Fare’s, located in Centerville, just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Dayton. Earth Fare believes we should bring our food back to its natural beginnings, as well as support fair practices and local farmers.

Earth Fare’s claim to fame is their Food Philosophy, “the strictest in the world, as far as we know,” explained Emily. They have what they call the Boot List, which is a list of ingredients they don’t allow in any of their goods being sold. The first list on the item—no high fructose corn syrup. “It’s literally made by a chemist in a lab,” explained Emily, “and because it’s so cheap it’s used in a lot of products.” They do, however allow corn syrup because it isn’t as processed. They also don’t allow any antibiotics or hormones in their fresh meat or dairy. “Fifty, or even twenty, years ago, antibiotics weren’t used in meat or dairy, and now people are growing antibiotic resistant” since they are regularly ingesting antibiotics through the food they eat. Emily explained that it’s even been linked to young girls starting puberty years earlier. Another ingredient they have given the boot is any type of artificial sweeteners. Aspartame, in particular, is relatively new so they don’t know the long term effects, though it has been linked to ADD and ADHD, and actually was developed in a lab by accident as a substitute for bug spray. To think that we are ingesting chemicals and unnecessary antibiotics is beyond scary to me, and Earth Fare is focused on bringing us far from this risk to our health and back to nature. To see Earth Fare’s complete Boot List, click here.

Along with this Boot List comes the Boot Challenge. Every month, Earth Fare posts a new challenge on their website as a way to educate the public about what they are putting into their bodies. The website asks you to choose between two different products with their ingredients listed as to which one you would “give the boot.” This month, the challenge is focused on cough drops and lozenges. After taking the challenge online, you receive a coupon that allows you to “receive a free box of Jakemans Throat & Chest Lozenges when you trade in cough drops with artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners” FOR FREE. Earth Fare understands that shopping healthy is a little more expensive, but with their help, people become educated as well as healthier one product at a time. Emily even explained that you could bring in an empty box of these artificial cough drops and still receive a replacement, without costing you a penny. Now, that’s a commitment to education and healthy living.

The second major aspect that sets Earth Fare apart from any other grocery is the fact they primarily buy local (within 100 miles). This way, they support the community and local farmers, who, after all, “make food go ‘round.” Earth Fare always has a supply of fresh fruit and vegetables grown within the 100 mile radius. Shopping local not only helps the economy, but is also a way to educate shoppers about where their food is coming from. Speaking of local, what could be more local than cooking their own goods in house? Earth Fare makes all of their prepared food fresh every day, including pasta salad, pizza, and sandwiches to name a few. They even supply fresh sushi every day. Anything not sold is given away to food pantries, once more supporting locals.

Earth Fare does have some very unique supplies, some from areas around the world, which also adhere to their food and fair practice philosophy. One very unique meat they supply is bison, which is the only red meat approved for heart patients. They also have an olive bar, which is something I, personally, had never seen before. You know what goes great with olives? Cheese! Being one of my favorite foods, I was amazed at their selection from around the world; a “Cheese Key” is even available to find out which country supplied each specific cheese. Earth Fare also houses coffee from different parts of the world, but all of their coffee is fair trade, meaning they make sure their farmers are being supplied with good wages and no sweat shops are involved. As Emily explained, Earth Fare finds it important to “put support behind fair practices.” And this fair standard carries over to how they treat their customers: gluten-free products are carried throughout the store, distinguished by the wooden shelves they sit upon. As explained to me, the designers of this grocery store felt that people who needed to shop gluten-free shouldn’t feel singled out by having to go to their own secluded section. And as far as gluten-free products, Earth Fare carries a HUGE selection, with wooden shelves making up a part of almost every aisle down which we walked. A few other interesting products Earth Fare is proud to manufacture and supply to their customers include their own diapers, dog food, cleaning products, and makeup!

How spectacular is this place? They are concerned with the education and health of their customers, the support of local farmers and fair practices, and they supply items you would never see in any other big name grocery store. But do you really want to know one of the best aspects of Earth Fare? The customer comes first. Always. They genuinely care for their customers. As I walked through the store, every single employee smiled at me and was more than ready to help. Along with caring, they understand those that buy their supplies. Shopping healthy can be expensive. There’s no doubt about that. But that’s why Earth Fare offers something free every single week. This week I visited, they were giving away a free pound of grapes, no strings attached. The week before that for Thanksgiving, they were giving a dollar off every pound of turkey. They also have coupons posted throughout the store, so you don’t have to go shuffling through the newspaper in order to save. They give you the means to save money at your fingertips. And you can visit their website to sign up for deals, too! As Emily explained, “when you sign up, you get a free whole chicken or veggie burger.” PLUS, there are green tags located throughout the store, representing all the money you can save on those items, too. And don’t forget the Boot Challenge, aforementioned. Earth Fare understands it’s difficult to spend a lot of money to eat healthy, so they do all they can to help make it as affordable as possible.

One last thing I loved about Earth Fare? They are big on sampling. You can sample anything. Once again, it’s all about the customer. They want you to be happy with what you are buying, so why not make it easier and find out if you like the product in the store before you buy it?

So take a second to examine your own food philosophy. Do you really know where your eats are coming from? Most importantly, is your health paying the price because of hidden artificial ingredients? Earth Fare’s page, Be Inspired, is a space occupied with stories of lives forever changed with the help of Earth Fare and eating naturally. So maybe it’s time for all of us to be inspired. Make your next grocery trip to Earth Fare or join on Thursday nights between 4-8 PM for Family Dinner night, where up to six kids eat free with the purchase of one adult meal. Experience the difference. Observe that you can eat healthy without sacrificing taste or robbing your wallet. Realize that you deserve the very best—in service, in health, in life.

 

Earth Fare is open Monday through Saturday 8AM-9PM and Sunday 9AM-9PM.

You can also contact them via phone: 937.436.3556

Aging Beer Like Fine Wine

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Beer Cellar

Have you ever had a Bud or a Miller that was just a little bit too old? Perhaps someone left it in the garage during a party in the Spring, and you forgot all about it until well after Summer was over. You thought “Oh, what the heck” and cracked it open to see how it tastes.

Uh oh.

If you’ve done something like this, then you are probably scarred for life. The thought of aging beer may sound like a one-way ticket to Skunksville. However, you may be surprised to know beers, like wine, can actually mature for months, years, and even decades. You might even find the occasional bottle that has a “Best After” date rather than a “Best Before” date. The idea of sitting on perfectly good beer for months or years may sound crazy to you at first, but your patience will be rewarded in the long run.

Here are some things to think about regarding aging beers.

The Environment

The most important factor in aging your beer, also called “cellaring”, is the environment in which it will be aged. Throwing it in the garage or attic might be slightly more convenient in terms of space, but that kind of unstable environment is no good for storing beer.

Beer Cellar

Caves make great environments for beer. You know, for those of you who have an extra cave laying around

The optimum environment for beer is a cool and dark area with minimal temperature fluctuations. Light and high temperatures will do terrible things to beer over time. The optimum temperature range for most beer aging is 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit (10-13 degrees Celsius). You want the bottles to remain relatively dry but have enough moisture in the air to prevent corked beers from drying out. You also want to store your beer upright as opposed to horizontally like wine, even with corked beer. More information on why you store beer upright can be found here.

Unless you have a cave system underneath your house, this environment isn’t necessarily readily available in most homes and apartments. Fortunately, there are other options available. A wine chiller with the racks taken out can make a great spot to age beer. An extra refrigerator with a thermostat may also suffice, but keep in mind that refrigerators are very dry and may cause corked beers to dry out over time. If you have a basement, underneath your stairs or in a in a dark corner may be adequate places to age your beers. If you don’t have a basement, a small closet may be a suitable option. However, the general consensus is that if you are not in optimum cellaring conditions, you should only age beers for 2-3 years max.

Organization

Organization may not be a big concern when you first start aging beers, but after having a large random collection of unidentifiable bottles laying around you’ll learn the importance of organization. How to you go about organizing beer? That is entirely up to you. You may want to organize by brewery, style, age, or other ways.

Beer Cellar

Make sure your beers are easily-identifiable.

No matter which way you organize, you want to be able to easily identify what the beer is, who makes it, and how old it is.

If you have the space and can afford it, shelving units are some of the best and easiest ways to organize your beer. Just set up a few shelves, and stack the beers with the labels face-out.

You may also want to put dates on the beers that don’t have the “Bottled On” date printed on the label. I personally write the dates on strips of paper, then stick them on the neck of the bottles with clear Scotch tape. Dating bottles is important because it’s easy to lose track of the age of beers as your collection grows.

The Beer

Now that you know a little bit about storage, you can start thinking about the important stuff; the beer. There are a lot of types of beer that are great candidates for aging, and many that are not recommended to be aged. There are a few general rules of thumb regarding what types of beers should be aged:

High Alcohol Beers

Alcohol is one heck of a preservative. High alcohol beers are usually prime candidates for aging because they will remain preserved while the flavors mature over time. Generally speaking, beers over 8-9% Alcohol By Volume (ABV) can be aged for up to a few years. Beers that are much higher, closer to 15% and up, can be aged for many, many years. Not all high ABV beers are good candidates for cellaring, but this is generally a good starting point.

Bottle Conditioned/Refermented Beers

Sometimes, brewers will leave a small amount of yeast when they bottle their brews, which carbonate the beers naturally. These beers are known as “Bottle Conditioned” or “Bottle Refermented” beers. You can tell if a beer is bottle conditioned by holding it up to light and seeing the little slurry of yeast at the bottom of the bottle. Don’t be alarmed if you see this, yeast are perfectly fine to drink – though, you may want to leave the last ounce or so in the bottle as you pour so you do not affect the flavor of your beer. Bottle conditioned beers have live yeast in them, which would love nothing more than you hang out and create subtle flavor changes to your beer over time. Not all bottle conditioned beers can be aged, but it is something to look for on your beer aging quest.

Lambics/Sours

Lambics, and some other sour beers, contain a cocktail of natural yeasts and bacteria. Lambics go through what is called open fermentation or spontaneous fermentation, meaning only natural yeasts and bacteria from the surrounding area are used to ferment the beer. Lambics are considered one of the best beers to age, and many Lambic enthusiasts may argue that they will only get better with time. Generally low in alcohol, these sour beers rely on the living organisms that are contained in the bottle to keep them preserved. Their aging potential is extraordinary – I have read about lambics being aged for over 40 years and still tasting amazing! Other sour beers, such as American Wild Ales, contain many of the same bacteria and natural yeast as Lambics, and will continue to mature as the years go by.

Recommendations of Beers to Age

Not sure where to start? Here’s a few recommendations of beers to grab and age.

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot. Buy a sixer - drink some now, some later.

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot
An American Barley Wine, Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot is released once a year in January. The bottle has the year printed right on the cap, which is handy for organization. They sell this beer in six-packs, which gives you the opportunity to easy get a collection started. The beer is very hop-forward when it is fresh, and will mellow out and become much smoother over the years. This is perhaps one of the easiest beers to grab to start your cellar.

Stone Vertical Epic Beers
These beers from Stone are all designed to be aged and enjoyed “Sometime beyond 12.12.12”. The first release of this beer was 02.02.02, and there have been releases every year since (03.03.03, 04.04.04, and so on). Stone has recently released the 11.11.11 batch, which contains a Flanders yeast, chillies, and cinnamon. Grab two bottles of any that you find – one to drink now, and one to drink after 12.12.12. They are generally Belgian-influenced, and each of them has their own style-defying “twists”.

J.W. Lees Harvest Ale
Probably one of the most commonly aged beers, this English Barley Wine comes in at a heft 11.5% ABV. It’s a big, chewy, and sweet beer that will change slowly over time. Vintage bottles of this ale are fairly easy to find (I recently grabbed a 1999 off the shelf!). This is one of those beers that can pretty much be aged for decades, and it’s not uncommon to hear about people sampling vintages of this beer from the 1980s. Barrel-aged versions of this beer are also available.

 

St. Bernardus Abt 12

St. Bernardus Abt 12. A great Quad from Belgium that is perfect for aging.

St. Bernardus Abt 12
The label on this bottle-conditioned Belgian Quad claims that the beer can be aged for up to 15 years. Known as one of the best and most widely available Trappist Quads, the beer has notes of dark fruits, caramel, and spice notes from the Belgian yeast strain. It is available all year round at finer bottle shops.

Some other styles that are usually good candidates for aging: Geueze, Imperial Stout, Barley Wine, American Wild Ale, Old Ale, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, Quad, Braggot, Flanders Red Ale, Wheatwine, etc.

Note: There are a few styles of beer that you do not want to age.  These include Pale Ales, IPAs*, and other hop-forward styles, as well as low ABV beers such as Berliner Weiss, Wits, Wheat Beers, etc.

*Some beers labeled as IPAs can potentially be aged, I.E. Dogfish Head’s 120 Minute IPA, Founders Devil Dancer, Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree, etc.

Cheers.

For more information, beer reviews, home-brewing banter, and more, check out Snobby Beer.

Christopher’s New Additions…Uncorked!

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Christopher's, a little something for everyone

Christopher’s Restaurant is one of the better known independent restaurants in Dayton. Excellent vegetarian and vegan fare, unique and innovative dishes, and some of the best French fries in town. Each Thursday they do a theme, and they have daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner specials that last through the month. These are all things that many of you may be familiar with, especially if you follow them on Facebook, where they frequently list all of their specials.

Something interesting they did not list anywhere, and I had the pleasure of discovering; they now serve wine and beer. According to my server, these new additions just started on Monday. Their selections may not be overflowing, but they are definitely interesting. They have a selection of four red (Noble Vines 667 Pinot Noir, Noble Vines 181 Merlot, Menage a Trois Red Blend, and The Show Cabernet Suvignon) and four whites (Beringer White Zinfandel, Blüfeld Riesling, Fog Head Sauvignon Blanc, and Noble Vines 446 Chardonnay). All of the wines were offered by the glass of by the bottle. While looking around the web, all of these wines had very good reviews. The Show, which was sampled, was big and bold as advertised, with a creamy vanilla and oak finish after a tart cherry bite.

Their beer selection is just as varied. If you are looking forward to having a Bud Light or Miller Lite there, you will be disappointed. You are going to have to settle for Yuengling. They even have the Yuengling Black and Tan. There are a few selections from Samuel Smith (a lager, an ale, and a raspberry ale), always a purveyor of high quality organic beer. Rogue Brewery also makes an appearance with their Dead Guy Ale and American Amber Ale, as does Victory Brewing Company’s Golden Monkey and Hop Devil IPA, and Young’s Double Chocolate Stout. They are even kind enough to list the ABV next to the beer, so when the Victory Golden Monkey’s 9.5% ABV comes knocking, you won’t be too surprised. There is a nice selection of beers for all palates at the table.

Christopher’s list of beers and wines is a reflection of their menu in general. They offer a little something for everyone, and of a better quality than most places. It will be interesting to see the evolution of their new menu, if they will start paring it with the specials or other dishes they serve, will any of it end up IN the dishes they serve, and how it could expand as people start to get accustomed to it and make requests. Next time you go in, make sure you take a look, or more importantly a sip, off of their newest menu.

 

Boulevard Haus Dining Benefits Ronald McDonald House

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Boulevard Haus, located at 329 E. Fifth Street in the Oregon District, is getting into the holiday spirit and invites you to join them to celebrate the German Way. House specialties include  sauerbraten, gulasch, galettes, beef rouladen, sausages and other traditional German fare, complimented by a selection of German beers and wines.

When you dine at Boulevard Haus through December 16th, 10% of your food bill will be donated to the Ronald Mc Donald House  in honor of St. Nicholas.
Owner Eva Christian explained that St. Nicholas is celebrated in Germany on December 6th, the anniversary of his death.  St. Nicholas dedicated his life to serve God and used his entire inheritance to assist the needy, sick and suffering, in particularly children.

RMHC of the Miami Valley Region, Inc. provides a temporary home-away-from-home for families of critically ill, hospitalized children and supports efforts that improve children’s health within our region.

Boulevard Haus Hours:
Lunch Wed through Fri 11:30 am to 2 pm
Dinner Mon through Sat starting at 5pm

A private party room can accommodate groups of up to 35. Party Trays are also available to cater your offsite  events. Call 824-2722 for more information.

Rivertown Lambic – Snobby Beer Video Reviews

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This is the Snobby Beer Review of the Lambic made by Rivertown Brewing Co. in Cincinnati, Ohio. The beer style is a lambic, which goes through what is called spontaneous fermentation where natural yeasts and bacteria are used to ferment the beer. Lambics are known for their “wild” flavors, which may include sourness and what is affectionately referred to as “funk”.

It’s a very interesting style, and it was brewed right here in Ohio! This beer is the 2010 vintage. It can still be found at finer bottle shops in the Dayton, Cincinnati, and other areas where Rivertown is distributed.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afijtisA5Q4′]

 

Questions? Suggestions? Let me know what you think! Grab a beer and leave a comment.

A Simply De’Lish Experience

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 Some would consider honesty within a business’s practice an important component, and as a customer, you want what you were promised, right? So what if I told you that this downtown Dayton café and bar fulfills the promise it holds within its title? That this restaurant literally holds true to its name? Well, let me enlighten you. De’Lish is both the description of this venue, as well as the cuisine they serve as part of their entire dining experience. And “experience” may not even do justice to what really happens behind those lovely curtained front doors of De’Lish on the corner of Main and First. After having their doors open FOR A WHOLE YEAR, they are ready to throw a royal celebration! Details to come…

            On a recent chilly Friday, I had the opportunity of sitting down (in front of their gorgeous bar) with Jasmine Brown, one of the co-owners of De’Lish along with Tawana Knight. “My fiancé and I had always wanted a lounge and bar,” described Jasmine, and when they came across the space downtown, they fell in love with it immediately. Jasmine explained that running your own restaurant is like everyone warns: “it is a very demanding business, but it’s worth it for the look on people’s face when they taste the food. And then you see your first repeat customers and eventually, you see regulars, and you just know you’re doing something good.” They started business last December, and this Saturday, December 3, marks their one year anniversary! Congratulations are in order.

This venue is known for their dining experience, in every sense of the word. While enjoying their wide selection of cuisine, De’Lish also provides the entertainment. They host poetry readings twice a month, from local poets. Local comedians even had a chance at the stage just a few Sundays ago for their second comedic night. They have even hosted a night full of Reggae musicians, where groups from Columbus traveled over to Dayton to share an evening with the guests at De’Lish. When discussing this, I could really feel Jasmine’s emphasis on supporting local people. Even all the art within the room was unveiled specifically for De’Lish by a local artist named Amanda Sue Allen. As much as possible, the wonderful staff at De’Lish tries to incorporate people within the surrounding community into their events. They feature a variety of local talents, as well as serving up their own variety within an average week. Below is a map to the endless celebration taking place within this relaxed, yet elegant setting:

Monday: Monday Night FootballTuesday: A very laid back evening
Wednesday: “Wind down” with 50 cent wings and wine specials
Thursday: Another relaxed evening
Friday-Saturday: When the party is happening!! Live entertainment begins at 9 PM
Sunday: Delicious brunch, where the chefs feature different food than usually on the menu
Bonus: Complementary Valet ParkingWednesday-Sunday

De’Lish is known for its dining atmosphere. It is fine dining, but by no means has that stuffy feeling some restaurants carry. The setting is close enough that you can get to know your neighbor and interact with those around you if you so choose, but is also private enough that it’s the perfect date night. Jasmine commented about how she has had the privilege to observe complete strangers build relationships over dinner or coordinate business transactions from the table across the way. It truly is a community, where every member is welcome and invited in with welcoming smiles. Numerous customers have commented on De’Lish’s “ambiance” and the live entertainment allows the guests to see a show while they enjoy their meal. So it’s pretty obvious that these folks like to have a good time, right? And now you must be wondering what’s “under the table” for their anniversary this Saturday.

A celebration for their guests. That’s what Jasmine and her lovely crew at De’Lish have decided to cater to for this celebration of the anniversary of their opening, one year ago on December 3rd. The main purpose of this celebration is “to give back to the customers”. So what’s on tap? A radio station will be broadcasting at De’Lish from 5 PM to 7 PM. Hor’deurves will be passed throughout the celebration and a medley of local bands will also be performing, each having an hour set. “We have some really great bands coming in,” gleamed Jasmine, who should definitely be excited for the anniversary of a truly beautiful lounge and bar. Interviewing her, I could really see her passion for the success of this restaurant and for the relationships she holds with her customers. The guests represent all parts of Dayton—all ages, all demographics. “There is such a wide spectrum of guests from day to day, and I have been told by many of them, ‘I just feel so comfortable here.’” I definitely could feel that same level of comfort as I sat with Jasmine in the elegant lighting of De’Lish, conversation flowing as if we were old friends. I asked what knowledge this one year has bestowed upon her, and she responded, “I have learned to be patient, to wait for things. Also, I cannot please everyone.” These words of wisdom most definitely apply to our everyday lives, too.

 On to the eats? Now that we have been welcomed into such a dazzling venue, feel at home with the friendly faces around us, and a show is available for our entertainment, it’s time to discuss the real reason you came to De’Lish. It is a restaurant—so what about their menu? When I asked Jasmine her favorite item, she genuinely had a hard time picking just one, because she “absolutely love[s] so much on the menu.” She finally narrowed it down to three, still teetering among their delicious Lamb Chops, the best Turkey Burger, and the great seafood De’Lish offers (they have served Sea Bass three different ways, all of which have wowed taste buds of countless guests over this past year). And their roasted hummus, made in house and served with crispy pita bread is a must-try. Honestly, with De’Lish’s “pretty awesome team,” including celebrity Chef Mark Brown and “Chef of the Year” sous chef Anthony Head, it’s not surprising their wide selection is nothing but spectacular.

So why De’Lish? Think back to when TV dinners started taking the nation by storm. Dinner + a show = a pretty good time. The major negative thing about these TV dinners were that they took away important bonding time for American families during dinner. De’Lish offers even better entertainment than any television show would be able to cook up and thrives on the bonding and interaction between its guests over a most delicious meal. A sense of belonging ensues from such a dining experience, and the fact that there’s great cuisine is the kicker. Such a variety is embodied within the menu; no one will be disappointed. All in all—it’s great food, a chance to get involved in the Dayton community, and entertainment all comfortably placed within this bar and lounge on First and Main. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience waiting for you, especially ushering in De’Lish’s new year this Saturday, starting at 5 PM.

All that’s left to do is get your party hat on!

 

Address: 139 N. Main Street Downtown Dayton, Dayton, OH 45402

Hours: Tues: 11AM – 7PM

Wed-Thu: 11AM – 10PM

Fri: 11AM – 2AM

Sat: 5PM – 2 AM

Sun: 11AM – 4PM

Reservations and Catering: (937) 461- CAFE (2233)

Food Adventures – judging who makes the “Most Delightful Dessert”

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The crisp night of November 19th, The Food Adventure Crew were preparing their tummys for some of the most incredible sweets in the Dayton area. Your humble Food Adventurers had been invited to use their tastebud expertise to judge a dessert contest at the Carrillon Park /Dayton Heritage Museum’s “Ringing in the Holidays” gala.  Five top area chefs were competing for “Most Delightful Dessert” which included two categories, Best Dessert and Best Presentation.

As we entered the museum, we were greeted by Christmas Carolers who lined the entranceway.  The wonderful aroma of the food displayed in the lobby was also music to our ears.  As we entered the party, we were greeted by the organizers of the event which included local attorneys Nicole Mitchell and Mark Engling.  They gave us the VIP treatment!  We were given nametags, and asked to mingle among the people, open bar and hors d’oeuvres.  If you know us, we gladly participated.  Eating among many local socialites and the movers and shakers of Dayton’s society, we enjoyed some incredible appetizers from the caterers, which included Scratch Catering owned by Chef Matt Hayden.

We Loved Culp’s Cafe’s Rustic Hot Chocolate

Besides being our first time as celeb taste testers, we had another “first” at this event.  We both had our first martini, which was a fantastic Candy Cane Martini, prepared with the holiday spirit in mind.  We were chastised in fun by an older gentleman  who asked when we were going to drink something more “manly,” so we quickly went back to beer.  The Big Ragu was very happy to see that the open bar included Sam Adam’s Winter Lager.

As we made our way to the dessert area we saw our pal Lisa Grigsby from DaytonMostMetro.com and Dayton Dining.  She introduced us to fellow judges Amelia Robinson the “smart mouth” from Dayton Daily News, and local TV personality Jim Bucher from WDTN Channel 2.   Glancing at the desserts, we noticed some other appetizer areas that we decided to hit before finally getting to the “expert judging.”

Our job, if you will, was to taste 5 premium desserts and rank them 1 through 5.  This was like trying to rank your children, as the plates were all amazing.

The first dessert we tried was Culp’s Cafe’s Rustic Hot Chocolate with Chocolate Covered Churro.  This was one of our favorites and believe us, all the desserts were top rate!  The chef Jose Calzada had some incredible chilli powder spices that gave a unique and addictive twist to the drink.  Something simple, a classic that was reinvented.

Dessert number two was the Champagne Chocolate Truffle Tart made by chef Justin Mohler from Olive, an Urban Dive  restaurant in Dayton.  It was a sinful, rich tasting dessert.  This was a favorite of the judges, and we could have eaten the whole tray.  Our mouths were definitely in heaven.

Winning Dessert from Olive, an Urban Dive

The third dessert we tried were Mini Peppermint Cupcakes and Mini Egg Nog Cupcakes from Cake, Hope and Love.  Chefs Shannon Teague and Connie McFarren had a beautiful display to match the cupcakes addictive taste.  Big Ragu was seen sneaking back for seconds, as they were awesome.

Dessert number four was the Dayton Women’s Club‘s Holiday DuJour which featured a carrot cake.  This was one of our favorite presentations, and the delicate, creamy taste of this dessert showed chef Joseph Ragno really knows his stuff.   Again the simple classic was taken up a level, and the garnish of a dried apple slice lended to the taste for the eyes as well.

The fifth dessert we ate was a unique twist offered by chef Marcus Montreuil from Amelia’s Bistro.  This inventive dessert was called Sugar Plum Fantasy and featured a marshmallow, bacon peanut brittle, and brownie with a “shooter tube” of caramel that you actually squeeze into your mouth.  Again superb presentation and taste.

The desserts left us speechless and after the extremely close voting, we had a tie.  We conferred with the other judges and finally emerged with the winners.  Best Presentation went to the Dayton Women’s Club dessert, and overall Best Dessert was awarded to Olive, an Urban Dive.

Best Presentation Winner: the Dayton Women’s Club

In summary, we took something else away from this party besides the sweets.  The event was held in the tastefully informative Dayton Heritage Museum at Carrillon Park.  Displays included lots of antiques and pictures about Dayton’s business history and more.  We even rode the antique Merry Go Round If you have not been to this museum, you have to visit.   Your Food Adventurers were as blown away as much by the museum as we were by the desserts.

Finally, Food Adventures would like to thank Carrillon Park and DaytonMostMetro.com for the privilege of being part of this “Ringing in the Holidays” extravaganza.  Like the desserts, you are all VERY SWEET !!!

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Tröegs Mad Elf – Snobby Beer Reviews

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Troegs Mad Elf Beer. It’s a wonderful combination of barley, hops, water, and yeast. These four ingredients can produce a huge variety of styles of beer, from refreshing Lagers to chewy Imperial Stouts. There are beers for every occasion. Beer is something enjoyed by a diverse group of people. Beer is something you can make at home. It can be cheap, and it can be expensive. It can be widely available, and it can be extremely rare. If you’ve read this far, then you probably can agree: beer is awesome.

Now that it’s almost December, seasonal brews have shifted from Oktoberfests and Pumpkin Ales to Winter Warmers and Spiced Ales. These seasonal beers are among my favorite styles, if for no other reason than they just feel special. I decided to share my review for one of these beers as my first review on Dayton Most Metro.

Enter: Mad Elf from Tröegs Brewing Co. in Harrisburg, PA.

From the Tröegs Website:

The Mad Elf, a cheerful creation to warm your heart and enlighten your tongue. The combination of Cherries, Honey, and Chocolate Malts delivers gentle fruits and subtle spices. Fermented and aged with a unique yeast, this ruby red beer has significant warming strength that underlies the pleasant character of this intriguing yet delicious Ale. The Mad Elf, a jolly and delicious beer for the Holidays.

My review for this beer:

Troegs Mad Elf 2011

Troegs Mad Elf 2011

This beer is 11% Alcohol By Volume, and 15 IBUs (International Bittering Units).

Served in a Christmas tulip!

APPEARANCE

This Elf is a lovely deep copper-red color and is more translucent than expected. The head was about a one finger khaki color, and dissipated in a hurry – none of it remained. It looks like a lovely brew! I feel like the cherries were added to give it a good amount of color, but not so much on the flavor (more on that later).

SMELL

There is some definite big Belgian yeast/spice character coming through. Surprisingly, alcohol isn’t that present. There is a lovely honey aroma, but not a lot of the cherries. There’s a good bit of raisin bread character, and the Belgian spiciness is met with some dark fruitiness. It smells fantastic and inviting.

TASTE

Yum – this is a big bad beer. There’s a lot of chewy bread-like character, and some wonderful dark fruit character. The sweetness is definitely high, but not cloying. The honey comes through at the back of the tongue and hangs around for a little while after the swallow. The cherry flavor is present, but it’s not very noticeable. The Belgian spiciness is a nice addition to to overall flavor, but isn’t the focus of the beer. Alcohol? Schmalcohol, this beer doesn’t appear to have the stuff.

MOUTHFEEL

This Elf starts off big and chewy, and feels slightly syrupy (the good kind of syrupy). At the end, there’s a bit of dryness that ups the drinkability. It’s nice and warming after each sip, and even though you can’t taste the alcohol, you can feel it! There isn’t much carbonation to speak of, which works well in a thicker beer like this. The beer is pretty drinkable, yet it demands to be savored.

OVERALL

This beer is excellent. This is definitely not a beer to drink every night, but is great for cold winter nights. It doesn’t have as much spice character as other Holiday beers, but is a MUST for this time of the year. I don’t know what made the Elf Mad, but this beer makes me very happy. Due to the high ABV of this beer, it’s a prime candidate for aging in your basement or cellar. Plus, I love the fact that they sell it in a variety of ways – 22 Oz Bombers, 12 oz. Singles, and even six-packs instead of four-packs! It gives you the opportunity to buy a sixer, drink a few, then age the rest.

This beer is available at fine bottle shops in Dayton, such as Belmont Party Supply, Arrow Wine & Spirits, Liquor & Wine Warehouse, and more. They should also be available at your favorite craft beer bars – but get them fast before they sell out!

Cheers.

SCORE: ★★★★ 4/5

This and other reviews can also be found at Snobby Beer.

Carvers Celebrates Anniversary With $15 Gift To You

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It’s been 15 years since Carvers Steak & Chops opened their doors at 1535 Miamisburg-Centerville Road (Rt. 725) in Washington Township.  Originally part of a California based chain, in 2008 that company dissolved after filing bankruptcy and this location was taken private.  As an independent, the 220 seat restaurant has continued to grow their reputation, winning the “Best Steak” title on the local ActiveDayton poll in both 2010 and 2011.  Whether you’re a fan of the Ribeye, New York Strip filet or just prefer Prime Rib, Carvers is happy to serve you up a midwest aged steak, hand cut daily by Chef William Pence.  All entrees are served with your choice of French onion soup, clam chowder, spinach, chopped or caesar salad as well as a side selection of a potato dish or vegetable.  I highly recommend their au gratin potates!

To compliment their extensive beef and seafood menu, Carvers wine list includes over two hundred selections, as well as the largest selection of Single Malt Scotch’s in the Miami Valley.  The lounge has live musical entertainment every Friday and Saturday night and there is a private dining room available for groups of up to 60.

Carvers is offering a $15 off dinner for two deal to celebrate their 15th anniversary Sat, Nov 26th through Mon, Nov 28th. Just show your server this story on your mobile device or print a copy and present it. Reservation are not required, but you can make them by calling (937) 433-7099.

The Wrath of Grapes

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People toasting

It all begins here…

You went to the family meal at about noon, and popped a beer because the game was just starting. Then another, because dinner was not going to be done for another hour or two (and the Matt Stafford was killing your fantasy team). You had another one during dinner, and then left to go hang out with your friends at the local watering hole, where all of the serious drinking was going to take place. That is when the shots came out, the whiskey flowed, and great times were had by all.  And of course, the designated driver was able to get everyone home safe. You have the day off today…why not have a good time on Thanksgiving? Well, because Black Friday may be named for all of the shopping that is going to be done today, but it would best describe how you are feeling. It may be better for your head to explode, because it would at least stop the pounding that is going on right now. You are not entirely sure what is causing your stomach to squirm all over like it is doing, but you would love for it to stop. And your tongue feels like someone dried it out, and then wiped their feet on it. Your Black Friday is the hangover you earned from the night before.

Hangovers, as we all well know, are caused by drinking too much alcohol, flooding your well balanced system with impurities. “Too much” in a moderate drinker is four to seven cocktails over an evening out. So we are all on the same page, a drink is considered as 1.5 ounces of liquor, 6 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer. That is not saying you get drunk after that many drinks. That is saying your body chemistry starts to do bad things after that many drinks. Some people are so sensitive to alcohol that one drink could trigger hangover-like symptoms. Those symptoms include nausea, headaches, dehydration, fatigue, diarrhea, sensitivity to light and sound, aversions to smells and tastes, trouble sleeping, and difficulty concentrating. All of these things you may (unfortunately) be familiar with.

Niagara Falls

This. This is what you need right now.

Ethanol is the chemical impurity that is a major culprit in you feeling like this. The most damaging thing it does is dehydrate you by causing you to produce more urine. It also makes you a little more lightheaded and thirsty, which makes you want another drink. While you are going to the bathroom, not only are you depleting the water in you, you are getting rid of vital salts, potassium, and other nutrients you body needs to function. This vicious circle keeps going all night long, draining your body of things it really needs. Where does all of this water you have to expel come from? Your organs have to start pulling out sources of water from anywhere they can get it, and that includes the brain. Cue the headache that is going to hit you the next morning. To make room for the alcohol it has to break down later, the liver tosses out stores of sugar (through potty breaks) making you hungry and a little weak. Meanwhile, the stomach is also having some issues with all the alcohol you have consumed. It is irritated, and to get rid of the irritant, it makes more stomach acid. If it gets irritated enough, it decides that breaking down the alcohol is not the best way to clean up this mess; vomiting is.

Other chemistry is also going on in a glass of alcohol. Congeners are byproducts in the creation of alcohol, which give most alcohols their distinct flavors. Vodka is distilled so many times to try and get rid of all the congeners, while rum and whiskey are distilled in such a way to keep the appropriate congeners in. Red wines and whiskeys tend to have the most, while gin and vodka have the least. It is also an impurity, another one the body had to break down and deal with. The cheaper the liquor you are drinking, the more impurities you are going to have to eventually break down. That does not mean if you drink better liquor you can drink more of it. But, it may mollify the level of hangover you have the next day. Studies have also been done that the severity of the hangover may be linked to the purity of the alcohol (fewer congeners) in your drink. There is also a quite complicated dance that your enzymes do to break down and clean up the alcohol in your system, which may be the worst part.  The “Beer before liquor, never sicker” wives tale? It turns out it may not be that much of a tale. Carbonation in beer helps the body absorb alcohol faster, which makes it harder for the body to process it. That hard work to keep up may give you a worse hangover.

Egg breakfast

Good morning! Here is something you should be considering.

However, all this may be cold comfort. There are plenty of ways to make sure you can avoid the serious effects of a hangover, either through preparation or damage control. If you want to do some prep work, make sure you eat a good meal before you go out drinking. You may not want to go all out Thanksgiving each time, but put something in your stomach. Greasy food may mix poorly with alcohol, so don’t go too crazy on it. You want a buffer for the lining of the stomach, not another sparring partner. Drink lots of water, since dehydration is going to be your biggest enemy. This is also a good strategy to stick with while you drink, mixing in a glass of water for every drink or two you have. This may also have the added side bonus of filling your stomach a little and causing you to drink less, or at least slower. You also want to take some vitamins or load up with sports drinks. Again, adding a few more vitamins and minerals than you usually have in you will help when your chemistry goes haywire. While you are drinking, try to limit yourself to one drink an hour. If you do this, your liver can keep up with your alcohol consumption, possibly avoiding the hangover all together.

If you are in damage control mode, drinking water is still going to help. Your body is craving water, and the best thing you can do is provide as much of it as you can. Make yourself a nice plate of eggs, have a glass of orange juice, and peel a few bananas. The bananas will replenish the potassium your body has been stripped of, and the eggs have chemicals that can help break down the toxins that are making you feel so awful. Orange juice has vitamin C in it, which will give you a boost of energy. You can wash a multivitamin down with that juice or water, to replenish the B vitamins you may have lost as well. Do not drink coffee! Coffee will make you a more awake drunk, but it will not make you feel better. Coffee, like alcohol, is a diuretic. It will also have to make you go to the bathroom more, pulling more water from the body. If you are going to take something for the headache in the morning, stick to aspirin or ibuprofen. Do not take acetaminophen, which is found in Tylenol, because it may mix poorly with the alcohol in your system. Hair of the dog also does not help; while it may push off some of the symptoms, it is just delaying the pain. And possibly making it worse. If you are not feeling too delicate, take a walk. Increasing your metabolism will help the body process the toxins faster, and some studies show that an increased oxygen flow can also help.

Any hangover remedies you may encounter are just ways to reduce the symptoms. The only real way the hangover goes away is through time. Giving the body time to recover and taking care of it is the best way to get over all the shots, beers, and wines you consumed the night before. Remember, if you take some preventative measures before, watch what and how much you drink, and know your limits, you may be able to avoid a hangover completely! Unfortunately, the drunken texts and pictures on Facebook will take a little longer to go away. Cheers!