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April 2009
Retired firefighter launches ‘tweaked’ Greek dressing
David Casey liked to tweak recipes when he was working in various city of Dayton firehouses for 28 years, and even summoned up the courage to “improve upon” a Greek dressing recipe that had been in his wife Andrea’s family for generations.
“I always liked it, but I thought it lacked something,” Casey said. “I thought it could be improved.”
Not only is he still married (!), but his fellow firefighters approved the new recipe enthusiastically, and now, he and Andrea have bottled and launched Andi’s Authentic Greek Dressing commercially.
Casey, who retired four years ago and now lives in Vandalia, has for 12 years made the Greek dressing used and sold at the Dayton Greek Festival, producing batches as large as 200 gallons for the popular event.
“Everyone kept saying to me, ‘You should bottle it, you should bottle it,’” Casey said. But instead, he kept responding to requests to make batches for weddings, reunions and other events. “I’ve probably given away a thousand gallons,” he said.
Eventually, he sat down and talked to a former Queen of Martyrs elementary school classmate Lenny Annarino, who bottles Annarino’s spaghetti sauce in Dayton, and soon, Andi’s Authentic Greek Dressing was born.
The bottled dressing is available at Dorothy Lane Market’s three stores in Oakwood, Washington Twp. and Springboro, and it’s also sold at Greg’s Prime Meats in Springboro and at Hock’s Pharmacy in Vandalia. Price ranges from $4.49 to $4.99.
The dressing — tangy with a bit of sweetness and a subtle oregano note — tastes as close to homemade as a bottled dressing can. Casey credits a cider vinegar made by Woeber’s in Springfield (best known for mustards) and a high-quality oil from Wesson for the dressing’s appeal.
Casey helped to unveil the dressing during a product demonstration Saturday, April 25 at DLM’s Washington Square store, while his wife did the same in DLM’s Springboro store. Customer response was positive, and sales were brisk.
Casey is planning to release a second Greek dressing — this one will include feta cheese — within the next year.
But first, he’ll most likely do some tweaking.
(Photo by Mark Fisher)
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TweetHere’s what local restaurants are offering for Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is the most popular day of the year to eat out, and Dayton-area restaurants are gearing up with special menus, special hours, and deals to gladden moms’ hearts and fill their tummies.
If your restaurant is offering a special Mother’s Day menu or hours, please let our readers know by clicking on the “post your comment” link and giving us the details, including your specials, hours and phone number/web site. Those who do will see their restaurants listed in a story scheduled to run in the Dayton Daily News Go! section on May 8.
A few have already begun to trickle in to my email in-box, including:
— El Meson at 903 E. Dixie Drive in West Carrollton, open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 10 for a Mother’s Day Grand Buffet, $25 for adults, $10 for kids 7 to 12, and free for children 6 and under. Credit card reservations suggested. Call (937) 859-8229.
— Savona Restaurant & Wine Bar, 79 S. Main St. in Centerville, will be open for Mother’s Day Brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call (937) 610-9835.
— C’est Tout Bistro at 2600 Far Hills Ave. in Oakwood will be open for a Mother’s Day Buffet Brunch with seatings at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Adults are $23.95, children 12 and under are $8.50. Call (937) 298-0022.
And that’s just a start. Please let our readers know about your Mother’s Day plans by posting a comment.
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TweetFormer Kettering restaurant owners today launch take-home dinners in Bellbrook
Don’t forget to vote in this week’s ActiveDayton.com “Best of Dayton” poll for “Best Italian Restaurant”, and to nominate your favorite Mexican restaurant for next week’s poll.
Today’s installment on Taste comes directly from the well-worn keyboard of Dayton Daily News staff writer Jeremy P. Kelley, who covers Bellbrook as part of his reporting duties for the newspaper. Here’s a small taste of a story he has written for the Bellbrook edition of the Dayton Daily News Neighbors section that comes out on Thursdays. A more detailed version of this story will appear on the online Bellbrook Neighbors page later this week. Here’s the “top” of Jeremy’s story:
BELLBROOK — Longtime local restaurant owners Tom and Tricia Welton have begun offering carry-home dinners from the Welton’s Catering shop at 6 W. Franklin St. in downtown Bellbrook.
Tom Welton said they’ll have a dinner menu with multiple options Tuesday through Saturday, and mentioned salmon, Steak Diane and Chicken Oscar as likely options. Customers can call ahead to 848-3333 to place orders, or just drop in.
Full meals with salad, vegetable and potato will range from $14 to $19, and can be made for individuals or larger parties. The dinner menu, as well as the catering menus, are available at www.weltonscatering.com.
Welton opened TW’s in Miamisburg in 1983 and ran Welton’s Restaurant on Wilmington Pike in Kettering for 13 years before closing in 2006.
“So many people have called and said, ‘When are you going to open another restaurant?’ ” Welton said. “A lot of this is aimed at the regular customers we had in the past.”
The dinners are scheduled to begin today, April 28, 2009. For information regarding Welton’s Catering and the dinner carryout menu, call (937) 848-3333.
Don’t forget, a more detailed version of this story will appear in the Bellbrook edition of the Dayton Daily News Neighbors section that comes out on Thursday, and on the online Bellbrook Neighbors page later this week.
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Tweet‘Settlement conference’ scheduled in Dominic’s case
DAYTON — A federal judge has scheduled a “settlement conference” for Friday, May 1, in the trademark infringement lawsuit filed by the former owner of Dominic’s Restaurant against her stepdaughter.
U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose postponed until June 8 a hearing on the heart of the case that had been scheduled for Tuesday, April 28. That hearing on a request for a preliminary injunction, if it goes ahead, will likely include sworn testimony from the parties in the case in which Anne B. Mantia, who owned Dominic’s Restaurant in its final years until it closed in 2007, sued stepdaughter Christie Mantia, the granddaughter of Dominic’s founder Dominic Mantia, and two of Christie’s business partners in a new and as-yet-unnamed restaurant venture in West Carrollton.
It’s not clear whether the scheduling of such a “settlement conference” — which will be held in the judge’s chambers rather than in open court — suggests the possibility both sides are negotiating in an effort to reach an agreement that would prevent a lengthy court battle. Nicholas Subashi of Dayton, Christie Mantia’s attorney, declined comment this afternoon. James M. Morris, Anne Mantia’s attorney, said the hearing was postponed “at the defendant’s request.”
Rose has already granted Anne Mantia a temporary restraining order that prohibits Christie Mantia from using the name “Dominic’s” in connection with the new restaurant she is helping to develop, and for which she serves as general manager, at 630 E. Dixie Drive in West Carrollton. Judge Rose found that there was sufficient evidence that Christie Mantia has infringed upon Anne Mantia’s “Dominic’s” trademark and has violated a 2005 legal agreement between the two women in which Christie Mantia accepted $460,000 in exchange for giving up her right to use the name “Dominic’s.”
Christie Mantia’s comments in a March 19 Dayton Daily News article — in which she told the newspaper that the new restaurant had hired former Dominic’s chef Harry Lee and would serve “the original recipes” from Dominic’s — are at the heart of the case, as is the name of the restaurant’s parent company incorporated by the new restaurant’s owner Reece Powers III: “Dominic’s Restaurant Inc.” Lee and Powers are also named as defendants in the lawsuit.
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TweetHow low can restaurants go? T.G.I. Friday’s unveils $5 menu
T.G.I. Friday’s this morning unveiled nine new sandwiches and salads and announced that all sandwiches and salads — sixteen full-portion items in total, including the nine new menu items — will be offered at an introductory price of $5 beginning today through May 31, 2009, according to this T.G.I. Friday’s news release.
The bold menu move by T.G.I. Friday’s follows a recent announcement from casual-dining competitor Chili’s that it is offering 10 entrees for less than $7.
Here’s an interesting paragraph from a USATODAY.com story:
The question: Can Friday’s afford it? A steak sandwich that usually fetches $11.75 will go for $5, as will a pecan-crusted chicken salad, normally $9.69. All are full-size portions. The chain hasn’t had such low prices on its menu since it opened in 1965.
And all of this begs another question: How low can they go? What’s next in the Restaurant Wars?
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TweetClayton restaurant opens second eatery near Dayton Mall
Artisans Cafe in Clayton has opened a second restaurant in Miamisburg across from the Dayton Mall, in the same location as — and in collaboration with — the Taste of Mediterranean Restaurant.
The new Artisans Cafe, 47 S. Springboro Pike in the southwest corner of the Ohio 741-Ohio 725 intersection, opened Thursday, April 23. It is co-owned by Joe and Pam Heintz, owners of the Artisans Cafe restaurant at 8351 N. Main St., and by Akram Fadel, owner of the former Taste of Mediterranean restaurant.
Fadel is cooking for the combined restaurant and oversees Sawa Coffee Shop, the section of the restaurant that includes an outdoor hookah bar.
The restaurant menu combines dishes from both restaurants: specialty wraps, pizzas, soups and salads from Artisans Cafe, and gyros, kabobs and vegetarian dishes from Taste of Mediterranean. The slogan printed on the new menu reads, “Where the Mideast meets the Midwest.”
Joe Heintz said the Taste of Mediterranean’s landlord is a friend of his and suggested the collaboration to the Artisans Cafe owners.
“After much consultation, we decided to give it a whirl,” Heintz said. “It’s a good opportunity for us to get down here (to the south suburbs) without spending a fortune.”
The new restaurant’s owners are still tweaking the menu and getting feedback from customers, Heintz said. The new venture will have no impact on the Clayton operation, although sometime in the future, that restaurant may add some of Fadel’s Middle Eastern dishes, Heintz said.
The new Artisans Cafe will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday. For more information, call (937) 434-9140.
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TweetHoly Cheesecake! Look who has joined the ‘small plates, small prices’ trend
The one restaurant that is among the best-known in these parts for serving up gargantuan servings has joined the downsizing trend.
That’s right: The Cheesecake Factory is poised to roll out a “small plates, small prices” menu, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.
Here’s an excerpt from the NRN story:
The new Small Plates & Snacks menu is designed as a “pre-appetizer” or to be combined with other dishes to make a meal, The Cheesecake Factory Inc. said Thursday. The offerings follow a growing restaurant industry trend toward smaller and less expensive menu options, as operators attempt to drive traffic at a time when customers are looking for greater value and more healthful options.
Cheesecake Factory’s new menu includes 16 dishes priced from $3.95 to $6.50 each, including beets with goat cheese, hand-battered onion rings, shrimp scampi crostini, ahi tartare, stuffed mushrooms or pizzettes.
“We have actually been developing our Small Plates & Snacks menu for quite some time; however, we thought now was the perfect time to introduce it to help make The Cheesecake Factory even more accessible to Americans looking for reasons to get out and celebrate,” said Mark Mears, the company’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “But don’t let the name fool you, at The Cheesecake Factory we don’t do anything small.”
An employee of the Cheesecake Factory at The Greene in Beavercreek said the Small Plates & Snacks menu is indeed available at his restaurant, and in fact, has been for a couple of months. So apparently Mr. Mears is right — they have been developing the concept for “quite some time” and decided to put the marketing push on it now.
Still, it’s a bit of a departure for the chain, given its reputation for servings that virtually guarantee take-home bags and ample leftovers.
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TweetNew sushi restaurant opens in Centerville
A new Asian restaurant opened last week in Centerville.
Kabuki Kitchen, 848 S. Main St., specializes in Korean and Japanese dishes and features an extensive sushi menu, including 39 specialty sushi rolls.
Kabuki Kitchen occupies a space that formerly housed the Golden Phoenix restaurant. The new restaurant is owned by Mae Brown and Yi Ho Suk. It is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.
For more information, call (937) 435-9500.
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TweetWhich restaurant to choose for prom night?
It’s prom season, a time for many, many wrenching decisions, not the least of which is: Where to eat?
Since it’s been oh, about 35 years since I last attended a prom, I’ll let the restaurants, and diners, speak for themselves. But I can tell you the first restaurant to “pitch” a prom-night special to my email in-box is P.F. Chang’s, which has concluded that its “Chang’s for 2” fixed-price menu, a multi-course meal with plenty of choices for $39.95 per couple that was rolled out in January 2009, would be a nice little fit for prom-night couples looking for a meal for under $20 per person (not including beverages, tax or tip).
Restaurant owners and managers, let us know what specials or other incentives you offer young diners this prom season, and for those of you who have done the prom night dinner a biiiiit more recently than I have, what are your recommendations?
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TweetCafe Boulevard files for bankruptcy reorganization, will continue to operate
Cafe Boulevard, 329 E. Fifth St. in Dayton’s Oregon Historic District, is continuing to operate while the restaurant seeks to reorganize its debts under Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Cafe Boulevard Ltd. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this month in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Southern District in Dayton. It listed $56,000 in assets and $362,000 in debts. Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows for a company to reorganize its debt while remaining in business.
The restaurant’s owner and company president, Eva Christian, could not be reached today, April 22. Christian is out of the country and is scheduled to return later this week, said Cafe Boulevard’s executive chef, Rae Rosbough.
Donald F. Harker III, the Dayton attorney assigned to serve as the case attorney for Cafe Boulevard in the Chapter 11 proceedings, confirmed this afternoon, April 22, that the filing is a reorganization of the restaurant’s debts, not a liquidation.
“She hopes to be able to reorganize and to continue operations,” Harker said of Christian. “She, like many others in the restaurant business, hopes that this economy turns around quickly. It would be a shame to lose any more locally owned and operated restaurants in Dayton.”
Harker said Cafe Boulevard has 120 days — a deadline that can be extended — to file a detailed plan that would lead to the restaurant emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. He said the restaurant, which has outdoor seating area popular in spring and summer, is entering a busy season, so he and Christian will have a better idea of the restaurant’s financial picture in mid-summer. The reorganization plan would be examined for feasibility by a bankruptcy court judge and would be voted on by creditors, Harker said.
Cafe Boulevard was open for business as usual Tuesday night, April 21. Rosbough siad the restaurant unveiled a new dinner menu last week, is planning on resuming lunch service on May 4 after closing for lunch over the winter and early spring, and is promoting a Mother’s Day brunch on May 10.
According to the bankruptcy filing, Cafe Boulevard owes about $138,000 in federal, state and city taxes and $224,000 to banks, vendors and other creditors. It lists personal property valued at $56,000, including $40,000 of restaurant equipment and supplies and $5,000 in liquor and food inventory. Its liquor license is valued in the bankruptcy documents at $10,000.
Cafe Boulevard’s gross sales dropped 12 percent last year, from $530,000 in 2007 to $465,000 in 2008, according to court records.
Christian also is founder of Cena Restaurant adjacent to the Dayton Mall at 2854 Miamisburg-Centerville Road. Nothing in the court records suggests that Cena is a part of the Cafe Boulevard bankruptcy filing.
A meeting of creditors is scheduled for May 22 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Dayton.
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TweetThe Greene to host its own ‘Amazing Race’
The Miami Valley Restaurant Association is putting together its own version of “The Amazing Race” to be held at The Greene on Sunday, June 14.
Two-person teams will race through detours and a variety of “pit stops” at the shopping and entertainment complex competing to win a grand prize of a “Night at the Greene” that will consist of a limo ride from home to The Greene, dinner, a movie, and other prizes, with a total value of more than $800, according to MVRA spokeswoman Amy Zahora.
To become contestants, teams of two must submit a five-minute DVD on why they should be selected, a photo of the team and a $40 entry fee (If your team is not chosen the entry fee will be returned) to:
Miami Valley Restaurant Association
2207 Cybelle Ct
Miamisburg, OH 45342
For more information, email Amy@dineoutdayton.org
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TweetNew restaurant coming to downtown Dayton’s Kettering Tower
DAYTON — A new restaurant and nightspot to be named Michael’s Dining & Jazz is scheduled to open on about June 1 on the first floor of the Kettering Tower, 40 N. Main St. in downtown Dayton.
The new restaurant will be located in the former Chantille’s Restaurant, which closed in February 2008. The space once housed the King Cole restaurant, and later, Olivia’s restaurant.
Michael Perry of Harrison Twp. — who owns the venture with his parents, Edward and Beverly Perry of Trotwood — said the new restaurant will offer fine dining and live jazz, and may host comedy shows and karaoke nights.
Plans call for Michael’s to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. It will have a full bar and will host a daily happy hour, Perry said.
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TweetFormer Dominic’s owner wins Round 1 against restaurant founder’s granddaughter
A federal judge has granted a temporary order that prohibits Christie Mantia, granddaughter of Dominic’s Restaurant founder Dominic Mantia, from using the name “Dominic’s” in connection with the new restaurant she is helping to develop in West Carrollton.
In his ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose stopped short of barring Mantia from involvement in the new restaurant, and he rejected for now a portion of the arguments brought by Christie Mantia’s stepmother, Anne B. Mantia, that Christie violated the Ohio Uniform Trade Secrets Act in claiming in a Dayton Daily News story that the new restaurant will feature “the original recipes” from Dominic’s.
But Rose found that there was sufficient evidence that Christie Mantia has infringed upon Anne Mantia’s “Dominic’s” trademark and has violated a 2005 legal agreement between the two women in which Christie Mantia accepted $460,000 in exchange for giving up her right to use the name “Dominic’s.”
The case now moves to a second phase in which Judge Rose will hear sworn testimony and determine whether he should issue a preliminary injunction against Christie Mantia. A hearing in the case is scheduled for Friday, April 24.
Christie Mantia’s attorney, Nicholas E. Subashi, said Rose’s decision is “just a temporary ruling by the court. No witnesses have been called to testify yet, and no one has been subjected to any cross-examination.
” … We are steadfast in our belief that once the court hears all of the evidence, the court will find that Christie Mantia has done nothing wrong, and that she can work with a restaurant that serves the original recipes that her grandmother, Sue Mantia, taught her many years ago,” Subashi said.
Anne Mantia, who was married to Dominic’s son Dick Mantia, owned Dominic’s when it closed in 2007 and has said she would like to open a Dominic’s restaurant in another Dayton-area location someday. Last year, she released a garlic salad dressing and pasta sauce under the “Anna Mantia” label. She sued her stepdaughter earlier this month for trademark infringement, accusing Christie Mantia of engaging in “unfair competition, … fraud, deceit and misrepresentation.” and seeking the restraining order and unspecified monetary damages. Anne Mantia’s attorney argued in court last week that Christie Mantia should be barred from involvement in the new restaurant being renovated at 630 E. Dixie Drive in West Carrollton for which she intends to serve as general manager. The judge’s decision did not address that request.
Christie Mantia’s comments in a March 19 Dayton Daily News article — in which she told the newspaper that the new and as-yet-unnamed restaurant had hired former Dominic’s chef Harry Lee and would serve “the original recipes” from Dominic’s — is at the heart of the case, as is the name of the restaurant’s parent company incorporated by owner Reece Powers III: “Dominic’s Restaurant Inc.” Lee and Powers are also named as defendants in the lawsuit.
The namesake restaurant that Dominic Mantia founded in 1957 became a mainstay on the Dayton dining scene for five decades until it closed and was demolished in 2007.
Click here for the Taste entry entitled “Dominic’s court fight intensifies” and here for the April 8 entry entitled “Fight over Dominic’s name and recipes heads to federal court”.
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TweetBarnsider owner may open new restaurant in Riverside
RIVERSIDE — The owner of four Dayton-area independent restaurants is close to an agreement to build a restaurant in the Center of Flight development across from the National Museum of the United States Air Force, the owner and Riverside officials said today, April 20.
“My family and I agreed we are willing to do it, and we want to do it,” said Mary Miller, who with her family owns and operates The Barnsider in Harrison Twp., the Wellington Grille in Beavercreek, Harrison’s in Tipp City and the Blue Berry Cafe in Bellbrook. “I think it would be a great opportunity for us.”
Miller added, however, that nothing has been signed yet. “I want to see more detail and find out more about what’s expected of me,” she said.
Riverside City Manager Bryan Chodkowski confirmed this morning that both sides are close to reaching a lease agreement. “We’re fairly certain it will go forward in some form or fashion,” Chodkowski said.
A high-profile, anchor-type restaurant would attract business from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and “would be an important domino” in Riverside’s efforts to develop the 20-acre tract situated between Springfield Pike and Huberville Road across from the museum entrance, the city manager said.
Formerly the site of a DAP manufacturing plant and two hotels, the site underwent $1.8 million in environmental cleanup so it can be used again. A $5 million, 66-room Comfort Inn Suites Hotel has opened on two acres of the property.
City officials said in July 2008 they were prepared to offer incentives that could include providing land for free to an independent restaurant operator to locate at the site.
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TweetIce cream shop to hand out free cones on Tuesday
The Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop at 1934 Brown St. in Dayton (near UD and next door to The Pine Club) has confirmed that it WILL be participating in the Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 21. The store is partnering with the Humane Society for a fund-raising drive that day, and will be giving out single-scoop free ice cream cones (one to a customer, presumably) until 8 p.m., a store manager said.
Several Ben & Jerry’s outlets in the Dayton area that are inside movie theaters — including Showcase Dayton South, Showcase Huber Heights and The Greene, for example — are NOT participating in Free Cone Day, according to the Ben & Jerry’s web site.
Ben & Jerry’s is celebrating its 31st year in business.
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TweetPepsi sues Coke, demands recall
Those two soft-drink behemoths are at it again:
Check out This Consumerist story headlined, “Pepsi Sues Coke For False Advertising, Demands Recall Of Sports Drink” as well as this earlier version from CNN.com.
So, a judge somewhere will have to define what the two words “more complete” means when used in describing s sports drink, and attorneys at high-powered law firms will get billable hours worth $750,000 to convince the judge to define those two words in their favor.
You gotta love it.
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TweetDomino’s apologizes for workers’ YouTube video stunt
I, for one, am glad I’m not the director of public relations for Domino’s Pizza this week.
Check out this story from Nation’s Restaurant News about some boneheaded Domino’s employees who posted a video of themselves doing apparently disgusting things to food that they then put on sandwiches.
According to NTN, the two employees claim that their acts were a hoax and that none of the contaminated food was actually served. Domino’s president says he’s taking the situation seriously and is examining the chain’s hiring practices.
I vaguely recall taking a Public Relations 101-type class at Ohio State back in 1978 or so, long before the days of YouTube or the internet. The textbook authors didn’t pose any scenarios quite like this one for students to ponder …
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Restaurant industry news
TweetFour women, four courses — and we’ve got the menu
Four prominent Dayton-area chefs — all women — will combine their talents for one night, all to benefit WDPR-FM Classical 88.1.
The public radio station fund-raiser wine dinner will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, at Rue Dumaine Restaurant, 1061 Miamisburg-Centerville Road in Washington Twp. The event will feature a four-course meal paired with wines as well as live entertainment.
Here’s the full scoop as laid out on the station’s web site page devoted to the dinner:
Our first Wine Dinner is Sunday, May 3 from 5:30 - 8pm. The evening will feature a fabulous four-course dinner prepared by a quartet of local female chefs. Each course will be paired with wines from Cutting Edge Selections. Live entertainment by The Ballester Quartet. Tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit Classical 88.1 FM. Make your reservation by calling Jill Bishop at (937) 222-9377, or e-mail jillb@dpr.org
THE MENU
Passed hors d’ oeuvres’
Cauliflower flan with chives and American caviar-Dorothy Lane Market
Crispy beef and basil spring rolls - Meadowlark
Seared tuna with wasabi aioli atop crispy wonton- Easy Way Out
Crab “boulette” with preserved lemon-caper relish-Rue Dumaine
Spanish Tapas Quartet- A Taste of Spain
A symphony of classic Spanish tastes including: Spanish style balsamic glazed ribs, braised calamari Romesco, garlicky mushrooms with Serrano ham infused with the flavors of saffron and Vinaigre de Jerez (Sherry vinegar) and citrus zest marinated olives with a sampling of Spanish cheese — Chef Jenn Di Santo, Easy Way Out
Roast salmon with yogurt, cilantro-almond sauce and Dal fried rice — Chef Elizabeth Wiley, Meadowlark Restaurant
Spring herb dressed lamb loin served with asparagus, carrot batonnet, wilted pea tendrils and goat cheese gnocchi, sauced with red wine-Dijon jus — Chef Anne Kearney, Rue Dumaine Restaurant
Pink peppercorn panna cotta with strawberries and bittersweet chocolate — Chef Carrie Walters, Dorothy Lane Market
Tickets are $150. Call (937) 496-3850 or www.dpr.org.
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TweetFrisch’s today unveils new downsized menu items with downsized prices
The Cincinnati-based Frisch’s Big Boy restaurant chain today will debut what it calls “Just-Right Portions” of many of its menu favorites.
The new menu items — smaller versions of Frisch’s signature dishes — include the Junior Big Boy, Junior Fish Sandwich, Junior Chicken Fillet and the Mini Hot Fudge Cake, according to a Frisch’s news release.
Dayton was apparently a test-market for the Junior Big Boy, as was Louisville and Columbus. Restaurant officials said the test-marketing showed the smaller sandwich was “popular with customers who want to eat less and like the fun size.”
The new items will be served all day in the dining room, carry-out and drive-thru and are available “for a limited time” beginning today, April 15, at all Frisch’s Big Boy locations, the company said.
Here’s an excerpt from the Frisch’s news release that includes prices of the new items:
Frisch’s Big Boy Just Right Favorites include:
— Junior Big Boy - Two all-beef patties on a toasted double-decker bun with cheese, lettuce pickles and plenty of Frisch’s famous special sauce. Just like its namesake. Price: $1.85.
— Junior Fish - A cod fillet, hand-cut, hand-breaded and golden fried served on a toasted bun with lettuce and Frisch’s own special-recipe tartar sauce. It’s just like the award-winning Fish Sandwich, which is Frisch’s No. 2-selling sandwich year-round. Price: $3.30.
— Junior Chicken Fillet - A crispy all-white meat tenderloin served on a toasted bun with lettuce and Frisch’s own ranch dressing. Price: $1.85.
— Mini Hot Fudge Cake - Vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two layers of chocolate cake, topped with rich hot fudge, creamy whipped topping and a cherry. Price: $1.50.
Frisch’s joins several national restaurant chains in offering smaller portions of entrees and other dishes at reduced prices.
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TweetChipotle to open in Springboro
A Chipotle Mexican Grill will open at 5 Greenwood Lane in Springboro on Friday, April 24, restaurant officials announced today, April 14.
The restaurant best-known for its burritos will will host a fundraiser for Springboro High School’s Student Activities After-Prom Fund on Thursday, April 23rd from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Attendees pay $5 and will receive a burrito and their choice of a soft drink, and all of the proceeds will benefit the after-prom fund, according to a Chipotle news release.
The Springboro Chipotle will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The restaurant’s phone number is (937) 746-1793.
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TweetNew restaurant coming to downtown Dayton
A new restaurant named L&H Deli-Licious will open within a month in the space vacated by the Dugout Deli at 209 E. First St., the venture’s co-owner, Lawrence Wesley, said this afternoon, April 14.
The restaurant will serve deli-style sandwiches, wraps, salads, pastries and coffee, Wesley said. L&H Deli-Licious is shooting for a grand opening to coincide with the next Urban Nights May 15.
L&H Deli-Licious is owned by Wesley and business partner Hollister Martin. Wesley said both men have military experience — Wesley in the Navy, Martin in the Army. Wesley has worked at Cold Beer & Cheeseburgers, Grub Steak, Miami Valley Golf Club and currently cooks specialty items for Club 88 in downtown Dayton, and Martin has worked in the kitchens at several Holiday Inns in the area.
Wesley said the new restaurant will take the current economic conditions into consideration and “will offer a good product at a good price.”
The restaurant will be open weekdays for breakfast and lunch. The restaurant’s phone number is (937) 262-7047.
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TweetDominic’s court fight intensifies
The attorney for Anne Mantia, who owned Dominic’s when it closed in 2007, raised the stakes this morning, April 14, in the lawsuit filed against the granddaughter of restaurant founder Dominic Mantia, arguing that Christie Mantia should be barred from involvement in the a new West Carrollton restaurant for which she intends to serve as general manager.
Christie Mantia’s comments in a March 19 Dayton Daily News article — in which she told the newspaper that the new and as-yet-unnamed restaurant’s menu will feature “the original recipes” from Dominic’s, prepared by the chef who worked there for 25 years — should disqualify her from being involved in the restaurant, because she signed an agreement in 2005 and accepted $460,000 in exchange for giving up her right to use the name “Dominic’s,” James Morris, Anne Mantia’s attorney, argued in U.S. District Court.
Attorneys for Christie Mantia and her business partner in the restaurant venture, Reece Powers III, and for Harry Lee, the former chef at Dominic’s, argued that no damages have occurred and that the civil case should not have been filed in federal court. They also noted that the financial agreement specifically stated that Christie Mantia would not be restricted from “engaging directly or indirectly in the restaurant business.”
Christie Mantia’s attorney, Nicholas Subashi, argued that it would be “unconscionable” for his client to be banned from a restaurant venture based on a newspaper article. The initial lawsuit did not seek such a remedy.
Judge Thomas Rose of the U.S. District Court’s Southern Division did not issue a ruling on Anne Mantia’s request for a temporary restraining order today and told attorneys for both sides to submit written opinions on the question of whether the federal court has jurisdiction in the matter by the end of Wednesday. If Rose rules that the court does have jurisdiction, there will be another court hearing scheduled April 24 to determine whether Anne Mantia will be granted a preliminary injunction against her stepdaughter and her stepdaughter’s business partners.
The namesake restaurant that Dominic Mantia founded in 1957 became a mainstay on the Dayton dining scene for five decades until it closed and was demolished in 2007, when Anne Mantia owned the eatery. Since the closing, Anne Mantia has released a bottled salad dressing and pasta sauce under the “Anna Mantia” label. The labels for both products also include the words, “Dominic’s Italian Restaurant.” Anne Mantia has said she has looked to reopen a Dominic’s restaurant but has not found the right opportunity.
Morris said sales of the salad dressing and sauce have been harmed by Christie Mantia’s reference to “original” Dominic’s recipes in the March 19 story.
Christie Mantia declined comment after Tuesday morning’s hearing. She said in the March 19 story that she was taught the original recipes by her grandmother, Sue Mantia, Dominic’s wife. Earlier this month, after the lawsuit was filed, Christie Mantia said the new restaurant that will be located at 630 E. Dixie Drive in West Carrollton could open by the end of April.
Anne Mantia’s civil lawsuit claims her stepdaughter has infringed on the Dominic’s trademark and alleges that Christie Mantia has engaged in “unfair competition, … fraud, deceit and misrepresentation” in her involvement in the new restaurant. It seeks the restraining order and unspecified monetary damages.
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TweetShop to celebrate anniversary with free gelato
DOLCESSA TO CELEBRATE WITH FREE GELATO SAMPLES
DAYTON — Dolcessa— the gelato, espresso and panini restaurant at 1106 Brown St. near the University of Dayton — will celebrate the first anniversary of its opening at the Brown Street location with a “Free Gelato Cup Birthday Party” from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, April 20. For more information, call (937) 331-9590.
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TweetRestaurant chains to offer ‘tax day’ deals
A handful of national chain restaurants, including P.F. Chang’s and TGI Friday’s and McCormick & Schmick’s, are offering special tax-day specials on Wednesday, April 15, according to this story from Nation’s Restaurant News.
P.F. Chang’s offer promises a 15 percent discount, and according to an email from the company’s marketing folks, there doesn’t appear to be any hidden caveats: “The Tax Relief promotion includes all guests of P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and applies to every order. On April 15 only, the entire bill will be discounted 15 percent,” the email stated.
The TGI Friday’s offer involves its “Bonus Bites” cards, and McCormick & Schmick’s promotion touts $10.40 entrees and coupons for $10.40 for future purchases, according to the NRN story.
As always, these promotions are occurring at “participating restaurants only,” so it’s always a good idea to call ahead to avoid any nasty surprises.
If you know of any other tax-day specials, please post a comment and let us know about them.
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TweetDiners gone wild: Sex in the bathroom, pole dancing in the dining room
Um, okay, check out San Francisco Chronicle story headlined “Bay Area Diners’ behavior grabs attention” and see whether it grabs your attention, too.
Pole dancing “in the middle of the dining room?” The poor restaurant owner whose “bathroom sink gets ripped out of the wall by folks who couldn’t make it home or to a hotel?”
Are these kinds of restaurant activities unique to the San Francisco Bay area, or do restaurant owners here in the Heartland of America have to put up with similar shenanigans from Diners Gone Wild?
And an even more important question: Can I continue to consider myself a passionate person even if I’ve never broken a bathroom sink?
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TweetTaste of Greene diners pick their favorites — do you agree?
(Click here for Easter dining options, and don’t forget to vote in this week’s Best of Dayton poll for “Best Mom & Pop restaurant” and also to nominate restaurants for “Best Family Dining”, a category that will be voted on next week.)
This year’s “Taste of Greene County” event held April 5 at the Nutter Center on Wright State University’s campus attracted 1,200 hungry people — a record in the 12-year history of the event.
Toni Weideling, membership services director for the Beavercreek Chamber of Commerce, recalls the event’s early days when it would draw a few hundred people. This year, “We had more than 400 people come in just the first 15 minutes,” Weideling said. (Click here for photos of the event and if those shots just whet your appetite, click here for even more photos at the event.)
The crowd ate, ate, and ate some more, then filled out ballots in several categories identifying their favorites. No fancy-schmancy “expert panel of judges” here — all of the “Best Of” awards are determined by “the people”. And the people’s votes have been carefully tabulated.
The overall best-of-show restaurant — winner of the “People’s Choice” award — was Abuelo’s Mexican Food Embassy in Beavercreek (note to Abuelo’s web site folks: it’s Beavercreek, not Beaver Creek). City Barbecue placed second, and the Hilton Garden Inn third, in the People’s Choice best-overall award.
But there were many other winners in many other categories, so here are the official results, as reported by the Beavercreek Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the Taste of Greene County:
Best Appetizer
1st place: Qdoba Mexican Grill
2nd place: TGI Fridays
3rd place: Quaker Steak and Lube
Best Soup/Salad
1st place: Brio Tuscan Grille
2nd place: Max & Ermas
3rd place: Abuelo’s
Best Entree
1st place: Abuelos
2nd place: Beef O’Brady’s
3rd place: City Barbeque
Best Dessert
1st place: Ele Cake Company
2nd place: Edible Arrangements
3rd place: BD’s Mongolian Grill
People’s Choice
1st place: Abuelo’s
2nd place: City Barbeque
3rd place: Hilton Garden Inn
Best Decorated Booth
1st place: Hope Hotel
2nd place: BD’s Mongolian Grill
3rd place: Abuelos
So … what’s your take on the results?
Officials at the Beavercreek chamber suspect attendance might have been even greater had the event not conflicted with the spring break of some local schools.
The event will move a little later in the calender next year, to April 18, 2010, chamber officials said.
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TweetNew Beavercreek mall restaurant to open Tuesday
(Click here for Easter dining options, and don’t forget to vote in this week’s Best of Dayton poll for “Best Mom & Pop restaurant” and also to nominate restaurants for “Best Family Dining”, a category that will be voted on next week.)
It took a bit longer than he anticipated, but local restaurateur Glen Brailey now says Spinoza’s Gourmet Pizza & Salads is now poised to open inside the Mall at Fairfield Commons on Tuesday, April 14.
Brailey — founder of Pacchia who sold his majority ownership of the restaurant along with the building in April 2008 — said the restaurant has obtained the necessary permits and licenses, and the makings for the pizzas and salads have been delivered, so barring some planetary catastrophe, Tuesday’s the day. And it can’t get here fast enough.
“It’s exhausting and exciting at the same time,” Brailey said of the run-up to opening.
The restaurant is scheduled to open its doors at 5 p.m. Tuesday to serve dinner, then will open for regular lunch hours the following day, April 15, at 11:30 a.m., Brailey said.
The 120-seat restaurant will serve “California-style gourmet pizza and artisan salads,” Brailey said. The restaurant is located in the mall space that once housed California Pizza Kitchen, which closed in November 2006. The 5,000-square-foot space is near the Sears entrance to the Fairfield Commons mall.
Spinoza’s will be open seven days a week: Monday through Wednesday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.. Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday noon to 8 p.m. Live music is planned for Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
The restaurant’s phone number is (937) 426-7799.
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TweetDayton-area restaurants offer Easter dining options
Easter Sunday is the fifth-most-popular holiday to dine out, behind only Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day and New Year’s, according to the fine folks at the National Restaurant Association. An estimated 13 percent of Americans dine out on Easter — and while that may not sound like a large proportion, 13 percent of every man, woman and child in the country represents a lot of hungry tummies.
We go the ball rolling last week on Easter dining options and present an updated list here, focusing on restaurants that are offering special hours, a special Easter buffet or special menu and which contacted us about their holiday plans. Some additional restaurants also were mentioned by readers and restaurant folks in last week’s post. If your restaurant isn’t on this list and you’re offering an Easter menu, please do let readers know by clicking on the “post your comment” link and giving us the details.
Diners are urged to call ahead to make reservations, and since the holiday is only three days away (as of this writing) and some restaurants may already be full, it might be best to have a backup choice or two.
— Amelia’s Bistro, 129 W. Franklin St., Bellbrook, (937) 310-3040, www.eatatamelias.com
Easter Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Specials: Buffet, including ham, prime rib, omelets, salmon, desserts station. $19.95 includes non-alcoholic drink. $9.95 for children 12 and under.
— Michael Anthony’s at The Inn in Versailles, Versailles, (937) 526-3020, www.innatversailles.com.
Easter hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Specials: Prime Rib, Apricot Glazed Smoked Ham, Eggs Benedict, Chicken Marsala, Adults $22.95, children under 10 $10.95, under 3 free.
— L’Auberge, 4120 Far Hills Ave,, Kettering, (937) 299-5536, www.laubergedayton.com
Easter Hours: noon to 6 p.m. Three-course meal including entree options such as Chicken Riesling, Mustard-Crusted Salmon, Beef Tournedos, Roasted Spring Lamb, Pork Tenderloin or Shrimp Linguini, for $39.50, children’s menu $12.
— Barleycorn’s, 6204 Wilmington Pike, Sugarcreek Twp., (937) 848-6999, www.barleycorns.com
Easter Hours: Brunch 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dinner 3 p.m.-12 a.m. Specials: Brunch buffet including breakfast and dinner entrees.
— The Barnsider, 5202 N. Main St., (937) 277-1332, www.barnsider-restaurant.com
Easter Hours: noon to 7 p.m.
— Caffe Anticoli, 8268 N. Main St., Clayton, (937) 890-0300
Easter hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Specials: Baked Ham, Leg of Lamb.
— The Caroline, 5 S. Market St., Troy, (937) 552-7676, www.thecarolineonthesquare.com
Easter Hours: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Specials: Carved beef, lamb and ham; salads; seafood display, desserts. $16.95/adults and $6.95/children under 12.
— Carver’s Steaks & Chops, 1535 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, Washington Twp., (937) 433-7099.
Easter hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Specials: Serving a plated brunch with options such as Eggs Benedict, Lamb with Lavender Champagne Sauce and Salmon Florentine.
— Cena, 2854 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, Miami Twp., (937) 438-2362, www.cenarestaurant.com
Easter Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Specials: beef, chicken, sausages, ribs and pork plus a 60-item buffet with salads, breakfast items and pastries. Adult brunch $24.95, age 7-10 half price, 6 and under free.
— C’est Tout, A Bistro, 2600 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood, (937) 298-0022, www.cesttoutbistro.com
Easter Hours: 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Specials: Buffet featuring breakfast foods to lamb, salmon and prime rib, salads, fruits, cheeses, pastas, vegetables and desserts.
— Coco’s Bistro, 515 Wayne Ave., Dayton, (937) 228-2626, www.228coco.com.
Easter hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Specials: Filet Eggs Benedict, Crab Cake Sandwich, Vegetarian Brunch Casserole.
— The Dock Restaurant, 250 W. Main St., Enon, (937) 864-5011, www.thedockenon.com
Easter Hours: 12-6 p.m. Specials: Baked Tilapia stuffed with crabmeat, cashew-crusted mahi, fresh pineapple ham steak.
— Madison’s Bistro, 5531 Far Hills Ave., Washington Twp., (937) 435-7080, www.madisonsbistro.com
Easter hours: Seatings at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Specials: Prime Rib, Carved Virginia Ham, Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast, Seafood Newburg.
— El Meson, 903 E. Dixie Drive, West Carrollton, (937) 859-8229, www.elmeson.net
Easter hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Specials: Pollo al Mani, Lomo Saltado, Pescado a lo Macho, Baked Empanadas.
— The Golden Jersey Inn, 6880 Springfield-Xenia Road, north of Yellow Springs, (937) 324-2050, www.youngsdairy.com.
Easter Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Specials: Hand-Carved Honey Glazed Ham served with sweet potato casserole and an additional side for $10.95. 27th Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Event starts at 2 p.m. for children 4 and under. Ages 5-7 at 2:15 p.m. Ages 8-10 at 2:30 p.m. No charge. Reservations not accepted.
— Greene Country Club, 920 W. Dayton-Yellow Springs Rd., outside Fairborn, (937) 767-5621, ext. 0, www.greenecc.com (open to non-members for Easter brunch).
Easter Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Specials: Brunch featuring omelet station, sliced ham, roast beef, variety of salads, peach cobbler, chocolate and coconut cream pie.
— Holiday Inn Banquet Center, I-70 and Ohio 48, Englewood, (937) 832-1234.
Easter hours: noon to 3 p.m. Specials: Ham, Chicken, Yankee Pot Roast, Sea Bass, breakfast items.
— Madison’s Bistro, 5531 Far Hills Ave., Washington Twp., (937) 435-7080, www.madisonsbistro.com.
Easter Hours: Seatings at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Specials: Easter Brunch $21.95/adults, $10.95/children under 12, free/children under 3.
— Meadowlark Restaurant, 2094 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, (937) 434-4750, www.meadowlarkrestaurant.com
Easter hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Specials: Seared Salmon, Baked Ham and Gruyere Crepe.
— Pacchia, 410 E. Fifth St. in Dayton’s Oregon Historic District, (937) 341-5050, www.pacchia.com
Easter Hours: 10 a.m.- 3 p.m., Specials: Traditional Sunday Brunch.
— Rudy’s Churrascaria, 42 N. Main St., Germantown, (937) 353-7375.
Easter Hours: 5-11 p.m. Specials: Rodizio meats all you can eat. Easter decorated desserts.
— Savona Restaurant and Wine Bar, 79 S. Main St., Centerville, (937) 610-9835, www.savonarestaurant.com
Easter hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Specials: Prime Rib, Leg of Lamb, Crab Cakes, Golden Trout.
— The Winds Cafe, 215 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs, (937) 767-1144, www.windscafe.com.
Easter hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Specials: Easter brunch
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TweetFight over Dominic’s name and recipes heads to federal court
There have been significant developments in the Dominic’s saga that we wrote about three weeks ago.
Here’s are two stories that are scheduled to run in the Dayton Daily News on Thursday, April 9:
DAYTON — The legacy of Dominic’s Restaurant — and control over the recipes behind the dishes once served there — is the subject of a federal lawsuit that pits the widow of the former owner against the founder’s granddaughter.
In the lawsuit filed against Christie Mantia and her business partners in U.S. District Court on Friday, April 3, Anne Mantia claims her stepdaughter has infringed on the Dominic’s trademark. It also alleges that Christie Mantia has engaged in “unfair competition, … fraud, deceit and misrepresentation” in her involvement in a restaurant slated to open soon at 630 E. Dixie Drive in West Carrollton.
The lawsuit contends that if Christie Mantia and the other defendants “are permitted to continue to violate” Anne Mantia’s rights, “damages will likely exceed $2 million.” It seeks monetary damages and a temporary restraining order.
Christie Mantia told the Dayton Daily News on March 17 that the as-yet-unnamed restaurant for which she serves as general manager would serve dishes based on Dominic’s restaurant’s “original recipes” that were handed down to her by her grandmother, the wife of the restaurant’s founder. Dominic’s had been a mainstay of the Dayton dining scene for five decades before it closed in July 2007.
Christie Mantia said she and business partner Reece Powers had no comment on the lawsuit. But renovations are in full swing, and Mantia said the restaurant remains on schedule to open by April 30.
DAYTON — Anne Mantia, who owned Dominic’s at the time it closed in July 2007 and who has released garlic salad dressing and pasta sauce that includes the Dominic’s name on the labels, has filed a federal lawsuit to prevent her stepdaughter — the granddaughter of the restaurant’s founder — and the stepdaughter’s business partners from using the Dominic’s name or claiming a direct connection to its recipes in their new restaurant venture.
The dispute centers on a new, as-yet-unnamed restaurant that is being renovated at 630 E. Dixie Drive in West Carrollton. Christie Mantia, who is the granddaughter of Dominic Mantia, told the Dayton Daily News March 17 that the restaurant has hired Harry Lee, the chef who cooked those dishes at Dominic’s for 25 years between 1980 and 2005, and would be serving “the original recipes” from Dominic’s. The news was welcomed enthusiastically by readers who commented on the story on the newspaper’s web site that they have been waiting for a Dominic’s rebirth. The restaurant and its garlic-laced Italian salad dressing became a mainstay of the Dayton dining scene for more than 50 years and became a pregame and postgame gathering spot for University of Dayton sports fans.
The West Carrollton restaurant is owned by Reece Powers III, the nephew of the founder and owner of Duke’s Golden Ox, which operated for many years near the former Dominic’s on South Main Street near the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. According to records filed with the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, Powers filed articles of incorporation on Feb. 23 for “Dominic’s Restaurant Inc.” in West Carrollton.
Anne Mantia named Christie Mantia, Harry Lee and Powers as defendants in the lawsuit, claiming they have engaged in trademark infringement, fraud and breach of contract.
The lawsuit says Christie Mantia was a former shareholder of Dominic’s but sold her interest and the right to utilize its name in 2005 to Anne Mantia for $460,000 — $285,000 in cash and $175,000 plus interest to be paid before May 2010. A share redemption agreement spelling out the settlement is attached to a portion of the lawsuit that seeks a temporary restraining order against Christie Mantia.
While Anne Mantia never opened a successor to Dominic’s, she told the Dayton Daily News on March 17 that she’d “love to have a Dominic’s-style restaurant in Dayton … I’ve been talking to people for a long time and waiting to see what happens with the economy. If the right opportunity comes along, I’d like to do it.”
An excerpt from the lawsuit states that:
The founder of Dominic’s, Dominic Mantia, opened the restaurant on March 17, 1957, andn along with the help of his won,Dick Mantia, and Dick’s wife, Anne B. Mantia, created a Dayton landmark over the next 50 years. Following the death of Dick Mantia, Anne B. Mantia has continued to guide the company by applying the solid work ethic of Dick and Dominic, and by establishing a Copyright-protected image, and marketing the fine sauces, dressings, and other goods from the original recipes and good will of the family’s restaurant business.
Christie Mantia and Powers declined comment on the lawsuit Wednesday, April 8, as they oversaw renovations and talked with vendors inside the new restaurant. Mantia said the restaurant is on schedule to open by the end of April.
The lawsuit has been assigned to Judge Thomas Rose of the U.S. District Court’s Southern District in Dayton. Online court records suggest that no date has yet been set on a hearing on the temporary restraining order.
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TweetDenny’s buy-1-get-1 ‘Slamwich’ promotion is today
A reminder: the Denny’s promotion that we first told you about last week in which customers who buy one “Grand Slamwich” can get a second one free is TODAY — Wednesday, April 8.
According to this Denny’s web page, the promotion — in which the restaurant chain invites you to “Don’t just bring your appetite, bring someone special” — lasts until 2 p.m. today.
The buy-one-get-one promotion isn’t as generous as the Denny’s promotion two months ago in which the restaurant simply gave away free breakfasts with no purchase necessary, but that earlier promotion triggered a robust response and long lines at Denny’s in southwest Ohio and across the country.
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TweetPoliticians call for ‘National Beer Day’
British brewers and legislators are calling for a “National Beer Day” as part of a campaign to save the “great British Pub,” according to this Restaurants and Institutions magazine story.
And get this: More than 200 British legislators have thrown their support behind the campaign. Can you imagine 200 members of Congress calling for a National Beer Day in the U.S.?
Then again, perhaps the pubs on this side of the pond aren’t quite as endangered as they are in Great Britain …
Here, according to the story, are the details of the “five point plan” proposed by the British Beer and Pub Association:
— To axe plans to increase beer tax even further;
— To enforce existing laws - not create new ones - to deal firmly with irresponsible drinkers and premises;
— To end the irresponsible promotion of alcohol in supermarkets, pubs and elsewhere;
— To trust responsible adults to make informed choices about what they drink, not punish them for the actions of an irresponsible minority;
—- To support the British pub as a vital part of social life in local communities.
Now, a cynical observer might suspect that the brewers threw in points 2 and 3 to make the proposal more palatable to the public.
A point worth pondering over a pint, perhaps.
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TweetKettering latest to feel the Sonic boom
The Sonic drive-in restaurant boom that has reverberated throughout the Miami Valley in recent months will be felt in Kettering on or about May 7.
That’s when the new Sonic will open at 2890 Wilmington Pike, just north of East Dorothy Lane at the site of a former White Castle restaurant, according to Chris Heitz, district manager for Houchens Industries, which owns the Dayton-area franchises. The White Castle was demolished to make way for the new Sonic, which will be the 13th to open in the Miami Valley in about two years.
A Sonic will open in Sidney in late May, followed by another new Sonic at 7888 Brandt Pike in Huber Heights that is scheduled to open in early June, Heitz said. And construction will begin soon on a new Sonic to be built on Dayton-Yellow Springs Road across from Fairborn High School, he said.
“Our goal is 29 restaurants in the greater Dayton market, and we’re more than halfway there,” Heitz said. “Even in this down economy, we’re building restaurants and creating jobs and helping keep some construction companies in business.”
The new Kettering Sonic will employ as many as 150 at opening, plus six managers, and will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Heitz said. The Kettering Sonic’s phone number is (937) 938-9900.
Sonic attempts to re-create the feel of 1950s-era drive-in diners and offers a menu that includes hamburgers, chili-covered hot dogs, onion rings and ice cream shakes.
Bowling Green-based Houchen Industries own Sonic franchises in the Columbus area and in some regions of Kentucky in addition to the Dayton area, Heitz said.
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TweetOprah’s former personal chef coming to Dayton
Oprah Winfrey’s former personal chef Rosie Daley is scheduled to come to Dayton for a Junior League of Dayton fundraising event from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. April 29 at the Dayton Racquet Club in the Kettering Tower, 40 N. Main St.
Daley is a cookbook author whose most recent work is The Healthy Kitchen, which she co-authored with Dr. Andrew Weil.
The event will feature an Iron Chef-like cooking contest with Daley as judge, along with a raffle and silent auction. Tickets cost $50 per person or $80 per couple and include an autographed cookbook, appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks. To purchase tickets, visit www.jldayton.org or call (937) 478-3618.
The event is co-hosted by the Dayton law firm Freund, Freeze & Arnold and the Junior League of Dayton.
Permalink | | Categories: Food and health, cooking classes & cookbooks
TweetSmoothie shop opens today in Wash. Twp.
WASHINGTON TWP., Montgomery County — You’ll excuse Rhonda Everitt if she feels a touch of deva vu today as she serves customers at the Planet Smoothie shop that opened this morning, April 3, at 430 Miamisburg-Centerville Road.
A decade ago, she was doing the very same thing as a part-time employee of a Planet Smoothie at this very location. But on this day, Everitt is the franchise owner, having resurrected the shop that closed about a year ago.
“I liked the experience so much, I went and opened one of my own,” Everitt said of her tenure as a part-timer at the Planet Smoothie in 1999-2000.
The store she opened is located at 7578 Cox Lane in West Chester, and it’s still operating. But when she heard that her Planet Smoothie “alma mater” had closed, she started taking steps to revive it. Those steps bore fruit with the Friday opening.
Everitt said she’d like to open a second Planet Smoothie in the Dayton area, but hasn’t chosen a location.
Planet Smoothies offer smoothies in several categories — Protein, Weight Loss, Wellness, Energy and Cool Blended — with a variety of blending ingredients. Its biggest seller is the Twig & Berries Smoothie, which contains strawberries, bananas and yogurt. The shop also sells protein bars and vegan cookies.
The new Planet Smoothie employs five people, though Everitt expects that number to grow to seven or eight. The store’s hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
The store’s phone number is (937) 938-9900.
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TweetThe ‘5 worst packaged lunchbox meals’
A Washington D.C.-based non-profit organization, The Cancer Project, today, April 2 released a report on what it calls “The Five Worst Packaged Lunchbox Meals” and an accompanying news release on its findings.
But a spokeswoman for Oscar Meyer — whose Lunchables placed three packaged meals on the Cancer Project’s “worst-five” list — said her company is no longer producing the two “worst” Lunchable products on the group’s list, and she added that Oscar Mayer is in the process of overhauling the Lunchables lineup to include many healthier choices.
The Cancer Project describes itself as an “independent, separately incorporated affiliate of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine” that “advances cancer prevention and survival through nutrition education and research.” The non-profit organizations has also released reports on the “Unhealthiest Super Bowl Party Foods” and the “Five Unhealthiest ‘Value Menu’ Items.”
Here’s an excerpt from the group’s most recent news release:
WASHINGTON—The Lunchables Maxed Out Cracker Combo Ham and Cheddar from Oscar Meyer is the most unhealthful packaged lunchbox meal, according to a new analysis by dietitians with the nonprofit Cancer Project. The LunchBoxers Pizza from Norwegian Jake’s and the LunchMakers Bologna Cracker Crunchers from Armour-Eckrich are among the other items singled out in the report “The Five Worst Packaged Lunchbox Meals.”
To compile the report, Cancer Project dietitians reviewed nutrition information for nearly 60 packaged lunchbox meals offered by major food companies. The five most unhealthful items were ranked from worst to least bad. Lunchables Maxed Out Ham and Cheddar Cracker Combo topped the list because it has 22 grams of fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, and 1,600 milligrams of sodium—more salt than younger children should consume in an entire day.
The report found that most packaged lunchbox meals have little or no fiber and are high in fat, sugar, sodium, and cholesterol. Many also contain processed meats, which are linked to increased cancer risk later in life.
“Packaged lunches might be convenient, but these high-fat, high-salt products can be hard on your kid’s health,” says Cancer Project dietitian Krista Haynes, R.D., L.D. “Most Lunchables and other packaged lunch meals are packed with saturated fat and cholesterol. The only way to get significant fiber from these products would be to eat the box.”
The report itself is equally blunt — and it certainly names names:
Although Oscar Mayer’s Lunchables and similar packaged lunches seem like cheap and convenient options, many pack a hidden cost. These products are often high in fat and cholesterol and contain processed meats, high-fat dairy products, and other unhealthful items that contribute to childhood obesity and raise the risk of chronic diseases later in life.
Syd Lindner — spokeswoman for Oscar Mayer, a division of Kraft Foods and the maker of Lunchables — said the number one and number two products identified as “worst” by The Cancer Project are part of a “Maxed Out” line that have been discontinued, although she said some product may still be on store shelves.
“We stopped (making those) in the fall,” Lindner said. “We’re making some pretty significant changes to the Lunchables line.”
The company is preparing to launch a new line of Lunchables by the time the 2009-2010 school year starts that includes ingredients such as whole grains, lean meats and fruit. Lindner described the new products as “just like the foods kids would bring from home.”
The Cancer Project report says packaged lunchbox meals are a multimillion-dollar industry and says Oscar Mayer commands 85 percent of the $750 million market.
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TweetChick-fil-A to offer ‘pay once, eat twice’ deal next Wednesday
NOTE: Vote for the best steakhouse in this week’s Active Dayton poll, and nominate your favorite Mom & Pop restaurant while you’re there.
The fast-food chain Chick-fil-A will offer a “pay once, eat twice” promotion next week.
Here’s an excerpt from a news release sent out by the restaurant chain that explains how the deal works:
Pay Once, Eat Twice at Local Chick-fil-A Restaurants
WHAT: All five Dayton and Beavercreek-area Chick-fil-A restaurants will honor customers’ receipts from April 8 as free coupons for the rest of April! Customers who purchase food items at these participating Chick-fil-A restaurants on Wednesday, April 8 are encouraged to keep their receipts, which can be exchanged for each menu item listed on the receipt any day through April 30.
WHEN: Pay Once: Wednesday, April 8 Eat Twice: Receipts from April 8 can be exchanged any day the rest of the month through April 30
WHERE: All Dayton and Beavercreek-area Chick-fil-A Restaurants:
Chick-fil-A at Beavercreek 2360 N. Fairfield Road Beavercreek, OH 45431 (937) 320-1228
Chick-fil-A Benchwood 3339 Benchwood Drive Dayton, OH 45414 (937) 454-0445
Chick-fil-A Dayton Mall 2700 Miamisburg-Ctrvil Road Dayton, OH 45459 (937) 439-1932
Chick-fil-A Washington Township 1482 Miamisburg Centerville Road Dayton, OH 45459 (937) 439-2552
Chick-fil-A Fairfield Commons 2727 N. Fairfield Road Beavercreek, OH 45431 (937) 320-1224
I called one of the Beavercreek restaurants just to make sure the news release was legitimate, and a manager confirmed that indeed his restaurant will be participating in the promotion starting next Wednesday, April 8.
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TweetDenny’s poised to offer 2nd breakfast giveaway
The Denny’s restaurant chain is preparing to offer a second breakfast giveaway, this one a “buy-one-get-one” promotion of its “Grand Slamwich” on Wednesday, April 8, according to this story from Nation’s Restaurant News web site.
The promotion comes two months after Denny’s offered free breakfasts at is restaurants nationwide, an act that cost the company $5 million but which generated “the equivalent of $50 million in free public relations,” Denny’s top marketing official told NRN.com.
Here’s an excerpt from the NRN story:
Executives at the 1,500-unit family-dining chain told Nation’s Restaurant News this week that on April 8, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., participating Denny’s restaurants will offer customers a free Grand Slamwich when they buy a Grand Slam breakfast. The Grand Slamwich features scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, ham, mayonnaise and American cheese between two pieces of maple-glazed toast.
The company’s web site is still just teasing the promotion, saying, “On April 8, Don’t just bring your appetite, bring someone special. Stay tuned for more details.”
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