FROM OUR ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERS AT DAYTON.COM
The Dayton area excelled in Ohio Magazine’s 2016 Best of Ohio Readers’ Ballot, especially in the “food and drink” categories, in which our region captured six of 13 categories from a magazine with editorial offices in heavily populated northeast Ohio.
The magazine asked its readers and web site visitors to vote for their favorites throughout the state, and the results were published in the January 2016 edition of the magazine that showed up last week in subscribers’ mailboxes.
Winners in the food and drink categories included:
• Best Coffee Shop/Roaster: Boston Stoker Coffee Co. in Vandalia;
• Best Farmers Market: the 2nd Street Market in downtown Dayton;
• Best Ohio-Made Candy: Esther Price in Dayton;
• Best Food Truck: Dayton-based Zombie Dogz Gourmet Hot Dogs;
• Best Winery: The Winery at Versailles in Versailles;
• Best Brunch: Patterson's Cafe in Oxford.
Esther Price candies and the 2nd Street Market were among the repeat winners in this year’s magazine awards.
Piqua's Arrowston Inn won the "Best Bed & Breakfast" category, while Darke County picked up four awards in addition to its winery win: for Best Main Street/Downtown (Greenville), Best History Museum (the Garst Museum), Best Summer Festival (Gathering at Garst) and Best County Fair (Darke County Fair). The Little Miami Scenic Trail was named "Best Bike Trail" and Oxford captured the designation of "Best College Town."
The “Best Food Truck in Ohio” award was particularly gratifying for the Zombie Dogz husband-and-wife founders Dave and Lee VanArtsdalen.
“We didn’t even know we were in the running,” Lee VanArtsdalen said. “We spent three years building the business and trying to do it the right way, so we feel very grateful for this. All that hard work paid off.”
Jimmy Harless, market manager at the 2nd Street Market, said his produce vendors are cultivating a reputation for their fruits and vegetables.
“It’s an honor to receive that kind of recognition from people throughout the state and beyond,” Harless said. “We think the market really has made a name for itself as a local food hub, a place where people come for a feel of community and a Dayton destination.”
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