Eating well and helping a good cause — here’s how to do it
Over the next 30 days, there will be several opportunities to dine for a good cause.
You’ve got to eat, and what better way to do it than helping local students, artists, families, children and/or those that are less fortunate?
Here are three local food events coming up that I can’t recommend highly enough. The food tastes great — and when you stop and think that your meal is helping others, it tastes even better.
SUNDAYS IN FEBRUARY: COCO’S BISTRO SAVOR YOUR SUNDAY BRUNCH
For a dozen years now, Coco’s Bistro has been putting on “Savor your Sunday” brunches benefiting Stivers School for the Arts in February.
It’s one of the only times during the entire year that the popular restaurant is open for brunch.
The special meals are a way to celebrate art, food, education, community and the opportunity to give back according to coowners Karen Wick-Gagnet and Jim Gagnet.
Scheduled performances begin today, Feb. 4 featuring The Stivers Jazz Group and continue Feb. 11 featuring The Stivers Chamber Choir; Feb. 18, The Stivers Concert Pianists; Feb. 25 The Stivers Strings.
The cost is $30 per person with $15 donated back to Stivers.
Some of the most popular items include filet and eggs, a frittata, an Italian grilled cheese, shrimp and grits, a spinach salad, and buttermilk fried chicken and a Belgian waffle with Ohio maple syrup and house hot sauce. There’s also the “big breakfast” featuring locally made sage sausage, cracked black pepper gravy, a white cheddar biscuit, home fried potatoes, over easy eggs and applewood smoked bacon. Each dish is served with cinnamon focaccia bread. Bloody Marys and mimosas will be served up at $5 a pop.
The popular brunches sell-out quickly bringing in 150-200 people per brunch, for a total of about 800 meals served. Reservations are highly recommended and seatings fill up quickly for the popular event.
“The Stivers model is truly amazing and an asset to the Dayton community. The foundation for any good community is the public school system, and we believe firmly that education is not a privilege but a right. This is one way we choose to give back because we love Stivers and what it represents,” said Wick-Gagnet. “(It’s) good food in a lovely environment prepared with good intention.” WHAT: Coco’s Bistro Savor your Sunday brunches to benefit Stivers School for the Arts
WHERE: 250 Warren St., Dayton
WHEN: Reservations are available from 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. for the four Sundays in February
COST: $30 per person with $15 donated back to Stivers ALSO ON HAND: Art donated by Stivers adjunct faculty and local artists will be also on display and available to win through the purchase of raffle tickets. MORE INFO:
www.228coco.com or 937228-2626
MARCH 1: 8TH ANNUAL EMPTY BOWLS BENEFITING HOUSE OF BREAD
There’s no better time to enjoy a bowl of hot soup than during winter — and House of Bread has an event that works each year to capitalize on that fact, helping to raise much needed funds to support its mission of feeding the hungry.
For a minimum $25 donation, you will be able to select a ceramic bowl of your choice glazed by K12/TEJAS and Girl Scout Troop No. 33101 and have it filled and re-filled and re-filled and re-filled with whatever soup you desire. The bowl is yours to keep after the event.
All proceeds go to the House of Bread, a nonprofit community kitchen located in Dayton that serves a hot, nutritious, lunchtime meal to anyone in need seven days a week. In addition, they offer personal hygiene and warm-wear items, as well as referrals to other social services. Their website says “help and hope are always on the menu at the House of Bread,” so it’s a terrific cause you can feel good about supporting.
Desserts and bread are provided by Ashley’s Pastry Shop and Evan’s Bakery.
Soups are provided by: Amber Rose, Brock Masterson’s Catering, Carmen’s Deli, Chef George Sideras, Coco’s Bistro, Christopher’s Restaurant & Catering, Culinary Art Programs at Poinitz, Greek Isle Deli, Jimmie’s Ladder 11, Mamma DiSalvo’s, Mudlick Tap House, Old Scratch Pizza, The Caroline, Wheat Penny, Texas Beef and Cattle Company and 10 Wilmington Place.
WHAT: 8th Annual Empty Bowls benefiting House of Bread
WHEN: 5-7:30 p.m. March 1 WHERE: UD River Campus, 1700 S. Patterson Blvd., Dayton
COST: $25 MORE INFO: www. houseofbread.org
MARCH 3: RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE DOORS OF COMPASSION
For the last seven years, one of the more interesting fundraising events in town has been pairing talented chefs and caterers with local homeowners to put on special dinners for small groups of people all over Dayton. The meals are each as diverse and inspired as the homes and decor that provide the ambiance.
As far as high-end events in town go, this is definitely a favorite when it comes to the creative meals and the sense of adventure it offers. With the deadline to register looming, now is the time to reserve your spot if you want to attend.
Although the foundation for the meal is the same across the board — tenderloin steak provided by Dorothy Lane Market, salad greens courtesy of Produce One, seafood from Foremost Seafood and wine courtesy of Wine Trends as well as dinner rolls provided by Evans Bakery — no two dinner parties are alike. Chefs are encouraged to use their culinary creativity and chops to create a unique dining experience and menu for their guests to ooh and ahh over.
All funds go to support Ronald McDonald House families during their time of need, keeping them close by to watch over and comfort their sick children.
It’s philanthropy through food, and eating for a worthy cause is a feel good all the way around. WHAT: Ronald McDonald House Doors of Compassion WHEN: 6 p.m.-midnight March 3 COST: $150 a ticket. With around 30 homes and up to 350 tickets sold, now is the time to purchase if you think you want to attend.
HOW IT WORKS
About a week prior to the event, guests will receive an email letting them know what house they will be invited to. Guests will arrive at around 6 p.m. on April
1 to their host home for appetizers and dinner. At 8:30 p.m. all guests, host homes, and chefs will head to an after party at a location given to the guests that evening. The after party will have dessert, after dinner drinks, live music, a silent auction and a raffle.
MORE INFO: https://rmhcdayton.org/events/doors-of-compassion
Dayton Eats looks at the regional food stories and restaurant news that make mouths water. Send us your menu updates, special dinners and events, new chefs, interesting new dishes and culinary adventures. Do you know of new exciting format changes, specials, happy hours, restaurant updates or any other tasty news you think is worth a closer look at? E-mail Alexis Larsen at alexis.e.larsen@hotmail.com with the information and we will work to include it in future coverage.
You’ve got to eat, and what better way to do it than helping local students, artists, families, children and/or those that are less fortunate? Here are three local food events coming up that I can’t recommend highly enough. The food tastes great — and when you stop and think that your meal is helping others, it tastes even better.