We got carry out from Lihn's several years ago when we lived close by, and I remembered it being good - just maybe not memorable. Since they've moved locations (still on Airway, but now in Page Manor), it seems I heard a little more buzz about them. More people on Facebook and Instagram singing their praises.

You know how you always see the little pepper next to Mongolian Beef on a menu and think, "Nahhhhh, everyone has that little pepper and the sauce is never spicy, just sweet." Well, I love that dish and thought the same thing when I ordered it here. Well, turns out not only do they use a lot of chilis, but they don't seed them. I noticed the spiciness can be tailored to your taste, so I would absolutely get this again. Even though it was far too much heat for my taste, I ate half the dish and powered through the other half the next day for lunch.

There was a mix-up with Mr. FvF's food, but somewhat understandable. He asked the server about two dishes, then ordered the second one. He was delivered the first one, which still looked delicious - just wasn't what he wanted.

Service was friendly & fast, and the prices were pretty reasonable. More than takeout, but probably on par with other sit-down Asian joints. Be forewarned that there are no fountain drinks, so if you order soda, you'll get a can & glass of ice, no refills.

Easy 4 out of 5 sporks. Would be a five had I known about the spice levels and they offered soft drink refills.

Here's the deal, lunchboxes - I should be welcoming a little tiny eater in about T minus two weeks.  I have a metric shitload of reviews that need written. At this point, making separate entries for each one is NOT going to happen.  So, you're going to get a lot of quick, abridged reviews, without photos.  I'd be happy to provide photos and additional commentary if you're curious about a specific place or dish - just leave something in the comments section.  Loosen up your Sans-a-Belts, here we go!

Smashburger - Dayton, Ohio (UD)
Hadn't gotten around to trying this place or Five Guys, and there was a groupon-type thing available for around $12 worth of food.  Two burgers, one order of fries and one soda was $16.  DAMN!  A bit steep for what I consider fast food.  I can't seem to recall specifics, but their menu was a little limited and confusing - and the staff had no idea what their signature sauce was.  I do specifically recall that the restaurant was filthy.  The floors were so dirty and sticky that I lost my shoe to it three times.  EW, Smashburger.  The food itself wasn't bad, but certainly wasn't impressive.  Fries were so greasy, they were transparent.  I'd choose Tank's any day, for my money.  Hell, with the experience we had, I'd probably pick Hardee's over Smashburger.  
1 out of 5 sporks! 


CJ Chan - Dayton, Ohio
Finally tried this place out for date night after hearing nothing but rave reviews.  Situated in a really odd spot, in a tiny shopping center just between the ass-end of Kettering and Walnut Hills, the place has very limited parking and seating (not to mention pulling into the lot at over 2mph can do some damage to your car).  We lucked out and gt their just before dinner rush and had a terrific meal.  Mr. FvF had sweet & sour pork and I had Mongolian beef - probably some of the best and most traditional I've ever had.  Fried pork dumplings were also excellent. Prices were right on point, service was tops and the menu is extensive and impressive.  Can't wait to go back.      
5 out of 5 sporks! 



Rootbeer Stande - Kettering, Ohio
Exactly what you'd expect from a drive-in restaurant.  The girls don't wear roller skates, but otherwise it's just as old-timey as you'd expect.  Burgers, dogs, and lots of fair-fare (corn dogs, Texas tenderloins, funnel cakes), and nothing over $5, if memory serves.  More importantly, the rootbeer is super tasty, and heavy on the sasparilla, which is just the way I like it.  My bacon cheeseburger was nice & messy, loaded with toppings, and the Mister's tenderloin was mammoth and delicious. We also split the fried pickle spears and mini corn dogs, which I highly recommend.  FYI, they only take cash.               
5 out of 5 sporks! 



Brunch Club - Dayton, Ohio
Another groupon-type deal. Hadn't been here in years, since it was The Breakfast Club.  We met another couple there for brunch and had an excellent meal.  Kind of made me wonder why I don't hear more about the place - but judging by the wait for a table, maybe it's the kind of place everyone tries to keep secret.  Mr. FvF and I were thrilled to see Chicken & Waffles on the specials board, and even more excited to see that it's on their everyday menu.  He couldn't resist ordering that, I had the meat lovers' omelette, and our brunch buds had the eggs benedict and breakfast burrito with sides of potato cakes.  Everything was spot-on.  I'm not usually a hash brown fan, but theirs were crispy, onion-y and not greasy at all - just perfect.  The omelette was fluffy and on par with my favorites from Golden Nugget.  Mr. FvF's dish was downright impressive.  The waffle was just a waffle like any other, but the super fresh, hot broasted chicken was out of this world.  The breakfast burrito was incredibly fresh-tasting for something that was covered in gravy, and I have to take someone else's word that the eggs benedict was very well done also. The service could have been better.  Our waitress was a bit slow (cutting her some slack b/c of the crowd), but incredibly clumsy and forgetful.  We had to ask for my husband's coffee three times, and she spilled water all over our table right out of the gate.   Also, when I ask for chocolate milk "with my meal," that's when I want it.  With my meal.  Few things irritate me more than letting milk sit for 5-10 minutes, getting warm while waiting for my food.  And when are eateries going to get hip to frosty glasses for milk?  Every place I order it, it's practically room temperature.  As far as price, serving sizes are commensurate with the cost.   Will definitely be heading here again.    
4 out of 5 sporks! 



McCormick & Schmick's - Beavercreek, Ohio
Sadly, this is from Restaurant week, back in July.  Pitiful, I know.  We double-dated with another couple - the boys both ordered the cashew-crusted tilapia (regular menu)and sweet potato cous cous, and the gals both ordered off the RW menu - filet florentine, cucumber salad and flourless chocolate torte.  The main dishes and cous cous were pitch-perfect, but some of the sides and salads needed a little touching up.  The vinaigrette on the cucumber salad was far too tart.  A little sweetness would have gone a long way.  The boys' cous cous was amazing and finished with Jamaican rum butter, but the risotto that came with the RW specials was, well - nothing special.  One of the dessert choices was supposed to be chocolate silk pie with bourbon creme anglaise, but had been changed to the torte with raspberry sauce. It was very good, but could have used a few fresh raspberries to balance the dense sweetness.  Service was good, despite our wait for a table when I had reservations and partied of the same size who arrived after us were seated before us.  Price points were very fair on their regular menu - most entrees between $15 and $25.  I can definitely see us dining here again, perhaps for a special occasion, outside of Restaurant Week.                
4 out of 5 sporks! 


El Toro - Huber Heights, Ohio
Ew.  I won't even go into too much detail here, because it's not worth it.  Standard Mexican-fare menu, price points are about the same no matter where you go.  I ordered something with shredded beef, which was incredibly fatty and bland.  Service was so-so.  Again, EW.  Would not go back.  Giving them one point because my co-workers swear their food was good.                                      
1 out of 5 sporks!



Blueberry Cafe - Bellbrook, Ohio
Best breakfast I've had that wasn't at my mama's house.  Excellent service, huge portions and the food was simply outstanding.  I went there because I had a hankering for French Toast, and I heard they do it right. Upon arrival, I realized that this place was truly sent to answer a pregnant girl's prayers.  On the specials?  Banana bread pudding french toast.  I almost wish I was making it up, because I want to eat it every day of my life.  I think there was unicorn blood in it.  Magical.  The leftovers - about half a slice, took more than one hand to hold, and Mr. FvF and I split the half piece for breakfast the next morning.  Two very small complaints - the goodness that oozed from my French toast got all under my potatoes and eggs, making them more sweet than savory.  Boo.  And again, with the milk.  I asked for it with my meal, and it came out 10 minutes ahead - not all that cold, and just getting warmer.  Blueberry Cafe seems to be renowned for their breakfasts, but their lunch menu also looks impressive, as do their Friday night dinner offerings.  The place is very tiny, so a wait is likely, but well worth it. They do take reservations for dinner, not sure about breakfast and lunch, though.  Price points might be considered on the higher end for breakfast and lunch, but the portions more than warrant it.
4.5 out of 5 sporks! 

                         ...looked completely different than the other side, where we were sitting.
The decor didn't necessarily match the culinary vibe, but it also didn't seem freakishly out of place, as this place is probably brimming with hipsters on any other given day.
The Mister opted for the Tilapia Tempura Tacos with avocado and mango salsa.  When asked how he felt about his meal, he replied with a muffled "This is fucking awesome!"  Good enough for me.

Anycrap, after my brief match with Prednisone in October, about 8 pounds have crept back on, and I simply am not havin' that shit.  So, our lunches and dinners are going back to the lower end of the glycemic index, as to make nice with our waistlines again.  


A lot of South Beach recipes don't appeal to me that much, so sometimes I'll take Adkins recipes and cut a lot of the fat out of them.  Everyone loves the lettuce cups at PF Chang's, but i don't have the patience to dice chicken or the stomach to put it in a food processor and think it'll ever be clean enough again.  I really don't care for ground chicken, either, since I'm allergic to nasty.

I never thought the day would come that my husband tired of Ticket's Pub and their delicious, carnivorous Greek Hot Plate. We've been known to make several excuses and maybe even get unnecessary hair cuts, just so we could say, "Might as well grab a bite at Ticket's. It'll be too late to cook once we get home." While I still have a Pavlovian response to the words "Greek Hot Plate," the magic seems to have faded for him. I suggested the usual post-haircut dinner there and he suggested trying something new instead.

Anytime I get an inkling of something new Mr. FvF discovers that he likes, I try to find a way I can create a meal around it. I can't remember how, but he realized he liked Asian-style sesame, dressing - so I figured I could make a spinach salad of it. But, just any regular spinach salad wouldn't do. Unlike lettuce, green leafies like cabbage and spinach are sometimes even better when they wilt under a bit of heat, so I thought I might try putting a chicken stir fry on top of a bed of it.

And as much as I wanted to try the Drunken Noodles, I went for the Tamarind Beef.

The portions are huuuuuuuge, considering the price. You could easily order one dish between two people, like most Asian-fare restaurants. I only tried a nibble of the stir fry, since I was trying to avoid the shrimp, but what I had was great. Crisp veggies, light sauce, and beautifully plated.

Mongolian Beef - specifically from North China on Far Hills Ave - is something I crave more than is natural for someone not suffering a hormonal imbalance. Like a lot of folks, we're on a limited dining out budget, which means you have to learn to make the stuff you love at home...and hopefully just as well, if not better.

I found a recipe that pretty well mimics the dish that I hold so dear pretty well. Aside from having to carve up an entire flank steak, it's pretty easy, too. Here's what you'll need:

1 c. vegetable oil
1 pound flank steak
1/4 c. cornstarch
1 cup total, chopped green onions and yellow onions

Another great, quick weeknight meal. Chinese takeout-inspired cooking is quickly becoming one of my favorite go-to meal plans during the week, because it takes minimal prep and negligible time to cook.
The sauce came out a bit thin, but I'll remedy that in the recipe I post here.

1 tbsp honey
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp ground ginger
1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 cup orange juice
1 packet Splenda (or 1 tsp sugar)
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/8 tsp cayenne
1 cup mandarin oranges (drained)
3 cloves crushed or minced garlic
1 lb chicken breast tenders, diced about 1"

In a small bowl, mix the first 7 ingredients and set aside. Heat about 3 tbsp oil in a pan over medium-high and add your diced chicken. About halfway through cooking, add the garlic and cook until chicken is no longer pink. Add your sauce mixture and orange slices and continue cooking, kicking the heat up a smidge, until the sauce starts to thicken and bubble. A little orange rind would be great in this, too, but I didn't have any on hand.

Once Mr. FvF and I finally made it back to the Dirty D yesterday evening, the last thing I wanted to do was cook. I mentioned going to the Hasty Tasty for an early bird special, but the poor guy had taken my bossin' the whole ride home, so I let him veto my vote for Hasty in favor of Chinese food.
Only problem is, I'm really picky about Chinese food. I really like North China in Centerville, and China cottage is pretty good, too - but neither are close to the East end. After poking around on UrbanSpoon, I found that a little place on Airway Rd called Linh's was bested in ratings only by P.F. Chang's in the Dayton area. Thankfully, they have an online menu, so we phoned in our order and went to pick it up.
Mr. FvF ordered the Empress chicken and I ordered the Crispy orange beef, both in deluxe dinner specials. They each came with a side of rice, eggroll or crab rangoon, and a choice of soup. We both got eggrolls, and I got the wonton soup while he opted for the hot & sour.

We got home and Mr. FvF started unloading and I went to get some extra plates.
Me: "Do we need extra napkins?"
Mr FvF: "No, but we might need an extra table."

It was an absolute ton of food, no matter how tightly they had it crammed into tiny little cartons. We chowed down and both sampled one another's dishes, and decided that it was some of the best damn Chinese food we'd ever consumed. He says the hot & sour soup doesn't top China Cottage's, and I agreed that my wonton soup wasn't as good as what I get at North China.
His Empress Chicken had a great spice in the glaze, but the first hint of heat you got was as far as it went - it didn't intensify as you kept eating.

My Crispy Orange Beef was tender, lightly breaded, and smothered in a sauce that wasn't overly sweet and swimming in orange rind (one of my favorite things). I added a little red pepper flake to kick up the flavor a bit, which worked really well.

We didn't dine in, but the phone service was pleasant, and it wasn't too pricey. More than a lot of Chinese takeout joints, but you're getting restaurant quality food (as opposed to the chewy cat meat found at places like New China down the other end of the road), so $10 a piece isn't too shabby.

I really have no idea what made me decide to try my hand at eggrolls, but here we are. Surely, I thought, they'll be a hot mess. Turns out, I make some of the best damn eggrolls this side of the Great Miami. Take that, PF Chang's!

You'll need:
1 lb chicken breast, trimmed and cut into about 1/2" pieces
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp ground ginger
1 bag cole slaw mix (cabbage and carrots)
1/2 red onion, finely diced
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
about 10 egg roll wrappers
black pepper
oil (preferably canola, veggie or peanut)
soy sauce

It's easiest to dice your chicken up when it's still just the slightest bit frozen - the knife will go right through it. Heat about 1/4 C oil over medium heat, season your diced chicken with fresh ground black pepper, and toss it into the hot pan (Wok works best), then add 1 clove of the minced garlic. Give it a good stir, toss the chicken around occasionally, and cook for about 5-7 minutes or until done. Careful not to let it start browning - chicken diced this small will cook up fast. Use a slotted spoon to transfer it to a bowl and stick it in the microwave so it doesn't lose heat.

In the same pan, with the small amount of fat & leftover oil from the chicken, toss in your cabbage & carrot mix, the other clove of garlic, red onion, pepper flakes and ginger. I added a little extra oil (sesame and canola) to help it wilt, and about a tbsp of soy sauce here, too. Cook until it's wilted, but not soggy. Get your chicken back out, add that, and give it another good stir.
Now, start preheating more oil about 1" deep in a Dutch oven. You can use a deep fryer, too, but we don't have those kinds of fancy appliances here at Chez FvF.

Now comes the tricky part - working with the egg roll wrappers. It's nowhere near as tedious as working with phyllo dough, but it takes some getting used to. Any part of it that gets wet will become pliable and tear easily, but this pliability also comes in handy later. Observe!

Lay a wrapper out, one corner pointing towards you. Spread about 1 tbsp of peanut sauce (Trader Joe's Peanut Satay sauce works well for this) 2 inches above the bottom corner, then put 3 heaping tbsp of your cabbage & chicken over top of that.




Next, fold the bottom corner over once,
turn the roll over a second time,
then fold the sides in.
It should look just like an envelope.

Finally, roll it up the rest of the way. Dip your fingertips in water and gently slide them along the seams. They'll become gummy and start to seal together.



Your oil should be hot by the time you finish, but you can test it by flicking a drop of hot water into it and see if it pops. Place about 4-5 eggrolls in at a time and cook just under two minutes per side, or until golden brown. they'll be pretty greasy, so drain them on paper towels or newspaper before serving.

I don't feel the slightest bit bawdy about saying that these are probably the best eggrolls I've ever had. The peanut sauce definitely gives it some sass, but it's not overly noticeable. Best of all, they weren't too difficult or time consuming (about 45 minutes, start to finish) and it costs around $7 to make 10 of them.

A week or so ago, the Mister and I headed to Trader Joe's, specifically for their wheat pizza dough. We ended up grabbing a few other things, too, and I know you're dying to know what I thought of them.


Peanut Satay Sauce - Meh. It's not exactly what I was looking for - too salty or too much soy sauce. But, I did use a few tablespoons to perfect the already great peanut sauce recipe I've been making.

Trader Giotto's Classic Marinara - Fantastic. Only about $2 per jar, and aperfect accompaniment for things like calzones, stromboli and bread sticks. A little Italian place in Kettering has some of the best red sauce I've ever had, and this is pretty comparable.

Chicken Mai Shu - EW. Just, ew. I fixed up half the box, by the box's microwave-only instructions. The flavor was so-so, but the texture was gnarly. I'm going to try the microwave steam again then toss them in a pan to crisp up and see if the other half turns out better that way.

Pepperoni - I don't remember the brand name, but it was the best pre-packages pepperoni I've tasted. Lean, not greasy, and great flavor.

Wheat Pizza Dough - At only 99 cents a bag, I'm going to go back and clean them out of this stuff. Some wheat dough tends to be too sweet for it's own good, but this was as close to perfect as it's going to get without making it yourself.

• My friend Perry has recently started a blog for folks that like to enjoy a good red wine, but don't have cowboy astronaut money to spend on it. Check out Reds For the Rest of Us, and add it to your blog roll if you know what's good for you.

• A new Asian joint is opening at the fancy outdoor mall, The Greene, in August. It's called Choe's Asian Gourmet, and will be operated by the same guy that runs Edamame Sushi & Grill at a similar location on Columbus's Easton Town Center. Alex, I'll take "Places I can't afford to dine" for $500.

• In much more important news, Dayton's delicious Submarine House is opening a new location in Beavercreek soon, sporting the same bar & grill concept that their Vandalia & Troy locations currently use. Since the owners are out of town, I spoke with Jason (in charge of franchise opportunities) from Sub House today about the new digs. He says they plan to open in late June and the menu will remain the same, but with a full bar and plenty of giant TVs. I have a call in to the owners, and will be posting more scoop on this next week (since DDN doesn't seem interested in the story). In the meantime, call up your local Sub House and get yourself a cheese steak or a Big T!

• Had another amazing lunch today at Figlio in Town & Country: Chicken Marsala with penne, another great salad, and of course, their amazing wood fired pizza. They had three varieties out for us to sample, and I tried one with chicken and caramelized onions, and another with pesto, tomatoes and artichoke hearts. Figlio's owner, Peter Danis, was kind enough to thank me for the glowing review I'd posted from my first visit to his restaurant and chit-chat with me. He is probably one of the most genuinely kind restauranteurs I've ever met.

• I've been very busy and have a lot of updating to do, so keep your eyes open for a brief review of Schlotzky's Deli and a recipe for a Chicken, Sage Sausage and wild rice casserole.

I've been trying in vain to make a decent peanut sauce for going on three years now, and this is the closest I've managed to get. It's still not spot on to Thai 9's sauce, but it'll do!

The set-up

For the chicken, you'll need:
1 cup corn flakes, crushed
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp cayenne
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp salt

And for the sauce:
2/3 C creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1/4 tsp cayenne

Cooking
Combine all of your dry ingredients in a zippy storage bag and toss the chicken chunks around in it, about half a dozen at a time. As you go, place them on a lightly greased backing sheet or glass dish, then spray all of the tops with cooking spray once they're all lined up. Pop them in the oven at 400 for about 25 minutes.

While they cook, assemble your sauce. Combine all of the ingredients in a
saucepan and whisk together until there are no lumps. Cook over medium heat until just before boiling, then reduce to low (the sauce will thicken). I tasted the sauce at this point and there just wasn't enough to it, so I added a little bit of store-bought peanut sauce that I picked up a while back that was WAY too damn hot for my taste, just on it's own. Turns out, it was the perfect compliment of seasonings to make this just right.
Turn off the heat & let is cool for a few before you put it into a serving dish.


Turned out pretty much perfect. The crunch of the cereal was so good that I think I'll try a different version of it with some thick cut pork loin chops I picked up today, which I have another sauce in mind for. The sauce was definitely more sweet than savory, but it complimented the chicken really nicely. It was also just pretty to look at.

This is one of the fastest and easiest meals I know how to make. About 20 minutes start to finish, provided you've either bought stir fry beef or had your butcher cut it for you. Dot's Market keeps a little sliced sirloin (right behind the stew beef) for stir fry. It's about $5 per pound, and worth every penny. The sugar snap peas are readily available at Kroger or any supermarket for around $2 per self-steam bag. Everything else is stuff we usually have on-hand - yes, even the ramen. I detest the stuff as it's meant to be served, but Mr. FvF loves that shit. Besides, it's good on it's own for use in stir fry in place of rice, so I don't object to keeping some around.


Spicy Orange Beef

1 lb stir fry beef
1 15 oz can beef broth
1/4 cup teriyaki sauce
2 closed minced garlic
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/4 cup orange marmalade
2 pkg ramen noodles
1 bag steamable sugar snap peas



Start by browning your beef. I usually cook it over med-high heat with a little sesame oil, soy sauce and salt. The sesame oil adds tons of flavor. Cook it only to mid-rare or medium, as it will continue to cook and you'll add it back to the pan briefly at the end. Slide it all onto a plate and store it in the microwave or oven until you're almost done.

Don't bother draining the beef drippings, and add your beef broth, teriyaki, garlic, ginger, marmalade and cayenne and bring this all to a boil. Reduce the heat a bit and add your ramen (works much better if you break it up beforehand), cover and cook for about 5 minutes.
Add your snap peas and cook for another 2-3 minutes (covered), then add your beef, stir, and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Toasted sesame seeds make a killer garnish and add a nice texture variation.