$3 tasting of beloved local grub tonight and tomorrow

Taste of the Miami Valley a part of Urban Nights

This weekend is your chance to sample some of the Miami Valley’s best restaurants in one location.

Miami Valley Restaurant Association’s annual Taste of the Miami Valley kicks off tonight at RiverScape MetroPark, 111 E. Monument Ave., as part of Downtown Dayton Partnership’s Urban Nights celebrate.

The Taste of The Miami Valley is from 5 to 11 p.m. tonight and 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.

Urban Nights is 5 to 10 p.m. tonight only in downtown Dayton, the Oregon District and Wright-Dunbar Business Village.

There is a chance of rain for tonight night’s activities, but hopefully that won’t stop the party or rappelling.

(See: Damaging winds, hail possible today and read 90 rappellers to descend 330 feet down Key Bank Tower)

Massive tents will cover the three specially designated areas — “International Street,” Second Street between Main and Jefferson streets; “Arts Corner,” St. Clair and Fourth streets; and “Live on Five,” corner of Fifth and Pine streets in the Oregon District — this evening and 100 indoor venues are participating in Urban Nights.

About 20 restaurants will participate in the Taste of the Miami Valley.

Amy Zahora, executive director of the Miami Valley Restaurant Association, said the event will also showcase wine and craft beer as well as street performers and live musical acts. The Waiting , a popular Tom Petty Tribute Band, will be featured Saturday night.

The grub is the man draw. Dishes will cost $3 to $6 each and a ticket system will be used. Each ticket is a dollar.

“The menu looked really good,” Zahora said.

Several new restaurants will serve at this year’s taste.

They include Agnes All Natural Grill, Shish Wrap, Roost Modern Italian and Riff Raff Tavern of Dayton and Crazy Mango of Beavercreek.

Several hits from Bacon Fest at the Fraze will also be served, Zahora said.

Sweet-Umms Chocolatier of Beavercreek will sell chocolate covered bacon and Elinor's Amber Rose of Dayton will serve bacon and cheddar pierogies.

This writer will be a part of a four person panel judging best, soup, fries, seafood, BBQ, appetizer, entree, ethnic dish, dessert; Italian, sandwich, booth and best damn taste.

A people’s choice award will also be given out.

Here is a look at what will be served:

Agnes All Natural Grill

Veggie Skewer two tickets

Jerk Wings one ticket per wing

Lamb Burger three tickets

Brown Sugar Lemonade three tickets

Brown Sugar Lemonade Cake two tickets

Amber Rose

Cabbage Roll three tickets

Apple Crisp three tickets

Cheddar Bacon Fries four tickets

Bob Evans

Strawberry Pie three tickets

Pumpkin Pie three tickets

Pumpkin Supreme Pie three tickets

Boxes of Chocolate Chunk or M&M cookies three tickets

Brixx Ice House

Fat Elvis Sandwich (Peanut Butter, Bacon and Banana) three tickets

Brixx Dragon Toes (Boneless Wings | Medium, BBQ, Teriyaki) three tickets

Brixx 1/4 Pound Cheese Burger three tickets

Brixx Cheesy Mac and Cheese three tickets

Brixx Frozen Flavored Lemonade (Non-Alcoholic Version) three tickets

Charleston’s BBQ

Sides three tickets

BBQ Chicken Quarters Jerk Style five tickets

Chicken Wings five tickets

Pork Chops six tickets

Coco’s Bistro

Tomato Bisque served with Parmesan Crisp three tickets

Crazy Mango Bar & Bistro

Korean Tacos

Thai Chunga – Pad Thai wrapped in flour tortilla and deep fried (a Bahn Mai original)

Basil Stir Fry

Boneless Wings – Mojito, Asian peanut, Huli Huli (Hawaiian sweet & sour) sauce

Thai Ice Tea

De’lish

Three Lemon pepper wings three tickets

Soul Roll 1 four tickets or two for six tickets

Sweet Potato Bread Pudding three tickets

The Dock

Crazy Crab Dip with Deep Fried Pita Crisps three tickets

Two Bacon Wrapped Crab Balls Deep Fried and topped with Lobster Sauce four tickets

Lobster Bisque Served with Oyster Crackers six tickets

Homemade Cheesecake with Apple Walnut Chutney four tickets

El Meson

Arepa three tickets

Chicken Empanadas four tickets

Paella six tickets

Giovannis

Meatball Sub three tickets

Steak Pepper and Onions three tickets

Hickory River Smokehouse

Pulled Pork Sandwiches three tickets

Baby Back Ribs four tickets

Loaded Pulled-Pork Nachos three tickets

Jeet India

Mixed Vegetable Korma with rice and Naan five tickets

Chicken Tikka Masala with rice and Naan five tickets

Naan one ticket

Vegetable Samosa one ticket

Mango Lassi one ticket

McCormick & Schmick’s

Blackened Fish Tacos three tickets

Salmon Orzo with Pesto, Tomato, Mushroom, and artichoke six tickets

Pasha Grill

Humus four tickets

Salad four tickets

Falafel six tickets

Beef Gyro six tickets

Chicken Gyro six tickets

Ritter’s Frozen Custard

All Sundaes five tickets

Small Dish No Toppings three tickets

Roost

Parmesan Truffled Fries three tickets

Italian Shrimp and Grits five tickets

Shish Wraps

Chips and Hummus four tickets

Shish Crisps three tickets

Shish Fried four tickets

Stuffed Grape Leaves five tickets

Chicken Skewer with Sauce five tickets

Smoothie King’s Menu

Angel Food Smoothie three tickets

Berry Punch Smoothie three tickets

Mango Fest Smoothie three tickets

Sweet umm’s

Chocolate Covered Bacon three tickets

Turtle Brownies four ticket

Chocolate Pretzels two for five tickets

Caramel Apples six tickets

Wallingford Coffee

Iced Coffee three tickets

Ice Tea three tickets

Contact this blogger at arobinson@DaytonDailyNews.com or Twitter.com/DDNSmartMouth

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