Firehouse

Jimmie’s Ladder 11: Great Food in a Historic Firehouse

September 5, 2013 By The Food Adventures Crew 4 Comments

Jimmie’s Ladder 11 on Brown Street. A “hot time in the old firehouse”

What better place for a Food Adventure than a historic Dayton Firehouse? But atmosphere isn’t everything , you gotta have good eats too. Jimmie’s Ladder 11 at 936 Brown St. is one of Dayton’s best examples of a great menu in a great venue. The restaurant is located in what used to be an old city firehouse back in the days when the engines were run by horse drawn carriages. Dayton Fire Department memorabilia lines the walls of this beautiful dining area. Antique wood floors and walls throughout the building develops a warm, nostalgic feel. But Th e Food Adventure Crew knows, the decor is just the beginning.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Jimmie’s Ladder 11 is located in a historic Dayton Fire Department Building built in 1892.

— Family owned restaurant with a stellar service staff.

— Owner Jimmie Brandell worked at the Upper Krust for 17 years honing his restaurant skills.

— Wide variety of menu choices from Burgers and Sandwiches, to rare Upstate New York favorites

Creole Cheesecake is not a Dessert, it is a Savory Appetizer

— Nice selection of craft beers on tap and in bottles. They even feature a fire hydrant tap.

— Live Music on weekends, showcasing eclectic local bands

— Private Party Loft available for special events or parties

— Outdoor dining area overlooks a bustling Brown Street

Let’s dive into the menu, with FOOD ADVENTURE’s MUST EATS for JIMMIES LADDER 11:

Grab a fork and follow us…

Paisano Pasta Chips – Fresh Deep Fried Pasta, “Italian Nachos”

CREOLE CHEESECAKE – Probably one of the best appetizers in Dayton. This unique menu item is not a dessert. It is a casserole type dish served in slices. The “cheesecake” is stuffed with Andouille Sausage, Shrimp, smoked Gouda, Cream Cheese, Onions, and Peppers. Slightly “fiery,” but mostly rich and tasty.

NEW ORLEANS GUMBO – Made from scratch daily, this hearty gumbo is simply amazing. Bursting with Chicken, Shrimp, and Andouille sausage, this is a “must eat” with the perfect heat. We are addicted and after one cup, you will be too.

VODKA RIGGIES- You won’t find this Upstate New York favorite anywhere else in Dayton. Jimmie’s wife, Sue is from Utica, NY where this dish originated. Creamy tomato sauce is blended with vodka, chicken and rigatoni, then finished with peppers. There is some spiciness to this pasta plate, but we won’t have to hose you down afterwards. One of our favorites for sure.

NEW YORK STYLE CHEESECAKE – One of the best we have ever eaten. Again made from scratch, this is a cross between the Upper Krust Cheesecake and the ones you find in New York City. We love this stuff. Order a piece for a rich, sinful taste of dreaminess.

LADDER 11 SANDWICH – The kitchen starts out with either a hoagie roll or rye bread. They add some Romanian style Pastrami and Corned Beef. Top the whole thing off with the house-made, hand-cut Cole Slaw. The final touch is a drizzle of house-made Russian Dressing. Are you licking your chops yet?

Honorable Mention:

The Hamburger – You might hear fire truck sirens in your head, because for 6 bucks, this platter is a steal.

Tom Turkey – A throwback to the Upper Krust sandwich. You cant go wrong with turkey and creamy house-made cole slaw chopped that day.

Paisano Pasta Chips – Could be described as “Italian Nachos.” Homemade pasta, deep fried and topped with Italian Sausage, Onions, Peppers, Mozzarella and Provolone. The concoction is finished off with a delicious Asiago cream sauce.

New York Style Cheesecake – Unbelievably good

Jimmie’s Ladder 11 is a Dayton original. No trendy stuff here. The Ladder 11 staff has brought together good, affordable food and fun surroundings. They even have great salads and vegetarian choices.

If you have not had a chance to visit this establishment, take some time to check it out. We frequent this place because we love the menu and beer selection. The service is always spot on as well. Got a hungry stomach? Put that fire out by visiting Jimmie’s Ladder 11.

Want some more “hot” scoop from some “fiery foodies”? Then “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Browse through our incredible photos below for a thorough look at the menu. We aren’t a “one dish Trish,” we write informed stories after trying various menu items during numerous visits.

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Jimmie’s Ladder 11 Beer & Menu Pairings for July 13th Food Adventure Event! Limited Tickets Available

July 2, 2013 By The Food Adventures Crew Leave a Comment

Jimmie’s Ladder 11 is hosting an Exclusive Food Adventure Event July 13

If you are a Dayton foodie, then listen up…

The Big Ragu & Crew would like to share this EXCLUSIVE Food Adventure news with you.

The Jimmies Ladder 11 Staff has finalized the menu for the one-time-0nly event, slated for SATURDAY, JULY 13th at 7PM in the Ladder 11 Private Party Loft!

5 COURSES, 5 BEER PAIRINGS, 1 HOT TIME ! The fiery event will be called “JIMMIE’s in JULY,”

Abita Beers will be paired with the food courses

ABITA Brewing Company will be partnering with Dayton Most Metro and Jimmie’s Ladder 11 for this one of a kind night featuring live music from the Stillwater River Band.
There will be door prizes and gift certificate giveaways.

WARNING: Seating is limited, so get your tickets, HERE before they sell out !

Tickets are Pre-Pay only, no refunds.

$30 per ticket INCLUDES THE TIP ! What a deal !

Here is what to expect from the menu tasting :

The event promises to TURN UP THE HEAT by featuring some hot tastes. Then, we will hose you down with the cool Abita Beer Pairings!

COURSE 1: New Orleans Style Gumbo paired with Abita Amber Beer

COURSE 2: Cornerstone Salad paired with Abita Strawberry Harvest Beer

COURSE 3: Paisano Pasta Chips with an Abita Seasonal Beer called Satsuma

COURSE 4: Vodka Chicken Riggies (Pasta dish) paired with Abita Turbo Dog Beer

COURSE 5: INTRODUCING THE NEW HOUSE CHEESECAKE ! Paired with Abita Purple Haze Beer

There is even a rumor that The Big Ragu will be passing out sample bites of Jimmie’s Creole Cheesecake which is and incredible, quiche-like, no wait souffle pie with shrimp, andouille sausage, smoked gouda cheese.. heck, it cant be described, it just has to be tasted. Don’t Miss this this Food Adventure.

It is going to be a hot time in the old firehouse on July 13th !!

TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE BY CLICKING HERE ! Get them now, so you don’t get burned when they sell out!

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Food Adventure’s Small Bites for 3/16/2012

March 16, 2012 By The Food Adventures Crew Leave a Comment

Behold another Food Adventure’s “Small Bites” article. Here we feature some of our favorite food items in the Dayton area. We are not food critics, we are just a couple of guys who love to eat.

With no further delay, let’s dive into Small Bites for 3/15/2012.

The HOT DOGS at UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON SPORTING EVENTS:

Best Sporting Event Hot Dog…EVER

Nothing goes with good sports better than good hot dogs. In our opinion, the University of Dayton has the best hot dogs of any sports related venue. Whether at Welcome Stadium watching football, or at University of Dayton Arena watching basketball, these dogs always hit the spot. President Barack Obama even downed a U.D. hot dog in record time this week with British Prime Minister David Cameron on their visit to Dayton for the 2012 NCAA Basketball First Four games. So you see, these hot dogs are world class. Since we were kids, we have enjoyed these hot dogs which are wrapped in a Heiner brand “sunny” bun. They cost about $3 at sporting events. What kind of hot dogs are they? They are Cincinnati’s own, Kahn’s hot dogs, made with turkey and pork. They are regular sized hot dogs, not the huge sausage dogs that The Big Ragu hates. We told you where the best sports hot dog is, all you need to do is choose your toppings: mustard or ketchup… or both.

THE GYROS at GYRO PALACE :

The Supreme Gyro at Gyro Palace

Let’s face it, it is hard to find a good gyro in Dayton, Ohio. Some people wait for the annual Greek Festival to get their fix. But The Big Ragu knows where you can get a fantastic Gyro, year round. In a small shopping center near the corner of State Routes 725 and 741 in Miamisburg, lies the Gyro Palace. For more than 10 years this family run business has served up heaping handfuls of giant gyros to happy customers. The kitchen workers slice the gyro meat, place it in a pita, then top it with fresh tomatoes, sliced onions and Tzatziki sauce. The regular gyro sandwich is $5, while a chicken gyro is $5.50. Trust us, this sandwich will fill you up and is worth every penny. Whether you eat in or carry it out, you will enjoy a Mediterranean Food Adventure here!

THE DEEP DISH PIZZA WITH TURBO CRUST at JETS PIZZA:

Deep Dish Pizza at Jets

Want a pizza that packs a hunger busting punch? Then you have to try the Deep Dish Pizza at Jet’s. Started in Sterling Heights, Michigan, this thick square deep dish pizza is loaded with tomato sauce and sliced into rectangles. Strangely reminiscent (we would say almost identical) to the Noble Roman’s Siclian Style Pizza of the 70’s and 80’s, this pie is a blast from the past. It is also one of most filling pizzas we have ever eaten. The thick crust is topped as you wish, then finished with a mound of cheese. We suggest to also ask for the Turbo Crust which means the crust is brushed with butter, garlic and romano cheese. A great value for the size and taste, make sure you fly on over to the location near Whipp Road in Centerville. From this point forward, we are no longer responsible for your addiction to Jet’s Pizza.

THE FIREHOUSE 5-WAY at GOLD STAR CHILI:

Gold Star Chili’s “Firehouse 5-way”

In 1965, Gold Star Chili entered into the Cincinnati chili wars, and has been heating things up ever since. Your Food Adventurers also like to spice things up. Gold Star’s “Firehouse Way” option of ordering any Cincinnati style chili classic allows anyone to do just that.
What makes up a Firehouse 5-way? The dish starts with the standard spaghetti, chili, onions, beans and cheese. Then the magic happens, as a roasted red pepper hot sauce is added around the dish. The creation is then generously sprinkled with a unique 5-pepper spice mix. The meal is a great twist on a regional dish. The Big Ragu like to visit the Monroe store, or the restaurant in Lebanon. No matter which location you are at, if you want to share in the hotness, then order the Firehouse 5-Way at Gold Star Chili. When it comes to heat, they just dont sing it, they bring it.