Miami Valley Institute of Food & Spirits

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Current Member Count

**100**

Recent New Members

  • Mary & Michael Burns (June)
  • Karen Painter (June)

Upcoming events

Events for the rest of the year can be viewed  on our Events link.
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  April 2025 Update
*Kroger Community Rewards*

We just received $23.75 from Kroger's Community Rewards Program for the period ending April 30, 2025.  This is about 20% lower than the previous quarter.  Thirteen households participated during this quarter  

This community rewards program contributes to our Farm to Table Program when you use your Kroger rewards card at checkout.   If you would like to support our Farm to Table Food Nutrition Program, it's free and easy to use - check out this link for details.

EVENTS-------------------------------------------

Abba Solutely Party
November, 2024

It was an “Abba”solutely fun, fun evening with wonderful food, wine and friends.   We were welcomed with a delicious Absolute lemon drop martini prepared by our mixologist, Janet Moland.  

There was lots of socializing, dancing to Abba music, and and even a “name that Abba tune” contest. Kudos to everyone who wore festive Abba inspired outfits.  

Our thanks to Alice and Bob Stone for securing Pipers Landing Clubhouse.  Rose Barstow also wants to thank Janet Moland, Bonita Powell, Alice Stone and John Cloppert for all their help.

Select a picture below to see all the pictures from our Abba event.

Engineer's Club Tour & Dinner
April 2025

On Saturday, April 26, we enjoyed a wonderful and informative evening at the historic Dayton Engineers Club, joined by many of our MVIFS friends and neighbors. The evening began with drinks and hors d’oeuvres, providing a lively opportunity to connect and mingle.

Dave Corcoran then led an engaging tour of the club, sharing its rich history and its important role in the legacy of Dayton. His insights gave us a deeper appreciation for the setting and its place in the city’s innovation story.

Dinner followed in an exquisite setting, with outstanding food and service provided by the Engineers Club team. A heartfelt thank-you goes to Dennis Cassette for his efforts in coordinating and sponsoring this memorable event..  

PIZZA AND LEFT-OVER WINE EVENT
SUNDAY, 19 JANUARY 2025

Twenty-three hearty MVIFS members braved the snow and frigid temperatures this past Sunday to socialize with friends, eat pizza, and drink some wine at McKenzie Manor in Bellbrook.  The wine served was wine that had been left over from previous MVIFS events and ranged from very good to being poured down the drain after the first sip.  All-in-all, a wonderful evening and, happily, everyone made it home safe and sound despite the challenging weather conditions. 

EVENTS----------------------------

Bourbon Tasting & Barbecue
June 2025

Saturday, 14 June was a wonderful evening spent at Jane Mitakides’s beautiful home in Kettering.  Jane readily admits that she bought such a huge home to entertain her friends, and she did exactly that for over fifty of her MVIFS friends and guests. We all enjoyed a guided bourbon tasting, featuring a carefully curated selection of five outstanding bourbons… four high end, and one super-top shelf.  Joining us for the event was an expert on the history and making of bourbon, Ryan Burnette, of Pleasureville, Kentucky.  His farm, on the heart of the bourbon trail, has been in his family since 1786 when his 4th great-grandfather bought it from Daniel Boone's brother. With wit and style, Ryan connected the story of bourbon to the history of Kentucky and America in a wonderfully informative presentation to the assembled group. Following the tasting, a barbeque dinner featuring beef, pork, chicken, traditional sides, and desserts was served. Our sincere thanks to Jane for hosting this great “Bourbon Tasting and Barbecue Dinner” event and to Board Sponsor, Katie Mitakides for her outstanding support.  

The event offered the opportunity to recognize John Cloppert for his years of valuable service as Board Treasurer for MVIFS.  Because of his love of cars, particularly Porsches, he was presented with a Porsche jacket that will look great on John as he “tools” around in one of his two Porsches.  Thanks, John, for your many contributions to our organization

Enjoy our event pictures below.  Select any photo to open the entire slide show.

DOWN ON THE FARM
May, 2025

Our recent Wine and Dine Down on the Farm was a wonderful experience, hosted at the beautiful Sparks Springs Farm in Spring Valley, OH. Over 60 members and guests gathered to enjoy a perfect spring evening filled with great food, lively conversation, and a unique look at agritourism in action.

Owners Gregg and Lori Sparks shared their inspiring journey of building a self-sustaining farm modeled after those from 1880–1920. Attendees enjoyed the charming grounds and met baby piglets, goats, sheep, and chickens while learning how the couple raised their barn, built their farm, and now live off the land.

A delicious meal, catered by Brock Masterson's, featured a pasta bar, fresh salad, and homemade rolls.  Special thanks to Gregg and Lori Sparks for sharing their beautiful venue and to event coordinators Jayne & Bill McDougall and Missy & Tim Everman for organizing this memorable evening.

Event pictures are shown below.

Marching into Spring

The Marching into Spring event, hosted by Dave Corcoran on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day, was a festive gathering filled with some Irish charm. Guests arrived with green attire and brought their favorite seasonal appetizers—many with an Irish twist—along with their preferred beverages. Dave’s delicious Irish stew was a crowd favorite. For sports fans, a large-screen TV broadcasted the NCAA team selection. The evening was filled with lively conversation, good food, and a joyful celebration of spring’s arrival and the St. Patrick’s Day spirit!

June Dine Around-The Silos
Over 30 club members gathered at The Silos , Dayton's new food & entertainment destination.  A lively Tuesday night crowd added to the fun as we explored this creative mix of flavors and atmosphere.  Check out our pictures below.

Farm to Table - March'25

  • Farm to Table, March report. The weather was cold and windy March 20. but it did not cause any issue with the Oakview garden club. They braved the weather cheerfully pulling weeds, clearing the vegetable beds and raking the soil. The second graders had this task so the first graders will be ready to plant when weather permits. In the meantime, the first graders will plant seeds inside, giving the plants a chance to get a head start. It is always a treat to see the students so involved. MVIFS funds this project which is a HUGE success.

  • Pictures from the 'garden clean-up' are shown below. Selecting a picture will open up the entire slideshow.

Fiesta Trivia Extravaganze
August 22, 2024

The MVIFS Fiesta Trivia Extravaganza Event was a great evening of fun, food, socializing, and trivia! From the welcoming Sangria to the vibrant sombreros and delicious Mexican-catered food, it seems like everyone had a great time. The three trivia rounds with team-switching added a fun twist, ensuring a fair and exciting competition. The Barn at Stonehill Village in Xenia provided a beautiful, spacious backdrop for the evening, and it’s great to hear this venue may be considered for future events. Kudos to Doug Hayward for securing the location! Our thanks to Jayne and Bill McDougall and Missy and Tim Everman for organizing and hosting a memorable night of laughter and camaraderie!  Select a picture below to see all the pictures from the fun evening.  

Low Country Boil - July 2024

What a fantastic evening and event!!!  Great weather, perfect venue, wonderful socializing, delicious food, extensive bourbon bar and dancing the Carolina Shag---Life is Good.  Seventy-five of us gathered at the spacious McKenzie Manor, home of Charlie and Ginnie McKenzie, to participate in a Low Country Boil, a specialty dish in the Carolina Coastal Area, which includes shrimp, sausage, potatoes and corn on the cob, all flavored with special spices.  The meal also included salad, dessert and wines or other drinks of our choice.  Charlie opened his bourbon bar for those who enjoy the “fruits of Kentucky”. The evening concluded with lessons and dancing to the Carolina Shag. The event was hosted by Charlie, Ginnie, Bob and Jeanne Evans and was supported by a host of other MVIFS members.  Congratulations to the entire team for a “Job Well Done”.  This will be noted as one our most memorable and well attended events.

Celebrate the Season
Packard Museum - Dec 17, 2024

Our Celebrate the Season holiday event on December 17, 2024, was a tremendous success and one of our most attended member gatherings, with nearly 90 participants! Hosted at America’s Packard Museum, home to the nation’s largest collection of Packard automobiles and memorabilia, the evening offered a delightful journey through history.

Surrounded by 50 luxurious cars spanning 1903 to 1956, members and guests enjoyed cocktails, festive Christmas music, and the chance to connect with old and new friends alike.

The evening’s culinary highlights, catered by Elite Catering, included an impressive selection of dishes and an array of gourmet desserts that received rave reviews from attendees.

A heartfelt thank you to Terry Brim for hosting and coordinating this unforgettable celebration!

Shown below are pictures from Celebrate the Season event.  Select a picture to see all the pictures from our event.

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