| Miami Valley Institute of Food & Spirits |
.PNG)
Current Member Count - *98* *Newest Members* Melissa Dailey & John McKaye (May 7, 2026) Kathleen & Darryl Marshall (Mar29, 2026) Richard Perna * Merideth Trott (Mar 27 2026) Pat & Richard Benz (Mar 20, 2026) Janet & Jim Mazza (Mar 20, 2026) Upcoming events
Events for the rest of the year can be viewed on our Events link. MEMBERS SECTION** Beavercreek Senior Center Photo Gallery What: Photo Show of Flowers from Around the World
**************************
*** NEW UPDATE *** FARM TO TABLE SPRING 2026 As the key element of our charitable Farm to Table (F2T) educational mission, MVIFS continues to support the Garden Club Program at Oakview Elementary and, at the request of Kettering Schools, we are expanding our support to include a similar program at Indian Riffle Elementary. Our contributions consist of both financial and volunteer assistance. We coordinate closely with Carly Maguire, STEAM Innovation and Technology Leader for Kettering Schools, as well as the schools’ teachers and principals to synchronize and maximize the benefits of MVIFS’s F2T program. As a result of the kind and thoughtful monetary contributions from the friends and family of John Cloppert, along with MVIFS funds, our 2026 financial support to Kettering Schools’ Garden Club Programs has reached an all-time high. All MVIFS members should feel justifiable pride in what their organization is doing to benefit the schools of Dayton and its surrounding communities. While Indian Riffle is just getting started, Oakview has a well-established Garden Club Program. For those interested in observing or volunteering, the next garden club meeting at Oakview will be on April 15th and May 6th from 2:30-3:00 pm. They will be doing garden clean-up and preparing for new planting at these sessions, weather permitting. Kettering School District has tightened up the rules on visitors and volunteers at their schools, so if you want to attend, contact Jeanne Evans about the procedures. We need to extend special recognition and thanks to Jeanne Evans who serves as the MVIFS lead for Farm to Table. She has done a magnificent job in making the program a true success.
Dorothy Lane Market MVIFS enrolled 6 households with a total spending of $18,270.23. Only those members who spent $1,000 or more are eligible to be included in the totals. Our portion of the $50,000 is $171.41. MVIFS thanks all the 6 households who signed up for this Program. IMPORTANT!!!!!! It is necessary to sign up the first of each year.Sign-up details are available at this link: DLM Community Rewards..
HAWAIIAN LUAU
Charlie and Ginnie McKenzie drew on their Hawaiian background to treat us to a wonderful evening at their 'Hale' last Saturday. Many guests arrived in colorful Hawaiian shirts and dresses, adding to the festive atmosphere. Bob and Jeanne Evans greeted everyone with delicious Mai Tais and Blue Hawaiian cocktails, and offered each guest a lei to wear — a lovely touch of island hospitality. Dinner featured a delicious spread of Kalua pork, Huli Huli chicken, steamed rice, Hawaiian mac salad, and purple poi. Everything was truly delightful. After dinner, Stacie and Adam Remaly led a lively dance lesson featuring the Hukilau. Following much laughter and practice, we held a fun competition — congratulations to our winners, Kathleen Wilson and Ed Olszewski, our visitor from Syracuse! | EVENTS---------------------------- Sip Happens: Wine, BBQ & Trivia Social - April 2026 We had 45 people join us for an evening of fun, laughter, and brain-teasing trivia! A fun time was had by all at our Wine, BBQ, & Trivia Social! Smart minds and full glasses came together to enjoy delicious Mission BBQ, lively trivia, and great company! We also celebrated 18 new members who joined this past year, with 12 joining us for the festivities. The night featured three rounds of trivia, with teams reshuffled after each round to encourage mingling and new connections. Winning teams took home fun, wine-themed prizes, adding to the festive spirit. A big thank you to our hosts: Jayne & Bill McDougall, Stacie & Adam Remaly, and Missy & Tim Everman. La Embahada - April 2026 Cudos to Corinne Smith for making us try a new and unique restaurant, and to the 37 MVIFS members who attended for their willingness to try something different. The food was delicious and the service, although we kind of overwhelmed them with our numbers, was friendly and efficient. Worth a second visit. Pics from the event are in the slideshow below: Ides of March Italian Wine Pairing - 15 March 2026 Well, no one wore a toga, but the Italian-themed appetizers, desserts, and wine were indeed molto bene. About 25 of us gathered at Carriage Trace Community Center for an afternoon of fun, conversation and good food. Thanks to Dave Corcoran for sponsoring this wonderful event. *Soup Party, Feb. 2026* Charlie promised a cold, dark, and snowy evening perfect for warm soup, but it turned out to be a mild and sunny, 50+ degree day. The fine weather, however, did nothing to dampen the wonderful tastes of the soups, chilis, and sides brought by the 25 guests who attended the event at Charlie and Ginny McKenzie’s home. Nobody went home hungry. Consensus was that Liz Betz’s Finnish (Lohikeitto) soup was the hit of the evening. The crowd made a sizeable dent in Charlie’s bourbon and whiskey inventory, due in large part to the superb cocktails prepared by the bartender for the evening, our own Bob Evans. Thanks to Charlie and Ginny for hosting the event and to Bob and Jennie Evans for their assistance.
Celebrate the Season 2025 Our 2025 Celebrate the Season at the Country Club of the North was a holiday hit! Nearly 70 members and guests gathered for an evening filled with cheer, great company, and plenty of seasonal sparkle. The festivities kicked off with a lively social hour featuring a complimentary glass of wine or champagne and a delicious spread of appetizers, graciously provided by MVIFS. We then enjoyed a gourmet sit-down dinner and a fabulous assorted dessert bar. It’s no surprise that Celebrate the Season remains one of our most popular events—it truly gets better every year! A special thank-you to Ted Humphrey for coordinating and hosting such a memorable evening. A Night to Remember at Whisperz Speakeasy-Sep 2025 Dine Around
Whisperz isn't just a bar—it’s an experience. Whether you're a wine lover, a fan of old-school elegance, or just in search of something off the beaten path, this spot truly delivers a taste of the Prohibition era with a modern twist. Slideshow below: | SIP & DIP Winter Social
Guests enjoyed a relaxed afternoon of good conversation, laughter, and wine, paired with cheese and chocolate fondues with an assortment of dippers, and a large variety of shared appetizers. The cozy atmosphere and easygoing atmosphere made it a great way to reconnect, unwind, and melt away winter—one dip at a time. A big thank-you to Rose Barstow and Nancy Klingler for hosting such a warm and welcoming winter social! Friendsgiving Feast
Our expert carving crew—Jim Steiger, Adam Remaly, Dennis Cassette, Jim Folck and Bill McDougall—made sure every plate was piled high with perfection. A big thank-you goes out to the Evans, McKenzies, Steigers, Gillands, Haywards, McDougalls, Remalys, Cassettes, Dave Cocoran, and Nancy Klingler for their help making it all run smoothly.
The afternoon was filled with laughter, great company, and holiday cheer. The event was such a hit, we’re already planning an encore Friendsgiving for November 2026! Champagne & Chukkas at the Polo Match - September 14, 2025 It was a picture-perfect day for an unforgettable outing to the Bryn Du Mansion Great Lawn and Polo Field in Granville, OH. A chartered party bus whisked 30 members and guests from Dayton to the event, where they were greeted with a welcoming glass of champagne under sunny skies. Before the match began, a few of the players—including Janet’s son, Matt—rode over on their ponies to share insights about the game and answer questions. After the final goal, everyone gathered for a delicious dinner prepared by Doris and Andy Rossi, featuring homemade crab cake sandwiches, potato salad, and coleslaw, followed by decadent chocolate fudge cake for dessert. The laughter and camaraderie continued on the bus ride home to Dayton, capping off a truly fun, elegant, and one-of-a-kind experience. MVIFS Summer Picnic at Paw Paw Pavilion - August 17, 2025 MVIFS members gathered on Sunday, August 17th, at the Paw Paw Pavilion in Hills & Dales Park for our annual summer picnic. A DLM box lunch, cool beverages, and plenty of conversation made for a relaxed and enjoyable evening together. It was a pleasant way to share good company and celebrate the season. 
Bourbon Tasting & Barbecue
|
July 2025 Kroger Update
Step back in time—we did! Guests were transported straight into the glamour and intrigue of the Roaring ‘20s at the exclusive Whisperz Speakeasy, one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Once you entered the lobby, you could not go further until you shared the secret password—then, like magic, the wall slid open, revealing a world of velvet lounges, glittering chandeliers, and vintage charm.
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. Our sincere thanks to Jane for hosting this great “Bourbon Tasting” event.