Food is no longer a side dish to tourism, in many cases it is becoming the main course! It is best served at the regional level, where originality and freshness are the ingredients for success.
Miami County contains the seven wonders of foodie travel in Ohio. But it’s no surprise that family-owned specialty shops just know how to give you that extra touch that keeps you coming back again and again. A small town storefront is a joy in itself. Done right, it deserves to be snapped as a keepsake, like a new friend.
Olive Oasis in Troy, Ohio, has that kind of appeal. When you approach it from the sidewalk, you get a Mediterranean feel. Inside, you’re likely to meet its owner, Luke Schlumpf. He is in his early 20s. His mission is to provide the region with the best olive oils and balsamic vinegar. The wide assortment is much fresher than what you are likely to buy in the grocery store. In addition, you can taste dozens of options straight from the Fusti imported from Italy.
Bakehouse Bread & Cookie Company is located to the left of the hypnotic fountain and opposite the town square. Its founder and baker, Margaret Begg, is a true master at baking bread. She first experimented in her rural kitchen, then at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, and then at the National Baking Institute in Minneapolis.
Take a short walk in the countryside and relax against the backdrop of the scenery as you lead the way down a long, shaded road to a quaint little building next to the family home. As soon as you walk in, you’ll be greeted with a warm smile – probably Janet Rissinger’s. Her spice rack in West Milton, Ohio, is like visiting a friend to get that rare herb you know you can’t find anywhere else.
Some private businesses have succeeded. That’s what happened to Trophy Nut. In a residential alley near the center of Tipp City, there is an old brick building that serves as a factory store. Inside, you will feel 50 years of history. The large measuring spatulas used to fill chocolate-covered nuts in transparent containers, the old-fashioned scales for weighing your purchase, and the antique machines that distribute the treats are all relics of a bygone era.
But leave the heavenly confections for later. Now it’s time for a guilty indulgence around the corner at Sweet by Kristy. In front of the pretty shop, there’s a table with a couple of chairs that offers a picturesque view of one of Ohio’s most beautiful cities. Its sidewalks are always filled with pedestrians shopping. Many duck into the smallest spot, and inside, Christy usually has cupcakes in the oven. She says: “the best ingredients make the best cupcakes” and they are made from scratch every day! She even has gluten-free cupcakes. But that’s not all; she also has turtles, caramelized apples, ant pies, bakai, candy, and even dog treats. The place is colorful!