Holiday Open House at Little Exchange Nov. 4

Dr. Greg Ramey Honorary Chair of event

The Little Exchange, a fine gift shop that donates its proceeds to The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton, is pleased to announce that Gregory Ramey, Ph.D. will serve as the Honorary Chair of the Holiday Open House on Sunday, November 4. The Little Exchange is located at 45 Park Avenue, just off Route 48 South/Far Hills Avenue in Oakwood.

Dr. Ramey has worked at Dayton Children’s for 28 years and has shopped at The Little exchange for nearly as long.  Dr. Ramey has lived in Oakwood for 21 years.  He has three children: a fourth grader at Smith School, a senior at George Washington University and a graduate of Oberlin College who is now working in New York City.  

Dr. Ramey’s wife, Jacque, works as a senior buyer for General Dynamics.  As a devoted father, Dr. Ramey has coached numerous youth sports teams and has served as a manager and on the Board of Destination Imagination.  He has been the recipient of several “Friend of Education” awards from the Dayton Board of Education. He currently serves as Chairman of Oakwood’s Board of Health.
At Dayton Children’s, Dr. Ramey is the Vice President for Outpatient Services and works as a child psychologist.  Dr. Ramey received his undergraduate degree
from Lake Forest College in 1971, his Master’s degree from Harvard University and his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts.  Since September of 2002, Dr. Ramey has written a weekly newspaper column for the Dayton Daily News, which is distributed through the New York Times Wire Service.

Dr. Ramey has been a guest on many taped and live radio and television programs, and frequently is interviewed by the media on topics related to children.  He was also interviewed and involved in a major national news program on NBC on teen suicide.  He has conducted more than 200 workshops or presentations on topics related
to children and families.  Dr. Ramey has been quoted in recent articles in Parents, Ladies Home Journal, Parenting and Redbook.

Dr. Ramey has received the “Up and Comers” award for Professionals in Healthcare and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare. Dr. Ramey also responds to questions from teens and parents on Dayton Children’s “Ask-An-Expert” at its website www.childrensdayton.org

Presently, the Family Resource Center at Dayton Children’s is supported by The Little Exchange Foundation donations.  Last June, the foundation donated $26,000 to Dayton Children’s, bringing its total contribution over the years to nearly $1.4 million.  “Additionally, the very friendly and helpful volunteers make men feel welcome in the shop and give suggestions for the perfect presents…and they wrap all of my Christmas gifts and deliver them locally for free,” comments Dr. Ramey.    

The Little Exchange Festive Holiday Shopping Open House
is on Sunday, Nov. 4 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.  

The Little Exchange is located at 45 Park Avenue (just off Rte. 48 South/Far Hills Avenue) in Oakwood.  In past years, shoppers have lined up before the doors open to get the first chance to buy one-of-a-kind items.

Clear-sighted resolve results in eye-camp

By Deborah McCarty Smith
Courtesy UDQuickly

When Oakwood resident and University of Dayton graduate Avinash Puli, MBA ’04, visited his grandparents’ home in Warangal, India, four years ago, his grandmother, then 80, could not recognize him because of failing eyesight. He arranged for her to have retina surgery, a laser procedure that restored her sight and her confidence.

Puli, distributing eyeglasses this summer, extended that gift to some of Warangal’s poor and elderly by sponsoring an “eye-camp” that provided eye-glasses to 120 people and retina surgeries for 30. Puli donated the funds and worked with his uncle, physician Suresh Puli, to coordinate the participation of a team of doctors “I don’t want to wait until I’m 80 to start donating,” he said, noting that he is inspired by his father, who emphasizes, “education and health are the most important things.”

A local newspaper covered the eye camp, under a headline that translates “Avinash the Great,” but Puli is impressed only by how much there is left to do. “We helped people in only one ward; there are 48 wards in the urban area of the Warangal district and 50 villages in rural Warangal. The next time, my sister and I both will go and we’ll do something big,” Puli said.

Avinash Puli, left, distributes new glasses to a resident in Warangal. At right is Puli’s father, Sarangapani.

Salud Clinic coat drive underway

The Oakwood Spanish Department and The Oakwood Register is sponsoring the 5th Annual Coat Drive for the Salud Community Clinic which serves the the Spanish-speaking migrant population of Southwest Ohio.  Located In Tipp City, Salud is staffed by medical volunteers from area hospitals.

Residents of Oakwood have donated hundreds of coats for men, women, and children that have been distributed to needy families.  If you would like to donate a coat or other winter outer-wear items, please drop them off at the Oakwood Register at 435 Patterson Rd., or send them with students to Mrs. Long’s room (the Spanish classroom) at the high school.

L’Auberge welcomes new chef and manager

After an extensive search, Proprietor Josef Rief is proud to announce the arrival of L’Auberge’s  new Executive Chef Owen Maass and General Manager Brian DeMarke, both from Cincinnati.

Chef Owen comes to us from the highly acclaimed restaurant Tru in Chicago.  He also shared his talents at Sturkey’s in Cincinnati and the famous Cafe’ des Artist in New York, just to name a few restaurants. With an age of 29, he is most properly one of the top hot new chefs in the food world.

Brian DeMarke was for the past 10 years General Manager at Sturkey’s Restaurant in Cincinnati.  He is nationally recognized by his colleagues as a top Restaurateur. He is also a member of the Court of Sommeliers.

Bonefish Grill a seafood oasis

By Tanya Noffsinger

“Call me Ishmael”...call me Tanya...if you’re going to Bonefish Grill, just call me!

As you enter the peaceful, cooled space, a 15 seat granite bar awaits with a myriad of marvelous martini offerings.  I was told the chocolate and pomegranate “tinis” were not to be missed.  Opting for the Kenwood House champagne with succulent raspberries submerged in the bubbles was a nose-tickling treat.  So few local establishments offer it by the glass, so take advantage of this unique feature. The three high community tables can be used for dining with your party or with others whom would make wonderful new acquaintances, or if you just want to sit and sip your favorite cabernet.

Moving into the dedicated dining room, all eyes are drawn to the subdued ochre wall which is punctuated by a free form brushed aluminum hanging sculpture called Kings of the Coast.  Curiously, the artist who has done four different “sea renderings” for other Bonefish Restaurants has called her company Fishbone.  The six large windows in this room allow subtle color changes on the surface of the piece.

The acoustically engineered space makes the seating capacity of 200 into a non-issue.  For once we have a place to gather for a repast where the music does not intrude and you can converse amiably without thinking you’ve accidentally sat on the remote’s mute button and have to read lips.  The only thing to add to the physical ambiance will be next Spring’s outdoor dining.  No, wait!  There is one other thing—this is, bar none, the most professionally attired service staff I have seen for quite some time.   Each well-trained server is in a blindingly white, CLEAN, adaptation of a chef’s jacket done by a very savvy designer.  You’re going to want one but it’s not on the menu.

Now all of this is before I get to the party I had with my taste buds on several visits here.  The well known seafood expert, Robert Navotny, travels the world selecting the fish for the company, OSI, headquartered in Tampa, Florida.

There are nine starters on the menu; 3 shrimp, mussels, crab cakes, sashimi, scallops and an orphan Cajun chicken egg roll.  For those of you who like it hot, choose the Bang Bang Shrimp.  It is crisp and bathed in a creamy, spicy sauce and you will marvel at how it gets from kitchen to table maintaining its architecture.  Also of note are the Coconut Shrimp, Crab Cakes and Bacon Wrapped Scallops.  My favorite crab cakes used to be up I-75 a ways.  No more.  These Bonefish cakes are loosely packed all blue lump crab with a soupcon of heat and are served with a Thai Sriracha sauce and a Wasabi herb sauce.  Both sauces are quite original and a pleasant change from the very staid remoulade.  Just so you’ll know, Sriracha is a seaside town in Southern Thailand where this sauce of chiles, tomatoes, salt, garlic, sugar and vinegar originated.  The Blue jumbo lump crabmeat is the best and most sought after for great textured cakes.  It is also double the price of body meat used by other places who dump copious quantities of filler into the mix and give the dish a bad rap.

The scallops have been carefully cleaned, retaining no grit, and have not become rubbery because of overcooking.  These are sweet morsels indicating that they have travelled through unpolluted waters.  Their accompanying mango chutney adds a tantalizing tinge.  The Bonefish House Salad with the novel addition of hearts of palm and the most refreshing citrus herb vinaigrette and the corn chowder with lump crab that is subtle and is perfectly executed, are a must to be added to your meal for $2.80 each.  You could make a meal just with those two items.

And for those of you who will take my rec-go straight for the Arctic Charr.  My guess is that you may not know about this fish.  In its natural state it is beautiful in colors of green and blue with orange spots.  (Think the Klimt painting of The Kiss)  It is found in cold water as far away as Mongolia and is a relative of the Salmon but slightly sweeter.  Its color ranges from pink to dark red and the high fat content keeps it moist and perfect for grilling.  It was served for the first State Dinner in the Clinton White House and is served often at Canadian affairs of State.  Have it accompanied by the lemon butter sauce unless you taste the Mediterranean, Mango Salsa or Pan Asian sauces first.

The only letdown in the varied, delicious offerings occurs in the rather predictable sides that accompany the other special entrees. (Tuna, Halibut, Sea Bass, Tilapia, Grouper, Trout)  The standout is the Island Rice which is tossed with almonds, raisins, red pepper, red onion and a little brown sugar to unite the flavors.  There was no other choice for me but you may want the garlic mashed potatoes, au gratin potatoes, angel hair with marinara or vegetables.

If you can do dessert, the Key Lime Pie has a delicious roasted pecan crust.  The seasonal Strawberry Shortcake needs to double the amount of baking powder in the the biscuits to lighten them.  And, if you order iced tea, be aware that it is weak.  Ask for Grant and he’ll make it for you just the way you like it.

This is an affordable, approachable restaurant that is an absolute standout in a sea of mediocrity.  Now if they were just open for lunch.  The bounty of the sea is yours for the taking.  Aargh!  

Gotta run.  Soup’s on.

To get there:  Bonefish Grill  2818 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd. (Northwest corner of the Dayton Mall; in the strip before you reach Borders on the right hand side of the entrance.
Hours: 4:00 P.M. until closing, daily
Reservations: Call 937-428-0082

To reach this columnist with questions, comments or recommendations go to Musicalfeast@aol.com

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October 30, 2007
Volume 16, No. 44

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