3 junk foods that scream Dayton

Credit: Photo: Shutterstock

Credit: Photo: Shutterstock

Dayton loves its junk.

And by junk, we mean sugary and/or salty treats that send your mind back to those carefree days of childhood.

>> MORE: 7 foods that scream DAYTON  

You know what we mean by carefree days of childhood.

Those days where you could eat an entire box of Little Debbie Fudge Rounds every day and not gain a pound.

The good ole days.

Luckily there are tons of junk foods you can sink your teeth in (and hopefully not gain a pound).

Here are three snack foods that scream Dayton: 

CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK

The company Daniel W. Mikesell started in 1910 on the back of a bike makes one of Dayton's most iconic foods.

Roughly 20 million pounds of potato are transformed into Mikesell’s potato chips each year at 333 Leo St., the company’s plant, warehouse and headquarters.

>> MORE: The secrets behind Mikesell’s

Mikesell’s chips range from Bold Jamaican Jerk Kettle Cooked Potato Chips to Beer Can Chicken Groovy Potato Chips.

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 CHEEZY LOVE

Credit: Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group

Credit: Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group

You can take the cheesy cracker out of Dayton, but you can’t take the Dayton out of the cheesy cracker.

Cheez-It brand crackers were first introduced in 1921 by the Green & Green Company, then located at the corners of Cincinnati and Concord streets.

>> MORE: Dayton’s little-known Cheezy past

That company later became Sunshine Biscuit Company and remained at the corner of Cincinnati and Concord until at least 1972.

Sunshine was acquired by Keebler in 1996. Keebler was bought in 2001 by Battle Creek, Mich.-based Kellogg.

All that said, once Dayton junk food, always Dayton junk food.

>> MORE: Where did the Cheez-it man live in the Dayton area?   

COTTON CANDY RAINBOW 

Credit: Source: Flying Santucci Bros. Gourmet Cotton Candy

Credit: Source: Flying Santucci Bros. Gourmet Cotton Candy

When compared to the legacies of Mikesell's and Cheez-it, Flying Santucci Bros. Gourmet Cotton Candy is a little baby snack food company.

>> MORE: Here's where to find gourmet cotton candy in Dayton

Maggie Atkinson said her nephews Max and Leo Santucci launched the company three years ago.

It's actual history goes back 25 years, when their dad, Patrick Santucci started selling cotton candy and other confections.

The company could actually sort of go by Flying Santucci Sisters these days.

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Atkinson and her sister Kate Santucci, Max and Leo's mother, are running the business while the brothers attend college.

Fresh strawberry, salted caramel and maple are Flying Santucci Bros’ top sellers.

>> MORE: Dayton Classic lives on, fifth generation takes over at Smales Pretzel Bakery

You really don’t have to feel all that bad about eating  cotton candy from the Flying Santucci Bros’ stand.

“Everything is organic and all natural.  All real food,” Atkinson said. “We really want to make a high quality products. (It’s) fun food, but it’s real food.”

You can find the treat at festivals.

Flying Santucci Bros. Gourmet Cotton Candy 

flyingsantuccibros@gmail.com | (937) 416-4613 | Facebook

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