Happy Birthday to ME! What I'm Eating & Drinking: Devour Downtown - The Libertine & Tavern on South

For my birthday, all I wanted to do was spend a wonderful evening with D enjoying a delicious meal accompanied with some fine, adult beverages.  I was whining saying all week that Devour Downtown was going on and that wonderful opportunities to try some of Indianapolis' finest restaurants were slipping away.  I had Oceanaire and St. Elmo's on my radar but they didn't have any reservations available.  Fogo de Chao for $30 a person was a steal but I'd been there before and besides, I wanted to go LOCAL!  Luckily, D made a reservation in the nick of time for me to at least enjoy one DD restaurant I haven't been to before, Tavern on South.

To make the most out of my birthday night-out, I suggested we kill two birds with one stone and go for pre-dinner cocktails at another local place that had been on my Indy Bucket List, The Libertine Liquor Bar, which was also participating in Devour Downtown.

THE LIBERTINE (click here for more info)

Nestled in a rather narrow, location wedged in between 2 other businesses off of Washington St, from the outside I really had no idea what to expect.  I've read the reviews on the place and was fully aware the the owner, Neal Brown, and his reputation among Indy as a top chef, but I had to check it out for myself.  Every once in a while I like to dress up and sip on something other than a Miller Lite.  And besides, it was my birthday, after all.

Upon entering, I immediately notice the dark, swanky atmosphere projected by the dark walls and ominous lighting.  The place is packed, presumably because it's 7pm on a Friday and one of the last days of DD.  One of the hostesses explains that there are 2 communal, bar-height tables that are first-come, first-serve so we grab the one near the window.  The bartenders were outfitted in such appropriate 1920s attire but with a modern twist which was also the case for the decor: industrial but inconspicuous.  D and I are a huge fan of the HBO series, Boardwalk Empire, so I really tried to soak up the ambiance of the Prohibition Era that The Libertine tries to portray.

I have to be honest, I think we were both a bit intimidated by the drink menu.  This was far from our comfort zone.  Not to say we haven't experienced a mature cocktail before; this was just a little out of the norm.  We only had time for 1 cocktail before we had to head to Tavern so I went with the Pimm's Cup, a cocktail that I had heard in an episode of Boardwalk Empire.

D went with the Seelbach Cocktail Redux.

D accidentally handed me his drink, seeing that it was served in a "martini" glass.  I quickly told him that it was his and pointed out the prosecco on the menu that was in his cocktail.  Although he might have thought the drink looked girly, there was nothing girly about it.  The Kentucky bourbon was the dominate flavor and quite frankly took me by surprise (not in a bad way).  The bit of orange peel and the subtle acid of the prosecco helped to mellow it out.

The Pimm's Cup was exactly what I was looking for; something crisp, light but full of bright notes.  Really the cocktail had me at ginger brew which is something I really enjoy.  I am also a huge fan of gin but have to really be careful.  Too much gin makes me angry :)  The cucumber and the citrus helped intensify the flavors of the sharp gin and the sweet ginger beer.  This will be a summer time go-to beverage of mine, for sure!

Our tab was about $20 for just 2 drinks which means we probably won't be going there on the regular but I look forward to trying out the food which I heard is equally intriguing as the beverage menu.  We settled our tab and headed to our main attraction.

TAVERN ON SOUTH (click here for more info) 

In business, they say LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION! And with the Super Bowl festivities kicking off this weekend, very few places are more closely in proximity to Lucas Oil Stadium than Tavern on South (basically South St & Missouri).  It's located in a double-decker, renovated building in the Wholesale District on the south side of the city.  They've done a superb job rejuvenating the building itself without losing the essence and history.  D and I really enjoyed the blown up, black and white historical Indianapolis photographs.

They, too, were quite busy but we were sat immediately in a two-seater next to the impressive, full service bar.  Our server, Chris (I think) was very friendly and quickly pointed out the Devour Downtown menu.  It took me a little bit to decide what wine to order because I couldn't decide what I was having for dinner: the red meat or seafood...decisions, decisions....Finally, I went with the Lump Crab Cakes (I saw them being delivered to another table and just couldn't resist) and a glass of their recommended Brassfield Sauvignon Blanc.

For my First Course, I went with the Tavern Salad.  All the accouterments listed (sweet and spicy walnuts, dried cherries, Granny Smith Apple vinaigrette) really pulled me in minus the goat cheese which is the one cheese in the world that I can't wrap my taste buds around.  

Despite the goat cheese, this salad was amazing and vibrant.  I didn't really understand the "candied asparagus" that was described on the menu.  The granny smith apple vinaigrette was ingenious because the tartness really balanced out the sweetness of the candied walnuts which were also a highlight.  All in all, a perfect start to a 3-course meal.  D went with the Caesar Salad.  I didn't hear much about it other than he ate it all.

Chris did a pretty good job timing our entrees because shortly after we finished up our salads, they arrived.  Again, I went with the Lump Crab Cakes which I don't think are featured on their main menu, but should be!

I could barely hold out long enough to take a few glamour shots of my plate.  The aroma of the crab meat and the vibrancy of the tomato and onion relish was so overwhelming.  I've been to the East Coast, South Florida and Southern California so I know what fresh seafood is supposed to take like.  These crab cakes didn't disappoint: Jam-packed with real, lump crab meat with a perfect sear on each side which were not overly greasy or filled with too much breading; lemon aeoli drizzle was creamy but not saturating the cakes; and the tomato, red onion and white bean relish was the cherry on the crab-Cake!  Bravo, Tavern!

Now on the other spectrum was D's Chargrilled Filet Mignon.  This was probably the low point of our entire meal and unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of his plate.  The cut of meat itself didn't appear to D or I to be a filet unless, perhaps, they butterflied it.  Why would you do that without informing the guest?  It just didn't have that plump, scallop-like presence that a filet typically has and it was cooked a bit over the medium-rare that he ordered.  Also, the Blue Cheese Fritters that were served with the filet were very dry and left a funky after-taste.  Nonetheless, he ate the rest of my crab cakes I didn't eat in order to save room for dessert.

Thankfully, Tavern's third and final courses went out on a very high note with their desserts.  I went with the Crème Brulee.

The vanilla custard was prepared perfectly smooth and refined, precisely bruleed on top.  Then, to go over-the-top, they added a miniature, strawberry fruit bar, just because.

D went with the Viennese Apple Strudel; another sweet home run.

Tart, yet ripe apples sliced and sauteed in their house-made caramel sauce and cinnamon then rolled into a thin, flaky pastry and served with cinnamon ice cream.  Not to be shy, they ladled in more of the caramel sauce in the bottom of the bowl.

Both desserts provided the perfect sweet-cap without being rich and overfilling.  D and I licked our bowls clean finished our desserts and settled up with our server.  While we were dining, the entire city of Indianapolis had been blanketed by sleet and freezing rain.  We decided to call it a night and let our full bellies digest.

So to recap, I had a wonderful 28th birthday thanks to The Libertine and Tavern on South!  Lately, I haven't been able to go out as much as I want but I had a great night exploring two culinary gems that downtown Indianapolis has to offer.  I really wish I could have made it to more of the Devour Downtown restaurants but I know that the Summer edition will be here before we know it.  For more information, visit their website: www.devourdowntown.org.

What I'm Eating: Indianapolis Colts Grille (Downtown)

The Colts' season might be in jeopardy (before anyone has any criticism or doubt in their mind, let it be known that Indy Girl in Love is NOT a bandwagon fan, never have/never will.  Colts forever/Bleed blue/Go Horse!!!!). 

I will say that as catchy as "Keep Calm and Kerry On" was, I think the Colts/Irsay/Polian clan should probably be singing the tune of "Keep Calm and Carry On Looking for Manning's Replacement" because Kerry Collins is not going to cut it.  We still have an arsenal of talent and he doesn't have the stamina to get the job done.  Ok, enough of my Colts rant, for now.

The point of my intro is to let the great people of Indianapolis and furthermore the sulking Colts fans that there is a new place to cheer our beloved (down-but-not-out) team and maybe catch some other exciting games: the Indianapolis Colts Grille.  It is located in the heart of downtown across from Circle Center on W Washington St. 

I've had the opportunity to get in there twice (surprisingly not during a Colts game).  I was getting off work both times so it was more of an impromptu visit. 

Let me start of by saying that the Indianapolis Colts Grille is one of the latest creations from the G.R.E.A.T. Grille Group; "a food-first focused, sports-theme restaurant".  I describe it as an elevated sport bar.  They have the corporate professionalism but they've researched the demographic wisely. Their other successes include the Eddie George's Sports Grille in TN and Jerome Bettis Grille 36 in Pittsburgh. 

The entrance is striking...

And look at the entryway....

The restaurant and bar is beautiful with wood paneling, a granite-like bar top, TVs galore (labeled with the games the various games scheduled to play that day) and multiple dining areas that can be opened up or privately enclosed. 

There's even a "Coach's Box", a private area with couches and cocktail tables reserved for players and other various VIPs. 

I didn't explore the menu much past the appetizers.  I'm reserving that for future visits.  The menu items do sound enticing and much more creative than a typical fry-everything sports dive bar.  The pricing of the food was pretty close to Scotty's, maybe a bit pricier.

So far I've sampled 4 of their starters:

1) Crispy Parmesan and Sausage Crusted Farm Eggs - a delicious play on Scottish Eggs -- these were superb! One of my faves.

2) Korean BBQ Beef Tacos - the beef is marinated in Korean bulgogi flavors and topped with a crispy slaw and spicy aioli.  A julienned red peppers and diced slaw salad accompanied it tossed in an Asian "Szechuan-esque" sauce.  I liked where they were going but the beef was tough and hard to chew.  The flavors were bold but the dish needs improvement.  

3) Buffalo Shrimp Wontons - buffalo shrimp "dip" wrapped in wontons and fried crispy, served with a side of house-made chunk bleu cheese.  These were D's favorite.  I was a fan, as well.



4) Cilantro and Lime Chicken Quesadillas - this was another fantastic appetizer.  Grilled chicken, cheese, fresh cilantro in a flavored tortilla topped with a slightly spicy cream drizzle and plated with a fresh roasted tomato salsa and guacamole (needed some heat, maybe jalapeno?)

They offer a wide variety of beers including some local brews, a full bar and great drink specials.  I have a sneaking suspicion that come game days it's get there early or you're bellying up a downtown hole in the wall.  The space is huge but lets face it, with the Colts Grille, the name says it all.  Come Super Bowl (with the Colts participating or sidelined) this is definitely going to be a major hot spot.

We've had a lot of wonderful years as Colts fans; we've been very spoiled and we should be appreciative of all the explosive action and glory in recent years.  I just hope people don't forget that.  So we might be in for a long road of recovery.  It might be nice to be able to sit back, relax, enjoy some great food and drinks with friends during football season without the potential heart attacks and the pressure.  I know that Peyton is doing everything he can to do the right thing with his recovery and I'll be waiting anxiously for his return!

Indianapolis Colts Grille
110 W Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-631-2007
Can't find a website yet (not cool!)

What I'm Eating: The Quest for the Perfect Thai Red Curry

I have always had a special place in my heart for Thai cuisine.  I love combinations of spicy and sweet joined with fresh vegetables and an array of unique spices.  The flavors are so unique, bold and sometimes clear your sinuses completely. 

When *Fefe and I were in Cincinnati on business and dined at the Teak House Thai Restaurant, my palate experienced the most mind-blowing amazing Red Curry I've ever had in my life. 

That's saying a lot because I've enjoyed red curry and other various Thai entrees in so many different cities: Atlanta, Tampa, Chicago to name a few.  But theirs left such an impression that I'm salivating just writing about it now.  The sauce held the most perfect consistency (not too soupy) and the combination of the heat of the Thai chilies and sweet of the coconut melded together was so copacetic.  So since then, I have been on a quest to find a red curry dish in Indianapolis that can compete with Teak House.

Thai Taste

For years, Thai Taste at the corner of 82nd and Allisonville had been my go-to spot to grab Thai food, mostly because of proximity to where I lived but also because I liked the cozy, quaint family-owned atmosphere it presented.  The Bride and I have gone there together too many times to count and usually during weekday lunch because of the specials which include a soup, salad, entree and spring roll, all for about $7.  I moved away from the Castleton area over 2 years ago and found myself going there less and less.  However, the other day The Bride and I had to discuss upcoming bachelorette party and wedding plans so I suggested we venture back to our old stomping grounds.  I already knew I wanted the Gaeng Daeng which is a Thai red curry made with chicken, coconut milk, Thai basil leaves, julienned red peppers, bamboo shoots, green beans and a whole lot of chilies.

You have to appreciate the little heart-shaped sticky white rice that they serve with all of their entrees.  It makes me blush every time.  I am never disappointed by their food however, it still did not fill the void left by Teak House.  Their red curry is indeed packed with flavor but the sauce was so liquidity that even the white rice couldn't soak it all up.  The color of the sauce also suggested that there wasn't enough red curry paste. 

I was pretty stuffed after 1 serving.  I usually save enough room for a scoop of their amazing coffee cake with a scoop of mocha ice cream but I chose to refrain.  Instead, I boxed up my leftovers (which I accidentally spoiled by leaving them in my car...not the best air freshener).   

The Bride went with entree that had a little less kick.  It was made with chicken, dried red chilies, water chestnuts and scallions in a mild, sweet chili sauce.  I, of course, had to steal a bite.  Pretty good but doesn't hold up to my need for super spicy!

I will continue to go to Thai Taste if I'm ever on the North side and have a hankering for inexpensive, yummy Thai cuisine.  Their hospitality is always so friendly, especially the frail older man who refilled our waters several times, always with a smile.

THAI TASTE
5353 E 82nd St
Indianapolis, IN 46250
(317) 578-9722

Thai Spice

After a pretty exhausting weekend (the joint bachelor/bachelorette party was on Saturday) I realized that I haven't gone grocery shopping for myself in weeks so our cupboard is getting very bare.  I still haven't figured out which restaurants deliver in my area so I decided to order some food for pick up from a Thai restaurant that I had passed, while driving, several times.  A friend of mine had actually recommended it to me recently so when I was debating who to call, Thai Spice came to mind.  I was starving when I made the call.  I was calling during their lunch service so I went with the Red Curry (#10) and the Padd Seuw (#3), both which came with rice, vegetarian lemongrass soup and a spring roll.  By the time I threw my hair up in a ponytail holder and brushed my teeth, it was time for me to go pick it up.  I walked in and noticed the elegant decor and plentiful seating.  I would love to take D back there for a more romantic night out.  I paid the bill and anxiously headed back to my house.  Once I got everything out of the boxes and bags, my nostrils and taste buds immediately lit up!

Starting from the top of my plate and going clockwise you have the lemongrass soup which was very light and simple.  It was a very seasoned broth with the slightest bit of onion, tomato, mushroom and cilantro floating about.  Nothing special.  The Padd Seuw is made with chicken, wide noodles, broccoli, Chinese broccoli and bok choy.  There was the teensiest bit of heat but fell more on the sweet spectrum for me.  It balanced well with the Red Curry which was nice and spicy (I ordered it "Medium Hot")  Again, Thai Spice's sauce was very runny but captured the intense flavors I crave.  The spring roll was pretty typical and would have been nice with a sweet chili or duck sauce for dipping.  There was also a sweet surprise with both entrees.  Khanom Kai Nok Kra Ta or "Thai Fried Sweet Potato Balls" made for a happy ending.  They were just a small bite of sweet potato in a crispy, fried wonton.  Just the bit of sweet to cool my tongue from the heat of the red curry.  I had plenty of leftovers so D and I enjoyed them them for dinner.  His favorite was the Padd Seuw and I still favored the red curry.  I am glad to know that there is a decent Thai place right down the road from where we live.  I look forward to a dine-in experience in the near future.

THAI SPICE
2220 East County Line Road
Indianapolis, IN 46227-6315
(317) 881-2243

What I'm Eating: Better late than never...Duos Food Truck (revisit), Fat Sammies Ciao Wagon, Binkleys (Chow Down Midtown) and Taste

Even though I went through a weeks-long blogging hiatus, that didn't mean I didn't still get my EAT on....

DUOS FOOD TRUCK (RETURN)

Take for instance, the Farmers' Market at Wishard held every (weather-permitting) Tuesday during the Summer and is located within walking distance of my work.  I think Wishard (or as it will soon be called [the new] Sydney and Lois Eskenazi Hospital) jumped the gun in calling it a Farmers' Market.  I think whomever is coordinating it needs to be researching a bit more vendors because it was looking a bit scarce (vendor-wise).  There were plenty of hungry and curious people venturing over.  I+ know they would have appreciated even more variety and options.  A little bit of produce, a local honey cultivator and some baked goods just wasn't cutting it.

 

But the main attraction was a familiar one for me: the Duos food truck (@DuosIndy on Twitter).  I had seen their tweets throughout the morning while at work and was super thrilled to see them posting up close by.  That day, they opted for an Asian-styled theme.  I went with the Pork Bahn Mi (a Vietnamese street sandwich with thinly sliced pork, julienned cucumber, pickled carrots and daikons, and cilantro and a slightly spicy aeoli on a baguette.  It seemed like they had prepackaged the sandwiches for a quick sale which is fine to do except it kind of sucked some of the life out of the sandwich.  The whole thing was a bit squished, the bread was a bit mushy and surprisingly, I thought the portion was a little weak for the price ($5) [I know that last time I tried Duos I complained about that sandwich being too big].   But the flavors were phenomenal and they even had a bottle of my fave Srirachi Sauce for a little added kit.

I also ordered their "Korean-style" soup: mushrooms, snow peas and chopped green onions in a miso broth.  I thought overall it was pretty delightful but nothing that blew my socks off. 

I totally understand that Duos probably has many kinks it has to work out regarding the menu and operationally which is why I would still eat there and also recommend them to others.  I dig their adventurous attitude and culturally diverse menus.  Keep on keeping on :)

FAT SAMMIES CIAO WAGON

Another day, several weeks ago, I was reading through my daily Tweets and saw that Fat Sammies (@FatSammies) was parked somewhere East of downtown.  I had been meaning to try them (as well as several others that I am slowly marking off my bucket list).  Turns out, they were parked on the corner of Washington and Johnson near the historical Irving Theater.  It was a beautiful, warm day so the area was buzzing with foot traffic and people lounging on patios.  Once I parked and approached the truck, I was greeted but a very nice man and woman.  I quickly browsed their small, limited menu and engaged in some chit chat.  They didn't have very many options to choose from but the ones offered sounded pretty good.  I decided to try the Meatball Sammie which came with an order of pasta salad on the side.  And to satisfy my sweet tooth, I additionally ordered the Nutella and Marscapone "sandwich". 

While waiting in line, a gentleman suggested I come sit, eat (my Fat Sammies) and enjoy a Sun King Cream Ale at the Irving theater while also checking out their Underground Writers' Series.  The hospitality and the enticement of the beer sold me so I made my way over there and tried to inconspicuously sneak into a seat in the back, trying not to disrupt the current author on stage.  Because I was dining during a live performance in the back of a dark, old theater, I was unable to photograph my food which is sadly an injustice to Fat Sammies (hopefully I'll have another chance to redeem myself).  Here are some of the notes I jotted down about the food:

• Meatball Sammie (1 giant moist and compact, flavorful meatball, onion relish on bottom, chunky marinara sauce on top, crumbled feta cheese on a flat bread) w/ pasta salad (large shell pasta (perfectly al dente), red onions, olive oil) perfect portion allowing for dessert.
• Dessert : nutella & marscapone "sandwich" on white bread and grilled. Magnificently simple, hazelnut, rich, sweet, buttery, melted&blended nutella and marscapone. 

My mouth is just watering thinking about the Nutella & Marscapone "sandwich"...the only suggestion I would have is to use a buttery croissant rather than plain white bread.  I stayed long enough to hear all of the author of Volt, Alan Heathcock (a bit of a Fred Armisen [SNL] lookalike).  I'm not sure that it was much of my scene but I was thankful that they extended a kind hand and chair to me so that I could enjoy my meal. 
I was a bit concerned before trying Fat Sammies that they would be very kitsch-y.  I had the guy from America's Next Great Restaurant in my head; you know, Joey, the creator of Saucy Balls. Yikes!  But my preconceived notions were incorrect and the food was exuberant, fresh and satiable!

CHOW DOWN MIDTOWN: BINKLEYS in SoBro

My excitement was barely containable about Chow Down Midtown once all the participating restaurants started revealing their special menus.  But when the event came, we were in the middle of our moving craziness and only had time to get to 1.  I was so disappointed in myself and D.  I was sooooooooo looking forward to trying at least 3 of the restaurants.  Unfortunately, it just didn't work out that way.  Next year, it's on and we'll plan better! 

Luckily, the one restaurant we got to go to, Binkleys, didn't let us down!

Course 1: Appetizers

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus: The classic Purée of chickpeas and roasted red peppers. Served with naan.  THE BEST HUMMUS I'VE EVER HAD!

Course 2: Entrees

(D) - Bleu Cheese crusted Filet Medallions: Two four ounce filet medallions with a seven spice rub and a blue cheese crust.  He chose onion rings and roasted potatoes.  D gave 2 thumbs up and ate almost everything on his plate.

(Me) - Tilapia: Pan seared tilapia topped with sautéed spinach, mushrooms, bacon, and red onions in a white wine butter sauce with roasted potatoes and green beans on the side.  Best complete meal I've had in months.  I could eat the roasted potatoes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I could only eat half so I boxed up the remaining.

Course 3: Dessert

Cannolis: We originally ordered the Triple Berry Cobbler but then our server thought they were out of so we ordered the cannolis.  But luckily, they found a couple more cobblers so we cancelled the cannoli order.  But to our delight, both were brought to the table.  Were were told to just keep them!  We took the cobbler home for later. 

D and I shared a wonderful date night adventure to a new place, and all for $30 + the cost of a couple rounds of drinks + tip.  You can't beat that.  Kudos to the Chow Down Midtown organizers!

TASTE (in Broad Ripple)

Recently, I met up with my friend, Tim, for a week day lunch-sesh.  I suggested we go to Taste in SoBro which was somewhat a middle meeting point.  I had been to Taste one other time but it had been a while and I wanted to go somewhere with an outdoor patio.  We went right at noon which was probably not the best idea because it was pretty crowded.  The line moved fairly quickly with just enough time to read through their options.  They have an extremely large (slightly overwhelming) menu that is both typed and written (in chalk) behind the counter.  They also display several items that can be purchased for take home that both tease and tantalize your taste buds. 

I decided on the Grilled Salmon Salad which was displayed as a daily special.  All the specials are listed without prices and to my dismay when I got up to the counter to pay, they were charging $15 for my salad!! That was very disappointing considering none of their other salads were over $8.  I decided to go with the Fish Tacos, instead.  Tim went with an egg, turkey, and spinach wrap. 

Once you order, you take a seat (anywhere that is available) and they will bring the food to your table.  We poured our own waters which are stationed near the cash register and are self-serve.  Then, we grabbed a two-top out on the patio.  The water glasses were so small that by the time I sat down, I was already ready for a refill (which the staff does not provide so I had to make my way back inside again).  The restaurant was noticeably busy.  It took over 25 minutes for our meals to come out and I remember thinking that if I was on a lunch break from work, this would be unacceptable.  My fish tacos came out first but I kindly waited another 5 minutes for Tim's food to arrive.

Tim was a little mixed on whether he liked his wrap.  If I remember correctly, he was a little thrown back by the intense (and weird) flavor of the horseradish cream sauce that dominated his palette.  Besides that, it was pretty pleasant.  Despite the horsey-blip, he ended up eating most of it; he's a growing boy! 

I really enjoyed my fish tacos.  Like always, I would have preferred the healthier alternative of corn tortillas but other than that I found very little fault overall.  I liked the light, spiciness of the accompanying salsa, all of the diced cilantro and finely shredded veg.  I was only able to eat 2 out of 3 before realizing I was stuffed. 

I've seen/read all of the accolades that Taste has received over the years recently and I felt a bit jipped. I think they need to retweek their customer service/process and maybe scale down their menu to focus on great food, made efficiently and served within a reasonable time.  I don't see myself jumping to get back there any time soon.



Needless to say, I've packed on a couple pounds over the past several weeks.  Nothing a little walking and cooking at home can't take care of.  Now I have to start trying out the south side joints!

Chow Down Midtown June 6 - 16

It's finally here!  I have been anxiously salivating over awaiting the arrival of Chow Down Midtown.  This is the Broad Ripple/SoBro/Meridian-Kessler area's version of Devour Downtown.  It is a wonderful showcasing of 34 of the areas great restaurants at super, awesome pricing!  30 is the magic number: some menus are $30 a person like Oh Yumm! Bistro and Midtown Grill whereas others are $30 for 2 (such as Usual Suspects), even $30 for 4 people at Bebop Pizza Kitchen.  Parcha Sweets has a pretty sweet deal, too: 9" Black & White Mousse Cake with New Belgium Fat Tire Beer Sauce that serves 16-20 people. YUMMO!  There is a prefixed menu for each place.  You can take a look on the website for all the specifics.  I've actually dined, or drank, at most of the featured restaurants before but as I mentioned previously, if I had enough money and a personal trainer, I would go to every single one.  I highly recommend Oh Yumm! Bistro, Usual Suspects and Sahm's Place.  I think I'm going to try out Petite Chou, Binkleys, and Recess for the first time over the next several days with D and my mother.  I'm also going to introduce a work buddy to Sahm's Place.  (I'm saving Mama Corolla's for an upcoming event!)   I am definitely going to need a major work out session after Chow Down Midtown is over!!



I'd love to hear about your experiences of Chow Down Midtown so feel free to leave a comment!!

What I'm Eating: Duos (Indy) - Slow Food Fast

I think I've already talked up my excitement for the emergence of food trucks in the Indianapolis area enough but there's just so much to choose from now.  Living downtown makes it all the more convenient for me to give them a try out so yesterday I logged onto Twitter to see where Duos (@duosindy) would be serving lunch: Alabama and Vermont from 12-2pm...BINGO!  Now, I contemplated walking there with Little Miss B but it was hot and I was afraid she would be a nightmare while I ordered and attempted to eat my food so we piled in my car and made the very short drive down. 

I'd seen the truck parked at various locations around town.  I swear, once you learn about something new, you see it everywhere; Law of Attraction at its finest. 

I made sure to bring a hearty appetite so that I could experience more of their food.  They had their selections listed on a chalkboard sign.  I was happy to see a nice variety of items to choose from: pasta, sandwich, salad, soup, dessert and a more obscure beverage lineup. 

I went with the Organic Arugula , Egg, Garlic Crouton Salad with a Smokey Vinaigrette AND the Sausage & Fontina Biscuit Sandwich with coleslaw.  I also ordered a Red Zinger Herbal Iced Tea (lightly sweetened) which was perfect for a Summer day!

Tart + Berry + a little sweetener <3 = Oooh la la!

I decided to wait and eat my food at home rather than in my car with B jumping around wildly but not before taking a nibble of the Garlic Croutons...yummo!  I made a makeshift bistro on my back deck and enjoyed the warm, sunny rays as I noshed on the salad. 

This picture doesn't do the salad justice!

I can't explain in words the joy with which fresh, crisp, slightly bitter arugula brings me.  I'm sure most people just say eh, it's just a leafy green but to me it is the nucleus of a kick-butt salad and that's exactly what Duos' salad did for me.  Their salad is very simple in ingredients and preparation but the flavors and textures combine to create complexity.  Starting from the base with the arugula and its sharp, bitter bites tossed in a smokey, sweet and sour vinaigrette.  Move to the sweet, ripe tomato slices.  Then the perfectly hard-boiled egg wedges and its earthy, funky yolks.  And finally the baked, toasted, buttery, garlicy croutons that add the necessary crunch.  I could've called it a day with that salad but remembered that I had purchased an entire other meal. 

Now I want to preface that I was quite full before trying to tackle the Sausage & Fontina Biscuit Sandwich so I think this might have obstructed my opinion so bare with me.  I liked every aspect of the sandwich as individual components but together, they didn't work for me.  The Fontina (cheese) biscuit was great but felt like it showed up for the wrong meal.  I would eat that for breakfast any day or as part of an egg sandwich of some sort.  The hearty, spicy, thick-cut sausage really dominated my pallette.  So did the roasted red pepper/sun-dried tomato/olive "chutney-like" spread which I highly enjoyed.  It was very difficult to eat as much of it fell out and the biscuit crumbled to pieces as I tried to eat it. 

My room mate ended up eating most of it with no complaint :)  Looking back, I should have tried the Bow tie Pasta with Chickpeas, Organic Spinach, Tomato and Herbs which would have been more complimentary with the salad. 

I believe Becky Hostetter, the owner (I grabbed one of their business cards before I left), is who greeted and took my order.  She was delightful, knowledgeable and energetic.  I definitely look forward to trying Duos again!!

If you own or know of a food truck in the Indianapolis area, please let me know.  I am always up to try new things and am so excited to showcase all the wonderful mobile dining experiences around town.


For more information on the Duos food truck, contact:

Becky Hostetter
720 N. Dorman St.
Indianapolis, IN 46202
317-508-8614
www.duosindy.com
Twitter @duosindy

What I'm Eating: Scratch Truck - Modern Comfort Food

The food truck revolution has FINALLY arrived in Indianapolis.  Last Indy 500, we were introduced to the flavor explosion that is West Coast Tacos.  The LA-inspired Korean/Mexican fusion proved that Hoosiers are eager and waiting for thoughtful and tasteful travelling street food.  So it was inevitable that others would follow.  A year later, more and more food trucks are popping up around the city and just in time for Summer. 

[I had actually looked into what it would take to start my own food truck; the costs, the overhead, the truck and maintenance.  I had a bare bones concept thought out.  So far, no one has come up with a similar idea so it is still something I'd love to explore in the future.]

Anyways, as I had mentioned before, I am hosting The Bride's joint bachelor/bachelorette party at the end of July.  Trying to think outside the box, a little, I contacted a few food trucks to see if anyone would be willing to cater my event.  To my luck, Matt Kornmeyer, owner and proprietor of Scratch Truck answered the call.  They are totally new to the scene and just had their launch yesterday (Friday, May 27th) in front of Flat 12 Bierwerks.  I had been wanting to check out Flat 12 for weeks now so this was an amazing opportunity to kill 2 birds with 1 stone.  I had to use my GPS to find the location which was surprisingly not far from my house.  It is located at 414 N Dorman St. between Vermont and Michigan nestled in a small residential and industrial area just a couple blocks east of College Ave.  I got there a little after 5 and already people were arriving.  The smells emanating from the truck instantly teased my nostrils.  I had seen the logo-ed Scratch Truck while out walking downtown the other week.  It looks amazing.  I love the bright red with graphics and text.  They did an amazing job.  We are a visual society so the crisp, clean, professionalism and attention to detail is important. 

The menu had me licking my chops from the jump.  I had previewed the website and menu prior to getting there so I already had an idea of what I wanted to try.  They had a nice, small variety to choose from and covered entrees, beverages and even dessert. 

I came starving, even a bit ravenous, so I ordered 2 meals: the Spicy Chicken Cone with french fries and the Hoity-Toity BLT with the Muffaletta Salad (for $1 more).  I looked like a little piggy since I ventured over by myself.  Matt greeted me and introduced himself from inside the truck when I gave them my name for the order and I would've liked to have taken a moment to talk to him more but he was pretty busy, DUH!  No worries! I didn't want to mess up their flow.  A couple people behind me in line ordered the Watermelon Jalapeno Lemonade and I decided I had to give it a try.  I'm so glad I did.  It was the perfect Summer (nonalcoholic) cocktail.  For $2, I sipped on a refreshingly light, not overly sweet, crazy pairing of flavors.  Don't worry, there is absolutely no heat, just an essence of the jalapeno which melds so well into the sweet flavor of the watermelon.  It reminded me of the jalapeno and pineapple infused tequila I often consumed in Atlanta.  Also, who doesn't love take-home cups?!

So refreshing!

On to the food!...Both meals were individually packaged in cardboard to-go boxes.  The interior was lined with some festive black and white checkered paper totally fitting for the race weekend.  I nibbled on a fry while trying to figure out where I was going to chow down.  Flat 12 agreed to let people come in a eat their food.  After showing some ID, I was handed 5 drink tickets to sample their beer.  I was super excited but definitely needed to eat first.  There were a couple tables inside and outside and small benches placed along the wall.  I found a spot on a bench and had to make do with that.  I really love the concept of bringing beer enthusiasts together with the likes of food trucks so hopefully as the interest increases, there will be better seating. 

Byrnes Pizza was also on site and if I hadn't already bought 2 meals from Scratch, I would've definitely grabbed a slice or bread stick.  Next time! 

I can't believe I've eaten 2 meals in a 7 day span with Hoity-Toity in the name (see my previous Creation Cafe post).  I swear I'm not a hoity-toity person but I guess I enjoy good food, cooked well and with love.  The Hoity Toity BLT was better than I could've expected.  I usually never order BLTs when dining out but this sandwich was made with pancetta (nuff said) and a pesto mayo (creamy, yummy, fresh goodness).  The bread was brushed with butter and perfectly toasted and crunchy.  The pancetta was the epitome of salty, porkiness sliced perfectly for the sandwich.  The arugula gave the sandwich some bitterness that was equaled out by the tomatoes.   This was one uppity BLT but I loved it!  The Muffaletta Salad is not your mama's average pasta salad.  This one was on steroids; a combination of shell pasta, mixed olives with chunks of ham, salami, Mortadella and provolone cheese in a light vinaigrette. 

Hello Race Fans!

Next, the Spicy Chicken Cones.  This came with 2 breaded and sauced chicken tender strips in flour tortillas and topped with a fantastic jalapeno-mango slaw.  The ancho chile aioli was dynamite; sweet with a hint of heat. 

Mouth-watering glaze on the chicken strips

They placed each in a dixie cup cone which really helped with the eatability.  I still managed to look like a sloppy eater.  The french fries were fresh and hand cut with a great amount of seasoning.  There were some that were a bit undercooked but I'm sure that's a kink that Matt will work out as time goes by.  No harm, no foul.  I ate half of both meals and brought the rest home to D who inhaled it quickly.

Once my belly was filled, I moved on to the beer samples.  I am not going to pretend that I'm a beer connoisseur, because I'm not.  I've tried several types of beer since I turned 21 (wink, wink!) and I know what I like and what I don't.  I am a fan of locally crafted beer but can easily sit on my back porch enjoying a Miller Lt. with no shame.  So I just randomly selected samples based on the laminated description on the tables.  Each shot-sized sample was 1 drink ticket.  I went with the F12 Amber, the Tangerine Porter, the Irish Amber, the American Wit and the Upside Down Blonde.  My faves were the Irish (hints of aged whiskey flavor)  and F12 (warm and rich) Amber.  I enjoyed the dark, bold notes of the Tangerine Porter but probably couldn't drink a full pint.  The Upside Down Blonde tasted the most mainstream and had nice body.  The American Wit was a bit sharp and bitter for my liking.  If I wasn't so stuffed from the food and samples, I would've bought a pint of something.  I can't wait to bring D back there and maybe take a growler home and to give Byrnes Pizza a try.  There was a spinach flat crust pizza calling my name.

Getting to experience Scratch Truck's food was very encouraging.  You can taste the passion in their flavors and the enthusiasm in their work.  I can't wait to see what Matt whips up for the B/B party.  I assume they will make rounds downtown and in Broad Ripple.  I hope they come near the IUPUI campus which is where I work.  I know that they are on the road to success and I wish them the best of luck.  Thanks for a great meal!

Since they are in their infantcy, they don't have established routes so...

Check Scratch Truck out on Twitter @scratchtruck or the Scratch Truck website for location and menu information.

Also, to learn more about Flat 12 Bierwerks, click here. 

Flat 12 Bierwerks
414 N Dorman
Indianapolis, IN 46202
(317) 635-2337

What I'm Eating: 3 Sisters' Cafe (Broad Ripple)

There is an overabundance of awesome city gems sprinkled, and sometimes hidden, around Indiana.  It's always a great thing when they get their due-acknowledgements from the locals but it's even more of an honor when the likes of Guy Fieri and Diners, Drive-ins and Dives shows up at your restaurant.  This was the case recently when he and his camera crew made their way to one of Broad Ripple's pretty well known favorites: 3 Sisters Cafe.  This restaurant serving breakfast (all day) and lunch is fashioned inside an old, historical Victorian house a little off the beaten path of the BR strip, just over the rainbow colored bridge.  The weather yesterday was so pleasant and screaming for outside dining.  I invited Fefe* along because I knew that their menu is very Vegan-friendly. 

The parking situation was a bit sticky, as is most areas in BR.  Signs made it very clear where there was designated parking or not.  The lot directly next door is only for those businesses and I got the idea that they are very tow-happy.  After all of the press revolving around the snaky tow companies, we didn't want to press our luck.  We ended up finding street parking close by; this after Fefe had an unsuccessful, yet quite hilarious, attempt at parallel parking ;) (She's probably going to kill me for that). 

Parking disaster averted, we snagged the last outside table right as the previous diners were leaving.  I took a second to sneak inside and take a peek at the decor.  The inside decor is retro fitted to match the essence of the Victorian house and was cozy; like Grandma's house!  Our table was wiped down and we were quickly sat with waters to start with. Always love that because I was thirsty.  We both ordered the Ginger Peach Tea which was super yummy, kept me hydrated and provided a punch of flavor; perfect for the Summer time. 

Fefe mentioned that although they are very Vegan friendly, they do not prepare their Vegan entrees on separate grills or areas.  This, apparently, is not true Vegan preparation and there is a high probability that the food would be contaminated with meats, oils or dairy.  Luckily she has not embraced that strict of a Vegan lifestyle.  She opted to go with the Grilled Veggie Sandwich with mixed fruit.  There was a sticky situation where the menu read "No changes or substitutions" at the bottom which was initially very disappointing for Fefe who hates mushrooms and red onions.  Luckily after some clarification from our server, we learned it only applied to certain dishes which were starred on the menu. Menu crisis averted, I went non-Vegan.  I went back and forth between Kyle's Grilled Cheese, BBQ Grains and the D'Nai (one of the sandwiches featured on DDD) but at the last minute I went with the Fish Tacos with homemade applesauce.

They were pretty crowded, even at 1pm on a weekday when the lunch crowd is usually dying down.  Our server was very attentive though and kept our drinks filled.  The food took a little longer than I would expect for lunchtime service, especially if I was on a lunch break but Fefe and I had nowhere to be so I don't think it was much of a problem.  Also, the national exposure associated with DDD probably has, and will for a while, overwhelmed the staff.  I could tell they were in the weeds so no harm, no foul.

When our food arrived, I was blown away by my meal.  I mean, check it out:


Guac + green chili sauce + chipotle mayo = the most delightful sauce menage trois

Love CORN tortillas!

I love that it was assemble-yourself because I (being a control freak) like managing the ratio of sauce to fish to veg toppings.  I'm not sure what type of fish is used but it was a large, white flaky fish that was grilled, slightly over cooked but not a deal breaker.  I'm a saucy girl so I ended up using all 3 sauces on each of my tacos: the guacamole was fresh; the chile sauce had a hint of heat; and the chipotle mayo had a smoky heat.  I was only able to eat 2 before I was pretty stuffed. 

Fefe's Grilled Veggie Sandwich looked a little bland.  All the veggies were mounded on the bread and were overcooked with very muted coloring.  There was too much minced garlic for her liking and she only ate about 1/3 of the sandwich.  The fruit cup helped to curb her appetite.

Not the prettiest plating

All in all the experience went well.  I can see why it drew the attention of Guy and look forward to trying some more dishes in the future.  Maybe next time I will take a stab at the D'Nai sandwich that made my mouth water when I watched the DDD episode.

 

 

The Verdict: Out of 5 stars

Location/Atmosphere: ****  Nestled a few blocks from the main strip in Broad Ripple.  Limited parking. 

Service: ***1/2 Our server was nice and helpful but kept referring to us as "loves" or "sweeties" which seemed a bit weird

Food: ***1/2 My meal was a featured dish and delivered! Fefe was not as satisfied

Will I eat there again: Yes

6360 Guilford Ave
Indianapolis, Indiana 46220
(317) 257-5556

What I'm Eating: Revisit Alert! Napolese

I know that it's only been about a month since I gushed and praised my first experience at Napolese but I already made my way back over the past weekend.  I knew that I wanted to take D there so when date night came up, I instantly threw out the suggestion.  We decided to go there later in the evening since it was a Friday night.  Once again, it seemed like we snatched up the last available table because even past 9pm, they were packed.  We were nestled in an intimate 2-top table in between a group of 4 on my left and another couple on my right.  The interior space is very cozy with romantic, dim lighting and soft music.  I got a chance to soak in more of the inside details: a great corner wine bar, eat-up seating near the open kitchen and the intricate, decorative tiling around the wood-burning, brick oven.

We had the same server, Keri, who was just as warm and inviting as before.  She dropped off a variety of olives for us to nibble on. Yummy!  I ordered a glass of pinot grigio while D stuck with a beer. 

Cheers

We debated on an appetizer but I decided I'd rather go with a dessert later on.  Their pizza comes with 6 exceptionally large slices so I knew that splitting one would be plenty of food for the 2 of us. We went with the Butler Tarkington Pizza (Italian sausage, red peppers and a basil-pesto sauce) although the Kessler Meridian was calling my name, too.  While we waited for the food, I asked D to do some stealthy undercover espionage by taking some pictures on his way to the little boy's room.  He reluctantly obliged. 


This was the only non-blurry pic D took

When our pizza came, our eyes bulged and we licked our chops like 2 rabid dogs about to pounce!  Just look at this amazing pie....

Seriously?!

A close up on the toppings

This pizza was so complex in flavors.  There was spicy in the Italian sausage, sweet and roasted in the red peppers and fresh, earthy notes in the zesty pesto sauce.  To quote D: "This is the BEST pizza I've ever had."  I would have to agree with him.  Napolese's pizzas are genius.  Their robust flavors even hid the fact that the center of the pizza crust wasn't fully cooked through.  I ended up only eating 1 slice and D ate 3, leaving us with 2 slices for the road.

Leftovers!!

Their cobbler flavor of the night was the rhubarb and wild cherry again which was so tempting but I went with the chocolate gelato instead.  D was completely stuffed and I was too but I was craving a sweet night cap. 

I think I closed my eyes to soak it in for a moment

This densely, rich cup of divine sweetness almost made me call it a night.  Anything else we would do would have been lacking in comparison.  I forced D to take a bite.  He had no regrets although did think it was a bit too rich.  I practically licked the bowl clean. 

This was a celebratory dinner that went just perfectly.  I cherish these special times together and was so excited that he shared my love for this wonderful restaurant!  We had a round of drinks, a pizza and a dessert for about $40 (including tip)  Next on my list, Petit Chou!


The Verdict: Out of 5 stars

Location/Atmosphere: **** Perfect for date night or time with the family

Service: ***** Keri kicked butt, again!

Food:***** Best pizzas in town plus seriously sexy desserts

Will I eat there again:  OMG, YES! If Napolese made a no-fat/no-carb/no calorie pizza, I'd eat there every single day!



Napolese
4901 Pennsylvania Street Indianapolis, IN 46205
317-925-2823