Three Wise Men (beer only)

There is a new brewery in Broad Ripple, and it is not playing around.  Three Wise Men brewery--the latest brain-child of Scott Wise-- is a departure in many ways.  It has a hunting-cabin meets warehouse vibe, and I mean that in only the best way.  Lots (lots!) of unfinished pine and maple meets antler coat hooks, modern lighting, black accents and stainless fixtures. The staff is uncommonly friendly and welcoming (and very young!).  We sit at the bar, where in only the few months since opening a band of all-too-comfortable regulars hold the fort.

The beer is awesome.  I've tasted most if it.  The Golden Zoe IPA is super hoppy, the Double IPA is a little bit smoother.  The Naptown Brown is nutty and rich with just the right amount of barley.  And then there's the Two Lucys:  probably one of my all-time top 5 beers. That's right- ranking right up there with Guinness, High Life, Newcastle, and Hoegaarten (I have an eclectic beer palette, what can I say? Jeff is the true connisseur- I just know what I like). It's a 4.5-6.0% alcohol blackberry wheat that is NOT just for the fruity beer crowd.  Trust me--the entire male contingent of my flag football team is obsessed to the point of near-concern.  It is very mild on the fruit (even though it looks like they pureed blackberries right in the glass) and pretty darn high in alcohol for anything trying to pose as a wheat beer.

On this review, I'm not going to get into the food.  There is so much to love that the food needs it's own dedicated post.  But trust me when I tell you that the beer is absolutely worth the trip.  Though they are nice about letting you taste, there are samplers available so you can figure out which beer fits your fancy before you commit to a pint (or 3).  They also have some pretty great specials ($2.50 pints of Wednesdays and $6 growler fills Monday-Thursday) that make drinking their brew one of the best deals in town.  I'm anxious to hear what you all think, so let me know!  I give the beer 5/5 (food to be reviewed later).

Cooper's Hawk Winery

I work at Keystone at the Crossing.  While I attempt to avoid chains (or patronize local chains like Patachou), this part of town is Chain City, USA.  That said, every now and then I succumb.  This time, it was such a beautiful day (rare recently) that I had to find a patio.  Cooper's Hawk fit the bill! 


The entrance experience was strange.  I accidentally walked in the wrong door and right into a entire staff training (it was pretty early for lunch- about 11:15am).  Instantly, I felt as if I were intruding, but the manager took the reigns and offered me the Cabernet Sauvignon they were tasting and made me feel right at home.  Well done! They showed me to a table on a well-appointed, SoCal feel patio (chocolate rattan and stainless steel chairs, light and dark inlaid wood table tops, black market umbrella).  


My server, Lindsey, was incredibly knowledgeable and guided me through their enormous wine list; I wasn't going to have wine with lunch, but after my complimentary tasting you didn't have to twist my arm.  After a taste their Blanc de Blancs ( I couldn't resist), which was amazing, she recommended their wine of the month (and you know how I feel about specials).  This lovely Verdelho Chardonnay was stainless steel fermented, with medium body and crisp notes of peach and pear and nice acidity.  It is off-dry, reminiscent of a great French Chenin Blanc. I chose it for the food pairing, as it was absolutely perfect with what I ate (see below). 


I had a half-sandwich/soup combo: Triple White Grilled Cheese and Lobster/Crab Bisque with a side of Asian slaw. The sandwich was delectable--not your grade school version at all.  Vermont white cheddar, aged Swiss and creamy goat cheese layered with balsamic caramelized onions and truffle oil on toasted sourdough.  Heaven for me includes one of these (daily).


The bisque (and I am not heavy soup girl, but it was their specialty) was mind-blowing.  A luxurious velvety broth with the perfect texture (it just coated your spoon- not too thick or thin) gave way to small morsels of crab, lobster and shrimp with mirepoix (the classic french trio of carrots, onion and celery).  The mark of a great soup is that the star--seafood, in this case--is allowed to shine. This could not have been better.  The Asian Slaw was lovely but not remarkable- it provided a much needed palette-cleansing crunch to the rich soup and gooey sandwich. I should note that they also served me a pretzel bread loaf with airy, easily spreadable butter.  I certainly didn't need it (so much food!), but it was a great accompaniment value add.


Much to the dismay of my small business bias, Cooper's Hawk gets a 5/5!  The service, food, ambiance and price were outstanding and far exceeded my expectations.  My bill was $24 with a tax and a 25% tip, not bad for bread, lobster bisque, half sandwich, Asian slaw, 2 tastes of wine and one great glass of chardonnay. 

A Good Old Standby (everyone needs a few)

The beloved Brewpub--the Broad Ripple Brewpub, of course. Owned by tall, British, bearded John Hill.  Brewers of a wickedly-strong India Pale Ale (sometimes it's great, sometimes it's not, but it's always strong).  The regular patrons are for the most part incredibly witty, quick to throw down in a verbal spar, at either end of the political continuum (though most are liberal), strongly in favor of legalizing marijuana (liberal and conservative alike), and almost as strongly committed to their neighborhood establishments.


There are patrons, like my Jeff, who were literally there on their first day of business 15 years ago and just kept coming back. Jeff actually drank their first pint of beer (IPA of course) from flagship bartender Corky Aiken, incredibly apropeaux.  There are people who accidentally stumbled upon the establishment (like me), played one game of darts with the regulars, and got hooked on the trash talking and cynicism in the dart room and came back for more.  There are also many families who dine at the pub, because though the beer can be a little unpredictable, the food is always good.  It's the best hippie bar food anywhere (it's the place to dine if you want to avoid fried food in a pub--not an easy task).


On this particular evening, we met our friends Courtney and Josh for dinner.  No dart room, no shooting the breeze with the regulars, just dinner. Our server, Jess, was attentive, and the patio made for great people watching.  I prefer the patio to dining inside, as I find the ambiance in the dining room tired and dark (and I find carpet in restaurants gross). This night happened to coincide with the first annual MayIndyTweetup, which was an awesome event (to be written about later) chock-full of Ripple Rats in the streets. Our vantage point on 65th Street near Cornell couldn't have been better.


In my opinion the specials at the pub are always the best bet.  In my stint as a server in fine dining (lots of good stories to be blogged about in the future), our Chef was always most excited about the specials.  Daily specials are a way for cooks to flex their culinary creative muscles.  Let's face it- very few people chose the industry to man the fryer or throw beef patties on a flat-top. So I always take a hard look at the specials, because I feel there will be more effort, more thought, and more creativity put into them than the regular menu favorites.  I could be wrong, but I'm generally not disappointed.


This evening the weekly specials list (on the back, bottom part of the menu) was filled with great options.  I chose the Thai pizza, Courtney and Josh had the hand-breaded Red Hook Ale pork tenderloin (it was so big the brought and extra bun and each had a full sandwich), and Jeff went with his old standby pub fare--a banger + mash and green peas.  All of it was delicious, none of it surprising, and it was extremely affordable.  We started with the Ploughman's Platter, which is a large portion of tasty herbed hummus, veggies (even jicama!), cubed cheddar and fresh pita bread.  Sausage is optional, we opted out this night.


My Thai pizza was notable because though it was small (I think 7"), it was mighty.  The peanut sauce used as a base was perfectly spicy, the grilled chicken and peppers added a punch, and the cheese (not typical in Thai or any Asian food) was actually a nice way to round out the texture and salt-content of the dish. (Not that I have ever complained about cheese.)  I would order it again. I should note that I am frustrated that they took my all-time favorite dish off the menu- the Thai Peanut Pasta (Jenny-style). Bummer.  At least the specials menu still rocks it out!


I give the Brewpub a 3.5/5.  Food was above average, service was adequate, prices were excellent.  I wasn't wowed, but then again, the Broad Ripple Brewpub doesn't have to wow me, it is my neighborhood pub and all I ask for is consistency.  Everyone needs a good old standby, and this is one of mine. Cheers!

Farro, Pharoah, Fair-O... What Is Farro?

Recently I decided to explore the slightly nebulous (and fairly intimidating) world of Gluten-Free foods.  We will get into the reasoning behind this another day, but it lead me on a crazy search for delicious carbs other than the old standbys (I will love and crave pasta and bread until the day I die, I assure you.) Farro and I first met in the aisles of Fresh Market, and it was a cautious love at first sight. High in fiber, high in protein, nutrients out the wazoo, and you make it just like risotto (so easy)!  Surely this was too good to be true!

My friend Courtney and I attempted our virginal farro experience on Sunday night, from a inauspicious boxed mix of "farro al funghi." Guess what? It was simple. It was relatively quick (about 25 minutes). It was delicious! We flavored it with onion, garlic, and fresh herbs to accompany the seasoning mix and dried porcini mushrooms already in the package, and voila! It was hearty, earthy, nutty, with flavor that went on for miles.  Even Jeff, who is not a huge fan of the alternative grain movement, sung its praises. 

So what on earth is it?  Turns out, it's more than a little sketchy.  It can be barley, wheat, or spelt.  Honestly-who cares (I guess if you are gluten-free you need to care, but that aside)!  It's delicious, inexpensive, and easy.  These traits make it a welcome respite from the pasta/potato/rice daily carb circuit.  Give it a whirl and let me know what you think.  Cheers!  

For details, click here's for the full wiki article (excerpt below). 

"There is much confusion or disagreement about what exactly farro is. Emmer, spelt, and einkorn are called farro in Italy, sometimes, but not always, distinguished as farro medio, farro grande, and farro piccolo, respectively^[1]. Regional differences in what is grown locally and eaten as farro, as well as similarities between the three grains, may explain the confusion. Barley and farro may be used interchangeably because of their similar characteristics. Spelt is much more commonly grown in Germany and Switzerland and, though called dinkel there, is eaten and used in much the same way, and might therefore be considered farro. Common wheat may also be prepared and eaten much like farro, in which form it is often referred to as wheatberries."

Recess (everybody's favorite school subject)

Ahhh....The highly acclaimed recess. Courtney and Josh, some of my most trusted foodies, raved! I went on a whim, knowing my expectations were far too high and ready for a ho-hum experience.

Not so! The dining room is humorously appointed in what can only be called industrial chic meets cheeky cafeteria ("are these chairs from my high school? I really think they might be...").  The host and waitstaff are serious but surprisingly friendly and low-key. I instantly know we are in for a treat!  The menu, prix fixe every night, is $54 for tonight's selections.  A little steep, but that includes four courses.  You can also add a generously-poured wine or beer pairing for $16 or $10, respectively.

We start with a kobe beef, shitake mushroom and barley soup (they are out of the asparagus soup).  It was so good I tried to reverse engineer the recipe on my napkin (I'll let you know how my version turns out later). The broth was unctuous but light, and the beef had a perfect texture instead of the typical mushy/mealy beef stew quality. It had the slight bite of red pepper and cut by the surprising freshness of cilantro. Amazing!

Next is a fish course.  Scallops are slated for the menu, but they happen to be my one and only food allergy.  They gracefully--and without any innuendo of inconvenience--offer a substitution of Chilean sea bass (score!).  Wow... This may have been the most delicious piece of fish I have ever eaten (and I love me some fish).  Silky, marinated and basted in a light miso broth, served over wilted, dressed spinach.

Third course is beef.  Done is a surprisingly tailored (dare I say classic), French-inspired way.  Sliced against the grain and fanned over buttery pommes puree and finished with a delightful pan sauce au poivre. Hard to beat.

Dessert- often an after-thought after such a scruptious meal, is no such thing. Coconut-pear sorbet garnished with crunchy, buttery shortbread cookies that created a textural contrast that was satisfying. A delightful, palette-cleansing end to a fantastic meal.

My only point of disappointment was the beer pairing, though I give Recess and Executive Chef Greg Hardesty major kudos for including all microbrews. It was a little rough for me.  I realize beer pairing is difficult (and relatively new to the gourmet food scene), but it really didn't enhance my experience.  Next time I will opt for the wine (I just couldn't resist seeing how they would use beer). At least in my experience to date, wine still rules the high-end dining experience.

To summarize, Recess blew me away!  I give it 4.5/5 for its playfully chic atmosphere, attentive service, and top notch cuisine.  It is a splurge (our bill was $150 with tip, but only 1 beer pairing for 2 people) but one well worth your hard-earned money. This will certainly be on my special occasion date list, and I think it should be on yours too. Cheers!


Click here to go to the website.

Champagne is NOT only for special occasions!!

Ok. You may be able to intuit that this subject touches a nerve in me.  You are correct!  One of my biggest annoyances in life (I know that is a hefty statement, but true) is the perception that champagne and other sparkling wines are only appropriate for special occasions worthy of a ticker tape parade, a television interview, or a large diamond ring. FALSE!

You probably already know this, but you can only call sparkling wine "Champagne" if it is made in Champagne, France.  Anything else is referred to as sparkling wine, even if it is made using the methode champenoise (which is a rigorous process set by the wine governing body in Champagne, France).  There are perfectly amazing sparkling wines out there that do not come from Champagne (or anywhere in France, for that matter-see my favorites below).  For more on sparkling wine production, click here.

Back to the case I'm presenting.  Sparkling wines:

1) are affordable (many great bottles under $15)

2) are easy to find anywhere in the world (even in the Midwest!)

3) have a wide variety of flavor profiles that make them ultra-sippable with food
4) do not have to be sweet, girly, or pretentious! (I feel strongly that they are NOT the chick-flick of the wine world, despite how they have been portrayed in the media.)

Now that the pragmatism is out of the way, here are the real reasons. Sparkling wine (besides being the inspiration behind "fizz" in the name of this blog) is fun!  It is crisp, refreshing, and celebratory. It makes everyone feel a little bit more sophisticated (it might actually make them act more sophisticated too...).  It has that satisfying "pop!" when you open the bottle, and every now and then it explodes or runs over which makes for a funny story- or at least a laughable moment. (It can also double as a weapon, but that's another article.) Sparkling wine is fun to mix with juices, herb-infused syrups, St. Germain, or flavored vodka (see below).  It's appropriate for breakfast.  Need I say more? It is truly a beverage after my heart, and that is why it is my beverage of choice.  Cheers!

Favorite bottles:

• Gruet Blanc de Noirs ($13)- Methode Champenoise from New Mexico. Amazingly good, a dead ringer for the pricey stuff.
• Charles de Fere Cuvee Jean-Louis Blanc de Blancs ($10). My favorite budget French sparkler (not champagne). I've tried most by now. (If you know of others, please post!)
• Desiderio Jeio Prosecco ($13) Italian, light, and very dry.  Prosecco is my drink of choice with salty, spicy Asian food.
• Carbo Cava ($15) Spanish and very European tasting. Not as dry as most of my favorites, and very earthy. Fantastic with seafood!
• Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz ($17) Sparkling red wine actually stands up nicely to meat dishes.
• Duval Leroy Vintage 1996 ($55)  This is the splurge Champagne in our house. Puts Dom Perignon to shame at half the cost. This champagne is no joke.

Favorite Mixers:

• St. Germain (sooo delicious!)
• Pama Liqueur + squeeze of lime
• X-rated Vodka Fusion + Pamplemousse LaCroix
• Lavender syrup
• Peach or Mango Puree

A Brief Brush With the World of Wine

Since I haven't started really digging into wine on the blog yet, I thought now is a good time to explain my affinity for that particular nectar of the gods. I started cooking with wine when I was 9, and therein started my vast appreciation.  Some great opportunities (wine tasting in the picturesque Loire Valley with my mom, for instance) helped it along, but none so much as my beloved Lobby Lounge.

For 5 years I owned and operated the historic Brick Street Inn in Zionsville. It was in pretty bad shape when I took over, and it took me several years of fixing the existing profit enters before I could focus on the concept that I knew would work well on Main Street-  an upscale wine and martini lounge.  The objectives of the Lobby Lounge were twofold: a relaxed, opulent ambiance and a killer wine list.  We had 86 wines offered by the bottle and 15 by the glass.  We focused exclusively on boutique, small production, and (when possible) biodynamic wineries to complement our "support the little guy" culture. (I should note that I still hold firmly to this in my everyday life- you won't see many corporate chains reviewed on this blog.)

Brad Sullivan from Carroll Wine and Spirits (whom my friends know as my "wine yoda") helped me create a list that was well-rounded, educational, and toasted the little guy.  That process (tasting hundreds of wines and learning from every possible resource) was truly a metamorphosis for me.  The respect I have for the world of wine is enormous.  Particularly inspiring are the pioneers who are making wine approachable, colloquial, and a part of every day dining.  Erik Miller with Kokomo Winery (a proud Boilermaker) is one such wine-making superstar. His wines will certainly be the subject of an upcoming blog (they deserve their own article!).

Though my days at the Lobby Lounge are over now (I sold the business this past August- a bittersweet decision), they left a lasting impression of service, quality, and taste in my life.  I hope that I have become someone whose palette (well-tested palette, I might add) is trustworthy enough to make recommendations on bottles.  Sparkling wines are among my favorite, so there will be lots suggestions for Cava, Prosecco, Champagne, and a host of other sparkling varieties.  I hope to help you demystify wine in a way that helps you enjoy it in your everyday life. So stay tuned for lots of wine chat, tasting party suggestions, trends, and affordable recommendations to come.  Cheers!

Fire by the Monon

I am constantly on the lookout for great new eateries that are affordable (and preferably within walking distance of our Broad Ripple chateau- please indulge our silly Francophile nickname for our home).  Fire by the Monon was an excellent choice.  We arrived there pretty late-9ish-and they were still busy!  We already had a beer and appetizers at home on the deck (3 Wise Men 2 Lucys for me and Double IPA for Jeff), so we were looking for something with a fun ambiance and tasty food.

We were greeted warmly and shown to a quiet patio on Ferguson Street that was filled with candlelight and the buzz of intimate conversation. Our server (Diane) was lovely and knowledgeable, and we were off to a good start with pints of local brew- Flat 12 IPA for Jeff and their American Wit for me.  (I should note here that you will rarely read of Jeff drinking any brew besides IPA unless it's on a boat. I run the gamut of beer choices, but usually stick toward more food-friendly choices.) We ordered the Free Range flatbread and a Black & Bleu burger. The flatbread was divine!  Deliciously juicy and perfectly seasoned grilled chicken, caramelized onions that functioned as a marmalade, adding that perfect element of sweetness, the requisite veggies for crunch and texture, and a thin pizza-like crust.  The burger was wonderful.  I like burgers (most burgers, in fact).  Rarely do I eat a burger that warrants excessive praise or excitement.  This burger deserves both.  The bacon was crispy, the bleu cheese was proportional and melted, the bun was soft and lightly grilled.  The beef (specified to be cooked medium), was perfectly executed with a nice crispy sear to make it extra juicy. There was a lot to be excited about.  The sweet potato fries were good (not great, I'm fairly sure they were previously frozen), but not a significant detractor. We also ordered blackberry cobbler a la mode, which was nice, but too much filling in the filling-to-fruit ratio.  In hindsight the molten chocolate cake would have probably been a better bet.  Lesson learned!

All in all, I give Fire 4/5. The service, atmosphere, and main courses were outstanding. The price point was great (our check was $36 with tax and tip: 2 pints, a burger, flatbread, and dessert). I would definitely deem it a great option for a casual date or a family dinner night. Fire by the Monon is a quintessential, unfussy Broad Ripple establishment- perfect for soaking up the village vibe. Please leave a comment after you try it! Cheers!

click here to go to Fire's website

hello, bloggosphere...

In the cacophony of the blogging universe, why am I adding my voice?  The simple answer is that I love food. I just can't help but share this love beyond my ever-so-patient inner circle (inner circle, you have convinced me that my opinions are worth sharing- I guess we'll see if you are correct!).

Sharing a meal with someone (or yourself) is one of the most generous and heartfelt things anyone can do.  Food lends comfort when a family mourns, evokes memories of happier times, brings family together, celebrates joyous milestones.... The list of what food can do is probably infinite.  Food is more than mere nourishment, it is the soul-filling, heart-mending, inspiring, energizing fuel of a modern life. 

My love affair with cuisine started when I was the first filet-mignon-and-shrimp-cocktail-eating toddler that my parents had heard of (I'm sure there are many of us out there, but parents always think their kids are impossibly unique, right?). In fact, filet and shrimp were my favorite foods growing up (they still rank pretty high on my list). Also contributing to my love of food was my unspeakably indecisive mother.  Allow me to explain.  Since she HATED deciding what to cook and serve for us as picky little kids, we had the same 3-5 dinner menus constantly. This was unacceptable to my palette, so as soon as I was old enough (fourth grade), I taught myself how to cook using good old PBS.  This was the era I nostalgically call BFN (Before Food Network). Graham Kerr, Pasquale, and the one and only Julia Child were my teachers.  Lucky me! To this day I consider my food curriculum among the best in the world, albeit unconventional. At the age of 9, the flood gates had been opened, and I simply couldn't get enough. I would make grocery lists, shop with my mom, and use my family as guinea pigs nearly every night at dinnertime. Mostly they loved it (I wasn't the only one sick of mom's cooking), but of course there were several misses- an ill-advised fat-free "fried" chicken comes to mind. Lesson learned!

In food as in life, trial and error rules.  I quickly became proficient at some things (making a tasty meal from random stuff in the fridge, for instance), and still struggle with other things (baking is still not my forte, as patience is not among my stronger suits). I have been good at making wine reductions and pan sauces from the beginning.  Since I grew up in an alcohol-free house, it did take my mom some convincing to buy that dry white wine for buerre blanc when I was 9!  Anyone who knows me knows the implications of my successful persuasion in that area- wine has become a life-long journey for me.

So.... what will this blog address?  Food, wine, many restaurant reviews, notes on how to eat inexpensively, nutritiously, and only God knows the rest. There will also be wine notes, community events, foodie experiences to try, and plenty of anecdotes to share. My foodie friends will contribute, and you will love what they add! There may be the occasional recipe, but this won't be a recipe blog.  My hope is that this will be a tool for everyone to enjoy food and wine as an everyday celebration. Who doesn't need that? I know I do! Cheers...