Julia Spalding

First, let’s clear up the confusion that nearly turned last week’s dinner planning into an Abbott & Costello bit. There are two library-themed restaurants in the Indianapolis area: The Library Restaurant & Pub (2610 S. Lynhurst Ave., 317-243-1124) on the west side, and Woody’s Library Restaurant (40 E. Main St., Carmel, 317-573-4444) to the far north. The two are unrelated and located on nearly opposite ends of town, and yet you will need to make sure that everybody in your party is on the same page when you say, “Let’s meet at The Library for dinner.” Take our word for it.

The fried mozzarella and beets, over lightly dressed greens, at Black Market (922 Massachusetts Ave., 317-822-6757). Elevates this pub staple to a light and intriguing treat. Beef ribs at Mama’s House Korean Restaurant (8867 Pendleton Pike, 317-897-0808).

If you are the type of person who prefers the savory crackle of Colonel’s Original Recipe over the aggressive crunch of Extra Crispy, you will appreciate this finger-licking-good story on chicken skin’s new gourmet cache from The New York Times. Chicken skin salad? Chicken skin tacos? Gravy encased in a chicken-skin balloon? That’s poultry in motion.

An All-Star lineup of chefs and NFL players will mix it up on Super Bowl eve for the Taste of the NFL event, an annual fundraiser with proceeds benefiting food banks in every NFL City. Start saving now. Tickets for the Feb. 4 “Party with a Purpose,” held inside Gleaners Food Bank, run $600. Part strolling food-and-wine event and part celebrity gawk-fest, the evening features about 40 stations manned by top chefs from NFL cities around the country and players representing each of their teams.

When J. Razzo’s (12501 N. Meridian St., Carmel, 317-844-9333), a new far-north restaurant with a local pedigree, opened a few weeks ago, there was a built-in buzz factor. Of course, Indy’s enduring obsession with good Italian food has been well publicized (as is only fitting for a cuisine imported from a country shaped like a boot to a state shaped like a sock). But this Carmel ristorante also boasted the golden touch of John Perazzo, the former chef at Indy institution Salvatore’s and, later, co-owner of downtown’s recently deceased Zing—an ancestry worthy of kissed fingertips in and of itself.

The embarrassingly large portion of smoked rib tips—probably a dozen of them—and scoop of macaroni and cheese that goes back to basics with just a bit of crunch on the edges, at GeoSoul Soul Food (3705 N. Illinois St., 317-920-8090), which opened in May. The Cuban sandwich at Twenty Tap (5406 N. College Ave., 317-602-8840), a reference to the storefront’s former tenant, Northside News

The Boogie Monster, a massive cheeseburger fortified with grilled pastrami, onion rings, and a fried egg, at Boogie Burger (1904 E. Broad Ripple Ave., 317-255-2450). The grilled fruit dessert at Canal Bistro (6349 Guilfo

How long does a box of warm, fresh Virginia Kay’s Doughnuts last in an office full of editors with the mid-afternoon munchies? Just barely long enough to snap these photos.

The prime rib sandwich at Harry & Izzy’s (153 S. Illinois St., 317-635-9594). Thinly sliced meat, white cheddar, and horseradish sauce with au jus for dunking. The sweet/tart red sangria at Canal Bistro (6349 Guilford Ave., 317-254-

It’s looking like a busy week for local diners who have $30 to spend, with dueling restaurant weeks showcasing the two compass ends of Indianapolis. Savor the Southside and Northside Nights both run through September 18. Each promotional event features either $30 three-course, multiple-choice menus, or a two-for-$30 couple’s meal.

The Sartorialist loves him some Bazbeaux!

Admittedly, the Indianapolis Colts Grille (110 W. Washington St., 317-631-2007)—a new NFL-themed restaurant in the shell of the former Claypool Courts off-track betting location—seemed like the kind of eatery that would have a “kick me” sign on its back. How could any foodie take this place seriously—with its out-of-state ownership, cookie-cutter sports-bar menu, and more flat-screen TVs than a Best Buy?

Last Friday, Indy’s food truck caravan circled up in the parking lot of the Murat Theatre for some Labor Day weekend curbside service. The sweltering blacktop and excruciating lines significantly raised the stock for Pop Cycle’s organic frozen treats and (guess the joke’s on us!) practically everything on the picture menu of a Summer Song ice cream truck. A portabella sandwich from the Fat Sammies window tempered the mushroom’s smoky flavors with a sweet marinara sauce. The queue stretched to infinity for the baby burgers at Keys Gourmet Catering’s Slider Station, and the employees of Byrne’s Grilled Pizza were perpetual-motion machines churning out thin-crust margarita pies. Diners sipped adorably packaged (though shamefully overpriced at $12 a bottle) Beanblossom Hard Ciders from Oliver Winery  while demonstrating their corn-holing prowess. But precious Mabel on the Move, the only food truck to take on the tin-can aesthetics of an Airstream trailer, won all of the style points.

Crisp, deep-fried Moroccan Eggs, like Scotch eggs but with an added layer of falafel, at Black Market (922 Massachusetts Ave., 317-822-6757).  Good Morning Mama’s (1001 E. 54th St., 317-255-3800) corned beef hash—hash browns and shredded corned beef under eggs. The mixed-be

A chilling review by GQ’s Alan Richman proves it isn’t easy being a food critic.