Earlier this week, May Madness reported that tickets to the Andretti Wine Dinner at Mo’s A Place for Steaks (47 S. Pennsylvania St., 624-0720) were going for $125 a pop. But evidently price was no object for the more than 150 diners who turned out last night to meet Mario Andretti and sit down to a four-course meal paired with wine from the racing legend’s own winery and vineyard in Napa Valley, California.
Fountain Square newcomer B’s Po Boy (1261 S. Shelby St., 317-916-5555) just opened for lunch, focusing on that epitome of New Orleans cuisine—the po’ boy. Housed in a small distressed-wood–sided building formerly occupied by a catering company, the eatery serves a selection of the hoagie-style sandwiches, with fillings that range from a tasty pulled roast beef to lightly battered, perfectly fried shrimp. Each po’ boy comes stacked with meat, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and mayonnaise, but the best part of these sandwiches is the crusty, airy French bread from Leidenheimer Baking Company that B’s brings in from New Orleans for that genuine, unforgettable Louisiana chew.
The Illinois Street Food Emporium (5550 N. Illinois St., 317-253-9513) is getting a makeover. Most noticeably, the construction of two sidewalk-side patios and additional plantings will give the Butler-Tarkington–area cafe’s alfresco tables more of a garden feel. Inside, new windows sit closer to the ground, opening up the dining room’s close quarters. And the removal of an oven in the kitchen means additional space for seating. Minor touchups are also in the works, including some painting and a bathroom redux.
