Dining

With culinary travel on the rise, celebrated chefs, cookbook authors, and TV personalities like spiky-haired Guy Fieri and Iron Chef America’s Cat Cora are setting sail to lure food lovers and cooking channel addicts onboard. Indianapolis Monthly was tickled to discover that Greg Hardesty of Recess and Room Four  (4907 N. College Ave; 317-925-7529) was chosen by Holland America Line to participate in the 2012 Culinary Arts Center Program, presented by Food & Wine Magazine.

Tired of those Filet O’Fish specials on the signs at your local McDonald’s? Craving some real seafood here in the Heartland that doesn’t come out of the freezer at your local megamart?

March 31 marks the opening day of the second annual Indiana Artisan Marketplace, and we’ve been doing our research to find out what to sample and who to meet. Here is what to expect from the shopping event featuring 100 artists and food artisans, including New Day Meadery, Chocolate for the Spirit, Pierogi in a Pinch, Capriole Cheese, and Chateau Thomas Winery.

Just the name “bread pudding” brings to mind homey images of gingham tablecloths and grandma’s kitchen. Or, at the very least, Paula Deen. But recently, this down-to-earth dessert (traditionally a means for repurposing stale bread) has made its way from the recipe card to the menus of some of the trendier restaurants in town.

Based on the lines forming at Coke Freestyle machines around the city, you’d think the bright-red boxes were dispensing gold coins instead of Orange Diet Coke and Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper. The touch-screen design lets you choose from 22 drinks and then add a flavor, resulting in new sodas like Grape Mello Yello, Raspberry Lime Hi-C, and Heidi Klum’s choice—not to mention a test of patience while the person in front of you tries in vain to create a Freestyle suicide. The machine holds inkjet printer cartridges of flavorings—not syrups—that add up to more than 100 choices and so much time gleefully considering your options that your food might get cold. Called “the Ferrari of coke machines” (because the case was conceived by a company that designs Ferraris), the Freestyle is charming local soda swillers at Firehouse Subs, Pita Pits, Burger Kings, Moe’s Southwest Grills, and the Pei Wei at Glendale. Just do everyone a favor and figure out what you want to drink before you go out. 

Since the Super Bowl, you may have noticed that some of the city’s wine-and-beer–only restaurants now stash small selections of brown and white liquor bottles behind their bars. A lucky group of restaurateurs had the chance to upgrade their liquor licenses for a steal, and it is making us rather thirsty.

Breaded rainbow trout at Carnegie’s Restaurant of Greenfield (100 W. North St., Greenfield, 317-462-8480), which arrives perfectly cooked over crispy potatoes. The fluffy, doughy breadsticks at Pizzology (13190 Hazel Dell Parkway, Carmel, 317-844-2550), served with

As St. Patty’s day came and went last week, we couldn’t help but think about Patty’s of the past at The Aristocrat Pub & Restaurant (5212 N. College Ave., 317-283-7388). Since last August’s electrical fire that resulted in more than $1.5 million in damages, we have been watching the business’s Facebook page for mention of a re-open date.

The gooey cinnamon bread (more like coffeecake) that they bring to your table at Willie & Red’s (40 E. Main St., Hagerstown, 765-489-4131). The rich, caramelized morsels will ruin you for dessert. The hulking bone-in rib-eye, doused liberally as it cooks with good old Worcestershire and steak sauce at Hal’s Fabulous Vegas Bar & Grille (1133 N. State Road 135, Greenwoo

Ted Miller, beer master behind Brugge Brasserie (1011 E. Westfield Blvd., 317-255-0978), is known for his “mad science” intellect and passion for creating outstanding esoteric beers around the world. He has created beers and built microbreweries in places like Seattle, Hong Kong, the Caribbean, Mainland China, and Taiwan. But because of his Indiana ties, he moved back in the early 2000s and has lent his knowledge to countless students of beer and brewery start-ups since. After generously sharing his talent and experience, Miller decided it was time to expand his own business. So he is changing addresses again. This time, however, he is sticking to Naptown and keeping Brugge as-is.

Indianapolis will officially be ready for St. Patrick’s Day after the Greening of the Indianapolis Canal on Friday, March 16. Check out these events for St. Patrick’s Day.

A glance at the rack of well-edited bottles that line the walls behind the bar at Martha Hoover’s new Napolese Wine Bar (114 E. 49th St., 317-925-0765) makes one thing clear: Hoover is keeping it simple. Instead of a War and Peace-sized list practically straight from the distributors, she is eliminating decision fatigue. The wine list is what you see displayed. And it will change seasonally,” says Hoover. She also told IM she is not increasing wine prices more than 20 percent above retail, unlike other spots in Indy that mark up two- or three-times the retail price.

You’ve been waiting for your invitation, and it has finally arrived. St. Elmo’s Beef Steak event—traditionally a guys-only, invitation-only gorge fest on the first day of the NCAA tournament—has expanded to two days, the second of which will be open to the public. Founders Beef Steak will host the usual power brokers on March 15. But on March 16 from noon to 4 p.m, everyone is invited to enjoy the all-you-can-consume filet mignon, steak fries, and pitchers of beer for $75. Utensils are discouraged, so prepare to eat with your hands. No one said it was civilized.

Two of Indy’s fastest growing trends—craft beer and mobile fare—have come together. Flat12 Bierwerks (414 N. Dorman St., 317-635-2337) has created a beer truck. The Flat12 name pays homage to the Flathead12 Cylinder Engine popularized in the early 1900s, so it’s unlikely they were going to let the other boxy trucks in town pass them by. Sean O’Connor, Flat12’s CEO, designed the shiny new truck to house six tapped kegs on the side and is available for festivals and events.

You have had the opportunity to Devour Downtown and Savor the Southside. The $30 prix fixe frenzy rages on when Northside Nights kicks off this Thursday. The specials run for two weeks (March 8-18), which gives you ample time to indulge on the cheap.