The Feed: Cultural Trail Food Tours Kick Off, And The Vanguard Launches A Pop-Up
» The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is launching food tours in Fountain Square and Fletcher Place this April. The tours are led by local food experts, including Jolene Ketzenberger, host of WFYI radio’s “Eat Drink Indy.” Participants can expect stops at favorites like Bluebeard, Thunderbird, Three Carrots, and Torta’s. Tickets start at $55 and include food, gratuity, and compensation for the tour guide (but bring your wallet, because drinks are extra, and the tour is only for patrons that are 21 and over). Select a walking or biking tour (via a partnership with the Pacers Bikeshare program). Tour organizers expect to add a Mass Ave itinerary soon.
» The second annual Indy VegFest is March 31 at the Biltwell Event Center (950 S. White River Parkway W. Dr.). This free event includes more than 30 vendors providing samples of vegan food, interactive chef demos, discussions, kids activities, and yoga classes.
» The Vanguard (6319 Guilford Ave., 317-254-1147) has two people in-house who made a splash at other local spots that were beloved but short-lived. Chef Adam Ditter previously ran the kitchen at the dearly departed Asian-fusion restaurant LongBranch, while Steve Simon was behind the bar at Fountain Square’s global cuisine–themed Marrow (closed last year). So it makes perfect sense that they’re launching a three-week pop-up at Vanguard, serving fan-favorite foods from LongBranch and popular drinks from Marrow. The walk down memory lane starts today (March 27).
» Bar One Fourteen (114 E. 49th St., 317-946-0114) just launched the Box Set Vinyl Series, monthly gatherings they’re calling “listening events dedicated to the often forgotten and devalued women of music.” Musical artist and Patachou Music Curator Vess Ruhtenberg hosts the series, which kicked off with a celebration of Frances Gall in March. Future evenings will honor Mary Weiss, Nina Simone, Chrissie Hynde, Yoko Ono, and Julie London.
» Speaking of newsworthy happenings in Patachou world, Bar One Fourteen and Crispy Bird (115 E. 49th St., 317-744-0000) chef David Hoover is now serving a double burger at the popular fried chicken spot. But there’s a catch. You can only get it on Tuesdays. The tall, juicy concoction has two patties (a Fischer Farms blend of brisket, short rib, and sirloin) with all the fixin’s on a housemade brioche bun.
» Happy Brewing Co. (3902 N. Illinois St., 317-345-4223) is now open in Butler-Tarkington in a former Double 8 Foods space. Owners Gabe Soukup and Dave Bellar opened the doors last week, serving their beers with a small menu of bar food (think wings and pizza). Soukup told Indiana on Tap that in addition to the flights of beer available on the menu, they will soon offer flights of Chicago hot dogs with a variety of toppings.
» It’s the last week to get discounted early-bird tickets for Tinker Coffee’s second annual Indianapolis Cup. The day-long celebration of all things coffee is May 6 at the Biltwell Event Center (950 S. White River Parkway W. Dr.). A general admission ticket ($15 early bird; $20 after March 31) gets you samples and demos from more than 25 roasters, coffee shops, brewers, distilleries, and bakeries. VIP ticket-holders ($30 early bird; $35 after March 31) can participate in a private cupping session, tasting and comparing coffees from four Midwestern coffee roasters. Proceeds benefit local arts organization Big Car and Project Alianza, an educational organization focused on children in the coffee-producing regions of Latin America.
» First the snow, then all this early spring has us dreaming about the chai latte at Rabble Coffee (2119 E. 10th St.). Plus, it has turmeric, so it’s healthy, right?
