The Feed: Love Handle, Bluebeard For The Win, And More
The biscuits are back. Chris and Ally Benedyk’s popular breakfast-and-lunch spot Love Handle, now open for dinner too, is open in its new location on the east end of Mass Ave (877 Massachusetts Ave., 317-384-1102). The couple closed the old location on 10th Street in December to get ready for the new space, with more seating, a bigger menu, expanded hours, and a beer-and-wine menu.
Ryan Gullett, bartender manager at Bluebeard (635 Virginia Ave., 317-868-1580), got a surprise last week when a drink he created, “Breakfast of Champions,” showed up as a clue on the game show Jeopardy!. Gullett created the cirtusy cocktail (with fresh lemon juice, brandy, applejack, half-and-half, and a Wheaties sugar rim) in honor of Kurt Vonnegut’s book of the same name. It was part of Visit Indy’s Year of Vonnegut celebration in 2017, when bartenders all over town created cocktails in honor of the hometown literary hero. Gullett told The Indianapolis Star he learned about the news when a friend texted him a screenshot from the show.
Sample some of Indy’s best pizzas and craft beers at Indy Pies and Pints, a fundraiser for Arts for Learning at the Ivy Tech Culinary and Conference Center on February 23. Tickets start at $35 (21-and-over, please) and include food and beer samples, beer pong, pin the pepperoni on the pizza, and music by DJ Kyle Long. Arts for Learning is a statewide organization that places working artists in Indiana classrooms for performances and workshops, connecting students directly to the arts.
Color us interested in a 5K that includes a mid-course stop to consume a dozen doughnuts. Registration is now open for the Circle City Donut Dash 5K on February 17, where participants in the Donut Challenge category attempt to eat 12 doughnuts halfway through the race.
The Indiana Historical Society has teamed up with the International Market Coalition for an Ethnic Eats dinner series, giving participants a chance to learn more about the history and food from places around the world. The dinners take place at different restaurants on the third Thursday of every other month, with tickets starting at $20 ($25 for nonmembers of IHS). On February 15, dinner will be at Machu Picchu (5256 W. 38th St., 317-388-8696), with a meal highlighting the four staples of Peruvian cuisine: corn, potatoes, quinoa, and legumes. Next up is the food of Ethiopia, with dinner at Abyssinia (5352 W. 28th St., 317-2299-0609) on April 19.
Speaking of the International Market Coalition, the diverse ethnic dining scene of that near-westside association is one reason Fodor’s put Indianapolis on its new list of the 19 U.S. Cities with an Unexpectedly International Foodie Scene. Indy was the pick for the travel website’s Asian Fusion category, highlighting local favorites including Rook, Lucky Lou’s Seafood, Saigon, and the recently opened Ukiyo.
Blue Sushi Sake Grill (2721 E. 86th St., 317-489-3151) is now open at the Ironworks Hotel. This is the first Indiana location for the Nebraska-based company.
