A Sanctuary in Zionsville

The Restaurant in the Sanctuary in Zionsville, Indiana, offers an unusual dining experience. This restaurant is housed within an 1800's Victorian church that has since become Nancy Noel's art gallery, museum and luncheon cafe. The cafe serves lunch from 11-4 PM and showcases chef Gyslain's beautifully hand-painted chocolates and his breads and pastries. Corrin and I headed to Zionsville to pick out a Noel painting for ourselves. We decided to stay for lunch after settling on a typical Noel piece that features Amish themes. Unfortunately, we were visiting on a day that was also chosen by a local school, so the place was swarming with high school kids who had devoured many of the hand-crafted pastries. Even though the cafe was littered with lingering students and their used dishes and glasses, we managed to find a quiet and clean corner soaking in the art work which surrounds the large luncheon room. It is a peaceful cafe that fills the senses with wonderful architectural elements and whimsical paintings. The waitress was very attentive, rushing over to serve us. We ordered the espresso barbequed pork sandwich (pulled pork marinated in cinnamon, and other warm spices and paired with an espresso barbeque sauce), a side of beet salad, garden vegetable soup, and a side of scalloped potatoes with leeks. For dessert we picked out two of the mousse pastries from the display case. While waiting for our order I noticed that on the table they provided several exotic sea salts to try -  a very nice touch. I also caught sight of a small and magical-looking seating area above the main room where one could sit and have lunch. Our food promptly arrived, even after such a full house, and was beautifully displayed on the plates. Everything was piping hot. I liked the smooth and creamy soup that had a appealing burnt orange color. My sister liked her pork sandwich but I thought the flavors were odd. The beet salad was flavored with curry and was enjoyable. We agreed the scalloped potatoes and leeks were delicious but extremely salty to the point of being inedible! Not much of a chance of utilizing the special salts on the table. The slices of a homemade baguette with the very fresh butter served with our lunches were delicious. We were divided over the desserts. The mousse cakes were gorgeous! The taste of these art pieces, though, did not match up to their fantastic appearance. The Sacher was a raspberry chocolate creation, which we did not finish, and the other, the Bresilian, was a coffee-chocolate flavored concoction that was pretty good. The mousse inside both was grainy rather than smooth. In summary, The Restaurant was a very pleasant lunch spot but the food was inconsistently good.    

Atmosphere 10
Service 10
Price 6
Presentation 10
Food quality - 6
Overall - 7

Historical Hollyhock Hill Restaurant

I spent a fine Tuesday evening with my work buddies at one of Indianapolis’s oldest restaurants, Hollyhock Hill, located on N. College. This establishment began in 1928 as a small country cottage feeding 30 diners at a time! As I pulled up to the restaurant I was surprised by the full parking lot on a weekday. I walked into the small white building decorated inside like it was still 1950 and the waitresses were dressed in outfits from a similar time. The restaurant, which now seats 150, has several rooms with tables adorned with crisp white tablecloths and large fresh flower arrangements. Colorful hollyhocks are painted on every wall.  Large family groups were seated celebrating birthdays or anniversaries. My friends and I quickly decided on the pan-fried chicken served family-style with small bowls of mashed potatoes, white gravy, buttered corn, and seasoned green beans. We had a bevy of lovely plates and silverware stacked before us promising quantities of food. Before the meal arrived, various bowls of relish, pickled beets, cottage cheese, iceberg lettuce with its famous sweet vinaigrette dressing, and apple butter were placed before us.  Our appetizer was a tomato rice and chicken soup.  Dessert was a make-your-own sundae with average quality ice cream and various toppings including an unnaturally green mint sauce.

I know people love to hate this restaurant because it is old-fashioned and not hip at all, but I have to say the fried chicken was very moist with a nice crunchy coating, the vegetables real and tasting like they came out of your own Hoosier kitchen, and there was a wonderfully savory gravy that I could eat by itself. The soup was also nice, smooth, and complemented the meal. It is hard to make a good tomato soup, one that is not too harsh. There was also a basket of homemade biscuits.  I especially enjoy family-style meals where it makes the eating much more communal. My husband would find it all too bland, the menu limited, and not worth the price of  $20 a meal, but for me it is good comfort food that my mother would feed me if she were still here.  It definitely fills a place in the sometimes pretentious Indianapolis restaurant scene. It does not pretend to cater to special dietary needs. This restaurant is true to the simple food traditions, including the strong influence of the Amish food traditions, in our state. “Keep it real- keep it simple!” you can hear past Hollyhock Hill owners saying across the years.

Atmopshere – 8 (or 0 depending on your age J)

Service – 9

Price – 6

Presentation – 7

Food quality – 7

Overall – 8

Listen Up: Don’t change too much! One slight improvement, however, would be the ice cream. Suggest upgrading to a better quality or providing home-made.

Thai Taste Crowds

Corrin and my family went to our favorite buffet night at Thai Taste on 82nd Street. Thai Taste has been a part of the Indy restaurant scene for years with the same owners. Each Thursday a dinner buffet is featured with the first Thursday of the month relegated to vegetarian dishes. Tonight was veg night and, as typical, the restaurant whose buffet officially starts at 6 PM was already packed by 5:30.  There was no table in sight as we made a mad dash from our car to the front door of the tiny establishment.  We waited about 20 minutes until the first shift started to finish and head out. The five of us squeezed into a table for four and began sampling from the buffet set up in the middle of the very full room. We talked about the pull of the restaurant which, yes, has very good Thai food but what makes it especially attractive is the notion that it is in high demand. We also suspect the cozy jostling of shoulders and convivial discussions that flow across tables add to the restaurant’s appeal. Most importantly, are the family owners and workers here who are gentle-spirited and very friendly. Typically the vegetarian buffet features a spicy clear soup full of vegetables with pepper and lemon flavors. There are always nice crunchy spring rolls and usually another deep-fried dish such as a sweet potato tempura.   Constant features are the very nicely seasoned green and yellow curry dishes as well as a decent Pad Thai and yummy fried tofu in a sweet chili sauce. There are about four other dishes that change depending on the month, plain and fried rice, and Thai noodles. For dessert is a large bowl of tapioca with coconut milk. If you do not want the buffet, items from the menu are also available.  This is one of my favorite restaurants in town with a simple formula: consistently good food, a clean simple interior, warmth, owners and servers who really seem to care, a history, and an excellent location.     

Atmosphere – 9
Service – 10
Price – 7
Presentation – 9
Food – 8
Overall – 9.5

Penzeys Spices - A Local Treasure

After Jason's Deli, Corrin and and I went to one of our favorite stores, Penzeys Spices on E. 82nd Street. Penzeys Spices, a chef's go-to-place, is a store specializing in over 200 spices, herbs, and spice blends. Owned by a husband and wife, it originated in Milwaukee, Minnesota in the 1950's. Bill Jr. has since taken over the operation that has over 50 stores nationwide. They also publish a monthly catalog that features their spices and recipes utilizing the spices sent in from Penzeys patrons. There is always a coupon attached for a free trial of a particular spice that you can take in to the store to redeem. Indianapolis is very lucky to have this retail store and I am always worrying about them closing due to low usage by the community. The spices can be bought in small batches and are very fresh. Penzeys has quite a few of their own tasty blends such as Mural of Flavor, a salt-free blend. If you can't find a spice or herb in your grocery store, you will likely find it here. Prices are very reasonable. The staff are extremely knowledgeable regarding the spices they sell and how to use them in recipes. I especially like the gift boxes you can purchase, including the wedding gift box. When you walk in, you see a treasure trove of little jars of exotic and more common spices on wooden shelves. In the corner of our local store is a vintage kitchen with hot chocolate mixes and and other useful kitchen staples. Another corner has a small table and chairs with a large basket of crayons and a stack of coloring pages, beneath a display of already colored and signed pages by children. We always leave with a bagful of their wonderful products with our heads brimming with recipe ideas!

Atmosphere - 9
Service - 10
Price - 9
Presentation - 9
Food quality - 9
Overall - 9


Listen Up - Love you Penzeys! You do so much right!

Jason's Deli - Healthy Choices

Corrin and I decided to go to the fast food restaurant, Jason's Deli, just recently named by Parent's magazine as its choice for Best Restaurant. Another superlative to test! It touts its organic vegetables, gluten-free menus, and other healthy choices. It uses natural grilled chicken in its wraps. When we walked in we were greeted by a crowd of people vying for tables and orders. This was a busy and popular place. We saw the enticing sign for organic vegetable soup and grabbed a menu while we were waiting in line eager to try its offerings.

Jason's features salad including an all-you-can-eat bar, sandwiches, wraps, soups, and even mufaletta's. It has a kid's menu too. Rather than potato chips for a side with a sandwich you may choose veggies or a fruit cup. We chose a Reuben with pastrami and corned beef, Irish potato soup, the organic vegetable soup, and mac and cheese for the toddler. We sat down among all the people and waited for our order which was delivered in about 5 minutes. In the meantime, we noticed that there was free soft serve ice cream and toppings for all. Wow! We also glanced over the salad bar which was extensive with a decent amount of toppings, other specialty salads, puddings, and muffins. Our order was delivered by a friendly server. We laughed at the organic veg soup which was nothing like the picture. The vegetables were lost in the dull broth. It tasted OK but we could not get over its lackluster appearance.  The potato soup with its full-bodied flavor and hearty potatoes was good. Our Reuben needed better bread and the corned beef tasted a little strong. The meat was plentiful for a change. The mac and cheese appeared to be a boxed Kraft. Of course we had some soft-serve ice cream and we agreed that the secret to Jason's is the notion you can be healthy and yet end with an ice cream cone. It was fun to watch people on their lunch break breaking out in a smile as they licked their cones after eating their veggies! In summary, we like the concept - healthier eating - but there were still plenty of unhealthy choices and the quality of food was average.

Meaty sandwich

Atmosphere 6
Service - 8
Price - 6
Presentation - 6
Food quality - 6
Overall - 6 

A Superlative Place? Best Chocolate in Town...

If you recall, Corrin and I had darted into a local chocolate shop before our dinner at R Bistro last week - and not just any shop, but a place that dared call itself Best Chocolate in Town. I felt compelled to go back and review the chocolate shop on Mass Ave. This place began in 1998 and its owner has a background in fine arts and a love of chocolate. She has been there ever since, back in the kitchen rolling out her handmade chocolates. She extols her service and the friendliness of her establishment. The shop specializes in unusual flavors and truffles, there is a Gorgonzola chocolate truffle, and chocolates with cayenne or wasabi to name a few. Corrin and I each bought one of the dark chocolate bars found in a basket right by the cash register. My flavor was dark chocolate and pistachio with a small note on its label "with dried cherries". I was eager to try it - yes, the name of the place, of course, built up huge expectations - and it was a numbered batch, 5/15. This was serious business. I gingerly tore off the cellophane and ate a small square. I bit down on a large dried cherry and, in fact, noticed the bar's surface was marred by multiple, dried cherries. I thought it was supposed to be chocolate with pistachio? And the taste? Well--good, but certainly not the best I had ever had! I quickly thought that a Cadbury bar, before the company was bought out, could rival this. My sister's dark chocolate bar with almonds and smoky paprika was inedible! How does one make a chocolate bar taste so bad?

OK, I admit I must sample more, especially the truffles, before reaching a conclusion, but I already have my doubts. I looked at the other reviews on other sites and this place is ecstatically loved, often getting 5 out of 5 stars. And there are awards, too. Reviewers often site the gelato as wonderful - but hey guys, the gelato is not even in-house. It is a product of DaVinci Bistro, another local restaurant. Of good note, is that this shop has gift packages that when bought result in a 20% donation to lupus or breast cancer research. The ambiance is plus, minus. I liked the exposed brick and cases of chocolate; however, one could peer right into the kitchen where it looked somewhat dirty and unorganized. Best Chocolate in Town, I appreciate your effort to be friendly, charity-minded, and hand-made, but the proof is in the chocolate.

Atmosphere - 6
Service - 8
Price - 6
Presentation - 9
Food quality - 5
Overall - 6

Very Local Chez Carrie

I had a baby shower to go to and it was a nicely thought-out dinner of girls with no children and no games. My friend Carrie joked that I should include a review of her dinner on this blog site and I thought, "Well, why not, since she had served much better food than most places in which I had recently dined! And it was definitely local!" To make it accessible to all, I would include the recipe of the main dish that was provided by another friend at the reinvented shower.* Here is my night Chez Carrie:

We first sat casually in the kitchen, munching on a variety of chips, including kettle, flax seed, and blue tortilla. My friend had made fresh guacamole for a healthy chip dip, but took a smart shortcut and added minced garlic and a fresh store-bought salsa to add to the chunks of avocado. In the background, several were working on the hearty soup, perfect for a January day. Chorizo was browning on the stove. Another person was preparing the topping of fresh cilantro, sour cream, and grated cheese. In the crock pot, the black bean chipoltle soup was simmering. It had been nicely smoothed by an immersion stick. Soon dinner was ready, served in the dining room with red candles aglow and fun, snowflake dishes. The soup was a delight with its smoky, earthy flavors. Each person enjoyed adding the toppings she wanted. I loaded mine up with the chorizo. The soup was served with a simple salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, red pepper, and fresh herbs with a citrus oil dressing. Bread of various kinds was piled in a lovely white bowl on a pedestal. The lovely ending was a homemade cheesecake with berry coulis and jewel-like, fresh berries. I noticed a mug piping hot by my plate and discovered it was a smooth and milky hot chocolate. What a nice companion to the cheesecake. I think the baby-to-be especially enjoyed this part. In summary, a lovely meal with lovely friends - and local.

Atmosphere - 10
Service - 10
Price - 10
Presentation - 9
Food - 9
Overall - 9.5

Listen up: Thanks!


*Black Bean Chipoltle Soup (from www.crock-pot.com)
Ingredients
1 pound dry black beans
2 stalks celery, cut into ¼-inch dice
2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice
1 yellow onion, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice
2 chipotle peppers (canned in adobo), chopped**
1 cup tomatoes, crushed
4 ounces chopped green chilies, canned, drained (hot or mild, depending on preference)
6 cups chicken (or vegetable) stock
2 teaspoons cumin
salt and pepper, to taste
sour cream
salsa
fresh cilantro, chopped
*1 cup spicy sausage such as linguica or chorizo, diced, browned (for an even heartier soup)
**If using dried chipotles, soak in warm water to soften before chopping - about 20 minutes.
Directions
    Place beans in a medium pan, cover with cool water, bring to a boil, boil for 2 minutes, remove from heat and let stand for 1 hour and rinse. Add to stoneware and top with celery, carrots, and onions.
    In a separate bowl, combine chipotles, crushed tomatoes, green chilies, stock, cumin, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix to blend and pour into stoneware.
    Cook on High for 1 hour and then Low for 6 hours, until beans are tender to bite. Adjust seasoning to taste.
    Puree with an emersion blender (or traditional blender) to a slightly chunky consistency. If using, add additional sausage and cook for 30 minutes more.
    Serve topped with a dollop of sour cream, spoon of salsa and sprinkling of chopped cilantro.