Friday, August 20, 2010

With the plethora of big grocery stores and chain restaurants in Central Indiana, I know as well as anyone how easy it is to overlook the wealth of local produce in Indiana. I promise you, there’s great food grown right here! Sometimes you just need an excuse to make a change for the better. Hey, what better time to make a change than the annual Going Local Week (Sept 5-11).

Started by Indy food blogger Victoria Wessler in 2008, Going Local challenges Hoosiers to include locally grown ingredients in every meal for one week.

Participating won’t just boost our local economy (although that’s a great incentive in itself!). Locally grown, seasonal foods spend less time in the transition between being harvested and being sold, so they tend to be of better quality and flavor. Because transportation and preservation expenses are lower than produce from out of state, local fare tends to be less expensive, too. And Going Local Week can also be a wonderful opportunity just to try new recipes and appreciate Indiana as the wellspring of culinary offerings it really is.

I only recently started buying local foods on a regular basis and while it can seem like a challenging task at first, there are numerous opportunities around the city to buy and eat local foods. Farmer’s Markets are abundant throughout the summer and fall and can be found all over Indianapolis and the surrounding areas.

For those more apt at tasting dishes than cooking them, many restaurants in the area are proud to buy from local purveyors. Eating at those establishments encourages other restaurants to do the same. Some nearby farms even give tours to the public. It’s a great way to teach families about where food comes from.

For a listing of farmer’s markets near you, recipes featuring Indiana produce and information on the Going Local campaign, go to www.goinglocal-info.com. NUVO readers, enjoy the bounty of fall in Indiana and participate in Going Local with me!

Tags: Going Local Week, local food, farmers markets, Feature

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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Dining Out Let the sorrowful loon call begin: Loon Lake Lodge closes

Posted by Jim Poyser on Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 3:26 PM

I just received word that the entrancing Loon Lake Lodge has closed. Was there any restaurant more spectacular in all of Indianapolis?

First off, there was the airplane sitting on top of its roof... that's pretty spectacular.

The real treats, though, lay inside.

If you were lucky, really lucky, then nobody warned you that every 10 minutes or so, taxidermied wildlife would spring to animated movement all around you.

You could spot the animals as you came in, sitting quietly here and there, watching you.

Then all of a sudden, once you were seated and eying the menu, the room leaped to life, with animals creaking and seemingly scampering everywhere. I'm surprised there was no report of an incident where a customer pulled a gun on one of these unsuspecting beasts.

It was a little like finding yourself in a David Lynch film.

Best of all, unlike Chuckie Cheese, whose mechanical entertainers are there for your benefit, the animals at Loon Lake Lodge paid little attention to you, as if you were a visitor to their world.

Quirky setting, good food, an airplane on the roof... I grieve the passing of Loon Lake Lodge.

Tags: Loon Lake Lodge, restaurant closings, Feature

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Nora at the State Fair: Day 12

Posted by Nora Spitznogle on Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 3:21 PM

Nora at the Fair - day 12

Tags: Indiana State Fair, twins, red hats, tractors, ketchup, 1961, Feature

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Wine & Beer A visit to the New Day Meadery

Posted by Katie Schenkel on Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 11:37 AM

Up until last week, I didn’t actually know what mead was.

I knew it was an alcoholic beverage. I knew it was in Beowulf and other Old English literature (thank you, English degree). Besides that, I had no clue just what the stuff was. That’s why I’m glad New Day Meadery has finally opened its doors. It turns out that mead is delicious!

As I’ve discovered, mead is similar to wine, but with fermented honey replacing the grapes. New Day Meadery, which opened earlier this summer, uses only locally cultivated honey and locally grown fruits for their various flavors. When you’re tasting their mead, you’re tasting pure Indiana.

I went into the shop and was quickly greeted by Renee, the shop’s friendly and helpful hostess. She suggested we try the full flight: small samples of their 8 varieties for $5. It’s a great way to figure out what you like while on a budget.

Since fermented honey tends to be on the sweet side (go figure!), I was impressed by the selection and quality of dry meads on hand. My personal favorite was the Peach Mead, which was fresh and bright.

The sweeter meads were especially sweet and intense. If you are a fan of ice wine, you’ll like these. Hands down, I’d take the Semi-Sweet Black Raspberry Mead. While Renee suggested pairing it with dark chocolate, I could easily see having the mead as dessert by itself.

The Meadery is planning on having a small food menu coming soon. Because they’re only offering crackers to munch on at the moment, Renee encouraged me to bring in lunch from one of the neighborhood restaurants the next time I came into the shop. They want New Day Meadery to be a place for community, where friends can enjoy good company and good drinks. I know I’ll be back soon.

New Day Meadery is at 1102 Prospect Street in Fountain Square. It’s open all week from 11:00 a.m. — 9:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.newdaymeadery.com.

Tags: New Day Meadery, mead, mead wine, Fountain Square, Feature, Review

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