Mobilize for Patachou

Hey, folks, here's something all of us as food lovers should be able to rally behind. Cafe Patachou will be moving shortly from their current location at 49th and Penn to the renovated Hamaker Pharmacy space on the corner -- just a few doors down. Owner Martha Hoover also plans to open Napolese, a pizzeria in the former Landrigan real estate space facing 49th. Apparently some residents in the neighborhood aren't so excited -- specifically about her request for a variance for outside seating. (There is, we've heard, some concern that the build out will be too much like Moe and Johnny's and turn the quiet corner into a beer-drinking Butler student hang out.)

We kind of think an expansion and addition for a decent local restaurant owner is a good thing. (And she's trying to do the right thing, considering, as Hoover notes, that many restaurants don't even bother to get a proper permit for outside seating,) If you support the expansion, too, please visit the Cafe Patchou website where Hoover has explained the situation in a letter to customers, neighbors, and supporters along provided the address, phone number and email of the city planner to contact. Please write or email to voice your support.

BLINDY Nominee 2009

Hey, kids, I've been prepping for BlogIndiana 2009 which in only its second year has turned into a pretty darn big deal! (Great work, Noah and Shawn!) I present tomorrow and will sit on a panel on Saturday with some pretty darn cool bloggers.

And wow, honor of honors, even with our sparse output this summer, Feed Me/Drink Me was nominated for a BLINDY Award as Best Arts and Entertainment blog. Now, as you know, the full scope of A&E is pretty far outside this blogs purview -- especially compared to Lou Harry's blog at the IBJ. But, as they say, it's an honor just to be nominated. (So, go vote for me, will ya'?) Other nominees include Lou Harry's A&E blog; the fabulous Gabrielle Poshaldo's fashion blog Haute in the Heartland; Nationalities Council, and Saturday Morning Central.

I have no idea how the nomination procedure worked, but will pass it on for the rest of you deserving folks for next year.

Hope to see many of you tomorrow.

Blog Indiana 2009

Hey, kids, BlogIndiana 2009 is quickly approaching August 13-16 on campus at IUPUI.

A few folks have asked why I'm speaking when I clearly haven't been blogging all summer. Well, this blog is nearly 5 years old, and if blog years are like dog years, then I'm an elder -- and you'd let your grandmother speak, wouldn't you? The conference also focuses heavily on social media, something we've been working on quite a bit around here lately. Additionally, there are issues I'll cover that many bloggers might find of interest especially those who have started local review blogs or play in a more national space. Food blogs have come into their own in the past few years and while nationally there have been debates about ethics and codes of conduct, some simpler advice may help some of the new local crop along.

* Review policies and why you need one
* Blogs and main-stream media (an issue especially in the wine-blog world)
* Comments, moderation, managing your community
* Review blog ethics like not accepting free stuff in exchange for reviews (and certainly *not* blackmailing business owners like what recently happened to Crocs-owner George Smith.)

I'll also cover Creative Commons, legal photo usage, and answer all manner of questions (if I can) about practical guidelines for bloggers to protect you, your non-profit or company, and maintain the freedom to create a great blog.

We'll also have room to discuss longer-term blogging issues such as building your brand, bloggers block, finding a voice, thinking about why you're really doing it, and creating room for experimentation.

Conference organizers Noah Coffey and Shawn Plew have a heck of a three-day event planned with special sessions for non-profits, higher education, and a whole day on social media (with a food panel featuring Jeff Lefevere of goodgrape.com, Heather Sokol of inexpensively.com, Kirsten Eamon-Shine of MiddleWestMeals, Heather Willard of FoodHussy and Feed Me/Drink Me.

Hope to see you there!

Wine Bar Deja Vu @ The Conrad

IM's The Dish reports today that the Conrad has leased the Vitesse space to new owners who plan to try the wine bar concept again -- this time called Tastings. Deja vu? When the Conrad opened Vitesse with the wine-by-the-glass concept, within weeks the list had been mined for all the good stuff by the bottle and very little of the extensive by-the-glass list was actually on offer.

Of course, this one will be different, says Indianapolis Monthly. Says the Dish: "Tastings makes use of an Enomatic wine-tasting system, which seals bottles with oxygen to preserve the remainder of the bottle." What? Hey, I'm just repeating what they said :-) Actually, the Enomatic system which many of you have seen sucks oxygen *out* of the bottle. (Note to Disher: Oxygen and wine are not generally friends.)

But the real tidbit? Wine by the bottle will be for sale at the retail price -- and, as is (we think) legal in Indiana, you should be able to take home any unfinished wine in a bottle (in any restaurant.) Several bars such as the Chatterbox have retail carry-out licenses, but this will be the first I know of locally to sell for consumption at the lower mark-up.

It's a concept that can work -- or at least one I've been a little in love with since the old Plumpjack in San Francsico took advantage of their retail store pricing and became one of the best restaurants in town. The future owners of this particular Tastings who are from Indianapolis contend there aren't any other bars like this one (except for the other Tastings, I'd wager.) Well, I might disagree, having just seen this concept in at least one other city. Ultimately, I hope they can deliver and the list is good. Wouldn't it be great to enjoy a $50 bottle of pinot that's *really* a $50 bottle of pinot?

Updates:

**Not exactly sure how the business deal is working (the press release from the Conrad put no new light on it.) However, to make a correction, the future owners are local while the chain itself is based in St. Petersburg. The Conrad positions it as a "store" in the press release with food and outdoor seating but it's unclear if it will be a "store" with bottles out for purchase or if they're using "store" as the industry term for franchise location. Vitesse closes July 30 and Tastings should open in October.

** Mass Ave Wine Shoppe right here in River City pours wine by the glass and has food and seating options. Not sure if they allow you to purchase a bottle at retail price and consume it on-site. Will check.

**A huge shout-out to an attorney friend who spent a boatload of time yesterday searching and verifying Indiana's carry-out laws. The conclusion? It's not illegal to carry unfinished wine out of an establishment (and possibly proven legal, as well.) However, note that open container laws apply so check the requirements for more details. (More discussion and links attached to the FaceBook discussion of this post. Or email me for more info.)

Where I've been and what I've been doing

Hey, all -- thanks for your patience while I've taken a nice, long summer blogging break. After 4.5 years of FM/DM, I'm due, right? I mean, who wants to keep doing the same thing after it gets old, right? Besides, you didn't really miss me, did you? Most of you know the news from the past few weeks:

* Greg Hardesty is shooting for a Sept 1 open date for his new place at 49th and College
* Cafe Nora closed
* Eli and Nicole sold H2O Sushi
* Ambrosia announces a 2nd location downtown in the old J.Gumbo's space

Additionally:
*Nicole Taylor's pasta shop is open and pretty awesome
*IMA very quietly stopped allowing Friday night movie patrons to bring their own beer or wine (but you can buy it on site, natch)
* The farmer's market season is in full swing. (Why can't we have better markets? Cheese, cured meats, olives, rotisserie chicken with potatoes covered in drippings?)
* I cured and dried my first bresaola. Next up: Saucisson sec.
* Did I mention the two weeks tasting wine and laying by a pool in Bandol? I'm now a certified Mouvedre-head.

So, why the break? I'll be honest, with FM/DM, things were getting a little nutty. My inbox was regularly full of PR requests, press releases, review requests, and demands for links. Frankly, I dislike how many restaurant owners and wine people were pressuring my friends and colleagues to get me into your restaurant to cover your new menu or wine dinner. Add to that a general dissatisfaction with fine dining here in Indianapolis and the last few months would have been a piss-and-moan factory around here anyway. The disappointing food scene, the poor quality that diners in Indy demand, and all the new food blogs celebrating how great everything is, ugh.

Lots of people are talking about food here but few have anything useful to say. Everyone has a food blog, column or newspaper section. And while people love to read about food and restaurants, too many blogs are poorly written ego-fests with glowing "reviews" of crap I wouldn't feed a dog. (And yes, I'm well aware that FM/DM has at every turn been one of those things :-) But come on, people, can't we do better?! Can't you offer some analysis? Some useful information? Why doesn't anyone work to have something original to say? Not every restaurant is great and we should be telling people about it. No one but customers -- that's us -- is going to hold these owners, chefs, and managers accountable. No one is going to demand that they be better. And until "just good enough" is no longer the norm, it won't change. (Come on store owners, don't you realize that every high end eater in this city orders from Artisinal or Murray's for every dinner party? Doesn't that bother you? Do you *think* there might be a market if you were expand your cheese selections beyond the boring and bring in better quality and different stuff? Every time I go to a dinner or party and something is truly original and different, I found it came by mail from outside Indy.)

Mix my rant well with a general boredom about food in our fair city, a frustration of the limited selection and quality, and a fascination wtih microblogging tools like Facebook and Twitter (@feedmedrinkme) where I've been posting quite often, and the result is a long blog silence from me.

What's next? Well, I'm still a blogger and the fabulous Noah Coffey and Shawn Plew once again have asked me to share some expertise at the BlogIndiana 2009 conference. More on that in another post. I'm still a big eater -- although, frankly, there are so few restaurants I even want to go to anymore, I don't go out nearly as much. I'm lucky to have a large circle of friends who tend to cook, eat in, and share incredible wines. I'm working with an incredible team to lead one of Indy's excellent fine dining societies (Viva la Chaine!) with incredible events. Take heart, I'm even more of a food snob than ever. Best of all, I'm working on a cool new chapter for FM/DM -- one that will engage all of you, I think, and be something pretty different. So, stay tuned.

Ultimately, FM/DM will be again what it was four years ago -- my own personal blog, one that I post to when I'm in the mood or have something to share. I know -- and appreciate -- that many of you have been emailing (read: hounding) me for the latest scoop, but I'm going to tell you, I might not have it. And if I know it? I might not share it. I'm going to move back to blogging for me, which is the real reason any of us who blog do it, right?

Thank you thank you thank you to all the subscribers who keep hanging in, all the kind folks who've emailed just to make sure I'm OK, and friends who've patiently waited it out and said "thank god, she's not talking about that damn blog all the time!" I look forward to many, many more pleasant meals with FM/DM -- and the creative juices will be flowing again soon.

Spicy Updates -- Thanks for pitching in!

I knew our readers would step up to help -- and this spice drive has been truly impressive. Thanks all for helping with the pantry at Second Helpings! There are still a few more items up for grabs and we're planning on seeing you tomorrow night for the Meet and Greet. Snacks, wine, and a look at Second Helpings' home are all on tap.

Thursday, May 21
5:15-6:30 p.m.
Second Helpings -- Eugene and Marilyn Glick Center
1121 Southeastern Ave(off Keystone)
Free!

Here's the updated list of what's been donated so far! Excellent work!

Cheryl: 1 Black Pepper
Steve and Twyla: 1 Rosemary, 1 Rubbed Sage
Maggie: 1 Tarragon
Andy: 1 Garlic or Chili
Nikki: 1 Black Pepper
Andrea/Circle City Socialites: 1 Crushed Red Pepper (of course the roller derby gals pick "Crushed" Red Pepper!)
Vicki: working with vendors
Kirsten: 2 Cumin
Renee: 1 Lavender, 1 Clove and 1 nutmeg
Shawn: $10
Chuck Matsumoto: $20
Cheryl Pleak-Copeland: 1 Oregono, 1 Basil
Erin Day: 1 Garlic, 1 Parsley

Three Latest and Best -- Making My Way Back Edition

Cheeses at Euphoria: Whether snacking or tackling a full menu, you must save room for a cheese course at Euphoria. German, Italian, French and US cheeses, there's Brillat-Savarin you'll need a spoon to eat, Port Salut, and Boucheron (a personal favorite, the gooier the better), and don't forget the Humboldt Fog, the 5-year aged Gouda, and the Robiola Bosina.

Mary Beth Poe Catering: OK, so, I'm a little in love with the sweet cheese tarts with candied nuts all nestled in the phyllo cups. Also, the shrimp wrapped in bacon. Plus, you guys make great mint julips. That is all.

A Little Scotch Egg Love: Yes, yes, I know, start up the "you only go to the same places engines", but who can't resist giving the guys a MacNiven's a little Scotch Egg love. Honestly. They're just awesome. (I recently read a review where someone dinged the Scotch Eggs because they're *fried*. Excuse me?)

Two Minute Warning: The Capitol Grille at the Conrad has had a couple of tough weeks losing GM Greg Van Winkle and apparently some kitchen staff. Friday night was packed but with surprisingly slow service. We were already wondering if the meal could be saved when our steaks arrived -- all painfully overcooked. Back they went. Of course, the next round were very rare, but we were out of time (and patience) to send them back for a third try. (We now know where to get a good black-and-blue steak in Indy.) On the plus side, the company was excellent and we had incredible wines thanks to our dinner companions' wine locker (Chapellet, Van Strasser, and Tikal, oh yes). It was clearly a tough night for the kitchen (and accountants, I'd suspect) but in the competitive downtown steakhouse market, customers expect a premium restaurant to nail it every time. Our evening ended on a high note with Ryan, John, and a bottle of bubbly at the Oceanaire. (The Capitol Grille web site says "be wined, dined, and dazzled." Ouch.)