Three Latest and Best

Ahhh, am back from a long weekend, rejuvenated and well fed. Loved popping into some new places and seeing excellent chefs and owners trying some new ideas and fresh approaches. Kudos to the owner at Vinoteca who's taking a risk on a new and upcoming neighborhood (near Howard University) and seeing success. Here are my Three Latest and Best, the almost all out-of-town edition:

Vinoteca, Washington DC: When this new eatery in the Shaw/Howard/U Street area received good early reviews a month or so ago, they found themselves packed, but the owner was worried. He knew their future was in locals sitting down for great pasta, their house made charcuterie, and cheese menu. So, they changed their reservations strategy, went to open seating, and now are packed every night with folks they know will come back. Everything was delicious (from the tuna/garlic aioli, bison/buffalo mozzerella, and venison/goat cheese sliders to the ham and sage-stuffed ravioli, surprisingly good with a roasted red pepper sauce.) But my favorite thing was the menu of 12 or so cheeses and 8 or so cured meats offered by the portion ($2 each for cheese and $1.50 for meat). Instead of dessert, we ordered ash coated goat cheese, manchego, Explorateur, and a fantastic triple cream cow's milk cheese from Cowgirl Creamery, natch, called Red Hawk along with a duck prosciutto, speck, and lomo (a cured meat with a paprika crust). The big family style plate with cranberry sauce and honey easily made it around a table of 10. A brilliant idea, really, and one that works with their robust wine list.

Dean and Deluca, Georgetown: Every time I wander through Dean and Deluca, I have to block it from my memory or I'd just be depressed all the time. After a day of heavy meals, we decided to just get cheese, pasta and snacks for supper, stay in, and watch a movie. Of course, I had to introduce my pals to braseola which we easily found at their massive meat counter along with a good prosciutto. We added a goat cheese (the kind that's firm in the middle and mushy/smelly on the outside), a cranberry Stilton (for the holidays, I'm not normally big with the fruit cheeses), and a handful of dates. With squid ink pasta and whipped up vodka sauce, we had a perfect supper. Even better with the local egg nog doctored holiday style.

Lunch at Palomino: Back in Indy, I'd forgotten what a warm and busy lunch spot Palomino could be. From see-and-be-seen tables in the middle of the dining room to tucked away nooks great for working lunches without being bothered, this bustling downtown restaurant is still doing great -- even after all these years. I love their half/half combos and offset the creamy Gorgonzola penne with a chop chop salad.

Thanksgiving in Indianapolis: Eating Out

Just a few folks for Thanksgiving this year or simply don't want the hassle of cooking this year (or the leftovers?) For travelers and locals alike, eating out can be a great option. Haven't made plans yet? Here are some of the local restaurants open on Thursday and serving the classic turkey and dressing (or something close, at least.) As always, it's worth it to call the restaurant directly as reservations may be required, they may be booked, or they may have changed their hours or plans. Most of these restaurants have a traditional meal or buffet planned for a fixed price and some are offering limited other options or their full menus. Call ahead to find out what's for supper, especially if you have several folks in your party. Eating out is so popular that you'll be surprised more restaurants don't offer it! Thanks to Traci Cumbay for a few of these. Reservations for the rest are still available on opentable.com or by calling the restaurant directly.) (And a shout-out to Kate Shepherd who asked me to post on the topic!)

Conner Prairie offers a full traditional Thanksgiving buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., $24.95, reservations required.

McCormick & Schmick's downtown is offering a traditional holiday menu along with its full menu. 12:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Capital Grille at the Conrad is offering traditional turkey for $40 as well as their full dinner menu.

Weber Grill is offering a grilled Thanksgiving feast, $28.95. Check out the menu.

Palamino is open all afternoon and into the evening. No word on a special menu.

Danielli at the Canterbury is offering seatings for Thursday. No word on the menu.

Maggiano's Little Italy on 82nd is open and offering a delicious-looking Thanksgiving treat available for eating in or ordering ahead for takeout. Details and menu on the website.

Kinkaid's Chophouse in Carmel is listed as open and accepting reservations. No word on their menu.

Ted's Montana Grill -- both locations offer a traditional meal as well as salmon and prime rib. 12:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., $30 for the turkey.

Three Latest and Best

Mussaman Curry at Sawasdee: Holy crap this stuff is good. We popped in on Sunday to this bustling north side Thai staple on the verge of their much needed expansion. Having not been in for dinner for a long while, we queried Ty on his recommendation. (I almost always have the green curry at lunch.) He didn't hesitate. "Number 39." All I can say is Wow. Thick, rich, meaty with chicken and rich with potatoes stewing in the thickest, peanutiest, sweet curry *ever.* Oh, so good.

Chinese at Sesame on 86th: I've been looking for a decent, down-home Chinese place for a while, and may have found a passable option at Sesame, newly opened at 86th and Ditch (next to Athletic Annex. Good house made crab rangoon (with real crab in the slightly sweet cream cheese), flavorful wonton soup with a light, fluffy wonton (not hard from the freezer or can), and the kind of egg rolls I like, made by hand and with lots of cabbage and pepper. Plus cashew chicken with lots of wok-hay, that great taste that you only get from a really hot wok and someone who knows how to use it. Worth another visit for the soup and crab rangoon alone.

Cocktail Hour at Palomino: I'd been hearing good things about the after work happy hour at Palomino and I wasn't disappointed. An impressive appetizers list, half-price pizza, and a nice list of cocktails including flavored mojitos round out one of the most robust offerings of all the downtown cocktail menus. I had the berry mojito (heavy, but good with lots of fresh mint) and, of course, the signature Gorgonzola cross-cut fries. Eat 'em while they're hot! Even better? Palomino offers the same deals late night on Saturday! Perfect for late night, post bar snacking.

Two-Minute Warning: In my never-ending quest for good Mexican food in Indianapolis, I can tell you that El Arado Mexican Grill in Fountain Square is not it. It should have been a warning when I asked the server what was good and every dish she recommended was deep-fried. Not up for the chimichanga or taquitos, I opted for the flautas. The beef was pot roast. No, really, it tasted and looked just like pot roast. Good pot roast, but not Mexican food. The rice? Overcooked (the split grains looked like a pile of little X-chromosomes.) The refried beans? I'm pretty sure they came out of a can. The guac? In a world where a taqueria on the West side can blow me away with their simple, fresh, delicious and easily identifiable fresh avocado with onions, peppers, salt and lime, I just refuse to eat the pureed, green avocado-flavored slime restaurant supply houses pass off as cheap guacamole. And I'm over the Mexican places that serve it. (Frankly, I'm over the Mexican places that set up shop with a deep frier, a Sysco account, and no actual, you know, cooking. News flash: If it comes in a pre-made plastic package that you cut open in the kitchen to serve, skip it.) Any self-respecting avocado would be ashamed to have its flavor profile used in the bitter, sour gunk plopped on top of iceberg lettuce and called "avocado salad". (Of course there's no actual *real* avocado in there. It's the avocado equivalent of "cheese food". Seriously, read the label on the same product next time you're in the grocery store.)

El Arado is completely unremarkable. I'd put it on par with La Piedad in Broad Ripple (almost identical actually) and countless other usually crowded but not terribly good Mexican restaurants in town. It's back to the West side taqueria circuit for me. Simpler food but *so* much fresher and tastier.