Growing the Empire de Chou

Look for the northside Petit Chou to open the week of March 9 at Clay Terrace. Executive chef Tyler Herald, a mainstay in the farmer's market scene, will oversee the opening -- and introduce their new dinner service. The location has been in the works for a while, but in this economic climate, it's great to hear *someone* is spending money. Go, Martha.

Tyler Herald Makes a Move

Call him the best chef whose food you've never eaten, Tyler Herald is leaving the 6 Lounge and Restaurant downtown to join Martha Hoover's expanding empire of Chou. He'll go first to Petit Chou in Broad Ripple where they plan to launch dinner service this summer, then move to the new Patachou outpost (we hear a Petit Chou) at Clay Terrace when they open in August, which will also do lunches and dinners. It's a great fit for Herald who more food lovers know from the Downtown and Broad Ripple farmers markets than his nightclub fare. His commitment to fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients makes him a great fit for the cafes des Chou. He'll leave 6 at the end of May. (Sorry I couldn't find a picture of him with those great sideburns.)

Michael Pollan Savors Some Local Goodness

I hear it was a who's who of local chefs and food lovers who got, well, down to local business the other night at Petit Chou. The occasion? Author Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma, In Defense of Food) was in town for his lecture at Butler and Martha Hoover organized a group of local chefs -- including Nicole and Eli Anderson of H2O Sushi and Neal Brown of L'explorateur -- to show Pollan that we're pretty committed to local resources. Dishes included Brown's elk tartar with orange, celery and a green olive and white chocolate emulsion, Eli Andersons' beet salad with pickled fennel, Hoover's chicken panini, and Nicole Anderson's incredible goat cheese ice cream.

Three Latest and Best

Crepes, Brioche and Nutella: Petit Chou has quickly taken over as my favorite brunch spot in town, not only because of their perfect Broad Ripple location, but also because I love their menu! The crepes win me over every time. My latest favorites? Eggs, sunny side up in a crepe with Gruyere and brioche toast with nutella. This time of year, take your sunglasses and enjoy the patio.

Butternut Maple Soup at Oakley's: It's ba-aaack! If you haven't tried this sublime annual treat at Oakley's Bistro, where have you been? It's one of the single best things about fall in Indianapolis. And don't forget they sell it by the quart if you're already planning for Thanksgiving. (Shout out to the fabulous Lisa Cunningham.)

Dinner at Morton's: What is it about Morton's? Why don't I go more often? Is it the funky street entrance? The pokey stairs? The often absent or inattentive hostess/greeter? No matter. Even with the uninspiring entryway, I've always have a great time especially in their small private board room and warm, clubby bar (with those funky and wonderful art deco carved bar chairs). Unsurprisingly, a recent dinner was no different. After a fantasic meal with great company, I was reminded again that this often overlooked downtown steakhouse has a lot to offer. We enjoyed the standard fare -- great steaks and steakhouse favorites -- but with some welcome additions. My favorites? An ultra-fresh tuna tartare starter with creme fraiche and avocado, a nice change from the standard seared tuna appetizer; a classic iceberg wedge salad with tomato and bacon but with a pleasant twist -- Thousand Island, a salad dressing I've always loved even though it's out of style; and along with roasted potatoes, mushrooms and spinach, and huge asparagus, I loved the perfectly crisp french fries. (They were added after the CEO interviewed servers in all 75 restaurants and asked about the most requested menu item Morton's didn't have.) Add, of course, the excellent Allen Brothers USDA Prime steaks (strips and fliets for most of us). It was all topped off with their polished deserts including a thick chocolate "velvet" cake and their signature key lime pie. I could live without the formal server presentation of plastic-wrapped plates showing steaks and fresh seafood (although I did like the live lobster swaying around), but it was a lovely meal all topped off with a fine 2003 Beringer Private Reserve cabernet. Look for their happy hour bar special -- free mini steak sandwiches from 5-7 p.m. weeknights.

A Twisted Wine Wednesday

Hey, folks, here's a big shout out to Boy Braynard, Nolan and Bill (from Crossroad), Neal Brown, and the rest of the crew from the Twisted Oak dinner last night at L'Explorateur. My favorites? The pig's trotter risotto paired with the Twisted Oak %@#$! White and the chicken-fried sweetbreads with the Tempranillo. With oysters, cured salmon, bison, duck and elements of wild boar, the dinner was as big as the wines.

Patachou Expands: They've been doing a fair amount of spruce up work at Cafe Patachou at 49th and Penn. Fresh paint, a new look, and now, a much-needed expansion. Word has it the cafe is moving into the former Cork's spot. (Cork's, you'll remember, was caught in the City Market debacle, closing to move into space that was never ready.) For those of us used to that 10:00 a.m. wait on Saturday mornings, the extra space is a welcome addition!

IBJ on Opentable.com: IBJ has an article this week on local restaurants and how they're using Opentable.com. It's no secret I'm a fan (from a customer standpoint) and it seems that quite a few local restaurants are fans as well (from a customer management standpoint.)

Three Latest and Best

Having OD'd last weekend on greasy, rich food, I had to take a break this week and stick to fresh, simple and delicious. With the bounty of summer, it wasn't hard.

Lunch at Cafe Patachou: I hadn't been to the venerable 49th and Penn location in a while and it was pleasant to see it freshened up a bit with some new paint and new chalkboards on the wall up front. We had a casual business lunch over an incredible fresh turkey sandwich (*real* turkey, sliced from the bird) on thick wheat bread with good crunchy veggies, and fresh fruit.

Dinner at Elements: Facing only a week to go of Restaurant Week, we put together a small group to hit a tested favorite, Elements. Greg did a lovely job with the three course menu including a cold two-color beat soup, entrees of Copper River salmon, chicken with truffle jus, and a meatloaf with thick mashed potatoes and a delicious smoky maple sauce. Get thee in for restaurant week -- only a few more days left!

RBistro: This downtown classic is becoming one of my favorite lunch spots. And yesterday, deviating from my favorite applewood bacon panini, I tried the vegetarian special -- a delicious "stroganoff" of wild mushrooms served over basmati rice. Worth skipping dessert for.

Three Latest and Best

I've been eating at too many wonderful barbeques and parties lately and took the weekend off to see The Police at Churchill Downs. After a weekend of decadent eating, it was great to come home to a dinner of fresh corn on the cob, brussel sprouts, strawberries, and other bounties of summer. In the meantime, here were my favorite dishes from last week.

Chocolate Ganache Crepe at Petit Chou: I'm still loving this new Broad Ripple cafe. On a recent crowded Friday afternoon, I discovered a new favorite -- the crepes. We chose chocolate ganache over Nutella, but still, incredibly rich and good.

Mo'Joe's Coffee: If you haven't discovered this downtown coffee place yet, then you *must*. On W. Michigan between Capitol and Senate, this local, independent coffee shop is perfect from the comfy couches to the pastries from Rene's Bakery.

Cheese Grits at Proof: Can I just say again how much I love Michael Paley's Proof on Main in Louisville? Sunday morning, we wandered down to 21C to look at their new installation and were pleasantly surprised to find Proof open for breakfast. And what do they do? Simple, basic, and delicious. The star of the show? The fresh berries and the best cheese grits I've ever had! And I'm a girl who likes her grits. Fantastic.

Three Latest and Best

Ahhh, having taken a little impromptu blogging vacation, I'm back! I didn't intend to go 10 days without a post, but what can I say, I've been immersed in the birthday that won't end. (I'm starting to be thankful I only turn 40 once. I'm going to need 10 years to recover for my next big milestone.) In the meantime, I'm starting to work through the backlog. Here are my three latest and best to hold you over.

Lunch at RBistro: Mmmm. The mushroom burger hit the spot even though the special ham and cheese panini looked fantastic. But the star of the show? The cold cucumber and fennel cream soup. Decadent, but not heavy. Chunky with cucumber and chilled perfectly.

Oyster and Shrimp Happy Hour! The best kept secret in town? Half-price oyster and shrimp happy hour at The Oceanaire from 3-6 p.m. We scooted in for cocktails 15 minutes before the 6:00 p.m. cutoff and splurged on an entire dozen of oysters each! Ask the bartenders -- they know their oysters. (West Coast oysters are where it's at this time of year.) Try the shrimp cocktail as well. Best part? $12 a dozen (half price).

Croque Monsieur at Petit Chou: What a treat the new Petit Chou is! Done as a smart little French chic cafe, the latest chou from Martha Hoover is a delight. And the menu is a fresh, too, with tartines and crepes in addition to the classic omelets. You can't go wrong with their signature toasted, cheese covered ham sandwich (on fantastic brioche!) but save room for a Nutella or sugar crepe! Plus, this new place is just as pleasant inside as out. The fresh spring green paint and floral upholstery on the banquets makes it a slightly more upscale brunch option -- perfect for brunch with the girls!

Three Latest and Best

Bacon Panini at RBistro: Attitude aside, the food is still a big hit at RBistro. (When you overhear a conversation of people at the next table saying "it's just a thing here. You have to ignore it", then you *know* you're not the only one who is noticing.) But popped in for lunch last week and enjoyed the recommended applewood smoked bacon panini with a sweet tomato chutney. Perfect with the tangy dressing on the greens. Plus, as always, we saved room for dessert. The star? The chocolate sheetcake with housemade ice cream.

Broken Yolk Sandwich at Patachou: Yes, I'm lame, and I hate crowds, so I haven't ventured out yet to the new Petit Chou in Broad Ripple. But, ready for a little Sunday morning coffee made by someone else, I took myself and the Sunday Times to breakfast at the downtown Chou. Hmm. Toasted whole wheat with butter, two eggs, and smoked salmon. Did I mention I'm a little in love with their fruit salad?

Sunday Night Treat: Two words, friends: Bazbeaux Pizza. Two ways: 1/2 Hawaiian, 1/2 Greek. Two favorite toppings, the sweet pineapple and the salty feta cheese. Oh, and, leftovers? Only two slices.

A Spate of Openings!

Petit Chou in Broad Ripple: While in Broad Ripple the other day, I noticed that Petit Chou, new outpost from the Cafe Patachou folks is coming right along. Look for it on Westfield next door to Midtown Grill serving breakfast and lunch with a European coffee shop flair. Expect parking to be an issue, but in Broad Ripple, when is it not? Scheduled opening is next week.

Harry and Izzy's is Open! No, I haven't been yet but early reports are it's good from the sandwiches right down to their signature St. Elmo's shrimp cocktail. Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, there will be plenty of chances to try it out.

Capitol Grill Opens Next Week: Capitol Grill, the new steakhouse chain opening at the Conrad, will do a soft open starting April 23 with invitation only dining. Look for them to be fully open to the public by the first of May.

L'Explorateur for Lunch: L'Explorateur will open for lunches beginning May 16. Look for their delightfully light but satisfying sandwhiches and treats. And enjoy their deck when the weather improves.

Wonderful Wine Bars: And look for one more opening later this year in the lofts at 25th and Delaware. In addition to a gourmet market, The Goose, rumor has it a wine bar will be opening to provide locals with a little light libation. We look forward to it!

Claus', Klemm's, Oh, that Brat Place: May 1 look for Claus' German Sausage and Meat (nee Klemm's) to reopen in their new location. Apparently, they always take April off, but this May 1, they're opening for the first time in Fountain Square on Shelby. No matter what you call them, I still call them good!

Three Latest and Best

Ahh, the better weather now puts the nightmare of the last month behind us! I can actually believe spring might be coming now! I've been on the road and stuck indoors but have managed to keep eating!

Brunch at Patachou on the Park: What a delightful space! If you haven't been to the new Patachou location in the lobby of the Simon headquarters downtown (facing the capitol building) you've been missing the best brunch downtown. The best part?! It's not overly crowded -- yet. We recently had a delightful and leisurely brunch on a Sunday and not only enjoyed the big, comfortable room, but also saw a veritable who's who in Indiana. It will be my new favorite choice over the hip crowd at 49th and Penn.

Lunch at Danelli: I can see why this new room at the Canterbury Hotel is having a bit of a problem finding its way. What do you do when you have a new chef, you want to do high-end food, your prices are extremely expensive, and you have an expectation due to your location that you provide the hotel experience? You execute what you can -- a high-end, expensive, safe hotel restaurant with the best food you can do. The bar at the Canterbury is a wonderful room, but once you move back to the restaurant, you enter the extremely formal world of Danelli. the problem becomes clear when the food doesn't meet the high expectation set by the rest of the experience. In other words, the food has to be *perfect* and it's not. (If you do a pizza, no matter what you call it, the crust must be perfect and it can *not* be soggy in the middle. Mine was.) They will do best to recognize their entire enterprise will always be reliant on regulars and high end customers. and make the food better than the best (which it isn't yet.) But lunch is about the company right? If so, it was a fantastic meal -- feeding my brain as well as my stomach.

Deano on Connecticut in DC: Friends in DC took me to their favorite neighborhood place in Cleveland Park last weekend -- Deano. The east coast is crawling with these old school Italian joints from Little Italy to Florida. But this one is oh-so-different. Still giving customers the Italian diner vibe, this one has an upscale, uncluttered look, better to accommodate the people waiting for tables. We had our friends' favorite server as we were ushered to a wonderful round booth and given ample time to peruse the wine list, the menu, and specials. Here, the mixologist, Chris, takes his craft very seriously with a deep gin list, his own marinated cocktail onions, and marinated olive and broad bean bar mix. Starting with a Barbero, a junipero G&T and a Bull Dog Gibson, we ate our way through their menu with rib eyes, seafood, and the freshest pomodoro I've ever had in winter. It hit the spot!

Nirvana at Dunkin Donuts: You know, I really really like donuts. Not the cake kind with icing, but the slightly crispy from the fryer, yeast glazed then frosted in chocolate kind. I recently heard a faint calling in a busy airport, followed it and found myself at the Dunkin Donuts stand. I snarfed a chocolate, custard filled, yeast donut immediately with a full-sugar black cherry soda. Ohh, so good. Bonus, good sugar coma nap for the flight.

Three Latest and Best

Dinner at RBistro: Sneaking out on a lovely pre-Thanksgiving evening, RBistro delivered again on another fantastic dinner. From the amazing smoked salmon (with apricot relish and avocado on a potato pancake) and the turkey sausage (with stewed apples and cranberries) to dessert (why, pumpkin spice bread pudding with whipped cream, of course), it was a terrific treat.

Sweet Potato Casserole, Bread Pudding Stuffing, and the Best Gravy I Ever Made: Thanks to our lovely hostess who put together a wonderful meal for 10 people and made Thanksgiving a real treat. (And also for the wines straight from Napa.) And the best gravy ever? I usually find many ways to screw up gravy (usually by rushing the roux), but this time, when the hostess asked me to take it on, I was working with an additional handicap: Making great gravy while making witty small talk to the cute guy carving the turkey next to me. However, I work well under pressure. Excellent gravy. (No word on the cute guy.)

O, Cafe Patachou, How Do I Love Thee? I love thee like a perfect cheddar, bacon, and sour cream omelet with fruit salad and cinnamon toast. These guys aren't cream puffs. They consistenly turn out great omelets like no cafe or diner I've ever seen -- perfectly tasty, every time. And how well do they know their omelets? 1) This particular combination would not have worked without the sour cream. So good. 2) They didn't blink an eye when my lunch partner asked for two egg whites and one regular egg for hers. Delish!