What We're About ...
Food and Whine is the brain child of two IUPUI journalism students who got bored with the campus paper and the local coverage of restaurants. Cassandra Vires has a degree in culinary arts and is the dining editor of the IUPUI student newspaper, The Sagamore. Ginny LaRoe is the former editor of The Sagamore and is a critic of everything.
Both post recipes and reviews as well as tips on where to find different groceries including produce, specialty items and wine. Check out our newly added events page!
Oh, that crazy west coast ...
Every year, over the first weekend after the 4th of July, Ft. Wayne, Ind. hosts The Three Rivers Festival. An event for everyone - there is a parade, carnival rides, art, crafts, antiques, junk, music and, ofcourse, junk food. Josh and I go every year. It is our excuse to eat all the junk food we can, and we get to see his family. This year, we mixed things up and invited a friend of ours from school - a young lady from Palo Alto, Cal. (for those of you unfamiliar with the geography of California, it is near San Francisco). Well, I love our dear friend with all my heart, but has California been living in a bubble? This poor girl had never had a lemon shake up, funnel cake or fried pickle! She didn't know what go-karts were and had never played Putt-Putt. So, not only was the festival enjoyable for us because we got to eat everything we shouldn't, but it was amazing to watch someone enjoy a corndog for the first time, or better yet, to expereience what the midwest is really about - American flags, soccer moms in SUVs, ultra religous conservatism with " wholesome" values and a sense of community. Thousands of people showed up to celebrate the festival and come together with their neighbors and community to buy and eat junk. Oh, that crazy midwest ...
Times are changing ...
The foodies have been unfortunately absent from Food & Whine for some time now, but we have our reasons. Summer is here, graduations have taken place and we are now forced to make decisions about our lives we only thought grown ups had to make. My good friend Ginny has been given a great opportunity in Chattanooga, Tenn. There, she is working for a wonderful paper, The Chattanooga Times Free Press. Although I recognize this as a great opportunity, I will miss her, as we all will. She will, of course, be able to expose us to new cuisine in a new city. Chattanooga is full of independent "mom and pop" type places, and I look forward to hearing all about them. As for myself, I have been busy with work, family and planning for the future. I have one more semester at beautiful IUPUI, and then Josh and I will be moving to St. Louis, another wonderful culinary city. There, I will do the whole graduate school thing while my hot shot lawyer hubby makes the big bucks (yeah, right). Anyway, times are changing, and we are adapting, growing and changing right along with them. We do so solemnly promise to do better in our postings of recipes, reviews and rants, so, stay tuned ...
One year to smoke free ...
The Indianapolis City-County Council voted on Monday, May 23, to pass a ban on smoking that has been a controversial topic for some time now. With an 18-9 vote, officials endorsed a workplace smoking ban which will take place March 2005. For the whole story, go to John Fritze's Indy Star article, Indy limits public smoking. But here is the low down on how it affects us: - Most Indianapolis restaurants will become smoke-free as of March 1, 2005.
- Offenders - individuals or businesses - could face a $100 fine per violation.
- Exceptions include bowling alleys, private clubs, cigar bars, retail tobacco stores, designated hotel smoking rooms, family-owned businesses in which all employees are related and the business is closed to the public and, more relevent to us, restaurant patios and outdoor arenas.
Smoke-free Indy is on its way, we just have to wait a year to reap its benefits.
Where NOT to Take Your Family
Food & Whine editor Ginny talks about what restaurants her mom, dad and grandma liked and didn't like on their second trip this month to Indianapolis. Read post HERE.
Where to take your parents
Recently, Ginny's parents visited to celebrate her academic achievement and she planned two day of meals at her favorite Indianapolis locations. Read where they went and what they spent HERE.
Wolfgang Puck restaurant to open soon
Famed chef Wolfgang Puck made a quick visit to Indianapolis recently to check out his Indianapolis venture. The Star reported that he made a few last-minute changes to the menu including the addition of caviar and a chopped salad. mmmm. From the Star: Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck was nowhere to be seen during the early part of the evening. He arrived at the museum at 6:30 a.m. and did a whirlwind media tour touting his newest baby, the Puck's at the IMA restaurant. He had not been at the museum in a year, and after seeing the setup of the restaurant, he decided the menu needed some changes. "It was important for me that the food and the decor fit together," he said matter-of-factly. The dining room, with its great view of Sutphin Fountain, called out for a more upscale menu, he thought. He even changed the Wednesday night menu a bit, adding some lobster and caviar to the chopped vegetable salad.
The IMA restaurant, Puck's, will open May 6, as will the more casual museum cafe. Read more about the re-opening of the IMA and its new restaurants HERE.
Food & Whine visits Brugge Brasserie
The recently opened Brugge Brasserie (1011A East Westfield Blvd Indianapolis)gets mixed reviews from Food & Whine editors, Ginny and Cassandra. Even though we disliked many things about the menu, presentation, ingredients, preparation and décor, it's a place we will probably go back to for late night lounging, beer drinking and conversation. Read Ginny's full review HERE.
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