Mealightenment

Homemade Artisan Pizza

2013-06-07T10:17:00.002-04:00

Someone mentioned to me recently that we posted a lot of stuff about pizza...and I completely agree. Pizza is good, cheap, and insanely easy to make. So far, we've eaten out at a lot of pizza places, but we hadn't made a pizza ourselves. Well, I decided to change that and make a pizza from scratch that didn't require but two ingredients for the crust. Now my inspiration stems from brick oven or coal-fire pizzas, which in my opinion have the most character of any type of handmade pizzas, and they can be dressed with the most basic or advanced ingredients, depending upon your preference.

Before we get too far into this, let's mention what two ingredients you need for your crust:

1 Cup of Self-Rising Flour (keep a little extra on the side for dusting the board)
1 Cup of Greek Yogurt

From here on out, the ingredients of the pizza are totally up to your liking. A few other tools that may be useful in your pizza making adventure, but are not necessary: a floured board or table, a pizza stone, a wooden or aluminum pizza peel, and a rolling pin.

First, preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Next, take the cup of flour and cup of greek yogurt and mix them together in a bowl, stir, and form a ball out of the dough; if still too watery, add a sprinkling of additional flour as needed. This is a fast mixture that is perfect for those of us who don't have enough time to actually play around with a proper mixture, which entails yeast, and as we all know that process takes much more time. Turn the ball out onto your floured board or table, and gently knead the dough for about 5-8 minutes, adding flour to the board as needed (as some sticking may occur). The more you knead your dough, the more pliability and stretch you'll receive. After kneading, roll out by hand or use your rolling pin for your desired shape.

The next step is to top the pizza however you feel. I'm typically just a pepperoni and cheese type of guy, but I decided to just improvise this one, which worked in my favor. My pizza included a jar of fire-roasted red tomatoes and a little bit of tomato paste to make the sauce, fresh basil, prosciutto, and a small amount of fresh mozzarella. Once you've chosen ingredients and topped your pizza, toss in the oven (pizza pan or on the heated pizza stone) for up to 20 minutes, or until the crust is lightly browned and cheese is melted and/or lightly browned to your liking. Let cool for about 5 minutes, serve and enjoy.

This is one of the easiest things I've ever made, and minus the prosciutto and basil, the basic ingredients (flour, Greek yogurt & tomatoes) cost me a whopping 8 bucks. Sure, it takes a little more time than picking up the phone and dialing out for pizza, but ultimately is much more rewarding of an experience. Share this recipe with your kids or your significant other, I promise they'll appreciate the time and effort that goes into the meal.

Be adventurous and try new things...rather than settling for store bought or ordering out. Enjoy your food, and as always...

Eat on.

--Justin

BTW - On a personal note, this is my last post on Mealightenment Blogs for a while, as my wife and I are moving. I will continue to oversee operations on the blog here in Indy, but will also chronicle my explorations in my new city of Tampa, FL. Starting in July, check out/subscribe to mealightenmenttampa.blogspot.com, and follow @MealightTampa on Twitter to track my exploits as I "search & devour" the best Tampa has to offer. Be sure to keep an eye on the boys here in Indy as they continue to do their thing and make strides here on the home turf. Thanks again for your support -- Everyone have a great summer!

Road Trip: Classic Cup Cafe in Ann Arbor, MI

2013-05-21T10:41:00.000-04:00

Recently, I visited my brother and sister-in-law in Ann Arbor to welcome the new addition to our family. After a long weekend of chasing toddlers around and staring at my beautiful new niece, nobody was in the mood to cook breakfast on Sunday.¹ We went to the Classic Cup Cafe, which was just a short jaunt away from my brother's place.
The atmosphere when we walked in was extremely pleasant. It had the feel of the old school diners my grandfather took me to in rural Indiana mixed with contemporary decor. It was kind of like the TARDIS, in that it felt new and familiar at the same time.² Don't get me wrong, I enjoy going to a big chain restaurant myself, but I really enjoy the vibe you get in a locally owned establishment.

One of these days I'll remember to snap a picture before I dig in.
I love hot sauce on anything breakfast.

The meat lover's skillet caught my eye immediately while perusing the menu. Sausage, bacon, AND ham?! Plus, it was smothered in cheese. And sausage gravy. And served over a heap of home fries. Uh, yes please! "Delicious," and "hearty," barely do justice to the breakfast I had. I got a little ambitious and split a side of the corned beef hash with my brother. It was almost a bad decision. Almost.

If only my picture taking skills did this omelet justice.

Jennifer ordered a fantastic three egg omelet with green peppers and cheese that looked like it could have been a mock-up for an ad. The food was so good, it even kept the kids quiet while they ~~made a mess~~ chowed down.

If you're up in Ann Arbor, give them a visit. Your stomach and wallet will thank you.

As always, Keep Calm and Eat On!

~JR

1 It is ridiculous how much energy they have. It is making me tired even thinking about it.^↩
2 I did warn you I was a nerd.^↩
Also, thanks to Lauren Wayne for posting the html code for the footnotes I am experimenting with.

Hoosier Fat Daddy? Tell Me Now!

2013-05-13T11:37:00.003-04:00

On Saturday, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the annual May Day Concert, presented by radio station WRZX 103.3 FM (X103). To those of you who don't know, it is an outdoor event hosting five or six bands at the Klipsch Music Center. It's pretty hard to find a better time, due to the fact that there's music, beer, and FOOD TRUCKS!

Hoosier Fat Daddy Bus Cafe was the truck that instantly caught my eye. Literally, the bus was quite a sight to see! As you can see from the picture below, it has a 50's style type of advertisement of a very attractive female. I promise you that that wasn't the only thing that caught my eye...the sight of the gigantic Southern-Style Tenderloin did it for me.

I had the pleasure of speaking to Hoosier Fat Daddy's new owner Immanue Izey, and asked him about the tenderloin. I was told that the seasoning was "Grandma's secret recipe." I replied kindly with understanding, and said, "Tell me no more." I can only explain to the readers that it was some soulful seasoning that made my mouth water for more. Tasting this tenderloin will go down in history with wonderful moments of my life...and that is no exaggeration. Simply put, you need to try this! Other items included on the menu were Turkey Burgers lightly seasoned with pepper, Tater Tot Casserole, Bacon Tots, Rib Tips and more.

So if you're on the lookout for some delicious, old fashioned, soulful tasting food, keep your eyes peeled for the Hoosier Fat Daddy Bus Cafe.

To locate them, check them out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HoosierFatDaddyBusCafe, or look them up at www.hoosierfatdaddybuscafe.com. Sound off & leave us a quick comment if you've ever had the pleasure of eating at the Hoosier Fat Daddy Bus Cafe, tell us about your experience and what you ate, we'd love to hear about it.

They will likely attend many concerts during the Summer Concert Series at the Klipsch Music Center. So if you're there and have a short break from rocking out, visit them and prepare to Eat On!

Trick

Jockamo Upper Crust

2013-04-23T09:32:00.000-04:00

Don't Panic! There is parking in the rear. And a patio!

Have you ever been in the mood for pizza, but tired of the normal toppings? Or, have you been in the mood for a Philly Cheesesteak or Cajun food, but whoever you’re hanging out with has just wanted pizza? If that has ever happened to you, then consider Jockamo Upper Crust. Located on the East Side of Indianapolis in the Historic Irvington District, Jockamo has been serving up traditional and not-so-traditional pizzas since 2007.

Jockamo is located at 5646 E Washington Street, right across from the Irvington Branch public Library. (They also have a location in Greenwood at 401 Market Plaza, which is just south of Madison and Main Street.) The first impression you get when you walk in is that this is truly a locally owned neighborhood staple. It is really a pleasant change from the corporate-owned chain restaurants, where everything comes from the same cookie cutter.

No matter how comfortable and laid back the atmosphere is, it doesn’t mean a thing if the food isn’t very good. You don’t have to worry about that here, though. The focus is on fresh, homemade ingredients. The sauces and dough are all homemade and many of the ingredients come from local vendors.

Philly Jack

Quite possibly my personal favorite is the Creole pizza. It features the cheesy etouffe from Papa Roux, green pepper, tomato, and your choice of crawfish, shrimp, or smoked cajun sausage. My fiancée is a HUGE fan of their Philly Jack, which has Italian beef, green peppers, peppadew

peppers and pepper jack cheese. If you’re in the mood for a more traditional pie, they have all the standard toppings, as well as a fantastic Margherita with fontina cheese, tomato, garlic and basil. I have yet try one that I don’t like. Oh, and while you’re waiting, definitely try the breadsticks with the in-house made dipping sauces. I recommend the hummus or house special creamy parmesan.

Po Boy

With 10-inch pizzas coming in at under $11, this place is definitely affordable. Grab some of those breadsticks I mentioned and split a pie with a friend and you will both be full, happy, and not have spent an arm and a leg getting there!

I almost forgot, for those of our readers over the age of 21, make sure you check out the local craft beer selection. They have some brews that should put a smile on any beer snob's face.

Thanks for reading and as always, Eat On!

-Joe

Baked-In Apple (Apple) Pies

2013-04-09T14:08:00.001-04:00

Mmmmm.......

My wife is an Pinterest fiend...always showing me stuff that she's pinned and whatnot. It's the only form of social media I don't really understand in some fashion...even though I do have an account, and have pinned one thing since setting up my account. I found it lame, until I realized that my wife was gaining a lot of insight on cooking new meals and becoming more adventurous with cuisine.

Recently, she showed me something that blew my mind...Baked-In Apple (Apple) Pies.

Now, I'm not much for baking...other than the occasional loaf of banana/pumpkin bread, and I've never even attempted to make a pie. So in my mind, I thought that this would be the worst challenge I've faced. Honestly it wasn't that bad, and ended up being a much easier process than I had anticipated; and the payoff was completely worth it.

Here are the supplies you'll need, most of which you might already have lying around:

4 Granny Smith Apples
1/4 Cup of Sugar
2 Tbsp. of Brown or Dark Brown Sugar
1 Tsp. of Cinnamon (Adjust to taste)
1 box of (2) Pie Crusts
Small Baking Dish
Aluminum Foil

First, make sure that you preheat your oven to 375 Degrees. Take 3 of the apples and cut the tops off, and discard the tops. After this, take a spoon and carefully hollow out the apples, and discard the filling (or keep it in an air tight bowl for future use, minus the seeds and pit); be mindful that you should not pierce the skin of the apple. Once hollowed, take the fourth apple and slice it up into tiny squares to your liking, and put them into a separate bowl. Don't worry, 1 apple will be plenty to fill the three apple bowls you've made.

Next, take your remaining ingredients, and mix them together with the apples, and stir until all of the apples are coated with the mixture. Taste on of the apples, and make sure you are satisfied with the mixture, and modify accordingly, if needed. Once satisfied with your mix, spoon the coated apple squares into the apple bowls. Fill to the brim so as not to waste too much of the apple (I chose the biggest apples I could find, so this was no problem to fill up).

The Process, Step by Step

Lastly, take one pie crust from the box (you can find these in your grocery, usually in the cold section near biscuits and rolls), lay it flat, and cut the rounded edges off the crust into the shape of a square. Cut that square in half, and then across the cut make the remaining dough into strips. Take about 6-8 strips, and make a thatch pattern from the strips, and then lay them on top of the apples. After putting the dough on the top of your pies, make sure to flatten out the top crust on the sides of the apple, ensuring that the crust stays on and doesn't slide off during baking.

Once you've completed the above steps, it's now time to bake. Take your baking dish and fill the bottom with just a little bit of water, enough to barely cover the bottom of the pan when laying flat. This is a key step, because too much water will cause your apples to drown, and too little, and the apples will not cook through. Carefully place the apples into the baking dish, cover the dish with aluminum foil, and then into the oven to bake at 375, for about 20-25 minutes. After 20-25 minutes, remove the foil, and continue baking for another 20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. Remove from the oven, carefully move the apples from the baking dish onto a small plate to cool for at least 45 minutes. Afterward, enjoy!

This was a really fun thing to make, because it didn't require me to spend much on anything except apples and pie crust. I made them last night before the championship game, and my wife nearly flipped her lid when she saw that I had made them. I guess that Pinterest does come in handy for dudes, as well.

If you decide to take on this project, or any tips you have that could make it better, feel free to pitch in and let us know.

Enjoy! And as always,

Eat On.

--Justin

The Diner

2013-04-05T12:45:00.002-04:00

What kind of food is it that restaurants serve that makes you want to keep coming back? For most, it's one of two things: either the restaurant serves comfort food, or a restaurant that serves up the food the way the owner and workers would want it if they cooked it for themselves? What if I told you that a place like this exists in Indianapolis, fits into our price point of $15 or less, and has amazing quality food that has had me there 3 times in their first three weeks after opening.

That's right, this hidden gem of Indianapolis has only been open for about 3 weeks now, and popularity is catching on. The restaurant is located near 30th and Fall Creek, close to the Ivy Tech campus and downtown, and offering a decently sized dining room and delivery for customers within a 3-mile radius. They've taken over the storied-old diner across the street from BBQ Heaven, which has been a diner since the 1960's, and many people in the "Cross Town" section of Indianapolis are hyped to have a place for breakfast, lunch and dinner back in the neighborhood.

The restaurant opportunity came up recently for Dutch, the Owner and Operator, and a group of his friends and family have also pitched their help or investment to make the opportunity a reality. That same group has also been instrumental in getting the restaurant ready for the public by helping with things as little as the search for perfect hot dog buns to making the menu and getting their website up and running (with more functionality with online orders, coming soon).

Rippers before hitting the fryer.

The best part of the place is obviously the food. I've had only one or two things off the menu, but what I've had so far is amazing! Easily the most popular menu item is the Ripper, a Jersey-style dog with a twist. No other restaurant in Indianapolis is serving anything like this, and it's an opportunity Dutch simply couldn't pass up. Rippers were a must for his menu, but he doesn't care too much for the normal size hot dogs. "So we set out to find a 1/4 lb. hot dog, and it took two weeks to find," Dutch said. The Ripper is a little different than the normal hot dog, too, because it's deep-fried until it rips; hence the name. Dutch puts his spin on it, from his "everything's better with bacon" attitude, wrapping the 1/4 dogs up in bacon before dropping it into the fryer. "RIPPER UP!" can be heard in the restaurant anytime one is ordered, and creates a fun atmosphere between the staff and the customers.

Other than Rippers, The Diner also serves up lots of appetizers, a slew of sides (including fried okra-my personal favorite), burgers with huge portion burger patties (Bacon Double Cheeseburger and Pizza Burger), salads, nachos, and even upcoming food challenges like "Mt. Nacho," which is literally as it sounds. This item is listed on the menu currently, but not yet available, because they are working to create a waiver to actually attempt to eat, a common aspect to many food challenges. If breakfast is your thing, it is served all day at The Diner. Try the Bananas Foster Pancakes...it will satisfy your sweet tooth, guaranteed.

Dutch is also known locally for his desserts. He creates all of his Secret Recipe Banana Pudding, Cheesecakes, and Chocolate Pecan Pie in house, because "It's a point of pride," he said. His desserts have been known to cause fights among his family members during the holidays. I tried the Banana Pudding on my first visit, with only my grandmother's Banana Pudding as any sort of reference...it's better than my grandmother's. I feel guilty saying that (and Dutch apologized when I told him), but it's the honest truth...it's that good.

Overall, The Diner is worth a try; the atmosphere is inviting, the menu has a little bit of everything for any person. Dutch's goal of creating a business that is likely to attract people from all types of cultures and walks of life is definitely working, noted from the regulars, local walk-ins, and Ivy Tech PTK Students and Faculty that fill the restaurant daily. If you're in the area of Downtown/So-Bro, then you definitely need to stop by and check this place out. The Diner is located at 901 E. 30th St., Indianapolis, IN 46205; check out their Facebook Page (Twitter coming soon), and give these guys another reason to yell, "RIPPER UP!"

Thanks for reading, and as always,

Eat On.

-Justin

All tips at The Diner go to Ivy Tech's PTK Chapter, an Honors and Leadership Program that is recognized nationally at many two-year community colleges.

Tips are greatly appreciated!

Getting to Know @Mealightenment [Newbie]: Joe

2013-04-04T11:00:00.000-04:00

If anyone is curious, I am the large one in the back.

Howdy, everyone! My name is +Joe Reese and I am (one of) the newbies to the blog. I work with Justin and Jacob, and that is how I got tabbed to be a part of the blog. I guess it should go without saying, but my enjoyment of food and cooking in general gave us something to talk about right off when I started getting to know the guys. Since high school, I've had several jobs in the food industry. I started out as a bus boy/dishwasher at a small restaurant on the east side of Indianapolis. I've also worked in a couple different chain restaurants in just about every position you can think of, until my job change about a year and a half ago. I wasn't too sure what to write about for my intro post, so I decided to steal the questions I liked from the other "Getting to Know" posts. And without further ado, here we go!

What's the best meal you've had for a hangover cure?
JR: This goes back to my days going to school in Terre Haute. There was this little Chinese place next to the Kroger on Wabash Ave (one of the main streets in the Haute) called First Wok. Best Chinese food I've ever had. I always got the General Tso's chicken, extra spicy. And, if I remember correctly, it was only $4.19 or so after tax for the lunch special, so it was definitely affordable.

If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
JR: It would be rice with soy sauce. Preferably toyomansi (a Filippino soy sauce mixed with calamansi lemons), but any old soy sauce would do - as long as it isn't low sodium. Much to the chagrin of my fiancee, that is one thing in my diet I'm not willing to make a concession on to be healthier.

I will post my eggroll recipe soon(ish).

What's the one thing you would never eat?
JR: Raw onions. I know it's weird. I'm down to try anything, but I know for a fact I do not and will not ever like raw onion.

Have you ever been smacked in the face by a meal?
JR: Nope. However, I have always wanted to be hit in the face by a pie like the Three Stooges.

When you were first asked to join the Mealightenment team, what was your first thought?
JR: My first thought was, "Wow, that does sound like a lot of fun, but I hope I can keep up and not let the team or the readers down." I've definitely wanted to get into writing, but starting my own blog was an intimidating idea. I'm excited to join the team and I can't wait to see the blog grow and expand and to be able to be a part of it.

I take pictures of my food. So what?

Anything else you'd like to add (I made this question up)?
JR: Well, thank you for asking! Aside from being a wannabe foodie, I am a huge fan of Doctor Who, a former World of Warcraft nerd, and a Star Wars geek. I wear the nerd/geek badge with pride! I'm also a homer for the Pacers, Colts, IU, and Butler. Hit me up in the comments if you ever want to hear my opinion on anything.

Thanks for reading! Keep calm and Eat On!

BBQ Chicken Salad w./ Spicy Lime Salad Dressing

2013-04-03T11:24:00.001-04:00

I've been trying to come up with something that could improve the quality of my lunch recently. Sandwiches, a banana, and a pudding cup (or whatever), get boring after weeks of the same old thing. I like taking a salad now and again, but that gets boring, too. My wife has tried to up the ante on our daily lunches by getting many more fresh veggies, which puts pressure on making sure we get through them before they go to waste. In a scenario with many, MANY packages of veggies, the best option is in fact to make a salad. We decided to go a bit different this time around, and put a little spin on the normal "lettuce, cheese, dressing" type of salad that had become normal when packing a lunch in a hurry.

I was on twitter Sunday morning, and saw a picture someone on my feed had tweeted. It was a picture of the most delicious looking BBQ Chicken Salad I'd ever seen. It was very basic, outside of the chicken, at least from what I could tell. I decided that this is what I wanted my lunch to be for the week, and the wife and I hit the road to the grocery store. We had a thought process with the salad, and that was that we wanted to go a little more Southwestern with it's influence, rather than just slathering BBQ sauce on chicken and throwing it in some lettuce and calling it a day. Throwing in charred fresh-shucked corn, sweet peppers, celery, tomato and onion along with the BBQ chicken makes a perfect marriage of flavor and color, tied together with a Spicy Lime Salad Dressing my wife came up with the recipe for. Here are the ingredients you'll need:

BBQ Chicken Salad
1lb. of Chicken Breasts, trimmed to your liking
1 container of 50/50 Salad Mix
1 Bottle of Favorite BBQ Sauce
Assortment of Veggies (preferential)

Spicy Lime Salad Dressing
1/2 Cup EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
Tbsp. of Honey
1 Tsp. of Cayenne
1 Tsp. of Cumin
2 limes, juiced
Lime Zest (grate outside peel of lime)
Salt & Pepper (to taste)

Trim the chicken and cut it into strips of like size; with a little bit of EVOO, brown the chicken in the pan and season to your liking with salt and pepper. Once the chicken has been browned, I like to grab a baking sheet and some foil, lay out the strips, douce them with the appropriate amount of BBQ sauce, and sprinkle a little bit of corn meal on top. I let them bake for about 20 minutes, so that the BBQ sauces will harden around the chicken.

Once the chicken is in the oven, you can start prepping your veggies. As I said earlier, I like that Southwestern flair of our salad, because of the color and flavors, but this is a preferential stage of the recipe, use whatever you like. Cut up all the veggies and put into a container together, but remember to keep the veggies separate from the salad, as the moisture from them will wilt the lettuce faster.

The dressing is fairly easy to make, but you may need to make it in a blender if you do not have a dressing shaker or bottle available. First, juice your 2 limes, and after collecting juice and pulp, grab a grater, and collect lime zest that you can just add directly into the juice. Pour juice into bottle, along with your EVOO and the remaining dry ingredients. Shake the bottle to mix your dressing. Add or subtract ingredients to taste, but this was spicy with enough kick for both my wife and I.

After 15 minutes bake time, take chicken out and bring it to cool on baking sheet. Once cooled, store in separate container from veggies and salad mix. Dress the salad accordingly with your Spicy Lime Dressing.

This is an easy lunch solution that can break up the monotony of your normal everyday take-along, and can save you money as well by providing food for several days, rather than just over the course of 1 day. Any good suggestions you could recommend to kick this salad up another notch, feel free to comment below.

Thanks for reading, and as always,

Eat On.

--Justin

Low Sodium Sweet and Sour Chicken

2013-03-17T20:24:00.001-04:00

Who else has procrastinated on eating healthy for the year 2013? Well, the cold weather is almost over and the time to get in shape is running out. So lets get started on what you'll need to make some healthy sweet and sour chicken that tastes like it was fresh from the local Chinese Restaurant. It will keep you in line with your goal of losing weight, and it's a heart healthy alternative to ordering out. Here's what you'll need:

Chicken Coating:

> 3-4 boneless chicken breasts

> 1 cup of cornstarch

> 2 eggs, beaten

> 1/4 cup of vegetable oil

Sweet and Sour Sauce:

> 3/4 cup of sugar

> 4 tbs low sodium ketchup

> 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar

> 1 tbs of low sodium soy sauce

> 1 tbs of garlic salt

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Then cut your chicken into small strips or cubes. After the chicken is cut and washed, coat the chunks in the corn starch the dip them into the eggs. Heat your oil in a skillet and start to cook the chicken until its somewhat browned, but DO NOT cook them all the way through. When they are browned lightly, place the chicken on a baking sheet. Mix all the sweet and sour sauce ingredients into a bowl and pour over the chicken. Bake the chicken and flip them every 15 minutes for about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

This meal is very simple to make and most of the ingredients are more than likely already in your kitchen. It also tastes like you'd be cheating on your diet, but trust me, you're not.

Enjoy my friends, & Eat On,

Trick

Justin's #IndyEats Bucket List

2013-03-08T20:57:00.001-05:00

Well here we are, another point of change....

I feel as though this is the weirdest possible way for me to announce this, but as of June, I (Justin) will be moving to the Tampa area with my wife so that she can pursue a promotion with the company she works for. I am sad to leave Indy, as I have lived here for the last 8 years, and I will forever think of this place as my home. Nonetheless, the opportunity for her to pursue her career, and for me to attend school for cheap (FL in-state tuition is nearly $1,200 cheaper vs. IUPUI) is just too good to pass up. Although I am sad to leave my snowy state of IN, I am happy for the doors that this will open up for Mealightenment to expand again.

The plan: Have a Mealightenment Tampa branch, as well as the original still operating here in Indy. James and Jacob will still be looking for someone else to fill the brunt of blogging for me, and I will still run the operation from Tampa as the editor of both of the blogs. @MealightTampa has already been created on Twitter (follow it!), and other social aspects will soon follow. We will run separate branches of the blog, that will be connected through Blogger, until site hosting for both of the blogs becomes possible.

So in the spirit of change, and because I only have 84 Days 3 hours 33 Minutes and 30 Seconds till I move to Florida (I'm not counting or anything), I figured it is about time that I knock out the restaurants that I've always wanted to try before I leave Indianapolis.

I've got a short-working list that needs more added to it, and I'm taking suggestions. Here is what I have on the list so far:

Lorenzo's Ristorante - @LorenzosIndy (Twitter)
Jockamo Pizza - @jockamopizza (Twitter)
Brown Bag Indy/The Libertine - @BrownBagIndy (Twitter)
Augustino's of Indy - @IndyItalian (Twitter)
R & R Extreme Wings - @rrextremewings (Twitter)
Drake's - @Drakescomeplay (Twitter)
~~Melting Pot -~~ ~~@MeltingPotIndy~~ ~~(Twitter)~~
Caveman Truck - @cavemantruck (Twitter)
Taco Lassi - @tacolassi (Twitter)
Kountry Kitchen - @Kountrykitchen (Twitter)

This is again just a working list of businesses that I have always wanted to try, but have not. Feel like I missed something? Do I need to try something before I leave? Let me know. Tweet us @Mealightenment, email us @ mealightenment@gmail.com, or just post a comment below.

Thanks for everything, Indy! I look forward to the blog continuing to grow and gain ground in both Indy & Tampa!

Eat On,

Justin

Hearty (Homemade) Beef Stew

2013-03-08T11:07:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago while grocery shopping, I was looking for something I could make that would not require a lot of work. You see, recently I've found that a lot of low-grade recipes have been more my speed. With my work schedule getting more insane, school getting a bit more tedious, and my personal picking up and leaving the city in a few months, my brain feels like it's going in a million directions. After a day involving any of the above, the last thing I wanna do, is cook something that will require a lot of time or attention. Thank goodness while cruising through the meat case at Marsh, I saw the thick cut beef for stews, and immediately thought Beef Stew.

When I was growing up, this was a staple meal that my mother would cook frequently for my siblings and I. The thing I remember the most was that it's not a big meal, but it's hearty and has a lot of servings in one crock pot. One bowl and you're full, and if you jump in for seconds, you made need a nap. Here are the ingredients you'll need:

1 1/2 lbs. of beef stew meat
2 potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 can of stewed or peeled/halved tomatoes
Frozen or raw: Carrots, green beans, onions, celery, red peppers, green peppers
2 cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons of Beef Base (find it in the spices isle, with bullion)
3 Cans of Regular or Spicy V8 tomato juice
Salt, Pepper and Oregano

First, you'll need to set your slow cooker to it's "low" setting. Open up your meat packaging, and depending on preference, you can cut the size of the beef stew meat down to your liking. Once unpackaged, take the beef base and chopped beef, place it in the crock pot, and let them sit for a short period of time (maybe 30 minutes) in the low heat. It will help to soften the beef, as well as allow the beef base to lightly cook into the meat.

After a short period of time in the crock pot together, you can begin to add all of your other vegetable ingredients. A note of warning, if you use the can of tomatoes or even fresh ones, take back the V8 to two cans instead of three. Once all of your vegetables are added, add minced or pressed garlic cloves and a pinch of oregano, salt and pepper to taste, and top off the mixture with your cans of V8.

I like to cook this over night, or early in the morning, so that way the mixture is ready to be taken as lunch the next day or ready for me when I get home from work. It's a slow cook recipe, so be mindful that it will not be ready same day, and will require at least 8 hours of cook time before it's completely prepared. I let the mixture stew for at least 12-hours, if not longer, as just a matter of preference.

This recipe still fits the need of value, as about all of the ingredients set me back $13, but could vary depending on market and what ingredients you may elect to use or not. Enjoy your stew, and remember that patience is a virtue, let it stew.

Eat On,

Justin

Papa Roux Part 1

2013-02-28T16:22:00.000-05:00

Everyone I know has a top three as far as restaurants go. Those places that either have the best food in the city, the best atmosphere or offers you a unique experience you can't get anywhere else... and for some reason, it feels special to you every time you go. Maybe it reminds you of the TV Show Cheers, "where everybody there knows your name." Maybe the food makes your mouth explode with flavor! Maybe every time you have been there, it has been the best social experience ever. In my opinion, Papa Roux has hit home on every one of those aspects for me! I have been going to Papa Roux for about a year and a half, and I have introduced at least 30 people to this glorious food pit stop.

Justin G.

J.T. (Devin)

I first heard about Papa Roux from a co-worker. He said his brother worked at this Cajun restaurant that was really good. Through the whole conversation, I heard three things that stuck out: fresh catfish, and sometimes shrimp from Louisiana, free sides with the purchase of half a sandwich or more, and free sweet tea. When you hear things like that... you immediately stop what you are doing, and head straight there. Well, obviously I had to wait till I was done with my day at work, but I headed straight over to Papa Roux, which is located on 10th and Post road on the east side of Indianapolis.

When I arrived, I was greeted at the door with a loud "Hi, what can I get for you?!" It made me smile, and felt welcome. I ordered a Chicken Po Boy and a sweet tea, and sat down. That's when I noticed these little stands and cards on the table. After reading the card, it said to put the card in the stand and then someone will be over to order my free sides... Free sides?!!?!?!! Are you serious...as much as I can eat...REALLY? Well, needless to say, I devoured the spicy and delicious sides of creole, garlic stew, red beans and rice, then I topped it off with delicious cornbread and bread pudding.

The experience was amazing, and I loved it. Recently, Justin and I traveled to Papa Roux on Fat Tuesday. We got Papa (Art Bouvier; Owner) to sit down and give us an interview! Over the next few days, look for our future blog posts about our interview and experiences at Papa Roux. Here are some of the things to look forward to:

Kick corporate soda out (Hand crafted locally made soda on tap)
"I've got the best catfish in Indiana, and I guarantee it" - Art, a.k.a. "PAPA"
Papa Roux and his altruism (Hires Jhaquiel Reagan after he sets out to walk 10 miles in ice storm for a job interview)
Possible future endeavors for Papa Roux
Papa Roux Harlem Shake Video

Stay tuned for our next post, and as always...

Eat On!

--Devin

Filipino Fanatic

2013-02-25T12:30:00.000-05:00

I once saw a saying about the Philippines. It read, "Where else is it completely normal to eat 5 large meals a day?" Trust me, it makes sense, and once you've had a taste of some Filipino favorites you will completely understand.

Growing up Filipino was always great when it came to the taste and amount of food. We used to wrap our dining table up with newspaper, dump a large box of crabs, invite family over and feast! It seemed like the delicious amounts of food would never end. That is, until I decided to move out. There are only a select few Filipino dishes that I know how to cook, so actually finding a small Filipino restaurant in Indianapolis had me more excited than a kid in a candy store.

Eduardo's is a very small family owned Filipino Restaurant located at 2412 East Raymond Street. I felt very welcome upon arrival and some what at home. There are no menus and no hosts. You simply order at the front desk which has a list of the dishes up there, then you find a seat.

Pork adobo served on white rice

I was shocked to see the variety of food that they had to offer. From things Ive never had to the Filipino favorites. One of the favorites is pork or chicken adobo. slow cooked in a deep sauce pan with garlic, vinegar, peppers and soy sauce. Very simple to make and very hard to mess up.

My absolute all time favorite is lumpia, a small assortment of vegetables and ground beef or pork wrapped in spring rolls and then deep fried. Its basically the Filipino Egg Roll. I ended up getting two orders of it.

Lumpia

The food was fresh, the staff was extraordinarily polite and I only ended up spending about twelve dollars to feed two. Why not try something a little new today? Head over to Eduardo's and get a little taste of the Filipino culture...

...and as always, Eat on!

Trick

3 Great Suggestions for Valentine's Dinner Date

2013-02-11T19:36:00.003-05:00

My wife and I have been together for several years. Over that time, we've been able to eat at a few establishments in Indy for Valentine's Day. I've had some pretty stellar experiences, and some that also weren't so great. I've had very expensive meals (to try and impress her), and we've also considered White Castle once (but you've got to make reservations?!?!). Regardless of service, and whatever your price range, I've got a few different restaurant suggestions that I've tried or would recommend to anyone this week, and some helpful tips to get your foot in the door for date night this Thursday.

Let's jump right in and talk about my Top 3 Places to Eat this Valentine's Day:

3.) H2O Sushi - This was a great atmosphere, and not overly crowded the year my wife and I went for our Valentine's Dinner. The servers here are excellent, and very knowledgeable not only of the cuisine, but of where it comes from locally. Much of their ingredients are from local sources, which is awesome if you're supporting the #EatLocal movement.

This place serves beer and wine with dinner, so buck up and buy a bottle with your dinner to show your special someone that you aren't afraid to throw down for the special occasion.

Mouth. Want. Sushi? Check out H2O Sushi on Yelp Here! Tip: Be sure to call in to make a reservation.

1912 Broad Ripple Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46220
Neighborhood: Broad Ripple

(317) 254-0677

http://www.h2osushibar.com

2.) Flatwater Restaurant - I love this place so dearly, it's literally one of my favorite places in the Broad Ripple Area. The only downside that I can see to going here for a Valentine's Day dinner date, is that the place does not do reservations, and because it's not warm, seating is a bit of a trip. No matter, if you're not off in time, get in there for a late dinner, which should prove to be a bit less crowded around 8.

This place has a little bit of everything, but my favorite dish is the Pork Medallions with a side of their velvety mashed potatoes...oh man. Wash that down with one of the local beers they have on tap, and it proves to be a successful V-Day date for both you and your significant other.

Mouth watering yet? Check out Flatwater Restaurant on Yelp Here! Tip: Remember, make it in early before this place gets filled up.

832 E Westfield Blvd
Indianapolis, IN 46220
Neighborhood: Broad Ripple

(317) 257-5466

http://www.flatwaterbroadripple.co…

& finally......

1.) Lorenzo's Ristorante - This place is always so great to visit. Warm, welcoming atmosphere, insanely good food, and deals abundant weekly. They've also been recently ranked as the #34 Most Romantic Restaurant on Yelp. Our friends from the land of social media are running their Valentine's Day Special, which includes dinner + bubbly for you and your sweetheart, for $60. They also understand that not everyone gets out ON Valentine's Day, so they are running their deal Thursday through Saturday.

*Update 2/12/13--Lorenzo's has moved up to #27 on Yelp's List of Most Romantic Indy Restaurants. Congrats!

Want more info on Lorenzo's? Check them out on Yelp Here! Tip: If you hurry, you can book your table on OpenTable, or visit their site (listed below) for more details on their menu (several tables still available for V-Day the 14th).

15 E Maryland St
Indianapolis, IN 46204

(317) 635-3096

http://www.lorenzosindy.com

If you haven't booked a restaurant yet, you're not yet out of time...but seriously get it into gear. You've already missed the time frame for guaranteed delivery of flowers on Valentine's Day, so the least you can do is get you're special someone to dinner to make up for that vast oversight (take it from me). Whichever you choose, it's a sure thing that all of these restaurants will deliver and make him or her happy.

Be sure to make that reservation (what are you waiting for?), and as always...

Eat On.

--Justin

The Tamale Place

2013-02-08T07:13:00.000-05:00

I was hearing people talk about The Tamale Place in regular conversations for a few months now (C'mon, I write a food blog.. You know that people are going to tell me where I should eat). Everyone said that The Tamale Place is the only place you should go to eat tamale's in Indy. I decided to give it a shot a few days ago. Was I completely blown away with the flavors of Mexico... YES! So much so that I went Monday to try the place, and when I started writing this blog on Thursday, I had to go back and try some more of their delicious home made food! At the price, I can make this a staple in my food selection each week. A tamale combo is only 8 bucks! Which comes with a tamale, rice or beans, chips, fresh salsa, and a drink. The taco's are $2.50 each or 3 for $7.25, and are worth every penny!

The Tamale Place is located at 5226 Rockville Road. When you walk through the first door, it doesn't look like any mexican restaurant I've ever been to. There is a pleasant American feel, with a nice mural of a beach on the wall. There are a few "Diners, Drive-is, and Dives" posters because they were a featured restaurant on the popular Food

Tamale Size

Network show. You walk up to the counter and the staff is friendly, and has no problem helping guide you through the order experience. There is a board right next to where you order that tells you what tamale's they have in stock... Because the demand is so high, they run out several times during the day!

The Tamale Place serves Tacos, Tamales, and Tortas. They also have fresh salsa, home made chips, rice, beans, guacamole, and occasionally specialty drinks (Horchata & Atole). They have 15 different flavors of tamale's which include beef, chicken, or pork with green sauce, chorizo, poblano peppers with cheese. They

Chocolate Tamale

Hot and Spicy Pork on a nacho

also have spicy tamales, and the only one I have tried was the Hot and Spicy Pork. This tamale left my mouth feeling the spice for 20 minutes after I had one bite. It definitely wakes your mouth up! Along with what you expect a tamale to have stuffed inside, they have sweet tamales. I personally have had the chocolate and pumpkin tamale. The pumpkin was better than moms home made pumpkin pie, and the chocolate reminded me of brownie but without the oily taste that I can't stand about brownies.

Chicken Taco

Fish Taco

I had to have a separate section in this blog to show my appreciation to the tacos. I have been to countless restaurants that serve TACOS. The Tamale Place does tacos right. I have to say, these might be the best tacos in the city! I have had everyone in my inner circle that has tried them (6 people I have brought to this place since my first time earlier this week...all over 27 years of age, all agree that they haven't had a better taco in the city). Some of the flavors you can have are fish, chicken, steak, pork, chorizo & egg, and steak & egg.

Salsa

The tamale process takes 2-3 days to make because these are completely home made. They soak the white corn and grind it into fresh masa. They then stuff the meat into the masa and wrap it in a corn husk, or banana leaf and cook them to perfection!

I could continue my rant, but you should really just stop reading and get over to The Tamale Place now! You can always call ahead to check availability and order ahead of time at (317) 240--9771!

Eat on my fellow foodies, Eat on!

~JT

Super Salsa in a Bowl...for the Super Bowl

2013-02-03T15:56:00.001-05:00

Lets be honest with ourselves. When we buy some salsa at the grocery store we are kind of disappointed at the price, and I'm sure we've all tried to make our own type of salsa and failed miserably. Well ladies and gentleman, failure is not an option for a Super Bowl party!

What you will need:
1 Mango

1 Cup of Chopped Jalapenos

1/2 Cup of Chopped Onions

1 Cup of Chopped Red Bell Peppers
Garlic
Tabasco

First, chop the mango into small chunks. Then simply dump everything else in a bowl with the chunks of mango. It is very important not to waist any mango juice, so make sure all the juice gets poured in there as well. Now, season the salsa with garlic and Tabasco to your liking. Now with most salsa you have to blend it up. You can do this if you would like, but I personally enjoyed the way it looked and tasted, just by being stirred.

Last step is to get some tortilla chips and scoop away!

Enjoy the big game and as always, Eat on.

Trick

Super Bowl Party? Try Some Variety...

2013-02-02T19:49:00.001-05:00

This year's Super Bowl is bound to be a good game, showcasing both the offensive prowess of the 49ers, and the brute strength of the Raven's defense. In between breaks, when you're not watching the e-Trade baby or some stupid Doritos commercial, I'm sure you'll be cramming some sort of food or dip into your mouthhole. The question of what to bring/make for a party you're attending?

The options are seemingly endless, because the game is "technically" during the dinner hours, but many people start earlier, entertaining guests and eating or drinking a bit before the game. I'm here to give you my personal Top 5 Food Ideas for your Super Bowl Party, that take minimal effort, and are guaranteed to be eaten by those in attendance.

5.) Guacamole - It's been said that nearly 4 tons of guacamole will be consumed during the Super Bowl. Join the masses, but get creative with your mix. With my mix, I like to throw in garlic, lemon, lime, 2 tbsp. of diced tomatoes, and sometimes a little lemon zest for a zing. (TIP: When pitting your avocados, make sure to save at least one to throw into your guac. The pit keeps the mixture from browning too quickly!)

4.) Chili - This is absolutely one of the best things to have on hand for the game, because its versatile. You can put it on nachos, hot dogs, or just eat it traditionally. My wife makes chili every year for our party, and uses canned black beans, chili beans, corn, chili powder, cayenne pepper, onions, garlic, and about 2 cups of water. Meat is a matter of preference, so be mindful of what options your guests may like. My recent favorite is a pound of lean ground turkey, or using ground boar (yes, boar) to give your chili something a little....different.

3.) Dips (Get Creative!) - Outside of a cheese dip or guac dip, this is where you can afford to be creative. There are many types of pre-made dips that you can make by "just adding sour cream", which are fine, but why be boring? This year, we are doing Shredded Buffalo Chicken Dip, for which you'll need: 2 cans of shredded chicken, a bottle of Frank's Red Hot Sauce, a block of cream cheese, your preference of shredded cheese, and an oven at which to bake. Mix all ingredients together into baking dish, bake at 350 for 20 minutes, serve warm with chips or crackers. It's the best of both worlds, taking a dip and buffalo wings and turning it into something that I can shovel into my mouth on a cracker.

2.) Pizza - Of course, pizza makes the list, because who doesn't like pizza? It's simple, it's easy to make, and it's likely all will be consumed by your party. Do what we're doing this year, and rather than ordering out and waiting 2 years for delivery, make your own. We're using Flat Out brand flatbread, and making a flat bread pizza bar. This way, the portion sizes are small enough that you can still enjoy the bevy of food options made available, and your guests can get what they want on their pizza.

Heavy Seas - Winter Storm

Anchor - Steam Beer

1.) Beer -Having drinks is the single most component of an all-adult Super Bowl Party. Indianapolis does showcase several master craft brews, but again, in the sake of being different, hunt down beer representative of the teams cities. San Fransisco and Baltimore are great cities for beer and craft brews, and beers from Anchor Breweries (San Fran.) and Heavy Seas Brewing Company (Baltimore) are just a few of the beers you can find at liquor stores such as Kahn's. The most important thing, above being different in your selection, is just to make sure you're stocked (stupid Blue Laws).

Enjoy the game, sports fans, and Eat On,

Justin

P.S.- 49ers by 6.

Broad Street Bar Hopping (Nashville, TN)

2013-02-02T15:28:00.000-05:00

Nashville is a whole other planet of awesome. The Indianapolis bar scene is full of some of the best DJ's you could hear nationwide. Nashville on the other hand, will have some of the best musicians playing for your entertainment in almost every bar.

Just recently, I (Jacob) took a trip to Nashville, Tennessee. My parents live in Tennessee, so I decided it was a good idea to keep my dad a little company since my mother took a trip to the Philippines to visit family. So the first thing we did was go to Broad Street for some bar hopping. The first place we went was called Legends.

Yuengling Lager
oldest American Brewery

I cannot describe how welcome I felt upon arrival. My father and I walked in and the musician on stage instantly asked how we were doing and where we were from. After I ordered myself a delicious Yuengling he asked what we wanted to hear. I quickly responded with "Don't Think Twice Its Alright," written by Bob Dylan. He played it on the acoustic and sung it like a legend ... which again is the name of the bar. (See what I did there?)

Yazoo - Native Brew

We decided to check out B.B. Kings Blues Bar right after, which I must say is heaven for the blues fanatic. The absolute best thing about this location, besides the live bands playing on stage, is the family environment; absolutely all ages are welcome. So if you're in Nashville with the kids and looking for a good time to spend with family, I promise you will not leave disappointed.

It was quite an experience walking past every bar and hearing some type of live music playing. There is a book written by Lucinda Williams titled "Nashville's Lower Broad: The Street That Music Made." Walking down broad street and experiencing the music life fully made me understand the title. Being a musician myself meant that the Broad Street bars will always come to my mind as an amazing experience...especially with some beer!

Be safe and drink on,
Trick

Love it or Hate/Scared of it...It's Handy.

2013-01-25T16:33:00.000-05:00

I (Justin) am quite the fan of cooking from home. You name it, I cook it, or at least have the fortitude to try and cook it.

I also like the idea of cutting up my own veggies and meats. There's something about a real sense of accomplishment that comes from cutting everything up and "making" it yourself, even though we all know all I did was open up the packaging or peel of the label and chop/slice it up. My wife knows that I take pride in the way that I prep and cook things on a daily basis, so when she asked for something during the holiday season, I was partly shocked, and the other part insulted.

No, she didn't ask for a divorce. She asked me (and everyone we know) for a mandoline slicer/grater for the holidays. I felt as if this was blasphemy to our kitchen, so I gladly let her father purchase it for her, you know, just in case. In the box it has set untouched in the packaging, until burger night earlier this week. Wifey decided that she would go ahead and bust this thing out of the package, and all I could think was, "Well, at least one of us will still have all out fingers."

Looking back in retrospect, I can see how silly this sounds, and boy was it ever. She sliced through an entire tomato in less that 20 seconds and an onion in about the same. Normally, I encourage going at your own pace so you don't nick a digit and have to be rushed to the ER. In this scenario, I'm all for it. Also, all the terrible things that I've heard about people losing fingers to these beastly devices are nearly all but false nowadays, as many even have safety attachments for kids. Kids. Makes me ashamed to say I was scared to use it...c'est la vie.

Men, if you cook, you can do half the work in nearly no time, and save yourself from having to load up the dish washer with multiple unneeded items. This thing will slice, dice, make julienne fries, and grate cheese, AND juice fruit as well. It a ridiculous amount of things that can be done on just one device, and they actually run on the cheap. I'm not saying to cut all the knives out of the kitchen, just give yourself another toy to play with in the kitchen. And if you do slice off the tip of your finger while using this, we'll share a laugh, and then I'll corroborate the manly-story of you losing it in some table saw accident.

Be adventurous when stocking your kitchen, and as always, Eat On.

--Justin

Search and Devour Ep. 1

2013-01-25T10:44:00.000-05:00

Our first crack at the video thing. Enjoy!

Thanks again to Ali Baba Cafe and Hookah Bar for allowing us to film.

Mealightenment - 2013

Taste of the Caribbean [Review]

2013-01-25T10:41:00.000-05:00

Today, I had an idea. I figured that I would just toss out there on Twitter that I was interested in getting something to eat from a food truck. Social media, and the "now-ness" of our generation is still amazing, even to the 27-year old me. Either way, here's the tweet I sent out earlier (pictured at right).

So with that, I knew that at least one of our followers would tweet back, as we do still have pretty good rapport with a few of the trucks. The most successful part of this was that the truck that reached out to me, was exactly the truck I was hoping to hear from: Taste of the Caribbean.

Now let's set the record straight by saying that this...THIS is really Caribbean cooking. All of the other restaurants that you've been to in the city that serve jerk chicken, or even claim to be Caribbean cooking, forget about them. Forget everything you know about the food truck cooking/prep process as a whole, as the two man operation (Larry and his wife, from Jamaica) is probably still the only food truck that takes the grill out and hits the pavement to cook the food while parked at their location. Their preparation is fresh and on-site, and that's a respectable trait to find right now in the food truck game, especially hitting the location at 8 a.m. most days to prep. Not to mention that their prep time on-site does pay off...because their food is phenomenal.

Caribbean is the new kid on the block, yes (literally; their truck has been on the streets since mid-December), but their demeanor and love for the food & the true Jamaican cuisine that they prepare, makes me think they're gonna be in this for a long, long time. Sure, like most of the trucks on the streets of Indy, brick and mortar might be the ultimate goal. Taste of the Caribbean is likely to upgrade their facilities out of the trailer, and perhaps into a full-fledged truck, maybe as early as this year; and that seems to be good enough for them, for now.

I was excited to meet them and finally grab a bite of their legendary jerk chicken, of which they claim is the best in the state. I'd have to agree, because I can't remember the last plate of jerk chicken I had; this was instantly memorable because of the flavor and the generous amount of heat it brought to my tongue. The presentation of the chicken rolled-up nicely into the wrap was great, and was easy to eat while sitting in my car (it was 22 Degrees outside). I saved the second part of my meal till home, a chicken and pumpkin soup. I was a bit hesitant, because I've never had a pumpkin soup, and prefer a savory over sweet type of soup. I was glad I tried it. It was a bit of both, and hearty, the perfect counter-balance to the jerk chicken that was still burning the front of my mouth.

Really, if you get a chance, TRY THIS. Their menu has some heavy hitting items, including shrimp curry, several goat dishes, red beans and rice, etc., and they are constantly looking at adding new options to the menu. Follow on Twitter @Caribbean_Taste, and tweet them for scheduling and locations.

As always my fellow foodies, Eat On.

-Justin

Mississippi Belle - All You Can Eat Soul Food...is That Even Possible?

2013-01-19T14:30:00.000-05:00

This restaurant find is compliments to my number one food partner in crime, Greg. He came to my house one day and said he had heard of a place that was a must write about establishment for us here at Mealightenment. So instantly, my curious nature was slammed right next to the growling in my stomach. I asked what kind of place is this? He said, "All you can eat soul food that is fresh cooked and brought to your table!" After that sentence, I was sold, and we immediately headed to East 54th St. and Keystone to try out Mississippi Belle.

When we arrived, we were greeted with a warm hello and a friendly staff. We had a seat, ordered our drinks and then looked at the menu. How it works: Everyone at the table orders their choice of meat, then the table agrees on four home-cooked sides. At that point, the food keeps flowing as long as you want it too. You just let the waitress know that you want more, and they will bring it right out. The choices of meat vary just a bit per day, but mostly stay the same. Some of the delicious choices are: rubbed ribs, meatloaf, beef Manhattan, baked chicken, pan-friend chicken, fried catfish, and roast beef.

Baked Chicken Dinner

On top of that fantastic tasting meat, comes your delicious soul food sides! You can find the likes of fried cabbage, greens, sweet potatoes, fried corn, green beans, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese and fried potatoes.

We ordered the rubbed ribs, beef Manhattan (my personal least favorite of what we had), and the fried catfish, and our sides were macaroni and cheese, fried cabbage, greens, and corn. I had some trouble deciding between the sides, so our waitress brought out samples of a couple things to help me make my decision! After knocking out two tables worth of food, Greg had our waitress go back for two more plates full of meat.

After we were finished eating, the waitress suggested we try her "chess pie". She served it warm drizzled with honey. I can't even describe how sweet this pie was!

We rolled out of this place completely stuffed for under 15 bucks!!! This is an original restaurant that gets two thumbs up from me, followed by a suggestion for all to make a trip. This place was the good luck charm of ex-coach to the Indianapolis Colts. Every Sunday before or after the game, you would find Mr. Tony Dungy here.

Here is a link to their MENU.

The address is 2170 East 54th Street, Indianapolis, IN
(317) 466-0522

Eat On my fellow foodies!
~JT

Breakfast That Will Send You Straight to Bed (The Deli - Review)

2013-01-11T10:52:00.000-05:00

Before I begin, I must state that once Justin and I took a simple glance at DELI'S menu, we stopped, looked at each other and said, "This is going to be a lot of food!"

On a Wednesday morning Justin (blog founder) and I decided to have an early EPIC breakfast. DELI (or The Keystone Deli) was my first thought. A very simple breakfast diner that has good strong coffee to wake you, a very polite staff to serve you, and very large meals that will fill you for the day.

I was craving a skillet like no other. So I decided to go with the "deli skillet" for $8.45. Ham, bacon, and sausage simmered with green peppers, onions, cheese, eggs, and hash browns, then served up with two buttermilk biscuits...and yes if you are wondering, I did finish it like a champ (but barely)!

Justin decided to go with "Uncle Leroy's Breakfast," for $7.95. I'm not sure who Uncle Leroy is, but from the looks of things, the man can eat. Uncle Leroy's breakfast came with two eggs, grits or apple's, a large portion of home fried potatoes, sausage gravy and home made biscuits. Then choose between a ribeye steak, a salmon patty, a hamburger steak, a country fried steak served with gravy, or one pork chop. Yes, a breakfast that will truly send you back to sleep!

The menu had plenty to offer under the $15 range. So if you are in much need of a delicious home cooked style breakfast, be sure to check out DELI. Located at 2344 east 53 street Indianapolis, IN 46220 or give them a call (317)255-2288

To all my fellow breakfast junkies, Eat On,

Trick

Chris' Ice Cream...& Tacos?

2013-01-03T12:00:00.000-05:00

Chris' Ice Cream - Nora (82nd /Monon Trail)

Recently, while trolling Twitter, I had a friend tell me about a place in Nora that I absolutely had to try. According to my friend, this place has amazing and inexpensive tacos that give other area restaurants a run for their money. Now what if I told you that the restaurant was "technically" a homemade ice cream shop? Weird, right? The exact same thing I thought...but then the very next thing I felt was intrigue.

Chris' Ice Cream, an amazingly-cheap eatery on the North Side, is right in the heart of Nora (82nd Street) just off the Monon Trail. It's really easy to find, except you just wouldn't anticipate an ice cream store to have tacos and other genuine Spanish Cuisine. I was able to visit Wednesday (Jan. 2nd) during my lunch break from work, and it was definitely worth a little farther drive from where I might visit for lunch. I was very glad to have made the trip.

Walking into Chris' Ice Cream, it didn't feel like much of an "Ice Cream" shop or "Mexican" restaurant, but as if the two had a strange love-child. One side of the restaurant is completely for their homemade ice cream, and it's the first thing you see when you walk in. Do not be fooled, if its food you seek, just go to the right side of the counter, and find the food menu posted on the wall. They've got tacos (beef, chicken, and pork), sopes (tortillas, meat, cheese, sour cream, lettuce), and even a Cuban sandwich that looks amazing. All food is affordable, and only takes around 5 minutes to prepare.

Beef and Chicken Tacos

I talked to Jaime, owner and operator, who is actually from El Salvador. He told me the idea came shortly after opening up the ice cream shop around 5 years ago. The decision to make Spanish cuisine, and his recipes, came from the way that his Grandfather cooked when he was growing up. Rather than tossing everything on the grill, Jaime cuts up the meats, marinates it, and cooks it on the grill with a bunch of cilantro and onion for a superior flavor. These tacos are not your normal tacos; they're much, much better. The meat is succulent, the spicing is perfection, and the additive of lime and verde sauce add a kick that other restaurants just can't come close to touching. I smashed three tacos, and can't wait for my return trip.

If you get a moment, you definitely need to check this place out. It's worth a trip for a lunch break or a quick stop in for dinner. You can find more information on Chris' Ice Cream on Yelp!, or just stop by their location at 1405 E. 82nd St, Indianapolis, IN 46240.

Embrace the unexpected, and as always, Eat On.

--Justin

Appliance Alert - Yonanas Frozen Treat Maker

2013-01-03T09:30:00.000-05:00

I was searching for something to get my wife for Christmas, and considering that she watches our bank accounts like a hawk, I had to have her father make the purchase to surprise her. My kitchen is riddled with too many appliances, and not enough counter space; the last thing we needed was another one. I could not pass this one up, because I secretly wanted it for myself - The Yonanas Frozen Treat Maker.

Who likes ice cream? Who likes frozen yogurt? Who like fruit? I know I sure do. I do enjoy candy & other sweet stuff, but also try to eat healthy as much as I can. With the Yonanas machine, you can take lightly browned bananas, freeze them, and then make a delicious frozen treat, that is not only healthy, but irresistibly tasty, too. I'd eat this everyday if I could...I promise if you try, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

Freeze and add in additional types of fruit (strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, etc.), and if you're not feeling particularly healthy, add in candy or even peanut butter with your bananas to give your treat a little bit of flair (I used Reese's Pieces).

Check out the YouTube video above highlighting just what Yonanas can do for your home and inching you toward a healthy snack life.

Share your recipes or ideas for the use of this machine. I'd be more than happy to try them out and post a video highlighting my favorite submissions. Leave suggestions below in the comments section, Tweet us @Mealightenment, or email us mealightenment@gmail.com.

Eat On,

--Justin