Indy dining: Maxine's Chicken and Waffles

After the Colts-Lions game (or should I say, the Colts' victory over the Lions), Kurt and I headed to Maxine's Chicken and Waffles on North East Street. Pulling up, we noticed that the restaurant was attached to a Citgo station. I'll admit, in spite of the glowing reviews, I was ready to go somewhere else at this point. Upon entering, I was glad that we didn't. The dining area is spacious and decorated in a warm, contemporary style, not at all what you'd expect from the external appearance. A counter covered with huge slices of three layer cake separates the dining room from the open kitchen. The vibe was warm and friendly from the get go. I knew good things were in store.

Ordering was a no brainer. Both Kurt and I wanted to try the chicken and waffles, and fried green tomatoes had long been on my list of foods to sample. Our waitress, Maxine's granddaughter, asked how we'd like the tomatoes fried. The choices apparently are soggy and crispy. Figuring you can hardly go wrong with anything fried and crispy, we chose the latter. They arrived quickly with a bowl of homemade dipping sauce. The oniony flavor of the sauce complemented the tomatoes well. Not being a fan of tomatoes (or anything green for that matter), Kurt was initially skeptical. They were fried in a cornmeal batter reminiscent of catfish batter and were remarkably light and not in the least greasy. Kurt loved them and proclaimed them the best dish of the evening.

Our chicken and waffles arrived along with a plate of fried cornbread and peach butter. The large waffle was topped with three sizable chicken wings and accompanied by more peach butter. The waffle was light and sweet and would have been wonderful on its own, but topped with a bite of crispy fried chicken and a dab of peach butter, it created a salt-sweet-crunchy-pillowy combo that was unbelievably good. Anyone who likes the sweet-savory flavor of sausage and maple syrup will appreciate this as well.

Kurt ordered Maxine's special drink, the D&K tea. It's a mix of half lemonade and half sweet tea. I expected it to taste like sweet tea with lemon, but the result was a bizarre one-two punch of lemonade with a sweet tea chaser. Strange, yet I kept going back for more sips until Kurt told me to just finish it off. A good boyfriend! Both the lemonade and tea are quite sweet on their own, possibly too sweet for many people. I found it inexplicably addictive.

After we gorged on all things fried and buttery, we decided we couldn't pass up the chance to try a piece of the homemade cake. Kurt opted for caramel at the recommendation of the cook behind the counter. The other options were strawberry and lemon. The cake was moist and the icing had a sweet caramel flavor. A little icing went a long way, and we managed to finish off the cake while leaving some of the icing behind. We were stuffed by this point, but happily so.

On the way out, I told Kurt that it was a good thing I don't live closer to Maxine's because I'd probably go there far too often. I have a weak spot for homemade, (unhealthy!) Southern cooking, and my sense is that everything at Maxine's is delicious. The service was friendly and fast, and it was great to see a family working together. I wish much success to Maxine's, and I'm already itching to go back. I have my eye on the catfish and that gloriously pink strawberry cake.

D&K tea

Fried green tomatoes

Fried cornbread and peach butter

Chicken and waffles

Homemade caramel cake

Nashville Eats: Miller's Ice Cream

Before lunch, Kurt and I noticed a sign for homemade ice cream on a brick building just down the street from the Hob Nob. We decided to skip the famous apple crisp at the Hob Nob to give Miller's a try before heading to the park for an afternoon of hiking.

Kurt opted for the peanut butter chocolate chip. It tasted exactly like the peanut butter kisses (does anyone remember those??) that my mom used to buy at Halloween. It was served in a homemade waffle cone, and Kurt, though stuffed, seemed pleased with his choice.

I wanted to try something unusual, so I went with a dip of pumpkin and a dip of apple butter. The apple butter was advertised as being made from a nearby orchard's homemade apple butter. Miller's offers 'junior scoops' for those of us wanting to try multiple flavors (or for those who can't make up their minds). Both flavors were excellent and true to their name. It tasted like fall in a dish! The texture was slightly grainy, but not unpleasantly so.

Story! While I was eating (and Kurt was outside on the phone figuring something out with his editor), two little boys came in and sat down with their ice cream. They looked to be about 4 or 5 years old. Possibly twins, but I couldn't tell for sure. They were super psyched to have vanilla - "the BEST flavor ever!" as they said several times. When their mom came in, one of them said to her, "Look Mom! It's like we're on a date!" Mom leaned in and whispered, "But you're too young, and one of you should be a girl!" Too cute.

Nashville Eats: Hob Nob Corner Restaurant

On Tuesday's Brown County trip, Kurt and I stopped in Nashville for lunch. After finally finding a place to park - there's a free lot on the southwest end of town for those willing to walk - we tracked down the Hob Nob Corner Restaurant which had been recommended by both my Dad and his parents (odd that!).

The Hob Nob is in an unassuming white building said to be the oldest commercial structure in Nashville. Basically, follow the scent of chicken to the Nashville House and head across the street. The small entry was full as we entered, and we were told the wait would be about 20 minutes. Thankfully, the wait wasn't quite that long. We used the time to check out the menu and appreciate the simple, old-fashioned style of the restaurant. Wooden booths lined one wall and an old school soda fountain ran along the other. We were seated in the back section of the restaurant which was brighter and more spacious. An apothecary cabinet filled with antique glass bottles and white powders of dubious origin lined the wall behind our table.

The menu offered traditional favorites such as pork tenderloin, grilled cheese, and apple crisp. There were also surprises like a spinach-apple salad, eggplant ravioli and my choice, the curried chicken salad. The sole vegetarian option was an open faced sandwich featuring avocado and veggies topped with melted cheese. Kurt opted for the turkey melt - turkey, bacon, tomato and mozzarella served open face on white bread. The portions were generous and both dishes were excellent. I'm a bit finicky about turkey, but the meat on Kurt's sandwich tasted as if it were sliced off of a home cooked turkey. Two thumbs up!

My chicken salad had a wonderful curry flavor and added crunch from the addition of Jonathan apples and diced celery. It was served with cantaloupe and a homemade onion-dill roll. I noticed onion-dill bread for sale up front and was glad to try it myself. I was worried about the large bits of onion inside, but they were sweet and barely noticeable. The dill flavor could have been more pronounced, but then I'm a huge fan of dill, so that may be a personal bias.

The Hob Nob is a good alternative for those seeking a lighter meal in Nashville. Everything is homemade using quality ingredients, and the old fashioned atmosphere makes for a fun, nostalgic experience. The trick is to get there early since the line had tripled by the time we left at 1pm.

Al-Mar Orchards in Flushing, MI

Kurt and I were assigned the task of heading to the orchard for cider and apples. I assumed we'd head to the well advertised Koen's, but Kurt drove past to the smaller Al-Mar Orchards just up the road. Named for Albert Koen and his wife Margaret, this is a 4th generation family business offering organic produce, homemade cider (and hard cider for those of you who like the hooch), and fresh apple donuts.

If you visit, be sure to head around back to see donkeys, goats, turkeys, and even a herd of reindeer. Kurt struck up a conversation with the owner, 86 year-old Albert Koen, who assured me that none of the animals would ever end up on the dinner table. My kind of guy! He was kind enough to bring us a snack of apples straight from the field and to let us sample the hooch .. er .. hard cider. We even got to feed our apple cores to a reindeer! All in all, a great way to spend a fall afternoon.

Mystery Cafe at the Milano Inn

I've been wanting to attend a murder mystery dinner for many years, and I finally got the chance last Saturday when Kurt and I went to the Mystery Cafe at the Milano Inn.

The dinner was held in a large room upstairs, completely separate from the main dining room. I was expecting a smaller venue, maybe 15-20 people, but the room held 64 and was nearly full. We were seated at 4 long tables and the play took place in the center of the room between the tables. No flash photography was allowed during the acts, so unfortunately I don't have any pics of the play itself.

There were two actors who each played several roles during the four act play. They were often in drag with the young man dressed up as Liza Minelli (high kicks and all - impressive!) and the woman as a Martin Scorsese-style director. Dinner was served in between the acts. Since you're seated communally, you get to know the people around you, and they can have a big impact on your experience. The table to our right seemed to be the "wild" table where the drinks were flowing liberally. At one point, a tray of jello shots made it their way if that gives you any idea.

Kurt and I were seated next to two sisters, one from Illinois and one from Ohio, who meet in Indiana monthly for a wacky activity. They were friendly and exceptionally nice. Beside them, however, was a man who absolutely did not want to be there and spent the entire evening making sarcastic remarks about the quality (or lack thereof) of the show. It was a little off-putting at first, but everyone started egging him on, and it ended up being pretty funny. I felt sorry for his wife, but apparently she has years of experience ignoring him because she laughed it off and had a good time.

While our curmudgeonly companion was a bit harsh in his critique ("This is as funny as a screen door on a submarine", "Now I know how they torture the prisoners in Guantanemo Bay"), the show itself wasn't exactly what I expected. While it was a fun evening, the play was too heavy on the bad jokes (some good bad, many just bad bad) and too light on mystery for my taste. I had anticipated something more Agatha Christie-ish with lots of clues and a puzzle for the audience to solve. As it was, no one guessed the killer because it ended up being completely arbitrary. We had puzzles at our seats that supplied clues, but they were vague and weren't supported by hints in the play itself. Bummer on that front.

On the upside, 20 audience members were assigned roles. While some were so nervous they could barely speak, a few people really hammed it up. A young guy who impersonated Michael Jackson, moonwalk and all, won the Hammie award, but my favorite was the older man with a German accent who had to yell, "You are a slut!" to the lead actress. Classic.

Kurt knew I was hoping to get a role, so he mentioned it was my birthday, and they obliged by giving me a part. Hurray for Dr. H! That's the good news. The bad news is that I was cast as a Rosie O'Donnell type character. I looked down, read the role, and whispered to Kurt, "I think I'm a lesbian!" which caused everyone in the vicinity to crack up. I did the best I could, but a New York accent would have helped. Too bad the only voices I do are valley girls and vampires. At least I didn't crumble into a pile of giggles like the poor teenage girls at the next table.

I don't know how typical our experience was of a mystery dinner. I'd still like to try one in a more intimate venue with a real whodunit involved. It was good fun though with lots of silliness and a wonderful meal from the Milano Inn. Two thumbs way up for the crusty garlic rolls and chicken parmesan.

Me before dinner. Clearly a Rosie O'Donnell doppelganger if there ever was one.

My role - I opted to improvise a little and forgo the sobbing into a napkin part at the end. My dignity had taken enough of a hit for one evening.

Kurt working on the puzzles that supplied the only clues we were to get that evening.

Minestrone soup for the first course.

The salad was served family style and had excellent garlic croutons on top.

Chicken parmesan, one of the four entrees available. The others were sausage cannelloni, lasagna, and shells florentine.

Spumoni ice cream for dessert.

Birthday rituals

Yesterday, I turned thirty-#$@%! and, as I have for the last decade, went to India Palace with my dad for an excellent (and spicy!) Indian dinner. I had my new favorite, nav ratan shahi korma, and Dad went for his usual, the chicken tikka masala. In addition to papadum, naan, and basmati rice, they've started serving a trio of sauces with dinner: onion chutney, tamarind, and something green and not-so-delicious. The tamarind is so addicting that I'll be heading to the nearest Indian grocery to see if I can pick some up.

After dinner, we went home for presents and a black forest whipped cream cake from Taylor's Bakery. Growing up, I'd always have a homemade black forest cake (thanks Mom!) or a whipped cream cake from Roselyn Bakery. Taylor's has created the best of both worlds by adding layers of cherries to the traditional whipped cream and chocolate. YUM!

All in all, another fun birthday (except for the thirty-whatever part). Thanks to Dad for the great gifts, decorations, and cake!


You'll notice there's only one candle. You know you're getting older when you stop covering the cake with candles. Bah!

Donut lovers, get thee to Terre Haute!

Last weekend, Kurt and I went to Square Donuts on Wabash Avenue. While it doesn't look like much on the outside, inside you'll find some of the best donuts Indiana has to offer. With their light dough and wonderfully flavored frosting, Square Donuts puts the national chains to shame.

We sampled the basic yeast as well as the chocolate, raspberry, and peanut butter cremes. The yeast was a bit sweet for my taste, but anyone who likes Krispy Kremes should love it. All of the cremes feature a yeast donut with white creme filling and a flavored frosting. The chocolate was good but nothing out of the ordinary. The real gems were the raspberry which had pieces of fruit in the pink frosting and a wonderful fresh raspberry taste and the peanut butter with its super creamy peanut butter fudge frosting.

One caveat: While the store claims to be open until mid-afternoon, they actually shut down when they run out of donuts. You'll want to get there early for the best selection. Another option is to place an order to be sure you'll get your favorite flavors. I had my eye on the chocolate bavarian which the customer in front of me snapped up. Next time, we'll call ahead and order one along with our peanut butter cremes.





You'll note the peanut butter creme isn't pictured. That's because someone (Kurt!) devoured it before I could get my camera out of the bag.

Afghani in Indy

Kurt has been craving Afghan food lately, specifically lamb kabobs. I did a little research and discovered that Indy's only Afghan restaurant is just 5 minutes from me in Castleton. Between its strip mall location and questionable use of the letter K, I was sketchy about Kabob Korner, but the reviews were positive (glowing even!), so we decided to give it a try last Saturday night.

The restaurant is small and simple, with brightly colored walls, a handful of tables, and a counter where you order. Pitchers of water line one side of the counter along with a red concoction labeled "Very hot sauce". The small sample I had proved this to be accurate, but Kurt used it liberally and didn't find it too hot at all. Then again, this is the man who once chugged a bottle of hot sauce on a dare, so he can't be trusted in these matters. The menu is fairly small, with a variety of kabobs, one vegetarian entree, manto (dumplings) and kurma chalow (meat in tomato sauce). There's baklava for dessert and a small variety of side dishes including samosas, soup, and salad.

Kurt went for lamb kabobs which were served with rice and pita. I chose the kurma chalow with chicken which was flavorful, but not at all spicy. It didn't taste like anything I'd ever had before. The closest I can come to describing it is to say it had a "deep" savory flavor. The chicken pieces were quite tender, and the sauce was mild enough that their flavor came through. I nabbed a little of the white sauce that came with Kurt's lamb, and it was a wonderful addition to my chicken. Kurt loved his lamb. It appeared to be cooked perfectly with a touch of pink in the center. His craving was satisfied, and he'll definitely be returning for more.

I was glad to try something new, but I don't know that I'd ever crave the dish I had. It was good but not spectacular. The flavors didn't grab me the way those in other cuisines (Indian in particular) do. Maybe I'll add a little of the 'very hot sauce' next time to spice things up.

Little Italy Festival pictures

We stompa da grapes!

On Labor Day, Kurt and I stomped grapes at the Clinton Little Italy festival, and it was AWESOME!!! If grape stomping isn't on your life list, definitely add it! I was worried it would be gross and messy, but it wasn't at all. They had a tub of water to rinse your feet, but mine only had a couple grape peels on them. Kurt was initially sketchy about the whole thing but couldn't stop grinning the entire time he was stomping. From now on, when it gets above 90, I'll be craving a vat of ice cold grapes to wade into. Heavenly! Who knew?!?

In addition to the grape madness, we also tried 'rosettes' at the Tri-Kappa booth. Neither of us had ever heard of a rosette, but the lines were consistently long and at only 3/$1 (or 12/$4, 24/$8, 36/$12 as the sign so helpfully told us - math IS hard!) we couldn't pass them up. It turns out that a rosette is a thin, crispy piece of fried dough in the shape of a flower that is dusted with powdered sugar and served hot from the oil. Think of the love child of a potato chip and a funnel cake, and you've got the idea. They're super yummy, but also super messy. We both ended up with faces (and shirts and shorts) covered in powdered sugar. Of course, someone (KURT!) might have been flicking it on innocent victims (ME!) which didn't help matters. It came off easily, so no harm done. Other than looking like morons, but we're used to that.

Of course, it wasn't all sunshine and pastries. The day had a dark side as well. During the grape stomping, there was a very determined man buzzing about with a microphone interrogating .. er .. interviewing the stompers. I had two goals: 1) stomp grapes and 2) DO NOT TALK TO MICROPHONE MAN. He seemed to be focusing on the leftmost line, so Kurt and I ducked out and got into the right line. Everything was fine; he was talking to kids, humiliating .. wait, "getting to know" college students. Seriously, I thought I was home free. Of course, when I get in to stomp, he's drawn as if by an evil force to my grape tub, and the next thing I know, I'm on the !$#%!@* microphone and there's much banter about my lackluster (I would claim delicate) stomping technique. ARGH! It's as if by thinking 'no microphone, no microphone, no microphone', I somehow created a cosmic beacon to draw the thing to me. Sigh ...

I'll post pics when Kurt gets around to mailing them to me ...