The Chicago Hot Dog Company

I stopped into the Chicago Hot Dog Company with a craving and a hope that it wouldn't just be another dog in a sea of imposters.

The store front is inviting but can get lost in the shuffle on Michigan Road. It's located at 8320 N. Michigan Road, Indianapolis.

Their website:http://www.chdcompany.com/index.html

When you walk in you get a clean and fairly hip place. Chicago urban, bricks and morter.

Which is to be expected. What's not expected is the friendly and attentive service that is blinding fast. When I placed my order, my food was ready before my change was given.

I ordered the Chicago Hot Dog (Of Course) which is a Vienna Beef Dog served with a savory relish, chopped onion, sport peppers, tomato, celery salt and a pickle spear on a poppy sead bun.

Here is what it's supposed to look like:

When mine came out, it looked like this:

Yep, that's a damn fine version of a Chicago Dog. It was unbelieveably tasty for $2.99. It was served up fast and my only "complaint" was that the dog might have had a bit more snap to the casing. Not everyone likes that snap, so... I defer to the method.

Overall, a nice experience and the best dog I've found a hundred miles south of Chicago. 

That Tamale Place

For over a year I'd heard talk of a restaurant on the West side of Indianapolis serving Tamales, Tacos and chips. It was supposedly good and I was told that most times you'd have to wait on a table.

I must admit going into this review that I am not a fan of Tamales. I've always found them bland and boring at best. Indiana is not exactly the Tamale capital of the world.

So, that lead me to That Tamale Place 

5226 Rockville Road Indianapolis, Indiana

Their website

We decided to give it a go last Saturday and could have not been more pleased. The menu is limited and they may be sold out of your selections, so get there early. The seating is sparse at best but this madhouse turns out some of the best food you'll get anywhere in town. This is not a traditional sit down and hang out kind of place but the staff is friendly and "get" that they are difficult to understand.

Everything is homemade. Hand made chips. Homemade salsa, fresh black beans..... excellent stuff.

We had the Chicken in Green Sauce and Pork in Green Sauce Tamale combos. For $8.00 you get a handmade Tamale, fresh chips, a tub of salsa, black beans and a drink. You just cannot beat it for value.

Brugge Brasserie

A recent trip to Brugge reminds me of why I come back to this hidden away spot again and again.

A traditional French and Belgian ale house that offers the best Fries and Mussels in the city of Indianapolis.

The restaurant is located at 1101 E. Westfield Boulevard in Indianapolis.

Their website

The Frites: Deep fried in duck fat, served in a paper cup. Hands down the best in Indy. You can pick your dipping sauces from a list of twelve.

Fresh mayonnaise, homemade ketchup, roasted garlic aioli,  horseradish, sweet chili

sea salt & sherry vinegar, blue cheese, aioli, poplar syrup & French Dijon, hot curry,

sauce andalouse, and fresh herb pesto.

I highly recommend the roasted garlic aioli, the herb pesto and my favorite the poplar syrup and French Dijon.

The Charcuterie: A wonderful plate of meats, cheeses, nuts and fruit served with crostini. We chose a selection of three meats.

*Capacollo di Dorman salame: Cured w/ chiles, paprika, black pepper, coriander, & white wine

*Tasso: Rich, dense pecan wood-smoked ham spiced with white pepper, allspice, chiles, & marjoram

*Coppa: Dry cured pork rubbed with sea salt, cane sugar & chiles then aged in natural beef casings; balanced with a spicy kick.

The Charcuterie plate was a great mix and the meats from The Smoking Goose did not disappoint. 

The Mussels: The best place in Indianapolis for mussels, Brugge offers mussels served twelve ways. On this day we had Moules Frites, 2 lbs. of Prince Edward Island mussels served Belgian classic style with wine, stock and herbs.....quite lovely

The Beers:

Tripel de Ripple: A blonde Belgian-style tripel with tons of flavor and a kick,  10% alcohol by volume (limit of 2). One of my favorite local beers, this will make your day just a bit more palatable. 

Their staff is excellent; attentive and can talk you through the menu if you are wondering what to order.