rickyleepotts …an opinionated realist

With so many options when it comes to buying your next bottle of wine, where do you begin to narrow down your selection? Well, if you live in or around the Carmel, Indiana area look no further than Vine and Table. Not only does Vine and Table offer weekly tastings every Saturday from 11:00 AM until 3:00 PM, they hold various events throughout the month to get you in and to wet your palate.

The Saturday tastings are free and there is no need to RSVP for those. You can come in, taste a handful of wines and even get a lesson in what makes these wines special. I have been to several of these tastings and each time I am hit with a different experience. But no matter what wines are being poured this is a great chance for you to take some notes and learn what varietals you like and dislike. It takes time to develop a nose for a fine wine and the folks at Vine and Table are here to help. It is events like these that help the general public learn more about the beauty hidden inside these grapes.

However, if you want to experience more wines than the few that are poured every Saturday, you will need to check out one of their monthly mixers. Around every corner you can find one of these events, and I had the chance to attend their most recent gathering.

The event that I attended was titled Pick 24. This event featured twenty-four different wines being poured by a number of Vine and Table’s familiar faces. Each table had twelve different wines, six reds and six whites per table. The table on the left was filled with wines that were all priced under $24, while the table on the right was filled with wines that were all priced under $12. Also take note that these were not just your average wines but are all 90+ rated wines. From the first sauvignon blanc that I tasted, to the port that finished off my evening, each wine was carefully selected for this event.

In the middle of the room you could find a variety of light hors d’oeuvres from the gourmet market at Vine and Table. Here the guests and I all tasted a handful of cheeses, some fresh strawberries, a variety of dips, and even some tasty meatballs covered in a tangy glaze. The food, although not a huge selection, was the perfect combination to go with all of the wines that we tasted.

If you have not been to an event like this, you need to consider attending next month’s gathering. These events take place every month on the first Wednesday and run from 5:30 PM until 7:00 PM. The beautiful part about these events is the price. You would figure an evening like this, that includes all of the food and the twenty-four wine samples, would cost a fortune. But that is not at Vine and Table. The Pick 24 costs a mere $10. You can’t beat that price. And, to help make this deal even sweeter, Vine and Table offers an added discount to these already discounted wines on the night of the event. So, if you try something you like, such as the Hey Mambo that I can’t seem to get enough of, you can save even more.

(The discount, for attendees, is 10% off on twelve bottles, 5% off on six bottles, and 3% off on three bottles. This is additional to the already low prices associated with these wines.)

These events, as well as their Saturday tastings, are a great way for you to try before you buy. There is no better way to shop for wine and spirits than being able to sample them first. This gives you a chance to train your palate as well as see how many options are available to you. These events do require that you register before hand, as the space is limited. Based on the number of people at this previous Pick 24, I would suggest registering early. So next month head on over to Vine and Table and experience the best wines and snacks that they have to offer.

Wine List for the Pick 24 held on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

2008 • Provence SB

2008 • Brancott Reserve SB

2006 • Steele “WB” Rous.

2006 • Baileyana Chardonnay

2007 • Matua Parretia SB

2009 • Crios Torrontes

2008 • Ch. Ste. Michelle Chardonnay

2008 • Ch. Ste. Michelle H3 SB

2008 • Penfold’s T. Hyland Riesling

2006 • C&Y Marq. CasaCon Chardonnay

2007 • Hey Mambo White

2008 • Kendall Jackson Chardonnay

2006 • Monte Antico

2008 • The Stump Jump Shiraz

2008 • Achaval Ferrar Malbec

2007 • Duregutti Malbec

2007 • Lagone Toscano

2004 • Castano “Hecula”

2007 • Perrin CDR-Villages

2006 • Tikal Patriota

2008 • Mollydooker Two Left Feet

2005 • Baileyana Syrah

Jonesy Tawny Port

MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir

From the moment you walk into this quaint little joint that is Napoli Villa you feel as if though you have stepped into a little café on the other side of the pond. (Having spent six months in Paris, France, I know what it is like to have a meal in a foreign country. Napoli Villa brought back a ton of memories of my time over seas.) The walls appear to be old and rustic, the decorations, including the local artist paintings hanging on the walls (all of which are for sale), are fitting to the theme, and the attention the service staffs pays to you does not fit the Americana stereotype. Even the wine rack hanging behind the bar has a story behind it.

Napoli Villa has recently gone through a complete renovation and just celebrated their grand re-opening this past Sunday. But before I start talking about the multi-course meal and the band that performed while we all dined to celebrate their re-opening, I wanted to touch base on the event that happened prior; yet another great Paul Poteet’s Gotta Eat!

This particular PPGE was on a Sunday, which is the first time one of these has taken place on the weekend. Did that mean there would be a bigger crowd than usual? That is exactly what that meant. The events normally start at 4:30 in the afternoon making it difficult for some to attend the ones during the week but being on Sunday opened the door for a lot more people.

Napoli Villa sits in the heart of Beech Grove on the cities’ southeast side. Beech Grove is not easy to find however, at least the way Google Maps described how to get there. If you have not been down there before make sure you have a map readily available in case you get lost. You literally get there by driving through a few neighborhoods on your way. You see homes and small businesses on either side then all of a sudden you run straight into Napoli Villa. The restaurant is small and sits on the corner of what appears to be the Beech Grove main street. There is free public parking all around which is nice.

We got started with their appetizer sampler, for lack of a better word. It was stacked high with a variety of cheeses, two kinds of olives, some deep fried ravioli (which would later prove to be the single best item we would taste all night) and a few other samplings. From there we were greeted with some more of the deep fried ravioli and some of the freshest bruschetta I have ever tasted.

Based off the taste alone you could tell that this stuff was home made. The ravioli’s outside was dusted with a subtle crust and the inside was filled with a soft and savory cheese. And the bruschetta had a nice toasted base with a heavy scent and flavor of olives. Each bite made you feel more and more like you were sitting at a table somewhere on the streets of Italy. Any place that can produce food that smells and tastes as authentic as this deserves some attention.

Napoli Villa then featured their specialty. It is said that they offer the best meatballs in the world. So when the meatballs came, and after a round of applause for the master mind behind these delicate round treats, we dug in. Now, I don’t know about you, but I have had a variety of meatballs in my day. Most of them taste about the same and are based on the sauce you dip them in more than the meat itself. But these little guys were not only the furthest things from ordinary, they didn’t taste like any other meatball that I have ever had. I won’t go as far as saying these are the best meatballs in the world, but they are incredible.

We also had the chance to try bowtie pasta that had a spicy sausage and red sauce base to it. It was delicious and I am not sure if the sauce itself was producing the spice or the sausage, but I begged for seconds by the time I had finished my first plate. Just then a huge platter of fresh calamari hit the table. The calamari was very lightly breaded, similar to that of the breaded ravioli. It also had a hint of salt, which made it taste more authentic. Granted, while the amount of food at this PPGE event was not as much as previous events, it was at a much higher quality which did not call for a lot in quantity to produce a true authentic Italian quality.

Joining us at this week’s PPGE was a handful of regulars. You had guys like Chris Hadley of Cuisine Made Quick, Walter Grassi from Smart USA, and even Bob and Jessica Clark made it out. (These two are a treat to have present at these events. If you do not know Bob and Jessica Clark then you need to not only come to the next event but you need to make sure you introduce yourself to these two individuals.) There were also new faces sitting all around. Folks like Ian Meyers, Travis Weik and Sheryl Hugill attended their first experience. And based on their reaction to the food, they all seemed to have a great time.

Napoli Villa is family owned and operated and it truly shows in the way you are treated from their host staff at the front door to the service staff to even the executive chef walking around and introducing him to each and every table. You feel at home, not as if you are out for a nice meal, and you are treated as though you truly matter to the restaurant owners. Welcoming in the Paul Poteet event was a great way to introduce all of us to the restaurant. But we don’t stop there. When the first event came to a close around 6:00 PM it was time to start preparing for the next event. That night, after Paul Poteet’s Gotta Eat, Napolia Villa had their official grand re-opening party. I was lucky enough to be invited to join in this as well.

After all of the folks from PPGE made their way toward the ext, the staff worked quickly and diligently to clean the room we were just in. They were running a little behind, you could tell, but it took no time at all to get everything setup for the dinner party.

The room that we found ourselves in for the duration of the evening was quite small. Granted, there were a ton of folks in there for the event with Mr. Poteet, but it seemed very crowded and made it difficult to move around once people started arriving. However, they managed to make it open up a little for the dinner party as the tables were now organized differently and there was plenty of space to breath. Just as we got settled into our table a server walked up and asked us what we wanted to drink.

I was actually, at the time, a little uncertain what this follow up event was. I knew that it was their grand re-opening dinner, but I was uncertain as to what all was included and what we could expect. The server, unfortunately, did not provide me with a very detailed description, but throughout the evening we would learn it was simply a multi-course meal showcasing some of their specialty dishes. Who can be upset with these meatballs, their cheesy pasta, and their incredible oil drenched salads?

One thing I did notice that caught me off guard was their dishware. I understand they are a family owned and operated establishment, but not all of their dishware matched. Even at our four-person table there were dishes from various collections. The salad plates and the bread plates did not match and unless I am missing something, that is quite the initial eyesore. Of course, there might be a story behind it as to why they use the dishware that they do, but it was noticeable to anyone paying attention.

Another thing that caught me off guard was their plate presentations. For instance, the pasta dish that came right before the main course during dinner was just a pile of pasta on a plate. It was something I would imagine better served in a bowl, and there was nothing to enhance the dish what so ever. It literally was just pasta on a plate. The pasta was good, don’t get me wrong, but I wanted my eyes to be a little more entertained.

The dinner was well balanced. The night was finished off with a lemon cream cannoli and a nice cup of coffee. Considering all of the food that we ate during the Paul Poteet event, and the five courses we had at dinner, all I wanted to do was take a nap and relax. The meal was definitely what I would call, “filled with comfort food” and the conversation throughout the evening was absolutely irreplaceable. Meeting new people is something I thrive on and these events are made for that.

So the folks over at Napoli Villa, thank you for your incredible hospitality and delicious food. From the salad to the meatballs and the calamari to the ravioli, know that you will be seeing me again very soon. They have created something special here in the Circle City by offering you a truly authentic Italian experience. Make sure that you take a trip to Beech Grove and visit everyone at Napoli Villa very soon.

What’s for lunch? I find myself asking this question almost every single day. Sometimes I chose Subway for their foot long oven roasted chicken breast. (I get mine on seven grain honey oat bread with pepper jack cheese, and the works minus the cucumber. Throw on some sweet onion dressing and you are good to go!) Others days I end up at the Chinese buffet. For $6 you can’t go wrong with some sweet and sour chicken and some fried rice. But lately I have been trying to eat a little healthier. I have stopped eating fast food (yes, Subway is still considered fast food) and begun shopping for low calorie and high protein meals. There are even some days when I want to take my own lunch to work rather than heating something up in the microwave.

Since mom is not making your lunch anymore, it is time for you to grow up and learn how to pack your own brown bag. (I actually have a SpongeBob SquarePants lunch box.) Below are some items that you can use as inspiration the next time you take your lunch to work.

1. Build a smarter sandwich.

Let’s start with the bread. Do not go down the bread aisle and get a loaf of Wonder Bread for your sandwich. Take the time to visit an actual bakery and slice the bread yourself. (You can go somewhere like Panera Bread where they slice it for you. It is the same difference. Panera Bread actually does not even use preservatives in their bread so you are going to get the most flavor from their loafs.)  Make sure when selecting the bread that you go for something firm on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. The bread will last longer and have more flavor this way.

Cheese is the best part of the experience in my eyes. I enjoy cheese like I appreciate a nice glass of wine. Pick something crazy like aged cheddar or a smoked gouda. This will add a lot of flavor to the middle of the sandwich and based on your choice of cheese can add a salty and smooth texture to each and every bite. And when you get to the meat that will match the cheese you have selected, make sure to spend a little extra on some quality meats. Spending an extra few dimes on the meat will make the aftertaste from this sandwich well worthwhile.

If you are a condiment fanatic like myself you are thinking about dousing this with ketchup or some mustard. Think outside the box and invest in a bottle of French Dijon mustard or a pickled relish ketchup that will help add flavor to the sandwich but also give you a sophisticated lunch. And if you feel saucy enough to even toss some vegetables on there choose fresh veggies from the market and make sure they are hand selected for that added freshness.

2. Soup as a meal?

Did you realize that you could enjoy soup for a meal? Toss it in a thermas if you like and keep it warm until lunch. It can even keep the soup cold depending on your taste in soup. If you are going to use soup as a mean make sure it is meaty and hearty packed with chunky vegetables, potatoes, and even beef or chicken.

If you want to get crazy you can even begin experimenting with making your own soups. Start with a tomato or cream base and just start having fun with the blender. Toss in some cabbage, maybe a radish or two, or even throw in an onion and some chunks of lamb. By the time the blender has finished you might just have a hearty soup that will replace one or two more meals after you have lunch.

3. Think outside the box with your side items.

What is your typical side item? Perhaps you enjoy a candy bar or maybe a red delicious apple? Maybe you even toss in a bag of chips or a rice crispy treat? Whatever your side item of choice is its time to think a little different about your calories. Start by thinking what your sandwich has on it. If you are eating a sandwich that comes from the foothills of Paris then toss in a handful of organic grapes or a block of cheese. (There is a great place in Indianapolis to get your exotic cheese. Vine and Table in Carmel, Indiana is not only fun to shop around in but also a great place to stock up for the week ahead.)

If you do decide to take a block of cheese to the office, note that you will not want to eat it all for lunch your first day. Take a Swiss Army Knife to store in your desk for when you do decide to eat that block of Piave. It will come in handy. Also, note that if you heat up the knife for a few seconds before you slice the cheese it will make a huge difference and your life a lot easier.

4. Think about your portion size.

Make a lot for dinner on Monday and you have lunch and a snack for Tuesday and Wednesday. Think about the last time you made spaghetti. You do not have to make enough for only one night. If you are going to go to the trouble of boiling all that water and tossing noodle on the wall to test consistency, then make enough to last all week. You can then toss different sauce on the dish to give you variety throughout the week. And who doesn’t like cold spaghetti noodles at two in the morning right out of the fridge?

Take those extra helping to work the next day or two. Perhaps even try eating the noodles cold with a light olive oil or perhaps an olive salad to match. Before too long you are going to start coming up with your very own combinations of dishes. And be careful as you might start making your coworkers jealous if you keep making, let alone eating, all of this good food. But if anyone asks you why you have started eating healthy and making your own dishes, just be honest with them. Tell them that you decided to grow up and start making your own lunch. Go big or go home I always say.

There is no such thing as a free lunch. Well, wait, maybe there is. If you ever happen to be in the windy city and can take advantage of one of the following great specials the only tab you will have to pick up is the one from the bar. (Note that there truly is no such thing as a free lunch. The lunch, although maybe free for you, cost someone something along the way. By the time the food was produced, packaged, shipped, prepared, and served there was a lot of dollars spent to provide you with that free meal.) So, who out there is hungry? This list proves to make you salivate all over your keyboard! Plus, eating at these places gives you more than a free meal, but rather a true experience of what makes Chicago great. The places on this list are iconic restaurants to the city of Chicago and impossible to find elsewhere.

Friday night at the Lion Head Pub

I love chicken wings. Nothing beats a big plate of deep fried BBQ chicken wings. Sometimes I venture out and try the hot sauce, but I like the sweetness that most BBQs offer. (Unless of course you are at Scotty’s Brewhouse and can enjoy their MoFo Mustard. It is sweet and spicy all wrapped into one sauce. Their specialty actually.)  So, on Friday night the folks over at the Lion Head Pub throw a nice Caesar salad, some fresh vegetables, and a variety of other bar foods like Sloppy Joes onto a buffet and invite you and all your friends inside for dinner. But of course, don’t forget to the tip your waitress. And have a cold one for me while you are there. They appreciate the traffic from the bar.

Address: 2251 North Lincoln Avenue • Phone: 773-348-5100 • Directions

Saturday night at the Map Room

Just the name Map Room has me interested. I picture walking in to a dark, fresh and modern atmosphere with white leather couches everywhere and sexy blond bartenders wearing all black behind the bar. But, from noon until 3:00 PM you can venture in off the streets and enjoy a free brew with your lunch. Order any number of items from their extensive barbecue inspired menu and your beer comes with the meal. This is from a huge list of beers including bottles, drafts, and even cask ales. This place is truly a beer lover’s dream.

Address: 1949 North Hoyne Avenue • Phone: 773-252-7636 • Directions

Midnight Snack at Sedgwick’s Bar & Grill

If you are walking around the crowded streets on any given Saturday night and manage to stumble across Sedgwick’s Bar & Grill, walk in and enjoy some late night snacks on the house. Here, after midnight, you will find an array of foods thrown together on a buffet for your eating pleasure. You can grab nachos, quesadillas, pastas, and even a variety of cold cuts. But again, remember that it is midnight and chances are you are already drinking. So, make sure to order a few beers and take care of your bartender. This food might be free to you but these have to make a living somehow.

Address: 1935 North Sedgwick Street • Phone: 312-337-7900 • Directions

Spending Sunday at Big Chicks

Are you hungry for some pre-game fried chicken? Perhaps some cheeseburgers or gyros? Maybe you are even in the mood for a meatball submarine sandwich. However you look at it, if you can make it to 4:00 PM then head over to Big Chicks for their incredible buffet packed with all of this and more. This buffet is always changing and there are new items being added nearly every week. So, after a long night out on Saturday, sleep in, grab a candy bar or something to hold you over, and head over to Big Chicks for a late afternoon feast. You won’t be sorry.

Address: 5024 North Sheridan Road • Phone: 773-728-5511 • Directions

After a long hard week at work not much tops heading out to dinner with some of your closest friends. Sharing ice-cold beers and mile high cheeseburgers is a great way to end a week filled with emails and memos. When deciding on where to go there are tons of options, especially in here in Indianapolis.

You can go to a fast food joint for a cheap meal or you can venture out to a sit down restaurant for a little more attention paid to the atmosphere. There are burger places all around the city and one that I like, especially in the summer, is Champps Americana. There just happens to be a Champps right here in the heart of the north side.

Located right next to the Keystone Fashion Mall you will find Champps Americana. Champps serves anything from soups and salads to pastas and burgers. They also have quite an impressive beer list to boot.   As a matter of fact, their bar is the main focus when you first walk in. Not to mention the huge projector screens and plasma TVs pretty much everywhere you look. I have not been to Champps in a while so when a good friend of mine from out of town said he wanted to get a beer I figured that was the perfect excuse to go. (He was also staying right across the street so it was convenient for him.)

So, around 7:00 PM my good friend Tyler, my girlfriend Sheryl, and I went toward the Keystone area. Andrew Lyon, my friend from Washington DC was already there. When we arrived, we found Andrew, sat down, and waited for our server. Not sure how long Andrew had been there but the server had not yet visited the table. Perhaps he had just sat down, but that is no excuse to not have at least offered a beverage. But the server finally makes his way over to the table and immediately wants to get us some drinks from the bar. Of course he does, they cost more than a soda or water. I ordered a Miller Lite as it was their cheapest alternative.

About fifteen minutes later my drink finally arrived. Not to mention the fact that my girlfriend and Andrew had not yet ordered a drink. We will let that slide for the time being. So as Tyler and I get our beers, we are ready to order our dinner. Tyler went with a burger, Andrew the same, and Sheryl decided on some pasta. I went with a diet breaking appetizer sampler that featured potato skins, chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, and hot Buffalo wings. I figured it was Friday, why not?

Another ten or twelve minutes pass before Sheryl and Andrew’s beers arrive to the table. Andrew had a terrible time deciding which beer to get as he is a typical stout drinker. When asking the server what he suggested, as he was looking to try something different than a Guinness, the server acted confused at the question. He tried to sell Andrew into an IPA and eventually ended up talking him into a wheat beer. Moral of the story is that not only does the beer selection at Champps suffer but the education to their servers is just the same.

Regardless, their beers arrive and the conversation continues. But now it’s time for dinner. The two burgers arrive first and are auctioned off to their respected owner. (If there is anything that I dislike more about a restaurant is when the server auctions the food. If you, as the server of the table, do not know who ordered what, you need to pay a little more attention to what is going on. I have served my whole life and I have never once forgotten what my guests are eating. He only had a few tables anyway.) Then Sheryl is hit with her colorful pasta and I my appetizer sampler. The server leaves for the time being to get my sauces (the sampler is served with bleu cheese, marinara sauce, BBQ, and a spicy mayonnaise.) By the time he gets back I had realized what I had ordered was not what was sitting in front of me.

For starters, the potato skins were burnt to a crisp. The cheese sticks were practically frozen. Even the wings were cold. Oh yeah, and the picture showed four chicken strips on this platter while I was only served two. So not only was I served cold and burnt food, but I was served the sauces a mere five minutes after the meal arrived. That was when I decided to tell the server I would like my meal remade and to look like the picture. He grabbed the plate and headed back to the kitchen.

Sheryl, in the mean time, was digging into her pasta. She said the flavors were bland and that when you order chicken pasta you should be able to see the chicken and not have to ding through it. I would actually later try the pasta and found it quite enjoyable. It was a chicken and spinach Tortellini and I enjoyed it immensely.

Not five minutes later one of the mangers delivered my new and improved sampler platter. This time the meal was exactly what I had wanted. The wings were glowing with color, the potato skins looked full of flavor, the mozzarella sticks were filled with stringy cheese, and there were actually four chicken strips this time rather than two. She even took my first plate of sauces and delivered a brand new selection that were all warm in their own right. It was a great presentation. Then she managed to inform me that she would be taking care of the meal. This was absolutely uncalled for.

Now, there comes a time where I expect a restaurant to do the right thing. This is exactly what should have happened. Now, did I expect it? No, of course not. Did I assume that I would still pay for my meal and just have to wait a little bit to enjoy what I had ordered? Yes, of course. But what matters here is I was never mad, nor did I complain about the food rather just pointed out that it was not what I had expected. The restaurant took the first step and impressed me beyond belief.

I later asked for the manger’s card so that I could send her an email with this blog link prior to sharing it with my readers, and would come to learn that she is in fact a managing partner of that location. This lady went out of her way when she didn’t even have to. Makes me wonder how they would have reacted had I actually of had a problem. I want to personally thank her for her attention to detail and the willingness to correct an issue before it even became one.

Now, to the server that we had that night, I might suggest a career change. You knew nothing about a pretty standard beer list. You hardly ever came to the table to ask if things were sufficient or if there was anything we needed. You actually disappeared at one instance during the evening for over a half an hour. Just curious, where did you go? But putting the mediocre at best service to the side, Champps has impressed me with how they handled this issue. (Can I complain that they have removed the Mongolian Egg Rolls from the menu? Apparently it was one of their best selling appetizers but corporate decided to take them from the menu in an effort to have a more “Americanized menu”. Regardless, they were delicious and I would like to see them return to the menu in the near future.) I will return to Champps because of how they handled this situation and to anyone else out there looking for a place who understands that the guest truly does come first, try giving Champps at Keystone at the Crossing a chance in the near future. You wont be disappointed.

I came across a show the other day that grabbed my attention. It comes from the man that almost ate himself to death in the film Super Size Me, Morgan Spurlock. The show is titled 30 Days and Morgan puts himself in situations for thirty days that he would normally not find himself in. He does the research, he plans the topic, and then is filmed for the thirty days breaking down how his mind and body react to the living this life style for an entire month. The show is quite good and it allows the audience a chance to see life on the inside.

The episode that stood out to me most was the season finale of the second season. Morgan put himself in jail for thirty days. His girlfriend, of course, did not take this too lightly, but she knew he had to go for the sake of his show and for the sake of what makes Morgan, Morgan. So he was picked up at home and for an entire month was treated like a criminal. He would eat with these guys; he would sleep with these guys, get time in the “yard” with these guys, and even shower and use the restroom right alongside convicts.

At first it was a little scary for Morgan. I mean, going from being able to do whatever you want whenever you want to now being thrown behind bars is a major life change. From the moment he walked into the prison he was told that he would be treated just like all the other inmates. He would get no special treatment, no extra protection, and would not be pulled out of any fights or altercations if he found himself in one. Morgan was on the inside all alone.

The episode was actually quite educational. There is not a lot that you can see in forty-five minutes that takes place over a month’s time, but I felt they did a good job breaking it down and showing the highlights. You learn a lot during that time, however, and get to see how smart prisoners really are. For instance, the bathrooms in these cells are literally just sitting out in the middle for everyone to see. So if you have to use the restroom you are going to be showing off for the rest of the guys around you. But these prisoners have developed a technique to show when they are in fact on the John. When someone goes to the restroom they throw a sheet up to cover the cell. Then the inmate will write and place a note on the outside of the cell to let guards and cell mates know they are using the restroom. It is clever and it works.

Part of the reason for this system, however, is due to the fact that jails are overcrowded. The cells are meant for two inmates, at most, and all of them are housing three at a time. A pair of convicts will get a bunk bed while the other gets a thin mattress and is forced to sleep on the floor. Now, the prison that Morgan visited was not maximum security, where I feel things might be a little different, but the inmates were only allowed very few hours of daylight a week. They were kept inside and not given very much freedom at all. But tensions do run high around any prisons.

So as Morgan goes along he decides to make things even worse for himself. Not only is allowed a handful of visitations while he is in the pen, he decides to put himself in solitary confinement for seventy-two hours. This, from the way he described it, has to be one of the worst forms of punishment that a prisoner can go through. I have always thought that this would be the easy way out. You get your own room, three meals a day served to you right there, time to shower and work out all by yourself, and no worries about getting into arguments or fights with the other inmates. But, when Morgan said that the prisoner is not allowed any books while inside of solitary confinement, I quickly changed my mind. You see, if I was in prison (for whatever reason) and I had nothing to do but wait, I would read. I would read magazines and books and try to learn as much as I could when I was on the inside. I would also begin taking college courses, as they are offered in most prisons, and try to get as far as I could in my personal education as possible. But, if while in “the hole” as they like to call it, you cannot read I would not want to be anywhere near that.

Morgan explains how being locked up by yourself, even for seventy-two hours, can do a lot to a man. He began talking to himself and was just acting silly trying to find ways to pass the time. The human body can only sleep for so many hours a day and you could tell that boredom set in very early with his time in that holding cell. But I have a feeling the whole situation would be an issue. Being in jail, having to follow someone’s rules about when you eat and sleep, and not being able to make phone calls whenever I wanted, having no Internet access, and not being able to watch TV that you want. I would simply go insane after a few hours, let alone a few years. Just try to imagine living a life like that, never mind the fear of being disliked, for years at a time. There are guys that get five, ten, twenty or more years in prison. Is that justice? That depends on their crime. But I am not sure how I would handle a situation like that.

The show, if even only for an hour, put you in a pair of shoes you might not have understood before. I now know what it is like to be a convict behind bars. I know what a prisoner goes through, what kind of food they eat, and what sort of activities they can take advantage of. All things said and done I do not want to be in jail. It looks to be a pretty lonely place. But if it was not for Morgan Spurlock and his show 30 Days I might never know what it truly was like behind bars. This is just one episode in his collection of now two seasons and if this one shows anything for the future of this show, I can see this lasting for a long time. So check out 30 Days if you want to live your life in someone else’s shoes; if only for an hour at a time.

Paul Poteet is hungry. He is hungry for delicious food, good drinks, and invaluable conversation. Paul has actually taken his hunger and made it out to be an excuse to gather his closest friends and to invade any number of restaurants around our Circle City. This side project of Paul’s is called Paul Poteet’s Gotta Eat and has been gaining an increase in followers each and every event. The first event that I went to was held downtown at the Skyline Club. Since then he has held events at Urban Elements, the Brickhouse Burger Company, and The Pub, also located downtown. Paul actually has been hosting these events every couple of weeks. But, after picking his brain about the future of this side project he and some others close to him have said they plan on having at least one of these a week (more than likely on Thursday evening) in the very near future. I already know of two more that have been scheduled! There are a lot of good things coming from this man and his appetite, that is for sure.

The most recent stop on Paul’s journey took us to the north side, the far north side actually, all the way into Noblesville. Sitting deep inside a strip mall, a place called Eddy’s Sports Pub can be found. Sitting next door to El Rodeo, one of the best authentic Mexican restaurants you can find in this city, and across the street from a Crown Liquors and Chase Bank, you would not think to find a place serving the coldest beer around and some food that screams deep friend and delicious. There are over twenty big screen televisions hanging all over the place, video games in the corner to eat your quarters, and a bar as wide as the restaurant pouring anything you desire. The place even has the cliché corner bar neon signs showcasing Blue Moon, Corona Light, and Bud Light Lime. This is a place I could call home.

The event started with some munchies including some sloppy Joe nachos and some deep fried onion rings. The nachos were incredible. Just imagine a huge plate of nacho chips piled mile high with fresh sloppy Joes topped with shredded cheese, tomatoes, and jalapeños. By the time you are to the bottom of the plate (yeah, we made it all the way through them) you are left with nachos soggy with goodness.

The onion rings were simple, deep fried, and boring. Nothing really to get excited about when it comes to onion rings. It is also pretty hard to mess up onions rings. But the Buffalo wings that were served alongside it were another story. At first I passed these up as I was in the middle of a handful of conversations with guys like Daniel Herndon, but I could not hold off all night as I began to smell the heat from the buffalo sauce. Good thing there was a side of bleu cheese on the plate to cool my burning lips.

Shortly after I wiped my face clean of hot sauce came a plate filled with more deep fried goodness. This is what they mean when they say pub food. Food that is easy to make, fills you up, and forced you to drink one more beer. Speaking of beer, Eddy’s has some great drink specials. They run specials every night and all of the tables, at least on the restaurant side of the bar, had a table tent that explained all of their deals. Thursday nights they feature $2 domestic pints. Pretty hard to go wrong with deep fried and domestic.

About the time I was starting to get full I saw some friends of mine that I actually met at a previous Paul Poteet’s Gotta Eat event. I went over to say hello and here I was greeted with even more food. I started with a section of their club sandwich. Piled high was three slices of wheat toast, thin sliced tomatoes, turkey, ham, lettuce, and a mayonnaise that I could see myself bathing in. This stuff was tangy, but soothing at the same time. It absolutely made this sandwich perfect. It was so good I went back in for seconds and actually managed to clean the plate.

Now I am full. I moved from Coors Light to a Diet Coke and was ready to let everything just sit for a while before I tried to move. Just then John Karamanski, the man behind the curtain making these videos and images of the events, walks over with a pizza. He sits it on the table, grabs a few slices for his wife, and leaves the pizza for the rest of us. The four folks sharing the table beside us were just leaving so that meant more for us. I grabbed a piece, Bob Clark and Clayton McDaniel grabbed a slice, and we began enjoying what might be the single best piece of pizza we have ever eaten.

This pizza was not what I would call pub food. It was a chicken alfredo pizza. Yeah, a pub serving what tasted like brick oven chicken alfredo pizza. It was amazing. I devoured it hoping to enjoy one more piece when Paul himself walks up and grabs the last slice. He took one bite, knew there was something special here with this pizza, and managed to require a few napkins before had was finished. It was the perfect dessert for a meal filled with carbohydrates and calories.

As the night was wrapping up I made mention to Paul that the crowd was possibly the biggest I had seen yet. Half the restaurant was filled with people eating, drinking, and networking. Although they are not taking a head count at each one of these PPGE events, he felt it was the best crowd they had seen as well. Even the weather, which some blame Paul for in the first place, couldn’t stop folks from coming out. I tipped my waitress and my cap as I walked away from yet another successful event. Until next time, remember that Paul Poteet’s Gotta Eat.

About a month ago, my buddy Brent Perkins invited me to the grand opening of a new restaurant and bar located just off the circle in downtown Indianapolis. (It is actually located inside of Union Station.) I am always up for checking out new places and seeing what this city has to offer. Even better, he said the tickets were VIP and that there would be food, drinks, and a packed house of folks getting to know this new establishment before the general public. I was unable to attend the event but wished Brent a good time nonetheless.

About a week later, after they had in fact opened for the public, I heard a co-worker talking about their Thursday night drink specials. He said they were featuring $1 domestic drafts, which is almost impossible to find here in this city. I asked if he had been before and he said that he had been there a couple of weeks in a row and had experienced nothing but a great time. Even that night, on my way home from work, I heard my good friend the Deuce on X103.3 talking about this joint. He said they were there broadcasting every Thursday night for Buck Em’ Thursday featuring those same drink specials my co-worker had made mention to as well as sexy bull riding (I will explain more about that in a moment) and even prizes like concert tickets to all the upcoming rock shows in the city.

I decided that it was time for me to give this place a shot. So, I called Cadillac Ranch, made reservations for Saturday night (note that they normally do not take reservations for parties less than eight people) and asked my girlfriend to join me for a night of food and drinks. So when Saturday finally came around, we headed downtown for a night out, starting with the Cadillac Ranch.

We arrived just before 7:00 PM when I realized that it was, in fact, a Saturday night in downtown Indianapolis. I dropped Sheryl off at the door and began to look for parking. Not only was there an Indiana Pacers game that night but it was also the night before the Indianapolis Colts would take on the New York Jets in the AFC Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium. All of the parking meters were full, every parking lot was packed, and even some of the parking garages were full. I eventually, nearly a half an hour later, found a spot at the top of a parking garage on the other side of the city. A few blocks later and I would walk into the Cadillac Ranch for the first time.

I was, upon entering, already excited about this place. I had heard so many good things about it I just had to see for myself what all the fuss was about. Based on the name alone I was thinking this was going to be similar to that of a Texas Roadhouse where you can toss peanut shells on the ground. However, when I entered the front door all I could hear was a rowdy and energetic crowd and some Owl City playing on the speakers. It definitely did not make me feel like I was in Texas Roadhouse by any means.

In the time that it took me to find a parking space Sheryl had entered to make sure they were aware we were running a few moments behind. The hostess at the door had never heard of me and had said that I did not actually have a reservation on the books. When asking to speak to a manager, Sheryl was told that they were all in a managers meeting. However, by the time that I had parked and walked all the way over a manager had come out and had straightened everything out. The hostess walked us to our table and our server, Chet, immediately greeted us.

Chet was energetic and tossed down some cocktail napkins as soon as he greeted us. We had not even had a chance to get comfortable and he was asking us for our drink order. Sheryl would have a Pink Cadillac Cosmopolitan while I went with a Fleetwood Long Island Iced Tea. The Cadillac Cosmopolitan is actually a drink served in honor of the late great Elvis Presley. It is served chilled in a martini glass and topped with an orange and cherry flag. The presentation was just about as good as it tasted. I am not keen on that style of drink but it packed a punch in terms of the alcohol content. As did the long island iced tea. It was served with a lime and lemon wedge that added to the acidity of the beverage. All in all, it was a great way to jump-start our night as the appetizers started to make their way to the table.

Starting off with Appetizers

The first dish to arrive was a tower of sweet deep fried onion rings served on top of a pile of onion straws. On each side sat a vat of ranch dressing for dipping. I had never had ranch dressing with onion rings before, so I was a little nervous as to the flavor of the batter that sat on this mile high pile of rings. However, the batter was quite sweet and the ranch actually complimented it quite nicely. The onion straws, on the other hand, had very little flavor but I felt served a greater purpose than flavor and just simply added to the presentation of the dish.

Next came a fresh margherita grilled flatbread. This dish was huge and looked more like a large pizza from any of your classic pizza joints. But the flavors packed inside this sucker were enough to knock you off your feet. First off, the entire thing was literally covered in some of the thinnest sliced tomatoes that I have ever seen. Then, more cheese was sprinkled on top and the dish was finished off with some fresh basil. The dish was very light in terms of the impact it left on my stomach and is something that I not only would order again but I am craving as I type this.

Just when I was thinking of taking a break to wait for our entrees is when they delivered a sample of their cowboy bites. These little guys are something you can get anywhere. They are little cheeseburgers. No big deal, right? Well, Cadillac Ranch goes a little above and beyond with this dish. They start with a sesame seed bun, that actually packed a lot of flavors itself, and then toss some more of those onion straws on the bottom. Then comes the fire grilled burger that was grilled to perfection, keeping all of the juices deep inside the patty, and a slice of American cheese. Next come a tomato and the top of the bun. They slam a toothpick through the whole thing to keep it together and place a thick sliced pickle through that. The presentation is quite nice as well, as they look almost too pretty to eat. These tasty treats also came with some shoestring fries that would put Steak ‘n’ Shake to shame.

Time for the Main Course

After we had the chance to taste all of these delicious appetizers, the main course arrived. First we were served their Chicken Diablo Pasta. This dish was your typical chicken pasta presentation with a tomato cream base and chopped chicken. There were two slices of garlic bread to garnish the dish and a duo of spoons to help you work your way through it. The pasta actually had a little bit of a kick to it. The server stated that it was not too hot, but just right in terms of heat. The noodles, however, were under cooked in my opinion. They had a chewy texture and were harder than I would like to have seen them. The chicken as well was incredibly dry. But, while those two things could use some major improvement, the sauce was enough to pull the dish back to the top. The sauce was incredible with its spice and creaminess making its way into each of the noodles and all around the diced chicken.

The next dish barely had room to fit on the table. All of the appetizer plates were still there and we were working our way through the pasta. But that is when a full slab of barbeque ribs showed up. This dish was huge with two half slabs of ribs (your can order these either half or full slab off the menu) stacked perfectly leaning up against a bowl of their famous seasoned steak fries. I did not enjoy the fries as much as the shoestring ones that was served with our appetizers, but I can see why they come next to the ribs. They are thick, heavy, and make for a perfect combination to the Jack Daniel’s BBQ that is smothered on the ribs. I managed to kill half a slab.

Satisfy Your Thirst

When we were about halfway through the entrees Chet came back to check on drinks. The two cocktails from the appetizer portion were gone and we required additional libation. So, based on Chet’s recommendation, Sheryl had a Blue Moon (they offer beers such as Bud Light, Coors Light, Miller Light, and Blue Moon on draft) and I was served a Johnny Vegas.

The Johnny Vegas is a shot but could be treated as a drink with their portion sizes. It was served with a lime on the rim of the glass and had an overwhelming melon nose to it. I would later learn that there is in fact melon liquor in the drink as well as Jose Cuervo tequila. They top that off with a little Red Bull energy drink and you have a shot that can go with just about any meal.

Time for a Restroom Break

While we were rapping up and getting ready for dessert, I needed a restroom break. On my way back to the restroom I had the chance to see the mechanical bull up close and personal. While I did not ride the bull myself (I am sure some of you would pay to see that), I did witness numerous people jump on and fly off as they gave it a shot. Now, I am not a much of a mechanical bull connoisseur, but I have seen a few in my time. This one, however, was the most realistic mechanical bull I had ever seen. I mean, the thing actually looked like a real bull. If I didn’t know better, while riding it I am sure it feels like one as well. The bull, unfortunately, is not free to ride. It costs $3. However, Chet did make mention that the servers carry a handful of free passes that they give out throughout the night.

Just past the mechanical bull is where you will find the restrooms. But that is not all you find back there. You are then hit with yet another room at the back of the restaurant. This room has a third bar, another huge plasma screen showing sports all night long, and a look and feel like a martini lounge straight out of New York City. There are white leather couches surrounding the room and they offer bottle service for the VIP guests that visit. Seeing this room, it shows that the owners of Cadillac Ranch really are trying to hit a lot of markets here. They have great food, a great drink selection, and a mechanical bull. They play top 40 music and have a VIP lounge for the more swank of Indianapolis. They also show sports on nearly every TV (one of the televisions by the front bar was actually showing Titanic). I am not sure if this will benefit them in the future but it truly is a melting pot of patrons.

Always Room for the Sweet Stuff

Right as I got back to the table we were served our final round of drinks to compliment the dessert. Sheryl, still sipping on her Blue Moon, passed up the final drink as she was more concerned about the spoon cake that hit the table shortly there after. This was a huge slice of chocolate cake topped with a dollop of whipped cream and a cherry. This is actually the only dessert on their menu. Sure, you could say that you don’t come to a place like this for dessert, but at least provide some options. The cake was just mediocre at best in my eyes as it looked and tasted as if it was pulled from a box. I am not saying that Sarah Lee made this cake but I have definitively had better cake in my life. And what makes it a sponge cake? It was served with two forks for Pete’s sake.

Just when I was ready to explode from all of this incredible food, the bartender brought over a top shelf margarita. This thing was packed with alcohol. It was so much that I actually had to ask him what all was in it. He said the drink included tequila, a little Patron Citronge, some Grand Marnier, a splash of OJ, and some homemade sweet and sour. There were too many flavors in that glass to keep my head straight.

Bidding a Fond Farewell

After the dishes were all removed from the table and we had a few moments to let everything digest, Chet came back over to see if there was anything else that he could do for us. As we throw in the white towel on a meal well done, Chet proceeds to say, “Hey, couple more shots coming up. Let’s do it.” Then came Vegas Bombs. In this little guy you have some Crown Royal, Butterscotch Liqueur, and again more Red Bull. This little drink was sweet and was the perfect way to end our evening.

There really is no one way to describe the evening that I had at Cadillac Ranch. The place is new to Indianapolis and based on the crowd you would have never guessed it. We got there at seven and by nine there was not an empty seat in the house. They even began to bring out tables and chairs to be able to stuff a handful more people through their door. Take note, though, if you are planning on going there after nine on a weekend expect to pay a cover. They do, however, continue to serve a full menu until 10:00 PM and then a late night menu from 11:00 to 1:00 AM. So if you get hungry there is still a chance to chow down. The cover is $7.

By the time we left I had been impressed on multiple levels. I had heard good things about this place and not only were they all true, Cadillac Ranch went above and beyond. Being so new there are some kinks that need to be worked out (they do not have a carry out menu for instance) but you can expect that from a place like this. They are a huge facility that can seat a few hundred people and have space for your private event or parties. Brandon Slate, the General Manager, is actually an old classmate of mine. He and I had a chance to chat before I left. He said they have a lot of potential in this space and he is excited to be a part of it. I, myself, am excited to have been a part of this place as well. I will definitely be back to Cadillac Ranch.

By the way, when you go in ask for Chet. He was an incredible server. Also, if you pay close attention you might see a little resemblance to Robin Williams in him. He, and the rest of the Cadillac Ranch staff, made my experience one to remember.

Allow me to paint a picture for you. You arrive at your destination, get out of your car, and enter a building in which you have never been before. You see people gathered around a series of tables in the back and decide to see what all the fuss is about. Before you know it you see a handful of people you recognize, a few more you later learn that you follow on Twitter yet have never had the chance to meet in person, and even manage to share some face time with guys like Dave Smiley and Paul Poteet. Not to mention that you get the opportunity to enjoy delicious food, a wide range of drinks, and timeless conversation. You might think something like this only happens once in a blue moon when in all actuality it happens more than you might think.

Enter the world of Paul Poteet’s Gotta Eat. Paul started this concept a few months back as a way to get himself more in the public eye and even better a chance to eat at some of the Circle City’s best restaurants. Having worked with places such as the Skyline Club Paul has built an invaluable reputation in a short amount of time. The events are getting larger week by week and based on some conversation that I shared in last night he is actually planning on moving from having one of these every two weeks to having one event a week.

Last night’s event took place at the Brickhouse Burger Company just south of downtown Indianapolis off of Kentucky Avenue. Sitting inside what used to be a Damon’s Grill you find a new concept for Indianapolis dining. With huge projector screens on one wall, tables and booths wrapped all around, and a bar that seemed to get crowded as the night went on, you have a place that might be confused for a modern day Cheers where everyone truly knows your name. That is when they started to bring out the food.

First came some deep fried onion rings with a spicy dipping sauce. Then came sweet potato fries that were served with dried cranberries and an almost cream sauce. There were even some walnuts floating around some of the plates to give you that authentic Thanksgiving feel. Next came some of what appeared to be mile high nachos and a few appetizer sampler plates that were loaded with everything from cheese sticks to hot wings. (Don’t forget the dipping sauces.) Just when you thought they were done serving up the good stuff came a wedge salad smothered in bleu cheese dressing and a toasted club sandwich with some seasoned French fries. The madness just wouldn’t end.

By the time I had started to consider myself full came a plate of BBQ ribs. I did not even get the chance to bite into the ribs, as right next to it was the biggest cheeseburger I have ever seen. I did not catch the name of this sucker but from what they were saying it is a seven-pound sandwich. This thing looked like meatloaf with two buns and some pickles. The thing was almost too pretty to eat but that didn’t stop me from digging in. (I am sure there are some images of this thing floating around as it felt like the sandwich went through a photo shoot before we were allowed to dig in.) The fun thing about being able to enjoy this burger was due to the guy cutting it into manageable pieces. At last night’s event we were in the presence of the man behind the Great Hoosier Burger Quest, Mr. Dick Davis. He was nice enough to share the burger with the rest of us but not so much with the BBQ ribs!

By the time the night was starting to wind down they brought out some carrot cake. I have never been a huge fan of carrot cake, and I did not try it last night either, but from what I picked up from the folks who did it was some of the best carrot cake they had ever eaten. It looked good and was gone in a matter of seconds so I believe it. Even though last night seemed to be all about the food I met some incredibly nice individuals throughout the evening. I met a personal banker from Old National Bank, a team building and leadership development coach who recognized me from Twitter, and even a pair of guys who were at their first Paul Poteet event.

The more of these events I attend the better they seem to get. The crowd gets bigger, the food gets better, and the conversation becomes more genuine. Paul actually has already scheduled an event for next week at The Pub in downtown Indianapolis right next to Howl at the Moon and across the street from Conseco Fieldhouse. You can bet that I will be there, as well as Paul and all his friends as we spend another night enjoying the best this city has to offer. After all, Paul Poteet’s gotta eat.

Starting a new diet plan has been very difficult. Although I m not following a specific diet plan, I am cutting calories and beginning an exercise routine.  I am also increasing my protein and fiber intake while cutting out carbohydrates.  This means no bread, beer, crackers or other starchy foods.  This is the hardest part for me because I love bread and beer just the same.

I was recently told about a line of juices that are packed with fruit.  Naked Juice offers many varieties that include banana, apples, cranberries, accai berries and mango.  When I began researching these juices, I saw one bottle that advertised it contained 150 blueberries.  You can find these juices at nicer gas stations, Walmart, Target, and most local grocers.  The juices are a little pricey, with final cost coming in just under $4 per bottle.  The amount of nutrients and delicious taste make them worth the price.

If you are looking for more options and want to control the fruits that make it into your drink, you can go to Squeeze Fresh Smoothies.  There is a location just around the corner from where I live and I have been there a few times.  I might begin going more often now that I’ve started my diet.  There is a similar family owned store called Yogo Kiss off of 96^th Street.

The concept is simple; you begin by selecting a flavor of yogurt and then go crazy with an array of fruits.  Some of the fruits you can choose from are mango, cranberries, blueberries, peaches, watermelon, strawberries, bananas and the list keeps on going.  You don’t have to stop there; there are additional supplements that include calcium, creatine, energy, fat burner (I need that), fiber soy protein and whey protein.  If you find that there are too many options for you to decide, no worries, their employees are always willing to help you make up your mind.

Squeeze Fresh Smoothies also offer more classical drinks such as apple juice, orange juice, lemonade (served regular, mango, raspberry, or strawberry) and even carrot juice. They offer these more laid back choices available for those who, much like me, are nervous to try something else.  They even offer and additional list of drinks that contain a combination such as coffee beans, chocolate or caramel.  These drinks are a little less healthy (depending on your portion size) than the others but sometimes it’s okay to venture to the dark side!

Squeeze Fresh Smoothies calls most of their drinks smoothies.  They actually have a list of smoothies that you can order by name or find them categorized by a flavor profile   Most are served with three servings of fruit (similar to Yogo Kiss) and they are sold as “what you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”  I do believe that these smoothies can keep that promise from what I have seen in their nutritional information.  Even a large smoothie, depending on the choice of fruit and milk, can have less than 100 calories by the time you are finished.  If you are the most cautious type just select a juice.  Granted a gallon of juice at the grocery store would probably cost you less.  These juices are quite healthy as they have no sugar added and do not contain any high fructose corn syrup, they are literally 100% juice.

As I mentioned earlier you can add additional things to your smoothie. At Squeeze Fresh Smoothies you can get what is called a Squeeze Shot.  You can get these in 1, 2, or 4 ounce squeezes that include matcha and wheatgrass.  Matcha is a perfectly balanced combination of natural caffeine, tannins and L-theanine.  This substance can provide the body with extra energy and mental clarity.  It is also packed with antioxidants, chlorophyll, iron, amino acids, and essential vitamins that are known to help the bloodstream.  They can also help you burn fat, cleanse your skin naturally and boost your immune system.

Regardless of what you are in the mood for, Squeeze Fresh Smoothies are a healthy alternative to whatever you are used to.  So the next time you see a Squeeze Fresh Smoothies, or a Yogo Kiss for that matter, stop in and give it a try.  You just might find yourself making a habit out of it like I have!

*Please note that products may vary by location. Squeeze Fresh Smoothies wants you to know that they guarantee quality and freshness.  Customer satisfaction I is their number one goal.  They want to make sure every time you visit you enjoy an experience that goes way beyond a flavorful and nourishing product.  That is why they pledge to greet you with a smile every time, making your order fresh using the best quality ingredients available and deliver your order in a prompt and courteous manner.