Monon Coffee Company

The best independent locally owned coffee shop in Indy - period.

So there's a reason my food blog is actually called Coco & Coffee... I love chocolate and I love coffee - chocolate and coffee together is even better. So it should come to no one's surprise I'm doing another entry on a locally owned coffee shop. I know that silly sign up there says it's the Best in Indy (2007) but really it should hold a special spot just for having some tasty coffee and cool interior designs. Monon Coffee Company (as said in the name) is in heart of Broad Ripple's trendy art and clothing boutiques. Right across from your drunk nights in the Red Room and after night cravings in Qdoba - sits spot you wouldn't have known was there if you only visit Broad Ripple in the evening (shame on you if that's all you've done!).

With 8 honor system coffee choices (yes it's a honor system so please pay), and some funky new coffee items on the menu it's sure to please any coffee junkie. Fortunately for me, Indianapolis weather has not been kind lately with the 103F degree weather with 53% humidity, I walked into Monon Coffee Company and ordered their Iced Mona Lisa. It was a delicious espresso based drink with a kick of real cinnamon and hints of nutmeg.

I don't know what it is about sea foam green/blue but the color makes any place look like royalty and what's palace like than a coffee shop?

Of course along with other cafes, including homemade rice crispies, brownies, danishes, and the like but let's be serious you're there for coffee! If you're ever in Broad Ripple during the daylight, check this place out. It's worth the visit and you're paying your $3 at a Starbucks anyway - it might as well be a local shop.

For more information on their latest adventures and newest location in downtown Indy checkout their website/blog! Monon Coffee

Wurstküche Exotic Sausage Grill

Austin Blues Sausage is smokey and spicy a delicious treat with their crunchy thick cut fries.

You didn't read wrong. Exotic. Sausages. Another awesome food experience in LA. Wurstkuche is in the heart of the art district - distinctively decorated with their bright yellow and red doors. With a lunch room setting on the inside (minus the pesky clique tables. Mean Girls anyone?) and outdoor seating by large brick walls with dainty white flowers. This once was a warehouse that probably would've gone to waste if it had not turned into a great eating facility.

So what's an exotic sausage? Does Duck & Rabbit with Jalapenos qualify? Sure! Uniquely German. Deliciously American.

What else is on their impressive menu? (selected items)

• Apricot Ginger - chicken & turkey in lamb casing
• Austin Blues - hot, spicy, and smokey hardwood grilled (I got this and it is pretty spicy but satisfied my cravings of what I imagined a sausage would taste like from Texas)
• Buffalo, Beef, & Pork with Chipotle Peppers
• Rattlesnack & Rabbit - with Jalapeno Peppers
• Alligator & Pork - beautifully smoked in hickory with Andouille sausage

Accompany any of those with their delicious french fries and wide variety of dipping sauces (please be smart and SKIP the ketchup they have way too many sauces to be dull!) I had their fries with sun dried tomato mayo and tried some of their chipotle aioli (skip the mayo try the aioli).

If you aren't looking into their beer no need to feel left out there are many drinks like Cucumber soda, ginger beer, and vanilla sodas to relieve your thirst.

What accompanies a German bratwurst better than beer? With 24 different beers on draft (only 3 of which are from the US) you'll stay way past your lunch hour (and quite possibly bed time - the bars are open until 2am). Most of their beers are imported from Germany, Belgium, and England and most of them come in their own unique glass. I was kindly informed to stay away from the Kwak beer (no not Korean Kwak - Belgian Kwak) even though it came in it's own hour shaped glass and wooden holder! Apparently it's a bad amber beer with a very strange after taste.

I opted for something a little more refreshing to cool down my Austin Blues - Mr Q Cumber soda was so good! I'm currently looking to see where I can buy this myself - it's so light and bubbly I could drink it all summer long.

If you're ever in LA - this line is worth waiting for. These sausages are certainly better than the fillers and byproducts (ewwww) that we usually grill on the Barbie in our backyards. Enjoy!

p.s. Want to see their menu? Visit their website at Wurstkuche.com

Cafe Korea - Fishers, Indiana

Whimsical plate settings

What is it about Korean food that I love - can't get enough of? Let me count the ways...tender marinated DYI BBQ? Hot/Spicy/Sweet at all the same time? Their metal chopsticks? Maybe. But something about the combination of sundubu, Korean seafood pancakes, and naengmyeon (or to my Korean friends 냉면) on a hot day that just hits the spot. 

With all that being said you can share my despair when I found there were no good Korean restaurants in Indianapolis. I see you guys around, I KNOW you're here, so where's the food?? Don't get me wrong Mama's is ok as it's one of the only two restaurants in all of Indy that has Korean BBQ (but it's old, overpriced, and quite honestly grimy). 

But where else can I get my Korean food fix? Thanks to my friend and now roommate who introduced me to Cafe Korea. A restaurant ran by a local family from Korea with about 30 years of experience in the restaurant business (17 years in Korea and 10 in the US). Although they previously had more restaurants in Indiana - they sold the rest and kept Cafe Korea to improve on their main goal: fresh and healthy ingredients; authentic enough to be Korean but "American" enough to not scare away first time patrons.

The original Korean pancake with one twist: Mama Hong puts mozzarella on top to add an extra creamy decadence.

Side dishes with each meal are homemade including their sauces and kimchi which means no MSG or pre-made bagged spices

 

 

Dol Sot Bi Bim Bap - made just right with extra crispy rice on the bottom of the stone bowl. Great lunch size and price (I wish there were more meat though)

My experience at Cafe Korea left me thinking, "why didn't I discover this earlier"? Their lunch portions are reasonably priced (although think Korean food - it's always a tad more expensive than Chinese takeout) and their meat was marinated and tender even without a private grill. This restaurant is cared for like a home; modernly decorated, cozy, with a bar that reminded me of Ikea display showcase. My server Li gave good recommendations and chatted with me like a friend instead of a patron (oh and she's from North Carolina ;).


Thank you to Eunice, who answered all of my questions and to everyone at Cafe Korea~ For more information on their Fishers location, menu, and hours please visit Cafe Korea's website.

Eating Adventures in Los Angeles, California

California Dreams - I haven't been back to the L.A. area since I was 10 (Does that even count? I followed my parents everywhere and I'm sure all I ate was Chinese food). This time, as a "grown up", I had the chance to explore the diversity and new aged food lovers of LA. Los Angeles' food scene is not to be missed!

Dim Sum Truck! One of the many reasons why SoCal is awesome - food trucks. Tasty. Cheap. Fast

Ruen Pair (Rrrrruen Pair as my Thai friend says) - Thai restaurant - spicy and sour Tom Yum Goong :)

Fish Sandwich on the Santa Monica Pier - better than Micky D's Filet'O'Fish 

In-N-Out ~ The sole reason Californians may have Type 1 Diabetes on their tiny frames

Yamazaki Bakery - a Japanese staple and a favorite across Asia (has great melon pan and chocolate croissant)

Beard Papa's - known all over for their famous Creme Puffs...but I thought this humorous (Strawberry or Mango Ice Showers anyone?)

Porto's Cuban Bakery & Cafe

Porto's (from T - B)  Their large array of bakery and cafe goodies, pastries case, potato ball, cakes case)

Porto's origins come from humble beginnings, like all great restaurants, from a family ambitious to make the American Dream in the US. Rosa and Raul Porto emigrated to the US from Cuba in the 1960's with Rosa's superb baking skills and Raul's strong ethic. Although their original store was in Southern California they've expanded their tasty bakery and cafe enterprise to 3 different locations. 

Walking into Porto's (in Glendale location) is like walking into and watching a perfect assembly line at work. We went during lunch time on a Saturday but you wouldn't have known by the wait time. You order  your sandwich/Potato Ball/Cheese Roll/etc yumminess sit down and they bring your order for you. I highly recommend their signature Potato Ball, tamales, and their dulce de lech or iced cappuccino. We also ordered their meat pie although the crust was nice and flaky it did not come out hot which made the whole thing kind of oily. But let me talk more about their Potato Ball...  

  

When my friend who currently lives in LA first told me about Porto's was talking about potato balls I was literally saying in my head "What the $#%*? Potato balls?" I thought - potato rolls? fried potatoes? But unexpectedly I got a mashed potato ball where every bite melted into my mouth - and then a surprise of seasoned ground beef is in the middle (it's like a tootsie roll pop just waiting for the actual candy!). 

    

Want more incentives?? Most of their bakery goods are under $3.00 (i.e. Potato Ball $.90, Lemon Mousse Cake $2.95, Pineapple custard Cuban cake $2.50)

For more information on locations, full menu, and their story please visit their website at Porto's Bakery