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

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.

Bub's Burgers and Ice Cream (Home of the Big "Ugly Burger")

Bub's farm animals enjoying some ice cream (Murals painted by local Indy artist Mike Brown)

If you live in the North Indy area Bub's Burgers should not a be a secret, actually it's really not much of a secret to anyone, Bubs hosted an episode of Man v. Food with Adam Richman. Located in the heart of Carmel's Art District this whimsical restaurant is home of their famous "Ugly Burgers". Their menu is fantastic and simple - entrées including the original Ugly Burger, Ugly Elk Burger, their take on Hot Dogs, & Chili in a bread bowl (with an accompaniment of appetizers). By the way, "Big Ugly Burger" = BUBs (the owner and his brother in law's nickname). Ah, but don't forget this is Bub's Burgers and Ice Cream. Attached to the restaurant is an ice cream parlor serving up cold treats for those in the restaurant (in form of malts/shakes) or people passing by on the Monon Trail .

Light hearted atmosphere and the many pictures of "Big Ugly" champions

One of the first things I noticed as I walked into this restaurant is the smiling faces of all the "salesmen" (I was told by the manager, Mike, that the servers/host(ess) were not simply there to serve us food they are known as sales people providing the best customer service and make patrons excited about the food). The staff is younger, like straight out of Carmel H.S. young, but I was pleasantly surprised by their manners.

The second thing I noticed? The massive amount of pictures that covered the walls of this place! If you finish their "Big Ugly" (1 lb burger AFTER cooking) your recognition comes in form of your very own 4x6 picture! The more you finish the bigger the picture. If you can finish 4 "Uglies" you get your very own life sized cut out (Adam Richman only finished 2 but my friend Sally and I sat next to his life sized cut out..I guess being a celebrity with your own TV show helps).

I highly recommend this place - it's fun (especially on your birthday, they make the whole restaurant sing to you, case in point on the child pictured up top) and the food is pretty tasty. I would recommend the elk burger (less fat, more protein) and their delicious sweet potato waffle fries with marshmallow dipping sauce! We also had their hot wings - but ask for the sauce on the side, it got a little too salty for us.

Unfortunately, the owner Matt, was at their new location in Bloomginton so I didn't get to meet him last night. However, for a local burger joint it speaks highly of the food and concept for multiple locations. For more information on Bub's and their sister cafe please visit their website.

Happy Eating~!

Ghyslain Richmond Bistro

Ghyslain Maurais, a Quebec native, found his culinary passion in architectural education. He changed career paths in pursuit of his passion. Ghyslain is now certified in French pastries, chocolate décor, candy making, blown/pulled sugar and bread making. After meeting his wife while working in Ohio - they relocated to her home town of Union City, IN. Since then they have made wonderful gourmet chocolates & fine French pastries. A true gem in Indiana - hence I've dedicated my first blog to them. Cheers!

An array of French Pastries on display. (L to R Caramel Cheescake, Soleil Levant, Charlemagne, Tiramisu)

Impressive handmade & hand panted chocolates. My personal favorite is the Japanese Yuzu Dark Chocolate

Their lunch menu (from the Richmond location) is also delicious and affordable ($9-$12) while their dinner menu is chef's choice and changes daily (a bit pricer). Because it's a locally owned restaurant I find that many times the staff is also more willing to accommodate and are friendlier. They opened on a Monday to serve our large party (with a minimum charge of course) when they're usually not open.

 Neat little team time depending on how strong you'd like your tea (also available in their store for ~$15)


For more information on their story, their locations, and their menu please visit:
Ghyslain Homepage

The Pour House - Cambridge City, IN

Store Front

Denise and John have moved across the United States 48 times, yes I said 48 times (!),with their two daughters for the past 30 years. With John's work always needing to move around - they've finally settled down in Indiana. This is longest they've stayed put in one place and that was about 10 years back. Around 4 years ago Denise took her two favorite "past times" (meeting new people and antiques) and merged them together to form the Pour House. Think... Cracker Barrel but a lot more intimate with furniture you can sit on and buy.  Which actually happened; as we were talking about all the antique furniture around her store, a gentleman a couple weeks back liked the chairs he was sitting on so much he bought all 4 of them!

Neat Knick Knacks on sale, stuff your momma would've told you growing up.

Now that her daughters are fully grown, she has expressed some hardship over maintaining a business. She admitted it turned out to be a lot more work than she expected. Their tagline was "Antiques and Sweets" - where the original concept was to sell a couple of homemade pastries along with the antiques but The Pour House became quite popular in the small town of Cambridge City. One can imagine why Denise would think it's a tad difficult - however with that being said they are now a full cafe with WiFi (Yes it may seem strange I added that tid bit in there... You must be thinking, "Cheryl this is a cafe of course it has WiFi". On the contrary my friend, for a small town like Cambridge City, The Pour House maybe the only  place that has it). The Pour House now serves homemade soups, sandwiches, and fresh pastries/cakes daily. When asked where her culinary traits came from - Denise happily replied: "My mother's kitchen!". The red velvet cake, cherry turnovers, and even homemade fudge are all within the family recipes (even Denise's dad had a recipe to give: the fudge).

Some Sweets (L to R Amaretto & Maple Nut Fudge, Petite Turnovers, Orange Cream Fudge, Frozen Chai Frappé)

The dining area and "store"

p.s. Cambridge City is a town with less than 1,900 people but are a part of the Richmond/Wayne County "Antique Alley" comprising of over 900 dealers from Richmond to Knightstown (which really is only a couple miles apart from each other). Read more about it on the Wayne County Website

Until next time~ Happy Eating!