Tag: Breakfast
2023 Week 6 – The Big Game
It’s finally here! After all the hype, today is Super Bowl Sunday! The Chiefs & Eagles kick off at 6:30 pm in what will, hopefully, be a close-fought game decided in the final seconds of regular time. Or it’ll be a blowout, and the only entertainment will be the commercials that cost an estimated $7 million for 30 seconds.
I don’t know what’s happening, but I’m finding a lot of new foods these days. Maybe the boredom of eating the same things over the winter has me unconsciously searching for new things. Sporked had a Cheese Puff Taste Test in October 2022, and I just happened to find one of the top-ranked contenders at Menards last weekend.
Herr’s Jalapeño Popper Cheese Curls tied for first place with Fresh Finds Cheese Puffs in the competition, and as I cruised through the food section, I spotted the bag in all its 17oz glory Of course, 17 ounces of cheese puffs is a BIG bag. We’re still snacking on it two weeks later.
The Herr’s Jalapeño Popper Cheese Curls are mildly spicy and delicious. Be sure to have a few extra napkins handy, as these will get cheese dust on your fingers just by looking at them.
I mentioned previously I’m not much of a breakfast person. We’re called “Intermittent Fasters” by those in the know. Who knew that skipping breakfast would be a trendy thing?
Over the winter, after a riveting episode of Below Deck, we turned on an older episode of Shark Tank that featured a segment on overnight oats from a company called Mush.
I’ve purchased a few containers, and so far, the Apple Cinnamon is my favorite, with blueberry being a close second. The texture is slightly chewy, and the non-dairy milk is refreshing and light. This is something I could see myself eating pretty regularly and breaking my fast well before noon on some days.
My local Kroger only carries a limited selection of flavors. Luckily Whole Foods downtown has all the flavors, including Peach and strawberry. I’m looking forward to picking some of those up when I get my next lunch salad.
And finally… If you still have Netflix, you should check out a 4-part series called “Cunk on Earth,” where Philomena Cunk puts the worlds leading experts on edge with her hilarious questions about historical events. You have to pay attention because the humor can sometimes be subtle, but it’s very funny nonetheless.
2023 Week 5 – Peek-a-Boo!
Pretty quiet week if you don’t count the Chinese “weather” balloon that made its way across the continental U.S. It’s reported that the balloon had some remote control abilities and happened to float over some sensitive military installations. After clearing the eastern seaboard, a U.S. fighter jet shot down the balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach.
In food news, we made a few discoveries this week. While picking up a salad at Whole Foods, a young lady was at a display stand sampling Soy Sauce, and Chili Crisp made in Cincinnati. After tasting a little of the soy sauce on a veggie sushi roll, I bought a bottle (it’s delicious!).
CinSoy Foods makes several foods, including Tofu, Soy Sauce, Soy Salt, and Make at Home Miso Kits. I’m looking forward to trying their Soy Sauce in a few upcoming recipes.
If you’re craving Lasagna but don’t have the time or energy to make a big batch, I highly recommend the Giovanni Rana brand. It’s located in the refrigerated section at Kroger. The Meat Lasagna I picked up looked and tasted homemade. The package is vacuum sealed and has about a 3-week shelf life in the refrigerator before consuming or freezing it. I can’t see this lasting more than three days in my fridge. Giovanni Rana also has a line of fresh pasta and sauces.
And last but not least, RXBar added a new variation to its line of Protein Bars. The A.M. RXBar mixes in Oats to give the product a little more flavor and soften up the texture of the traditional RXBar. After sampling the Honey, Cinnamon, and Peanut Butter flavor, I immediately ordered a 12-pack from Amazon (for around $20). These have been my go-to light breakfast on mornings when I need something to hold me over until lunch.
And finally… The Economics Of Unused Gift Cards. The Hustle posted a video on YouTube about how companies make money on Gift Cards. I was surprised to learn Indiana is one of the states that allows maintenance fees to be collected after a period of time that will eventually render gift cards worthless.
Indy – The Donut Shop
In 1997 Nuvo Magazine* said The Donut Shop Bakery & Restaurant on North Keystone had the best omelet. In 2005 it was awarded the “Best Chocolate Iced Cake Donut”*.
An old Indianapolis Monthly article* mentions the area used to be a rare and ancient peat bog that was drained in the 60’s as well as a 385-acre dairy farm and part of the Freedom Trail. I was unable to find an exact year it opened but I assume The Donut Shop has to have been around since the early 70’s.
Let’s just say this place isn’t new. And it doesn’t feel new when you arrive, which is OK with me. It’s clean and well kept for sure (except for that squeaky kitchen swing door) and that says a lot. I stopped in on a workday while making my way downtown and the crowd was light but steady.
I’ve been driving past this place for a long time and only really noticed it about 2-years ago. I must have been looking at all the car lots that used to be across the street in the area.
After being really disappointed with the last few places I’d stopped for breakfast (looking at you Wild Eggs & Yolk with your $13+ disappointment platters) I thought I’d see if a so-called greasy spoon could fill the void. I’m not asking for much. Scramble some eggs, crisp up some shredded potatoes and do more than partially cook some bacon. Toast or a biscuit is a nice addition but don’t call it homemade/scratch when it’s clearly previously frozen and delivered on a truck twice a week.
Upon arrival at The Donut Shop I was promptly seated, had a menu in hand, and coffee on the table in about 30-seconds. Oddly the napkin wrapped flatware only contained a fork and knife. No spoon for my single pack of sugar & container of half and half. I made the fork pull double duty today.
This place has a nice list of breakfast combos & I choose the #2 consisting of Two Eggs; Potatoes; Choice of Ham, Bacon, Sausage, or Turkey; and Toast for only $5.25 I picked Bacon & Rye toast this visit.
As I waited for my food I noticed this place seemed to have a lot of regulars eating in and carrying out (food and donuts). The phone was pretty busy too with call in orders.
After about 5-6 minutes my breakfast arrived and it looked great. The bacon was very thin and crisp and the hash browns were about as perfect as you can get. The eggs were scrambled nicely and the toast nicely buttered. The potatoes were probably my favorite closely followed by that toast. It was a proper rye bread that was cut on the thick side which I like.
This was a solid meal for the money and I was out the door for under $10 with coffee and tip (CASH ONLY). I hear this place is crazy on the weekends and I can totally see that. Not sure where everyone parks as the parking situation is pretty sparse. I’m sure people get creative and “entitled” (don’t get me started on how people park around Indy).
When I have the time and if I’m in the area I’ll happily stop back in and I look forward to trying out some other combos on the menu.
The Donut Shop
5527 N. Keystone Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46220
317.255.3836
http://www.thedonutshoponline.com
*Info from the Donut Shop’s website – http://www.thedonutshoponline.com/buzz#
Indy – Northside Kitchenette
I’ve wanted to try this place out for a while now and had the opportunity to go 2-days in a row over a recent weekend. Northside Kitchenette is owned by the same people who run the next door Northside Social (one of my favorite north-side restaurants for a date night).
The first day we went around lunch time I had the “kitchen’ette’ sink” ($12) which features a 1/2 order of Biscuits and Gravy topped with breakfast potatoes, bacon crumbles, two eggs over easy and cheddar cheese. This was a really good play on the type of skillet dishes you can get at other places but this was in a bowl with enough gravy and sauce for 2 orders. I really liked this dish. It was rich and filling enough to leave me full for most for the rest of the day. I totally spaced taking pictures but it’s worth checking out if you’re hungry. My son ordered the same as me and the girlfriend ordered the Eggs Benedict ($11) (sauce on the side). Everyone was happy with their dishes and each said they would order the same again.
The next day we had the opportunity to return, and we did! This time I went for the Eggs Benedict (also sauce on the side because a bad sauce can ruin an otherwise delicious dish) and my date ordered a half-order of their brioche french toast ($6). A couple of libations were in order and we tried the Raspberry Bellini ($9) and Hibiscus Mimosa ($10) the latter of which included a delicious candied hibiscus flower in the bottom of the glass. Both were well balanced and very refreshing.
Just about all of the dishes come with roasted, and quartered, potatoes. While delicious in the “kitchen’ette’ sink” (because of all of the sauces) they were strongly seasoned on their own. We definitely tasted cumin and, I think, rosemary. I appreciate the aggressive seasoning, which is unusual in most potato sides, but it was a little much on their own so I opted for fruit on the second visit. The fruit cup was delicious and contained a great mix of pineapple, grapes, and berries.
I’m really happy with the quality of the food at Northside Kitchenette. Everything tasted fresh and the portions were just right for my appetite. Being able to get seated right away on a weekend is a BIG plus in my book. They had a steady rotation of customers and the service on both occasions was attentive and just right. I’m happy to drive down from Fishers every once in a while to enjoy a nice breakfast/Brunch/Lunch at this place.
What’s your experience with Northside Kitchenette? Any other places I should be checking out on a Sunday morning?
Northside Kitchenette
6515 N College Ave
Indianapolis IN 46220
http://www.northsidekitchenette.com
Indy – Henry’s Coffee Bistro
I’ve driven past Henry’s Coffee Bistro many times when working downtown. I had some work to get done before visiting one of my clients and needed somewhere to work for a while. Since I was driving down East St it seemed like a good time to check out Henry’s. The free parking on the north side of the building was a big plus since there was NO street parking to be found in the area.
I was a little surprised that the place was empty at 9:30 am and so was Mike the lone employee behind the counter. We had a pleasant conversation and he proceeded to tell me about the place and some of their offerings. I settled on a sausage and egg croissant and an Americano coffee.
The Bistro has a nice variety of food and drinks and the walls are covered with interesting artwork that can be purchased. The location on East Street just south of Mass Ave, and adjacent to the Nestle Inn, makes it a little hard to find the first time (if you’re not familiar with the area).
The sandwich was much bigger than I was expecting and it hit the spot. The coffee was served in a large ceramic mug and was perfectly prepared. Before I left another small group came in for what looked like a meeting/interview but other than that the place was pretty quiet and not busy at all. I hope it’s just because of the inclement weather we were having at the time because I’d hate to see this place go out of business.
I’m always looking for nice little places to tuck into and get some work done between meetings, or just to get out of the office and have a nice change of pace. I’ve had my share of meetings at the Coffee Chain’s and will always choose something local if I have the option. The vibe and atmosphere are always better.
Henry’s is open for breakfast and lunch daily and I’ve been told the place is pretty busy for Brunch on the weekends. If you’re in the area check it out and let me know what you think!
Henry’s Coffee Bistro
627 East St, Indianapolis, IN 46202