Goose The Market - Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis is known for lot's of things.  Whether it is the great sports teams in the capital city, the Indy 500, or the canal downtown, Indianapolis typifies a midwestern, All-American city.  When people think of Indianapolis, the majority of folks wouldn't consider the town to be on the cutting edge of locally sourced foods and charcuterie.  Yet just east of downtown in a neighborhood in the midst of revitalization, sits an establishment trying to introduce these concepts to the Indianapolis community.

Goose the Market is a little mix of everything that involves fine food and wine.  From their large selection of deli meats, cheeses and charcuterie to their basement wine cellar allowing patrons to sample fine wines, the establishment has built a solid following over time.  Recently, the market has also added a smoker trailer to allow them to cater parties with fine smoked and grilled meats.

Not only is Goose the Market a spot to pick up fine meats, cheeses and wines, but they also offer a delicious selection of sandwiches and gelati.  After hearing so many great things about the market, I thought it was time to check it out for myself.  And so I went and found a quaint and inviting shop with locally sourced meats, cheeses, specialty drinks and gelati.  I scanned the menu and settled on the Goose Sandwich.  The Goose has thinly sliced prosciutto, fresh basil, fresh mozzarella, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and served on fresh Italian bread.

The Goose Sandwich

The sandwich is simple and fresh.  It is the freshness that makes it delicious.  The crispy exterior of the bread yields to a soft, velvety feel from the cheese.  The fragrance of the fresh basil permeates the sandwich to awaken your senses with each bite.  The prosciutto is buttery and salty and delicious.  Each bite of this simple sandwich was exquisite except for the last bite as I knew it was all over and I wanted more.

The Goose Sandwich

Rather than sink my teeth directly into another sandwich, I thought I would sample my way around the menu a bit more.  While my sandwich was being made, a slim stick of meat caught my eye in the deli case.  I ordered up a lamb stick to sample.  The stick had a nice snap to the casing and inside was a sweet, smoky lamb stick.  The smoke flavor was not overpowering and the spices complimented the lamb well.  Once again, however I had a sinking feeling when I ran out of meat after just a few bites.

Smoked Lamb Stick

I decided to complete my meal with some gelati.  The menu selections change for the gelati from time to time, but on this particular day I found two of my favorite flavors to sample.  I got the creme brulee and pistachio.  The gelati was very dense and rich.  Both flavors were excellent and true to their advertised tastes. 

Creme Brulee and Pistachio Gelati

All in all, Goose the Market is a gem in a city that is just learning to recognize the importance of locally sourced and farm-to-table goods.  The prices may seem steep, but the old adage of you get what you pay for definitely fits.  For fresh products with quality ingredients you have to pay more.  And to support a local couple who operate a business to support so many other local farmers and vendors is worth every penny.