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.

The Cow Palace - Shelbyville, IN

Just southeast of Indianapolis, Indiana, lies the small town of Shelbyville.  While it is the county seat for Shelby County, it is a distinctly working class town without much to offer beyond a historic movie theater and a collection of industrial employers.  This is certainly not to say there aren't great people living and working in Shelbyville because there are, but it isn't exactly a tourist destination.

Like the factories that are the lifeblood of the town, the food mirrors that utilitarian theme.  Restaurants serve simple, diner-style food among the number of familiar fast food and casual dining options in town.  Just north of the downtown square, a local eatery came up on my radar screen.  The Cow Palace is a restaurant and ice cream shop that serves up diner fare with a unique spin on some dishes.

The restaurant sits on the site of the former homesite for noted local author, Charles Major.  Major lived from 1856 to 1913 and is known for writing When Knighthood Was In Flower and The Bears of Blue River.  A plaque at the entrance to the restaurant recognizes the site in his honor.

On my visit, I scanned the menu filled with traditional diner selections like the cheeseburger, pork tenderloin sandwich, soups, salads, and other sandwiches.  One particular item caught my eye.  It seemed to advertise a most delicious combination of two classic diner dishes.  Just as the Labradoodle transfigured two distinctly different large breed dogs, the Cow Palace has transformed the sandwich by pairing a cheeseburger with a BLT club sandwich.  Snuggled between three slices of bread this sandwich boasts a cheeseburger patty, lot's of crispy, hickory-smoked bacon along with fresh lettuce and sliced tomatoes.  Mayonnaise completes the sandwich.  Naturally, I had to order this.

What arrived at my table looked exactly like a club sandwich with the exception of the sliced deli meat being substituted for the cheeseburger.  I can readily say the sandwich was all that I hoped for.  It was equal parts tasty BLT and juicy cheeseburger.  I truly enjoyed every delicious bite.  The french fries served alongside were alright, but needed a dose of salt to make them have some flavor.  I also indulged myself with a strawberry milkshake that was very thick and rich.  In traditional diner fashion I got a tall glass filled with my shake and the metal mixing container with all the extra shake mixture.  It was the perfect compliment to my meal.

If you ever find yourself in Shelbyville, Indiana, I would encourage you to drop in to the Cow Palace and sample their fare.  I can assure you that the Cheeseburger BLT will exceed your expectations.  The prices are very fair and on par with small town pricing.  My total bill for this meal was right around $10 before tip.