Number 19 - Historic Steer In Meatball Sandwich!

See how this all started here: http://bkatranch.blogspot.com/2012/01/bc-and-kathies-excellent-adventure-to.html


Number 19! We are still knocking them off the list, but not as fast as I would like! I can now start seeing half-way so that is a good sign! We are saving some close and easy sandwiches for crunch time, so I might be able to pull an ace out of my sleeve in the final hours!

I have been looking forward to sandwich 19! The list describes our number 19, the Historic Steer In Meatball Sandwich, as:

After its March 2011 debut on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, in less than two months, at least one person from every state and some parts of Canada arrived to polish off the real star of the show, the fat meatball sandwich. A locally-baked crusty baguette cradles fresh, bright-red marinara sauce, and three succulent hunks of veal, beef and sausage, all under a veil of browned mozzarella and asiago cheese.

The Historic Steer Inn is a place that I have been to and am familiar with. This restaurant has had quite a wild ride in Indy. The place started out as the Northway Drive-In in the 50’s and a very well known restaurateur bought the place in the late 1950’s. That was the famous Laughner family. Here is the interesting thing, the Laughners didn’t do that well with it and sold it in 1964 to Harold Phillips. Now Harold’s Steer In, the restaurant became popular and thrived till around 2004 when it closed down. Charlie and Barbara Kehrer, longtime East siders, leased the place to try to continue the tradition of the Steer In. They were successful and able to purchase it in 2008 from Harold and it became the Historic Steer In. The rest is history so to speak.

I like meatball sandwiches but very rarely get them because NOBODY knows how to make a proper meatball sandwich. A meatball sandwich should be meat, sauce, cheese in the right portions and be able to be picked up. Easy right? WRONG. Most places try to accomplish that goal by using the wrong portions. They cut back on sauce or they increase the bread size. The only reason to use a fork to eat a meatball sandwich is because of size – not because it is too soggy to pick up! From the description from the list, I had a feeling they knew how to make it, but I was nervous.

The place has an old diner mixed with bar vibe to it. I think that is because there are flat screens TV’s all over the place showing sports or news. Not what I would think for a diner, but then you have the lunch counter, the wait staff, and build of the place so you think diner. I ordered the sandwich with onion rings (another item I am real picky on) and Kathie ordered the chili burger.

Our food arrived and let me get the formalities out of the way. The onion rings were not good. Cooked wrong, failed attempt at breading, let me just say don’t order the rings. I didn’t even finish them and if you have seen my gut, you know I don’t leave food much! Kathie liked her burger but of course she never says a bad word about anything! I did try a bite and the burger was good.

Now for what you have been waiting for, my review on the meatball sandwich. Where do I start? I read a blog the other day with someone stating that most people use the word AWESOME wrong. His premise was that awesome is “inspiring awe” and the definition of awe is “A feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder” therefore saying this sandwich was awesome would be wrong. How about splendid, first rate, superb, superior? Would those words be accurate in describing this meatball sandwich? YES! The crusty baguette is a splendid choice, a soft nice core in a toasty hard shell. Next are the superior meatballs. Nice blend of meats that provide a great flavor and top those with a first rate marinara. Covered, smothered? Nay, nay, just enough to cover the tops of the huge meatballs. Are they done with that sandwich? No. A lot of places would be. Historic Steer In is still going to top it with, not one, but two cheeses and then put the thing under the heat so you end up with a nice browned blanket of cheese. I would just say awesome and that would have saved me 50 words, but I guess that would be the wrong word.

Next time you find yourself on the eastside, steer in to a great sandwich. See what I did there? I’m here all week folks!

#16 - Marble's Cafe

See how this all started here: http://bkatranch.blogspot.com/2012/01/bc-and-kathies-excellent-adventure-to.html


I have been a little remiss in my writing – but don’t worry – not my eating! Kathie and I actually have completed a few more adventures; I just haven’t had time to write the reviews. This challenge would be a lot easier if I just was required to EAT the 46 sandwiches instead of eating AND writing about them!

Number 16! Marble’s Café. This is another perfect example of why Kathie and I do the list – to find “hidden gems” that we normally would not venture in. Marble’s Café is located on the Westside near 56th and I-465 – it not too far from us, and on our pathway to some of our family members houses. We really should have tried this place before now! The café sits right between Boathouse Grill and Subway restaurant.

Walking into the café we were both a little nervous. The place is pretty un-assuming. A few tables, a counter and that is about it. No real graphics on the wall or any décor to really “sell” that you are in the right place for good food! If we were not on the Super 46 mission, I am thinking we might have ended up next door at Subway but thankfully we did not! The sandwich from the list is the Chicken Club and sounds so good as described by the list:

Enjoy a monstrous sandwich—and possibly rub elbows with some of your favorite Colts players at this restaurant located less than a mile from the Colts Complex on the city’s northwest side. The chicken club is a hearty serving of breaded chicken, Applewood bacon, honey maple ham, and Cajun turkey, all held together by melted Swiss cheese and owner Calvin Marble’s special sauce. Still hungry? You can’t go wrong with homemade peach cobbler.

We ordered and asked about the drink selection because there was no soda fountain to be seen. We were surprised when Faygo was offered in addition to the normal tea, coffee and lemonade. Ahhh, Faygo Grape over ice. It brought back some memories about Faygo from years ago and I must admit it was a nice change from the normal Diet Coke that I would order.

Our meals came out and they looked delicious. Nice big fries and sandwiches that weren’t wrapped in paper. Heck it looked like real food! Kathie liked her burger a lot and said it was like a Steak & Shake burger – thin and crispy patties. My sandwich was nothing but incredible. I can’t say enough about this sandwich and their take on the Chicken Club. Nice breaded chicken, like chicken tenders, with bacon, ham, Cajun turkey, all smothered in Swiss cheese and covered with a “special sauce”. It was awesome. Everything worked together perfectly and nothing was lost in a bite. There was a nice amount of bacon but again, not overwhelming. It was a really good balance of ingredients between the bread! I hate when you order a “complicated” sandwich and you can’t taste something. It happens all the time with cheese. If it is on the sandwich, you better be able to taste it!



The Club!



Kathie's Burger

I went to the owner/chef after we finished the meal and complimented him on the sandwich and told him what we were doing and that he without a doubt deserved a place on the top 46 sandwiches in Indiana. It was one of the best that I have had in the adventure. He mentioned that he had people walk in the door and turn around and leave and he just didn’t understand it. I gave him my thoughts on it and explained I might have done the same thing if not for the list. I am certainly not a restaurant expert but as a small business owner, I understand his frustration of being next to a chain restaurant that really doesn’t have anything special to offer but manages to have a line out the door every lunch hour. Marble’s has a great sandwich and the heart of someone that wants to give GREAT food. I beg of you to please give Marble’s a try and tell a few hundred people.

I should mention that I did try the peach cobbler and it was wonderful. Homemade peach cobbler made right there. Mr. Marble needs to get some ice cream and that would be heaven!

Number 15 - Creation Cafe'

See how this all started here: http://bkatranch.blogspot.com/2012/01/bc-and-kathies-excellent-adventure-to.html


Number 15! Almost a third of the way! A third would be 15.33 so as soon as we take a bite at the next restaurant we will be officially a third of the way to completion.

Number 15 is a GREAT example of why we started this goal. We wanted to explore locally owned sandwich locations with exceptional food and be forced out of our normal patterns. Number 15, Creation Café, is perfect example of this.

Creation Café is located at the start of the canal in downtown Indianapolis in Buggs Temple. Kathie and I visit the canal several times a year and have walked right by the Creation Café many times not considering it a meal option. The signage just lists “Creation Café” on the side of Buggs Temple which is an old church building which became famous for gospel singing in the 70’s. Buggs Temple is named after Elder James C. Buggs who purchased the building. Walking by that sign on the side of a historic church, I had always envisioned people sitting inside debating creationism versus evolution over pots of coffee and tins of pie. I was wrong.

The café is very inviting. The décor, the sofa in the middle of the room, the desert counter and the whole vibe just says “come in, sit down and enjoy”. We did just that. We grabbed a table inside because as you can imagine, the patio seating that overlooks the canal was a little crowded. I ordered the Super 46 item - Southern Style BBQ Sandwich. The list describes the sandwich as: overflowing with tender pork pulled and barbecued in-house, the sandwich contains several unique twists: tangy Pico de Gallo, creamy coleslaw, and homemade pickles that top melted cheddar. Kathie also ordered the sandwich and we decided to indulge in an appetizer - South of the Border Chicken Dip. Let’s see if I can conjure up a description like the Super 46 bunch: The spicy chicken chunks swim through a sea of cheese sauce that is littered with crumbles of blue cheese. When you take your tortilla chip and dip into this ocean of awesomeness your taste buds will come alive screaming for more.

Yeah, I think I will leave the description to the creative writers over at Super 46. What I would say about the Chicken Dip is that it rocks. We both liked it very much. In fact we barely left room for the main item – the Southern Style BBQ Sandwich. The sandwich is exactly how the list describes it. I actually was nervous about this sandwich because I don’t like coleslaw or Pico de Gallo so I figured I would be forcing down a bite and then scraping that stuff off. I didn't scrape anything off. I like everything about the sandwich and how all the ingredients worked together to make just a good BBQ sandwich that without a doubt deserved to be on this list.

We decide for desert.  How could we not have desert, seeing how everything that we have tried so far was amazing?  Kathie is a huge gelato fan and they have a case full.  I love icing and they have cupcakes with icing to the ceiling.  Kathie got her cup of gelato and I got my lemon - rasberry cupcake.  Amazing.

I can’t wait to go back to Creation Café and try the Cuban or maybe the Italiano Panini. Let’s just say, I can’t wait to go back.

Mug 'n Bun

See how this all started here: http://bkatranch.blogspot.com/2012/01/bc-and-kathies-excellent-adventure-to.html

It is official Kathie and I are off track with our schedule to complete all 46 sandwiches in a year but fear not, we are determined to complete this task on schedule even if it means we have to eat delicious sandwiches every night during the week!

Number 14 is Mug N Bun for their breaded tenderloin. Mug N Bun is a place that used to be a standard stop for Kathie and I because we lived in the area. Had the sandwich been for the burger, I probably could do a review from memory.

Mug – N – Bun advertises as “Indy’s oldest and finest drive in”. I did some research and found that Mug N Bun started as Frostop in 1942. It was renamed to Mug – N – Bun in 1962. That first 20 years would be quite an accomplishment in the restaurant business alone, but to be doing basically the same thing 70 years later is amazing. Mug – N – Bun still features car hops although not on roller skates.

Kathie and I decide to relive our youth and order from the patio which is what we did 15 years ago. Man, that is hard to think! Kathie ordered the double cheeseburger (she is small but mighty!) and I ordered the tenderloin and onion rings.

The list mentions the Mug N Bun tenderloin as such: If there's a starter tenderloin for visitors to the Hoosier state, this thin, crispy tenderloin that extends modestly beyond the bun would have to be the leading candidate, especially in a basket with giant batter-dipped onion rings. I agree, except remove “starter”. This is what Hoosier tenderloin is supposed to be! Thin, battered, and HUGE! Tenderloin should be about twice the size of the bun and it doesn’t matter what size bun you use – if you decide to use buns that are the size of dinner plates then the tenderloin better be the size of a pizza pan!

When our food arrived I was not disappointed! The tenderloin was the proper thickness, size and breaded properly. With some pickles, ketchup and mustard it was a GREAT tenderloin and by far the best on the list so far but I think we have only done one other tenderloin so far. The onion rings were perfect. I am amazed at how many places have no clue on onion rings. First, when you bite into an onion ring you should be able to do just that, take a bite. You should not end up pulling the onion out from the breading. When you hold the onion ring firmly, the breading should not fall off. One of the most important things is cooking time. I don’t know the proper amount of cooking time for an onion ring and either does most people WHO MAKE THEM. I am glad that Mug – N – Bun knows how to make a good ring. And peanut butter shake. And burger. And pretty much everything.

Harry & Izzy's - Number 7!

See how this all started here: http://bkatranch.blogspot.com/2012/01/bc-and-kathies-excellent-adventure-to.html

The list continues! Number 7 and we are behind the schedule to complete this task in a year, but I think we will get caught up soon! I am actually behind on my writing so you may see a double post this week! A few weeks ago we decided to head to Castleton for lunch. While I HATE going to Castleton, the area has a lot to offer both in shopping and food choices. I jumped onto the Super46 mobile site and requested what was “close to us”, (Love that option by the way, Indiana Department of Tourism!), and it returned Harry & Izzys. Cool! Harry & Izzy’s is a spinoff of the world famous St. Elmo’s Steak house. I read a little on Harry & Izzy. Harry Roth and Izzy Rosen were longtime friends that attended Old Manual High in Indianapolis. In 1946, Harry's brothers Sam and Ike purchased St. Elmo Steak House, and shortly after, invited Harry to become a partner in the restaurant. In 1956, Sam and Ike left the business, and Harry asked his longtime friend Izzy to join him as a 50/50 partner in St. Elmo. After a lifetime of friendship and building St. Elmo Steak House into a huge success, St. Elmo’s now celebrates the personalities of both Harry and Izzy in a more casual and updated environment.

I had never been to Harry & Izzy's in Castleton. I think every Hoosier is familiar with the downtown location but I believe that Castleton is fairly new. They are located in a strip center right next door to the famous Container Store! Walking in the front door you quickly forget you are in a strip mall. The décor is really nice and I even picked up some ideas for Platinum Paws on down the road.

The list sandwich is St. Elmo Prime Rib Sandwich. From the list description: “Peyton Manning’s choice to be part-owner at Harry & Izzy’s is further proof of his strategic prowess. This restaurant entices fans to stop in for a bite and perhaps some celebrity sightings. This sandwich’s meltingly tender prime rib is sliced thin and piled high on top of rich white cheddar on a ciabatta roll, with horseradish sauce on the side and a cup of au jus for dipping.”

We were at Harry & Izzy's on the first really nice weekend of our early spring here in Indiana so Kathie decided to wear her big Miami Beach wedge sandals. Well since she had not worn them for the entire winter – her feet weren’t used to it. The walk from the parking lot pretty much ruined her feet for the day, so I was hoping that the food would take her mind off of the pain!



Kathie before walking to Harry & Izzys's,  notice the smile!


Kathie ordered a little different. She chose the Spicy Meatballs for her meal (normally an appetizer) and started with a wedge salad. A really good choice! Have you ever had a meal that you just loved every bite of? One that you think about from time to time and just wish you could find it closer to home or duplicate it? For me, that meal is the Meatball Bucharest from Janko's Little Zagreb in Bloomington. Incredible! That dish is really spicy meatballs in a zesty sauce, but I digress.

Kathie received her wedge and said it was really good. It is amazing how many places offer a wedge salad yet to find a really good one is very hard. When you have something as simple as a wedge of lettuce your dressing and toppings better shine and Kathie said this was one of the best she has had. We are off to a good start, which was important given the sandal crisis that had developed.

The main courses arrived. The sandwich looked amazing on the warm ciabatta roll with the cheddar peaking out. Kathie’s spicy meatballs also caught my attention right away in the cast iron dish. I must admit that in a place like this, you expect good plate presentation and it was.

I am not a prime rib guy. I would typically never order it but I dove into this sandwich and was pleased. The bread was really over the top and then you couple it with the horseradish and au jus, it made a great sandwich. The star was without a doubt the spicy meatballs. Wow, were they ever spicy. I had one and it about floored me. Kathie ate about half the plate and loved, loved them. Overall the whole Harry & Izzy's experience was wonderful, and I guarantee we will be back someday for the meatballs for sure! For those who are wondering, no they are not as good as Little Zagreb but a close second.

And the walk back to the car!

#6 Fair Oaks Farms - Grilled Cheese!

See how this all started here: http://bkatranch.blogspot.com/2012/01/bc-and-kathies-excellent-adventure-to.html

Number 6? Yeah, I think this was sandwich number 6. I must admit they are starting to run together even at number 6. Whenever we try to list what ones we have done, we tend to forget one. I have no idea what it will be like when we are into double digits.

We were taking our nieces to Chicago for the weekend so Fair Oaks Farms grilled cheese was a great choice because it was on the way and everyone would love the choice.

Cows being milked!

The list states “Enjoy a world-famous grilled cheese sandwich with your choice of Swiss, Havarti pepper, mild cheddar, or a different cheese offered each month in the café of this family friendly farm.” I really did not need the list to tell me about this place or this sandwich. Fair Oaks is a working dairy farm just outside of Rensselaer, Indiana. It is a nice “tourist” destination. They make and sell all types of dairy products right onsite. They have a huge outdoor playground, a center to watch calves being born, an activity center, you can tour the dairy barns and watch them milk the cows. It is one of the neatest places in Indiana and it is only about 2 hours from Indy, straight north on I-65.

We arrived right when they opened and off season, so no lines or crowds to deal with. I ordered the Havarti pepper grilled cheese and a cup of chili. The ladies ordered grilled cheese, chili, or a combination of both. We all, except for Kathie, had milk! The grilled cheese arrived nice and hot, just oozing cheese goodness. This is another one that you think “grilled cheese? I do that at home.” Trust me, you do not do grilled cheese like they do grilled cheese. It is FRESH cheese from cows that are right there on the farm, and then sandwiched between some nice Ciabatta bread. The whole thing is put in the sandwich press for a great Panini style sandwich of greatness. What makes this sandwich perfect beside the fresh cheese is the amount of cheese. It is a balance to have a good amount of cheese that all melts without over browning the bread. They know the amount to use, and no, they won’t tell me. I knew the grilled cheese was great going into this, but the hidden gem was the chili. The chili was a nice beef and bean chili. It is a little mild, so I added some hot packet sauces to spice it up. Really good flavor and topped with some nice shredded cheese.

I highly recommend this place for both the food and the experience. Take the tour, spend some time on the playground, and grab a grilled cheese. Makes for a perfect Indiana day.  Don't forget to bring home some Fair Oaks cheese and dairy products. 

Kathie can't contain her excitment!

If you want further information - check out http://www.fofarms.com/