Fiddlehead Restaurant, a New Addition to the North End

We made it over to Fiddlehead last night and I was surprised that it did not live up to the hype shared here on a local restaurant review page. While it is a new restaurant and that is great for the north end of the City By the Lake, it wasn't really what I expected. I don't want to get too critical and I could discuss the amazing brick wall and tin press ceiling (not sure if it is faux or authentic but still nice) juxtaposed to an almost cafeteria vibe. Nor do I want to focus on sloppily dressed staff, however, I will focus on the food itself.

I ordered the Beet and Goat Cheese salad, with a small side of the mac and cheese. Steve ordered the Spaghetti and Meatballs. Let's begin with the Beet Salad. I am a lover of fresh cooked, roasted beets. I anticipated such on my salad. I was disappointed to have pickled beets. Had I known I would not have ordered the salad. It is not indicated on the menu. Increasingly  I am becoming frustrated with restaurants not serving what is actually on the menu, or switching it up in a way that leaves me frustrated. I am not prone to rejecting a meal as I know that is a big waste to the new upstart restaurant, but, come on. Tell it like it is!  The green goddess dressing was very good and the greens were superb, but, like the juxtaposition of decor, in this case the pickled overpowered everything. A little pickled with fresh roasted maybe, but beautiful deep purple beets and golden ones all pickled? Steve and I shared it, he focused on the pickles I focused on the greens and candied walnuts. He likes a strong pickled taste. The mac and cheese was good, the bacon used flavored it just enough, but, didn't over power it.

Steve's spaghetti? Not impressed. The sauce was mixed into the pasta and served more "cucina contadina italiana" which isn't bad when it is done well. In this case the sauce was a little bland and the meatballs were served on top with no evidence of sauce on the meatballs. Needless to say, Steve ate it all but he also ate spaghetti-o's as a kid. I sampled it but, it is clearly not worth $14.99. The highlight of the meal was the dark bread with raisins served as a welcoming treat.

When looking at Fiddlehead I saw some great potential, the place is a little too large in my estimation for that location and for the north end. However, I can see large events, weddings, and it has the potential for a great live music venue with the right management. I will go back again and try some other standard offerings, such as a cheeseburger. Nothing sells a local pub better than a good burger.

What confused me was the claim to use local meat? I was a little concerned when I discovered that shrimp is raised in Valpo. :) Oh well, we will be back because let's face it; eating local is what it is all about. There are a couple other items that I would like to try.

Fiddlehead
422 Franklin St.
Michigan City, IN
219.210.3253

Cool Runnings Jamaican Restaurant Comes to Michigan City

The rich ethnic flavor of Michigan City, Indiana continues to grow with the newest addition to the community. This ethnic explosion, just might be the thing that sets us apart from some of our surrounding areas. The heart of the community is becoming quite International. Please read on...

It all began when a sweet voice with a heavy Jamaican accent said, "Ms. LaLuna, my family is opening a restaurant Saturday, and I work there." With a cute shyness she handed me the brochure from the restaurant with as much care as a someone would pass a baby. I asked her more about it and she was beaming with pride over her family's accomplishment. I promised her that I would visit the restaurant on the "birth" of this new endeavor.

As promised, I arrived about 12:30 and walked in to find 2 smiling faces welcoming me into the restaurant. The lovely lady at the counter said, "you are Kayla's teacher? She said to expect you." Never before have I been so happy to have fulfilled what I said I would do. We began conversing about Jamaican cuisine as I have never really indulged in it before. Immediately she shares with the chef, a man filled with pride over his fair and ability to deliver top-notch cuisine that I am Kayla's teacher and that I need to sample "jerk chicken." Together they scrambled to get me a tasty portion of a wing. Immediately as the meat touched my palette the herbs and spices took me to a whole new place. I was no longer in a quaint little shop on 11th and Franklin, but, rather I taken to balmy breezes, rich accents, beautiful color and alive with a feeling that I had become a part of their world. To my joy and satisfaction another patron walked in and shared that he had never delighted in Jamaican food before and said, "I want to eat, but, do not know what to order." Again the dance began with the owners reaching deep into their Jamaican hospitality to educate him as well as to the flavor of "Jamaica Man!"

I settled on a quarter chicken all white meat with red beans and rice, smothered with gravy and steamed cabbage. Along with the meal came a plantain slice and a little extra jerk sauce. The reviews from Steven were, "this cabbage is spectacular!" "OMG, another favorite!" "another reason to say, Michigan City has the best food!" As for me, the delightful herbs and spices danced on my tongue and sent me into a succession of "mmmm!', "Ohhh, yeah!" "this is exceptional!"

I could see the care taken to chop up vegetables, and fresh herbs and spices. I tasted the careful melding of those ingredients with main ingredients so that it was a flavorful explosion. The care, quality, price and quantity of food is nothing short of Exceptional! We will be traveling to Jamaica by way of a culinary vehicle many times this summer and beyond.

Cool Runnings Jamaican Restaurant is tucked in a small strip-like mall right next to the South Shore train line, 11th St. Stop. Parking is available on the street and in a parking lot on the corner of 11th and Franklin. There is some room for dining in. Just imagine sitting in the window eating jerk chicken and plantains as the South Shore train pulls up in front of you. Rarely will you ever find a location anywhere else in the heartland of America that has window seating, quality ethnic food and a train going down the middle of the street.

Cool Runnings Jamaican Restaurant, 112 11th St. Michigan City, IN 46360 Telephone 219-210-3885. Offerings include, chicken, ox-tail, curried goat, fish, along with traditional sides: red beans and rice, macaroni and cheese, steamed cabbage, plantains, festivals, candy yams, sweet corn.

Some of our other favorites located in the heart of "City" include:

• The Pearl Chinese Restaurant
• Pickle and Turnip, Mediterranean, formerly Sahara's
• El Bracero, Mexican
• William B's Steakhouse
• It's Vegas Baby, Viva Italia (Thursday nights only)

Now That's a Perfect Pizza Pie via Roma in Michigan City!

Steve and I just gotta give a mega shout out to Roma's pizzaria in Michigan City Indiana. Tonight we had one of the best pies we have had in a long, long time. The crust was perfect, sauce perfect, cheese perfect and it had the perfect amount of onions to make Steve very happy! As for me, I love, absolutely love that we asked for extra thin crust and got exactly what we wanted. The edge was rolled and crispy and the rest was soft and flexible, but, fully cooked. I kinda felt like I was at a corner pizza place in Manhattan and just grabbing a soft, juicy, delectable slice before the theater!

Kuddos to tonight's chef, because you absolutely nailed it!

Roma's Pizza is located on 2400 Franklin St., Michigan City, IN 46360, (219)872-9123

Exotic In the Heart of Michigan City ~ Sahara Mediterranean Restaurant

Sahara's is located at 1701 N. Franklin Street in a quaint corner building on the main street of Michigan City. As you approach the building you suddenly forget you are in a middle-sized town miles away from the heartbeat of Chicago. You know you are not in the depth of Manhattan, yet, you feel in that moment as you approach the sidewalk tables and open-air dining that you are among someone who get's quality, who understands the metropolitan flavor of Manhattan. Who understands how to transform his meager surroundings into a luxurious trip to somewhere else. Having spent time in Lincoln Park neighborhood in Chicago and enjoying the variety and bustle of Manhattan, it is a joy to be able to enter into familiarity every week as Steve and I are regulars at Moe Mroueh's establishment. You know upon walking in that there is a very good chance that Moe will greet you personally. Why? Because every person that supports Sahara's is important. This is also evident when you share you love of his food, and especially when "Momma" is visiting from Lebanon and she takes over in the kitchen. Pride exudes from every pore when you approach Moe. The food is high quality, reasonably priced, and the atmosphere at Sahara's is rich with tradition, color, and clean simplicity. So the next time you are looking for a wonderful day trip to the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan by way of Michigan City, then make sure you set aside time for an exotic trip to the Mediterranean by way of Sahara's! Tell Moe, ArtSeesDiner or Mary E. sent you. Then let me know if he smiles. Oh, my favorite? The avocado salad, and hummus, of course (traditional style, it may be an aphrodisiac!) Did I mention the Belly Dancers, or the Fire Dancers? Yes, Moe does it all! Located at 1701 N. FRANKLIN MICHIGAN CITY, IN USA 219-871-1223