What a perfect weekend escape and only a short distance…. Indianapolis! If you haven’t been, you must. And if you have, then go again. Stop at the amazing places I’m writing about …. you will be forever thankful.
I was in need of a weekend escape. In a bit under 2 hours…we arrived at The Conrad Hilton in the heart of downtown Indy. Ahhhh. Luxury. Everyone was so friendly upon arrival, so welcoming. The room was up high with a great view. Big fluffy beds with serious pillows….. time to get a move on though and go out and do things!
Off to Milktooth for lunch…. named as one of the best restaurants by Conde Nast Traveler. Chef Jonathan Brooks has been featured on the cover of Food & Wine Magazine as a best new chef. It’s located in an old downtown car care garage in Fletcher Place, just minutes from the heart of the city. Be sure to order the TP caerphilly cheddar grilled cheese with black truffle honey and local duck egg. OMG.
After a bit of shopping, we headed to Tastings, a modern, artsy bistro offering wine tastings and great bites…flatbreads, cheese plates and tapas, tucked inside the Conrad of the lobby. We also had great people-watching as the very impressive Sacramento Kings were also staying at the hotel! Hard not to stare.
Time to head over to Banker’s Life Fieldhouse (just a short walk) to see the Indianapolis Pacers take on the Kings. If the Pacers are in town on your getaway, it’s a must! Such excitement all around…. the fans are very passionate about their team. What a game! Even went into overtime…. Pacers won!
Time for a late bite at Bluebeard, a trendy restaurant in Fletcher Place named after a Kurt Vonnegut novel which trickles into the restaurant’s library-like design. I beg you…. order the Pappardelle pasta with Italian sausage Bolognese. Just a perfect large portion of scrumptiousness. I mean lick-the-bowl amazing. We also ordered the Warm Kale salad with ham hock, pepitas, and other tasty treats. I’ve never had anything like it before. Did I mention the perfect Gin & Tonic? What a great late meal.
Rise and shine! Off to workout (very necessary with all this food intake!) and then relax in the completely redone Conrad Fitness Center and Evan Todd Spa. Incredible indoor pool and jacuzzi! It was hard to drag myself away from such a wonderful spot, in the lounge chair of luxury gazing up at the blue sky through the glass roof, but there were things to do…. food to eat.
Next on the list was brunch at The Garden Table, a local eatery/ juicery serving simple food and cold-pressed juice. With a focus on healthy living, The Garden Table focuses on supporting local businesses and taking care of mother earth…and you can feel it and taste it in all that they prepare! The Tuscan Toast with pesto, arugula, lamb bacon, feta and tomatoes was heavenly, along with andouille sausage hash. We went to the Broad Ripple location as we’d never been to that area. What a fun surprise! Quaint and welcoming, with great restaurants and shopping.
Off for some culture at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Wonderful exhibits in an incredible setting. We weren’t able to stroll the gardens as the weather was not ideal….maybe next time! Definitely stop in the Museum store, packed full of wonderful trinkets and items highlighted in the museum. Great book selection, and jewelry!
Dinner was at Black Market, tucked on the back end of Mass Ave., one of Indy’s hip arts neighborhoods. This gastropub is known for their extensive rum list and innovative dishes in an energetic environment. Cool setting with shared tables…easier to glance at the creative dishes being served all around. A must try are the Marrow Bones, possibly the best we’ve had! Be sure to eat the bread by Amelia’s Bakery…. the same bakery providing amazing breads to most of Indy’s hippest spots…..including Milktooth, Bluebeard, The Garden Table (The Broad Ripple location) and Black Market! So full. Time for bed.
What better to do on a Sunday morning than take a leisurely drive out to Traderspoint Creamery….located in a wonderful setting amongst mansions and rolling fields! I can’t even tell you how much we adored this working farm and restaurant. The people, atmosphere, products, and the dining experience at The Loft was just the best. Traderspoint Creamery is an organic dairy farm on the north side of the city. They produce yogurt for Whole Foods nationwide. It’s an actual working farm with incredible food, from the milk, to the cheeses, and of course, the BEST YOGURT I’ve ever had. Ever. Gail Alden, Director of Marketing and Events was on-site…. we insisted she join us and share the wonderful story and history of Traderspoint Creamery. So we started ordering….. to die for….each and every course. The cheese board was perfection, featuring housemade organic grassfed cheeses, fig chutney, and Amelia’s Bread. Then on to several other items, including Chilaquiles Verdes, a corn tortilla bake with eggs, avocado, fresh cheese curd, tomatillo salsa verde and crème fraiche. Another amazing unique dish! It was the perfect finale to a wonderful weekend, in this incredible farm setting with snow falling. Can’t wait to go back!
Please be sure to visit www.VisitIndy.com for information on where to go and what to do. Nate Swick, Communications Coordinator at Visit Indy did an incredible job of finding the best places to go. Nate also filled me in on what’s upcoming for Visit Indy…. Indy’s mayor named 2017 the “Year of Vonnegut” in Indianapolis. Author Kurt Vonnegut grew up in Indy and is known for his novels like Slaughterhouse Five and Cat’s Cradle. It’s been 10 years since his death and the grand re-opening of a Vonnegut museum on Mass Ave. (April 8th) is big news. In celebration, eleven of the city’s best cocktail bars will place a unique, Vonnegut-inspired cocktail on their menu for eleven weeks. For example, Bluebeard will be doing a “Breakfast of Champions” cocktail, made with Laird’s Applejack, Amaro Montenegro, Amara di Angostura, Honey, Lemon, Apple Jacks and infused half n half with a Wheaties sugar rim. The cocktails will be on menus February 1 through April 16.
So many fun things to do and so close by. VISIT INDY. I promise you’ll have a wonderful trip.