5 most meaningful meals in the Midwest
- willcharm
- May 3, 2015
- 3 min read
My recent trip to the US combined both work and personal matters. In between, I took so much pleasure in genuine conversations with people. Small talk is tedious, and so I may have found the true meaning of the Habermasian communicative action via...no surprise here: food. Here are 5 of the most meaningful meals I've had in the American Midwest.
1. Cafe Patachou -- Shown here is the Soup and Sandwich Combo (tomato soup and egg salad sandwich) and hazelnut coffee. As I typed the last one, I remember the aroma of hazelnut coffee. Oh, so good. The combo was comfort food, and I did feel comforted because I had this meal with my soon-to-be father-in-law when he picked me up at the Indianapolis airport. In between bites, we plotted how we would conquer Indy.
Location: Civic Plaza (pre-security), Indianapolis International Airport. Phone: +1 317 241 6224. Hours: 5 AM - 8 PM daily.
2. The Egg & I -- Shown here is the Green Chili Chicken Hash. It's a giant of a breakfast, and I gave up halfway through it. I ordered it because I was preparing myself for the long trip back to the Philippines and I thought I would start the day by eating right. Yeah, right. I also ordered it because the menu promised jalapenos in the dish. The combination of the sour cream and the guacamole was the glue that tied the eggs and the potatoes perfectly. And the hot sauce that I poured generously. This meal was shared with two people I have come to love so much during my short trip to Indy: my future father-in-law, who made it possible for me to visit, and Mrs. A, who opened her home for me. I teared up leaving them, but I will always carry with me their kindness and generosity.
Location: 2271 Pointe Parkway, Carmel, IN 46032. Phone: +1 317 575 3444. Hours: Monday to Friday 6 AM to 2 PM, Saturday and Sunday 7 AM to 2:30 PM.
3. Greek Tony's Pizza and Sub Shop -- Shown here is the fantastic Mama's Sub. Roast beef, cheese, lettuce, dressing: divine! This has been in Will's list of must-eat dishes in Indy, and he's right. The bread is soft but doesn't lose its architecture and integrity. Plus, Tony's is a delightfully low-key and no-fuss restaurant. This meal relived the stories from Will's years growing up.
Location: 1732 E 116th St, Carmel, IN 46032. Phone: +1 317 846 1200. Hours: Monday to Saturday 11 AM to 10 PM.
4. Harry and Izzy's -- The world famous and undisputed champion of downtown Indianapolis: the St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail! I was warned that this was spicy, but nobody told me it was wasabi spicy. I don't mind spicy. In fact, I love spicy. Wasabi spicy, however, is another thing altogether. The tiny hint of it in the shrimp cocktail was enough to clear one's sinuses. It was, surprisingly, good! The crackers on the side added to the oomph of the dish. I shared this meal with a long-time friend who lives in Ohio, and who drove five hours to see me in Indy.
Location: 153 South Illinois Street, Indianapolis, IN 46225. Phone: +1 317 635 9594. Lunch: Monday to Saturday 11 AM to 4 PM, Sunday 12 PM to 4 PM. Dinner: Monday to Thursday 4 PM to 11 PM, Friday to Saturday 4 PM to 12 AM, Sunday 4 PM to 9 PM.
5. Five Guys Burgers and Fries -- Finally, no trip to any corner of these United States is ever complete without Five Guys. Creature of habit that I am always orders the Little Cheeseburger and the Cajun Fries. There's nothing quite like it in the world. If greasy food is American food, then this is it. Best shared with friends after a bout of drinking, but it's just as good if it's all just you and all you want is to kick back and have a burger.
Location: 2009-8 East Greyhound Pass, Carmel, IN 46033. Phone: +1 317 587 7474. Hours: 11 AM to 10 PM daily.
There you have it.
I have five more on my list that meet the same criteria as the above restaurants: places where the food is so good and they're shared with the best people. All of these are in Carmel, Indiana. Check them out!
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