Recently, I re-watched Ken Myszka’s Ted Talk. Ken is a well researched chef, farmer, and a real food advocate inspired by chefs like Thomas Keller and author Micheal Pollen.
But, what really struck me when watching this talk was when he shared the root word of “restaurant.”
It’s “to restore.”
Something I never knew, but it seems quite obvious when you look at the word and really think about it. And, isn’t that exactly what a restaurant should do?
That is exactly what is done at Cerulean, a casual yet fine dining restaurant in downtown Indianapolis. Cerulean restores not just patrons with beautiful, inspired dishes, but also restores Indiana food systems by sourcing ingredients that are sustainable and local.
At Cerulean, the chef, Alan, and owner, Caleb, are both young and passionate about sustainablity and supporting local growers. They have created connections with a handful of local farmers such as Tyner Pond Farms and Silverthorn Farms, both just a short drive from the Indy area.
The Indianapolis Cerulean turns three this year, but Caleb first created the restaurant’s concept in 2006 at Winona Lake in north east Indiana. Thanks to the success of the restaurant’s beautiful and thoughtfully created Asian-Inspired dishes and the praises of lake goers, he opened a second location at the boutiquey Alexander Hotel in downtown Indianapolis as part of the new CityWay development.
The Indianapolis restaurant is full of style and sophistication yet bright and airy. The menu changes often to keep up with what is in season and available from local growers.
At lunch in early December, parsnips and root vegetables were very prevalent on the menu, featured in a soup, salads, and side dishes.
Chef Alan shared that it is common for the menu to feature different dishes made with the same ingredients. When developing menus and dishes, he draws on his own creativity and extensive culinary experience. He works closely each week with his farm partners to determine not only what is in season, but also what they need to sell at the farm. He also explained that it is a win-win for the farmer and the restaurant, as it keeps food costs down, but ensures that a grower’s product is consumed.
The lunch menu used to exclusively feature Bento Boxes, but they recently updated the menu to include plated entrees and sandwiches. This makes it an excellent spot for a business luncheon or even a take-out meal during a busy lunch hour. It is also especially great because the new YMCA just across the street just opened. Professionals can easily work out and grab their lunch on the way back to the office.
When at Cerulean earlier this month, I opted for their Prix Fix menu: a lunch portioned, three course meal that includes a salad or soup, a few main choices options and a small sweet.
While sharing the cheese plate, complete with house made pickles, and slightly spicy sweet potato gnocchi to start, I learned that Caleb has a fabulous relationship with a sustainable fisherman in Sitka, Alaska for procuring wild salmon. He has even had the opportunity to visit this fisherman and see him in action. The fisherman practices pressure bleeding right on board the ship just as the fish is caught to ensure freshness and quality.
In light of the recent news in regards to authenticity of salmon, I ordered the Sitka Wild Caught Salmon alongside the roasted beet salad with no hesitation.
The salad was sweet and bright thanks to the super-local beets and sunny orange-goat cheese vinaigrette. The salmon was perfect and had fun Asian flare with a fresh lemon-miso glaze. The size of both were perfect for lunch and I still had a bit of room for one of the three boxed macaroons for dessert… the other two made it home to share with Adam after dinner and they were divine.
The pastry chef, Peter Schmutte, a well-traveled Indiana native, is another culinary rock star. He competes in and has won prestigious pastry competitions. His plated dishes are a work of art and the flavors are uniquely delicious.
Other great looking lunch options at my table on that day in early December were the very vegetarian Cauliflower Steak and Tyner Pond Chicken Confit Sandwich. Something that I knew would have made my husband go weak in the knees on it’s own; but, thanks to the runny yolk I am pretty sure he may have reevaluated our marriage and ran off with this sandwich.
Check out Cerulean in Indianapolis for lunch or dinner. The artfully designed dishes raise the bar for fine dining in the city while still being approachable thanks to it’s down to earth mission of supporting local growers.
And, while you’re there, have a cocktail for this pregnant gal. Their drink menu looked superb!
Cerulean
339 South Delaware Street
Indianapolis, Indiana
317-870-1320
Lunch: Monday-Friday, 11:00-2:00,
Dinner: Monday- Thursday, 5:00-9:00, Friday-Saturday, 5:00-10:00
Closed Sunday
http://www.ceruleanrestaurant.com/indianapolis/
Winona Lake Location
1101 East Canal Street
Winona Lake, IN
574-269-1226
http://www.ceruleanrestaurant.com/home/
Sounds amazing! I wish I made it up to Indy more to try all of the restaurants.
Together with every thing which appears to be building within this subject matter, many of your opinions are quite refreshing. On the other hand, I beg your pardon, but I can not subscribe to your entire suggestion, all be it refreshing none the less. It appears to me that your remarks are actually not entirely rationalized and in actuality you are generally yourself not really totally convinced of the assertion. In any event I did enjoy looking at it.
Hello, i think that i noticed you visited my weblog so i got here to “return the want”.I’m attempting to in finding issues to enhance my web site!I suppose its adequate to use some of your ideas!!
I have been exploring for a little for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this site. Reading this info So i am happy to convey that I’ve a very good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I most certainly will make certain to don’t forget this web site and give it a look regularly.
Incredible! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a entirely different subject but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Excellent choice of colors!
I loved up to you’ll obtain carried out proper here. The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an nervousness over that you wish be delivering the following. sick no doubt come more in the past once more since exactly the similar nearly a lot incessantly inside of case you protect this hike.
Unquestionably believe that which you said. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the net the simplest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get irked while people consider worries that they just do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks