Drive on Up to Gene's Root Beer Stand

Let's step back in time to the days of car hops, drive-ins, poodle skirts, and saddle shoes. Gene's Root Beer is the real deal, just without the cheesy skirts and shoes.

Root beer and hot dogs are king at Gene's, but the tenderloins are a close second. Fried mushrooms, corn dogs, and onion rings are among the items on the menu. Get your fill for easily under $10.

Lord, I don't know how to make a Chili/Coney dog look good, but that's beside the point. These puny looking hot dogs are marvelous inside their soft, steamed buns. (At Gene's they are called Spanish Dogs. Their slogan is actually, "Home of the Spanish Dogs." So there you have it.) Gene's is the only place I'll eat a hot dog or chili sauce. Why have another one if I've already had the best? Right? Right.

And to wash down the dogs, a frosty mug of made-in-house root beer. Buy it in a mug, in a to-go cup, or in a gallon jug to take home. The best way to have it is in root beer float form. Ooo, so refreshing on a hot summer day. Sticky, syrupy goodness down to the last drop. If a float isn't your fancy, try an ice cream cone dipped in a chocolate shell.

Gene's Root Beer Stand is very low key. Just pull up and wait to be greeted by your lovely server. Don't forget to roll your window up just a bit, so that she can attach your tray of tastiness.

Here is some other drive-in etiquette tips:

• Pull into a parking spot and turn off your car.
• Leave your lights on until you have spoken with your waitress.
• Turn your lights on any time you need to get your server's attention.
• Never, NEVER honk your horn to get her attention. This could cause trays to go flying due to unexpected excitement and will cause cranky-waitress-syndrome.
• When you are ready to leave, you may either turn your lights on or start your car.
• Although most places (Gene's included) take credit/debit cards, bring cash just in case.

Gene's Root Beer is only open during the warm months; depending on when Autumn shows up. They open Mon-Sat at 10:30 until around 9. Sundays they open at 11.

Gene's Root Beer

765-642-5768

640 S. Scatterfield Rd.

Anderson, IN

Celebrate Earth Day at Noah Grant's

Brush off the dirt from your tree-planting, hop into your car, and head to Noah Grant's Grill House and Oyster Bar in Zionsville. This evening, Noah Grant's is honoring Mother Earth with a special Earth Day Wine Dinner. Wines farmed from sustainable agriculture will be featured along with a four course paired dinner. Taste and savor five different wines. This earth friendly feast is $45 and one time only.

Call for reservations (317-732-2233) or reserve your table online at www.noahgrants.com.

Get German-y at the Heidelberg Haus

It's places like the Heidelberg Haus that give Indianapolis character. Just off of Pendleton Pike in Lawrence, this German general store has been a quirky part of the community for over 40 years. Polka music livens up the parking lot as you pull up. The staff is adorned in Bavarian clothing and happily answers questions about the menu. The menu is full of wursts, sausages, brats, potato salad, and rye bread and butter. Real southern Deutschland cuisine made right here in Indy.

Cookies greet you upon entering through the double door. This is perhaps the sweetest way to say "Hello".

Authentic German breads are baked fresh daily. This includes REAL Laugen soft pretzels! We've got Germany to thank for literally hundreds of different types of bread. Learn more about these goodies here.

Get all of the knickknack and pattywacks you'll ever need in a lifetime. Gnomes, steins, Hummel figurines, nesting dolls, beer coasters, post cards, wood carvings, and so much more can be found here. Museum should be added to the long list of Heidelberg titles: bakery, coffee bar, restaurant, German language library, grocery store, etc.

Where else could you find the superb tunes of Christin & Charly Betz? (I actually have no idea who these folks are. They are just fantastically outdated and fabulous!)

Here's the German grocery section. They have a nice selection of pickles, jams, spreads, sauce mixes, teas, and coffees to name a few.

Comment ModerationThe search is over for that true, leather lederhosen you've been hunting for.

Being a cookie baker myself, my heart melts for these springerle molds. The Heidleberg is known for their fantastic springerle cookies. Unfortunately, they are a seasonal, Christmas time item. They've been featured on the Food Network more than once. Now that says something!

Candy! Chocolates! Flavors ranging from hazelnut to licorice to cola. Chewy, crunchy, melt-y: a texture for every tongue.

This is the German movie library section. You can also find resources for learning and practicing German here. You might have to dust off the ol' VCR, though.

Everywhere you look, even down the hall to the bathroom, there are things to see. Every visit, spy something new.

Before you leave, you must buy a pastry to go. You will not find doughnuts, pies, or muffins at Heidelberg. Only the sweet treats like the ones in the bakeries of Germany will be found behind the glass cases here. Creme cakes, nut cakes, danishes, cookies - so many things to try! No worries, you'll just have to try them all.

Heidelberg Haus is open M-F 8:30 to 7, Sat 8:30 to 5, Sun 11 to 5.

Well Rounded Menu at Rusty Bucket Corner Tavern and Restaurant

The Rusty Bucket Corner Tavern and Restaurant, a Midwest chain, sets up shop on Indy's North side.

The menu is well rounded featuring curious, non typical appetizers: pork pot stickers and hummus among the standard chicken fingers, nachos, and mini burgers. Rusty Bucket has a nice variety of salads including their Double Nickle Salad: mixed greens, bacon, blue cheese, tomato, red onion, and special salad dressing. Sandwiches range from Asian Tuna Wraps to Reubens to Rusty Bucket Chili Dogs. Steaks and burgers are king as well as the Daily Blue Plate Specials. (Above - terrible picture of the Chicken Parmesan: seasoned panko crusted chicken breast topped with marinara sauce, provolone cheese & served with Alfredo pasta for $12.95.)

The beverage options are vast as well. Wine, micro brews, drafts, imports, and daily cocktail specials make choosing a task. Try a Bucket Infusion (above right.) Pick between a vodka soaked pineapple or rum soaked pineapple shaken with brown sugar and vanilla beans.

The Rusty Bucket Corner Tavern: moderately priced, low-key place to dine and drink on the North side.

Lowery's Candies: Muncie's Sweetest Specialty Store

In the little ol' city of Muncie, there is one of the sweetest places on earth: Lowery's Candies. Upon entering this humble shop, a wave of delicious scent hits like brick, like a brick of chocolate to be exact. Lowery's Candies is a family run company and has been in business for 69 years. It has been a cornerstone for the Muncie and Yorktown communities for decades. Every single piece of candy has been handmade and hand-dipped the old fashioned way. Their love and effort shines through in their delectable chocolates.

Having grown up in the area, Lowery's was a big part of gift giving and receiving in my family.

Inside, peer through the glass and pick out your favorites. Assorted boxes are available to satisfy all tastes: Nuts & Chewies, Assorted Cremes, or both.

I used to get one of these giant chocolate eggs from my grandma every year at Easter. They were always filled with chocolate covered toffee, my favorite.

I love sending these Indiana shaped chocolates to my friends from afar. Lowery's was one of the first places I would show off to foreign exchange students. They became immediate fans.

I cannot leave Lowery's without a Tiger Paw (you might know them as a turtle.) What could possibly be better than chocolate, caramel, and pecans? That's right, nothing! The little item on top was a new discovery for me. (I was shocked myself; having been around Lowery's all of my life.) It's called a Dark Secret. Dark, obviously because it's covered with dark chocolate, and secret because the thick creme's recipe is unknown to most of the staff. Those sneaky chocolatiers!

I know you're drooling because I am, too, but please know that Lowery's Candies close up shop or the summer. The heat and humidity are very unkind to the candies. Lowery's is open for Mother's Day and then usually shut their doors soon after. They reopen sometime in September. Give them a call if you're wondering. It truly depends on the weather. Lowery's will ship all over the US, and you can order online! Hooray for the internet! Hooray for Lowery's Candies in the mail!

Stacked Pickle – No Frill, Low Bill, So Dill

Picky Eaters, be relieved! Pick up a piping hot, fried pickle at Stacked Pickle where you will also find burgers, fries, wings, salad, and sandwiches. And, ta-da, this food is ultra affordable! Though the menu houses a list of super affordable options, the quality of the food shines. Stacked Pickle truly stacks up. The proof is in the beer-battered French fries, the juicy half pound burgers, and the best-selling fried tenderloin. Did I mention the beer-battered French fries?

The Burner Burger hits the hot spot with it’s jalapeño pepper sauce, and vegetarians can dig with equal intensity into the Veggie Sand (marinated mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, avocado, and provolone between wheat.) Owner Chris Long suggests the Weekend Sports Special (Burger/Wing combo with fries $9.49) plus an appetizer of fried pickles and a tall, frothy glass of Fat Tire on tap. (The full bar offers 8 beers on draft with a notable cocktail menu to boot.) It would be a shame if you came here and did not indulge in the fried pickle spears with ranch dipping sauce. Hello, this place is called Stacked Pickle for crying out loud, and they fix a mean pickle!

The break-down: Unstuffy and casual neighborhood hangout with simple, good food where quality is not compromised for cost. Stacked Pickle proudly offers daily lunch specials, a kids menu, vegetarian options, lots of beer, and numerous flat screen TVs for optimum game watching. A hearty dinner for two can easily be done under $35 – beer included. Score!

Hidden Indy Gem - Babushka's Deli

Two doors down from the fantastic Tulip Noir Cafe is a true find, a small Eastern European and Russian grocery store called Babushka's Deli. Here you can get a slew of imported candy, pickled EVERYTHING, dozens of flavors of filled frozen dumplings, cured meats and fish, handmade pastries, unusual booze, and much more. My ten minutes inside the store wasn't enough to soak up all it had to offer. The clerk was very helpful and answered all of my questions. I would have asked her a bazillion more, but I didn't want to be annoying. So instead, I just picked up some sweet treats.

Here's my loot. The pastries are caramel creme puffs. They are slightly nutty, hazelnuts I'm suspecting, and the outer cookies are like dense cakes. Inside is a soft, sweet creme. You can buy them by the pound for $9.99. The Karums and Sirok candies are actually tiny chocolate covered cheesecake bars. At Babushka's you can buy them frozen or refrigerated. I tried one of each. They are a great treat; not too sweet and a bit of tang from the creamed cheese, and there are five different flavors. Oh, the soda: Kvass. It's contents are sugar, malt, and carbonated water. I had my roommates try it as well. One shouted, "It tastes like soy sauce and Colt 45." I think I agree. Kvass is a bit too strange for my American tongue.

This creepy little candy was a sort-of chocolate truffle with a chocolate creme. They melt easily in the sunny heat, so I'd suggest eating one quickly. That's never a problem for me.

When I bought this candy, it had a picture of some strawberries on the wrapper.

"Sweet," I thought, "some type of chewy gummy or taffy." I was very surprised to see chocolate when the wrapper was peeled back. Inside is a strange mixture of wafer, nuts, and chewy fruit - strawberry apparently. My tongue said, "Not so much."

Babushka's Deli is definitely something I'm going to have to check out in more detail. I'll go for the savory items perhaps. Those frozen dumplings will be in my grasp soon enough.

Babushka's Deli - 1248 W 86th St - (317) 843-1920