The Taste of Bloomington - 2012

The Foodie Husband and I braved the crowds once again this year to see what the best of Bloomington had to offer at the Taste of Bloomington.

Normally, I'd prefer to arrive early in order to avoid the crowds, but my dear husband had looked at the entertainment schedule and he asked that we delay our arrival till later in the day so that we might listen to a certain band that he wanted to hear.

I was more than happy to oblige him.

 We arrived about 6:30 at the entrance along the B-Line trail.

 To the back of the line we go!

 Admission is $6 per adult with children under 12 getting in free.

Most food items are about $3 each.

Adults over 21 who wish to purchase alcoholic beverages must show ID at the gate and get a bracelet.

 While my husband went to the alcohol tent, I went to Smokin' Jack's Rib Shack and picked up two barbecued pork ribs for my husband.  Price: $3.

 Then I stopped by Macri's and bought a pork tenderloin sandwich for me for $3.

 We found a curb to sit down on and ate our food and drink our drinks while listening to the band that was playing at the time.  It sounded like they were a polka band.  

 Then it was time to move on and get more food before the next band took the stage.

I must confess that I "cheated" and got a food that I've had before,

but I just love these fried dill chips from Scotty's Brewhouse.  What can I say?  They really are that good.  I don't remember the cost.

Plus, this late in the day it was often difficult to get into to certain restaurant lines, so sometimes one had to compromise.

 The Short Stop is actually located in a gas station in town, but they are acknowledged as having some of the best barbecue in town.

We had their pulled pork barbecue at a recent Master Gardener picnic.  It was very good.

 

The Foodie Husband bought an ear of corn from them, but by the time I got to him, he had eaten most of it, so I have no pictures of it.

 The last food item I got was from Chapman's Restaurant.

It was a Smoke House Slider with a special BBQ sauce.

This was a pork slider.

Chapman's is a good restaurant and I really wanted to like this sandwich, but it had a strange burnt taste that I just couldn't get around.  That burnt taste was just off-putting to me.

Sadly, with 53 vendors and with having to pay for each food item, it was impossible to try everything on offer.

As it was, I left feeling satisfied and knowing that there are many more restaurants in B-town that I need to try out.

 Hot air balloons!

 Pretty!

 I can't decide if these people have the right idea or if they are missing out on all the fun.

 The north stage.

 We are sitting on the steps in front of the Showers Building while the band tunes up.

 Oops, I've lost my husband.

And then I found him.

Thank goodness for cell phones.

He had wandered to the front of the stage to watch the Hairbangers Ball.

This band is the reason we had delayed our arrival to the Taste of B-town.

 They are from Chicago and play the music of the big hair bands of the 80s and 90s.

 I don't remember the last time the Foodie Husband and I had this much fun together.

 We danced and sang along to songs like "Girls, Girls, Girls," "Living on a Prayer," "Dirty Deeds," and "Sweet Child of Mine."

 And because I find it interesting to watch people around me,

I looked around and saw the other adults singing and dancing...

 and the children standing around and looking at their parents like they were crazy.

Good times.  Good times, I tell ya.

 Finally it was time to leave.

We passed by the Jazz Bloomington players.

Nice.

 On the way back to the car we walked a couple of blocks along the B-Line.

We found another brain!

 It's brain #4.

 Apparently this brain wants to remind us to eat our veggies.

It was a fun evening.

Thank you, dear Foodie Husband, for suggesting that we go and listen to the Hairbangers Ball.

It was a blast!  

The Taste of Bloomington - 2011

This weekend is a big one in B-town,
with the Garden Walk,
the Arts Fair on the Square and
the Taste of Bloomington
all happening at once.

The Foodie Girls decided to go to the Taste of B-town,
this time accompanied by the Foodie Husband.

With more than fifty food vendors,
two music stages and a large children's area,
the event coordinators expected this year's attendance
to be nearly twice that of previous years.

In 2010 there were 40 vendors and about 9,000 attendees.

In case you are wondering,
this is the 29th Annual Taste of Bloomington
and they greatly expanded the space for the event.

This band was playing everything from polka to
"Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" by They Might Be Giants.

The new, second stage had country bands playing.

Jazz Bloomington musicians playing.

One significant change made this year was that alcohol
was allowed to be consumed outside of the alcohol tent.

Everyone who wished to consume alcohol was carded
at the entrance and was given a bracelet.
They could then purchase alcohol and take it out
of the tent and drink it anywhere on the grounds
of the festival.

I am sure that this greatly increased
alcohol sales.

Security was also increased for the event.

But you wanted to know about the food,
didn't you?

Before we went to the Taste,
I downloaded a map with the list of the vendors
and what they had to offer for sale.

Thus, we went in with a plan.

The Foodie Daughter and Husband
got Pepperoni Knots
from Butch's Grillacatessen and Eatzeria.

These were the Foodie Daughter's favorite eats
at the Taste.

I decided to try the Fried Macaroni and Cheese Balls
from Crazy Horse.

Hey, ya gotta try everything once.
The Foodie Daughter and Husband helped me finish these off.

I've tried it - I'm moving on now.

Next up, I tried a Korean Taco from Cafe D'Jango.

This had beef and kimchi* in the dish.
It was very spicy with the kimchi.

*Kimchi is a traditional fermented Korean dish,
made with various vegetables.

I also tried a Cuban Sandwich with Jicama Slaw
from One World Catering & Events.

The sandwich was good, but I liked the slaw better.

So far nothing has really rocked my taste buds.

The Foodie Husband got BBQ Ribs and Corn on the Cob
from Smokin Jack's Rib Shack.

The Foodie Daughter shared the BBQ Ribs with him
and they both thought the ribs were well covered in sauce,
and the sauce was slightly sweet.

The Foodie Daughter didn't care for the fact that
some grease ran down her hand as she ate these.

The Foodie Husband liked the corn.

Then we got BBQ Ribs from Upland Brewery.

BBQ Ribs were probably one of the most popular dishes
at the Taste as several vendors were selling these.

These ribs had less sauce on them,
but were fall-off-the-bone tender.
They were also tangier than the last ribs.

We all had a taste of these ribs.

We also got two servings of Bacon Ice Cream at
Upland Brewery (ice cream from Chocolate Moose).

Bacon Ice Cream.
What can I say?

Ice Cream - check.
Bacon - check.
Definitely different.
Not bad.

Not sure I'd have it again, though.
But now we can say we have.

Finally I got to the vendor I had been wanting to visit
- Happy Pig.

Happy Pig is a new food cart in town that I have yet
been able to visit.

I ordered the Pork Belly Ssam**
which is a lettuce wrap with pork belly and
pickled vegetables.

This was my favorite dish of the day.

Now I know I have to visit that food cart!

**Ssam means "wrapping" in Korean.

We got Smoked White Fish & Cream Cheese Dip
with Blackened Chips from Chapman's Restaurant & Bar.

The Foodie Husband proclaimed this to be his favorite dish.

And finally I purchased
a Grilled Bacon, Avocado, Tomato and Cheese Sandwich
from Indiana Memorial Union Catering Services.

This was good, but far spicier than I was anticipating.

As an aside,
you will often read about me raving about
the IMU Catering Services food
as they provide the food for the University Club luncheons.
It is always good.

As a treat, I got a chocolate mini cupcake on a stick
for the Foodie Daughter.

She was one happy Foodie.

In fact, we all were.

We spent about 2-1/2 hours at the Taste
and spent:
Admission for three: $18
Beer (6): $30
Food: $37
----------
Total: $85

The Taste of Bloomington

This is a busy weekend in B-town

what with the Bloomington Garden Walk,

The Arts Fair on the Square

and The Taste of Bloomington all happening.

In addition, this year the city is also hosting judges for

America in Bloom.

The judges are checking out the local scenery.

Fingers are crossed that we will win

for our size city in America.

Admission for the Taste of Bloomington is $6 per person,

with children under 12 getting in free (presumably with an adult).

So that is $12 for the Foodie Daughter and me.

Do you like the Rent-a-Fence?

Perhaps a couple of potted plants

would have spruced things up a bit?

Click on the photo to see the map

and list of participating restaurants, wineries and breweries.

It's not yet too busy at 3:30 pm.

At this hour The Pirate Flags were playing.

I had never heard of them before.
I have to say I kind of liked them.

And I do have a soft spot for
"International Talk Like a Pirate Day,"
which is celebrated every September 19.

Unfortunately,
the stage faced due west with no shade in sight.
I felt sorry for the band.

More food booths.

Ah, here's our chance to see whose cuisine is supreme...

Er, sorry about that.

Last year I visited Fatman's Barbecue and liked it.

The Foodie Daughter and I noted that Smokin'Jack's Rib Shack

was also here, so we could finally see which we liked better.

We bought a pulled barbecue pork sandwich and a potato salad

from Fatman's.

Mr. Fatman assured us that while it was his mother's recipe

for the potato salad, he had perfected it.

Next, we went down to the Smokin' Jack's/Kilroy's booth

and got a pulled pork sandwich there.

Our offering from Fatman's.

Total cost: $3.00.

Smokin' Jack's version.

Cost: $2.00.

The verdict?

We both agreed that Fatman's was more tender,

while Smokin' Jack's sauce was slightly better.

However,

I know from experience that one gets extra sauce

on the side at Fatman's.

So more info is needed....

Smokin' Jack's has a smokin' hot smoker.

(ahem, guys, please ignore the cute girls in the forefront)

However,

Smokin' Jack's is also owned by Kilroy's Sports Bar,

so they lose the indie vote.

Now, this gentleman standing is Fatman.

I can tell you that he is a character.

So...

Drumroll please...

Fatman's BBQ wins the taste test!

Eternal fame is bestowed upon the winners.*

*Eternal fame is fleeting and exists solely

in the minds of the bestower

and the winners.

Sobon is a Korean restaurant in town.

I chose the grilled beef rib.

Delicious, but quite difficult to eat in this setting.

I was given a plastic fork (which was useless),

but ended up grabbing a rib bone with a napkin

and nibbled on the rib.

I might have to brave the university traffic

and try that place out sometime.

Cost: $3.00.

Disclaimer:

I have had a gyro (properly pronounced yiro) before

at the Trojan Horse,

but it has been at least ten years.

My favorite place to get a gyro, Macri's,

closed a couple of years ago

and I have been in mourning since.

Cost of a half gyro from the Trojan Horse: $4.00.

And this was my absolute favorite item at the Taste.

This offering came from One World Catering & Events

and was the Watermelon, feta and mint salad with

a prosciutto-wrapped honeydew melon on a toasted bruschetta

with aged balsamic vinegar.

I also appreciated the bamboo tray and spoon/fork.

Cost: $3.00.

We needed something cool to drink,

so I got two lemon shake ups from Scotty's Brewhouse.

Total cost $4.

The sugared-rim was a nice touch.

My last indulgence of the day was from

Talons Restaurant at Eagle Pointe.

Here we have mango salsa with tortilla chips.

Cost: $ 1.00.

I was surprised to find that the showers fountain wasn't running.







Baking in the hot sun.

Why look,

there are opportunities to learn everywhere!

The Waiter/Waitress Race**

**Awkward! Why not call it the Servers' Race?

After all, B-town is all about political-correctness.

Let's see if I can remember the rules:

the first server has to fill a pitcher from the bucket,

then fill the wine glass.

Then the server must carry the glass on a tray with one hand

on a winding obstacle coarse before returning to empty

the wine glass into a carafe.

Each member of the team must repeat until the carafe overflows.

In the final heat,

the team must then pop the cork on a champagne bottle

in order to win.

And they're off!

So far Scotty's Brewhouse is in the lead.

And they win!

Something.

I don't know what; we were hot and got bored

and wandered off before we could hear the details.

We do know that eight teams participated,

although we can't agree on just what restaurants were represented.

Ah, today's youth.

Where would they be without texting?

Back to the Taste.

It was nice.

But would I do it again?

It would depend on what the weather was like

and what restaurants are participating.

The Foodie Daughter has already begged off

any future Taste of Bloomington outings.

I can tell you that yesterday's outing

cost me $32.00,

and that was without buying any alcohol.

But still, it was an interesting time and I'm glad I went.