white cheddar curds topped with brown gravy). But also, intriguingly, grilled asparagus, pork rinds dusted with BBQ sauce and served with chipoltle ranch dressing, and fries tossed in white truffle oil, sea salt, and Parmesan cheese.
I couldn’ t resist the signature pulled pork nachos with house-smoked pork, black beans, fresh tomato and onion, jalapenos, and corn. Drizzled with BBQ sauce and served with homemade peppercorn ranch dressing. Yummy! The soup of the day was Busted Knuckle chili, and, for professional purposes, I needed to try at least a cup. Chili is like a fingerprint; you can tell a lot about a place from their chili.
With marinated beef, stewed and fire-roasted tomatoes, chilies, onions, and green peppers in a spicy, rich tomato broth, I found it to be a substantial, flavorsome and entirely delightful.
My constant kitchen companion sampled the“ brewer’ s wings,” which were smoked rather than deep fried and served with the sauce on the side, not coated as one might expect.
As the food began to arrive, the Hard Truth began to dawn on me; I wasn’ t going to make it past the appetizer menu!
We looked at that huge plate of nachos, and the substantial helping of meaty chicken wings with celery and blue cheese dressing, and, what with the full-bodied cup of chili, we decided to split a scrumptious“ farmhouse salad” and call it a meal.
Someday, I may nibble on any of the five burgers or four sandwiches on the menu, maybe the lamb burger or the salmon BLT. But for now, we shall not venture into entrée land, we will not taste the rosemary lamb chops or the lemon crusted salmon, the garlic-herb marinated beef tips, or even the roasted vegetable Cajun fettuccini.
Although I must say, those nachos were the best thing we’ ve eaten in weeks, and the salad and the soup were scrumptious and delectable.
Outside, in a little amphitheater down the hill, a band was getting warmed up for the evening. The big dining room was amazingly full of happy-looking people and a river of food and drinks was flowing out into it.
I promise myself, next time, to start right where I left off, at the entrées. Who knows? Maybe I’ ll even make it to a dessert.
Until then, count me as, once again, profoundly satisfied.•
MARTINSVILLE CANDY KITCHEN * Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor * A Longtime Family Tradition
Hand-Made Candy Canes
Shakes • Floats • Sodas Banana Splits
~ 24 Ice Cream Flavors ~ 46 N. Main St. • Martinsville, IN • 765-342-6390 • Follow us on Facebook On the Square in Historic Downtown Martinsville
Nov./ Dec. 2018 • Our Brown County 53