Any great Chef will tell you they're only as good as the tools at their disposal. In order to keep both restaurant and home chef's with the sharpest blades as possible, Btown Sharp Shop is there! With their new brick and mortar opened at 1025 S Walnut, Brett Morse and Kyle Turner are growing their business after their farmer's market beginnings. If you have a blade of just about any kind, they can sharpen it! They also are a great resource to order new knives for cooking and more. Join The Clean...
Jul 01, 2025•50 min•Season 8Ep. 18
The Bloomington Chef's Challenge returns August 3rd with a new location at the Woolery Mill! Who will win the Golden Spatula? What amazing dishes can Bloomington's best chef's come up with using a secret ingredient? Monroe County Community Kitchen Assistant Director Tim Clougher joins us on the pod with info about this year's details for this great fundraiser, as well as some of the history about the Community Kitchen along with details about it's current operations! Join The Clean Plate Club on...
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Season 8Ep. 17
Bloomington's only local bowling alley, Classic Lanes, has been a focal point of fun for our community for many, many years. Bartender Ron Martin joins us and tells us a bit about it's history, his Handicap 2000 tournament, and of course, we chat about their delicious snack bar offerings! Join The Clean Plate Club on Facebook and discuss the latest episodes of the podcast with other fans: https://www.facebook.com/groups/833028944651314 Join our Patreon for exclusive merch, perks, and content: ht...
Jun 17, 2025•51 min•Season 8Ep. 16
Back in October of 2022, Sam Herrin and Josh Anderson quit their jobs and went all-in on their boutique catering service, Bonafide Bites. Serving both Bloomington and Brown County, Bonafide offers custom menus for a wide variety of events with a unique eye for detail. Sam joins us and regales us with stories of her past musical career, how she and Josh decided to make the plunge into the culinary world, and why paying their staff what their worth has been so important to their success. Join The ...
Jun 10, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 8Ep. 15
"Presented by the IU Arts and Humanities Council and inspired by legendary Hoosier author Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Granfalloon brings together musicians, artists, thinkers, and good people from all walks of life for a celebration of art, ideas, and community." Gerard Pannekoak and Adrian Starnes join us and fill us in on all the amazing happenings with this incredibly cool event! From gospel legend Mavis Staples, to the Murder by Death farewell tour, there's no shortage of great music, June 7th, on Ki...
Jun 03, 2025•47 min•Season 8Ep. 14
Owner of Red Frazier Bison and Rice's Quality Meat, Zach "Panama" Martin has been, in one way or another, making sure Southern Indiana has access to high quality meats for some time now, starting Red Frazier back in 2015. Joining him is Jason "Smiley" Scott, Owner of Twin Springs Creamery, Monroe County's only creamery, and in its second year of operations. Learn the ins and outs to their operations, how they got started, and why they both wanted to come together to promote the upcoming 4-H Live...
May 27, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Season 8Ep. 13
In collaborations with the Boys & Girls Club, Lemonade Day is an incredible opportunity for children to learn about business and entrepreneurship through running their own lemonade stand. Eastern Regional Director, Lauran Blaker, joins us as we squeeze out all the info about this amazing opportunity for our local youth! It's coming up on June 7th and you can still register here: https://local.lemonadeday.org/monroe-county
May 20, 2025•50 min•Season 8Ep. 12
Open late nights on 4th street, DO Asian Fusion offers a wide variety of delicious dishes like korean fried chicken wings, sam gye tang (with ginger not ginseng ;) ), and japchae. Manager Kalie Ammons joins the pod and we go over the owners who are cranking out the dishes themselves most of the time, their late night crowds, and what separates them from every one else in town! Join The Clean Plate Club on Facebook and discuss the latest episodes of the podcast with other fans: https://www.facebo...
May 13, 2025•35 min•Season 8Ep. 11
A longstanding, eastside staple, the Bloomington Chocolate Company has now expanded to Kirkwood! Taking over the former Blu Boy Cafe, the Kirkwood Sweet Shop is featuring items using Blu Boy recipes, Bloomington Chocolate Company favorites, and a full coffee menu. Owner, Linda Armes, and Head Chocolatier, Kathleen Haas, join us as we chat about all things chocolate, small beginnings, and even dive into the world of olive oil! Join The Clean Plate Club on Facebook and discuss the latest episodes ...
May 06, 2025•51 min•Season 8Ep. 10
Every Saturday, May 24th - July 26th, the fine folks from B97 and Hoosier Country 105 are putting on a completely FREE-to-attend concert series at Marci Jane Lewis Park in Ellettsville! The Ellettsville Summer Concert series will feature local and regional bands from a variety of genres, local food trucks, and fun for the whole family. Station General Manager Tony Calumet joins us with local legend Pam Thrash as we discuss how this awesome event came to be, what brought Tony to Bloomington from ...
Apr 29, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 8Ep. 9
Just west of College on 4th street lies one of Bloomington's special gems, WonderLab! This non-profit makes learning fun for the young and old alike. Their new Executive Director, Dallas Evans, joins us with Marketing Director, Aleisha Kropf, on our latest episode as we learn about their extensive programming, venue rental opportunities, and most importantly, how they're able to make learning hands on, engaging, and FUN! Join The Clean Plate Club on Facebook and discuss the latest episodes of th...
Apr 22, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 8Ep. 8
For many years, Max's Place was known for their unique pizza offerings, good beer, and live music. After closing down on the Square, about 12 years ago, owners Travers Marks and Abel Garcia have revived Max's at the corner of 17th and College with the same great pies and a stage for local performers. Throw in hearty salads plus $7.99 lunch specials and you'll be greatly remiss if you don't go check out this revived Bloomington staple. Join The Clean Plate Club on Facebook and discuss the latest ...
Apr 15, 2025•59 min•Season 8Ep. 7
Home to Bloomington’s smallest monolith, and an abundance of t-shirts, stickers, and more, Badknees has become a merch staple in our community. Owner Jim Beck joins us to reflect on their small beginnings, Market Experiments, and their upcoming collab with the Taste of Bloomington! Join The Clean Plate Club on Facebook and discuss the latest episodes of the podcast with other fans: https://www.facebook.com/groups/833028944651314 Join our Patreon for exclusive merch, perks, and content: https://w...
Apr 01, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Season 8Ep. 6
From banking to baking, The Caffeinated Cook herself, Amy Meador, joins us as we talk B's & G's, scones, and all that in between! With a 5 star google rating with over 100 reviews, it's safe to say they're doing something, or A LOT of things, right. What's the secret sauce? What makes the biscuits and gravy so good they almost always sell out? Find out on the newest episode of No Dishes! Join The Clean Plate Club on Facebook and discuss the latest episodes of the podcast with other fans: htt...
Mar 25, 2025•41 min•Season 8Ep. 5
Homemade pop tarts, creamy lattes, and "Broken-yolk" sandwiches are all fan favorites at The Inkwell Bakery & Cafe. With locations on the Square and right on the edge of campus off of Woodlawn, owners Tracy Gates and Oualelaye "Wally" Ouedraogo sure know where to find a crowd. They both join us on the podcast to regale us with their individual unique stories, how the company found quick success, and what the future holds. Join The Clean Plate Club on Facebook and discuss the latest episodes ...
Mar 18, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 8Ep. 4
Offering frozen burritos with fresh, local, organic ingredients, Considerate Burrito and its owner Josh McClary are making sure you can get a quick healthy meal without sacrificing quality. One of their partners that makes this all possible? Fischer Farms! A staple in the Bloomington restaurant community, Fischer Farms supplies premium, sustainably raised beef to many of your favorite local spots. Joseph Fischer joins us with Josh and we dive into the nitty-gritty of farming, keeping things natu...
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 8Ep. 3
A true Bloomington institution, Hinkle’s Hamburgers has been serving up their signature burgers with pickles and loads of onions since 1930. Owner Richie Shields takes upholding their long tradition very seriously, and you can taste it in every bite. Corn Dogs. Pebble ice. Manager “Helen Wait”. It’s all here on the latest episode of No Dishes! Join The Clean Plate Club on Facebook and discuss the latest episodes of the podcast with other fans: https://www.facebook.com/groups/833028944651314 Join...
Mar 04, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 8Ep. 2
Our Season 8 premiere is here! Osteria Rago FOH managers Emilia Nicholson & Ames Eggers join us to fill the listeners in on the history of the Osteria, their wide array of scratch made pastas, and what they've done to quickly establish themselves as quite possibly the best Italian spot in town. Gelato made in house, Jordan's favorite chicken marsala, and a charcuterie board that will please a crowd. All this and more is tucked back in an alley just North of Kirkwood at Osteria Rago! Join The...
Feb 25, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 8Ep. 1
From a food pantry to a community garden to cooking programs and a tool share program, Mother Hubbard's Cupboard "works to increase access to healthy food in ways that cultivate dignity, agency, and community." President and CEO Megan Betz joins us and breaks down how they pull off all these amazing programs with limited resources, as well as fills us in on the upcoming "Chilly Cook Off" they're running as part of Freezefest! Join The Clean Plate Club on Facebook and discuss the latest episodes ...
Dec 31, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 7Ep. 20
Nestled in the old Restaurant Tallent space on Walnut, Cup & Kettle Tea Company has established itself over the past XXX years as Bloomington's go-to spot for unique tea blends to suit any mood or occasion. Owner Jessica Messmer joins us and we dive into their recent foray into perfumerie, their in-store food offerings, and what motivated her to open a tea shop to begin with. Join The Clean Plate Club on Facebook and discuss the latest episodes of the podcast with other fans: https://www.fac...
Dec 24, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 7Ep. 19
Whether you've watched the pizza race on the big screen at Assembly Hall, or have just devoured one of their delicious calzones, odds are you're well aware of Bucceto's. Owner Paulie Heilbrunn and GM Adam Cornett join us on the podcast to cover the difference between Bucceto's and Puccini's, their partnership with IU Athletics, and what it is that makes their pizza, pasta, and desserts stand out with so much flavor! Join The Clean Plate Club on Facebook and discuss the latest episodes of the pod...
Dec 17, 2024•44 min•Season 7Ep. 18
For quite some time the Westside of Bloomington has been devoid of a local ice cream shop but no longer! Ale's Ice Cream shop has stepped in to fill the void with their creative ice cream flavors (tequila anyone?!?) and a hot food menu featuring unique offerings like crepes, elote noodles, and chicharrones. Owner Alejandrina Spaulding shares her inspiration from her trips to Mexico and "talks shop" with Jordan as they discuss all things ice cream! Join The Clean Plate Club on Facebook and discus...
Dec 10, 2024•53 min•Season 7Ep. 17
From Tyler Childers to Mac Miller to John "Cougar" Mellencamp, the Bluebird has had no shortage of music superstars grace its stage over the years. Owner Dave Kubiak joins us on the podcast and answers all of the burning questions: What goes into booking major acts? How did he become owner of Bloomington's most beloved music venue? Did Ying Yang Twins really request 50 wings upon arrival? You know, the important stuff! We also get to talk about Taste of Bloomington and a ton of other fun stuff! ...
Dec 03, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 7Ep. 16
Tucked off the bypass on the northside of town is the One World Kitchen Share, serving as the home base for many of your favorite food trucks and so much more. From Lost Farm Meal Service, to the Chocolate Moose, to Pizza X, many brick and mortar restaurants also rely on the Kitchen Share services to feed their operation. It's all ran by General Manager Jay Burton who spills the beans on how it's goal isn't to be profitable, the businesses they've helped springboard to bigger and better things, ...
Nov 26, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 7Ep. 15
A longtime Kirkwood staple, FARMbloomington was on the forefront of the farm-to-table movement many years ago. Despite being entrenched as a Bloomington institution, FARM is keeping their foot on the gas and are innovating constantly like a newer restaurant trying to make a name for themselves. Chef Daniel Orr joins us with their Chef De Cuisine, Chantel Adcock, and they share all about their experiences coming up in the industry, their upcoming Thanksgiving specials, new menus, and what makes t...
Nov 19, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Season 7Ep. 14
In July of 2022, Cardinal Stage, Bloomington Playwrights Project, & Pigasus Institute joined forces to create Constellation Stage & Screen, with a mission of bringing world class theater and film to the Bloomington community. Artistic Director Chad Rabinovitz joins us and walks us through why the merger happened, reflects on the decision now that a couple of years have passed, fills us in on all the current and upcoming Constellation productions, and we even get to learn about his freeze...
Nov 12, 2024•1 hr 43 min•Season 7Ep. 13
A night out in Bloomington isn't complete without a hot slice of 'za from Rockits Famous Pizza. This North Walnut staple has been feeding late night crowds of hungry college students and locals alike since the 90's. Owner Marian Casanova joins us with her son, Mathias Brandt, to talk all things Rockits! Join The Clean Plate Club on Facebook and discuss the latest episodes of the podcast with other fans: https://www.facebook.com/groups/833028944651314 Join our Patreon for exclusive merch, perks, ...
Nov 05, 2024•46 min•Season 7Ep. 12
Long gone is the much beloved Function Brewing, but also gone is the original Metal Works Brewing that replaced it as part of the Endeavor/WOW group. Now on 6th street, just east of the Square, is Metal Works Brewing under its new ownership with a revived focus on great beer, delicious eats, and community involvement. Owner Adam Sulinski joins the podcast with Executive Chef Jason Tait and they let us know why they decided to keep the brand despite it's initially less-than-favorable reputation, ...
Oct 29, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Season 7Ep. 11
In a world of DoorDash, UberEats, & GrubHub, Driver on Deck is blazing their own path, offering local delivery from all your favorite local restaurants at a fraction of the cost. While menu items on other third party delivery services may be inflated 20-30% to make up for the cut they take, Driver on Deck restaurants offer their fare at the same prices they have in store. Nate Harris and Tori LaRocca-Harris join us and fill us in on how they've grown the company to this point and their exten...
Oct 22, 2024•57 min•Season 7Ep. 10
After just a year of being open, Phat Daddy's BBQ has expanded to three locations and has already laid claim to being quite possibly the best bbq around. Phat Daddy himself, Bruce Parrott, joins us and tells us what makes his Q special, how important his faith is, and how the opportunities for such quick expansion presented themselves. Kool aid on tap. $1.25 wings. First responder discounts. It's all here on the latest episode of No Dishes! Join The Clean Plate Club on Facebook and discuss the l...
Oct 15, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Season 7Ep. 9
