Broad Ripple Magazine December 2017

DECEMBER 2017

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WINTER FARMERS MARKET IS HERE: FEATURING MORE THAN 30 FOOD VENDORS THROUGH APRIL

Three years ago, Mark Demerly and Barbara Wilder organized the Broad Ripple Winter Farmers Market. Their biggest challenge with a winter market was making sure they could deliver locally grown products, such as meat, eggs and vegetables, to their customers throughout winter’s duration (the market runs from December through April).

EDITORIAL MANAGER Josh Brown

Josh@TownePost.com

DECEMBER WRITERS

Angie Trusty / Christy Heitger-Ewing Jon Shoulders / Kara Kavensky Matt Roberts / Lynda Hedberg Thies Carrie Petty

DECEMBER PHOTOGRAPHERS

8

30

Angie Trusty / Jamie Sangar Michael Thierwechter

SHOP LOCAL!

6 Gigi's Playhouse: A Haven For

Children With Down Syndrome

8 Business Spotlight: Healing The Roots

10 Sculpting a Legend: Local Artist

Talks About Creating The Peyton Manning Statue

14 Santa Loves a Gardener 17 IU Basketball Begins New Era Under Archie Miller

20 December's Luckiest Hoosier Alive: David Mroz

25 Winter Farmers Market Is Here: Will Feature 30 Food Vendors Through April

28 Fresh Pies: Diavola Serves Up

Authentic Neapolitan-Style Pizza With Fresh Ingredients

Help our local economy by shopping local.

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS ARE SPONSORED CONTENT

The Broad Ripple Magazine is published by the Towne Post Network and is written for and by local Broad Ripple area residents. Magazines are distributed via direct mail to more than 10,198 Broad Ripple area homeowners and businesses each month.

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30 Grab A Bag:

Broad Ripple Chip Co. Delivers Fresh, Locally Made Potato Chips

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Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photos provided by Gigi’s Playhouse

Thirteen years ago, Nancy Gianni was looking for a play space for her daughter, Gigi, who was born with Down syndrome.

After being turned away by multiple locations, Gianni took her love for her daughter and poured it into the creation of Gigi’s Playhouse, a nonprofit Down Syndrome Achievement Center dedicated to providing support for children and their families. The first center opened near Schaumburg, Illinois. Since then, 33 playhouses have launched across the country, with a dozen more in the works.

Indianapolis was the 19th location to open after a group of local moms rallied to assemble a founding board.

“Talk about a grassroots movement. These moms went to every fair and festival to inform people about their dream of bringing a GiGi’s to Indy,” says

Denisse Jensen, Executive Director of the Indy location, which opened in 2015.

Why were these mothers so passionate?

“They wanted what every parent wants — to have a place where their child feels accepted,” says Jensen, who recalls the story of 16-year-old Denzel. Last year, he was in his backyard when he spotted two children playing together and asked his mom, “What’s that?”

Her heart sank as she realized that he didn’t know what friendship looked like. When she found Gigi’s Playhouse, she had but one wish.

“I want my son to make friends,” she told Jensen. Now when Denzel sees his best friend, Javen, his eyes light up.

And he’s not the only one.

Parents feel they hit the jackpot when they learn of all the therapeutic services, educational classes and oneon-one tutoring the center offers free of charge. Just because the services do not cost 6 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2017 / atBRip.com

families, however, doesn’t mean they’re free to the playhouse. This is why Gigi’s holds two big fundraising benefits a year. The 3.21 walk is held in September — proceeds from that event go toward developing and funding various programs (they have 21 currently). In addition, in February they organize an annual black-tie gala with a silent auction at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. Proceeds from that affair cover staff and operating costs.

Clearly, there’s a need in the community. In just one year, the center grew by a whopping 70 percent.

“We started the playhouse with 60 families,” Jensen says. “Now, we’re serving over 350.”

Kendra Smith, a founding board member at Indy’s Gigi’s Playhouse, has an 8-year-old daughter, Lexi. Smith enjoys connecting with parents who share the same struggles and successes.

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building a 1,200-sq. ft. expansion, which is set to be completed this month. The space will include a therapy gym with swings, stairs and an adaptive rock wall.

“It’s exciting that our inner-city and lower income families will have this equipment at their disposal with no cost to them,” Jensen says.

They also plan to incorporate Gigi U, a three-tiered adult education progression program to help adults with Down syndrome learn to manage their money and improve their cooking skills.

In addition, the center connects families with community resources.

“For two years after Lexi was born, I had no parents to talk to,” Smith says. “Now, some of these people are my dearest friends.”

Thanks to a grant they received from the Finish Line Foundation, the center is

“For instance, we let parents know that IU Health has a great car seat program for Down syndrome kids,” Jensen says. “Or if you’re looking for horse therapy for a school-age child, we can direct you to the four places that offer it.”

And then, of course, there’s the friendships.

“I’ve always been the one to set up playdates atBrip.com / DECEMBER 2017 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / 7

for Lexi,” Smith says. “But last year, one of Lexi’s friends called to initiate a playdate. It was the highlight of my year.”

Sometimes pregnant women come to the center after having just gotten their prenatal diagnosis.

“They’re overwhelmed initially,” Smith says. “Then they see all these joyful kids running around succeeding and the burden is lightened.”

The general public often has the misconception that Down syndrome children lack ability.

“We just have to be willing to think outside the box to empower them and not limit them,” Jensen says. “Our participants have big dreams. With the right support, they can reach them.”

To learn more about Gigi’s Playhouse, located at 5909 E. 86th Street, visit gigisplayhouse.org.

HEALING THE ROOTS 839 E Westfield Blvd Indianapolis healingtheroots@gmail.com www.healingtheroots.com

Writer / Kara Kavensky Photographer / Michael Thierwechter

As you enter Healing The Roots, immediately on your right is a wall mural of an elephant with its legs transcending into roots stretching down into the earth. This artwork is peaceful, strong and powerful — indicative of the vibe.

Jessica Smith engaged artist Lisa Lozinak to create the elephant mural.

“Its trunk is curved upward, which is a symbol of positivity,” says Smith, who recently opened Healing The Roots.

surprised her.

“The mural is a successful representation of Jessica’s vision for her studio,” Lozinak says.

“It’s always inspiring to collaborate with an owner who has a passionate vision.”

“During my yoga training, I found by performing solid moves with the slow flow of the vinyasa, my body changed more in four weeks than the prior five years of doing the hot bikram yoga,” she says.

Smith studied yoga in Indonesia, where she became familiar with the symbolism of the elephant. The yoga compliments Smith’s skill set, which includes sports massage, kinesiology and biology of the body. Smith has studied exercise science, which has enhanced her skills with sports massage.

Smith also offers Thai stretching.

“Thai stretching is done on a mat and utilizes the entire body to stretch the client’s entire body,” Smith says. “It’s a head-to-toe experience that feels amazing.”

The yoga classes are offered in the morning and evenings. Thursday and Friday class are offered at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. The 6 p.m. class on Friday is “Funky Friday”, with Saturday and Sunday yoga at 6 p.m.

Jessica discovered a sense of security and strength on the mat during yoga that

Smith’s yoga classes combine the best of her strengths as an experienced body mechanics expert and healer. Her advice is to focus upon muscle engagement with the breath.

“It is through the breath that you change your body,” Smith says. “This change stays with you internally.”

The Intention of Healing The Roots goes as deep as the breath. She speaks of love and acceptance of self. The encouraging and accepting environment that Smith has created is genuine. She embraces all who attend her classes by making everyone feel welcome. It’s also about having fun.

As fluid as the movements in her class, Smith indicates that the schedule may change to accommodate her clients.

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Cathedral alum, Ryan Feeney, landed the Super Bowl of sculpting jobs when he was picked as the lead sculptor of the Peyton Manning statue.

SCULPTING A LEGEND LOCAL ARTIST TALKS ABOUT CREATING THE PEYTON MANNING STATUE Writer / Lynda Hedberg Thies Photographer / Jamie Sangar

His attention to detail and work ethic are legendary. He is humble and kind and has a great sense of humor. He is willing to share the credit for his success, and he has left a legacy in the city. Sounds like Peyton Manning?

Meet Ryan Feeney.

Ryan Feeney may have never played a day in a Colts jersey, but he won the Super Bowl of sculpting jobs when he was chosen from a very competitive field of artists from both the East and West Coast to create the larger than life statue of the iconic Peyton Manning.

Feeney fell in love with art when he was just 5 years old and only 7 when he created his first oil painting. While other kids were out playing games in the neighborhood, Feeney was either working on art projects or taking art classes with his mom. His talent was evident, so his parents enrolled him at Shortridge Junior High School for

their Art Magnet program. While he played sports throughout his childhood, nothing really grabbed his attention, but his parents insisted he participate.

Feeney’s involvement in athletics changed when the 5-foot-6 freshman came to Cathedral High School. He knew he was too small to play football, so for three years he ran track and cross country. By his senior year, he was well entrenched in his art classes along with his other academics, but his art teacher, Barb Velonis, took him under her wing and mentored Feeney. She also introduced him to 3D drawing, which sealed the deal on his desire to pursue a college degree in design. But he was also craving the opportunity to play a contact sport, and that is when he discovered rugby.

Feeney found a rugby club at Lawrence North but soon realized that the travel time was cutting into his practice time. So, the coaches suggested he start a club at Cathedral. He could have just dropped the idea because he was about to graduate, but that was not Feeney.

INDY METRO / DECEMBER 2017 / TownePost.com

So, in 1992, Feeney’s senior year, he started a Rugby Club at Cathedral.

He found a couple of coaches, and he advertised the program and invited anyone to play so long as they did not have a school program, they could sign up for the Cathedral program. The first season the program finished in the middle of the pack. Today, the club is one of the premier programs in the country. Royal Irish Rugby, a 25-year-old program, has won four National Championships in the past six years and played the championship game both years they didn’t win.

“There is no way to truly measure what rugby has done for this community because it constantly grows. What started as a small club here on the northeast side of Indy has now become a dominant program that has held the number one ranking for most of the last seven years,” says Dave Snyder, Royal Irish Rugby Coach.

Feeney’s legacy with the rugby program has led the club to create a “Ryan Feeney Founders Award,” given to players that need support to keep playing the game.

Feeney went to Miami University of Ohio to study Art and Design but was also able to continue playing rugby while a student there. The focus of his time at Miami was working on his skills. He even received his first commission when he was a senior there, and his professors supported him through the process. He graduated from Miami with a Bachelors of Fine Arts and a double major in graphic design and sculpture.

He started his career working in the art and graphic design department for a corporation and soon realized that he did not have as much time to work on doing what he loved, which involved designing statues.

In 1999, Feeney joined the Indianapolis Fire Department because the 24 hours on, 48 hours off gave him the flexibility to spend more time sculpting. By the time he launched his design business, Indy Art Forge, he already had four bronze statues out around the city.

“Most guys at the station had a second job mowing lawns and landscaping, mine just happened to be in a studio,” Feeney says.

By the time the Colts announced that they were going to build a Peyton Manning statue, Feeney already had 15 public statues on his resume.

But this job was the biggest he had ever tackled, and his competition had bigger portfolio’s and even a staff of people to work on the project. Feeney was working as a firefighter and is a married father of two children, but he went for it anyway.

The interview process proved intimidating and the competition’s portfolio’s daunting.

Colts Chief Operating Officer Pete Ward told him he had the weakest portfolio of everyone, and the other sculptors had even submitted a scaled down sculpture of Peyton.

“I don’t have the portfolio as these big-city sculptors that have five other artists working for me to do the work,” he recalls. ‘How could I compete,’ he thought to himself?”

But then he noticed that all the sculptors had left off the helmet. Knowing Peyton

was the ultimate detail person, he promised a statue to them in three days and returned with the replica wearing a helmet and even included the wire strap, which the others had left off. So, he thought he got their attention.

“We will not go to step one or step two without your approval or go from two to three without your approval,” Feeney told Pete Ward. “I said, ‘If you hire me, living local, you can have input and involvement at every stage. I won’t get it right the first time, if I do, I’m lucky, but I always like to have other people look at it and tweak it.’”

Feeney’s reputation, attention to detail and physical location gave the Colts unprecedented access to work closely on the project without the expense of travelling to another state. They also loved that his vendors worked in the city, which meant it would benefit the community. They chose Feeney and arranged for him to fly to Nashville, Tennessee to photograph Manning in a conference room at the hanger to begin the process. His first meeting was a bit intimidating, but he got right to work as the Colts photographer snapped more than 400 photos.

Throughout the process of building the 9-foot-1 Manning figure, he worked with the Colts Equipment Manager, Ward and others to ensure that at every stage everyone was happy with the process and his progress. Like other projects he had worked on, he had a team of people involved, and when he was finished, he was confident Manning would like it but had to wait until the public unveiling of the project before he knew for sure.

On Oct. 9, around 25,000 people gathered in Indianapolis to participate in the unveiling. The unveiling ceremony included A-list dignitaries, including David Letterman, former Governor Mitch Daniels, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Colts owner Jim Irsay, former coach Tony Dungy and General Manager Bill Polian along with former players such as Jeff Saturday.

Feeney was beyond thrilled. He felt confident

that Peyton would like the statue because he had so many people that participated in the project along the way.

Peyton came to the podium, looked over at Feeney and said, “Good job” before delivering his speech.

Immediately after the ceremony, Manning, who had been all business at the meeting in Nashville, greeted him warmly and thanked him for his effort. He then asked if he could introduce him to his mom, Olivia Manning. She greeted Feeney warmly and said, “The profile is perfect from where I stand, if he didn’t have the number or name on the jersey, even if it was a silhouette in the middle of the night, just in that stance alone, I would know it was Peyton.”

Feeney knew that no one knows Peyton better than his mom, so to have her approval meant a lot.

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The day concluded with a private reception.

“It was so cool, I felt like an A- lister,” Feeney says.

Before any of the accolades could go to his head, he knew his fire station pals would make sure to bring his feet back to earth. Still, Feeney has taken time to reflect on his success.

“Enjoy what you do because then it won’t feel like work,” he says. “Money is money until you work at a job you hate. I have two jobs, I’m not rich, but I love what I do.”

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TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2017 / INDY METRO

SANTA LOVES A GARDENER Writer / Carrie Petty

Gift giving can be hard. Don’t you think? But for the gardener or nature lover on your list, it is pretty simple. Make no mistake!

Gardeners are always thinking about growing. Give a gardener a new shovel, and she’s happy. I promise.

Christmas gifts for a gardener are always about quality and durability. Spend your money on the best tools, not a plastic handled, thin metal cheep-o. Your gardener will appreciate the quality of Felco Pruners or English made, wooden handled Haws Stainless Steel Garden Fork or Trowel. Gift sets are easy to find in the Gardening Centers around Indianapolis. Some items are already wrapped too. I love Allisonville Nursery, Altum Gardens and Habig, just to name a few.

These are great gifts and show your gardener that you get it. After all, gift giving is about understanding your recipient fully and showing your love through the well, thought-out gift that you have selected just for them.

When the clock strikes midnight on New Years 2018, a gardener will be dreaming of digging.

Planning tools and guides are some of the very best gifts for the gardening mindset. We are always looking for better ways to organize our seeds, sketch out our thoughts or study what grows best in the shade or full sun. Sketchbooks and quality drawing tools are a must. As well as reference books and growing guides A subscription to the Indiana Gardening Magazine is a gift that is, “Hyper Local” in the words of editor Michelle Walsh. It is a bi-monthly magazine, full of incredible local gardening content.

CREATE YOUR OWN GIFT BASKETS

You can use a great terra cotta pot and fill it to the brim with seeds, tools, a journal and some good gardening gloves. And don’t forget the sunscreen and hat in your gift basket. Keeping your loved one protected.

Gardening gloves with a packet of seeds tied up in ribbon make excellent hostess gifts for a gardening friend, (hint, hint!) Or they can make a great stocking stuffer too. Books and antiques for the garden are another great way to show your friends you understand their love for the green stuff. Make sure you sign the inside of any book. I have several that bring a smile to my face just remembering a friend’s gift. All a part of helping you, “Grow a Beautiful Life.”

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INDY METRO / DECEMBER 2017 / TownePost.com

Writer / Matt Roberts . Photography provided by IU Athletic Department

n Tom Crean’s final season as head basketball coach at Indiana University, almost 40 percent of the shots were taken by three players now on NBA rosters. On IU Basketball Media Day, reporters asked new head coach Archie Miller an obvious question: Where will the Hoosiers’ scoring come from in the 2017-2018 season?

“I think De'Ron Davis is a very gifted offensive player,” Miller says. “He has terrific footwork, amazing hands and great touch. I think he can score the ball for us. Robert Johnson is a proven scorer and will continue to do that, too.

“Juwan (Morgan) has to become more of an offensive-minded player from a production standpoint,” Miller adds.

“He's got great skills. I look at Devonte (Green) as a guy that can get his own shot, a guy that create for himself off of ball screens, and get to the basket and get to the free throw line. As I look at the shooting on our team, guys like Curtis (Jones), guys like Collin (Hartman), those guys have made shots.”

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Join us for Celebration Crossing at the Indiana State Museum. Hop aboard the Santa Claus Express and share the magic of holidays gone by as you revisit cherished memories and create new ones with the people you love. Hunt for hidden elves in our new holiday mural, savor treats of the season and visit Santa’s House to share your holiday wishes and get a special photo!

DISCOVER MORE GREAT HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES AT INDIANAMUSEUM.ORG. #CELEBRATIONCROSSING

INDY METRO / DECEMBER 2017 / TownePost.com

Offense has not been a problem at Indiana in recent years, but there were times when Indiana fans cringed on every defensive possession. Last season, the Hoosiers led the Big Ten in points scored but managed a conference record of only 7-11. Miller recognizes the need to improve defensively but avoided setting any expectations for a quick fix.

“We're building,” he says. “We're not as sophisticated as we're going to be, but I think from a base perspective, our team is learning what we're about, especially in the half-court.

“I think we'll be a team that hopefully can continue to really improve.

Sometimes it's going to take games.

These guys are going to have to experience it in a game, see it on film in a game, and that's kind of what's happened throughout my coaching career. You develop defensively as a team just as well as you do offensively.

This is probably as challenging of a schedule as anyone has ever faced. It's going to put a real tax on the bodies.

But our early schedule is going to provide a lot of information on what we're going to need to do to be successful through the course of the regular season in Big Ten play. You're playing against major teams who have really good players and great coaches.

I don't expect on day one we're going to be the steel curtain, so to speak, but I think we're going to be a team that prides ourselves on that. Our guys know that and individual defenders will improve just like they do on offense.

“But we're sticking to the script,” Miller adds. “I think from our practice perspective right now, we're going to try to be great on both, but we're spending an abnormal amount of time on it.”

With early season games scheduled against perennial powers like Duke, Louisville, Notre Dame and Michigan over a two-week stretch, Miller figures to learn quickly about how Indiana has to improve to compete in the Big Ten. “This is probably as challenging of a schedule as anyone has ever faced,” Miller says. “It's going to put a real tax on the bodies. But our early schedule is going to provide a lot of information on what we're going to need to do to be successful through the course of the regular season in Big Ten play. You're playing against major teams who have really good players and great coaches.

“We're going to figure out how we respond to those things,” Miller adds.

“I think it's going to teach us what we're going to need to be this year.”

Custom

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The Hoosiers play Notre Dame on December 16 as part of the Crossroads Classic at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse.

TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2017 / INDY METRO

DECEMBER'S LUCKIEST ALIVE David Mroz SUBMIT YOUR STORY ONLINE AT TOWNEPOST.COM! If you are chosen, you'll win dinner for two at the Homestretch Steakhouse and $100 each in gambling comps.

You must be 21 years of age or older to participate.

MR. INVINCIBLE Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing

The track-and-field students he coaches at Center Grove High School call him “The Tank,” and for good reason. Over the past several years, David Mroz has plowed through countless medical hurdles, one after another. Despite them all, he maintains an optimistic outlook and gratitude for life.

His indominable spirit was groomed in high school. Besides participating in track, football and basketball, Mroz also meticulously studied his dad’s “Muscle & Fitness” magazines.

“I thought it would be great to have massive muscles like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno,” says Mroz, who later competed in Strong Man competitions.

A week after the shoulder surgery, he developed an abscess, which had to be surgically removed. Then came more TIAs, this time leaving him blind in the left eye and numb in the right arm. He couldn’t catch the proverbial break. A month later, Mroz got a call from his doctor letting him know that he needed to see a vascular surgeon immediately.

focused on his wife Pam, children Lauren, Luke and Andrew, and grandson Aden. He also felt great pride as a coach. In 2015 and 2016, one of his students won state in disc, winning the school record, too.

“I had a track meet to coach the following day, so I figured I’d see the surgeon the day after, but my doctor said, ‘Nope. Now,’” recalls Mroz, 45 at the time but with a 99 percent blockage in both carotid arteries.

“I knew it was a heart attack,” Mroz says.

“You’re a walking time bomb,” the doctor told him.

After having both carotid arteries cleaned out in May, he described himself as Frankenstein.

In 2016, just before heading to his son’s football game, Mroz turned ghost grey and began sweating profusely.

He was right — 100 percent blockage required another stint. Like a page out of a horror movie, a week later while watching TV, his face started drooping and his right arm went numb. A brain scan revealed that he had suffered a series of seven strokes due to a blood clot.

Though Mroz missed his son’s destination wedding in Jamaica, he was relieved to He joined the Indiana University track team survive yet another health scare without as a walk-on. While at IU, he studied health, “My neck was cut all the way down with metal suffering any debilitating consequences. nutrition and business finance. Post-college, staples binding it,” Mroz says. “Not pretty.”

This year, he’s had a third stint put in as well Mroz owned a Gold’s Gym, where he as a knee replacement. trained clients. He’s also worked as a roofer, The following month he learned he had and in 2010 began coaching track at Center an enlarged gall bladder. Determined to Mroz is not sure why he’s been plagued Grove Middle School and three years later whip himself back into shape following that with so many health issues, but doctors at the high school. credit his lifelong exercise habits for having surgery, Mroz made a bet with his son that by the end of basketball season, he’d be able bounced back from so many crises. His In 2013, he had a shoulder replacement — a to dunk again. He was making great strides attitude, no doubt, is a huge factor, too. chronic injury that had bothered him ever when suddenly his left bicep detached. since falling off a roof in 2000. On his way “I enjoy what I’m doing. I love coaching and to the surgery center, Mroz’s right arm went “I looked like Popeye with a unicep rather watching the kids have that ‘a-ha’ moment,” completely numb. says Mroz, whose perspective is predicated than a bicep,” says Mroz with a chuckle. on genuine gratitude. “While we’re on this “I didn’t think much of it because it went earth, we should do our best to impact He continued to keep his positive spirit away after a few moments,” says Mroz, who despite another infection followed by more the people around us. If we can change later learned that he’d suffered a TIA or somebody’s world in a positive way while chest pains and the discovery of another mini stroke. we’re here, that’s what life’s all about.”

90 percent blockage. Through it all, Mroz

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FEATURING MORE THAN 30 FOOD VENDORS THROUGH APRIL Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Michael Thierwechter and provided

Three years ago, Mark Demerly

and Barbara Wilder organized the Broad Ripple Winter Farmers Market. Their biggest challenge with a winter market was making sure they could deliver locally grown products, such as meat, eggs and vegetables, to their customers throughout winter’s duration (the market runs from December through April).

“Would chickens still be laying eggs? Could vegetables grow?” wondered Demerly, who was thrilled to find several farmers who grew products in hoop houses or greenhouses to be able to meet market demands.

“The location makes for a great neighborhood gathering place with easy access for customers to purchase a wide variety of fresh farm-to-market products,” says Jim Baughman, owner operator of atBrip.com / DECEMBER 2017 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / 25

Freedom Valley Farm.

This year the market will feature 30 strictly food vendors. Several of them alternate with others on a bimonthly basis.

“Given the limited space, we didn’t want to clutter it up or compromise food vendors for craft vendors,” says Demerly, eager to provide a nice blend of products, which includes breads and baked goods, dairy and cheeses, fruits and vegetables,

and meat, fish, poultry and eggs.

In the mood for kombucha (a fermented, lightly effervescent sweetened black or green tea), nut butter, fresh pasta, grilled pizza, marmalades, mushrooms, pickles, pies or pastries?

Interested in gluten-free options, gourmet chocolate, goat cheese, charcuterie or smoked sea salt?

Come on down.

“This compact market, full of all the best vendors, is a wonderful place to keep in touch with our summer Broad Ripple regulars,” says Kelly Ryan, owner of Lick Ice Cream.

The Winter Farmers Market takes place on Winthrop Avenue inside the Bent Rail Brewery — an ideal mid-town venue that offers space, food and beer.

“The brewery serves a great breakfast,” Demerly says. “Plus, this will be the first year we’ll have beer at the market.”

Zach Rohn, owner of Batch No. 2, likes that the location sits a little more central to the city and is close to a wide range of

communities.

“We’ve come to know many of the vendors and love the sense of community between stands,” Rohn says.

Broad Ripple, the only Indianapolis community to hold a Farmers Market that’s open every weekend except Thanksgiving, is intent on not leaving a gap between seasons.

“It’s really interesting because during the fall, all of our customers were like, ‘When does the winter market start?’ No one wanted to lose out,” Demerly says.

It’s a fun, festive, kid-friendly atmosphere, complete with topnotch musical acts and stellar food.

Demerly especially loves watching little kids’ faces when they bite into fresh produce.

“They taste Baughman’s carrots, for instance, which are so sweet, and they squeal, ‘I never knew a carrot could taste like this!’”

Demerly says. “The flavor enhancement of these fresh local foods is indescribable.”

The Winter Farmers Market runs from 9 a.m. until noon every Saturday until April.

For more information, visit broadripplefarmersmarket.org.

From frozen salmon to fresh cider, from raw honey to artisanal breads, these vendors offer something for everyone. The complete list is below: Amelia’s Bread Batch No. 2 Bettini Pasta Byrne’s Pizza Caprini Creamery Goat Cheese Circle City Kombucha Circle City Smoke Eagle Creek Apiary Freedom Valley Farm Full Hand Farm Home Ec Preserves Hubbard & Cravens Coffee & Tea Johnnie Raber Family Farm Lick Ice Cream Native Bread Old Major Phelps Family Farm Pots & Pans Primal Delights Red Frazier Bison Ranch Rene’s Bakery Inc. Revival Foods Risin’ Creek Creamery Russell Sheep Company Schacht Farm Shamrock Farm Simple Taste Tulip Tree Creamery Turchetti’s Salumeria Wild Alaska Salmon & Seafood Wild’s Apple Farm Xchocol’Art Gourmet Chocolate

Diavola serves up authentic Neapolitan-style pizza with fresh ingredients Writer & Photographer / Angie Trusty A friend of mine, Linda, told me about Diavola several months ago. Her daughter lives near the 54th & Monon shops. Linda and her family enjoyed the nice evening walk to the restaurant and shared several different pizzas. Although she highly recommended I try Diavola, I wasn’t too eager at first. After all, there are several good pizza places in town. I finally decided to take Linda’s advice and see if the pizza at Diavola could hold its own against the other pizzerias.

I arrived early for dinner — 5 p.m. on a Tuesday — and had the opportunity to talk to the owner, Mohey Osman. I was impressed with his passion for finding the best ingredients and unwillingness in cutting corners. I don’t know of another pizzeria around that goes through such lengths to ensure quality and authenticity.

using cauliflower instead of the traditional grain, bulgur. Cauliflower diced into the size of rice is combined with diced tomato, cucumber and basil, then lightly dressed with red wine vinegar and topped with brilliant red, roasted, diced beets. The combination of crisp, fresh vegetables is a perfect balance of colors, flavors and texture.

“The ingredients speak for themselves.

No frozen dough here, that’s for cheaters," Mohey says.

The shrimp penne dish at Diavola is tossed in a Pomodoro cream sauce made from canned Italian tomatoes picked at the height of their freshness. The ridges in the penne act as little cradles to help the sauce cling to the pasta, delivering savory sauce with each

Diavola takes an inventive twist on the classic Middle Eastern salad, tabouli, by

28 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2017 / atBRip.com

bite. It’s topped with shaved parmesan and red pepper flakes. This traditional Italian comfort food is a superb option if you’re not in the mood for pizza.

The star of the show is the pizza, and the star of the pizza is the Neapolitan-style crust. Only a few ingredients are needed for the handmade dough: Caputa 00 flour from Naples, sea salt and water. To obtain the dense flavor from the yeast, the dough fermentation takes two to three days. The hand-tossed dough only takes about 90 seconds to cook in the high heat, huge Marra Forni domed pizza oven. The result is a perfectly cooked 13-inch crust with a cornicione (outer rim) that balloons slightly, crisp on the outside and bubbly chewy bready texture on the inside. It’s studded with crispy charred black spots.

The center of the crust is thinner and has a soft and elastic heart. Just the way it’s made in Naples and the perfect foundation for the ingredients which will adorn the crust.

On a crust topped with homemade garlic white sauce and fresh mozzarella, large paper-thin slices of La Quercia prosciutto and a handful of fresh arugula are piled for the Parma pizza. The fresh, crisp peppery bite of the arugula is the perfect complement to the salty cured prosciutto.

A slight sweetness of the tomatoes in the red Pomodoro sauce spooned atop a thin crust shined through savory flavors of roasted vegetables and melty fresh mozzarella in the Contadina. A perfect tasty balance of roasted bell peppers, artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives, roasted mushrooms and fresh torn basil almost made me forget there was no meat on this pizza.

What sets Diavola apart from the other pizza places in town is the owner's insistence in using only the highest quality ingredients and not straying from the correct way to make authentic Neapolitan style pizza. Diavola’s surpasses the typical “good” pizzeria, it’s outstanding.

As stated on the menu “hand stretched 13” pies with Caputo flour and a whole lotta love.” I now have a “whole lotta love” for Diavola. atBrip.com / DECEMBER 2017 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / 29

Photo provided by Broad Ripple Chip Co.

BROAD RIPPLE CHIP CO. DELIVERS FRESH, LOCALLY MADE POTATO CHIPS 30 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2017 / atBRip.com

Writer / Jon Shoulders Photographer / Michael Thierwechter

In Mark McSweeney’s experience for the past four years as founder and owner of Broad Ripple Chip Co., he’s found that a simple approach is decidedly the best one.

McSweeney’s chips, made with a mere three ingredients – canola oil, spices and russet potatoes – can be found at groceries, restaurants and breweries throughout Central Indiana, and he feels the simplicity of his production method has yielded a uniquely flavorful chip and, consequently, a steadily growing customer base.

to figure out was how to recondition the potato and have that sugar content go down. There are potatoes that a lot of companies use that are used exclusively for chips, known as chipping potatoes, and they end up looking lighter like Lay’s chips. But I felt like the russet potatoes we use had a better flavor.”

The result is a distinctive chip, free of gluten, preservatives and trans fats, available in original and Sweet & Spicy flavors. Each and every bag is adorned with an illustration of McSweeney’s family pet, a pug named Zeus.

Although the Broad Ripple Chip Co. operation remains modest in size – the production facility takes up about half of the 2,000-square-foot Great Harvest In 2012 McSweeney, owner of Great Harvest Bread Co. wholesale bakery at 62nd facility, and consists of a staff of five – its distribution reach has grown steadily over and Binford, found himself with unused the last four years, and McSweeney says he space at his bakery and began chewing might add a third flavor to his product line on the idea of making and selling his own down the road. brand of chips as a side-project.

“I had thought about what I could do with that extra space for several years,” recalls McSweeney, who has operated Great Harvest since relocating to Indianapolis from St. Louis in 1989. “There were already popcorn places that were doing business, so I didn’t want to do that, and I always enjoyed the taste of a freshly made potato chip.”

For the next year and half, McSweeney researched chip recipes online and sought advice from several industry professionals including a professor at Boise State University. He decided to use Idaho baking potatoes, sourced from Piazza Produce, which yield a dark and flavorful chip.

“A lot of chips have very high sugar content in the potato, which causes the chip to turn out really, really dark,” he says. “What I had

“We’re in about 20 or 22 Kroger stores and Fresh Thyme and some of the smaller independent markets like Pogue’s Run and Georgetown Market,” he says. “The distributor we started using six months to a year ago, Ideal Meat, carries some Indiana-grown products in Ohio and Kentucky. So, we’re in Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton, and we’re in most of the Fresh Thyme stores in Ohio.”

In November 2014, less than a year after opening, Broad Ripple Chip Co. received national attention when Alton Brown, host of the Food Network’s Good Eats, traveled through Indy for his Road Eats culinary web journal. Brown made a stop at a now-closed café in Irvington, tried some of McSweeney’s chips during his meal and offered some glowing praise on his official web site. atBrip.com / DECEMBER 2017 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / 31

“He said they were some of the best chips he’d ever had, and called us later and asked if he could include us in their holiday gift guide,” McSweeney says.

“That was a lot of fun.”

McSweeney feels the key to his company’s continued growth lies in offering a refreshingly simple yet tasty product.

“The chip itself is very different than most chips people have had, and people have seemed to respond to the flavor,” he says. “I’ve had customers that I’ve dropped off chips for, just to sample, and they’ve called me on my way back to my business and said they wanted to carry them in their store, before I even got back.”

Visit broadripplechip.com for more info.

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