Dinner… and all that jazz

By Amy Lynch

Color me awed. Last night, I discovered that the Gennett Mansion, a majestic historic Main Street home in my hometown of Richmond, Ind. hosts a series of absolutely awesome gourmet dinners open to the public. Seriously, how could I have not known about this before now?!? This was without a doubt the best food I’ve ever eaten in Richmond, and right up there with some of the best food I’ve eaten lately, period.

Here’s the skinny: the lovely and hospitable Donna and Bob Geddes currently own the Gennett Mansion and live on the third floor. This Colonial Revival mansion was originally built in 1897 as the home of Henry and Alice Gennett, who lived in the house for nearly 40 years. Scratch the surface of Richmond history and you’ll uncover a whole slew of information about the Gennett and their legacy — the family manufactured pianos and later paved the way for new recording technology. Some of the most prominent jazz, blues, gospel and country music recording artists of the early 20^th century recorded right here in Richmond, including Louis Armstrong, Hoagy Carmichael and Gene Autry. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a designated Indiana Landmark.

Since taking possession of the property in 2006, the Geddes have painstakingly been restoring it to a renewed level of grandeur. Their efforts have paid off handsomely, and Donna and Bob have generously opened the mansion for tours, weddings, live music, private parties, corporate events and a series of     Farm-to-Table dinners like the one my dad and I attended last night.

And what a dinner this was. The Geddes have employed the talented Chef Jen Ferrell to create sumptuous menus for these meals featuring locally sourced, organic products. Jen grew up in Brown County, earned a degree in environmental management from Indiana University before later easing her way into a cooking career, and moved to Richmond eight years ago when her husband took a job with Earlham College.

We arrived at 6:30 p.m. and had a chance to settle in and snoop around the house before the dinner began. Everything was gorgeous, from the fresh daisy centerpieces to the polished woodwork. The architecture and interior design alone is reason enough to come here. There’s a beautiful Starr piano standing in the main hall, a gleaming wood staircase and elegant furnishings throughout. Our dining room (one of several) was decked out with a beamed ceiling, bowed windows and a fireplace large enough to stand in. It was fun to see how the rich and famous of Richmond must have lived back in the early 1900s.

There were nearly 20 guests for dinner last night, although Donna said they can accommodate up to 40. Donna and Bob did all the serving themselves, and I spied on Chef Jen in the kitchen. This was an ambitious undertaking for only three people to pull off, and they did so flawlessly.

Our first course set the tone for what was to come with a triangular polenta cake with braised local bison from a farm up between Lynn and Winchester, all topped with a roasted red pepper paprika sauce. The bison was flavorful and tender, and the corn cake light, fluffy and steaming hot. We were off to a great start.

Next up was a salad of greens from the chef’s very own garden — a mix of torn romaine lettuce, spinach and bok choy with a few shaved purple radish slices on top and a sprinkle of almonds. The dressing was a white chocolate citrus, which has to be one of the more unusual salad dressings I’ve ever tasted. It was really delicious; the white chocolate flavor was not at all overpowering, just an interesting and subtle note in the overall fresh mix of ingredients. 

To cleanse our palates after that, we each received a small glass dish of mint julep sorbet. Made with fresh mint and top-shelf Kentucky bourbon and topped with a pink rose petal, it was as tasty for the eyes as it was the mouth. I drank a couple of mint juleps during a tour of Churchill Downs earlier last month and thought they were nearly cloyingly sweet, but as a little icy treat, the recipe worked perfectly. I even stirred a little bit into my iced tea to give it a slight minty kick. Perfection.

The main course was a real showstopper – beef croustade with roasted asparagus. Here’s the breakdown: take a tender piece of local steak, top it with porter roasted onions and gorgonzola cheese, then wrap the whole thing in phyllo dough like a little beggar’s purse and bake. It was soooooo delicious, like a beef Wellington but with phyllo instead of puff pastry. The asparagus on the side was perfectly tender; we also received a small basket of fragrant rosemary yeast rolls and a compound herb butter to spread on top.

Prior to bringing out the dessert, Donna served some wonderful coffee she’d brought back from a recent trip to Costa Rica (in addition to her Gennett responsibilities, she also works as an international flight attendant!), along with a cute trio of accoutrements to dude up our cups. What a fun and whimsical idea to stir in raw sugar, chocolate chips and fresh whipped cream.

Dessert was a picture-perfect slice of lattice-top sour cherry pie          (I overheard Chef Jen saying the cherries had come from Wesler’s Orchard) and a little scoop of housemade coconut ice cream sitting pretty beside it. Wow. I couldn’t imagine a better end to a better meal. Chef Jen made the rounds to each table during dessert, I’m sure collecting compliments all along the way. This meal blew my mind.

Last night’s dinner carried a per-person price tag of $38, which seemed extremely reasonable for the amount and quality of food we received. There is no alcohol served, only water, coffee and iced tea, but diners are perfectly welcome to bring their own wine or beer.

The Farm to Table dinners take place once a month or so; watch the Gennett Mansion Facebook page for updates (https://www.facebook.com/TheGennett). I, for one, am thrilled to know these events are taking place in my little old hometown, and plan to make a return trip as soon as details are posted.

For more information:

Gennett Mansion

1829 E. Main St., Richmond

(765) 935-0055

http://www.gennettmansion.com/

Born and raised in Richmond, freelance writer Amy Lynch now makes her home in Indianapolis with her husband and three-year-old son. Read more about her food and travel adventures at http://www.amysfoodflights.wordpress.com/

An Authentic Italian Restaurant - Galo's Italian Grill

As I write this, I am sitting in catch-your-breath-beautiful Western North Carolina.

You might ask why I am thinking about Richmond, Indiana while surrounded by the blue mountains, lush forests and rushing rivers of this gorgeous place.

Well, I am hungry.

Really I am.

And I am thinking about Galo's Italian Grill.

I'm thinking about how welcoming the staff is the minute I walk in the door ... I'm remembering the fragrance of fresh tomatoes and zesty oregano and melting mozzarella … I'm imagining the taste of finely prepared and lovingly presented dishes.

Galo's Italian Grill knows the importance of developing exquisite meals from the basics. Hot foods are served hot and cold foods cold; the use of quality ingredients results in delicious flavors and just a pinch of this herb and a dash of that seasoning can release the hidden characteristics of succulent olive oil, invigorating garlic and imported Italian pasta. Galo's even understands that a traditional wood fired oven is vital when baking an authentic Italian pizza.

The Bruschetta that comes to the table is always fresh, warm and fragrant. That's because every loaf of bread, each bun and every roll had been baked that very morning. Baked by the Galo's family and their dedicated staff just minutes away at

5^th Street

Coffee and Bagels, across from the Olde Richmond Inn.

It is that dedication and professionalism, blended with Galo's real joy in nurturing each guest, that makes the Galo's dining experience so special. In this day of tasteless food generated from a mediocre kitchen and delivered by a stranger, what a delight it is to find a locally owned, family (in every sense of the word) restaurant that deeply appreciates their customers.

Did you know that Galo is the name of the owner, and that he and his marvelous wife, Linda, met while working in a restaurant together? Over 20 years ago they chose to raise their family and pursue their dreams in Richmond. During that time they have become an integral part of the community and have graciously welcomed generations of families into the comfortable dining room of Galo's Italian Grill at

107 Garwood Road

.

Whether I'm meeting girlfriends for Pasta Mediterranean and a refreshing glass of wine on the patio, or if this is “date night” for just the two of us, making Gorgonzola New York Strip an absolute necessity; Galo's is the perfect place to relax and reconnect with the people we treasure. Perfectly crafted food and very reasonably priced meals combine to make Galo's an affordable option for everyone who enjoys real food and caring service.

Galo's Italian Grill has shared the seasons of life with generations of diners. Romantic meals with champagne and engagement rings have lead to wedding rehearsal dinners. Before Galo's knows it, couples are bringing their children in for birthday celebrations and soon parents have become grandparents; then suddenly it's time for a jovial, loving family reunion – right where it all started!

When I tell family and friends throughout the country about Galo's, it's impossible to describe the beautiful dining room, the freshness of the ingredients, and the aroma and  flavor of the food without including the attentiveness of the servers and the obvious involvement of the owners themselves. No matter if you are a visitor or a long time resident, I hope to see you at Galo's Italian Grill soon - and often. You'll recognize me by my blissful smile and empty plate!

                       Galo's Italian Grill              Richmond/Wayne County Visitor's Bureau

Susan Ray is a freelance writer and co-founder of a local writers’ group. She loves her life in Indiana and is passionate about discovering and sharing the little known treasures and the unexpected beauty of the Hoosier state with newcomers and natives alike. “When I first visited Indiana, I expected the stereotypical corn and beans and flat landscape. What I found instead were acres of history, culture and adventure!” Susan often shares these forays into the wonderland of Indiana with her companionable husband and sends far too many postcards to her Tar Heel son and daughter-in-law. Visit her blog at http://discoveringhome.com/ and take a look at the latest news from the writers’ group at http://wordwritesguild.org/. Photos by Gabe Sauerland http://gabesland.blogspot.com/