There is something refreshing about a simple title. Take the sports world. Names such as the Miami Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Iowa State Cyclones (the last things anyone in those areas wants to see), Toronto Maple Leafs (not exactly intimidating) and the Utah Jazz (huh?) can be intriguing.
Conversely, the contenders in the recent World Cup title game are known simply as “the Spanish” and “the Dutch,” because that’s where they’re from.
The same is true in business. A simple name lets customers know exactly what’s going on so they can get down to business. At this week’s restaurant, Taste Café and Marketplace, 5164 N. College Ave., the name tells you all you need to know.
And once you get down to business, you won’t regret it. Founded by two top-notch chefs, the restaurant strives to deliver food of the highest quality.
“We serve fresh ingredients and food daily,” says Deidra Henry, co-owner and head chef along with her husband, Marc Urwand. “We work to bring the freshest product possible to our customers. I have a culinary team that works very hard at putting out a superior product.”
Commitment to quality starts at the top. Henry and Urwand met in New York City, when they worked at the renowned Grammercy Tavern. Fans of “Top Chef” may have heard of the tavern, as it was run by judge and culinary superstar Tom Colicchio.
Not only were they trained by the best; they are committed to providing it every day. “We pretty much start over every morning,” says Henry.
Taste’s cooks start every day by making loads of items from scratch. Fresh pastries, biscottis, a full espresso bar and other breakfast items await any early bird and at lunch, it gets better.
The restaurant offers 17 varieties of fresh salads, such as chilled asparagus, tortellini and Caesar, in addition to a create-your-own. Gourmet sandwiches like the albacore tuna nicoise, the B.A.L.T (the a is for avocado) and Italian grinder and dozens of daily specials add to the variety. Any meal can be enjoyed with sides, such as homemade soup or the signature pommes frites (which, ironically, is what the French call French fries) and a wide selection of beer and wine.
I tried the roasted turkey and smoked bacon sandwich with pommes frites. The sandwich came with 1,000 island dressing, field greens, tomatoes, provolone cheese and a cherry vinaigrette. It was great. The 1,000 island dressing, which is made in house, really put the sandwich over the top. The pommes frites were a real treat. Seasoned with white pepper, kosher salt and Italian parsley and served with a basil aioli, they were, frankly, as good as any form of fry I’ve had.
Whatever it is you order, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
To learn more, call (317) 925-2233 or visit tastecafeandmarketplace.com.
