Please welcome our new Season 9 Presenting Sponsor, Gameday Men's Health! We're so excited that they want to support local restaurants, and more, along with us! I sat down with owner, Dan McGurk, to discuss all of the services they offer, his background, his favorite place to eat in town, and my personal weight loss of over fifty pounds during five…

Next up in our Sponsor Spotlight series, we're sitting down with Talisha Coppock, from Downtown Bloomington Inc, and Mike McAfee, from Visit Bloomington, to discuss the new Bloomington Convention Center that just broke ground! How will it benefit the community? What can we expect? Oh, and we talk with Talisha about her decades of experience organiz…

With Season 8 in the books, and Season 9 starting August 19th, we've decided to release some Sponsor Spotlight episodes, highlighting the sponsors that make the No Dishes Podcast possible! Please support them and let them know you appreciate their support of No Dishes. MOVE Bloomington was started 6 years ago by Matt Boyer and his wife Amanda. This…

Hey everyone! It's Jordan. I've been working for a while to bring back the Taste of Bloomington and it's almost here! August 2nd, on Kirkwood, from 3-10 pm. The first thing I did was put together a committee of amazing people from our community to help bring this beloved Bloomigton tradition back to life. Spearheading our Marketing efforts is Sadie…

Hosting weekly karaoke and live DJ's, Root Cellar is one the most popular haunts in town to sing, dance, or just grab a cocktail with friends. General Manager Eric Gurrola, and Assistant Manager Bella Lear, join us to fill us in on all the in's and out's of FARM Bloomington's speakeasy, what's made them so successful, and of course their favorite s…

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…

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…

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…

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 …

"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 t…

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 op…

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 a…

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…

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…

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 Gene…

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 i…

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…

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 episod…

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…

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 uniq…

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…

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…

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 marsal…

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…

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 op…

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 …

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 in…

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 Tw…

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 Ma…

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, C…

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…

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 dis…

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 …

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 pr…

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 …

What started as a fudge shop turned into a home brewing store, years later is now Quaff On Brewing, Hard Truth Distillery, and Big Woods Restaurants, with nine locations across Indiana. Partner, and Master Distiller, Bryan Smith joins us with Big Woods Bloomington General Manager Dustin Sanders to share how Quaff On grew to become the 3rd highest v…

From helping Bobby Flay get his first Head Chef job, to being an integral part of the growth of Union Square Hospitality Group in NYC, Arthur Levy has no shortage of tales and accomplishments from his long and storied career. Together with his wife Rosann, Arthur runs the Roart Group, who along with their aforementioned accomplishments in New York …

For over 30 years, the Lotus World Music & Arts festival has been bringing artists and musicians from all over the globe to showcase their talent right here in Bloomington. Executive Director Katarina Koch joins us and fills us in on the ins and outs of putting on such a large scale production, drawing thousands of people every year. This year the …

After humble beginnings at the Smithville Farmers' Market, Kassie Jensen and Amanda Armstrong have turned their beloved recipes into some of the most desired baked goods in the city. Two Sticks Bakery has become a staple on South Washington over the past 6 years years for those wanting savory scones, sweet treats, or delicious coffee beverages feat…

A new Soma. Bloomington's first full service hotel, featuring room service and a rooftop bar. These are both just a small part of the transformation taking place in the Trades District at 11th and Rogers, partially due to a $16 million dollar Lilly Endowment grant executed through a partnership between the City of Bloomington and Indiana University…

Over 15 food vendors, two stages of free live music, craft booths, and of course… a parade!! Where is all the fun and tasty goodness? The Monroe County Festival!! Coming up September 12th, 13th, 14th, there’s more to do this year than ever before. First year President of the festival Marv Ulmet joins us with Food Vendor Coordinator, and owner of 81…

Since its inception, Hoosier Hills Food Bank has collected, and distributed, over 80 MILLION pounds of food to those in need. Last year alone they hit over six million pounds of food which found its way to not only Monroe county, but also Brown, Orange, Lawrence, Martin, and Owen counties. Joining us to cover all the daunting logistics to pull off …

After their starts as delivery drivers for Baked!, Jeremy Ness and Jason Voegeli found themselves in a position to buy the beloved local cookie joint 2011. Since then they have moved out of the house on 3rd street and into their current location on Washington just north of Kirkwood. Join us as they fill us in on possible future expansion, how they’…

Tucked beneath the Back Door, and behind Atlas, the Blockhouse Bar has been hosting shows for ten years now and has made a name for themselves as one of Bloomington's premier music venues. Owner David James joins us to discuss Honky Tonk Tuesdays' popularity, his experience working at Farm and Uptown, and his solo music career, including writing cr…

Founder of the popular 'Bloomington Foodies' Facebook group, over 13k members, and up-and-coming SadieEatsFood Instagram page, Sadie Clarke is affectionately known to many within the Bloomington community as the Foodie Queen. Her resume includes three plus years as the Director of Operations of the Endeavor/WOW group, General Manager of Sweet Grass…

An absolute Bloomington institution, Upland Brewing Company has been known for inventive brews and made-from-scratch food for over 25 years. Joining us to shed some light on how they've managed to innovate and keep things fresh after all these years is Head Brewer Matt Wisely, and Executive Chef Ryan Whetham. From their award winning burgers, to th…

After plans to open a food truck with her Mom to bring a taste of Hawaii to Bloomington, Amber Racoma's world was rocked in February of 2020 when her mom passed away from cancer. She initially gave up on the plans and focused on her job at IU, but a year later, Amber could no longer ignore the urge to honor her late mother, and opened up Mama Duke'…

A staple of the Bloomington square, Malibu Grill has been serving us savory steaks, succulent seafood, and delectable desserts since 1993. General Manager Elliott Green walks us through his journey working his way up in the restaurant over the past 12 years, his high school industry experiences, and how they've been able to execute such a large men…

After moving to Bloomington from Venezuela in his early 30's, Juan Guerra began working at La Charaeda and Casa Brava as a dishwasher. After long days washing dishes, he would go sell slices of pizza at Rockit's until the wee hours of the morning, sleep for four hours, and go do it all again. He now oversees six restaurants between Marian, Blooming…

Mentioned more than any other restaurant on the podcast, Uptown Cafe has a well deserved reputation as one of the best, most consistent dining experiences in Bloomington. A big reason for that is Executive Chef Adam Noffsinger and Assistant General Manager Vivi Szalavari. After having Michael and Galen Cassady on the podcast back when we were audio…