While summer is slowly heading out, we wanted to introduce you to a great spot to help beat the heat. Jeanne’s Gelato is a nice addition to Evansville that can help cool you down with their flavorful gelato, Italian ice cream. Gelato is the Italian take on ice cream that has a much lighter, creamier texture than regular ice cream.

Jeanne’s is located in a small building on E. 4th St. downtown. It is small, but already inviting on the outside with cheerful rainbow colored umbrellas at tables outside. Inside there are just two or three tables, but that’s really all that is needed. It seems that people stop in sporadically and take their fare with them instead of sit. Everything is behind a counter-display case that begins in the middle of the room-this definitely shortens the customer’s space, but also gives the impression of intimacy between customer and owner.

There are usually ten gelato flavors available at one time. There are always constant flavors like chocolate, coffee, or raspberry, other flavors switch regularly between a long list. If you need to, you can taste test the flavors before choosing. Today, I sampled pineapple, lemon, and raspberry, while my friend sampled chocolate gelato and cheesecake. Everything was great; the gelato was so smooth and light, but filled with flavor.

You can have multiple flavors in your cup so you don’t have to choose between your two favorites. If you want a little more than a cup, there are also waffle cones, or even gelazzies (their version of a milkshake).

We went just for the gelato, but Jeanne’s also serves sandwiches and soups for a light downtown lunch. They also prepare cookies, pies, and cheesecakes that are displayed on the counter or in a case if your sweet tooth wants something more traditional.

Prices at this unique Evansville shop are very reasonable by any standard, especially for a quick simple lunch with a little sugar pick-me-up after. If you decide you love this gelato so much, you can even buy gelato or gelato-cakes to take home. Take a trip downtown while it is still summer to cool down with this creamy, sweet gelato.

Jeanne’s Gelato is located between Locust and Walnut Ave. at 113 SE 4th Street, next to Jaya’s. 812-402-8282. Mon-Thurs 11am-6pm, Fri & Sat 11am-9pm, Sun (Spr/Fall) 1pm-4pm.

It has been a while since we last reviewed a Mexican restaurant at It’s Evansville, despite our never ending obsession with the region’s flavors. This time we ventured out onto the West Side to visit El Charro for lunch.

El Charro is located in a little strip, and is very hidden away. Once you find it, the little outdoor seating area looks inviting, but I still felt unsure until I got inside. It does not appear that there is a vast amount of seating, but the décor brought you more and more in. It was a hodgepodge of bright colors, piñatas, and various Mexican trinkets. It works and draws you in and makes you want to stay.

We were seated and brought chips and salsa and our drinks. The salsa was delicious, and while the chips were nice and hot, they felt too airy and tasted as if the oil hadn’t been recently changed. Our menu was the lunch menu, with no dinner menu in site, which was nice since most menus are together and you have to figure out what to order off of. Also, everything on the lunch menu was $5.50. My dining partner ordered the Chicken Fiesta Burrito which is topped with sour cream lettuce, cheese, and a big slice of tomato. It also comes with beans and a side of rice. Delicious! I decided on a dish I absolutely love, but rarely get: huevos con chorizo. It is a nice little plate of scrambled eggs mixed with chorizo, next to rice and beans, served with warm tortillas. Perfect — nice and spicy.

All your favorite Mexican dishes are available at El Charro. I have heard their specialties include paella (usually a seafood and rice dish) and chimichangas (a fried burrito). There are different names for and seemingly different takes on their food, but it all seems to be there. Burritos, tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, and quesadillas.

The service was good, the waiters seemed very friendly-even trying to speak Spanish with us. Moreover, the food was very good, and I’d be glad to go back. It is a little out of the way and hard to find, but the good food is worth it, especially with such reasonable prices.

El Charro is located at 720 N Sonntag Ave, between Mt Vernon Ave. & W Maryland St. (812) 421-1986. Mon-Thurs 11AM-9PM, Fri-Sat 11AM-10PM, Sun 11AM-8PM.

This week we ventured out of Evansville and up the highway to Haubstadt. About fifteen minutes out, you find Haub House where they specialize in steak and the train, but have a little bit of everything.

Haubs is in a large brick building, very much like a house, just feet from a train track. The track is actually a big feature for children who will run up to the windows when it rolls by. Inside there are two floors, and the decor is very old fashioned-lots of old wallpaper and other old styles.

Everyone in my party ordered some type of steak or lobster. Steaks ranged from strip, rib eye, chop sirloin, and of course, the ever delicious filet mignon. Lobster dishes came either on their own or in a Land & Sea combination. Looking down the table, the strip and rib eye looked especially delicious — nice and big, cooked perfectly. I ordered the 8 ounce fillet (also comes in 4 and 12 ounce), which came wrapped in bacon, cooked a perfect medium. Sides are all ordered separately, the most popular being the twice-baked potato, followed by German fries and rice pilaf. All of our meals came with our choice of salad, with loaves of hot, freshly baked white and wheat bread.

There is also a substantial amount of seafood at Haubs. Start with the Oysters Mornay or Rockefeller, or Herring. Continue on the seafood route with Crab Legs or Lobster, Baked Stuffed Jumbo Shrimp, and any number of various fish. Not a seafood fan? Try a Bacon-Wrapped Liver or Stuffed Mushroom appetizer followed by Chicken Kiev, Roasted Chicken, or Broiled Pork Chops. After stuffing yourself, you can end with Bread Pudding or Pecan Pie, or even a dessert drink such as the old-fashioned like the Grasshopper or Pink Squirrel.

The service is good, but not great. You will have to exercise patience when attempting to get your drink refilled. The food, however, always comes out hot and delicious, I’ve never had anything bad. This is a pricey restaurant though so expect to pay a fair amount. Most dishes are a la carte. The steaks range from $17 to $30, and fish ranging from $14 to $35. If you are interested in eating a little earlier, there is an Early Evening Menu section in which everything is $12.95. Haubs is also also able to accommodate large parties or meetings.

I do suggest trying Haubs at least once. It is a bit out of a trek to get to Haubstaudt from Evansville, but the steaks are worth the trip. Just know that you will be paying a premium for your dinner.

Haub House is located in 101 E. Main St., Haubstadt, In—41 North, West on Highway 68, North on Main. (812) 768-6462. Mon-Thurs 4PM-9PM, Fri & Sat 4PM-10PM.

It’s difficult to see how Chris Daughtry comes from the same “American Idol” empire that produced Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and Jordin Sparks when you watch him perform.

His mainstream rock sound does not blend with the pop and country artists “Idol” has been known for to produce over the past six years.

Daughtry, a Season Five contestant on the popular Fox reality show, brought his band to The Centre on Monday night for a sold out show in front of 2500 fans ranging in age from teens to people in their 40s.

Daughtry and their opener, The Sunstreak, played on a no-frills stage. There was no stage show or giant video screen to take away from the musicians and their songs. Instead, a single row of lights hung above the stage to shine light on the performers and audience at appropriate intervals.

The Sunstreak’s set included a mixture of songs from their self-titled album and other unreleased tracks in their catalog. They have a sound that mixes industrial beats with vocal harmonies and a pop-punk sound that resembles The Starting Line and Taking Back Sunday. The audience politely clapped with each performance, but not much more since the band is unknown around here.

Each song was interspersed with promotion of their MySpace page, custom ringtones and cell phone backgrounds. The music was nothing memorable and neither was their stage presence. The majority of the band stood stationary while lead guitarist Jack Flynn ran from one end of the stage to the other during more up tempo songs such as “Lives At Stake.”

After a 40-minute intermission, the curtain rose and Daughtry took the stage. The band opened with a solid and energetic performance of “Crashed” that set the mood for the rest of the evening. From there, Daughtry performed 90 minutes’ worth of true to form renditions of favorites such as “What I Want,” “Used To Be” and the self-admittedly overplayed hit “It’s Not Over.”

The band also covered Alice In Chain’s “Nutshell” and dedicated it to the band’s late singer, Layne Staley, a musical influence on Daughtry. The song was well performed, but not well received by the mixed audience. Anyone under the age of 20 or over the age of 35 didn’t know the song and used it as a mini-intermission.

The band closed the show with their mega-hit “Home” and a hybrid version of “There And Back Again” which had a hard hitting interlude of Filter’s “Hey Man. Nice Shot.”

Chris Daughtry has the stage presence of rock frontmen of old with his arrogance, swagger and look. The music is nothing groundbreaking in the rock genre, but it is a welcomed change in a town that is overwhelmed with country and aging rock concerts.

Originally published in the Evansville Courier & Press. Photo courtesy of Kelli Rhiannon.

In this weather, sometimes you just want a small, light meal that is refreshing, but more than just a salad will offer. That’s where Maxine’s Caf’e & Bakery comes in. Maxine’s is a little caf’e focusing on delicious pasta salads and desserts.

When you enter, you go to the back counter where they have all their salads, quiches, soups, or pastries displayed and pick what you would like. I think the most common order would be the plate which serves 1 chicken salad and 2 pasta salads (or 3 pasta salads in case of vegetarians). Today I chose the Classic Chicken Salad, Pesto Tortellini, and Tomato Artichoke Salad. My choice in chicken salad seems to be a favorite, it is mayonnaise based with chunks of chicken, walnuts, and celery. The two pasta salads were just as the name describes-simply made, yet elegant. With your meal comes French bread or a dill roll. They place it all in a little wicker basket that you carry to your table.

The two other chicken salads offered are the Vegetable Chicken Salad and sweet, yellow Curry Chicken Salad. There are is a variety of other salads and pasta salads to choose from such as he Sun Dried Tomato Bowtie or Mediterranean Pasta Salad. Other salads include the Fruit Salad, Mushroom Salad, and even the Asparagus. There are always several daily specials ranging from quiche to soup, from salad to pizza-everything always being outstanding and stylish. Behind the counter on the wall menu, you will also find they can make sandwiches with Boarshead meat.

A strong focus of Maxine’s can be found on the other side of the bake-case: pastries. Some of their items like the Red Velvet Cake or Bourbon Brownies seem to be somewhat of a legend around Evansville. Other goodies range from refreshing Lemon Bar Squares to decadent Baklava, warm bread pudding to personal cheesecakes. Of course, you will never get past the beautiful cakes: Red Velvet, Carrot, Poppyseed, Strawberry, Chocolate, Chocolate Mousse, and more. And I must say this; the rich, creamy frosting is to-die-for.

Although the crowd caters mostly to women, I highly recommend Maxine’s. If you men out there feel uncomfortable, go a little later for lunch when it is beginning to clear out. Prices can range, though on average, lunch without dessert is around $8.50. Again, for a filling meal that is somehow light and refreshing, do try Maxine’s.

Maxine’s is located behind Putt-Putt at 1322 N. Green River Rd. (812) 473-3663. Mon-Sat 10AM-4PM.

I have managed to overlook writing a review about one of our favorite restaurants, here at It’s Evansville. Yen Ching. Like many others, we are loyal customers who have been frequenting the restaurant for excellent Chinese food for twenty-three years. Yen Ching not only has a thoroughly Chinese interior, but also exterior, as the building is roughly styled after a traditional dynasty building. Inside are murals of the palace life and painted wall hangings.

While I usually go for dinner, my favorite time to go is for lunch for the perfect amount of food. They also have lunch specials Monday through Friday. I went for the Mandarin Chicken, which is breaded chicken in a salty brown sauce with sliced carrots, baby corn, broccoli, and pea pods. My dining partner had the Pineapple Chicken: chicken and pineapple with large chunks of onion, peppers, and water chestnuts in a tomato sauce. Each entree comes with a plate of fried rice (if you go for dinner, rice comes in a metal dish) and the choice of egg drop or hot and sour soup. Every thing was delicious and perfectly spiced.

Those are just two of our many favorite dishes at Yen Ching. Start off with the delicious crab rangoon, egg rolls, or potstickers - it’s impossible to go wrong, and it is early satisfaction. A great suggestion for the colder months is Combination Soup Noodles; a bowl so big you-can’t-believe-it of noodles covered in chicken, shrimp, crab and vegetables in a light broth. The Triple Delight, General Tso’s Chicken, Mu Shu Chicken (hint: only Mu Shu Pork is on the menu, but if you ask they can substitute any type of meat), or Mongolian Beef. Don’t forget the Twin Diced Bird’s Nest. For something light and refreshing after your meal, try the lychee fruit; a small round Asian fruit that is almost a very subtle mix of grape and cantaloupe.

Come early for the Sunday lunch buffet, the restaurant fills quickly, and food is kept fresh and hot. Reservations are accepted, and they can accommodate large parties. Two more great things to note are that they can cater (up to very large parties), and have a “secret” authentic menu (but you have to ask for that!). I can attest to always having great service with their attentive waiters and owners.

Lunch prices range from $4-7 and include soup, rice, and entr’ee. Dinner prices vary depending on type of meat, but generally range from $8-12, upwards for duck or lobster. I highly recommend the restaurant for all, its family friendly, date friendly, and business friendly. If you have not yet tried this Evansville staple, please be sure to do so soon; there is a much more personal environment and customized meals than some of the larger chain restaurants.

Yen Ching is located at 406 S. Green River Rd. (812) 474-0181. Lunch Hours; Mon-Sat 11AM - 2:30 PM, Sunday Buffet 11AM - 2:30PM. Dinner Hours; Mon-Thurs 2:30PM - 9:30 PM, Fri & Sat 2:30 PM - 10:30 PM, Sun 2:30PM - 9PM.

My brother, and It’s Evansville biggest promoter, Cody, checked in with his report from last week’s Grill for the Thrill festival and concert. Between the BBQ, car show and Dierks Bentley show, it sounds like it was a fun event.

If you attend a local show or event, send in your report (tips@itsevansville.com) as well as a few photos from the event. If I like it, I’ll publish it on the site.

Here’s his report and photos.

As a avid car show attendee in Evansville I got out to Roberts Stadium for a full day of cars, BBQ and music. I will say that this year’s car show portion of the festival was disappointing from last year. With no entry fee I would have expected a lot bigger turn out from the previous year of about two hundred cars. I doubt there were 30 cars total. Sure, it was 100 degrees out that day but under a blue pop-up tent it wasn’t too bad.

The car show wasn’t the only thing going on that day there was plenty of other activities. The live music throughout the day really wasn’t my taste but the older crowd really seemed to enjoy it. By the time 3pm rolled around the started serving up all the BBQ you could stomach $7 dollars.

Continue reading Show Report: Grill for the Thrill 2007…

My father and I ventured down to West Franklin Street where you can find the Gerst Bavarian Haus. This is the restaurant in Evansville that truly captures our predominantly German heritage.

The restaurant actually has its roots in Nashville, Tennessee, it’s only other location. In Evansville, it is located in an old hardware store and the owners chose to keep much of the original style of the building, which gives it a great feeling. Very high ceilings, pressed tin walls covered in deer heads, with heavy wooden tables and booths best describe the interior. Not quite a pub feel, but that’s the best I can describe-very casual and comfortable. The one large room is divided into a bar and dining area. Of course you can eat in both, but it depends on your taste. The bar area also has a row of 29 beers on tap, and that’s just the beginning.

The menu is divided into German and American food, though it obviously predominates as German food. This means that even if you aren’t a big sausage or goulash fan, you can still find something you will enjoy! One of my favorite items to get is their Pork Chop, and it is uncharacteristic of me to do so, but anyone who has ever had it can easily attest that it is filled with flavor and are always excellent cuts. A good friend of mine never fails to get the fried catfish dinner, another great thing-best asked for well done though. Today I got the Kielbase Dinner, and my dad got his favorite, the Ruben Sandwich. We both enjoyed the food, which I believe is made fresh in haus. My dad got the cornbread for his side, but it is not your everyday run of the mill cornbread, these are little flat cakes with pepper in them for a little kick. I got their mashed potatoes as my side-thick and lumpy with a great brown sauce, what could be better?

The Gerst Haus is known for their beer selection from all over the world. Today my dad simply got a Blue Moon, but a nice touch was that the waitress also brought him a sample of the beer of the day. My friend’s parents always enjoy getting the fishbowls of beer or margarita. Most importantly, it shouldn’t go without saying that the Gerst Haus has their own Gerst beer that they brew.

Go try this stable of German-heritage Evansville out. It will be worth your time and money whether you eat the German bratwurst or schweine schnitzel or opt for something American. Do know that sometimes it can take a little time to get your food-but it always comes out piping hot, cooked to order.

Gerst Bavarian Haus is located at 2100 W. Franklin St. (812) 424-1420. Mon-Thurs 11am-10pm, Fri & Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-9pm.

Not knowing what to have for dinner, I thought - the Edgewater Grille. It had been a while since I had eaten there last, not to mention that it was a great night to eat on their porch outside to watch the sunset go down and barges chug by on the river.

Located along the river in downtown Newburgh, the Edgewater is rather inconspicuous - an average size building that in many ways seems to be a house. The restaurant is widely known for its river view, and inside, nearly ever seat provides that view - even the bar is elevated to do so. Upstairs can be rented to provide space for private parties. But you will find the gathering outside where there are several deck, or porch, levels for outdoor seating, providing a wonderful view. Some nights live music is offered outdoors on the lower decks. Another neat feature is the small boat dock they have so that boaters can dock their boat from the river and walk up stairs to the restaurant.

Tonight I ordered one of my favorites, chicken alfredo, while my dad ordered a special: seasoned, grilled tilapia served with two sides. Each came with a salad and rolls - I enjoyed both of those. We also ordered a shrimp cocktail that came out wonderfully displayed. We both agreed that it was excellent shrimp, large and tasty, as well as very cold. Perfect for the appetizer. My dad enjoyed his tilapia, saying it was nicely cooked and with spiced rubbed over it.

I had a bad experience unfortunately. Instead of chicken alfredo, the waiter brought chicken parmesan. The waiter left so quickly that I was not able to point out the mistake, and unfortunately he didn’t return to the table until we called him over about a half hour later for the bill. Because I could not get my entrée fixed, I simply ate the chicken parmesan. It was alright I suppose, but the sauce was watery and the noodles so short I could not get them on my fork.

Do not let my bad experience tonight deter you - I do like the Edgewater and have not had that problem with the food before. Slow, poor service is the norm for the place, however. My waiter was especially inattentive and rude tonight.

Besides the chicken alfredo, two of my favorites are the steak sandwich and their brick oven pizzas. In fact, they are known in Evansville for their wood-fired brick oven pizzas that you can order off the menu or create yourself. Other menu items range from the classic club sandwich to veal picatta, or rigatoni carbornara to snow crab legs. There is even a vegetarian section with one dish I thought about getting tonight - the stuffed eggplant casserole.

The Edgewater is your pretty typical American fair, but probably with a slightly nicer twist than what you would find at a chain or a bar. The food is good enough to go back to, but it’s the view and deck that is the real draw of Edgewater. If you do go, just make sure you have time to spare and aren’t expecting food better than average.

Edgewater Grille is found at 1 East Water St. in Newburgh. 812-858-2443.

Turoni’s Pizzery & Brewery is probably one of Evansville’s top local pizzerias. There are two locations in Evansville-on Weinbach Avenue and downtown on Main Street. Honestly, I’m not a big pizza fan, but Turoni’s definitely makes the cut for me every Sunday night with my family.

The interior of both locations is almost homey — old fashioned wall paper, wooden booths, old lamps, and old pictures and news on the walls. These are definitely casual restaurants, suited perfectly for a family, but frequented by adult friends most often. But don’t let that throw you off, absolutely anyone will fit in and is welcomed.

I’m not much of a drinker, but one of my dining partners swears by Vinny’s Light Lager being one of the best beers in town. Turoni’s brews its own beers in the restaurant, which gives them a unique Evansville flavor. If you want to boring, though, they have the same generic beers that you’ll find at other restaurants.

I have never gotten anything but pizza there. While you can order hot sandwiches, soups, and salads, I have always thought that pizza is the way to go, especially here, especially tasting and smelling it. However if you are not feeling pizza, you can choose between things such as the stromboli, homemade chili, or brewmaster’s burger. Never having these, but knowing the quality of Turoni’s, I am positive that all must be delicious.

Tonight we had the House Special which like all their pizza is always on a nice thin crispy crust with toppings going nearly to the edge. This of course is one of the “basic” pizzas-you know, with the vegetables and meats on it. However, when my dad orders carry out for himself, he always gets the Ironman pizza, and my brother likes the BBQ Chicken pizza. One of the more interesting pizzas, but acclaimed as delicious by my cousin, is the Mexican pizza that replaces tomato sauce with salsa and includes cheese, ground beef, black beans, and jalapenos.

No matter where you are in Evansville, there is a Turoni’s close to you, so I ask you to go! Delicious pizza, good beer and a good and friendly service. Make sure you order the Garlic Cheese Toast or Grilled Cheez-eze while you wait for your pizza!

Turoni’s is located at 408 N Main Street, Evansville, IN 47711. (812) 424-9873. | 4 N Weinbach Ave., Evansville, IN. (812) 477-7500. Mon-Thurs 11AM -11PM, Fri 11AM - 12AM,Sat 12PM -12AM, Sun 4PM -11AM.