scott hutcheson

Traders Point: Creme de la Creme

The Cornucopia Institute publishes something called The Organic Integrity Project and has the goal of "serving as a corporate watchdog assuring that no compromises to the credibility of organic farming methods and the food it produces are made in the pursuit of profit." Traders Point Creamery located in Boone County, Indiana (where I live) receives their highest rating (only 18 dairies in the nation received this rating). Here is their report on Traders Point. If organics is something that is important to you and you live in Central Indiana, this is a big deal. We are fortunate to have Traders Point in our community. If your neighborhood does not carry their products, encourage them to.

Siglers Is Neat as a Pin

Originally published in the Lebanon Reporter on March 2, 2006

“Neat as a pin” is not a phrase that I use. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever used it; but it is the first impression that came to mind when I entered Sigler’s Restaurant earlier this week. Sigler’s is a cracker-box of a place that seats about 35 at full capacity. I chose a seat at the Formica counter and was promptly presented with a glass of water and a menu.

Looking around, I noticed that this restaurant was as clean and well-ordered as any eating establishment I’ve ever seen. Simple efficiency seems to be an organization principle at Sigler’s. The restaurant is set up like a diner with the food preparation area behind the counter. This provided for me a bird’s-eye view of the kitchen and the simple efficiency theme extended to the way in which Mr. Sigler runs his kitchen.

Working my first job in a restaurant I learned two valuable lessons from one of the managers - (1) work fast but never look like you are hurrying and (2) if you’ve got time to lean you’ve got time to clean. It seems like Sigler’s took notes from this same textbook. Food was being prepared and served with all the speed of the best-in-class diners without the usual chaos that accompanies a diner. Also, clean as you go must be a Sigler mantra, because any down time between orders was spent keeping the kitchen as tidy as an operating room.

As I turned my attention to the menu I decided on a Pork Burger ($2.90) with a side of fries ($1.35). Several other sandwiches were on the menu along with a few dinners like fried chicken and hamburger steak. The special of the day was Ham and Beans served with Hash Browns, Cole Slaw, and Cornbread for just $5.25. Sigler’s also serves breakfast until 10:30 am and the morning menu includes standard breakfast fare including eggs, pancakes, and the like.

As expected, my lunch came quickly. The pork burger was served in a white-bread bun and piled high with iceberg lettuce and pickles just as I ordered it. The fries were of the crinkle-cut variety and came unsalted, which always scores points for me. My sandwich was tasty with a well-flavored pork patty, crisp lettuce, and a soft-as-a-marshmallow bun. The fries were hot and seasoned perfectly, since I was allowed to salt and pepper them to my liking.

As I got down to my last couple of bites, I began to eye the counter-top pie case that only a foot from me. Pecan, Strawberry, and Sugar Cream were the varieties of the day. The server picked up my non-verbal longing and quickly asked if I would like a piece of pie. I gave in to the temptation and ordered a slice of the Sugar Cream ($1.85). The pie was rich, creamy, and the perfect ending to my midday meal.

Sigler’s has a television at one end of the dining area. I could not see it from my seat at the counter and I had ignored whatever had been playing. As I finished my meal, my ear picked up on the familiar whistled theme song of The Andy Griffith Show. My visit to Sigler’s was the day following the death of actor Don Knotts who played Barney. Maybe that made me a bit more nostalgic than I would have otherwise been, but it seemed to me that Sigler’s is just the kind of place that could have been in Mayberry. I could almost see Barney, Andy, and the rest of the gang drinking coffee, having a bite to eat, and catching up on the day’s happenings. I get the idea that this is not too far removed from what goes on a Sigler’s. A little bit of Mayberry just five miles up the road.

If You Go

Sigler’s Restaurant is located at 8245 N State Road 39. Their address is Lebanon but it seems like Mechanicsburg. They are exactly 5.5 miles north of Witham Hospital. Sigler’s is open 7 am to 7 pm Monday though Friday and 7am to 3:00pm on Saturday. They can be reached by phone at 765-325-2477.

Blast Off to the Milky Way

Originally published in the Lebanon Reporter on February 9, 2006

If you are in the mood to go out for ice cream in the middle of February you’ve only got one choice in town - the Milky Way. That may be what gets a lot of people to the Milky Way for the first time, but there are a lot of other reasons to keep coming back year round. The soft-serve and hard-dip ice cream, the fountain drink creations, and the other ice cream treats are great in any weather and if you’ve got more than a sweet tooth to satisfy, the Milky Way can take care of that too.

On my most recent visit I was accompanied by my older son, Henry. We ventured out for lunch and to run some errands on a Saturday afternoon and ended up at the Milky Way. Inside, the L-shaped dining room and counter area are what you might expect with a few Coca Cola advertisement reproduction adorn the walls. We made our way up to the counter and checked out the menu on the wall.

The Milky Way’s food menu (available here) is quite extensive. Items include broasted chicken dinners, burgers, tenderloins, other sandwiches, and several Mexican items. Their side items include the usual suspects - fries, onion rings, and a few unexpected items like Breaded Broccoli.

As I was getting ready to read the kid’s menu to my preschooler he asked me if he they had a fish sandwich. Although it was not on the kid’s menu I ordered it ($2.99) for him along with a side of fries ($1.49). I decided on the tenderloin ($4.25) and onion rings ($2.10). We paid for our order and took our seat. Since everything at the Milky Way is prepared to order we had to wait just a few minutes but no sooner than we got settled, our food was ready.

The onion rings were the true standout for me. The fine art of the onion ring is a thing of the past at most restaurants, not so at the Milky Way. The onions for these rings are cut and battered by hand. The batter is light like the tempura vegetables or shrimp you would likely find at a Japanese restaurant. Another big plus for me is that The Milky Way does not salt their fries and onion rings but lets the customer season them as they wish. I prefer these side items without salt, so this scored big points for me. The tenderloin was generous in portion and quite tasty and Henry devoured his fish sandwich in no time at all.

I did not save room for dessert but my dinner companion spotted a photo of an ice cream sandwich and decided that was what he needed to finish off his meal. I obliged and enjoyed watching him get as much of it on his face as in his mouth.

Later in the week I had a chance to sit down with Kyle Richards who is the third generation of his family to run the restaurant. I was a bit surprised to learn that Kyle attended culinary school and after working in a few other places after graduation, decided to return to the family business. It was clear that he takes the Milky Way seriously and understands the restaurant’s niche here in Lebanon. Since his return, Kyle has introduced a few new items like the Gyro ($4.39) which is gaining popularity and becoming a customer favorite.

According to Kyle the tried-and-true favorites include the breaded tenderloin and the broasted chicken dinners which come with fried biscuits, fries, and made-fresh-daily cole slaw. The chicken is cooked to order and takes about 15 minutes.

The Richards family has been operating the Milky Way for 25 years and their family business extends beyond those who share their DNA. Both the employees are the customers are considered family. I can certainly attest to the fact that on our visit we were treated well and we plan to make the Milky Way a semi-regular destination.

Kyle’s mother Lisa spends much of her time concentrating on their catering business. Lisa makes wedding cakes and Kyle can design menus for any occasion, large or small.

The Milky Way is smoke-free and accepts cash and personal checks. Their hours of operation are 10:30 am to 8:00 pm Monday through Saturday. During warmer weather they extend their hours to 9:00 pm on weekdays and 9:30 pm on weekends. The Milky Way is located at 836 on Indianapolis Avenue and their phone number is 765-482-1940.