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Romantic Indiana Getaways Satisfy the Heart and the Stomach
Part One
By Carole Witsken
Couples looking for a way to celebrate Valentine's Day or just an excuse to take a much-needed getaway weekend can look no further than Indiana, home to a wealth of top-notch restaurants and bed and breakfast establishments designed especially for couples.
For those looking for a one-of-a-kind dining experience, Indiana offers more than its share of top-notch chefs who left behind big-city life to start their own places off the beaten path. Menus are built around Indiana's wealth of fresh produce and meat, and the famous Hoosier hospitality is very much in evidence. Prices for fine cuisine are comparatively low, too, because, after all, this is Indiana.
Located approximately 35 miles northeast of Indianapolis, Bonge's Tavern in Perkinsville features the fine cuisine of chef/owner Tony Huelster. Huelster has been in the restaurant business for 25 years, having learned his craft in some of Indiana's finest restaurants, including Foxfires in Muncie and The Glass Chimney in Indianapolis. Huelster bought Bonge's Tavern, which is housed in a more than 140-year-old roadhouse, when his best friend decided to sell it.
Huelster said he chose this out-of-the-way spot because, "It's close to home, it's a cool old tavern, and it fits my personality and the way I like to cook." He calls his food "awesome but not too complex." If someone asks, "What's on the fish," Huelster answers, "Butter. We've got five kinds of butter to choose from, but if you're a seafood lover, you want to taste the fish."
Bonge's menu changes three to four times a week. Patrons can always order the "Perkinsville Pork" – fresh loin pounded into schnitzel and breaded in Parmesan – and smoked prime rib is available every weekend. Typical appetizers include great crab cakes and cold smoked salmon smoked on-site. Before the entrees and vegetables arrive, diners start with a wedge of iceberg lettuce with homemade blue cheese dressing or Tony's world-famous tomato soup. Entrees are posted on the board nightly and usually include fish, beef, some kind of fowl, and occasionally veal, venison or lamb. Huelster also will whip up vegetarian dishes on request. Desserts may include a sugar cream apple pie or sugar cake with warm blueberry topping.