Dattolo’s dresses up food court standards
October 31, 2007
By: Bennett Fuson <bfuson@hilite.org>
It’s always fun to dress up and change your appearance. Dressing up allows you to pretend like you are something that might be the complete opposite. Dattolo’s Ristaurante and Pizzaria does just that, serving mall-food-court-style food in an elegant, ritzy setting.
I’m not trying to bash Dattolo’s in any major way. It’s got a great location on Old Meridian, next to Meridian Music, which is becoming hot real estate on the West Side. It’s just that the name “Dattolo” is rather misleading: I would be happier if it said, “Dattolo, Fancy Cousin of Sbarro.”
I had heard before that at Dattolo’s, since it was a rather new restaurant, the service was not quite up to par with the expectations. I didn’t have much of a problem with service… because there was none. I guess dinner may be different, but for lunch, patrons had to go to the counter and order their food. This was a bit troubling, considering that Dattolo’s looks fancy enough to require a dress code. It almost felt like going up to the hostess at St. Elmo’s Steakhouse and saying, “Hi! I’ll have the…”
The food itself, which is what everyone really cares about, was not too bad. Dattolo’s claims to hold the award for Best Pizza in Indiana. Personally, I wouldn’t be so bold, but if it helps attract the customers, then whatever. The pizza was as good as anything available at a mall food court. This is a compliment, since I swear by the culinary man-law that mall food court pizza could be the greatest food ever. However, it was not $18 good. Truthfully, I could have gotten the same pizza, maybe even a better pizza, at Costco for at least $5 cheaper.
That was a bit harsh, so it’s time to focus on some positives. The pizza really was good. The sauce was kind of tangy or spicy (I couldn’t figure out which) but complemented the cheese and, in this case, pepperoni, well. The garlic bread was by far the best aspect of the meal. Garlic bread isn’t really accurate, since there was very little garlic, but the melted mozzarella/provolone cheese saved this dish from utter mediocrity.
Garlic bread alone, however, cannot save a sinking restaurant. As I mentioned earlier, service was non-existing for me, a report that I received from other people who had the same experience. It wouldn’t be nearly as bad if Dattolo’s looked like a casual, laid-back restaurant, because then the service and atmosphere is fitting. Instead, Dattolo’s dresses itself up like a glamorous redneck, not in any way true to itself regarding its appearance.
New Carell comedy classically fun, touching
October 31, 2007
By: Sam Watermeier <swatermeier@hilite.org>
Writer-director Peter Hedges has mastered the depiction of dysfunctional families with films such as “Pieces of April” and “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.” Now, he has wisely joined actor and king of dramedies Steve Carell for “Dan in Real Life,” a funny yet poignant film about an advice columnist who can’t seem to take his own advice when it comes to raising his family and dealing with his own problems.
Dan Burns (Steve Carell) is a widower with three maturing daughters. Despite his best efforts, they all seem to dislike him, especially his two teenage girls, Jane (Alison Pill) and Cara (Brittany Robertson). When the family goes to Rhode Island for a reunion, Dan spends the first few days moping around the house until his parents (John Mahoney and Dianne Wiest) force him to take some time for himself and go to the bookstore to purchase a newspaper, at the very least. There, Dan meets a woman named Marie (Juliette Binoche) and the sparks start to fly. He is so excited by his newfound happiness that he tells his family he met someone. Little does he know, Marie is actually his brother Mitch’s (Dane Cook) girlfriend. The look of defeat on Dan’s face when he discovers this unfortunate fact is truly heartbreaking.
This film has the one thing every comedy should have: tension. It builds among Dan, Marie and Mitch during several scenes, most notably a dinner table discussion in which the skillful Carell displays anger, frustration, sarcasm and sorrow within a single look.
There is also tension in that the whole family becomes suspicious of Dan. There is a scene where his parents and siblings try to give him advice, and it comes as a surprise because rather than being corny, this scene is painfully funny. It may also come as a surprise that the dramatic scenes are equally effective.
In a heartbreaking scene, Dan and Mitch sing Pete Townshend’s “Let My Love Open the Door” during a family talent show. Mitch stops after the chorus, but Dan sings the last verse which is about tragedy and the healing power of love. The lyrics of the song mirror Dan’s experiences after his wife’s death, and you can sense the pain he feels through every word he sings. This may seem contrived, but Carell’s performance makes this scene completely genuine. In a subtle and powerful way, he conveys feelings of loss and yearning. It is such a strong performance that those feelings rub off on the audience. We want Dan to be with Marie because we desperately want him to be happy.
This is also why Cook is perfectly cast. He is irritating enough to the point where you feel Dan deserves Marie more than his brother, but charismatic enough that you don’t want his brother to be hurt by Dan and Marie’s secret romance. Hedges and co-writer Pierce Gardner have crafted a screenplay with no easy resolution. This is the sign of a great film — one with conflicts that really keep you guessing.
Unlike most romantic comedies, “Dan in Real Life” is heartfelt without being cliché. This is because the characters and their lives are achingly real, whereas in storybook romances, they are picturesque and therefore unrealistic. Fortunately, there are no cheesy moments of characters running through airports trying to prevent the ones they love from leaving them. However, this film is not perfect by any means. There are too many scenes that invoke dance comedy, and Dan’s daughters are underdeveloped characters. In the end, this is just nitpicking because these days, it is refreshing to see a film this wholesome. It’s nice that Hedges can bring the same human touch to a big, studio film like “Dan in Real Life” that he brought to a small, indie film like “Pieces of April.” In other words, he didn’t “sell out” as a filmmaker, and that’s always a good thing.
Sushi buffet sends taste buds on ‘Journey’
October 31, 2007
By: Michelle Hu <mhu@hilite.org>
Craving sushi but can’t afford it on a low budget? The Journey on 96th St. caters to anyone’s sushi needs and more.
The Journey is a newly opened restaurant on 96th and I-69 that serves seafood in a classy and elegant setting. Much of the food can be found in other Chinese or Asian restaurants, but unlike the generic Chinese buffets, The Journey’s selections are highly westernized. Your taste buds won’t pick up on any excess deep fried oil or MSG, and you can put in as much or as little soy sauce as you’d like.
The restaurant’s theme is based off a sea journey. There are blue and green tiles everywhere to create the atmosphere of being on a cruise, especially with all the life preservers and anchors hanging on the walls. The salad bar even looks like a miniature ship.
And yes, The Journey is a buffet, but a very classy buffet. Not only do the waiters and waitresses look highly professional in their pristine uniforms, but they also are quite helpful, as was seen when ours offered to take pictures for our group and even had a couple of pens on hand to offer me when I had forgotten mine.
For those who have experienced authentic Chinese restaurants, either in China or in the local area, the cleanliness isn’t as up to par as people would expect. On the other hand, The Journey is immaculately clean, including the restrooms, according to our photographer.
The price is definitely higher than your typical “$4.99 all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet” deals, but the $16.99 plus tax dinner buffet is worth it. There are almost 30 different types of sushi—trust us, we counted—and for brave souls, there are squid, eel and even caviar sushi. There is one characteristic that sushi connoisseurs will immediately notice, however. The rolls look as if they were cut in a quick and sloppy manner, and when choosing that perfect piece of sushi, it will sometimes fall apart in your tongs. Beware of the wasabi, also. It tends to be just a little more extreme than most people can handle.
But, if you are going with a family that includes young, picky children, there are selections that even they cannot complain about, including pizza, lasagna and macaroni and cheese. And speaking of spoiled siblings, the chocolate fountain is sure to make them zip up their complaints. It’s a multi-tiered fondue machine where patrons can stick toothpicks in wafers, marshmallows, strawberries and bananas—though slightly spoiled chunks of fruit—and smother them in liquid chocolate to their hearts’ content.
Most of The Journey’s selections involve seafood, but they also offer stir fry noodles, a wonderful salad bar, steak, potstickers and even crepes. Some of the food is cooked right in front of you, so don’t fret about freshness. The cooks can speak Chinese or Japanese, too, so feel free to converse with them while waiting patiently for your freshly fried seafood ball. The dessert is fairly decent, also. I don’t suggest trying the cakes or anything else in the dessert bar, really, but the ice cream is worth picking up after dinner. It’s already scooped out for you in neat little bowls, so all you have to do is open the freezer and choose one.
All in all, The Journey just makes you want to return and try a different dish each time. One of the few downsides is that it’s quite a drive from Carmel, and at night, if you’re not acquainted with the area, you might get lost and end up in Geist, as our party did. Another downside is the pricing, as most buffets cost nowhere near $16.99 per guest, but it does give you convenience to pay $20 total, including tip. Oh, and if you’re planning on going to eat during lunch hours, your receipt will already include your “service expense,” a euphemism for your tip. Also, make a reservation. It is probably the most important action you can take, especially if you don’t want to spend half an hour standing outside at night. Luckily, our group did have a reservation and thus, we were ushered in immediately. Do the same, and you’ll be sure to enjoy your seafood journey.
Do You Speak Scots?
October 15, 2007
While English is the spoken language in Scotland, there are many words that the Scots use which are unfamiliar to us. Sometimes the same word has a different meaning in Scotland. Here are a few variations, but there are many more not listed here One fun aspect of international travel is learning a new language and using it when you an. Good Luck!
Accommodation
En suite - Private bathroom
First Floor - Second floor
Flannel
To let
Twin beds
Food and Drink
Afters -
Ashlet
Bangers ‘n Mash
Bannock
Boiling
Bucks Fizz
Biscuit
Champit tatties
Chips
Clapshot
Courgettes
Crisps
Faggots
Gigot -
Haggis -
Jacket
Jam
Jelly
My shout
Neeps and Tatties
Pud
Slider
Spotted dick
Tablet
Tomato Sauce
In the car, on the road
Give way - Yield
Return - Round Trip
Coach - Bus
Bonnet - Hood
Boot - Trunk
Lorry - Trunk
Petrol - Gas
Out sightseeing and traveling around Scotland
Ben - Mountain
Bonny - Pretty
Burn - Stream
Clachan - Village
Croft - Small Holding
Factor - Estate Manager
Finnock - Young Trout
Glen - Valley
Haar - Mist
Haugh - Meadow
Highland Coo - Native Scottish cow with long horns and thick shaggy coat
Hoolit - Owl
Loch - Lack
Tup - Ram
Wynd - Lane
Miscellaneous
Chemist - Drug store
Engaged - Busy
Inch Tape - Tape Measure
Jumper - Sweater
Naught - Zero
Plaster - Band-Aid
Way out - Exit
Other interesting tidbits
Auld Lang Syne - Poem by Scotland’s national potem Rabbie (Robert) Burns which has become the world’s most traditional song of farewell
Auld Reekie Edinburgh (literally ‘old smokey’)
Ceilidh - Gathering for dance, songs and stories
Gaelic - The native language of Scotland, most commonly used in the western isles
Scotland - Ancient kingdom, part of the island of Great Britain (along with Wales and England) and a member state of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, In this context the misuse of the generic term “England” causes offense!
Scotsman - A proud citizen of the ancient kingdom of Scotland. Most definitely not English!
Tartan - The plaid, Scotland’s major contribution to the world’s fashion industry along with tweed and wool
Tattoo - A signal by drum or bugle ordering the military to return to barracks
Whisky - Scotland’s national drink, from the Gaelic “usige beatha” - the water of life
Sports Photos: Homecoming
October 15, 2007
Junior Hope Amos devotes most of her free time to the football team as a trainer. The trainers arrive earlier and stay later than the football players for practice and games.
Eric Ardaiolo, varsity wide receiver and junior, catches the ball to return a punt during the homecoming game against Warren Central. After this game, he had a total of 202 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
Jordan Brewer, varsity wide receiver and senior, jumps up to attempt to block an extra point attempt from Warriors. Brewer verbally committed to play football at Purdue next fall.
Jordan Chapman, varsity inside linebacker and senior, focuses intently and waits for the play to start. The Hounds will enter Sectionals on Oct. 19.
Making the game clinking interception, Joe Rippe, varsity defensive back and junior, helped lead the Hounds to a 42-35 victory over Warren Central. Rippe has a total of 28 tackles for the season after this game.
Aaron King, varsity running back and senior, leads the team in rushing yards with 882 yards as of September 30. King sat out during the Terre Haute North game due to an ankle injury.
The fans went wild during the homecoming game cheering for the team. There were even some Colts players in attendance at the game.
Last year’s homecoming queen, Lauren Bournique, smiles with her sister, sophomore Megan Bournique, who was on court this year. It is tradition for the former homecoming queen to come back to Carmel and crown the next homecoming queen.
Senior Bri White was crowned homecoming queen during halftime during the homecoming game. The other senior court members include: Corey Bright, Emily Campbell, Hillary Hoover and Amy Ponder.
Sports Photos: Senior Night
October 15, 2007
Athletic trainer Chad Gabbard congratulates senior Jason Moore before the game on senior night against Terre Haute North. The Hounds defeated Terre Haute North 49-7.
Athletic Director Jim Inskeep shakes senior Eric Vogel’s hand on senior night, when all the senior football players, cheerleaders and their parents are recognized. Senior night for football is usually held on the last regular season home game.
Senior spirit club, Wild Bunch, attends the football game wearing non-traditional Carmel colors to show support for the team. Wild Bunch makes regular appearances throughout the year to almost every sporting event.
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