Posted Under "Where to Eat"

It doesn’t get more American than this! Brava’s Food Inc. serves up hot dogs from a mobile unit. The locally-owned business is now in its second year and is gaining notoriety for its street-vendor fare.

So, what is the “fare?” Brava’s features all-beef hot dogs, with toppings like fresh chopped veggies (tomato, cucumber, pico de gallo, guacamole, etc) as well as homemade chili. Be sure to try their specialty: a super-secret Brava Sauce. Thick cut Ossian bacon also comes on some of the hot dogs.

They say location is everything. As of right now the mobile unit stays at the intersection of Calhoun and Wayne Streets (across from Jimmy John’s on the One Summit Square plaza). The owner, Bo Gonzalez, has plans to beginning selling at Columbia Street West for the bar scene on Columbia & Harrison. Hours for lunch are usually 11am-2pm. Bar location hours are from 12pm-4am.

Look for Brava's mobile hot dog cart on downtown Fort Wayne streets!

Visitors might be curious about the origin of the business’ name. Gonzalez credits his mother for the namesake. Their favorite Spanish tapa was Patatas Bravas, which had a spicy smokey sauce that makes it.  In addition to the name, the owner says his niche lies in the gourmet toppings that adorn the hot dogs.

The Brava Sauce and chili are made with two spices imported from Spain. All veggies are fresh cut every morning, along with the guacamole. Check out their Hawaiian hot dogs, Bacon Slaw Dogs, Cheddar Fondue Dogs, and many other ones.

Gonzalez is proud to share that his business will expand with a food truck this June. In the meantime, check out their Facebook and Twitter accounts for updates.

Baseball and beer tasting—sounds like fun, right? Grab a group of friends and come out to one (or the next two!) of the TinCaps tastings this season!

The tastings take place in the Treetops Rooftop Party Area at 4:05 p.m., prior to the start of the game. The first tasting will include a variety of delicious beers from local distributors: Five Star Distributing, AALCO Distributing and Mad Anthony Brewing Company.

An all-you-can-eat meal is part of this VIP package, with a menu including burgers, hot dogs, chicken wings, smoked ribs, grilled chicken breasts, apple crisp dessert and more. Food will be served beginning at 4:35 p.m. through the end of the seventh inning of the game.

The TinCaps beer tasting includes an all-you-can-eat meal, beer tastings from local distributors, and free memorabilia.

All fans attending the beer tasting receive a free, one-of-a-kind TinCaps mug, featuring the TinCaps’ Opening Day lineups from the past three seasons. They also have a chance to win door prizes throughout the night.

VIP tickets to the beer tasting are priced at $40. A limited number of tickets are available and all of the TinCaps’ tastings have sold out well in advance. To make reservations, call Tyler Baker at (260) 407-2802. Fans must be 21 years old or over to attend.

The remaining beer tastings will take place on June 12, and August 8.

Come and enjoy some great baseball and beer!

Last week, I took the opportunity to take a stroll in the beautiful spring weather and stop by Higher Grounds Star, located at 127 W. Berry St. in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne, IN. Not only was I greeted by a beautiful building and decor, but I was also greeted with great smiles and nice conversation with the owner, Scott Thrasher-Herndon.

I had to know what the best sellers were and here’s what I found out:

By the pound: Cinnamon
Summer: Shoaff Shake
Winter: Peppermint and Cinnamon
Year-round: Pumpkin Latte (which other shops only offer in the fall) and The Zebra

My favorite blueberry scone in town!

They are open Monday-Friday from 7am-5pm. Along with coffee (including Brews of the Day), espressos, smoothies and shakes (made with hand-dipped ice cream – it doesn’t get much better than that!), they also offer bagels, scones and a few other snack items.

Whether you are on your way to work or if you need to ward off that 2 pm feeling, stop by Higher Grounds Star for the caffeine to make it through your day (and a smile to go with it). You can also check them out on Facebook.

Where can you get breakfast any hour of the day? Liberty Diner of course!

The restaurant, located at  2929 Goshen Road in Fort Wayne, recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary.  A  quick glance over the menu is enough to see why this place has been a favorite haunt for foodies looking for good food at a reasonable price.

Traditional breakfast  items and lunch favorites tempt customers.  It’s the variety in cuisines that leaves a lasting impression. After all, it’s not everywhere you can find quiche, burgers , lasagna and souvlaki on the same menu. It’s like traveling the world without leaving your seat.

Breakfast is served all day and the 24-hour Friday and Saturday hours make it convenient for a late night (or post-date) bite. Customers can choose from tempting items like omelets, quiches, frittatas and even lox.

Choose from a wide variety of menu items at Liberty Diner.

Owner George Symnriotis came to Fort Wayne by way of Greece, New York, and Chicago.  The Symnriotis have made the city their home and are invested in the community.

It’s clear his time in the Big Apple has served as an inspiration for the menu, as well as the décor. Prints of famous New York attractions adorn the walls. As a tribute to New York City landmark Lady Liberty, the wait staff sport patriotic American flag ties. Most of the staff has worked there since opening day. And visitors will notice the friendliness of the staff is just as generous as the portions.

Although New York City inspired, the diner has not adopted big city prices (or the rudeness).  The Early Bird Special, available from 5:30 to 8 a.m. Monday through Sunday, costs $4.25. Most dinners run about $8.00.

Liberty Diner is open Sunday through Thursday 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and  24-hours on Friday and Saturday. Also, be sure to find them on Facebook.

As friendly as the Fort Wayne International Airport has been, it has recently been made more welcoming with the opening of the Sam Adams Brewhouse and Seattle’s Best Coffee.

Guests to FWA now have their choice of beverages.

The new restaurant and coffee shop are located side by side on the main floor of the terminal, straddling the Transportation Security Administration’s security checkpoint.

They are part of what is referred to as the Airport Marketplace. This includes the restaurant, gift shop, and coffee shop. Marketplace hours are 5:00 a.m. until the last flight of the day departs.

The Sam Adams pub offers a friendly place to rest.

Samuel Adams Brewhouse gives travelers a quality dining experience with burgers, wings, salads and dinner entrees. There is even a quick packaged snack available in case you literally have to dash to catch your flight.

Seattle’s Best Coffee is a dream come true for coffee lovers. They serve brewed coffee and espresso beverages, teas, and light snacks.

It was really nice having a comfortable place to hang out when the flight for my eldest daughter who lives in Indonesia was delayed last Christmas. She loves flavored coffee and frequented Seattle’s Best Coffee before leaving. Her dad and I lingered over a meal while waiting with her. As long-time regular passengers at FWA, we appreciated this option for casual dining. We consider Samuel Adams Brewhouse and Seattle’s Best Coffee welcome additions to FWA’s services and accommodations.

For information about Fort Wayne International airport you can visit them online.