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Zest! Exciting Food CreationsCool and classy, the Zest! Exciting Food Creations restaurant sits in a quiet north Indianapolis location. Blink and you may even miss this charming establishment on East 54th Street. Already a successful business since June 2006, demand for the Zest! experience prompted an extension of their menu and opening hours. With Executive Chef and Partner, Valerie Vanderpool at the helm, her vision for the restaurant was to make fresh food absolutely fabulous, and she has done just that. The creator of the extraordinary “downhome goes uptown” selections, Chef Valerie produces quality food with a focus on flair and flavor, regularly rotating dishes to offer that element of surprise. Zest! is a contemporary and appealing restaurant, cleverly broken up into two eating areas; one decorated with classic deep reds and yellows, complimented with antique chandeliers and light fixtures, while the other is decked out in a lusty orange and green color combo. In both dining areas, local artists work make for striking wall displays, while outside, the pretty courtyard at Zest! provides a cozy dining alternative. While it’s hard to pick out one item on this fanciful menu, the highly recommended brunch dish of Crème Brûlée French Toast with a side of cherry wood smoked bacon is a sure winner. For lunch, try the Baja Tacos - cornmeal-crusted basa, with white cheddar, Zest! chipotle slaw on white corn tortillas with a side of edamame Succotash. The dinner menu offers the Five-Hour Braised Short Ribs - braised in a coffee, ancho chili and citrus gravy served over rosemary-gorgonzola polenta. If you love the food but don’t have time to eat in, visit the Zest! Gourmet Food Shop, their artisan store for wine, beer and specialty dishes like their signature savory cheesecakes or “Z’s Cakes” as they are known. Visit Zest! on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night during the summer months and you will be lucky enough to have your meal accompanied with live jazz guitar music. HelloIndianapolis Tip: Reservations are strongly recommended for dinner. Call ahead or go online to book your table.- by Jim Brown , Indianapolis Reporter for HelloMetro (Click to leave a message)  Jim Brown Jim Brown is a longtime freelance aviation, travel and destination writer and communications professional. A former reporter for Aviation Daily, Air Safety Week and World Airline News, Jim served for more than 15 years as a senior public relations executive for American Airlines, TWA and AirTran Airways.
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Zest! Exciting Food Creations: The restaurant sits on East 54th Street on the north side of the city. (Photo by Davina Lewis)
Zest! Exciting Food Creations: This contemporary and appealing restaurant has two eating areas and an outside patio. (Photo by Davina Lewis)
Zest! Exciting Food Creations: Executive Chef and Partner, Valerie Vanderpool is the creator of the extraordinary “downhome goes uptown” selections. (Photo by Davina Lewis)
Zest! Exciting Food Creations: A successful business since June 2006, the restaurant extended their menu and opening hours. (Photo by Davina Lewis)
Zest! Exciting Food Creations: Reservations are strongly recommended for dinner. Call ahead or go online to book your table. (Photo by Davina Lewis)
Zest! Exciting Food Creations: Fletcher’s Biscuit Sammich -- scrambled eggs with white cheddar and avocado in a biscuit. (Photo by Davina Lewis)
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