Dining

The black-and-white cookie, an NYC icon, stacked at the King David Dogs hotdog stand at the corner of Illinois and Washington streets. Both the cookie and the hotdog stand (which King David uses for private parties) are here only for the Super Bowl. KDD ordered them as a sugary tribute to the Giants and their fans. Just don’t eat

Fountain Square's new Venezuelan restaurant American Empanadas (1026 Virginia Ave., 317-644-0509) serves a variety of empanadas and arepas, featuring traditional options as well as items with a creative twist. The empanadas are made with traditional dough that co-owner Angelica Folkerts likens to that of a corndog, only less sweet. Made from white corn powder, the dough offers a nice contrast to slightly salty filings such as barbecued pork and 3-way chili. Dessert empanadas include a popular banana-chocolate version.

We’ve collected links to several recent local and national stories about dining in Indianapolis during the Super Bowl. Here, a few of our favorites.

"Miguel" might not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of Southern or Creole cookery. But if you've followed Miguel Santana from the kitchens of erstwhile downtown bakery and restaurant Benvenuti to Battery Park Saloon (also now closed) to his innovative fusion cuisine at Northside Social, then you know he's anything but a conventional chef. And growing up in Miami does technically qualify him as a Southerner. His eponymous Miguel's Southern Kitchen (130 N. Delaware St., 317-955-0001) is certainly a nice addition to lunchtime choices in a classic high-ceilinged storefront that most recently housed a chicken roaster and before that a longtime newsstand. The gorgeously ornate tile floors with fleur-de-lis patterns are enough of a reason to stop by. Santana's selective menu divided between comforting classics and Bayou favorites shows some careful forethought.

The gussied-up patties at Bru Burger Bar (410 Massachusetts Ave., 317-635-4278) are bound to upset purists. One is dressed in onion gravy and Swiss cheese while another, called Mount Olympus, scales great heights with enough pepperoni, feta, fried garbanzo, red onion, marinated mushrooms, kalamata olives, lettuce, and roasted tomato dressing to anger the gods. These are hamburgers, mind you. Not subs. But in keeping with the theme of all of the projects by parent company Cunningham Restaurant Group (Boulder Creek Dining Company, Stone Creek Dining Company, Mesh on Mass, and Charbonos), Bru knew exactly what it was doing from Day One.

Billing itself as an authentic Neapolitan-style pizzeria and restaurant, Coal Pizza Company (36 E. Washington St., 317-685-2625) has opened in the short-lived two-story Hue Dine space. The venture is backed by Jason Tipton of The Ripple Inn (929 E. Westfield Blvd., 317-252-2600) and Michael Keenan of Broad Ripple’s Za Pizzeria (801 Broad Ripple Ave., 317-602-3753). Its kitchen is run by Charles Mereday, managing partner and chef of The Ripple Inn and owner of Eagle Creek Pizza (5510 Lafayette Rd., 317-290-1122).

Those estimated 150,000 Super Bowl visitors will be in dire need of satiation—and hundreds of Indy-area restaurants are getting prepared. Chris Clifford, director of operations for St. Elmo Steakhouse (127 S. Illinois St., 317-635-0636) and Harry & Izzy’s (153 S. Illinois St., 317-635-9594; 4050 E. 82nd St., 317-915-8045) anticipates going through 600 pounds of shrimp and more than 80 pounds of horseradish during the event’s Thursday-to-Sunday crush. “Our supplier, McFarling Foods, will keep an extra 400 pounds [of shrimp] aside ‘just in case,’” says Clifford. Daily deliveries will arrive downtown between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.

The Amexica–a potent commingling of smoky Mezcal, tequila, lavender, and absinthe garnished with mint leaf–that is putting hair on people’s chests at The Libertine (38 E. Washington St., 317-631-3333). Up, down, center, and in … don’t order one thinking you will get a margarita. The mini

Spotted dining al fresco at Tastings today.