Editor’s note: You can read more about CarmelFest 2015 here.
By Joseph Knoop
Fourth of July is more than hot dogs and hamburgers if CarmelFest has anything to do with it. From noodles and crepes to the revived popularity of shwarma, dining options are vast, varied and even healthier than standard fare.
Island Noodles, the product of founder and native Hawaiian Hale Lake, serves a simple dish inspired by Lake’s mother’s Yaki-Soba noodles recipe. The company, which has expanded from West Coast origins to reach across the map, caters to health-conscious eaters by combining the simple Yaki-Soba noodles with 21 vegetables on a fire stove, with the option to add chicken.
“In the last few years you’ve really seen people become more aware of what they eat,” said Brad Esposite, owner and managing member of Island Noodles’ Florida branch. “In the event business, you always have staples, but there are a lot of people looking for healthier options. I’d say 60 percent of our customers come back and ask if we have a restaurant.”
Island Noodles is often found at baseball parks and community festivals, but Carmelfest will be one of their first outings in Indiana, including the Indiana State Fair in August and GenCon in late July.
Soulshine Market, an Indianapolis-based food truck catering service, has been serving healthy and educational opportunities in eating for the last year. The food truck features dishes such as lobster rolls, pork belly steamed buns and pan-seared salmon Greek salad.
Kelly Kimpton, owner and chef of Soulshine Market, previously worked at an Arizona spa and Indiana University Health hospital where she says she grew to appreciate an atmosphere of health-conscious community.
“I enjoyed the atmosphere of everyone trying to be healthy,” Kimpton said. “I wanted to use the truck to teach about cooking and health and about all the food we have in Indiana.”
Kimpton is also partnering with Fall Creek Gardens, an urban gardening resource group, to help teach patrons about the basics of garden cultivation and cooking.
For more information, visit IslandNoodles.com or search “Soulshine Market” on Facebook.
