Big Woods Bloomington changing its 'cabin' area to offer more year-round seating

Big Woods Bloomington restaurant, at 116 N. Grant St., has begun construction in its beer garden area to add a more permanent structure behind the main restaurant. In good weather, the area had a canopy-covered beer garden outdoors along with The Cabin, which is 400 square feet, as a bar space that served the beer garden patrons.

The new Cabin will have 1,000 square feet with both a bar area and dining room. The design will feature the iconic Big Woods restaurant feel with an open wood ceiling and plenty of windows.

Ed Ryan, co-owner of Hard Truth, Quaff On and Big Woods establishments, said the expansion will provide year-round space for patrons but still have some of the same feel as the outdoor space. The new Cabin will have "as many windows as we can put in the space," he said.

"We tried to design something that will give the outdoor beer garden feel but have the advantage of year-round seating," he said.

For people who want a summertime outdoor seating, that will be offered on the deck outside the main restaurant.

While Big Woods Bloomington is losing some seating during the construction, when it's complete the restaurant will have doubled its occupancy, Ryan said. He anticipates the new Cabin opening in mid-May.

Another plus to the new Cabin area is that since it offers year-round seating there will be fewer "swings" in the number of staff at Big Woods. "It really should be better set up for our employees and our customers in the long run," Ryan said. "When it's cold out we lose the deck seating and all the outdoor seating."

Big Woods Bloomington will celebrate its 10th year on April 25.

Second Mellencamp whiskey released by Hard Truth

Hard Truth Distilling Co., which is part of the same group that includes Big Woods, recently announced the second in a four collection series of whiskeys in collaboration with Mellencamp Whiskey Company. Farmer's Reserve was created by Hard Truth's master distiller Bryan Smith with Hud Mellencamp and Levi Collison, co-founders of Mellencamp Whiskey.

The first in the series is Harvest Rye. Each bottle's label in the series features original artwork by John Mellencamp, Hud's father. Farmer's Reserve's label features a 1991 painting "American Boy and Girl." The whiskey is a blend of Hard Truth's Chocolate Malt Rye and Sweet Mash Bourbon that has been rested on toasted Amburana, a Brazilian wood, for its finish.

Farmer's Reserve is available at the Hard Truth distillery campus in Nashville as well as other markets selling Hard Truth and Quaff On! items.

Parklets in downtown Bloomington will open April 29

Some April days it seems like summertime in Bloomington, when in past years portions of East Kirkwood Avenue have been closed to traffic to allow more outdoor dining space. That won't happen this year due to the Clear Creek Reconstruction Project that will close part of Indiana Avenue and reroute traffic onto Kirkwood. Even so, the city has announced it will open parklets — parking spaces closed off by orange barriers just outside of participating restaurants and businesses — beginning April 29 for the downtown area.

Installation of the barriers will begin April 29 and continue April 30. This year the parklets can remain open through Nov. 4. The restaurants or businesses requesting the parklets must pay $250 for each parking space, plus a permitting fee of $50. Businesses may share a parklet, splitting the cost. Most parklets are one to three parking spaces, although businesses can request up to four, according to Chaz Mottinger, special projects manager for Bloomington. Any restaurant located between Rogers Street to Indiana Avenue and from Third to 11th streets is technically eligible if they are a food service establishment adjacent to metered parking, Mottinger said.

A new feature this year is that businesses can request a temporary parklet for Indiana University graduation weekend. Those parklets will be installed by April 30 and must be removed between May 6 and 10. The business must pay the full season program cost.

Oliver Winery adds two more selections to its wine list

Oliver Winery has added two wines, Cosmoberry and Dreamberry, to its list of wines. Both are inspired by the winery's popular Sweet Red. Cosmoberry is based on the classic Cosmopolitan cocktail and has cranberry, strawberry and blood orange added for a berry-infused selection. Dreamberry has tropical lychee and raspberry flavors with some lime in the fruity vino.

A bottle of the new wines retails for $15 each and can be purchased at the winery, 200 E. Winery Road, as well as in stores across the U.S. For more, go to www.oliverwinery.com.

Reserve a spot at Truffles' spring wine dinner

Truffles restaurant, at 1131 S. College Mall Road, will host its Spring 2024 wine dinner on April 24. The five-course meal will be paired with wines from California and Australia. The reception begins at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $125 per person and includes tax and gratuity. For reservations, call 812-330-1111.

The dinner begins with wine-poached shrimp served in a tomato broth with wilted spring greens and ramp puree, followed by house-smoked salmon and asparagus terrine with Cambozola, pesto and tortillas. Third course is baked trout fillet with dill-mustard emulsion served with crispy red lentil cakes. Berbere rubbed beef tenderloin with chickpea puree and red pepper tzatziki will be served next. Dessert will be baklava with rhubarb-honey jam, sprinkled with candied pistachios and served with vanilla bean ice cream and strawberries.

Contact Carol Kugler atckugler@heraldt.com