Indiana Foodways Alliance and Madison County

The I-69's Long Horizons Culinary Trail includes this list of Anderson/Madison County establishments:

Lemon Drop Restaurant $ Exit 26
1701 Mounds Road (Rt. 32)
Anderson, IN 46016 765-644-9055
The 52-year-old Lemon Drop, founded in 1955, is the oldest restaurant in Anderson. The Lemon Drop’s French fries have been voted best fries in Anderson in the Herald Bulletin’s “Best of Anderson” contest and the tenderloin sandwich is tender and flavorful. Also known for burgers, malts and shakes, the little Lemon Drop seats 29 in a 1950s atmosphere, complete with Rockola juke box, a toy train that runs around the ceiling border, and a basket of lemon drops on the counter. The friendly staff is mostly college students, with Bill Pitts, the Drop’s proprietor usually manning the grill. Open Mon.-Sat. 10:30 am to 9 pm; hours may vary seasonally. Located just a few blocks south of Scatterfield Road (Rt. 9).

Gene’s Root Beer Drive-In $ Exit 26
640 S. Scatterfield Road
Anderson, IN 46012 765-642-5768
Gene’s root beer is a secret recipe and it’s only available at your car window at this nostalgic drive-in on Route 9 in Anderson. Drive up under the sign announcing “Home of the Spanish Hot Dog” with a dachshund wearing a sombrero, or sit at the picnic tables along side for the vanilla-scented root beer in frosted mugs with free refills. The Spanish hot dog is Gene’s version of the coney – the meat sauce has a little heat in it. Andy Moorman’s family has owned Gene’s since 1964, and its got all the menu items you remember from the 60s: hot dogs with lots of topping choices, Polish sausage, fish and chicken, fries, onion rings, mushrooms and of course, pork tenderloin. Floats, shakes, cones and sundaes round out the menu. Open March-October, 10:30 am-10 pm daily.

Good's Candy Shop Exit 22
1423 W. 53rd St.
Anderson, IN 46013 765-642-7247
http://www.goodscandyshop.com
Randy Good carries on a family business founded in 1940 by his great-aunt, whose 13 original recipes have expanded to over 100. Most of the candy is made on the premises, and include silky truffles, chocolate covered toffee, peanut brittle, almond bark and premium chocolate creams. Good's Candy Shop is housed in a gingerbread house building just outside of town, with tables out front where you can enjoy Good's latest recipes for their new super-premium ice creams in flavors like peach, lemon and pistachio. Open Mon. 10 am-6 pm, Tues.-Sat. 10 am-9 pm, Sun. 1-9 pm Free daytime tours.

Real Hacienda $$ Exit 22
1320 Meridian St.
Anderson, IN 46016 765-622-1779
Real Hacienda is the first restaurant that located in the newly renovated downtown Anderson. Housed in a former bank, the adaptation has a Southwest fortress-look, with a spacious and pleasant interior and an outside patio. Authentic Mexican cuisine shares the menu with Tex Mex at reasonable prices. The salsa and chips are worth a trip to Anderson. Live Mariachi band every Thursday evening. Open daily 11 am-10 pm.

Cabbage Rose Eatery $$ Exit 19
118 N. Pendleton Ave.
Pendleton, IN 46064 765-778-1944
The rooms of a Victorian house in downtown Pendleton have been turned into a bustling lunch and tea room, filled with shoppers enjoying strawberry tea, cashew chicken salad, whole wheat croissants and heavenly chicken velvet soup. You can even eat on the front porch if the weather permits. Beth and Gary Yeary own the Rose, and a young pastry chef named Chrystin Adams makes the wide range of desserts that the restaurant is noted for. Coconut cream pie is the signature dessert, but bread pudding, caramel yummies and lemon cakes are among the seasonal specials. Open for lunch only, Mon.-Sat. 11 am-2:30 pm.

New Day Meadery Exit 14
710 S. Anderson St.
Elwood, IN 765-552-3433 http://www.newdaymeadery.com
Brett Canaday and his wife, Tia Agnew opened their honey wine business in 2006 seven years after starting a bee-keeping hobby on the family farm outside of Elwood. With a B.S. in Food Science from Purdue and experience in the fruit juice and wine industries, Brett took his technical know-how a step further and developed surprisingly dry and flavorful wines and meads with a honey base. A $5 tasting at the Meadery will win you over to a dry peach or blueberry honey wine or a semi dry or dry clover mead. All of the fruit blended with the honey wines are grown in Indiana, and of course, you can take home bottles of your favorites vintages for $16 to $24. Open seasonal hours, Fri-Sun. 1-6 pm Seven days/week in December from 11 am-6 pm.

Bonge's Tavern $$$ Exit 14 Reservations for 10 or more
9830 W. 280 N.
Perkinsville, IN 46011 765-734-1625
http://www.bongestavern.com
Owner/chef Tony Huelster has created one of Indiana's signature restaurants in a quirky 1934 building with a festive atmosphere, where patrons tailgate while waiting for up to an hour for a table in the light festooned parking lot. The dress is casual but the food is serious, with signature dishes like spicy Harger duck, blue cheese New York strip, Perkinsville pork, and the "world famous" creamy tomato soup made with local Red Gold tomatoes. The generous smoked salmon appetizer makes a good starter to share, but get your own blueberry cake. You might not want to share. Open Tues.- Thu. 4:30-9 pm, Fri.-Sat. 4:30-10 pm
21 and over only. Take IN 13 N and turn right on W. 280 N.