Unique wrap around potting style from the Potters Wife Black Tree Studio.

By Loren Shaum
Guest Columnist

NEW CARLISLE — Originally named Bourissa Hills after a Potawatomi Indian that was granted the surrounding rolling hills before the Indian Removal Act of 1830, a Philadelphian named Carlisle renamed the town in 1835. Today, the population is just under 2,000 and the downtown is a historic landmark.

Shopping

Feeney’s Hometown Goods is in the old pharmacy building, and The Potter’s Wife has a display there with some unusual pottery featuring their signature wrap-around style. One such bowl adorns our dining room table. If you ask, the store owner will call Black Tree Studio for a visit. Steve Skinner’s studio is just south of town is a charming country pottery studio with two kilns.

Food

New Carlisle has much to offer, and the authenticity of a couple restaurants make the journey worthwhile. East of downtown is Kate O’Connor’s Irish Pub featuring authentic Irish grub. It you like corned beef and cabbage, this is the place. Other must-tries are the shepherd’s pie and the potato soup. Mosey-up to the bar and order a pint of Smithwick’s. It’s the only place in these parts (except maybe Fiddler’s Hearth) that serves Smithwick’s on tap.

The taco salad at Longshots Bar and Grill.

Downtown Longshots Bar and Grill has an extensive bar-food menu. The place is always immaculately decorated for the season, and their taco salad may be the best.

Then, there is Moser’s Austrian Café. Werner Moser moved to the area in 1982 from Bad (translates to ‘bath’) Hofgastein in the Austrian Alps. His family owned a bed and breakfast in this ski and wellness resort town south of Salzberg. The surrounding area is one of the largest ski regions in Europe.

Werner’s authentic Germanic dishes make you feel like you are dining at Anna Sacher in Vienna or Innsbruck. The menu offers everything schnitzel. There are 14, including a Hoosier schnitzel that you won’t get in Austria! It includes a house-made barbeque sauce.

Other schnitzels include your choice of pork, veal (think wiener schnitzel), chicken or portobella mushroom. And, they will do untraditional schnitzel by not including the beer-batter coating. All are served with kasespatzle (cheesy German drop noodles) and red cabbage.

On this visit, Gayle, my wife, ordered the lunch portion Kaiser schnitzel — served with a white wine cream sauce and capers. I opted for the jaeger schnitzel. It was a large veal cutlet, breaded the traditional way, and topped with a red wine, bacon, onion, and mushroom sauce. Authentic and delicious!

The Kaiser schnitzel at Moser’s Austrian Cafe.

Another uniquely German dish had in the past was the hot wurst plate. Unless you are sharing this, order the small plate. It comes with a bratwurst, Debrezinger, Thueringer and weisswurst and served with two types of tangy mustards, rye bread, a pimento cheese spread and a large pretzel. That and an appetizer serving of kasespaetzle brought me to my knees!

Also, the German potato salad is spot-on and when paired with the Austrian sub made with imported meats and cheeses, you are in for a traditional German country lunch. Couple that with a pint of Steigl, Austria’s national beer, and you will be more than fulfilled.

The Steigl Brewery in Salzburg is the largest private brewery in Austria and dates to 1492. After a couple pints you start Deutsch sprechen.

Moser’s is an excellent place, and we will return often. Adorned in Austrian décor, the place reminds one of a classic Bavarian beer pub. They usually have seven beers on tap including Bitburger lager, which I’ve had in Germany, and the Hirter pilsner. The latter is a nice, light beer that I would order again. They rotate featured beers and occasionally they will have Warsteiner, Germany’s most popular beer.

The jeager schnitzel at Moser’s Austrian Cafe.

Moser’s also offers Gruner Veltliner, Austria’s national wine and one of our favorites — when I can find it!

When you are done, you can meander through the open doorway to the Carlisle Coffee and Sweets Shop, next door. One of Veni’s chocolates is a great finish to any meal.

Take the hour and half drive from Lake Country to New Carlisle, it will make your day!

Where To Go

Feeney’s: 115 E. Michigan St.

Kate O’Connor’s: 415 E. Michigan St.

Longshot’s: 117 E. Michigan St.

Moser’s: 201 E. Michigan St.

German chocolate cake is a signature dessert at Moser’s Austrian Cafe.