Global Bites in Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana, is teeming with one-of-a-kind eats from around the world just waiting to be discovered by Hoosiers. This town that John Mellencamp famously called “small” has become a melting pot of diverse people and flavors. From Brazilian fusion pops to authentic Jamaican jerk chicken, Bloomington has enough variety to make anyone’s mouth water. This fall, gather your friends and take a culinary world tour of these different, delicious delights in the home of the Hoosiers.
RASTA POPS
During a walk in the park one summer’s day, Iuri Santos got a sweet idea inspired by his home country of Brazil. There, vendors walk around on hot days selling popsicles out of an icebox strapped around their neck. Santos wanted to do the same thing right here in Indiana. Today, Santos and his wife, Linda, own the Rasta Pops pushcart, selling their Brazilian fusion popsicles all over Bloomington from May to September.
Although they serve classic American flavors such as strawberry lemonade, Rasta Pops encourages customers to try their more unique ones, such as honey-ginger lemonade, Santos’ personal favorite.
Additionally, the company partners with other local businesses to highlight flavors unique to Bloomington in their pops. Try the local Hopscotch Coffee Thai espresso pops or the MeSorrel Jamaican Tea pop, made from local Dreamers Delight tea. Moreover, Rasta Pops prides itself on using organic products wherever possible and local produce when available. The couple uses biodegradable packaging and composts food scraps from the manufacturing process.
The Rasta Pops pushcart can usually be found May to September at Bloomington’s Food Truck Fridays and on Saturdays at the People’s Co-Op Market. For additional information on where to find them, check out Rasta Pops on social media.
RastaPops.com
Facebook @RastaPopsIcePops
Instagram @Rasta_Pops
TOP SHOTTA JERK CHICKEN TRUCK
When Taneisha Henline moved to the U.S. from Jamaica, she began to miss the flavorful cooking from her home. That’s why in 2018 she opened Top Shotta Jerk Chicken Truck as an homage to her Jamaican roots and ancestors.
Wanting to emulate the street vendors of her home country, Henline decided on a food truck with a pull-behind smoker grill. On offer is a variety of meals including jerk chicken tacos and Henline’s favorite, the “Jerk Chicken Dinnah,” which comes with rice and “peas” (beans), one chicken breast, your choice of chicken leg or thigh, Shotta-Slaw and “Jamaican Pear” (avocado). Jerk is a Jamaican style of cooking in which meat is marinated with a wet or dry traditional spice mix and cooked slowly on the grill. But to Henline, it is a way of life.
“It’s not only how you cook the food, there’s a history behind it,” Henline says. “My ancestors fought for the right to jerk chicken.” Top Shotta Jerk Chicken truck stops in different locations around Bloomington, so the best way to find them is by checking their Facebook page, according to Henline.
Facebook @TopShottaJerk
Instagram @yaadfood
DREAMERS DELIGHT
Dreamers Delight’s MeSorel Jamaican tea is another unique Bloomington provision. Begun by IU chemistry professor Michael Edwards, the local company combines the founder’s chemistry background with inspiration from a drink popular in his native Jamaica to create a unique health drink.
Sorrel tea is a Jamaican tea traditionally made with hibiscus flower, ginger and rum. Edwards wanted to remove the alcohol from the original recipe but found that it acted as a preservative. Without alcohol, the tea did not last more than three days. Instead, Edwards, who has a doctorate in physical chemistry, used his knowledge to create a natural preservative of cinnamon, clove and rosemary. What results is a one-of-a-kind, zero-alcohol drink with detoxifying and immunity-boosting properties.
If you thought the rum still sounded pretty good, you aren’t the only one. MeSorrel Jamaican Tea can be combined with a jigger of rum to create a delicious, and somewhat nutritious, island cocktail. MeSorrel Jamaican Tea can be bought on the Dreamers Delight website or found at Lucky’s Market, Good Earth Natural Food Company, and Bloomingfoods Market & Deli, among other places around Bloomington.
CARSON'S BBQ
Growing up, Jeff Carson learned the secrets of good barbecue from his mother, Gladys May. Today, Carson owns the Bloomington favorite Carson’s BBQ and catering, serving up “down-home” classics. Carson doesn’t have one specific style but takes inspiration from both Southern and Midwestern BBQ. He has everything from ribs and brisket to barbecue chicken and pulled pork to catfish. But if you had to pick one item that stands above the rest, it would be the award-winning St. Louis ribs.
Carson’s process is one of time and skill. First, they marinate the meat for 24 hours, using a special rub of eight spices. Then they smoke the meats for four to 16 hours in their custom grills made by Thornton’s Welding of Bloomington. The result is barbecued meat that they say is so tender, it falls right off the bone.
Carson opened his first restaurant in Terre Haute, called Chanaghan’s Corner before eventually moving to Bloomington to settle down with his wife, Tammy. Today, the husband-and-wife team works hard to run the restaurant, food truck pop-ups and catering events.
Check out Carson’s permanent location or stop by one of their pop-ups on Thursday and Saturdays, locations listed on their monthly calendar.
3878 W. 3rd St. | Bloomington, IN
CarsonsBBQ.com
