Eclectic trip was not far from home

Editor’s note: This column is being reprinted from June 11, 2003. Jack and Connie had a tradition of Saturday afternoon rambles during which they explored surrounding counties or simply visited a favorite nearby restaurant for a leisurely meal.



Sometimes you don’t need to wander far from home to have the kind of experience usually reserved for tourist guide books.

Come on along for a Saturday afternoon ramble.

The sun was shining, the sunroof was open, and we were in the mood to wander some backroads, this time in Randolph County. We got a late start, and it was almost lunchtime when we set out.

Our path took us first to Farmland, a community that’s making the most of its location. It’s just close enough to Muncie to attract big-city shoppers looking for a different experience, and just far enough away from Muncie to attract artisans and creative folks interested and comfortable with small town life.

Lunch was at Cafe Boheme, but it could have just as easily been at the Chocolate Moose or a few other eateries. For small town Indiana, Farmland has more restaurants per capita than most.

Boheme shares space with the Farmland Community Center, which has gallery space featuring regional artists, so it’s possible to have a delicious sandwich or wrap while enjoying surroundings seldom found on a Midwestern Main Street.

From Farmland, we rambled down toward Modoc. I’d met John Wilson at a poetry reading last year and wanted to check out Wilson Winery, which John’s brother Dick directs as the family business.

Ind. 1 is under construction south of Farmland, and that sent us over to county roads for a delightful detour. Having driven U.S. 27 or Ind. 1 for years through Randolph County, I thought I knew the place. I was mistaken. Between the two highways, there’s a charming, hilly landscape unlike anything I’d ever experienced so close to home.

We found the winery, and Dick was more than happy to let us sample some of his creations. As you’d probably guess, the winery produces mostly sweet wines. Even the semi-sweet are sweeter that some folks would like. But even if you prefer your wines dry, there’s a place for sweet wines on the menu.

Wilson Winery has done some delicious things with strawberry and black raspberry wines, perfect for dessert well-chilled on a hot summer night.

Bidding Dick farewell, we hopped back in the car and headed east on Ind. 36, taking it over to Ind. 227 where we headed north toward Union City. Our destination, of course, was Ghyslain’s chocolate works. It’s home to the finest chocolate we’ve ever tasted, and that’s saying something.

From the outside, it looks like a typical Indiana farm house. There’s a barn out back. But the sign in front promises something you wouldn’t expect: French chocolate truffles.

Step inside and you’re likely to run into Ghyslain himself, if he’s not busy in the north room hand-painting chocolate turtles to fill an order.

All in all, a remarkable day: Bohemian cafe and art gallery, winery and a chat with the winemaker himself, then French truffles from a transplanted chocolatier.

And all without leaving the neighborhood.