Celebrating all things local with Mel McMahon of Indiana Owned You might recognize Indiana Owned co-founder Mel McMahon by her voice – she has been an on-air radio personality on Indianapolis stations and is executive producer for WIBC’s annual Salvation Army...
Orange County offers history, dining, wines and more
Tucked in among the Orange County hills of Southern Indiana, the beautiful resort community of French Lick/West Baden and neighboring towns of Orleans and Paoli have been welcoming guests on unforgettable Indiana getaways for more than 100 years. The area is home to...
Two Ivy Tech Community College culinary students awarded Chef Greg Hardesty Scholarship
As the school years gets going, Culinary Crossroads is happy to announce that the first two Chef Greg Hardesty Scholarships have been awarded to students in Ivy Tech Community College’s culinary program. Working with the Hardesty family and Ivy Tech, Culinary...
Connersville charms with Midwestern food and classic cars
By Brian Garrido Connersville, one of the oldest cities in Indiana, serves up small-town charm with a big taste of diverse Midwestern eating – with a side of automobile history. Taquerias dish out tacos, burritos and enchiladas, pizza shops offer delicious pies and...
Chef Jeff Ford on inspiration, cooking at home and where he eats when on the road
By Brian Garrido Chef Jeff Ford of Ford’s Black Angus will be cooking at our next Culinary Crossroads On the Road Dinner Oct. 25 at the Ohio Building in Terre Haute. The award-winning chef, along with his wife, Kelly, purchased the Black Angus, a well-known historic...
Inspiration comes from friends and family for Indy chef Carlos Salazar
By Brian Garrido Indianapolis chef Carlos Salazar’s culinary journey began in his family's kitchen, and eventually led him to culinary school. He studied with longtime Indy chef Tony Hanslits at The Chef’s Academy and then worked for chef Steven Oakley of Oakleys...
Tasty treats await on Richmond’s Chocolate Trail
By Brian Garrido Richmond, Ind., a small town bordering Ohio and a quick 70 miles from Indianapolis, offers a sweet experience for chocoholics. The route, dubbed the Chocolate Trail and featuring 15 shops to explore, provides a semi-walkable tour through the area's...
Dinner series wraps up with funds raised for Hardesty Scholarship
With a packed house and a high-energy vibe, the 2023 Culinary Crossroads Spring Dinner Series closed out a month of collaborative chef dinners on May 1 to benefit the Chef Greg Hardesty Scholarship Fund at Ivy Tech Community College. “It’s exciting and rewarding to...
Tenderloin Guy Rick Garrett dishes on Indiana’s favorite sandwich
Comedian, musician and storyteller Rick Garrett is The Tenderloin Connoisseur and has a popular blog with a to-the-point title: “All tenderloins, all the time.” A 2015 Hoosier Comedy Award winner, Rick travels all over the Midwest, telling jokes, sharing stories and...
On the Road Dinner Series Launched in Evansville
We’ve been busy here at Culinary Crossroads with our efforts to spotlight Indiana’s culinary culture and shine a spotlight on chefs and restaurants throughout the state. After last year’s successful Spring Dinner Series, we decided to take the show on the road! “The...
Looking Back at 2021
It’s almost spring and all of us here at Culinary Crossroads are gearing up for a busy and delicious 2022! But before we get started on what’s cooking in 2022, we thought we’d look back at 2021. What a year, right? Despite the ongoing challenges of a pandemic, in 2021...
Congratulations to the newest World Food Champion Lidia Haddadian!
The October 3rd airing of the World Food Championship Final Table Indy docu-series on The Cooking Channel and the announcement of the $100,000 Final Table winner Lidia Haddadian was a fitting ending to months of hard work and planning. Our many thanks to the Lt....
Chef Erin Gillum named ‘one to watch’ by Indianapolis Star
After winning the 2019 Indy Burger Battle and competing with Team Indiana in the World Food Championships, Indianapolis Star food writer Liz Biro has highlighted Chef Erin Gillum of Spoke & Steele as one of her 8 chefs to watch in 2020. Erin's distinctly Asian...
World Food Championships Announce Details of 2020 Final Table
For the first time in its history, WFC is kicking off its grand finale with a full week of programming and new events entitled “Culinary Crossroads: Food Week” which will include celebrations devoted to highlighting Indianapolis’ culinary people, places and products. The opening days of the event will also feature a Food Champ University seminar that will take an in-depth look into the world of Food Sport, including an open Q&A session about the WFC 2020 EAT-X judging process.
The World Food Championships Final Table is coming to Indianapolis
World Food Championships CEO Mike McCloud and Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch made a big announcement while our team was in Dallas for the WFC Main Event in October. Liz Biro of The Indianapolis Star has the story on the WFC Final Table in Indianapolis. Read her full...