Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch announces Culinary Crossroads initiative

by | News, 2019 World Food Championships, Culinary Crossroads

Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch announced today that a talented and diverse group of Hoosier culinary professionals and amateur home cooks will compete in the 2019 World Food Championships in Dallas, Texas this October 16-20.

The Indiana Office of Tourism Development will participate as a sponsor of Team Indiana. Additional sponsors and financial supporters of Team Indiana include: Indiana GrownClusterTruckRed GoldPiazza ProduceCentral Restaurant ProductsIndiana Kitchen-Premium Pork Products and Agency Worldwide.

Team Indiana is the first initiative for Culinary Crossroads, a new and ongoing branding campaign focused on raising awareness of the personalities, products, services and attractions that comprise Indiana’s culinary landscape. 

“Team Indiana features a wide selection of the most creative and talented chefs and home cooks our state has to offer,” Crouch said. “Their participation in the rapidly expanding world of food sport, and specifically the World Food Championships, will introduce the Culinary Crossroads brand to the international stage.”

Prior to the 2019 World Food Championships in October, Team Indiana will take their show on the road, hosting public events across the state this summer, including activities at the Indiana State Fair this August.

Crouch is focused on the important role Team Indiana and the Culinary Crossroads branding effort will play in attracting the skilled professionals needed to fuel Indiana’s growing economy.

“We are blessed with a phenomenal community of chefs, farmers, ranchers and food retailers throughout Indiana,” Crouch said. “Raising awareness of these talented individuals and organizations is a critical ingredient in making our state a tremendous place to live, work and play.”

Crouch said that as the state develops the Culinary Crossroads brand, it will continue to share stories with consumers around the country and provide this information to Indiana businesses to assist in their respective talent recruitment efforts.

Indianapolis chefs Craig Baker of Nostalgia Catering and Cindy Hawkins of Circle City Sweets will play leading roles for Team Indiana. 

“Indiana’s food culture has matured significantly over the past decade and we’re proud as members of Team Indiana to showcase a diverse array of chefs and cooks from across the state at the World Food Championships,” Baker said.

“It’s a great honor and opportunity to take our team members’ shared passion for food and use it to promote all that Indiana has to offer,” Hawkins said. “Team Indiana is a collaborative effort and we are very thankful for all the support.”

Recent Blog Posts

Support local businesses with your holiday shopping

Support local businesses with your holiday shopping

The Christmas shopping season is upon us, and as you’re making your list and checking it twice, all of us here at Culinary Crossroads hope you’ll consider supporting local for some of those holiday presents. A made-in-Indiana gift does more than make the recipient...

Discover history, barbecue, candy and more in Jeffersonville

Discover history, barbecue, candy and more in Jeffersonville

Considered part of the Louisville metropolitan area, the Kentuckiana city of Jeffersonville, Ind., celebrates Southern cuisine and its history as a stop on the Underground Railroad. According to food historian Robert Moss, author of "Barbeque: The History of an...

Indy student chefs win big at the World Food Championships

Indy student chefs win big at the World Food Championships

Two Indiana middle school students took first place in a new junior division at the World Food Championships in Dallas.

Paramount Schools of Excellence student chef Tony Fernandez, aided by sous chef Tiffany Smith, both 14, won first place and $2,500 Nov. 8 at the competition that included 12 middle and high school teams from Dallas and Indianapolis.

Paramount CEO Tommy Reddicks launched a Junior Chef Academy program this past year that aimed to address food insecurity among student families by teaching cooking skills. Student chefs in the program, taught by local chef Ross Katz, competed during the school’s TURN Festival in September, and the top-scoring teams earned golden tickets to the World Food Championships.

Talking wine and food with Anderson vintner Treva Bostic

Talking wine and food with Anderson vintner Treva Bostic

When psychologist Treva Bostic opened Cultured Urban Winery in her hometown of Anderson, Ind., as the first Black-owned farmhouse winery in the Hoosier state, she fulfilled a lifelong ambition. An avid traveler and oenophile, Bostic, who is the director of race,...