Indiana Digs In For A Taste Of Indiana

Indianans are getting ready to dig in at the third annual Dig IN on Aug. 26 in Indianapolis. Dig IN, a Taste of Indiana, showcases Indiana's top chefs, brewers, vintners, and food producers at White River State Park.

As part of the ticket price, visitors get 2-ounce tastes of dishes made with farm-fresh Indiana produce and proteins prepared by 30 of the state's greatest food minds, like Joseph Hewett of The Indigo Duck, Alan Sternberg of Albatross Grille in Carmel, and Nicholas Carter of Black Swam Brewpub, who will discuss their recipes.

The dishes incorporate sun-ripened Indiana tomatoes, basil, Capriole goat cheese, bison, yellow perch, duck raised on Indiana farms, and blueberries, jalapeños, and sweet corn grown in Hoosier soil.

The Indiana Wine Grape Council and Brewers of Indiana Guild are providing wine and beer tastings, and local soft drinks. Local bands, urban gardening exhibits, and educational discussion panels are included at Dig IN's events.

"People come for the food and learn they really enjoy the variety — the speaker series, the music, drink, the entire atmosphere of celebrating and focusing on Indiana from farm to fork," said Neal Brown of Neal Brown Hospitality Group, which operates Pizzology and the downtown Indy restaurant The Libertine.

Tickets are $30 if purchased in July and $40 in August and can be purchased on the Dig IN website. VIP tickets, which will allow 1,000 guests to enter at 11 a.m. and have a more casual opportunity to talk with chefs, vintners, and brewers, are available for $60.