story by JULIE CAMPBELL
You don’t have to fly to the Big Apple to experience a cultural melting pot. From international festivals to global food experiences, you’ll find a world of flavors right here in the Hoosier State!
Irresistible scents waft through the air as vendors serve up international cuisine to the sounds of culturally diverse music. Drums beat in the background as dancers in vibrant costumes create a festive atmosphere. While this may sound like a scene set in a cultural district in New York City, it’s actually a taste of Global Fest, hosted here in the heart of the Hoosier State in West Lafayette.
“Through programming, food, music, dance, and art, Global Fest exists to showcase and highlight the diversity that exists within our own backyard,” said event organizer Kevin Noe of West Lafayette Parks and Recreation. “The event aims to celebrate that diversity and show that while we may be different, a diverse community creates a strong, thriving environment for all.”
In the past three years, countries represented at Global Fest have included Mexico, Japan, Chile, India, Malaysia, Lebanon, Taiwan, Ecuador, Afghanistan, Romania, Guatemala,
China, Turkey, USA, Brazil, Poland, the Phillippines, Nepal, Kenya, Niger, and Saudi Arabia.
This year will mark the 29th year for Global Fest, which will be held on Sept. 21 from 3 to 10 p.m. in downtown West Lafayette.
While you’re in the West Lafayette/ Lafayette area, don’t forget to visit the plethora of international restaurants, including Bao Dumplings, Taste of India, Tsunami Sushi, Las Brazas Taqueria, Kimchi Korean, Kitami, and many more.
For a dose of diverse cuisine options, international foodies often head to the city of Carmel. Currently, there are around 54 international restaurants within the city.
“As our population becomes more and more diverse, it’s great to see that that also equates to a more global food scene,” said Kate Lustig, who works as a project manager for the City of Carmel’s marketing and communications department.
Those with adventurous palates can expect variety of tastes as the number of countries represented in Carmel’s “World of Flavors” keeps expanding. Options include cuisine from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, India, Vietnam, Egypt, France, Italy, Mexico, Venezue- la, Greece, Pakistan and more.
“One of the hallmarks of Carmel is that our central district, where many of the restaurants are, is easily accessible on foot or on a bicycle,” explains Lustig. “The mixed-used developments with retail, residential and public gathering spaces really support an environment that is perfect for residents and visitors to be together.”
If you’re on the hunt for German cuisine, bring your appetite to The German Café in French Lick. The charming café features authentic dishes including Spaetzle, Schnitzel and family sampler platters. There are even gluten-free options on the menu.
Another German eatery, Schnitzelbank Restaurant in Jasper, has gained a reputation among foodies as one of the top ten independent restaurants in Indiana. Serving up authentic dishes from southern Germany such as Beef Rolladen, Sauerbraten, Kraut Balls and the Wurst Platter, the restaurant also has plenty of options for those who prefer American cuisine.
Head to downtown Pendleton to meet Chef Catello, who brought his experience and love of food from Naples, Italy, to this quaint Madison county town. Catello’s Italian Art Cuisine is a chef-owned eatery creating authentic Italian food made from scratch and with the freshest ingredients. On top of that, they’ve been voted as the best Italian restaurant in the state of Indiana. As an added treat, stop in at their deli next door for fresh, take-home delicacies.
Looking for a Polish food and music experience? Kielbasa Fest in East Chicago offers a delicious taste of Poland on Saturday, Aug. 17, from 2 to 8 p.m. in Kosciuszko Park.
Drawing more than 300,000 people from across the nation and the world, Pierogi Fest in downtown Whiting provides an annual opportunity to experience and honor Eastern European heritage. Pierogi are dumplings of unleavened dough wrapped around sweet or savory fillings, and you’ll find them, as well as many other foods and a beer garden, in abundance at this festival, which is set for July 26 through 28.
Mark your calendar now for Hendricks County International Festival on Oct. 5 at the Shops at Perry Crossing in Plainfield. Attendees seeking a global food experience will find a wide array of dishes from Greece, India, Mexico, Italy, France and Korea. Visit booths to get stamps on your event passport for a chance to win prizes.
The food truck trend is another fun way to experience international food, and Michigan City’s Food Truck Festival will feature an assortment of gourmet food trucks, live music, games and delicious drinks right off the beach. The festival runs May 25- 26 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Fedders Alley, 100 to 200 LakeShore Drive.
Southwest of Michigan City, in the town of Chesterton, is Indiana’s first Filipino Bakery–Jen’s Gourmet Cakes. Owner and baker Jen Yednak grew up in the Philippines where her family ran a successful bakery. She moved to the U.S. in 2012 and her real passion for baking started in 2016. Today, Jen creates cakes that are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the palate. “I didn’t want to sell something that didn’t look good,” Jen says. “I became obsessed with baking and learned how to decorate cakes on my own. In about three months, I finished 15 cake decorating books and, to my surprise, I got pretty good at it. The rest is pretty much history.” In addition to using her grandma’s recipe for “Ube Cake,” a traditional Filipino chiffon cake, she has more than 40 flavors of cakes and continues to work on new recipes.
You can take your tastebuds on a culinary adventure when you visit the restaurants on the Indiana Foodways Alliance “Cultural Cuisine Trail.” The trail currently has 38 stops all over the state, and represents foods from Europe, Asia, Mexico, and more. The Alliance is a non-profit organization, serving to promote locally-owned restaurants and Indiana’s food culture.
While there are several Mexican restaurants throughout the state, be sure and visit the ones that are locally owned; this will ensure an authentic dining experience. Some of the ones to try are Los Alamos Tex-Mex in Vernon, Blue Cactus in Crawfordsville, Cuervo’s Tacos in Portland, Verde Flavors of Mexico in Carmel, and El Carreton in Winchester. No matter what international flavors your taste buds prefer, you’re sure to find an option right here in Indiana.
