“Indianapolis Monthly” is bringing back its popular luxury dining series, “Savor Indianapolis,” a one-night-only culinary experience featuring custom menus crafted by some of the city’s most talented chefs. The event showcases a fusion of flavors, highlighting the creativity and collaboration within Indianapolis’ thriving food scene.

Showcasing Culinary Excellence

“We wanted to celebrate the chefs of Indianapolis,” said Abby Broderick with “Indianapolis Monthly.” “The food scene here is booming, and we wanted to challenge our chefs by pairing them up to fuse their flavors and create unique, one-of-a-kind dinners. It’s five courses with wine, and you can’t get it anywhere else.”

One of the participating chefs, Tony Lepore of Tuscan Table Ristorante, shared his excitement about collaborating with another local restaurant. “They paired me with Cheeky [Bastards], which specializes in UK-inspired cuisine,” he said. “We’re creating a fusion dish called ‘toad in a hole.’ It’s Yorkshire pudding—a pastry horn—filled with sausage and peppers. It’s crazy, but it’s going to be so good.”

Handcrafted Pasta with Tradition

Lepore brought along his pasta roller, a machine passed down from his grandmother, to demonstrate his craft. “I started using this machine 30 years ago when I began learning how to make pasta,” he said. His pasta, made from Italian double-zero flour and semolina, is seasoned with egg, salt, and pepper and is safe for many gluten-intolerant customers because of the imported flour’s quality.

“The key to great pasta is all in the feel,” Lepore explained. “After a while, you just know what the dough needs as you work with it.”

The resulting pasta was paired with an eight-hour bolognese sauce, a Tuscan Table specialty. “I can taste every hour of cooking in this sauce,” one diner remarked after sampling the dish. “It’s incredible.”

Celebrating Indianapolis’ Food Scene

Broderick emphasized the importance of events like “Savor Indianapolis” in promoting the city’s vibrant food culture. “We want to highlight the chefs behind the restaurants,” she said. “This series gives them a platform to create something new, beyond their typical menus, and really showcase their talents.”

The event not only celebrates the artistry of local chefs but also introduces diners to innovative culinary experiences that spotlight Indianapolis as a culinary destination.

Event Details and Tickets

The “Savor Indianapolis” fall dining series will take place across select dates, featuring carefully curated menus and wine pairings. Ticket information is available on “Indianapolis Monthly’s” website at IndianapolisMonthly.com, offering food enthusiasts a chance to explore the city’s dynamic dining scene.

For anyone passionate about food or curious to try something new, “Savor Indianapolis” promises an unforgettable culinary journey, blending tradition and innovation in every bite.

The long-standing run for Indianapolis to host the NFL Scouting Combine will continue as the league and the city announced Thursday that the event will remain in the Indiana capital through 2026 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis has hosted the annual event since 1987.

There have been discussions to possibly move the annual draft scouting staple during the last couple of years with the league shifting certain events, such as the NFL Draft, to other cities. So much so that the league started accepting bids for the event in 2021. Still, the event hasn’t moved since an open bidding process began.

“Indianapolis and the NFL Combine have a proud history together, so we’re thrilled to continue our longstanding partnership with Visit Indy, the Indianapolis Colts, and the local community for this 2026 event,” league executive vice president Peter O’Reilly said in a story on the Indianapolis Colts’ website. “Our partners in Indy have successfully hosted the football evaluation process for decades, and recently, we’ve collectively worked to grow and evolve the in-person fan experience, bringing tens of thousands of fans closer to the league’s future stars.”

In partnership with the @Colts and @IndSportsCorp, we’re thrilled to announce that the @NFL has selected Indy to host the NFL Combine through 2026. 🙌

Mark your calendar for the 2025 fan experience: February 27 – March 2 at 📍@LucasOilStadium pic.twitter.com/RxBvPcPcq0

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— Visit Indy (@VisitIndy) November 14, 2024

“Indianapolis is uniquely designed and built to host an event as complex as the NFL Combine,” Colts chief operating officer Pete Ward said. “Efficiently moving prospects, team owners, coaching staff, medical personnel, and national media is seamlessly done in Indy, and the Colts are proud to be part of the team keeping the event in our city.”

The on-field workouts for draft-eligible players for the 2025 combine commence Feb. 27 through March 2.

Don’t ever move the combine

I understand the draw of moving the Super Bowl and the NFL Draft. I never understand the notion of moving the combine. This event is less about fan access and more about scouting players and networking for players, agents, teams and media. Why mess with a good thing?

Especially when Indianapolis embraces the event so heavily and everyone attending the event is so familiar with the setup and surroundings? Yes, the NFL is in the money-making business. But it’s OK sometimes to stand pat with something that works well. As someone who regularly attends, maintaining the status quo is the best plan.

Required reading

(Photo: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Some Indianapolis Colts fans on Wednesday were surprised to hear the announcement that Anthony Richardson will start for the rest of the season.

They were happy to have him back, though.

Sang Nguyen, a Colts season ticket holder, said, “Surprised but I am very happy for Anthony Richardson to get a second opportunity, but he will learn from his mistakes.”

Ray Bridges is another season ticketholder. He is also known as “Colts Tuba Guy” online and at every home game because he brings his tuba to Lucas Oil Stadium to play during games.

“I think it’s the right decision,” Bridges said. “I understand why 2.5 games ago, I understand why they took him out and put (Joe) Flacco in. I even understood starting Flacco one game.”

Both season ticket holders acknowledge the team might stumble, but management needs to look at what Richardson can do for the organization in the long term.

“From the beginning, the Colts looked at him to draft him as the quarterback, the franchise quarterback. He’s still a rookie,” Sang said. “He’s second-year, but he’s still a rookie. He does not have a full year under his belt yet. So, I love to see him doing well and I think he will.”

“We knew he was going to be a project,” Bridges said. “We thought if we were lucky he might hit immediately and be really successful, but I think most people knew it was going to be a good two to three years at least, and, looking to the future, Flacco is not the future of the team.”

Both men say the decision was not the end for the Colts, and a few wins in the upcoming games could change the course of the season.