Restaurant & Bar Awards 2023

52 | LUXlife Magazine - Restaurant & Bar Awards 2023 he Indiana Foodways Alliance helps foodies and travellers to find the best of local eateries. Since 2007 it has promoted restaurant trails winding through the state. It champions venues devoted to authenticity and local food. The organisation lists restaurants who serve specific types of food, lining them up on the map according to location. It encourages people to follow the trail, and eat their way along. To qualify as a member restaurant, venues need to be locally owned and have passed through approved assessments that confirm a certain level of quality. Whether people are fans of pies, tenderloins, or ice cream, there is bound to be a trail to suit. Following a food trail is a fun and exciting way for individuals to discover new-to-them establishments and taste some truly scrumptious food and drinks. The trails also inspire motivation to explore different communities. There are currently more than 300 members in Indiana, and many have won awards. Some of the most popular trails include the Hoosier Pie Trail™, Tenderloin Lovers and the Sweet Temptations Trail™. Several have won awards and in 2018 the Tenderloin Lovers trail was ranked 7th in the 10 Best Food & Drink Trails in America by PopSugar. In 2015 USA Today ranked the Hoosier Pie Trail™ in 4th place, even beating the much-loved Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The Indiana Foodways Alliance (or simply IFA), has increased its membership by 100% over the last 3 years. The IFA was an early adopter of the international foodie trend of the early 2000s, which put them a step apart from many other marketing organisations. Its recent partnership with the Indiana Destination Development Corporation is what has led to the creation and marketing of the new Indiana Culinary Trails Passport. This concept allows visitors to check in to restaurants on specific trails and earn prizes and rewards. The IFA ensures its establishments serve only the best food and beverages in one specific way. That being the requirement of all destinations to be in possession of the Indiana Foodways Alliance stamp of approval. This is only reached after each establishment has undergone rigorous assessment, ensuring they always reach excellence. The IFA is a proud supporter and marketer of only the best locally owned restaurants throughout the State of Indiana. Its biggest challenge is also one of its crowning glories, and that is to keep the lines of communication open and make sure all the restaurants are on board with the myriad of marketing campaigns. The IFA is effectively run by a board of directors including Lindsey Skeen, an executive director with a special commitment to tourism. Lindsey has always gone above and beyond her duties. She is detail oriented, fair, and objective. This is why the IFA is in safe hands with her. It has already won a 2022 MarCom award for its Pie to Pi mini Indiana Foodways Alliance - Best Food Promotion NPO 2023 - Midwest USA Indiana Foodways Alliance is a state-wide non-profit organisation dedicated to the celebration, promotion, and preservation of authentic Indiana food culture. It celebrates inquisitive eaters, good cooks, chefs, and culinary historians. It concentrates on speciality foods, farm markets, diners, and hands-on restaurants – all that is dear to the hearts of Midwestern food lovers. campaign. It also instigated the procedure whereby during the first 3 month of 2022 on the Hoosier Pie trail, visitors who checked in to two restaurants received a Be a Pie-oneer t-shirt. Now it can add to its ever-growing list of accolades with its new title, Best Food Promotion NPO 2023 - Midwest USA. The IFA is such a staunch celebrant of restaurants and drinking establishments Statewide, it deserves to be recognised and honoured for all the hard work it puts into promoting the trails. And with this latest award that is exactly what is happening. Well done Indiana Foodways Alliance, the award is well deserved. Contact: Lindsey Skeen Company: Indiana Foodways Alliance Web Address: www.indianafoodways.com T

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