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Need lunch at the office? Don't have time to stop at the grocery store? Feeling too tired to cook? Food delivery apps make ordering from a nearby restaurant easy. However, the cost may be higher than you think – especially for small, local restaurants and their delivery drivers.  These tips can help you understand how delivery apps work and what you can do to support your favorite local restaurants when ordering out.

How to support local businesses when ordering out
Understand how takeout apps impact restaurants. Third-party delivery apps may seem simple – you order food, the restaurant makes it, the third-party app delivers, and you pay the fees for an additional service. But the process isn't that straightforward. You don't see the high commissions restaurants pay to use these services. Some delivery apps charge restaurants 15 to 30% or even more. While revenue may grow for local restaurants through these apps, their profit margin will likely shrink. It's not a sustainable business model for most mom-and-pop eateries. In addition, some companies behind these services have been called out for deceptive sign-up tactics and questionable marketing practices that cut into restaurants' profits even more.

Think about delivery drivers. Delivery drivers need to be treated fairly in this arrangement, too. These gig economy apps generally offer drivers a minimum payout for each delivery they take on. Plus, they get your tip, right? Maybe, but maybe not. In the early days, many delivery apps used tips to make up the workers' base pay, meaning they went to line the company's pockets instead of your driver's. Public outcry on social media caused most companies to change that practice, but not all yielded. To ensure your driver gets their tip, research how your app handles tipping or set aside some cash instead.  

Watch your budget. If you plan your expenses with a budget, you have a specific amount allocated for food and eating out. Keep in mind that using delivery apps could cut into that budget significantly. The New York Times reports that buying a meal through a delivery app can be up to 91% more expensive than simply going to the restaurant or picking up your order.

Look for better delivery alternatives. Delivery apps are one of many ways to get food from your favorite restaurant delivered to your doorstep. Many restaurants still employ delivery drivers. In this case, ordering directly from the restaurant will save you money and give that local business much-needed support. You can also search for delivery apps with more sustainable systems in place. Some new apps ask you (and the restaurant) to pay a flat fee, enabling restaurants to keep 100% of their profits on each order. Always check BBB.org for ratings before ordering from any new business.

Support local restaurants when you can. Often, local restaurants feel pressured to use third-party delivery apps and up their prices to cover the additional expense. Supporting local restaurants by ordering directly from their website and picking up your food can make a huge difference for a small business. In the long run, it can help them keep their prices down, which saves you money too.

For more information
You can also find good advice about delivery apps here: https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/18171-bbb-tip-choosing-a-food-delivery-service.

Indulge in Indiana's iconic breaded pork tenderloin sandwich as 'Porktober' returns for its fourth year. Diners can celebrate by visiting locally-owned restaurants on the Tenderloin Lovers Trail™. The trail can be found on the Indiana Culinary Trails Passport, launched by Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) and Indiana Foodways Alliance (IFA).

Since 1908, the breaded pork tenderloin (BPT) has been Indiana's unofficial sandwich. The golden-brown crust and notable size of Indiana's BPT has made it a fan favorite for years. Crispy and thin or thick and juicy, pounded and usually fried, tenderloin lovers recognize Indiana's mouthwatering BPT for almost always being bigger than the bun.

"The breaded pork tenderloin has been a staple of Indiana's culinary scene for over a century," said Lt. Gov. Crouch, Indiana's Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. "The variety of pork tenderloins crafted at local restaurants across Indiana is a testament to Indiana's love for the sandwich and culinary innovation."

This little piggy went home this year! In October, the first 50 diners who use their Indiana Culinary Trails Passport to check in to two restaurants on the Tenderloin Lovers Trail™ will win an exclusive 'Porktober'-themed sandwich saver.

"With the exclusive 'Porktober'-themed sandwich saver, you can take your tenderloin sandwich home in style and keep your favorite breaded pork tenderloin fresh," said Elaine Bedel, Secretary and CEO of IDDC. "The Tenderloin Lovers Trail™ includes over 70 restaurants throughout Indiana that serve their take on the tenderloin sandwich. Restaurant-goers who use the free Indiana Culinary Trails Passport support local businesses and earn points towards prizes with every visit."

To participate in 'Porktober', sign up for the Indiana Culinary Trails Passport at VisitIndiana.com/Cuisine. Each restaurant check-in earns points towards a variety of prizes including pie servers, tumblers, hats, sunglasses and more!

“Indiana Foodways is thrilled to partner with IDDC once again for Porktober," said Haley Anderson, President of Indiana Foodways Alliance. "This celebration is all about the delicious pork that brings friends together and flavors to life. It’s the perfect opportunity to get out and explore our beloved local pork tenderloin. Let’s savor the taste of community this season!”

Tenderloin Collage

Follow Visit Indiana on social media at @VisitIndiana on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Experiencing the sweet and savory treats around the Great Indiana State
Fair is a summertime favorite. Today the Indiana State Fair unveiled 43 new mouth-watering culinary
creations fairgoers can enjoy this summer. The new treats just announced are:

All-American Mary
Urick Concessions
Our All-American Mary is a classic bloody Mary brimming with all your favorite backyard
cookout essentials. It’s loaded with a mini corn on the cob, cheeseburger slider, fried mac
and cheese, fried pickles, waffle fries, hotdog slider, and a mini apple pie.

Aloha Hot Honey Chicken Nachos
Urick Concessions
Aloha to our Hot Honey Chicken Nachos. This tropical twist on loaded nachos features
crispy tortilla chips, taco seasoned chicken, creamy queso, sweet pineapple chunks, a
drizzle of Mike’s Hot Honey, and zesty mango salsa.

Amish Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites
Wilson Concessions
Pretzel bites slathered in Amish Peanut Butter Spread. They will consist of Amish Peanut
butter spread and pretzel bites. The spread has a peanut butter marshmallow flavor.

BBQ Totchos
Wagner Food Services
Tater tots, pulled pork, cheese sauce, jalapeños, sour cream, BBQ sauce! What more could
you want?

Bison Smashburger Taco
Red Frazier Food Truck
Our classic Bison burger smashed and pressed into a flour tortilla served with all the Classic
fixings. Drizzled with our Signature Smash Burger Sauce.

Blue Ribbon Blueberry Milkshake
American Dairy Association
The name says it all! This first-place worthy, refreshing blueberry shake boasts just the
right amount of berry flavor and makes for a beautiful photo opportunity!

Blueberry Cheesecake Stuffed Elephant Ear
The Bakerman
For Ten years the Bakerman has offered Fair goers the original Stuffed Elephant Ear
available with Apple, Cherry, or Peach filling. This year we are taking it to the next level
with a Blueberry Cheesecake stuffed Elephant Ear!

Boba Lemonade Shake-Up
Indiana Ribeye
We have fresh squeezed lemonade shakeups with various flavors of Boba for a burst of
extra flavor of your choice!

Bratzilla
Urick Concessions
This monstrous sandwich features a locally sourced 1/3 pound bratwurst from Dewig
Meats on a pretzel bun, smothered in creamy hatch queso, topped with BBQ pulled pork,
crispy onions and jalapeños.

Chili Cheese Empanada
Newfields
Indulge in the fiery flavors of our signature Chili Cheese Empanada at the State Fair!
Bursting with a tantalizing blend of house-made 3-alarm chili and rich Wisconsin cheddar
cheese, each empanada is expertly deep-fried to golden perfection. Topped with a
colorful medley of pickled red onions, fresh scallions, and crunchy corn chips, every bite is a symphony
of textures and tastes. Accompanied by a luscious creamy cheddar cheese sauce for dipping and a dollop
of cooling sour cream, this savory sensation is a must-try for all food enthusiasts seeking a delicious and
unforgettable fair experience!

Chili Cheese Frito Corn in a Cup
Wilson Concessions
The name says it all! This tasty cup includes corn, nacho cheese, chili, and Chili Cheese
Fritos!

Chocolate Caramel Coffee Float: “The Triple C Float”
Hook's Drug Store Museum and Soda Fountain
24 oz serving of Iced Coffee with ice cream, chocolate and caramel syrups, topped with
whipped cream, a cherry and drizzled with caramel sauce.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Funnel Cake
R & W Concessions
Our famous funnel cake topped with Cinnamon and sugar followed by Cinnamon Toast
Crunch then drizzled with vanilla icing.

Cookie Butter Elephant Ear
Urick Concessions
Treat yourself to our newest twist on a classic carnival favorite! This oversized pastry is
perfectly fried, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, generously slathered with creamy cookie
butter, and topped with crushed Biscoff cookies.

Deep Fried Golden Oreo
Orme Deep Fried Treats
Just like our original Fried Oreo it is stuck with a toothpick to ensure it is completely
coated in our sweet funnel cake mix and then fried to golden perfection!

Dill Pickle Dr. Pepper
R & W Concessions
Everyone's favorite Dr. Pepper with dill pickles spears followed by a splash of juice.

Dill Pickle Lemon Shake-Up
R & W Concessions
If you want a real shake-up let us make you a Dill Pickle Lemon Shake-up made with all
fresh ingredients and a splash of pickle juice and pickle spear

Fried Ice Cream Cone
Freud Family Foods
Vanilla ice cream rolled in corn flakes and flash fried. Topped with honey, chocolate,
whipped cream. Served in a homemade waffle cone.

Fried Sugar Biscuit n’ BBQ with Apple Butter Sauce
Nitro Hog BBQ
A deep-fried biscuit rolled in sugar, stuffed with Pulled Pork topped with an Apple Butter
BBQ Sauce.

Gravy and Taters
Colp’s Concessions
A delicious, deep-fried tater topped with our savory sausage gravy and bacon!

Grilled Cheese Slammer
Freund Family Food
A grilled cheese sandwich filled with BBQ pork, mac ‘n cheese, and fried pickles, served on
Texas toast with a side order a tater tots!

Happy Jack Sandwich
Black Leaf Vegan
Loaded with shredded jackfruit blended with bourbon maple sauce and southern black leaf
spices loaded on Pretzel Bun with Coleslaw.

Hoosier Cowboy Sandwich
Indiana Beef Cattle Association
Expertly grilled ribeye steak sandwich tucked between 2 slices of pepper jack cheese and
sandwiched with grilled sourdough bread, combining the best of the Indiana Beef Cattle
Association’s Cattlemen’s Club Ribeye Stand with the American Dairy Association Indiana’s world-
famous Dairy Bar to bring 2 of the Indiana State Fair’s food staples together in one incredible sandwich.

Spicy Pickle Pizza
Swains Concessions
We start off with our homemade pizza dough with a jalapeño ranch sauce. We top it with
mozzarella and pickle chips then we sprinkle a Cajun dust over top and bake. When it
comes out we butter the crust and add more cajun dust and drizzle spicy ranch on top.

Hot Honey Pepperoni Pull Grilled Cheese
American Dairy Association
The perfect mix of Mozzarella Cheese, sandwich style pepperoni and hot honey between
2 slices of sweet Hawaiian bread, topped with a sprinkling of Italian seasoning. *Served
with marinara sauce upon request.

Indiana Pork Riblets
Indiana Pork Producers
The Indiana Pork Riblets are served as bite size portions of deliciously seasoned pork!
Enjoy the riblets with a trio of sauces, Hot Honey, Nelson’s Red Sauce and Citrus
Explosion!

Jerk Chicken Nachos
Jamaican Breeze Sports Bar & Grill
Crispy Chips topped with Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Flavorful Jerk Sauce, Sweet Peppers, and
Melted Cheese.

Melty Mess Grilled Cheese
American Dairy Association
Are you a lover of the perfect cheese combination? So are we! With slices of Havarti,
Cheddar and Muenster cheeses on buttery sourdough bread, the Melty Mess is for you!

Peach Shake Up
HI & Mighty
A bright and juicy refresher perfect for all types of summer 'fuzz' at the fair!

Peanut Butter & Jelly Chicken Wings
Urick Concessions
Crispy chicken wings tossed in a creamy peanut butter sauce and topped with a sweet jelly
drizzle. Perfect for adventurous eaters and wing enthusiasts alike, our PB&J Chicken Wings
are a must-try treat!

Shark Attack
Twisted Drinks And Food
Fresh Squeezed Fruit Punch Lemon Twister Infested With Albanese Gummy Sharks!

Strawberry Cheesecake Funnel Cake
LT Concessions
A traditional funnel cake with powdered sugar, cream cheese icing, strawberries, graham
cracker crumble and whipped topping” cooked fresh to order!

Strawberry Shortcake
Twisted Drinks And Food
Fresh Bakery Made Bundt Cake Topped With Sliced Strawberries, Whipped Cream and
Albanese Gummy Butterflies!

Sun King's State Fair Pickle Beer
Sun King Brewing
Get ready to take a ride through the Midway as you explore the tangy world of Sun King's
State Fair Pickle Beer. This Golden Ale balances the pickled punch of cucumber and dill to
the base beer’s crisp character, providing an unparalleled sensory experience. The magical combination
of brine and brew can be yours at the 2024 Indiana State Fair, and at various Sun King locations.

Sweet & Spicy Swine Pizza
Ginocchios Pizza
We start with our handmade crust, Mozzarella cheese base, topped with Pulled Pork,
Jalapeños, Grippo’s BBQ Chips and finished with a generous drizzle of Sweet D’s BBQ Sauce.

Sweet Chili Suga Daddy Sub
Gobble Gobble Food Tuck
Savory and mouthwatering Sweet Chili turkey meatballs, nestled and hugged in a donut. The
flavors of the sweet, not too spicy chili meatball combined with the sweet donut, will have
your mouth, and your head confused about which flavor you love the best!

Sweet Tea Slushy
Swains Concessions
Everyone’s favorite freshly brewed sweet tea turned into a cold refreshing slushy!

Tang-A-Rang Smoked Chicken Wings served with Kool-Aid Infused Pickles
Red Frazier Food Truck
Tang-A-Rang Smoked Chicken Wings marinated with Tang and our signature Tang BBQ rub.
Smoked and then brushed with Tang infused BBQ sauce.
Served with Various Kool Aid infused pickle flavors.

THE EVERYTHING FRY
SW Concessions
Curly fries topped with cheese, bacon bits, ranch, pulled pork, and BBQ sauce.

The Godfather Egg Roll
J & J A Taste of Home Catering & Food Truck
A 6" specialty egg roll stuffed with homemade spaghetti with meat sauce (ground beef) &
mozzarella cheese, brushed with a parmesan garlic butter.

The Korean Corn Dog
Meatball Factory LLC
It is a Hot dog sliced along with fresh mozzarella cheese chunks put on a stick. It is then
dipped in a thick donut batter, rolled in panko and French fry chunks. It is then put into the
fryer for 3 min to cook. After it comes out it is topped with ketchup, mustard, sweet chili Thai sauce and
Sriracha.

Tropical Daze Float
McGrotha Foods
Our creamy pineapple paired with orange soda. Perfect for any warm day!

Ultimate Steak Nachos
Georgia's Kitchen
Tortilla chips, monetary cheese, melted cheese, steak, onions, peppers, honey BBQ sauce,
sour cream and jalapeños!

Fairgoers are encouraged to vote for their favorite new food items by visiting any of the information
booths presented by Prairie Farms throughout the 15-day fair or by using the QR codes displayed at
each participating “Taste of the Fair” concession stand. The winning food stand will receive a $2,500
cash prize, followed by the second place receiving $1,000, and third place receiving $500. In addition, for
the first time our partners at the World Food Championships will award the top three winners a Golden
Ticket entry to the World Food Championships event taking place in Indianapolis this fall for the first
time in history at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

A map highlighting the locations of all the fair’s food booths, including the featured food items will be
available at Information Booths located throughout the fairgrounds and at IndianaStateFair.com as you
plan your trip to this year’s fair.

About the Indiana State Fair:
The Indiana State Fair, known as the state's premier multi-day event, is a vibrant celebration of the
Hoosier spirit and agricultural legacy. Over 15 exciting days, it unites communities across Indiana to
honor the state's unique identity and welcomes visitors from far and wide. Renowned for its top-notch
entertainment, spotlight on 4-H youth, engaging agricultural education programs, modern facilities, and
an array of delicious fare, the Indiana State Fair has been a treasured tradition for Hoosiers for over a
century. The 2024 Indiana State Fair takes place from August 2nd to August 18th (closed Mondays). For
comprehensive event information, ticket details, and attractions, be sure to visit our official website at
www.indianastatefair.com.

Pork Riblets have been named Indiana Pork's "Taste of the Fair" food at the 2024 Indiana State Fair. They will be served at the three Indiana Pork tents for $11 from Friday, August 2 to Sunday, August 18 (closed on Mondays).

The signature food, which features a smaller portion of traditional pork ribs, is paired with three unique sauces: Hot Honey, Nelson's Red Sauce, and Citrus Explosion.

The Pork Riblets come from baby back ribs, which are leaner and more tender than ribs that come from a spare rack. For fairgoers that are looking for a healthier food option, this is the choice for them.

"Indiana Pork is happy to feature our "Taste of the Fair" option that is not only delicious, but highlights the nutritional value of pork," said Jeanette Merritt, Director of Communications at Indiana Pork. "Our Pork Riblets and sure to please everyone who comes to the fair!"

Indiana Pork has featured a wide variety of foods for "Taste of the Fair". The Garbage Burger, Pork Boat, and Loaded Pit-Tatoes are a few signature foods that were so popular they earned a permanent spot on the menu.

"'Taste of the Fair" features something that is a bit different and encourages fair guests to try something new," said Merritt. "These riblets are a smaller portion that can be shared like an appetizer with your family or enjoyed as an entrée."

Indiana Pork has three tents located on the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Tents can be found in front of the West Pavilion, Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion, and near Pioneer Village.

Pizza and Breadsticks at Speakeasy Pizza in Orleans

A Foodie's Guide to Dining Hot Spots

French Lick and West Baden boast an array of exceptional dining options. Whether you're craving brick oven pizzas from Speakeasy Pizza, savoring Wagyu steaks, indulging in decadent chocolate domes, or enjoying authentic German cuisine, our destination has the perfect bite for every palate. Here are a few of our favorite dining spots to delight your taste buds.

Indulge Your Taste Buds at West Baden Hotel

Experience a culinary delight under the famous West Baden Springs Atrium. Dining in the Dome offers an ambiance like no other, with natural lighting that evokes the charm of an afternoon in Paris. Savor Wagyu burgers, Lobster Rolls, or even a comforting bowl of tomato soup with grilled cheese (trust us, it's delicious). For those with a sweet tooth, indulge in delectable chocolate creations that will leave you craving more.

Savor Authentic German Cuisine at the German Cafe

You won't leave the German Cafe hungry. This locally-owned authentic German restaurant offers unforgettable cuisine, from sausages and schnitzels to spaetzle, sauerkraut, and red cabbage. Enjoy dishes like Hunter's Gravy and Gypsy Gravy, Bavarian Pretzels, and more. No matter what you choose, you're in for a treat. If you have room (even if you don't, you do), indulge in one—or many—of the delectable desserts offered. Everything from start to finish is "Oh, So Good"!

Unique Wine and Hors d' Oeuvres Experience on Patoka Lake

Looking for a unique experience with wine and hors d'oeuvres? Food and wine—what's not to love? Enjoy deliciously paired Indiana wines with hors d'oeuvres while sailing Patoka Lake. Patoka Lake Wine Cruises through summer and fall provide a unique opportunity to experience nature while savoring the sunset. The pristine shorelines of the lake offer the perfect backdrop at any time of day, adding exceptional beauty to this already amazing boat ride. You'll want to come back time and again to enjoy all the exceptional pairings aboard the Patoka Voyager.