Pork and Root Beer: A Winning Combination at Indiana Taste of Elegance Competition

Giving tribute to a summer trip he and his wife’s family take to a favorite root beer spot, Chef Dean Sample from The Burgess Restaurant Group in Indianapolis took home top honors at this year’s Indiana Pork's Taste of Elegance event held in Indianapolis.

Each year, the Taste of Elegance program brings together talented chefs, encouraging the use of pork more frequently and in creative, non-traditional ways, the Indiana Pork release explains. The event attracts over 400 pork farmers, lawmakers, ag industry leaders and dignitaries to the downtown Indianapolis area for an event of elegance and celebration.

Chef Sample’s featured dish included Indiana Tenderloin with fries and root beer, specifically a Tenderloin Wellington with Pickle Duxelles, Root Beer Glazed Pork Belly, Bacon Fat Fried Potatoes, Frisée Salad w/ Bacon Vinaigrette, Pork Rind Crumble and a Mustard Aioli.

"Chef Sample is a great competitor at Taste of Elegance," says Jeanette Merritt, director of communications of Indiana Pork. "Chef Sample grew up on a corn and soybean farm and understands the importance of Indiana agriculture. He is a great advocate for Indiana pork and features it in many different ways on his menus."

While Chef Sample took home the top honors and $1,000 in prize money, a number of other chefs earned notable awards, including:

•    Superior Chef Award (2nd place): Steven Hackney — Indianapolis
•    Premium Chef Award (3rd place): Erin Oeschle — Chef "E" Suppler Club, Indianapolis
•    Wine Pairing Award: Steven Hackney — Indianapolis
•    People’s Choice Award — Favorite Entrée: Dean Sample, Burgess Restaurant Group, Indianapolis
•    People’s Choice Award — Favorite Display: Cole Padgett - Taxman, Fortville
•    People’s Choice Award — Favorite Wine: Ash & Elm Cider, Indianapolis

The roster of featured chefs in the 2023 competition included:
•    Chef Michael Gomez — Gomez BBQ, Indianapolis
•    Chef Kathy Jones — Big Woods Restaurant Group, Nashville
•    Chef Cole Padgett - Taxman, Fortville
•    Chef Erin Oeschle — Chef "E" Supper Club, Indianapolis
•    Chef Dean Sample — Burgess Restaurant Group, Indianapolis
•    Chef Scott Cramer — Crystal Signature Events, Indianapolis
•    Chef Steven Hackney - Indianapolis
•    Chef Ross Katz - RHB Resources, Indianapolis
•    Chef Tracey Couillard - Ash & Elm Cider, Indianapolis