Dining

So you’ve munched on corn at the Indiana State Fair and had your mouth set afire by a certain shrimp-cocktail sauce. But what are the modern-day rites of passage? We have answers.

The meat-packed Mac Daddy from Rockstone Pizzeria Pub contains bacon, capocollo, and Smoking Goose City Ham baked in asiago sauce.

The Local’s Craig Baker deconstructs the Sunday-dinner staple into a cooking-school final exam dish reminiscent of chicken cordon bleu or rolled meats from Eastern Europe.

Rook’s Carlos Salazar concocts a beguiling bowl of ramen in an aromatic miso-enriched pork broth laden with anything from a marinated soft-boiled egg to homemade kimchi pickles.

Libertine’s country-style slab emerges from the oven unadorned, heavier than most but sporting the nearly silken texture of a fine French terrine.

Of all the Hoosier cultural emblems, none is as sweet and soothing as sugar cream pie.

The Indigo Duck in Franklin, known for its rich Lowcountry cooking with a French accent, embraces the essential accompaniment for Fried Green Tomatoes.

As far as soup-and-sandwich combos go, nothing beats the pairing of toasty grilled bread loaded with warm, melting cheese alongside a bowl of sweet, soothing tomato soup.

The homey sides get special attention, too: luscious creamy grits, lightly sauteed fresh greens, and smoky barbecued black beans cooked until al dente.

Housed in a revamped storefront full of intimate tables and timber-chic accents, this cozy family tavern has been packed to its exposed brick walls on the past two weekends that we popped in.

Including the vegan cookies-and-cream cake at the Mass Ave and Carmel Bazbeaux locations.

Casserole is a one-pot dish that can be prepped ahead. Self-reliant and relaxed, it takes care of itself in the oven by bubbling and browning away, allowing you to get on with your life.

A gifted chef can make a dish look simple when it is anything but. Case in point: these skillet-formed hash browns.

Including the Mozzarella con Prosciutto starter at Ristorante Roma.

All six of its gourmet flavors begin with a base of smooth, crunchy honey-roasted peanut butter, with add-ins not found in your average jar of Jif.