Peterson’s

Hatch green chiles in mac & cheese, please.

Lots of cheese. Lots of wine. Lots of James Beard snubs.

The perfect marriage of burger and brisket, classy huevos rancheros, and a dish to introduce you to koji rank as the best things we’ve eaten recently.

“When I graduated from school, my plan was that in five years, I wanted to have a dessert on a menu somewhere. Then I was offered the job at Peterson’s right out of school, and it was sink or swim.”

No. 18 – It takes some diligence to maintain a spot on this list after 17 years. Peterson’s, which has been dishing up elegant surf and turf in its clubby, dark-paneled dining room since the dawn of gourmet mac and cheese, also has a lock on consistency.

The five dishes you must try this week, including Vida’s short rib tartare.

The five dishes you must eat this week, including The Local’s shrimp and grits.

Including Cerulean’s chocolate mousse bombe filled with java-laced custard.

If you don’t surrender your fork after the main course, try the towering chocolate cake: It practically hops into your mouth.

When it comes to the quality of this city’s T-bones and porterhouses, being described as a “steak and potatoes” town should be a badge of honor.

Hattie McDaniel twirls her magic wand (or spoon, rather), and familiar sweets, like this smoky-bourbon pear pie, become the high point of the meal.

Including a brightly flavored seitan banh mi from Three Carrots.

More than 4,000 foodies and followers of the Indiana farm-to-table restaurant scene braved the humidity and intermittent sprinkles Sunday for the annual Dig IN food festival at White River State Park.

Including the summer gumbo at Bluebeard.

Including the grilled Idaho ruby trout at Peterson’s.