Local Flavors: Indianapolis, Indiana

“Drivers start your engines.” Racing fans are thrilled to hear those famous words every Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis 500, the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Visitors can enjoy Indy’s rich racing history year-round at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, which celebrates automotive innovation and the thrill of the sport, as well as offering tours of the famous track. This year, Indianapolis adds another chapter to its automotive story with the opening of The Stutz in the former Stutz Motor Company factory, which will house eateries, artisans, and the Car Museum.

Those who prefer to participate rather than spectate will find acres of parks and miles of bike trails in Indianapolis. For example, Eagle Creek Park is a hub for hikers, birders, fishermen, and sailors. The city has expanded its urban hiking and biking options with a Cultural Trail that connects many of its downtown districts with an 8-mile trail filled with public art.

Kids and their families seeking more action will find plenty of it at the fabulous Children’s Museum of Indianapolis (the world’s largest), with both exciting indoor exhibits and lively outdoor sports experiences.

On the Menu

Breaded Pork Tenderloin

Adapted from a recipe by the Indiana Foodways Alliance, this thin, breaded pork cutlet is the Hoosier version of German schnitzel.

You’ll Need

• Four 5-ounce center-cut boneless pork loin chops
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 sleeve of Ritz crackers
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• Vegetable or canola oil
• Quality hamburger buns

Make It

1. Butterfly each piece of pork loin by cutting it in half longways almost all the way through. Lay each piece on a cutting board in between wax paper or plastic wrap and pound to ³⁄₈-inch thickness.
2. Whisk eggs and milk together in a bowl or pie plate and set aside. Crush the crackers into coarse crumbs and add them to another bowl. Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
3. Dredge each loin piece in the egg/milk mixture and then in the dry cracker mixture. Do this twice if you like a lot of breading.
4. Pour about ¼–¹⁄₂-inch of oil into a heavy skillet and heat until water droplets pop when you sprinkle them in the oil. Fry tenderloins one at a time until golden and crispy, 1¹⁄₂–2 minutes per side. (Use tongs to carefully flip the meat over to avoid splattering hot oil.) Place the cooked tenderloins on a paper-towel-lined cookie sheet and keep in a warm oven, along with the buns. Continue until all the meat is cooked.
5. Serve with lettuce, onion, tomato, pickle, and other favorite condiments.

Fine Pairings

Our affordable wine choice, Dr. Heidemanns-Bergweiler Riesling Dry 2021, hails from the Mosel region of Germany. Unlike the typical sweet Riesling, this wine is light, dry, and slightly acidic, with notes of apple, peach, and pear and little hints of the slate soil in which the grapes grow. It pairs well with pork but is versatile enough to accompany seafood dishes, too. $19

Domaine Loubejac Sélection de Barriques Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2021 makes a fancier date night drink. It comes from Oregon’s Willamette Valley, where the climate is similar to the Burgundy region of France. You’ll taste fruit and a bit of oak from the barrels and breathe in slightly floral aromas. $31

KZ Robby Gordon Speed UTV Venom

Off to the races? Arrive and camp in style in KZ’s limited-edition Robby Gordon Speed UTV Venom fifth-wheel toy hauler. Named after the auto-racing driver who designed the graphics, the beefed-up toy hauler with a GVWR of 19,000 pounds is made for those who “play hard and relax harder.”

Both floorplans—the 42-foot, 10-inch 3815RG and the 43-foot, 8-inch 3916RG—can sleep eight, and inside, you’ll find luxury amenities, including a 70-by-80-inch electric tilt king bed, a Super Sofa, and a 12-cubic-foot fridge in amidships opposing slideouts, and a 40-by-96-inch loft bed.

With an industry-leading cargo carrying capacity of more than 5,500 pounds, reinforced flooring, and an 8-foot-wide interior, you can haul big toys for the ultimate in outdoor play. MSRP: $154,500.

Why We Like It: Zero G ramp door turns into an 88-by-96-inch patio | Modern farmhouse cabinetry | Heat and massage power-recline theater seating