Two-Day Food Tour Through Hendricks County

Morning

Why not start this culinary tour to tickle your taste buds with a location and dish featured on The Today Show?

That's right...the Cinnamon Roll French Toast at Bread Basket Cafe & Bakery in Danville was named as the best breakfast item in the entire state by People Magazine and The Today Show back in 2018.

This decadent dish pairs the restaurant's made-from-scratch cinnamon rolls with French toast using their signature bread creating a meal so good it will blow your mind.

They even sell loaves of their bread and mini versions (Baby Cakes and Sweetie Pies) of some of their popular desserts.

Lunch

Our next stop on this culinary cruise can be found in Pittsboro at Hoosier Roots. Known for their family-style offerings, we haven't found a dish we haven't liked.

Some favorites include the fried chicken and roast beef with sides as good if not better than the entrees.

Don't leave without trying their fried pickles appetizer. We've had one visitor tell us they were the best fried pickles she'd ever tasted.

They also have great cocktails including their most popular: the Espolon Prickly Pear Margarita, which made our list of top signature drinks.

While you're in the area, you must hop over to Rusted Silo Southern BBQ & Brewhouse. Owned by a former Disney chef, this shack by the tracks screams BBQ and is dripping with authenticity.

If for no other reason, you must step inside for the smells and to watch the rotating Ferris wheel of meat over an open flame.

If you did save room to sample, BBQ chicken, brisket, ribs and more will have your mouth watering before the food even arrives. Pair that with cheesy grits or colored greens and you have a meal fit for a king.

They also have just about every craft beer imaginable by the bottle and can to pair nicely with your BBQ feast!

And don't leave without trying a piece of their homemade bourbon pecan pie that made a travel writer cry or Mama June's Nanner Puddin.

Afternoon

So, after all that food, we figure you need a place to walk it off. Beasley's Orchard provides the perfect place for that. Explore the acres of orchard trees and a Civil War-era barn turned market at this family-owned farm in Danville.

Beasley's also has the best apple cider in the state many years running and has begun offering hard cider by the can.

And there is no better time to visit than the fall when virtually every weekend is an event, and they charge up the apple cannons. See upcoming events at Beasley's on their business listing.

Evening/Dinner

We figure it's probably time for a nap, so head to your hotel, check in, rest, relax and recuperate before heading back out for, you guessed it, more food!

But if you need a little more activity before dinner, you could explore the Plainfield Parks trails system. They even have a bike share program to ride their scenic paved trails. You might even think about grabbing a 4-pack of Oasis Diner's handcrafted butterscotch root beer as well.

If you are a true foodie and love a little history on the side, we highly recommend dinner and drinks at The Prewitt Restaurant & Lounge. This upscale dining experience transformed an old theater into a restaurant with so many experiences just waiting for you in the same space.

You might start with a beer flight that comes to your table in a repurposed old movie reel. In fact, the owners have incorporated hints of movies into their menu and surroundings if you pay attention.

Their menu changes by season but some year-round favorites include the waygu corn dogs on the Previews (appetizers) and the tri tip steak or royale with cheese, which is their signature burger, as an entrée. Each usually have a drink pairing or you can just go with their popular and unique Old Fashions.

For dessert, they really lean into the movie theme with their Sour Patch pie, inspired by the Sour Patch candy and the Sticky Foot provides an amazing array of flavors and textures.

You may not need a nightcap, but if you love great craft beer, I would be remiss to not mention a trip to Brew Link Brewpub for their innovative beer selections made on site.

Why not enjoy their outdoor patio, order a pretzel sticks appetizer and a flight of their distinctive beers with fun names such as Just One Smore and Nuttercup. Browse their beer menu here. 

Breakfast

We would like to keep our recommendations to small bites so you can try multiple places, so how about some of our top local doughnut places to start your second day.

You can see our entire list here, but our favorites include Hilligoss Bakery in Brownsburg or Al's Donuts in Plainfield.

Morning

Plan ahead for this foodie experience and schedule a class at Sweet Minis Cakes and Bakes in Brownsburg. They offer hands-on cupcake, cookie and cake classes.

While you're in the area, we suggest stopping by the Hayloft, a small store which specializes in local and gourmet goods as well as cupcakes, pies, cheesecakes and coffee cakes made fresh daily.

Lunch

We have so many great options to recommend that it's probably better to allow you to choose.

Our top options include Greek cuisine at Opa! in Avon and their signature saganaki appetizer, Bangkok Kitchen in Avon or Thai District in Brownsburg for high-end Thai fare.

You can also visit the original Boulder Creek Dining Company in Brownsburg, the first eatery for the Cunningham Restaurant Group empire that now includes more than 30 restaurants spanning three states.

Last Stops

Before leaving, we have two more foodie favorites you must try. The first involves dessert at Danny's Mexican Ice Cream where their distinct ice cream flavors such as queso and mango chili set them apart as does their unqiue dessert offerings you can't find anywhere else including mangonadas and churro sundaes.

Finally, tap into some foodie nostalgia at The Fudge Kettle in Avon where they offer classic candies like Boston Baked Beans and of course their signature cream and butter fudge.