story by GLENDA WINDERS
In White County, good food is on the menu year-round. Regardless of the season, you’ll find something delicious to eat and drink while you enjoy the people and places you’ve come to see.
Take the family-owned Whyte Horse Winery, for example. In the warmer months they host festivals and events out of doors. When autumn and the winter months arrive, the fun just moves indoor, with themed evenings such as Harry Potter nights, Taylor Swift singalongs, ‘80s throwbacks and Barbie soirees.
Choose from their selection of dry, semi-dry and sweet wines made right on the property to sip, and maybe pair it with a cheese from the popular Fair Oaks Dairy that the friendly White Horse staff will cut and serve with crackers at your table.
Camelot Coffee/The Original Taco Shoppe began as an Indiana Beach memory that owner Gina Zieniewicz brought to downtown Monticello. She makes most of the sweet treats that visitors have come to enjoy with their coffee, espressos and more, and the tacos here made it all the way to the Food Network. They used to be a summertime beach treat, but now they’re served all year. If you’re home for the holidays, stop in for some of your favorites, even if the weather is frightful outside.
For inspired eats that helped to put White County on the foodie map — and earned it the designation as one of USA Today’s top restaurants for 2025 — head over to Roots Eatery & Pub. This is another family-owned spot where they delight in serving Midwestern specialties made from local Indiana ingredients. The tenderloin, pork sliders and dry-aged steaks you select from their menu will have come from the farm they operate with sustainable practices.
For an unforgettable dining adventure, visit the Whistle Stop Restaurant and Monon Connection Museum. At the museum you’ll be able to see the Flagler Car No. 90, considered by some to be the most beautiful train car ever constructed. Browse through cases filled with railroad glass and china, teapots, lanterns, menus, uniforms and other memorabilia.
You’ll dine in the restaurant beneath a model train running overhead and among old photos and other railroad paraphernalia. Items on the menu are Midwest specialties that range from the All-Aboard Burger and a Train Wreck (loaded baked potato) to chicken strips called Railroad Ties. Saturday and Sunday brunches serve up biscuits and gravy, waffles, muffins and more to get your weekend started off on the right track.
For more information visit: enjoywhitecounty.com
