Chef Greg Schiesser of Indiana Downs Takes Top Award at Taste of Elegance 2013

Chef Greg Schiesser from Indiana Downs, takes home another culinary award. This go-round is the top award from Taste of Elegance 2013 held February 5 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis.

Schiesser's winning entrée was candied pork belly with bacon infused goat cheese. The chef was presented with a check for $1,000 from Indiana Pork. He will represent Indiana at the Pork Summit hosted by National Pork Board in Napa Valley, CA.

Annually, chefs from across Indiana compete in the prestigious event, hosted by Indiana Pork in partnership with Indiana Farm Bureau, Indiana Soybean Alliance and the Indiana Corn Marketing Council to encourage chefs to use pork more frequently in creative, non-traditional ways. Indiana wines are paired with the dishes and served to attendees throughout the evening.

Schiesser continues his innovative ways with cooking and canvas classes in the fall and a 5-Course Tequila Pairing Dinner on Friday, March 22. The dinner will be hosted at 7 p.m. in the 2nd floor of the clubhouse. Call 317-421-999 to reserve a place.

Other 2013 award winners include:

Superior Chef Award

Grant Michael-Albatross Grille at Prairie View Golf Club, Carmel

Premium Chef Award

Lucas Trinosky-The Chefs Academy, Indianapolis

Wine Pairing Award

Lucas Trinosky-The Chef's Academy, Indpls, Winzerwald Winery's Lieblich

People's Choice Award - Favorite Entrée

Carlos Salazar-Oakley's Bistro, Indianapolis

People's Choice Award - Favorite Wine

Oliver Chambourcin-Oliver Winery, Bloomington

People's Choice Award -Favorite Display

Carlos Salazar-Oakley's Bistro, Indianapolis

Schiesser also won the Taste of the Southside Chef Challenge February 24. During two sessions, the competitors had 30 minutes to prepare a dish with mystery ingredients. Chef Greg’s mystery basket included alligator, quinoa, kumquats, summer squash and montenebro cheese. He presented a pan-fried alligator with citrus kumquat quinoa, roasted sweet pepper fondue, and baby arugula and pickled summer squash salad.

Other competitors were defending champ Richard Goss from Richard’s Kitchen and Brick Oven Pizza, Donovan Koester of Augustino’s Italian Restaurant, and Mike Heller of Main Street Grille.

Images provided by Indiana Downs

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel columnist, freelance writer and photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Read Infused, her spirits, wine & beer lifestyle column, at www.GottaGo.us and www.FoodDigital.com and catch her as Indy’s Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC. Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, www.BroadwayWorld.com, an in print. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Indiana Gaming Commission Approves Centaur Indiana Grand Purchase

*Press release*

Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. 10, 2013 – Indianapolis-based Centaur Holdings, LLC received the Indiana Gaming Commission’s conditional approval today of its agreement to purchase Indiana Grand Casino and Downs in Shelbyville, Ind. The state commission’s unanimous decision, the second of two state-level regulatory approvals needed, comes after last month’s Indiana Horse Racing Commission endorsement. A final review by the Chairman of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission and several financing and federal regulatory and legal approvals will complete the purchase.

“Both the Indiana Gaming and Horse Racing Commissions’ unanimous approvals place the purchase of Indiana Grand Casino and Downs near completion, with several regulators still needing to fully review the finalized agreement,” said Rod Ratcliff, Centaur Holdings, LLC chairman and chief executive officer. “Centaur is ready to expand our Indiana roots, investment, and positive community relationships through the successful completion of this acquisition.”

Centaur, founded in 1993, is a privately owned company, managed by Hoosiers and headquartered in Indianapolis. “The commissions’ concurrence is a sign of confidence in the Centaur management team’s experience and knowledge in creating quality entertainment experiences for our customers,” concluded Ratcliff.

The addition of Indiana Grand Casino and Downs to Centaur’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson, Ind. will nearly double the company’s total workforce to approximately 2,000 Indiana residents. “Centaur places the highest possible value on employees, customers, and community and hopes to continue to build on the overall enhancements made by the current Indiana Grand Casino and Downs management team,” said Jim Brown, Centaur and Hoosier Park’s president and chief operating officer. “Whether it is the quality of the employees’ work environment, the products and services provided to guests, or the support provided to the local community, Centaur is dedicated to its promise of operational excellence.”

Indiana Grand Casino and Downs, located in Shelbyville, Ind., opened its racetrack, Indiana Downs, in December 2002. Indiana Grand Casino, formerly Indiana Live!, opened to the public in June 2008.

Indianapolis-based Centaur Holdings, LLC focuses on bringing the entertainment and economic benefits of casino gaming and horse racing to key communities across Indiana. Centaur currently owns and operates Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson, Ind., Hoosier Park’s Winner’s Circle Pub, Grille & OTB in Indianapolis, Ind. and off-track betting facilities in Fort Wayne and Merrillville, Ind.


Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated fine-living, travel columnist, freelance writer and photographer, and performing arts and restaurant critic for Gotta Go. Read Infused, her spirits, wine & beer lifestyle column, at www.GottaGo.us and www.FoodDigital.com and catch her as Indy’s Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC. Gotta Go is published on www.Gottago.us, www.BroadwayWorld.com, an in print. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook.