Feature Friday: Zestfest

Since 2006, Chef/Owner Valerie Vanderpool has been putting a little zest into the Indy food scene. Her uptown treatment of downhome cooking in Broad Ripple's Zest! Exciting Food Creations has landed her restaurant and catering operation on magazines and tvs (and happy diners' plates).

Her tomato bon bons got the attention of Food Network's Guy Fieri and his show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. This spring, ESPN came straight to Zest to organize their VIP party in Valerie's new private rental space. (Chris Berman is gonna love her creme brulee french toast and eggplant Wellington.) And Indianapolis Monthly named Zest's "3-Napkin Burger" the best burger in the city.

Alongside truffled-asiago pomme frites, Valerie piles a 10oz burger with bbq sauce, grilled red onion, white cheddar, smoked gouda, and creamy bleu cheese before gilding this lily of a burger with Smoking Goose's Applewood Smoked Bacon. Three napkins for this Zestfest? Yes, please.

image by Indianapolis Monthly