Best Indianapolis food events in March

A taco fest, a bourbon fest, a vegan fest, a maple syrup fest and one heck of a cider brunch are just some of the food events happening in and around Indianapolis in March.

Taco Festival Spring Break

2-9 p.m. March 18, Indiana Discount Mall, 3585 Commercial Dr., Free admission, facebook.com/Indianadiscountmall

If you love authentic tacos, this is the party. Food trucks gather to serve real-deal Mexican tacos with delectable fillings like cabeza. That’s beef head meat, but don’t shutter. It is smoky, tender and juicy, like you Mom’s best roast beef times a million.

Authentic tacos: Here's where to find them

Another taco event: Indy taco fest is back, for 2 days this time

Corks & Forks

7 to 10 p.m. March 14, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., (317) 632-2664, $150, secondhelpings.org/events/corks-forks/

Indy's finest chefs and bartenders serve an evening full of tastings, fine wines, craft cocktails and local beers to benefit Second Helpings’ food rescue, hunger relief and culinary job training efforts.

You want this chef’s brunch

Noon to 2 p.m. March 4, Ash & Elm Cider Co., 2104 E. Washington St., $40, (317) 600-3164, brownpapertickets.com/event/3341780

Former Festiva chef Rachel Hoover had me at the first taste of her pozole. When she broke out the tamales with dark, rich mole poblano, I was a goner. Hoover left Festiva some months ago, but she pops up with her husband, chef and Puebla, Mexico, native Victor Deleon, for a four-course brunch paired with Ash & Elm ciders. The meal includes almond biscuits with chorizo gravy, garlic hot sauce and a deviled egg. Gluten-free options are available.

Cider in cans: Ash & Elm Cider hitting store shelves soon

Taste of Carmel

6 to 9:30 p.m. March 1, 502 East Event Centre, 502 East Carmel Dr., Carmel; $35, TasteOfCarmelOPE.com

Sample tastings from 50 area restaurants, caterers, wineries and breweries including Ocean Prime, Verde: Flavors of Mexico, Convivio Italian Artisan Cuisine and Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya. Proceeds benefit Orchard Park Elementary School.

Bourbon Fest

7 to 10 p.m. March 10, Sofi B. Estate, 9999 Ditch Road, Carmel, $55-$95, carmelrotary.com

Pair select bourbons with food samples from area restaurants including Peterson’s. Also expect cigars, live music and, for those who don’t drink bourbon (gasp!), beer and wine.

Indy Veg Fest

Noon to 6 p.m. March 31, Bitwell Event Center, 950 S White River Parkway West Drive, free admission but RSVP at indyvegfest.com

Dozens of vendors, many of them offering food and drink, gather to celebrate all things vegan. Omnivores are welcome, too. No judgement here, just good food, environmentally friendly products, cooking demonstrations, fitness activities and giveaways.

Vegan cafe: RAWkin Juice Bar is coming to The Yard in Fishers

Hamilton County restaurant week

March 12-25, various restaurants in Fishers, Carmel and other areas, savorhamiltoncounty.com

A couple dozen restaurants including Lou Vino and Peterson's Fishers, The Local in Westfield and Kizuki Ramen in Carmel offer $10, $20, $30 or $40 menus. Woody's in Carmel plans a $22 three-course menu serving pot roast in red wine gravy with bacon green beans, mashed potatoes and crispy onions, plus peach crumble with butterscotch glaze for dessert.

Huge tasting in the garden

7 to 11 p.m. March 9, Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St., $100-$125, (317) 375-2700, mynoblelife.org

Cure spring fever with tastings from 29 restaurants set up in the gardens of the Indiana Home & Garden Show. Food is not all you’ll get at Noble Evening in the Garden. Be the first to see the home and garden show, sample wine and hear live music. There’s a silent auction, too. Noble Evening in the Garden benefits Noble, a non-profit organization expanding opportunities and improving the quality of life for kids and adults with disabilities such as autism and Down syndrome.

Restaurant grand opening

11:30 a.m. March 12, 15 E. Maryland St., (317) 759-3554, nookpaleo.com

One of the year’s most interesting new restaurants is Nook, where people with – or without – dietary restrictions find food that hardly seems like something for a special diet. The dinner menu is divided into sections for Whole 30, Paleo and Keto dieters. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are there, too, including pizza. During the official grand opening, Nook owners will reveal lunch hours.

Where to eat Whole 30, Paleo: Two new restaurants open

Maple Madness

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 3, Bray Family Homestead Park, 4528 Ind. 38, Noblesville, free but RSVP required at (317)774-2500 or cool.naturecenter@hamiltoncounty.in.gov

Cool nights and warm days gets maple tree sap flowing. The Bray family started making maple syrup 150 years ago. See how it was done on old-school equipment and watch modern equipment at work. A one-hour tour takes you through the maple grove, history hut, sugar shack and sugar shop. Hear the folklore, history and science behind maple syrup. which takes about hour. Maple syrup and other products will be for sale.

Bonus event: End of a Filipino food era

11 a.m. March 10, Lee Supermarket, 2660 Lafayette Road, free, leesupermarket.com

After more than 40 years in business, Lee Supermarket’s owner is ready to retire. Doors close with a celebration of Filipino food by the Philippine Cultural Community. Taste samples of Filipino food. Meantime, pop in for everything-must-go low prices.