Bloomington’s food and drink scene is buzzing with fresh energy. From new hands-on experiences to rare local releases and exciting announcements, there’s plenty to savor around town. Whether you’re a foodie, a wine enthusiast, or just someone who loves keeping up with what’s next, these five standout stories capture the flavor of what’s cooking in Bloomington right now.
Introducing an Old Friend: Darn Good Soup
An old Bloomington favorite has made its return! Darn Good Soup has reopened, this time in partnership with The Chocolate Moose. Known for its comforting, made-from-scratch soups, the beloved eatery will feature eight rotating options, including the well-loved classics Chicken Tortilla, Lentil Spinach, and African Chicken Peanut. The reopening marks an exciting revival, bringing back the familiar flavors locals have long missed.
In The Kitchen
Bloomington has a wealth of food knowledge through great chefs, culinary instructors and home cooks who are truly talented, and In the Kitchen is designed to tap into these skills. Offering a variety of hands-on classes such as knife skills, Sip and Design Floral Arranging Brunch, tea blending, and baking to other curated culinary topics, there’s something for everyone.
Take advantage of this new event space and the educational opportunities offered, to learn from different perspectives and backgrounds, with local cooks, local chefs, local growers and local food. In the Kitchen is a place to share and build the community good food and wine creates, where people can gain new skills, meet local cooks, learn about wine, or break bread with friends old and new.
Butler Winery
For the wine lovers looking to sip on something truly unique, Butler Winery & Vineyards’ Blackcurrant Obsession is a must-try. One of only two blackcurrant wines made in Indiana—and the only one crafted with Indiana-grown blackcurrant berries—this port-style wine is infused with grape brandy, creating a luscious balance of tart and sweet. Perfect alongside desserts like German Chocolate Cake or Pecan Pie, Butler Winery's Blackcurrant Obsession is bold, local, and unlike anything else on the shelf!
Needmore Coffee
For the coffee lover or those who just love building community, exciting news from the woman-owned Needmore Coffee Roasters. A new dedicated roasting facility, Needmore Coffee Roasters Roastery, opened in Bloomington. The new roasting facility isn’t just about shiny equipment or bigger batches, it’s about quality— roasting with more precision and consistency, transparency— showing how coffee is sourced, roasted, and shared, and finally community— creating a space that connects the people who grow coffee, the people who roast it, and the people who drink it. This space was built for one reason: to roast better coffee and share it with the community.
Cardinal Spirits
Barrel No. 1, Bloomington’s oldest whiskey and a true milestone for Cardinal Spirits, was introduced as a 10-year-old single barrel Straight Single Malt Whiskey, crafted entirely from unsmoked malted barley. It was laid down on April 8, 2015, and patiently aged until October 22, 2025. The result was rich with depth and history, offering tasting notes of orange, maple, and cinnamon with a long, pleasant finish. The whiskey was released exclusively at the distillery on Friday, November 21.
