Kitchen Witch | Thursday, November 4,2004

The mighty pumpkin: from polenta to pie

Autumn means cooler temperatures, falling leaves, and carved pumpkins on front porches. For local chefs, this time of year also means an abundance of round orange produce that gets the creative

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, October 21,2004

Saputo’s gets better with each visit

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

There's a lot to be said for familiarity. Like a favorite old pair of boots you pull out of the back of the closet or a holiday movie you watch each year with your family, some things just make

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, October 7,2004

Service, variety, and atmosphere set Brew-Bakers Caffe apart

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

Brew-Bakers Caffe is a little bit like one of the specialty coffee drinks it serves: A mix of ingredients gives it a unique flavor. The small café offers bagels, bread, and flavored cream cheese

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, September 23,2004

New specialty store offers low-carb options

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

The low-carb craze has finally hit Springfield. Although this way of eating is nothing new, a new specialty grocery store that offers takeout meals gives customers a one-stop low-carb eating an

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, September 16,2004

At Robbie’s, everything about lunch was perfect

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

Like many things in downtown Springfield, Robbie's has a Lincoln connection. Located on the Old State Capitol Plaza, the restaurant is housed in a building that began life in 1855 as a dry-goods st

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, August 26,2004

Fritz’s hits the mark on steaks and service

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

When our friends Barb and Tom Jackson want to celebrate a special occasion, their place of choice is Fritz's Restaurant, the Wagon Wheel. Like many regular customers, the Jacksons have decided

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, August 19,2004

Butt-growin’ time in Springfield again

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

The Illinois State Fair offers carnival rides, farm animals, and lots of entertainment, but one of the event's biggest attractions is the food -- lots and lots of food. The fairgrounds are a fo

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, August 12,2004

Outdoor-dining options abound in Springfield

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

Is there any better way to enjoy the warm-weather months than to dine in the open air? Food just seems to taste better when it's served outdoors in the sunshine. At one time, the choices for ou

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, July 29,2004

The best of the Taste

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

"How can black beans be so delicious?" a young woman asked Ryan Flynn at Saturday's fifth annual Taste of Downtown. Flynn and chef Eric Lehnen spent 10 hours dishing up pan after pan of fried b

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, July 22,2004

What makes a good burger joint?

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

Sometimes food, like life, should follow this motto: The simpler, the better. And in the summertime, a grilled hamburger, milkshake, and seat at an outdoor picnic table may be all that's requir