Kitchen Witch | Thursday, September 23,2004

New specialty store offers low-carb options

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

Feature | Thursday, September 16,2004

Best of Springfield 2004

People, Entertainment, Food, Services, & Recreation

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

QUICKIE HISTORY In the mid-1980s, Illinois Times asked readers to pick their favorite restaurants and entertainment venues for an annual special section we called "Food & Fun." In the late '

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

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, July 15,2004

Alexander’s offers the thrill of the grill

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

Here's a puzzle for any restaurant critic: How do you review a restaurant where patrons cook their own main courses? The answer: Focus on the restaurant's atmosphere and the experience -- and trust di

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, July 1,2004

A revival — and a reunion

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

The sign on the door makes it clear: The recently opened Nantucket Grill is not associated with the New England Lobster House, which until February occupied the space on MacArthur Boulevard. Bu