Kitchen Witch | Thursday, November 13,2003

The Indian Embassy

Loneth Soares isn't just the manager of Springfield's only Indian restaurant. She feels somewhat like an ambassador for the country. Since opening Gateway to India in 2001, she has learned that part

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, November 6,2003

Room with a view

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

When Capisce? Ristorante Italiano opened its doors in May, it already enjoyed a built-in advantage: a panoramic view of Springfield no area restaurant could match. Even its manager acknowledges the re

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, October 30,2003

A treat at the end of a trail

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

Sometimes life just isn't fair. It's ironic, for example, that the best coconut cream pie I've ever tasted happens to be located at the end of a four-mile exercise trail in Rochester. I first disco

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, October 23,2003

Much more than pie

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

Becoming a chef changed Sean Keeley's perception of the pumpkin. Most people think of the orange, round member of the gourd family as something to carve as a Halloween decoration. Its meaty inter

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, October 16,2003

A taste of the fair

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

This year's Illinois State Fair is just a memory; the cows, carnival rides and concessions won't be back until August. But if you didn't get your fill, a new downtown restaurant offers a chance to rel

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, October 9,2003

Homemade pie and history: a winning combination

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

There is a jewel hidden in the center of Elkhart, a sleepy little town just off Route 66 in Logan County. And it's filled with the aroma of homemade burnt sugar cake and cherry pie made from the tradi

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, October 2,2003

Soiree’s chef

Cody Brooks started as a dishwasher

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

Luke "Cody" Brooks is like a lot of chefs. He is passionate about food and talks about his latest creations with the enthusiasm of a new parent. But Brooks never attended a culinary class. In fact,

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, September 25,2003

E-A-T

Two stops on the Mother Road

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

There are plenty of places in town to get a couple of eggs, a cheeseburger, or a cup of coffee. But only on Historic Route 66 can you get your food served by a racecar driver who likes to show off his

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, September 18,2003

Best kept secret

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

Two Olives and a Pepper, a restaurant owned by Marsha Smole-Christy and her fiance Dean Brogdon, has more than 50 items on its Italian-inspired menu. Besides sandwiches, soups, and salads, an array of

Kitchen Witch | Thursday, September 11,2003

Rolling in the dough

Budget director finds second career in the kitchen

By Penny Zimmerman-Wills

John Crain bakes every day. He bakes scones, rolls, and all sorts of bread--white and wheat and sourdough and cranberry walnut. Yet he's still amazed by the simple magic formula: a bowl of milk, flour