Penny Zimmerman-Wills

There are many culinary ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but for Abbas Zolghadr, it’s all about chocolate sauce, a little liquor, and a match. “Anytime you can introduce chocolate sauce and flambé, you have a recipe for romance,” says Zolghadr, the owner of Z Bistro. “It is a perfect finish to a meal.” Z Bistro, […]

Sure, we can all admit that football is the primary focus of Super Bowl Sunday. But there are actually some of us who don’t know — or care about — the difference between a tight end and a touchdown. Even for those of us who actually understand the basic rules of the game, this big […]

When Habib Hosseinali moved to the United States from his native Iran a year ago, he gained weight and quickly tired of the culprit — fast food. He was surprised at the abundance of fried food and high-calorie meals offered here, so he decided to do something about it. The result is one of Springfield’s […]

Nothing warms the soul — and stomach — like a hot bowl of soup on a cold winter day. Many local restaurants serve at least one kind of soup, in addition to chili, year-round. Here are a few good choices: n Two Olives and a Pepper — In addition to an impressive list of sandwiches […]

I must admit, when Tom Kelty Jr., owner of Sammy’s Sports Bar and Grill, told me last summer that he was planning to serve food at his downtown bar, I didn’t have high expectations. He described the menu as “typical bar food,” which, to me, usually means various fried sticks and a hot wing or […]

At the health club recently, I heard a woman complaining about the lack of good restaurants and chefs in Springfield. But as we talked, I started suggesting some of my favorites and some of the city’s finer restaurants: Bentoh’s, Maldaner’s, Sebastian’s, Soirée, Café Brio. The woman hadn’t dined at any of them. I encouraged her, […]

Celebrating the holiday season means twinkling lights and fresh evergreens, parties, and spending time with family and friends. It also usually means presents. This year, why not give the gift of food? Who wouldn’t appreciate a basket of homemade baked goods, a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant, or even a special meal cooked by […]

The folks at Cook’s Spice Rack & Chili believe in adding spice to your life. Not only does this small eatery offer some of the hottest chili in town, it also sells 99 varieties of hot sauce for customers to add their own heat at home. The restaurant, located in a renovated house on North […]

Food just tastes better when it’s eaten outside in the fresh air and warm sunshine. Even a lackluster lunch is enhanced by al fresco dining. But what to do during the dreary winter months? Try dining in front of a crackling fire. The next time you’re deciding where to dine, why not choose a place […]

Travis Schutte and Dave Linn, co-owners of Secret Recipes Inc. of Chatham, were up to their elbows in turkeys in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. They prepared more than 85 complete turkey dinners for customers who wanted to eat a home-cooked meal at home without having to cook. But having lots of leftover turkey […]

Thanksgiving dinner wouldn’t be complete without turkey, yams, and cranberry relish. But in addition to the standard holiday fare, how about a bottle of red or white? People are more likely to serve wine with their Thanksgiving feasts than with any other holiday meal, according to Geoff Bland, owner of the Corkscrew Wine Emporium. In […]