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 relive the fair year-round. Gibby’s Orbits, promising a “taste of the fair,” opened its doors in July. The owners, Pam […]

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 traditional recipes and methods of years past. Cynthia Hinton, owner of the Bluestem Cafe, is all about […]

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, he dropped out of high school to work full-time and only later earned his diploma. He learned his trade […]

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 flying Barbie doll. On a trip through Springfield, you’ll see just a few […]

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 homemade creations has attracted a loyal following since the place opened a year ago. A new sandwich shop is usually not big […]

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, yeast, and eggs can be transformed into warm, delicious loaves. “I just like baking bread,” he says. “I love the […]

St. Louis is a city with many faces, a rich urban tapestry with each neighborhood having its own distinct personality and history. Under the shadow of the celebrated Arch–and within easy reach of the lush Missouri Botanical Garden and Busch Stadium–is “The Hill,” an area known as much for its toasted ravioli as for its […]

The Cajuns bid “adieu,” the Celts spoke “slan,” the Germans said “auf wiedersehen.” One by one, the groups that had made Springfield’s Ethnic Festival a success said goodbye. Now organizers are left with just three groups, looking for ways to rejuvenate a Labor Day tradition. The popular festival, featuring food and music from around the […]

For many of us, a cup of coffee is the perfect way to start the day. But now, particularly in the summer months, that jolt of java may be poured over ice, mixed with soy milk and hazelnut syrup, and topped with whipped cream. Iced coffee was once a beverage found only on the menus […]

It just wouldn’t be the Illinois State Fair without some new food items–shoved on a stick, of course. And this year the newest culinary treats tempting fairgoers run the gamut from the lean and healthy to the rich and gooey. With more than 200 vendors serving everything from cotton candy, corn dogs, and corn on […]

Bob Vose says a lot of folks think of just three foods when they hear the words “Illinois State Fair”: Sutter’s Taffy, Culler’s French Fries, and Vose’s Korn Dogs–not necessarily in that order. No matter what they’re called–cozy dogs, corn dogs, pronto pups–there’s no denying that those hot dogs dipped in cornmeal batter, fried, and […]

The Illinois State Fair may celebrate corn dogs, carnival rides, and country music. But how about sipping a glass of cabernet in air-conditioned comfort while listening to jazz? Tucked between tractors, a petting zoo, and a farm-safety display in the fair’s “Agri-Expo” area (once home to the “Happy Hollow”) is the Illinois Wine Garden, showcasing […]