Kitchen Witch

No matter the season, the soup’s always on at the Feed Store. For nearly three decades, the restaurant has been serving up bowls of mushroom bisque and Wisconsin cheese soup for lunchtime crowds. The restaurant keeps it simple: soup, sandwiches, and desserts. Many of the sandwich options are standard fare, such as turkey, ham, and […]

Chef and caterer Dave Linn won’t be eating traditional turkey and trimmings this Thanksgiving. It’s not because he dislikes the bird. It’s just that after preparing approximately 50 complete turkey dinners for customers — each featuring a 12-pound roasted bird with all the trimmings, he’s looking forward to a nice pot roast prepared by his […]

The New England Lobster House may be a long way from the East Coast, but it’s been proving for more than 20 years that tasty seafood does exist in central Illinois. Owner Cathy Sims Norgaard says customers, especially out-of-towners, are always surprised at the quality of the restaurant’s seafood selections. “I’ve had people from Maryland, […]

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 of her job is educating new customers about Indian food and answering their many questions. And if they order something they’re not pleased […]

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 restaurant’s prime location on the 30th floor on the Hilton Springfield draws customers who may be unfamiliar with its eclectic, authentic Italian menu. “The view […]

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 discovered the Lost Bridge Café because of its location on Route 29 near the Lost Bridge Trail, connecting Springfield to Rochester. […]

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 interior is usually only considered as a main ingredient for pumpkin pie. Even then, the pumpkin filling is usually purchased in cans. Who […]

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 […]