Kitchen Witch

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 […]

Three months ago, Mark Anderson and Rob Deaton opened the Wienerdog, a business dedicated to that quintessential summertime meal: the all-beef hot dog. The two were working at a local Applebee’s, when they came to the realization that what this city really needed was a good hot dog. “There just weren’t any good hot dogs […]

Within a four-block stretch of South Grand Avenue are three spots serving up some of the best home cooking in town. You won’t find all-encompassing menus, breakfast burritos, or special action figures with kids meals, but you will get plenty of warm, inviting food along with good conversation. Just like Mom’s. The Walleye Stop is […]

Michigan celebrates cherries. Wisconsin loves cheese. In Illinois, it’s all about corn. Next week 11,000 ears of corn will be consumed during the 30th annual Chatham Sweet Corn Festival, which runs July 17 through 19. The event, held in Community Park on Main Street, is a fund-raiser for the Chatham Jaycees manned by about 200 […]

“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” –Henry James One thing Josephine Datz misses about her native South Africa is a good cup of tea. “In the afternoon around 4 p.m., it’s tea time in my mind,” she says. “It’s the thing to […]