Food & Drink

On the Chinese calendar, we’re now in year 4702, the Year of the Monkey. Fifteen days of celebration kicked off on Jan. 22. Of course, naming it a “monkey” year isn’t a commentary on current fashion trends or the fact that we’re in an election year. Chinese lunar years are named for animals; the next […]

Deborah Denney learned how to cook while serving her country. The chef, who once fed a former president and Navy admirals, now serves up fried chicken livers in a small café. But it’s all the same for Denney. “I enjoy it,” says the owner and chef of Marcia’s Grand Café in Mt. Pulaski. Denney recently […]

As I’ve been a life-long fan of the Magic Kitchen restaurant, I have to admit it’s been the primary source of my Thai food cravings for as long as I’ve been a Springfield resident. But I have discovered there are several other options in town that can toss tofu and spice up chicken with coconut […]

One step inside Café Brio and you’ll quickly get an idea of what kind of food is served there. The bold colors of gold, green, and orange-red are used on everything from the walls to the menus. Even the complimentary tortilla chips made daily come in shades of orange and purple. So it’s evident this […]

Since I began writing this column a year ago, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and talking with many restaurant owners, cooks, and food professionals. What I have noticed more than anything is that these people have one thing in common — unrelenting passion. To be a success in the food industry, like many other […]

Two local restaurants are blending food and art to creative an appetizing atmosphere for the senses. “I just love the arts,” says chef Augie Mrozowski, owner of Augie’s Front Burner. Evidence of his appreciation for art can be seen throughout his downtown restaurant — from the life-size portraits of nude woman by the front door, […]

Cinco de Mayo is the Mexican holiday celebrating Mexico’s victory over an invading French army in 1862. It’s also the name of a new Mexican restaurant that does an honorable job of celebrating authentic Mexican cuisine. The restaurant opened in August in space formerly occupied by Reflections at the Travelodge on the city’s south side. […]

A tip before you order at Mariah’s: Try something served with the homemade red sauce, a house specialty. The flavorful tomato sauce, which is rich with herbs, spices and onion, is light in texture and tastes like it just came off your stove at home after simmering for several hours. Mariah’s restaurant opened this fall […]

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 […]