“In Mexico, the men never touch the kitchen,” says Emilio Lomeli, laughing. “It would be considered a women’s place.” Lomeli is sitting in Emilio’s Mexican Food, his restaurant in downtown Springfield. He’s dressed in a white apron, explaining how U.S. restaurants differ from those in Mexico. Lomeli, who spends most of his 12-hour workdays over […]
Food & Drink
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Rustic retreat
Pat Adamski once dreamed of operating a quaint tearoom in the woods. After living in Israel for more than two decades–leading an adventuresome life as an archeologist–she was ready to return to central Illinois and settle in the peaceful countryside. She didn’t quite find her tearoom in the woods, but she came close. For the […]
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Make mine a martini
On a recent night in the Capitol City, two professional women in their 40s sit at a table in a popular downtown watering hole, sipping ruby red liquid garnished with fruit. Across town, a group of young 20-somethings order drinks in a rainbow of colors with names that sound more like song titles or lipstick […]
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Walleye Wagons
On a Wednesday morning, Mary Beth Carter is busy dipping chunks of fresh walleye into cornmeal and plopping them into sizzling oil. Her “kitchen” consists of a closet-sized area in a small gray-shingled building in front of her fish market. She serves walleye, catfish, and carp through the three tiny windows of the concession stand. […]
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More than eggs
Sure, there are plenty of places in town that can serve up a fine breakfast of two eggs over easy or maybe a glazed doughnut or three. But if you want to make that first meal of the day a treat, there are a few interesting options with atmospheres to match the food. They might […]
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Fiery food
There are diehard enthusiasts who won’t give up the taste of grilled food, even in the dead of winter. But for most people, only warmer temperatures bring out the backyard barbecue. Geoff Bland is one of the diehards. He fires up his gas grill three or four times a week, all year long. “I love […]
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The hunt is on!
When the April days grow warmer and trees begin bursting with buds, the phone at the Main Street Tap in Beardstown starts ringing. “Everybody’s getting itchy,” says Donnie Herter, owner of the bar. No it’s not springtime allergies he’s talking about. It’s the local customers who are eagerly awaiting their first taste of morel mushrooms. […]
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Beyond the boxed lunch
Don’t visit Bentoh’s expecting the food to fall into a simple category. Bentoh’s offers sushi but isn’t a sushi bar. It offers Japanese bentos–which consist of meat and vegetables served over rice and accompanied by chilli sauce or a teriyaki glaze–but it isn’t just a Japanese restaurant. Its menu also includes Thai dishes and fresh […]
