Debbie’s Dish W
elcome home to southern Illinois! Carbondale has long been a “place called home” to many, and I’m anxious for you to get to feel that way, too! For 140 years, the presence of Southern Illinois University has been responsible for meshing the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people with the residents of Debbie Moore this wonderful community, which is central to the southern region of Illinois. They come … and they go … but they always come back again and again. Generations have found a comfortable home with us. They love the natural beauty of our home. They love our people. They love our hospitality … and they love to experience our culture through food! I’m pleased to introduce you to this first issue of “Food, Fun & Folks”, a little magazine filled with big travel opportunities! Our fantastic wineries and scores of locallyowned restaurants join partnering orchards, farmers’ markets, corner groceries and food festivals in inviting you to “come home to southern Illinois”! We’ve filled our pages with articles about the heritage of this region and the importance that agriculture and food have always played in our Executive Director :: offerings of southern hospitality. Because of these tricky economic Carbondale Convention & Tourism Bureau times, we’ve made an effort to share some secrets about affordable travel opportunities. Because we know you love to eat, we’ve shared some recipes for really, really good southern Illinois cuisine. I want you to get to know us through the pages of our little magazine … then visit us at www.cctb.org or www. foodfunfolks.com … and let us help you find your way home to Carbondale, the heart of southern Illinois. Enjoy!
‘I’ve got the inside scoop.’
Debbie Moore
Debbie Moore Executive Director Carbondale Convention & Tourism Bureau
2 FOOD, FUN & FOLKS Magazine :: Fall 2009
Southern Illinois Foodways & Foodlore
Contents
:: Fall 2009
Live to eat
4
Everyone ‘eats to live’, but if you are lucky, you ‘live to eat!’ If you travel on your stomach and enjoy visiting regions where food and wine come together to offer a wonderfully exciting culinary experience, southern Illinois should be at the top of your vacation list.
Magic in the hills
8
As a girl, one of the most beautiful sites was the drive along Highway 127 through Union and Jackson Counties during spring when all the fruit trees were in bloom. Possibly even more beautiful were thoughts of perfectly sweet, juicy fruit to later follow those blooms in peach and the Autumn apple season!
Southern stimulus package 14 Southern Illinois is the perfect destination! Just a few hours drive from almost anywhere in the Midwest, southern Illinois has hometown hospitality ... and hometown prices to boot!
Quarterly Magazine Fall 2009
Publisher Debbie Moore Carbondale Convention & Tourism Bureau Executive Director Content Stephanie Rhodes Coordinators Bloomin’ Communications Nicole L. Davis, PhD Southern Illinois University Carbondale Hospitality & Tourism Administration Program Graphic Design Rhonda M. Ethridge The Southern Illinoisan Newspaper Contributors Chandra Green Heartland Women Newspaper Paul Brinker Brinker Photography
Recipes in this issue LAURA LIPE’S APPLE-BRIE SPINACH SALAD :: Page 9 APPLE BRIE CRUSTS :: Page 10 ORCHARD SPICE PORK ROAST :: Page 10
On the cover When you visit southern Illinois, make sure you buy a box of apples, so you can go home and bake this fantastic pie! One bite into the sweet juicy treat and you’ll be planning your next trip! For the recipe, visit www.foodfunfolks.com. Photo by :: DEBBIE MOORE
Food, Fun & Folks is a quarterly magazine published by the Carbondale Convention & Tourism Bureau For information regarding this publication or the information contained in the publication, contact Debbie Moore, executive director Carbondale Convention & Tourism Bureau 1185 East Main, Suite 1046 Carbondale, Illinois 62901 (618) 529-4451 or (800) 526-1500 Visit our websites at www.cctb.org or www.foodfunfolks.com ©2009 Carbondale Convention & Tourism Bureau
www.cctb.org :: www.foodfunfolks.com
FOOD, FUN & FOLKS Magazine :: Fall 2009 3
Live
to eat If you travel on your stomach ...
4 FOOD, FUN & FOLKS Magazine :: Fall 2009
By Debbie Moore ::
E
veryone “eats to live,” but if you are lucky, you “live to eat!” If you travel on your stomach and enjoy visiting regions where food and wine come together to offer a wonderfully exciting culinary experience, southern Illinois should be at the top of your vacation list. Our southern Illinois foodways are deeply rooted in the culture and heritage of our region. Whether it’s the influence of the clusters of German immigrants who settled in Jackson and Union Counties and planted fruit trees or the influence of the English settlers who found their homes in Williamson County and considered themselves professional hunters and trappers, what we put in our mouths, today, was influenced by their beginnings.
Southern Illinois Foodways & Foodlore
When it comes to the topic of food, we are a fortunate region. Our soup pot is filled with the ways of the Scottish and Irish who helped build our young Illinois, the Africans who found freedom inside our borders and the Italian and Polish immigrants who came to work our coal mines. In more recent years, that simmering pot has been stirred with the cooking techniques of an Asian population and seasoned with the herbs of the Middle East and the spices of a Hispanic population that have made our region their home. Our region is home to hundreds of restaurants, and many of them are locally owned and are favorite places for homemade biscuits and gravy or gigantic hand-pattied hamburgers. In Carbondale, you can eat your way around the world as you enjoy the foodways of many cultures of this Southern Illinois University community reflected through restaurant fare. If barbecue is “king” in our restaurants, then homemade pie is “queen!” From perfectly flaky crust to “mile high” fluffy meringue, our pies are perfect! Our fruit orchards are loved by the locals and often visited by travelers. The retail shops at Lipe Orchards, Rendleman Orchards and Flamm Orchards, located just minutes south of Murphysboro and Carbondale, are filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, jams, jellies, dessert and bread mixes, cider, cookbooks and a long list of other “must haves!” The orchards are fantastic attractions all season long, but May is strawberry time, July and August are the months for peaches and September and October are the perfects months to see the apple harvest.
Did you know? Apples are known
for healing qualities. An apple a day … keeps the doctor away.
www.cctb.org :: www.foodfunfolks.com
Many communities have seasonal farmers’ markets that offer the freshest produce. Carbondale’s Saturday morning farmers’ market is filled primarily with booths of fruits and vegetables, but it isn’t uncommon to find a unique piece of pottery, a wooden birdhouse, bread and pies or a batch of cookies for your dog! Local musical entertainment is often present and a perfect cup of coffee is just a halfblock away at the popular Neighborhood Food Co-op. Our little mountains are technically the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, but southern Illinoisans have called them the “Shawnee Hills” for generations. In our Shawnee Hills, travelers enjoy magnificent views of the Shawnee National Forest, but they also enjoy the region’s wineries. A taste of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail is a must for culinary travelers. The wineries are located just minutes apart and all of them have excellent tasting rooms and award winning wines. Welcome to the foodways of southern Illinois! As you plan your next trip, don’t hesitate to contact the staff at the Carbondale Convention & Tourism Bureau for additional information at 1-800-526-1500. Visit us at www.cctb.org or check out our food-friendly site at www.foodfunfolks.com We’ll be happy to provide the assistance you need to find hotel, bed and breakfast or cabin accommodations for you. We’ll connect you with the restaurants and wineries to make your “foodie” experience perfect! We’ll help you find your way home to Carbondale, Southern Illinois!
If you dream about
apples, you are in for some good luck!
Apple dumplings are made by the dozens at Flamm Orchards.
FOOD, FUN & FOLKS Magazine :: Fall 2009 5
Up Close with John Alo By Chanda Green and Nicole L. Davis ::
A
longi’s Italian Restaurant in DuQuoin, Illinois is a place for first dates, for celebrating Prom night, for gathering to rejoice the birth of a child, and for gathering again and again to commemorate wedding anniversaries. High School teenagers hold their first jobs at Alongi’s, then come back on college breaks to work weekends just as a reminder of the “old days!” Alongi’s is all about family, and when you dine there you feel like a part of the family. “You know, some people insist on sitting in the older portion of the restaurant because that’s where they always sit or because that’s where they sat on their first date,” says owner John Alongi. “Some have been coming here for more than 40 years. The memories are thick in here, for our customers and for me.” John Alongi was born in St. Louis, but his parents hailed from Cinisi, Sicily. Shortly after arriving separately to America in 1902, John’s parents, Guy and Rosalia were introduced by John’s Uncle Frank. The family opened Alongi’s in 1933 at the height of the Great Depression, a time when new ventures were risky. Walking into Alongi’s for the first time evokes feelings of being home ...
6 FOOD, FUN & FOLKS Magazine :: Fall 2009
home in Sicily. The aroma of marinara sauce simmering on the stove wafts by you as you walk past the bricked fireplace into the original dining room. A combination of family collected sports memorabilia and photos of Cinisi adorn the walls. The restaurant has achieved much notoriety since its early days of serving hot dogs and ham and salami sandwiches! The long history of Alongi’s says a great deal about the pride they place in the daily operations of the restaurant. The food is authentic, adapted from Alongi family recipes in many cases. Nana’s meatballs with spaghetti is a long time family favorite that graces the pages of their menu: two very generous homemade meatballs atop a pile of spaghetti smothered in the family recipe meat sauce. The restaurant bottles and sells their house salad dressing, also a secret family recipe. They’ve recently added a balsamic vinaigrette to their product line, which can be viewed in their online store at www.alongis.com. The service at Alongi’s is genuine, and it is obvious that the family atmosphere spreads among employees. “If you don’t treat your employees like family, you’re in the wrong business,” says John. John admits that he’s seen as many as three
Southern Illinois Foodways & Foodlore
ongi
generations of employees … all from the same family … pass through his restaurant. John has retired at least three times, but the restaurant keeps pulling him back. His own sons, John Alongi II and Guy Alongi III, now manage the restaurant.
www.cctb.org :: www.foodfunfolks.com
‘We’ve always had a family atmosphere here, from the beginning.’
John Alongi
Alongi’s Italian Restaurant :: DuQuoin, Illinois
“We’ve always had a family atmosphere here, from the beginning,” says John. John’s father believed that customers were always right as long as they behaved themselves, and he never allowed cursing in the restaurant. “He established our reputation and we’ve
worked hard to maintain that family friendly atmosphere.” Seventy-six years of Alongi’s good food and good service has graced DuQuoin, Illinois’ downtown. You’ll be pleased, if you find your way home to Alongi’s!
FOOD, FUN & FOLKS Magazine :: Fall 2009 7
Magicin the hills
By Stephanie Rhodes ::
I
have always known that there is something very magical about these rolling hills in southern Illinois. As a girl, one of the most beautiful sites was the drive along Highway 127 through Union and Jackson Counties during spring when all the fruit trees were in bloom. Possibly even more beautiful were thoughts of perfectly sweet, juicy fruit to later follow those blooms in the peach and the Autumn apple seasons! In my college years, I was an exchange student in Germany. While residing in Baden-Württemburg for a spell, I recognized many similarities between the area, which is the Rhine River Valley, and my home area near Alto Pass, in the Mississippi River Valley. Later, as an employee of a local orchard and frequent shopper of local farm markets and farm stands, I learned a lot about the history and traditions of the families that own these flavorful fields! In the late 1800s, several families in southern Illinois … many with German roots … saw the same similarities to the Rhine River Valley. Well over a hundred years ago, they began growing peaches and apples, nectarines and vegetables for the produce market to sell locally, as well as, ship commercially throughout the Midwest. It really is no coincidence that southern Illinois was an ideal location for this kind of commercial agriculture production. There were good growing conditions, easy
8 FOOD, FUN & FOLKS Magazine :: Fall 2009
access to rail transportation and the invention of the refrigerated railroad car during the mid-1800s. Many things have changed through the years in the orchard business. Now you will see tractors in the field rather than horses. There are more varieties of both peaches and apples for any recipe or pallet. With the development of more varieties, more delicious fruit is available for a longer period of time. Who could complain about more perfectly sweet, juicy fruit to enjoy? At the root of all this magic, though, are some amazing families with diverse operations and products that make visiting southern Illinois a sweet treat! Lipe Orchards is located just minutes south of Carbondale. Their market is known for having a wide selection of produce to help in preparation for “suppertime!” As a fourth generation family farm, Lipe Orchards is known for the freshest produce and is truly a “shop full” of “girl power!” Sisters, Sara and Laura Lipe handle the management … and much of the labor … of the business. Both grow produce for the market including fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Sara covers the orchard and Laura operates the market. Mother, Rose helps in the market, too, and always gives a special southern Illinois greeting to visitors. If you have the opportunity to meet any of these phenomenal women, it is a real treat.
see apples / page 10
Southern Illinois Foodways & Foodlore
Perfect
Fall Food
good stuff
Laura Lipe’s Apple-Brie Spinach Salad
Our friend Laura, from Lipe’s Orchard is a great cook. This warm salad recipe is sure to please and can be served alongside slices of smoked pork tenderloin for a nice luncheon meal. The apples are sweet and the cheese turns soft and buttery. Ingredients for the Salad: 4 large apples, cut into 1/2 inch wedges 4 Tablespoons maple syrup, divided 8 cups fresh baby spinach 1 round (8 ounces) Brie or Camembert cheese, cubed 1/2 cup pecan halves or almond slivers, toasted Place the apples on an ungreased baking sheet; brush with 2 Tablespoons syrup. Place under the broiler for about 5 minutes, until crisp-tender, turning once and brushing with the remaining syrup. In a large salad bowl, combine spinach, cheese cubes, nuts and apples. Ingredients for the Dressing: 1/4 cup Lipe’s Orchard apple cider 1/4 cup vegetable oil 3 Tablespoons cider vinegar 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 garlic clove, minced In a small saucepan, combine the ingredients and bring to a boil. Pour over the salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately.
A load of apples at Rendleman Orchards, circa 1940.
An 1866 New York Times newspaper article begins by concluding that Illinois is an apparent poor area to grow fruit of any kind, including peaches. However, the article’s author made a remarkable shift, describing the “Great Peach Crop” of southern Illinois, centered on the then small village of DuQuoin. In 1866, approximately 60% of the Illinois peach crop was shipped out of DuQuoin, ultimately arriving in Chicago. Even more remarkable was that America was in a peach drought of sorts, and these southern Illinois peaches were shipped all over the country. Crops that year netted one orchard $30,000, the equivalent of about $5.5 million today!
Celebrate the Apple with these Fantastic Recipes! www.cctb.org :: www.foodfunfolks.com
FOOD, FUN & FOLKS Magazine :: Fall 2009 9
good stuff
rotten apple
A injures its neighbor!
Apple Brie Crusts
from page 8 Not too far away from Lipe Orchards, you’ll find Flamm Orchards on Old Highway 51, just north of Cobden. Leohnard and Theresa Flamm settled here in 1888 on 117 acres. Today, Flamm Orchards has grown to a 2,000acre farm with a variety of fruits and vegetables sold on and off the farm. The tastiest part about going to Flamm Orchards? After, or even before you shop for fresh produce in their Country Market, you can choose from homemade cobbler, pies or dumplings … depending on the season … in the Fruits ‘n Cream Stand next door. “Flamm jam” is made by the family, too, and is sold in their Country Market. In the neighboring community of Alto Pass, Rendleman Orchards is definitely a stop you don’t want to miss. The Rendleman family also got
into peach and apple business in the late 1800s. The business has always truly been a family affair. Education is a natural part of the Rendleman Orchard business. Their Farm Market is full of all things peaches and apples. Not only can you find fresh fruit from the orchard, but you can purchase products like peach salsa and apple barbeque sauce that will allow you to taste and share the memories of southern Illinois even after your trip is over. What’s the magic in the hills? Once you visit southern Illinois, see the scenery, get a taste of the delicious fruit of the land … and meet the people representing generations of hard work and commitment to local food … you will be hooked. After you’ve found your way home to southern Illinois’ orchards, you’ll want to stay a little longer, even return for another bite!
This simple appetizer uses just three ingredients and takes less than three minutes under the broiler! Ingredients: Brie cheese Apple marmalade or jelly French bread slices Add a little fresh thyme to apple marmalade or jelly. Top toasted French bread slices with a little chunk of Brie cheese and a bit of thyme spiked apple marmalade. Toast under the broiler for a couple minutes and serve warm. Garnish with fresh herbs.
Orchard Spice Pork Roast Ingredients: 3 – 4 pound boned and rolled Boston Butt pork roast 1 cup Pomona Winery Orchard Spice apple wine 1/2 cup apple cider or juice
1 medium sweet onion, cut in wedges 2 Red Delicious apples, cut in wedges Salt and pepper 1 clove of garlic, minced Fresh sage and rosemary 2 cinnamon sticks
Prepare the roast by rubbing it with salt, pepper and garlic. Place the roast in a slow cooker; surround with onion and apples; gently pour the wine and juice around the roast and top it with the fresh herbs and cinnamon sticks. Cook the roast on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours. The internal temperature of the roast should reach 160 degrees. Serve with additional sautéed apples. Peel and slice 4 additional apples; sauté them in a nonstick skillet in 4 Tablespoons of butter until tender. Just before serving, add 1/4 cup brown sugar and gently stir into the apples and butter. Simmer until the sugar dissolves and starts to caramelize.
Need more information?
For additional recipes using peaches and apples, visit www.sliceofpie.biz
10 FOOD, FUN & FOLKS Magazine :: Fall 2009
Southern Illinois Foodways & Foodlore
Chocolate the camel
&
Need more information? For a road map, visit www.cctb.org
A self-guided tour
By Debbie Moore ::
O
ne of the most popular tour routes in the southern region of Illinois combines chocolates and a camel! That’s right; chocolates and a camel … creamy, yummy chocolates … and a camel … Camel Rock, of course! Return visitors to southern Illinois know that there are few places like the magnificent Shawnee National Forest and the land between the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. That very unique place is filled with watchable wildlife and recreational opportunities. The Shawnee National Forest boasts incredible spots where you can see and feel and smell your surroundings. As you plan for a fall getaway weekend, visit www.fs.fed.us/r9/shawnee to look more closely at those locations and the Forest rules. To have fun with chocolates and a camel, start early and have a big breakfast at regional favorite, Mary Lou’s in Carbondale, where you will find great big smiles behind the counter! Make sure you pack a cooler (for the chocolate) and begin your trip by following U.S. Route 51 south to the Anna intersection of Route 146 and 51. From there, travel east on Route 146 all the way to the Dixon Springs State Park, which is on a giant block of rock with beautiful cliffs and boulders, adorned with overgrown ferns and ivy. Take a quick hike to work off your chocolate calories in advance! The Chocolate Factory, one of southern Illinois’ favorite traveler stops, is located right across the highway. Whether you stop for a double-dip ice cream cone, pounds of fudge and gourmet chocolates or just one of their “white mountain clusters,”
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you will enjoy every bite, as well as the conversation with some great southern Illinoisans. From the Chocolate Factory, continue east on Route 146 through Golconda to Route 34. Travel north on Route 34 about nine miles to Karber’s Ridge Road. Follow the signs to Garden of the Gods where you’ll meet the camel rock! Make sure you pack beverages, because water isn’t always available at this site. You’ll want to make the hike through the park site. The photo opportunities are incredible, so be ready to smile! After that hike, load up and back track a little to Route 146 and follow it east to Elizabethtown. Elizabethtown is a traveler’s favorite because it sits right on the Ohio River and has the nostalgic look of a true southern community. You’ll want to visit the Grand Rose Hotel Bed and Breakfast, take a walk along the grounds and have a leisurely visit while sitting in the riverside gazebo. Continue your trip by following Route 146 northeast out of Elizabethtown until you intersect with Route 1. Turn right (south) until you reach Cave In Rock. Follow the signs to the Cave In Rock State Park. A stop at the lodge will offer you directions to the actual cave, which has an exciting history! The first European explorer found the cave in 1729, but it was seventy years later when the real excitement began. In 1797, the cave was converted into a tavern by Samuel Mason, who was once an officer in George Washington’s Revolutionary
see chocolate / page 13
FOOD, FUN & FOLKS Magazine :: Fall 2009 11
townsquare The heart of a can also be a
Carbondale’s downtown has a lot to offer
By Stephanie Rhodes ::
T
here are still distinct signs of the past at Carbondale’s Town Square Market. The brick building still carries the faded, painted outdoor mural advertising “Seibert’s Drugs.” Seibert’s was where you could go to get your prescriptions filled and a whole lot more. In fact, it was Carbondale’s own general store in the mid-1900s. Inside Town Square Market, large photos are displayed of then and now, but mostly then … of the Seibert’s operation in the mid-1900s. Things have sure changed as you can imagine. Over time though, the charm has remained. The beautifully worn wooden
12 FOOD, FUN & FOLKS Magazine :: Fall 2009
floors, tall ceilings with old stamped metal ceiling tiles, and helpful staff are threads within these walls no matter what the name on the sign outside might be! The significance of “the square” for its town changes with time, and is even different from one town to the next. Generally though, as the town square is often an element of distinction and importance, the appearance of the town square sets the tone for the feeling you’ll get when you visit a community. In Carbondale, the square developed with the birth of the little city, surrounding the railroad. In Carbondale you could say “squares” developed because there are four of them that make
Southern Illinois Foodways & Foodlore
Need more information? Check out the 45-minute Audio Tour of Carbondale’s Historic Town Square at one of these locations: Carbondale Public Library, City Hall, or Carbondale Main Street.
up a larger town square. The railroad intersects the middle and at the northeast corner the town square, on the corner of Jackson and Washington Streets, sits the nostalgic Town Square Market. Carbondale, known for its environmental values and artistic community, is well balanced with wonderful people like Renee Cook, manager of Town Square Market. Through her interest in health food choices and support of sustainable agriculture, the Market is perfectly stocked with a wide selection of organic and natural foods, local produce, local and regional meat – both fresh and frozen, bulk foods and coffee. The baked goods are incredibly delicious, too. Several times during the year, Town Square Market partners with neighboring businesses and local artists for evening events featuring food and music. These enjoyable events reinforce the sense of community that Carbondale wants
its town square and historic downtown area to represent. Carbondale’s Town Square Market has an old-time general store appeal, but it supports a new-time clientele.
Wholesome, organic “good for you” products are waiting for you. Find your way home to Carbondale’s Town Square Market!
chocolate trip from page 11 Army. According to the popular “river lore,” Mason was a pirate and lured river travelers to the cave where his gang would victimize them. Folklore tells us that after the Mason Gang’s demise, the cave was occupied by the notorious Harpe Brothers who had murder sprees in Kentucky, Tennessee and Illinois. “Big Harpe’s” head ended up on a pole in Kentucky at the end of their vicious reign. These stories were chronicled in the movie, “How the West Was Won” and our Cave In Rock provided the backdrop for the scene in the movie! Cave In Rock State Park is a wonderful setting for hiking and
www.cctb.org :: www.foodfunfolks.com
picnicking. If you failed to pack a picnic, dine at their lodge or backtrack to Elizabethtown, where you’ll find a great catfish dinner right on the Ohio River. You can head back home via Route 34 to Harrisburg and 13 west through Marion to Carbondale or backtrack to Route 146, if you want a dessert stop at The Chocolate Factory!
Need more information? For a road map, visit www.cctb.org
FOOD, FUN & FOLKS Magazine :: Fall 2009 13
$ $ outhern
BEATING BUDGET BLUES
By Nicole L. Davis ::
L
ong weekends are a great way to get away with your family or friends while still staying within a tight budget. Southern Illinois is the perfect destination! Just a few hours drive from almost anywhere in the Midwest, southern Illinois has hometown hospitality and hometown prices to boot! One of the best ways to beat the budget blues is traveling with a group of friends who can help split the cost of the get-away, specifically when it comes to accommodations. Renting a cottage, condo or cabin is the ideal situation for inexpensive travel. Cabin by the Pond offers three rental cabins in the seclusion of southern Illinois. However, Cabin One overlooks a large pond and has a private beach. The cabin sleeps at least 12 people and can be a great escape for large and extended families traveling together, or a group of friends who just want to get away! Although rates vary through the seasons, the weekend rate of $235 per night is certainly quite pocketbook-friendly when split among a handful of your closest friends and family. Add to this a variety of local farmers’ markets, orchards and wineries … and suddenly the eating out bill is reduced significantly. On Saturday mornings, you can stop by the Carbondale Farmers’ Market and pick up an assortment of fresh, local produce. If you find yourself a little hungry, then stop by the Neighborhood Food Coop and try one of their fresh baked cookies. One is sure to hold you over to lunch. Once you leave Carbondale, an autumn drive to Rendleman Orchards is a spectacular site. The gold, orange and crimson landscape is breathtaking, and so are the treats that await you at the Rendleman Farm Market! Plan to pick up a bag of apples, a bottle of cider, and the ever unique apple cobbler in a jar. A little farther down the highway is Alto Vineyards, where you can taste a variety of
14 FOOD, FUN & FOLKS Magazine :: Fall 2009
timulus
package Brie cheese with Jalapeno Lemon Jelly.
sumptuous wines and buy a few bottles for later in the evening! A perfect little lunch stop is the Taqueria Pequena taco stand in Cobden. It offers authentic Mexican tacos at unbeatable prices. Just a minute or two down Vines Road, you’ll reach Rancho Bella Vista, the home of Darn Hot Peppers. You’ll love their shop, and I recommend the Jalapeno Lemon Jelly. Pour a little over Brie cheese and microwave it and you’ll have a lip smackin’ appetizer for your dinner, later! Two nearby attractions worthy of a visit are the Bald Knob Cross that overlooks miles of beautiful southern Illinois, and the Pomona Natural Bridge, which is a perfect hiking location or just a great spot to sit and relax a bit. Heading back to your cabin for the evening, stop by Arnold’s Market and pick up a selection of steaks from their meat counter. Always fresh, these, combined with a wheel of Brie cheese and the other goodies you’ve collected along the way, will make a great end to an even greater day. Relax on the beach, share good food and make wonderful memories. Oh, and don’t forget that apple cobbler in a jar … it’s almost sinful! You’ve arrived! You’ve found your way home!
Good Stuff
Southern Illinois Foodways & Foodlore
Foodie
Festivals
&
events
Shawnee Hills Wine Trail Fall Festival
Join all twelve Wine Trail wineries on Labor Day Weekend for fine wines, local artisans, great food, live music and much more. Tickets: $15.00 per person (include a $5.00 coupon towards Shawnee Hills Wine Trail Merchandise)
Carbondale Mainstreet Pig Out The Carbondale Main Street Pig Out is an annual BBQ and music festival in downtown Carbondale that attracts food and music lovers alike from all over the Southern Illinois region.
Annual Shrimp Festival Saturday, Sept. 19
Downtown Golconda. Call 618-683-6246 or visit www.mainstreetgolconda.org or www.visitgolconda.com/pages/shrimpfestival.
peel an apple
Saturday, Oct. 3
An informal festival in a tiny town in the Jackson County Bottoms features Duck Booya, a fragrant and satisfying dish that’s somewhere between a stew and a hearty soup. This event is always held on the first Saturday of October at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Serving starts at 4 p.m. Cost is $6.50 for a Duck Booya dinner with all the trimmings!
Octoberfest at Alto Vineyards
Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17-18
Music, food, wine by the glass. $3-$5 admission. Noon to 6 p.m. For more information, call 618-893-4898.
Annual WurstMart Event Sunday, Oct. 18
This annual event is held in the tiny German community of Jacob, in the bottoms of Jackson County. It features fresh sausage made from a recipe that has been passed from generation to generation. It is always held on the third Sunday of October at the Christ Lutheran Church.
check it out Murphysboro Apple Festival
Thursday through Monday, Sept. 17-21 The Murphysboro Apple Festival is southern Illinois’ oldest and largest alcohol free festival. Over 45,000 people attend the festival each year. During the five days of the Apple Festival there are numerous activities drawing large crowds, such as evening stage shows, carnival/concessions, Queen Contest, Prince and Princess Contest, contests from Apple Pie Eating to Apple Core Throwing, Firefighters’ Water fights, marching band competition, car shows, Appletime 5K Walk/Run and much more. For more information, call 618-684-3200.
www.cctb.org :: www.foodfunfolks.com
A young man looking for a wife should in a continuous ribbon; throw it over his shoulder and it will form the initials of his future bride!
Annual Duck Booya Dinner
Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5-6
Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18-19
Did you know?
50th Annual Pope County Deer Festival Saturday, Nov. 21
Held in historic Golconda, the county fair- like celebration is well known for its barbecue. Events are held and vendors gather in the courtyard in downtown Golconda. For more information about Pope County or the annual Deer Festival, call the chamber of commerce at 618- 683-9702; 618-683-8803 or 618-683-6351.
Need more information? Visit www.foodfunfolks.com FOOD, FUN & FOLKS Magazine :: Fall 2009 15
On the
internet
Check out these places!
www.alt o www.cab vineyards.net inbythep ond.com www.da rnho www.fs. tpeppers.com fed.us/r9 /shawne e www.lip eorchard s.com
m t.co e k r ma rds.com e r a squ norcha n w w.to ema ww w.rendl ww www.foodfunfolks.com rg tb.o c c . www.alongis.com w ww
www.flammorchards.com www.thechocolatefactory.net
5K/July 2009 16 FOOD, FUN & FOLKS Magazine :: Fall 2009
For additional information call 1-800-526-1500 or visit www.cctb.org or www.foodfunfolks.com Southern Illinois Foodways & Foodlore