Weekend Getaway: Galena, Illinois

Connie Accommodations, Attractions & Events, Food & Drink, Illinois May 2, 2018May 3, 2018Galena IL, Galena IL shopping, Galena IL tourism, Galena Illinois, Galena tourism, hotels near galena il, things to do in Galena, what to do in Galena, where to stay in Galena IL 9 Comments

Heading west on U.S. 20 in northern Illinois, the road that had been straight and flat begins to wind through gently rolling farm fields as you near Galena. When church steeples and orange brick buildings come into view, you know you’ve reached your destination. A city with fewer than 3500 residents, Galena attracts over a million visitors every year. Visitors come for the history, the shopping, the dining or just to relax in an atmosphere that is like nowhere else in Illinois. Read more

Dining Family Style at the Wittmond Hotel

Connie Food & Drink, Illinois March 21, 2018Brussels Illinois, Family-style meal at Wittmond Hotel, Where to eat in Brussels Illinois, Where to eat in Calhoun County IL, Wittmond Hotel, Wittmond Hotel family-style meal, Wittmond Hotel Restauarnt 7 Comments

We were warned: Eat lunch at the Wittmond Hotel in Brussels, Illinois, and you won’t need to eat for the rest of the day. Little did we know the extensive relish tray alone at this restaurant would fill us up…and then came the entrees. Read more

Indiana Foodways Alliance Culinary Trails: Guide to Hoosier Dining

Connie Food & Drink, Indiana March 6, 2018Indiana Foodways Alliance, Indiana Foodways culinary trails, Indiana Foodways trails, Indiana Restaurants, where to eat in Indiana 6 Comments

Bucket lists have become a big thing. Or maybe it’s just the term du jour. People have always checked to-do’s off travel lists. Visit all 50 states. Take in a ballgame at every Major League Baseball stadium. I do the same even with smaller lists. Photograph every Seward Johnson sculpture in a city. Stop at every shop on the Wayne County Chocolate Trail. So when I learned about the Indiana Foodways Alliance culinary trails, I was on board. Right away I decided I wanted to eat pie at every restaurant on the Indiana Foodways Alliance Hoosier Pie Trail. My attempt was a miserable failure. Read more

Where to Eat in Morgan County, Indiana

Connie Food & Drink, Indiana February 13, 2018February 11, 2018Cedar Creek Winery, Come n Get It Mooresville, Gray Bros Cafeteria, Gray Brothers Cafeteria, Martinsville Candy Kitchen, Morgan County Restaurants, Squealers Barbecue, Squealers Barbecue Grill, Squealers BBQ, Tomato Pizza Pie Joint, Where to eat in Morgan County, Zydeco's Mooresville 2 Comments

During a Midwest Travel Bloggers Twitter chat I won several gift certificates to Morgan County, Indiana, restaurants. Skip and I had already eaten at a few Morgan County restaurants that we loved and were excited to taste more of the area’s cuisine. So last summer we scheduled a trip to Morgan County mainly for the culinary experiences. While the atmosphere at all of the restaurants we tried is casual, each has its own unique cuisine. Read more

Where to Eat in Alton, Illinois

Connie Food & Drink, Illinois January 23, 2018January 26, 2018Alton Illinois restaurants, Alton Restaurants, Bluff City Grill, Castelli's, Castelli's Restaurant at 255, Great Rivers Tap & Grill, Great Rivers Tap and Grill, My Just Desserts, Old Bakery Beer Company, Tony's Restaurnat, Tonys Restaurant Alton, Where to eat in Alton Illinois 2 Comments

Over the past few years we’ve eaten in several Alton restaurants. It seems every time we visit Alton, Illinois, new great eating establishments have opened, while iconic restaurants continue to thrive. Here are some of the restaurants we’ve enjoyed during our Alton visits. Read more

11 Delectable Midwest Chocolate Treats

Connie Attractions & Events, Food & Drink, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, Pennsylvania January 9, 2018January 26, 2018Askinosie, Askinosie Chocolate, Bartlett's, Bartlett's Gourmet Grill & Tavern, Chocolate, Chocolate Garden, chocolate in the midwest, Chocolate tail in Indiana, Chocolate Trail Richmond Indiana, DeBrand, DeBrand chocolates, DeBrand Fine Chocolates, Eddie Merlot's, hotel vandivort, Hotel Vandivort restaurant, Kakawa Chocolate House, Lagomarcino's, Lagomarcino's Davenport, Lagomarcino's Moline, Midwest chocolate, Octane InterLounge, Richmond Indiana Chocolate Trail, Silver Moon Winery, South Bend Chocolate Cafe, South Bend Chocolates, The Chocolate Garden, the hershey story, The Order, The Order Restaurant Springfield MO, Wayne County Chocolate Trail 6 Comments

Dark chocolate—it’s one treat I can’t pass up. A few years ago on a press trip we were tasting chocolate at a chocolate shop. I was skipping the milk chocolate and going right for the dark. One of my fellow travel writers said, “Even if I never meet you again, I will always connect you with dark chocolate.” Yep, that’s me. I’ve tasted a lot of Midwest chocolate over the past few years, and am sharing with you 11 of my favorites, in no particular order, plus two from beyond the Midwest. Read more