Illinois Travel Guide 2009 - (Page 46) Candy lovers mustn’t miss the Chocolate Factory Tour at the Long Grove Confectionery Co. in Buffalo Grove. See a short video on how cacao is grown and processed, view a giant Statue of Liberty sculpted out of chocolate and watch how everything from caramels to chocolates is made in the candy kitchen. Afterwards, browse the factory store and scoop up some sweet bargains. Take the Oberweis Dairy Plant Tour in Aurora and get the inside scoop on how the family-owned company’s popular ice cream and milk are produced. Watch a video that shows the farms where Oberweis’ hormone-free cows roam and see what a day in the life of a milkman is really like. The tour ends in the Oberweis retail store with a complimentary cup of classic vanilla ice cream. The Long Grove Apple Haus is a tasty staple in historic Long Grove village. The shop is best known for its “brown bag” apple pie, stacked high with fresh apples nestled in a flaky crust. The Apple Haus also specializes in over-the-top caramel apples, including the Ultimate Apple: a crisp Red Delicious smothered with buttery caramel, studded with roasted pecan halves and drizzled with creamy chocolate. The Apple Haus also sells apple cider doughnuts, homemade ice cream, jellies, butters and pancake mixes. SCOTT BELL candy overflowing from wooden barrels, and hand-dipped chocolates and fudge displayed in glass cases. As a tip of the hat to Paxton’s late father, Chuckles are sold here, and his original handwritten candy recipe is displayed on the wall behind the cash register. MICHAEL SHEDLOCK Top to Bottom: Del’s Popcorn Shop is a Central Illinois tradition, the Long Grove Apple Haus is famed for its “brown bag” apple pie, Jarling’s Custard Cup serves its frozen confections in fresh-baked waffle cones Opposite Page, Left to Right: Country Corner Fudge whips up more than a dozen rich varieties, snag a sample at the Long Grove Chocolate Fest In Northern Illinois, follow the Blackhawk Chocolate Trail as you travel through the counties of Carroll, Lee, Ogle and Whiteside. Here you’ll find several little candy and gift shops, as well as snug bed & breakfasts, that dot the trail. At Conover Square Mall in Oregon, Cook’s Collection makes its own fudge in-house, and Conover Coffees & Chocolates carries 70 different types of chocolates. Selmi’s in Rock Falls offers French and Belgian chocolates, along with gourmet food baskets. Amboy Pharmacy features an old-fashioned soda fountain on Main Street in Amboy. Inspired by his father, a candy maker who invented Chuckles in the 1930s, George Paxton creates confections the old school way at Galena’s Kandy Kitchen. The shop on Galena’s historic Main Street has a general-store feel, with bulk Besides freshly popped popcorn (made from kernels grown in Central Illinois), Del’s Popcorn Shop is known for its homemade fudge, cooked in copper kettles and cut on a marble slab the same way since the 1930s. But the sweets don’t stop there. You’ll also find caramel apples, chocolates, truffles and freshly roasted nuts. Del’s has locations in Decatur and Springfield. Pease’s Candy is a Springfield tradition, run by generations of the Pease family since the early 1900s. Original family recipes are still used to create Pease’s mouthwatering candies, which come in little pink boxes, including milk and dark chocolates, vanilla caramels and assorted flavors of fudge. Pease’s is also known for its salted nuts, ranging from cashews to red-skin peanuts. Yoder’s Kitchen, located in the Amish community of Arthur, is known for its home-style buffet of local favorites, including roasted chicken with noodles. But be sure to stop by the bakery, where you’ll find made-from-scratch goods that include sticky cinnamon rolls, fruit pies, chocolate chip cookies and a variety of angel food cakes, including raspberry swirl. Pick up a sweet treat in Shirley at Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup. This family-run business sells maple syrup that’s gathered with old-fashioned tree-tapping methods. Funks also sells maple candies and cream. Funks Grove is a popular spot for Route 66 enthusiasts and offers attractions that include an 1800s church, the Funk Prairie Home and a gem and mineral museum. Jarling’s Custard Cup is a local legend in Champaign. Try the specialty of the house: frozen custard served in a fresh-baked waffle cone. Flavors include lemon, strawberry and chocolate, with seasonal treats such as pumpkin pie in the fall. Jarling’s enjoyillinois.com 46 ILLINOIS. MILE AFTER MAGNIFICENT MILE. © LARRY KANFER http://www.enjoyillinois.com
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