Illinois Travel Guide 2009 - (Page 47) also sells frozen custard pies, or you can grab a pint or two for the road. Bishop Hill Colony Bakery is located in a historic rural village founded by Swedish settlers in Western Illinois. Try the bakery’s Swedish specialties, including orange-lingonberry muffins, coffeecakes and cardamom braid, a traditional sweet bread. After stocking up on goodies, tour Bishop Hill’s restored colony buildings, housing shops and restaurants that serve authentic cuisine, including Swedish meatballs. Lagomarcino’s is a turn-of-the-century ice cream parlor and confectionery in Moline. Operated by the Lagomarcino family since 1908, the shop is a throwback to the nostalgic days of soda fountains, with stained glass lamps, dark mahogany booths and its original candy cases. The shop is known for its ice cream creations, including the must-order sundae served with a pitcher of freshly made hot fudge. Lagomarcino’s also sells boxed chocolates and is famed for its sponge candy dipped in dark or milk chocolate. Burton’s Cafe, located in the little town of Whittington near Rend Lake, is a family-run roadside restaurant that’s popular with the locals for its country home cooking, including favorites such as ham and beans with cornbread. But those in the know save room for Burton’s yummy white pie, heaped with whipped cream and pecans. The Shawnee Hills Orchard Trail, which winds through Southern Illinois’ Jackson and Union counties, consists of five farms that have been operated by the same families for several generations. Sample the fruits of their labor, including nectarines at Mileur Orchard, peaches at Rendleman Orchards, apples at Grammer Orchards, plums at Lipe Orchards and the unique fruit-and-cream stand at Flamm Orchards, where you can indulge in strawberry shortcake, peach cobbler and apple dumplings in season. Stop by The Chocolate Factory in Golconda, nestled within the scenic Shawnee National Forest. The Chocolate Factory is known for its handmade novelty chocolates that come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from dogs to dinosaurs. Ice cream and traditional chocolates are also available, including bonbons, nut clusters and toffee squares. At My Just Desserts, with locations in the charming Southwest river towns of Alton and Elsah, act like a local and order dessert first. You’ll be glad you did, as favorites like the rich coconut cream pie sell out early, and you don’t want to see your choice erased from the dining room chalkboard as the final piece is sold. For your main meal, sample the popular chicken salad or one of the hearty soups. As its name implies, homemade fudge is the specialty at Country Corner Fudge in Grafton. The store offers more than a dozen varieties, including chocolate-walnut, rocky road and peanut butter. You can also pick up an ice cream cone here. Be sure to browse the antiques and collectibles. ROBERT GARCIA EDIBLE EVENTS Sample 12 of the tastiest fests in the state Long Grove Chocolate Fest This annual May event is a chocoholic’s dream, serving up everything from chocolate popcorn to chocolate martinis that you can sample while listening to live music on two stages in historic Long Grove village. Stars & Guitars Ribfest Soak up the sounds of live music as you munch on slow-cooked and smoked ribs at Rockford’s annual four-day family food and music festival in June. Taste of Chicago At this annual food extravaganza, held from late June through early July in Chicago’s Grant Park, nosh on everything from deepdish pizza to creamy cheesecake served up by more than 70 local restaurants. Illinois State Fair This 10-day celebration of all things Illinois, held mid-August in Springfield, includes agriculture and livestock showcases, tractor pulls and auto races, carnival rides and concerts. Don’t miss state fair favorites, like exotic foods at the Ethnic Village and samplings of Illinois wines. Cobden Peach Festival Celebrate the peach harvest at this August fest, where you can indulge in homemade cobblers, pies and old-fashioned peaches and cream. DeKalb Corn Fest More than 70 tons of sweet corn is served at this three-day festival every August. Live music, arts and crafts, carnival rides and more come together for a weekend of delicious fun. Clinton Apple n’ Pork Festival This September festival offers live music, pony rides and plenty of food. Sample an apple cider float and don’t miss the ham and bean stand, which serves up more than 6,000 plates during the two-day festival. Golconda Shrimp Fest This all-day festival features delicious shrimp creations from regional restaurants and amateur chefs. The September festival kicks off with a morning farmers market, and entertainment plays to the crowd all day. Morton Pumpkin Festival The pumpkin capital of the world (85 percent of the world’s canned pumpkin is processed in Morton) hosts this September festival, which includes a giant parade, live music, and foods such as pumpkin pancakes and pumpkin fudge. Murphysboro Apple Festival Celebrate the apple harvest in September at Southern Illinois’ oldest festival, which features an apple-pie-eating contest, apple pie and apple butter competitions, street entertainment and the huge Appletime Grand Parade. Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive During the October Fall Festival, more than a dozen rural towns throughout Fulton County offer visitors everything from regional foods (a highlight of the drive) to live musical performances and country crafts. Try fresh-churned apple butter in London Mills, butterfly pork chops in Mount Pisgah Park, chicken and noodles in Smithfield, and helpings of ham in Ellisville. Nouveau Wine Festival Indulge in French food and wine at Galena Cellars Winery’s November Nouveau Wine Festival. The winery celebrates the release of its nouveau wine with luncheons featuring French food, horse-drawn wagon deliveries on Main Street and a wine and cheese party. 800/2CONNECT COURTESY OF LONG GROVE BUSINESS & COMMUNITY PARTNERS
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