POLL: What Does Illinois Eat? (Chatham: food, castles, friendly)

[Granny Sue]

I miss the good catfish dinners and tenderlions.

I make sure I get both when I come to visit.

[linicx]

Shame on me! I forgot about the other 'white' food. Remember the Pork Council commercial?

[doll lady]

OMG Linicx...hope a stampede of pigs doesn't come to get you for forgetting!!!

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by linicx

What kind of pizza? It sounds like a silly question, but I have seen some really strange things on pizza in different parts of the country from cold pizza with fruit, to grilled shrimp, to taco pizza with lettuce. Personally I am partial to thin crust supreme.

Well, when I lived there, it was the normal stuff, but I have no idea what they're eating now. The last time we visited there a few years ago, there were still tons of pizza parlors there. We always said there should be a "pizza parlor management" major at U of I!

[whatever you want]

Originally Posted by Granny Sue

I miss the good catfish dinners and tenderlions.

I make sure I get both when I come to visit.

How could I have forgotten those

[doll lady]

Gosh I forgot something Central Illinois people like.... although I really eat them due to the fat and sodium content. I call this a heart attack on a plate.

A Springfield chef was responsibe for this concoction thus this is considered the Signature dish of Springfield, Illinois......HORSESHOES......toast, meat, french fries and a rarebit type cheese sauce (but chefs/cooks in the Springfield area compete to see who makes the best Horseshoe sauce).

The orgininal dish was created by a chef named Joe Schweska who worked at the Leland Hotel (used to be at 6th and Capitol street). But I have heard the story that the original idea was from Joe Schweska's wife Elizabeth. Another man named Steve Tomko was age 17 and a dishwasher at the Leland Hotel at the time Chef Schweska created the horseshoe. After the original creator died, this Steve Tomko claimed credit for the creation, but his recipe never lived up to the original recipe of Chef Schweska's. Mr. Schweska was really a popular chef in Springfield and later became the chef at the Mill which was one of the most popular supper clubs in Springfield and was located along the side of the old Pillsbury Mill. I remember eating at the Mill as a kid. It was also known for its salad dressing.

History Lesson 101 .... lol

[karlsch]

Corn on the cob.

With plenty of butter and both elbows on the table, of course.

[linicx]

Originally Posted by doll lady

Gosh I forgot something Central Illinois people like.... although I really eat them due to the fat and sodium content. I call this a heart attack on a plate.

A Springfield chef was responsibe for this concoction thus this is considered the Signature dish of Springfield, Illinois......HORSESHOES......toast, meat, french fries and a rarebit type cheese sauce (but chefs/cooks in the Springfield area compete to see who makes the best Horseshoe sauce).

The orgininal dish was created by a chef named Joe Schweska who worked at the Leland Hotel (used to be at 6th and Capitol street). But I have heard the story that the original idea was from Joe Schweska's wife Elizabeth. Another man named Steve Tomko was age 17 and a dishwasher at the Leland Hotel at the time Chef Schweska created the horseshoe. After the original creator died, this Steve Tomko claimed credit for the creation, but his recipe never lived up to the original recipe of Chef Schweska's. Mr. Schweska was really a popular chef in Springfield and later became the chef at the Mill which was one of the most popular supper clubs in Springfield and was located along the side of the old Pillsbury Mill. I remember eating at the Mill as a kid. It was also known for its salad dressing.

History Lesson 101 .... lol

And before the Horseshoe was the XXXX sugar dusted Monte Carlo that was dipped in eqg wash before it was deep fried. And who can forget the grilled to perfection Corned Beef on rye with melted swiss cheese and sauerkraut?

[linicx]

Originally Posted by karlsch

Corn on the cob.

With plenty of butter and both elbows on the table, of course.

Don't forget the home grown tomato fresh from the garden.

[doll lady]

Old fashioned soft sugar cookies used to be a staple at my grandma's house. And Oatmeal cake and Date Pudding with hard sauce for every holiday family meal. That Mince Meat pie grandma made was not one of my favorites.

Don't forget the famous Mel-o-Cream donuts made in Springfield. Thousands of people eat these Mel-o-Cream donuts daily!

And McMeens taffy....started by a family in Chicago and then they opened a store in Springfield. McMeens taffy is known as the world's best state fair taffy.....and it is!