Upon returning from a long vacation, I was pleased to find the Market on the Square well into pepper season. Browsing the aisles I noted the stunning number of varieties you can find in our little market.

Peppers are native to America and come in a wide range of colors and flavors from mild and sweet to wickedly hot and spicy. In general, peppers are divided into three categories, and our market well represents.

If the fabulous Market at the Square in downtown Urbana on Saturday morning isn't enough to satiate your desire for local and organic food, then one might consider heading southwest on I-72 for about twenty minutes to the little county seat of Piatt County: Monticello.

In addition to having one of the finer downtown "squares" around, the organization Monticello Main Street organized their own little gathering of local and regional farmers every Thursday afternoon from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on State St., in front of the Allerton Public Library.

Expect fresh produce like southern Illinois peaches, apples and pears, as well as baked goods from Amish vendors. And while you are there, pick up dinner from one of the better diners in six counties: The Brown Bag.

In my travels, I rarely turn down a bowl of matzo ball soup from a restaurant menu. It's not that I find the soup to be all that interesting or spectacular; chicken broth and a dumpling made of matzo meal are hardly what I consider to be the most dynamic or flavorful items on my virtual menu.

What drives me to order this item, or simply add to my order no matter what I've chosen to eat that day, is the sheer fact that I cannot get it on any menu in Champaign-Urbana. And while I'd like to point out that I am always quick to accuse people of latent anti-semitism, I don't believe that this is the case this time. I simply think that there is no one in town that really seems to know the value of serving up this traditional delight — also known as "the Jewish Penicillin."

But let me tell you, there's more than value. There's gold.

For as far back as I can remember, I've wanted to own and operate my own restaurant.

Of course, I do in a fantasy land — within the confines of my own kitchen. But I also, however, have always had a sincere and true desire to offer up some of my favorite dishes to the community at my own joint; a place where my special recipes of matzo ball soup and meatballs mix together on one fantastic menu.

In truth, I just don't have the time right now. Plus, any one who wants to open a restaurant probably needs to get their head examined; one in five upstarts close and lose money within the first two years of existence.

I am involved in other projects, and other realities are taking precedence for me, such as Smile Politely. So, instead, I've decided to dedicate a particular column to pleading — no — beseeching someone in the community with the financial and mental capacity to open up and sustain a few different restaurants that I would most certainly frequent.

This week — A stand alone French Fry shop, modeled after the one we visited in Amsterdam this past week.

Whenever we're in Chicago, we try to stop by Greektown for a meal. The prices are reasonable, there's free valet parking, and one can choose from the numerous high quality restaurants lined up on Halstead Street. One of our favorite Greektown restaurants is Greek Islands because their grilled octopus is absolutely fabulous. Tender and chewy, crusty and smokey, the octopus is simply dressed in an oregano-vinegrette sauce. We can never get enough of this very popular appetizer.

Urbana's Sweet Corn Festival isn't for another three weeks but that doesn't mean we can't start celebrating. We don't grow much sweet corn here in Illinois; as a matter of fact, of the millions of acres of corn planted on all four sides of Champaign-Urbana, and across the state, only a fraction is suitable for human consumption. So eat all the local corn you can this summer, as it is a precious commodity. If you've never picked up corn from Market at the Square, the Schottman brothers in Effingham or the Kleiss farm in Tuscola grow perfect ears.

Every time I think I know what to expect at Market at the Square, someone shows up with something new. Case in point: early orange plums from Jeff Meyer of Villa Grove. Last Saturday, I bought a quart for five dollars and they were well-worth the cash. Sweet and slightly tart, these little orange beauties made a great little tart perfectly paired with vanilla ice cream — definitely summer at its best.

Just off Interstate 74 at the Mahomet exit (Route 47 south, exit 172) is a small Chinese restaurant that's one of central Illinois' best kept secrets. At first glance, this generic-looking strip mall joint looks like a second rate Chinese take-out restaurant in the middle of nowhere. The dining room looks sparse, the fluorescent lighting a little harsh and it's sandwiched between a Subway and a nail salon.

But take a closer look and you'll see red strips of paper with Chinese writing hanging on the wall. That's a good sign — that's their "secret" Chinese menu. Look around at the tables and you'll see at least one or two tables with Chinese people eating (that's another good sign). Go up to the counter and Tina will greet you like a regular, just like she did at the old Mandarin Wok on Green Street more than three years ago.

Last Saturday was the worst weather in current market history. Heavy rains and strong wind gusts made the opening hour of the morning difficult for farmers and vendors who were holding on to their tents and protecting their goods.

The rain didn't end until 8:30 a.m., and several vendors packed it up and headed home calling the day an entire wash. (Pun intended.) Eventually the skies cleared, and patrons showed up in droves turning it into a pretty good day for everyone involved.

I can't tell you how many people in the last several weeks have commented about the organic salad greens from Blue Moon Farm. How much they have come to love and depend on a generous bag every week, how remarkably fresh and interesting they are, how they stay so fresh in the fridge, and how they are such a great deal compared to the lesser quality greens one finds in the grocery store.

Jon Cherniss from Blue Moon takes his salad seriously.