This Thursday, sip my go-to coffee order: an iced Americano with white chocolate cold foam at Espresso Royale. I used to be a latte girlie, but I fell out of love with drinking so much …
Posts by Alyssa Buckley:
Tenkyu is a romantic spot for a date in Downtown Champaign
Downtown Champaign’s Tenkyu Izakaya opened in January this year in the old Miga space with a menu of small bites, chef specialties, ramen, and rice bowls. Because I loved Miga, I love being back in …
Alyssa Buckley
Food + Drink Editor / / instagram
Mid Summer Lounge has dreamy dumplings and fire lunch in Campustown
Those sneaky, sunny warm days earlier this month were a tease of nice weather that’s to come, but before chilly days are gone, I want to eat dumplings. And last week, when a craving for …
Alyssa Buckley
Food + Drink Editor / / instagram
Bracket Breakdown: Elite Eight of Smile Politely’s Food + Drink Tournament
Of 32 foods and drinks in Smile Politely’s Food + Drink Tournament, we’re now down to the Elite 8. At this point in the tournament, all the beverages have been eliminated. The single elimination tournament …
Alyssa Buckley
Food + Drink Editor / / instagram
Bracket breakdown: Sweet 16 of Smile Politely’s Food & Drink Tournament
After hard-fought battles in the first round, half of the 32 foods and drinks in Smile Politely’s Food & Drink Tournament have been eliminated. Knocking out underdogs, most top seeds dominated their first matchups: The …
Alyssa Buckley
Food + Drink Editor / / instagram
Thirsty Thursday: The Spice at Punch! Bar & Lounge
For the first Thirsty Thursday of spring, I’m highlighting The Spice, a brand new cocktail on the new spring drink menu at Punch! Bar & Lounge. In two glasses, The Spice cocktail ($15) has bourbon …
Alyssa Buckley
Food + Drink Editor / / instagram
Sidney Dairy Barn is open for ice cream season
The roadside ice cream shop Sidney Dairy Barn is now open for the season. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, Sidney Dairy Barn offers ice cream cones, bowls, pints, quarts, shakes, and signature tornadoes. Last …
Alyssa Buckley
Food + Drink Editor / / instagram
Brothers Bar & Grill serves decent tavern eats and personal-pitcher candy drinks
I never made it out to the original location of Brothers Bar & Grill on Green Street before it closed suddenly a few years ago. From friends who did go to the Champaign Brothers, they …
Alyssa Buckley
Food + Drink Editor / / instagram
Namken Nutrition’s Urbana location is closing
Namken Nutrition, the meal prep business based out of Decatur, will permanently close their Urbana storefront next Friday on March 29th. Namken Nutrition at The Pines opened last summer with a menu of smoothies, yogurt …
Alyssa Buckley
Food + Drink Editor / / instagram
Smile Politely March Tournament 2024 Final Four predictions and matchups to watch
If I’ve learned anything from the national, annual March Madness sportsball tournament, it’s that people love a good competition. Me, too. What’s not to love about a battle of The Best? Every year, Smile Politely‘s …
Alyssa Buckley
Food + Drink Editor / / instagram