Smile Politely

Food & Drink

Five riffs on pepperoni pizza pie

There is a holiday for pretty much any type of food: National Glazed Ham Day (April 14th), National Vichyssoise Day (that’s November 18th), and even National Frog Legs Day (appropriately reserved for February 29th). So …

Five Chicago dogs in Champaign-Urbana

We all know of the famous Chicago dog. Chicago is loaded with hot dog carts, stands, trucks, and restaurants ready to serve an all-beef frank with yellow mustard, diced onion, neon green sweet pickle relish, …

Five ice creams to eat this summer 

If you’re anything like me, ice cream is the cornerstone of your summer. Thankfully, there are plenty of places to get ice cream in Champaign-Urbana. Since I expected most folks were already familiar with the …

Market Watch: August 2023

August is the most wonderful time of the year to visit a farmers’ market. In previous months of this column, I’ve covered baked goods and food trucks — and without a doubt, you can find those …

The C-U green bean scene

Do you like green beans? I, for one, am keen for the green bean, and though no one asked, I have taken it upon myself to write about the green bean cuisine scene of Champaign-Urbana. …

Market Watch: July 2023

First off, today is a market day in Downtown Champaign — in case you want to see some of these goods in real life. Also I want to point out the perseverance of our C-U …

Market Watch: June 2023

The Champaign-Urbana farmers markets are fun outdoor shopping spots for fresh produce, delicious baked goods, and all kinds of drinks from kombucha to cold brew to fresh-pressed juices. The Saturday market is a busy, bustling …