Urbana's Market at the Square Brings Best of Season to Lincoln Square

The Urbana farmers' market is in full swing in the Lincoln Square parking lot. And this was an extra-good day for it: sunny, breezy, not too hot. Very pleasant. Thought you might like to take a little stroll with me and peruse some of the offerings.

As you may know, two mainstays of spring, produce-wise, are strawberries and asparagus. Both were abundantly available this week. The strawberries seemed to go on forever, with tables and tables of the red gems glistening in the sunlight. These are the specimens from Meyer Produce (in the market's first row). I took some of them home with me, and I have to tell you, they were the sweetest, juiciest, best-tasting strawberries I've had so far this year.

And here are more, at the Tomahanous stand (second row). I haven't tried the Tomahanous strawbs yet, but don't they look beautiful?

In addition to the berries, Jeff Meyer had asparagus, both green and purple (if you've never had the purple variety, it tastes the same as the green; the color is just a visual bonus).

Kleiss Family Farm had a boatload of asparagus, as well.

Meyer Produce also brought green (pole) beans, which I'm looking forward to cooking with the smoked pancetta that my niece and her fiancé gave us (from Ream's Market). I recently saw this recipe on Chow, and I figure that using fresh-picked beans and the smoked pancetta instead of regular bacon will make the dish oh, so much more delicious.

Need to plant some herbs? They are all over the place at the market. I like to get mine from Moore Family Farm (south end of the first row). So far I've planted sage, thyme, rosemary, Thai basil, Italian basil, flat-leaf parsley, and oregano (the chives are way ahead of the newly planted herbs; they come back like gangbusters every spring in my patio pot). The Moores have garlic chives this year; if you haven't grown those before, they're wonderful (if you like garlic!). You can see them in the middle in the photo below.

And then, of course, there are the salad greens from Blue Moon Farm. Those are a boon to humanity. Fresh and vibrant and delicious with any dressing, from a simple drizzle of olive oil and lemon to a creamy blue cheese.

And if you need kale, Swiss chard, collards, or other cooking greens, Blue Moon's got you covered in that department as well.

I was surprised to see cucumbers this early in the season, but there they were at Cary's Garden of Eatin' stand.

Early tomatoes are provided, as usual, by the Amish farmers at 3 D Tomatoes (they're hydroponic tomatoes). That was a popular booth this morning, and yes, I did stand in line there.

As grand as they are, a person can't live by vegetables alone. That's where the bakers come in. The Upper Crust bakers (along Illinois Street, south edge of the market) had all manner of breads on display.

And Pekara Bakery (also on the market's south edge) brought their baguettes, other breads, muffins, and pastries.

If it's organic beef, pork, and chicken you're after, look no further than Triple S Farm's stand (close to Pekara, along Illinois Street near the corner of Illinois and Vine). Stan and his crew have arguably the best-tasting meats around these parts, and they keep expanding their offerings. In addition to their already wide selection, this year they have several new kinds of sausages (Spanish-style chorizo, sundried-tomato-and-basil sausages, Jamaican jerk sausages, jalapeño brats, all-beef hot dogs), plus smoked turkey drumsticks, CHICKEN FEET, and dried beef.

I got a package of the dried beef to see what it was like; if you're a meat eater, I urge you to hurry down to the market next week and pick some up. Paper-thin slices, a little sweet, very flavorful—where has this stuff been all my life? I wrapped it around slices of Nathan's kosher pickles and ate it just so. Wowie. The next thing I want to do is roll up some cream cheese and scallions in it. I hear there's a classic dip made with dried beef; anyone want to share a recipe for that?

Speaking of Triple S meats: The ever-popular Fryer Tuck's, mobile purveyors of stick-to-your-ribs, fast-food breakfast items, uses Triple S breakfast sausage in their sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich (and Upper Crust bakers' English muffins). It's so great that they incorporate locally produced foods into their menu that way.

There are a handful of tables conveniently located between the Triple S stand and Fryer Tuck's, so you can get off your feet for a few minutes to enjoy your food. I hope the umbrellas go up soon; it's always great to be able to grab some shade at those tables.

If you like kettle corn, you can buy some freshly made at the Urbana market. The aroma will lead you to it.

It's not just about food at the farmers' market, either; there are many, many crafts people offering everything from clothing to lawn ornaments. And what would the market be without plants and flowers? The hanging variety:

The potted and the ready-to-plant:

And, of course, the kind you take home and put in vases, such as Blue Moon Farm's sunshine on a stalk:

The market is nothing if not colorful. Oh, and it's sweet, too. Don't forget to support your local beekeeper by picking up some honey and fruit spreads from Campbell Apiaries. Trust me, the flavor of this honey bears no resemblance to Sue-Bee.

And thus, our tour ends for today. Obviously, I mentioned only a handful of vendors; it's quite mind boggling how many there are at the Urbana market and what a bustling, happening scene it is. Market director Lisa Bralts is all excited, as you can see below, and with good reason. Thanks, Lisa, for all your hard work and dedication to bringing C-U the best from Central Illinois farmers, bakers, crafts people, and nursery people! (Look at that adorable Market T-shirt Ms. Bralts is wearing, y'all. Ask her about how to get one by visiting the City of Urbana booth in the northwest corner next week.)

Urbana's Market at the Square is on Facebook, you can follow them on Twitter, and Lisa B. publishes a Market blog, as well, so there's no lack of electronic opportunities to find out what's happening. The market is open from 7 a.m. to noon every Saturday from May through early November. Parking is available at Lincoln Square and in the lot across the street to the south, on Illinois Street.

Ream's Elburn Market and Creamy Fettucine with Chicken Sausage

My niece and her fiancé visited C-U over graduation weekend; they drove down from Chicago bearing flavorful gifts from Ream's Market in Elburn, IL. Boy, we were happy to see them, ho ho. I had never heard of the market before—have you?

Ream's is a meat market in rural Kane County that's been in operation since 1904. The family-owned business produces award-winning sausages and smoked meats. (Randy Ream has won over 200 awards in state and national competitions, and he's in the Cured Meat Hall of Fame. Did you know there even was a Cured Meat Hall of Fame? Me, neither.)

We were the lucky recipients of dried beef, rum-and-garlic salami, fresh chicken sausage made with portobella mushrooms and Asiago cheese, and more. Score!

While Keith made one salami sandwich after another, I wasted no time finding a use for the chicken sausages. I was thinking pasta, so I poked around on the Internet, and Elise Bauer (of Simply Recipes fame) came through for me. Her Fettucine with Creamy Tomato Italian Sausage Sauce sounded like just the ticket. I made the recipe as-is, except of course I used the pound of chicken sausages from Ream's instead of regular Italian sausage. I'll let you go to the Simply Recipes site for the particulars:

Fettucine with Creamy Tomato Italian Sausage Sauce recipe

The pasta was, as advertised, creamy, and delicious, and the chicken sausage made it even more appetizing. If you like creamy sauces and Italian sausage, I urge you to try it right away, even if you don't have Ream's specialties around the kitchen (a local source for tasty Italian sausages is Triple S Farm; visit the Urbana farmers' market to find the Triple S booth).

The dried beef, salami, and sausages are but scrumptious memories now; memories we and our palates will always treasure. Thanks to Lisa and Josh for bringing us that wonderful food; you guys and your cured meats are always welcome at our place! We must try to get up to Ream's Elburn Market sometime.

Golden Harbor Chinese Restaurant in Royal Plaza: Almost There!

UPDATE 5/23/2010: The restaurant is now open, Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Phone number is 217-398-8988. Credit and debit cards are now accepted. Look for my review in the near future. ~Lisa

Just a quick one to let you know that I stopped by Golden Harbor last evening, and this is the note I saw in the window:

Looks like the restaurant, owned and run by the family who, most recently, operated The Wok in Mahomet, may swing into action this weekend. I will say that judging by what I saw inside, they may not be quite ready by then. However, if not this Sunday, it should be very soon after. 

Hours of operation are already posted; looks like they'll be open every day except Monday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and they'll be closed from something like 3 to 5 p.m. daily, between lunch and dinner.

Your table is just about ready . . .

Green Chile Stew with Pork

Here's one from the archives. From the very same day in May of 2006, as it happens. I made the stew again this weekend, and coincidentally, it was rainy and cold, as it apparently was when I made the stew in '06. Guess that goes to show that neither my cooking habits nor weather patterns change very much over time. One sad note is that back when I wrote this post, we still had our three cats; since then we've lost two of them.

With its roasted peppers and tender, browned bites of pork, this stew is one of our favorites.

The cats are all snoozing on their hammocks, it's a drizzly Sunday afternoon, and I'm making an old favorite, green chile stew with pork, accompanied by lime-cilantro flavored rice. Add a pile of whole-wheat tortillas, a salad made with greens from the farmer's market, and a Tecate, and and you won't mind this wet, cold spring.

Green Chile Stew with Pork
From The Frugal Gourmet Cooks American, by Jeff Smith
Serves 6 to 8

3 lbs. boneless pork, cubed (1/2-inch pieces)
3 T. peanut oil
3 stalks celery, chopped
2 med. tomatoes, diced
7 green chiles, roasted, peeled, seeded, and chopped
4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
Chicken stock or water to cover
Salt to taste
Salsa for topping the stew

In a heavy frying pan, brown the pork in the oil. Place the meat in a 3- or 4-quart covered oven casserole and add the next ingredients. Deglaze the frying pan with the broth or water and add to the pot. Barely cover the ingredients with chicken broth or water. Cover and simmer till the stew is thick and the meat very tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Add salt to taste before serving.
. . . . . . . . .

This recipe is in the Native American section of Jeff Smith's book. Smith says that Pueblo tradition calls for the addition of corn or potatoes; I've tried it with potatoes and I like it better without. Obviously, you can make it super hot or not so much, depending on how many and what variety of peppers you use; today I used a combo of jalapeños, poblanos, and Anaheims. My favorite way to eat this stew is to put it into a tortilla and pile on sour cream, salsa, avocado, and sometimes cheese, and eat it like a burrito.

I'm not going to kid you; this baby takes some prep time. I figure it's about an hour, so don't make it if you're in a hurry. Between cutting the meat into cubes; roasting, peeling, and chopping the peppers; and browning the pork in small batches so you get the nice carmelization—you're going to be in the kitchen awhile.

Here's the rice I served alongside the stew.

Rice with Lime and Cilantro
4 to 6 portions

2 1/2 cups chicken broth or water
1/2 tsp. salt
1 clove garlic, slightly crushed
1 cup long-grain rice
1 T. finely grated lime zest
2 T. chopped fresh cilantro
2 T. butter
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Heat the broth or water, salt, and garlic in a heavy saucepan to boiling. Stir in the rice, cover, and simmer until the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in the lime zest and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Remove the garlic; gently stir in the cilantro and butter. Season to taste with pepper.

I got the idea for the rice from The Silver Palate Good Times Cookbook, by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins. Their recipe called for lemon zest and dill, but I substituted lime and cilantro because that seemed to complement the stew.

Quick Bite: Shrimp Po' Boy at Escobar's

If you happen to have people coming into town for graduation weekend, as we do, Escobar's is one of the restaurants I'd recommend taking them to for lunch or dinner. Look at the great shrimp po' boy I had there recently at lunchtime. There were many crispy-fried shrimp—on a large bun, not a long roll or baguette, because this po' boy is actually a torta—with black-bean and corn relish and a tasty aioli. At $11, it's an expensive sandwich, but it's not your average one. All of those panko-and-cornmeal-crusted shrimp, plus hand-cut sweet potato fries and a small salad of baby greens and fresh veggies make this menu selection a full-meal deal, and worth the money.

The shrimp po' boy is on the regular menu; on the day I went for lunch, my companion had one of the daily specials: two chicken tostadas that were just delicious. If you're thinking of going to Escobar's this weekend, you may want to look at my reports on brunch and dinner there.

Oh, and for those of you who'll still be around after the weekend, note that Escobar's is now running Taco Night on Tuesdays.

All three of those taco varieties sound fabulous, don't they? And the $4 margaritas are nothing to sneeze at, either.

If it's nice weather this weekend, which it's supposed to be, you and your companions can dine at one of the umbrella-shaded tables on the sidewalk, soaking up the outdoor vibe at this lovely restaurant just north of downtown Champaign.

Escobar's Nuevo Latino Cuisine
6 East Columbia Avenue
Champaign, IL
217-352-7467
Escobar's Web site and menus

Breakfast at Taco Loco

Mmm, scrambled eggs fried with pieces of corn tortillas; scrambled eggs fried with chorizo sausage, sporting a sprinkling of cotija cheese; fresh corn tortillas fried and smothered with green sauce; all accompanied by mounds of flavored rice and pools of cheese-topped refried beans. A couple of friends and I were lucky enough to have sampled all of the above last week at Taco Loco in Champaign. Pictured here is Sandro, the owner, serving up a plate of chorizo and eggs, beans, rice, and a whole bunch of warm, fresh corn or flour tortillas with a smile.

What?! you say. Taco Loco serves breakfast? They do. I myself had no idea until about a week ago. From 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday (Sunday 9 to 11 a.m.), you can break your nightly fast in grand, Mexican-diner style with selections such as chilaquiles, migas, chorizo and eggs, huevos rancheros, breakfast tacos or burritos, and much more. Here's a shot of the entire breakfast menu, which is posted on the wall near the counter where you place your order.

So go on in some morning when you're hungry, check the menu on the wall, then go to the counter and order away.  You'll pay at the counter when you order, they'll call your number when your food is ready, and you go up to the kitchen window and grab it. Hot and mild sauces are in the small fridge in front of the window.

You can get coffee in the morning, or choose from one of the wide selection of bottled beverages. It's not just about Jarritos, baby! (Although there are many Jarritos flavors to choose from.) Notice the Mexican Coke, Squirt, and Sprite (that is, bottled in Mexico and made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup), the orange Fanta, a Mexican apple soda, and Boing! mango drink.

If you can't make it for breakfast, don't worry. There's a full menu of lunch and dinner items, which you can peruse below. The front side of the menu lists the tacos, burritos, tortas (and I highly recommend the steak torta, if you like a big, messy, delicious sandwich filled with every imaginable ingredient), salads, and nachos.

Turn the menu over, and you'll find combination plates, fajitas, and sides.

Prices are very reasonable; the 18 full breakfast plates are only $4.99 each, breakfast tacos go for $1.89 each, and a breakfast burrito will only set you back $3.80. Lunch and dinner platters average $7.50. And then there are the specials.

Every Friday and Saturday in May, you can get a taco, two baby burritos, or an enchilada for just 99 cents when you purchase a soft drink (there are both fountain drinks and the bottled variety). The flier in the photo above mentions May 7 and 8, but Sandro decided, hey, why not run the special all month.

As if that were not enough, every Tuesday tacos are 99 cents, every Wednesday you can pick up a burrito and fries for $4.80, Thursdays it's a taco salad for $4.99, and Fridays, steak or chicken fajitas are just $7.99. 

Taco Loco features a large, brightly colored, festive dining area, so you won't have to worry about finding seating (and there are even a few outdoor tables).

However, if you'd rather take your food to go, that's no problem. You can give Taco Loco a call, or just go in and place an order, and it will be boxed up for you.

One thing to note about breakfast. The hours listed on the breakfast menu shown above are 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., and it's actually 7:30 to 11. So please don't show up before 7:30 because I wouldn't want you to be disappointed. On Sundays, breakfast is served starting at 9 a.m.

Taco Loco
523 West Town Center Blvd. (across from Menard's, in the strip where All About Eyes is)
Champaign, IL
217-355-8226
Open at 7:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. on Sunday.

Food Poetry 12: Taking Dinner to My Mother

When I read this poem recently on The Writer's Almanac, I immediately knew I wanted to republish it here. The author, Burt Kimmelman, kindly granted me permission to do so, and of course, because we're celebrating Mother's Day in the United States, this is the day for it. The poem comes from Burt's book As If Free. Burt is a professor of English and Chair of the Department of Humanities at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

The poem reminded me of taking dinner to my own mother—shrimp with lobster sauce, her favorite Chinese takeout—on her birthday, which falls just before Mother's Day. She hadn't really been ill but had been feeling odd and off balance. This was due, as we found out the next day, to a fast-growing tumor in her brainstem, and she would live only about 10 more weeks. Sad to say, she could not really eat the shrimp dish, but at least she tasted it.

My mother, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, was a wonderful Italian-American cook and a great lover of food. She was an adventurous eater and was always ready to try something new. It was she who introduced me to everything from escargots to knishes to tacos. I post this poem in memory of her, with thanks to Burt Kimmelman for writing it.

Taking Dinner to My Mother

My mother sits on the edge of her bed,
a scarf on her head to hide the gray hair
she can no longer manage to dye black,
her flesh falling away from the frame of
her face and shoulders, loosened by the loss
of weight when the body betrays the soul,
when the body's pain forbids all desire.
But tonight she is hungry, and I have

come bearing corned beef and pastrami, bread,
sour pickles and a kasha knish.
I help her to the table in slow, small

steps, a pas de deux we have carried on,
I realize, for almost sixty years, and
I think of how, some time before, I held
my daughter's hands, bent over, as she learned
how to walk – the fact of balance, which we
live with until it abandons us – and
how my mother, in a photograph, held
me in the same way. Earlier today,

I had stopped at a café and, sitting
still for a moment, looking up from my
book, I watched how, at a nearby table,

a new mother fed her infant daughter,
who sat up in her baby carriage, some
bits of crustless bread held between thumb and
forefinger, while her grandfather talked on,
the smell of her mother's hand mingled with
this first food, a small bird in her nest. At
my mother's table I fix her sandwich
and tell her about her granddaughter who

met a boy for a moment in a flea
market, who is now a first love, but my
mother's eyelids are starting to lower,
her head nodding forward slightly, so I
gather her up and walk her back to her
bed, sit her down and swing her swollen legs
up and then under the covers, turn off
all the lights but one, close and lock the door.

"Taking Dinner to My Mother" by Burt Kimmelman, from As If Free. © Talisman House, 2009. Reprinted with permission. You can purchase the book on Amazon.

If you'd like to read other food-themed poems that have appeared on Champaign Taste, go to my companion blog, More Champaign Taste, and scroll down to the "Miscellaneous Treats and Special Events" section. All of the poems in the series are linked to there, and each one is delicious in its own way.

Mother's Day Brunches Around C-U

Another update! Saturday, 5/8/10: I've added some tantalizing new information to this post (specifically, about Buttitta's, Houlihan's, Jim Gould, and Luna), so if you're still considering brunch this Sunday, you may want to buzz through it again. ~Lisa

Mother's Day is coming up this Sunday, as I'm sure you know. If you're thinking of taking a mom out for brunch on a beautiful spring day (fingers crossed), here are some ideas. I started a Champaign Brunch series a couple of years ago (see "Let's Go to Brunch!" in the sidebar at the right); I'll refer you to the reviews of the restaurants I've covered in that series so far, and I'll be continuing the feature, reporting on more brunches as I can.

AnSun (at the Crossing in southwest Champaign) will be serving a special brunch menu; dishes include crepes, biscuits and gravy, eggs Benedict, quiche, scallops, lamb, chicken, beef, and more. You can see the brunch menu on their Web site. Mimosa specials will also be served, and AnSun has new patio seating you can enjoy if weather permits. Call 355-3855 for more information or see the Web site.

Bacaro is also planning a Mother's Day brunch: According to owner Thad Morrow, it will be a "tasting menu of sorts" where guests can choose from three starters, three pastas, three entrees, and three desserts. The dishes are not totally set yet, but  halibut and filet mignon, plus local asparagus, fava beans, lamb, ramps, and mushrooms will be involved. Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and cost is $45/person. Visit Bacaro's Web site and Facebook page for info and to make a reservation.

Buttitta's (newly-ish opened in the former Jillian's building) will be serving prime rib with mashed potatoes, chicken Marsala topped with fresh mushrooms and served with mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, and grilled Atlantic salmon served over wild rice and topped with a lemon-thyme buerre blanc. Classic dishes will also be offered. The restaurant will be open on Mother's Day from 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Buttitta's is on Facebook. There is also a Buttitta's Web site, featuring photos from Champaign Taste! Check the site for more menu info and the number to call for reservations.

Mike, Kerry, and the staff at Carmon's French bistro will offer their usual Sunday brunch specials: $5 Bloody Marys and French Cidres, quiche of the day, crepes of the day, and some kind of extra-special seafood special. You can sit on the patio if the weather's nice. Keep checking Carmon's Facebook page and their Web site; I'm sure they'll be posting more info about the Mother's Day brunch soon.

Escobar's brunch would make anybody, mother or not, very happy. See my review for details. Outdoor seating is available on the sidewalk, where you'll be shaded by colorful umbrellas. And note that if you'd rather serve Mom brunch in bed, Escobar's entire brunch menu is available for takeout (there's a link to the menu in my review). Don't miss the migas or the Mexican chocolate cake.

Houlihan's at the iHotel is offering a steak-and-lobster Mother's Day special all day on Sunday. $27.95 gets you a 4-ounce filet, a lobster tail, your choice of soup or salad, your choice of dessert, and a nonalcoholic beverage. The regular menu is also available. Check the Web site for more info, and you can consult my 2008 review if you'd like to (though I understand that the restaurant is under new management).

Jim Gould's enormous buffet brunch will be happening in downtown Champaign. Check my review for the lowdown. Great Bloody Marys, and without doubt the largest selection of foods of any buffet in C-U. The Mother's Day edition of the buffet ($27.95/adults, $17.95/children) will include special dishes like carved ribeye roast, spiral ham, teriyaki London broil, and shrimp scampi. Take a look at the entire MD brunch menu on their Web site. See and be seen at an outdoor table on the plaza if you'd like. Check their Facebook page for up-to-the-minute info.

Kennedy's at Stone Creek in Urbana will offer an extra-special version of their usual brunch buffet on Mother's Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. See the entire menu on their Web site, as well as price and reservation information. Sit on the patio or inside; you'll overlook the golf course either way.

Luna will be serving their usual delicious brunch at the historic Champaign train station and will be introducing some of their summer recipes, using "all the local ingredients we can get our hands on!" according to owner Raquel Aikman. Luna also has patio seating. See my review of brunch at the old location to get a taste. The bistro will be open Mother's Day evening for dinner, as well, from 5 to 9 p.m. (usually it's only open for brunch on Sundays). I'm sure Mom would enjoy an evening at Luna just as much as a morning/afternoon. And by the way, Luna is on Facebook.

Milo's at The Pines (southeast Urbana) serves brunch every Sunday; look for the homemade brioche French toast with fresh fruit, which I've not sampled but which sounds outstanding. You can peruse the entire brunch menu on Milo's Web site. Patio seating overlooking a small lake is available.

Radio Maria, in downtown Champaign, serves brunch every Sunday as well. Not a buffet, but a wide selection of interesting dishes are offered in the large, Bohemian-chic dining room. See my review for more info. RM has outdoor seating on the awning-covered sidewalk.

Silvercreek has a great brunch, with made-to-order omelets, a large buffet, and fabulous Bloody Marys. It's cozy and comfy in the restaurant, and the service is usually top notch. For that outdoor feel, have a seat in the large, sunny, glass-enclosed greenhouse. See my post about the SC brunch for more details.

That's all I've got for now; if other Mother's Day brunch opportunities come to my attention, I'll add the info to this post. Make a reservation soon to avoid disappointment. And don't forget to line up a babysitter for the mom in your life, if you're not taking the kids. OK, that didn't come out right. Not a babysitter for mom, but . . . you know what I mean. So that Mom doesn't have to. Whew, get me out of this post now before I hurt myself.

Quick Bite: Tiramisu from Mirabelle Fine Pastries

For this very special, anniversary edition of the Quick Bite—over the weekend we celebrated both my birthday and the fourth anniversary of Champaign Taste—I bring you what my esteemed life partner brought me: one perfect, single-serving tiramisu from Mirabelle bakery in Urbana. Actually there were four mini-cakes, one for every year of the blog's life, but I think the photos of the one suffice, don't they?

If you're dieting, forgive me. I allowed myself to wonder (but only fleetingly) how many calories each of these babies contains. They sure seem light as air, so probably it's not that many, ho ho.

While I was looking at the gorgeous mini-cakes, it occurred to me that one of them might make a mom extremely happy on Mother's Day (coming up Sunday, May 9!), which is mainly why I wanted to tell you about them here. If you would like to procure the tiramisu or one of Mirabelle's other astonishingly delicious pastries next weekend, be aware of two things:

1. You need to call this week and tell them what and how many you want.
2. The bakery is closed on Sundays and Mondays, so if you want to surprise that special someone on Mother's Day, you'll need to go in on Saturday to pick up the sweet that you ordered at least 72 hours ahead of time.

Unfortunately, Mirabelle no longer has a Web site, so you'll have to contact the bakery via phone or by just going in. I did a little report on the operation four years ago, if you'd like to look at that.

Mirabelle Fine Pastries
124 West Main Street (1/2 block east of Race St.)
Urbana, IL 61801
217-384-6460
Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.