Find the best local food and gifts at the Champaign-Urbana Winter Farmers Market
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Go the “extra mile” for your Valentine this year and support local with your purchases. Looking for great ideas to woo and wow your love? Here is a sneak peak into our Valentine’s weekend “playbook”…
Saturday
- Take a beautiful drive to Lincoln Square Mall for the C-U Winter Farmers Market.
- Enjoy a seasonal cronut from Central IL Bakehouse. This month’s flavors are Chocolate Covered Cherry and Strawberry Cream! Don’t forget to grab a baguette Bonus: wave to Barbie!
- Koss Family Farms can be a popular booth selling a hot commodity – Lettuce! – so stopping there early to secure a fresh, sweet locally grown salad is one of our first stops.
- Swing by Allison Centennial Farm’s stand for amazing $5 pasture raised eggs and decide between their thick cut bacon or amazing breakfast sausage.
- Pick out a vibrant bouquet of locally grown (in February?!) tulips from Illinois Willows.
- Mandatory stop by Tati’s Bakery – hard decision between Argentinian Medialunas, Venezuelan Pan Andino, or the fluffiest of honey wheat sandwich bread. (Ask the owner Orlando for advice! He’s lovely!)
- Go classic with a thick steak from Triple S Farms.
- Don’t forget the seasoning! Alexander’s Primetime Seasonings ‘n Rubs has ALL the options!
- We don’t exactly live local to oysters but Oyster Mushrooms Rockefeller makes for a pretty impressive local “seafood” option – find these “oysters” at Flyaway Family Farms, Middlefork Mushroom Co., and Diamond’s Homestead. Bonus: consider giving the gift of an oyster mushroom “houseplant” (growkit) from Luna Mushroom Co.
- The lovely ladies at Niece’s Pieces Brownies have the last crucial food component: CHOCOLATE! (In our favorite form, brownies!)
- Set a budget and let your loved one pick out a gift – there are so many amazing options at the market! Candles, decor, art, soap, skincare, food …. Make sure you plan to give them plenty of time to decide!
- Last stop: Common Ground Food Coop — We love this amazing store packed full of even more locally grown & made goodies. Finishing out our shopping: some fresh local veggies to top our salad + an amazing organic salad dressing, a selection of cheeses, fruit & a jam to add a fresh element to our brunch in bed plans (and nibbling options between brunch & dinner), and the alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks to match your date’s tastes!
Sunday
- Brunch in Bed – toast (or medialuna!), eggs to your love’s order, sausage (or bacon!), fresh cheese, fruit & local jam (don’t forget the beautiful tulips!).
- A local experience – find something fun to do with your loves!
- Dinner – Pasture-Raised Steak, Oyster Mushrooms Rockefeller, Slice of Baguette, Fresh Winter Salad, with local drink options. (Don’t forget to bring the tulips back for a second appearance!)
- Dessert – Warmed Brownies.