 The "Food and Cooking Extravaganza," which also features an
appearance by celebrity chef Patrick Cassata, will be on Saturday
and Sunday in the Orr Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
Expo hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.
"Illinois is known around the world as one of the leading producers
of agricultural commodities, but many may not realize that we are
also a leading food manufacturer," said Gov. Pat Quinn. "This
weekend's Illinois Products Expo will help continue to grow our
place in the global market by giving consumers a chance to try great
Illinois-made products. From pickled asparagus to pecans, the expo
will help boost awareness of Illinois companies, create demand for
our products and support jobs in our food industry."
Illinois ranks first in the United States in sales of processed
food products and third in food processing jobs. The state's 2,514
food companies employ more than 83,000 workers.
"Among the thousands of expo visitors, we're expecting as many as
100 food buyers," said Agriculture Director Bob Flider. "Their
attendance is important if we're going to get more Illinois products
on store shelves and begin to realize the economic potential of
local foods."
The expo's food offerings, which can be sampled for free as well
as purchased, will include fresh meat products, candy, gourmet
seasonings and sauces, homemade jams and jellies, and specialty
dressings. A few nonfood items, such as soy candles and
agricultural-based soaps and lotions, will also be on display and
available for purchase.
To quench their thirst, expo visitors will have wines from 20
vintners and beer from two breweries to choose from, as well as
coffee and soda. However, while the food samples are free, there is
a charge for the drinks.
Cassata, executive chef of The Bank restaurant in Wheaton and an
advocate of local, sustainable and socially responsible food, was a
contestant on the Fox television series "Hell's Kitchen." He will
give a cooking demonstration at the expo on Saturday.
A cooking demonstration also is scheduled Sunday. It will be
presented by Jolene Adams of the Culinary Institute at Lincoln Land
Community College.
Admission to the Illinois Products Expo is $5. Children 10 and
younger will be admitted free of charge.
There will be drawings for door prizes, including Illinois
products gift baskets and a Weber Genesis E-310 LP gas grill (retail
value $849).
A list of the participating food companies, wineries and
agribusinesses follows:
(* new exhibitor)
-
Ahruns Famous,
Crystal Lake
-
*Anthony's Southern
Sauces, Bloomington
-
American Egg Board,
Springfield
-
*Acacia Spice
Company, Springfield
-
Aunt Em's Gourmet
Popcorn, Deer Creek
-
Bloodshot Bloody Mary
Mix, Springfield
-
Butch's Pizza, Morton
-
C & C Fudge, Lincoln
-
Central Illinois
Event Catering, Elkhart
-
*Country Bob's,
Centralia
-
Country Lights Soy
Candles, Leland
-
Crowridge Farm Ice
Cream, Elliott
-
Darn Hot Peppers,
Cobden
-
Davis Bros. Pizza,
East Peoria
-
Eagle Bridges Soy
Candles, Jacksonville
[to top of second column] |
-
*Family Kettle Corn,
Jacksonville
-
Galena Garlic
Company, Geneva
-
*Giannotti Pasta
Sauces, River Forest
-
*Golden Prairie
Popcorn, Nokomis
-
Goose Island Brewing
Co., Chicago
-
Gramp's Gourmet
Foods, Scales Mound
-
*Hickory Grove
Products, Assumption
-
Illinois Grape
Growers & Vintners Assn., Springfield
-
Alto Vineyards,
Alto Pass
-
August Hill
Winery, Utica
-
Baxter's
Vineyards, Nauvoo
-
Berryville
Vineyards, Claremont
-
Collver Family
Winery, Barry
-
Fox Creek
Vineyards, Olney
-
Hill Prairie
Winery, Oakford
-
Hopewell Winery,
Rockport
-
Illinois River
Winery, Utica
-
Kickapoo Creek
Winery, Edwards
-
Lasata Wines,
Lawrenceville
-
*Lyn-Nita
Vineyards, Elkville
-
Mary Michelle
Winery & Vineyard, Carrollton
-
Pheasant Hollow
Winery, Whittington
-
*Prairie State
Winery, Genoa
-
Shawnee Winery,
Vienna
-
Sleepy Creek
Vineyards, Fairmount
-
Spirit Knob
Winery, Ursa
-
Vahling
Vineyards, Stewardson
-
Willett's Winery
& Cellar, Manito
-
Illinois Pork
Producers Association, Springfield
-
Illinois Specialty
Growers Association, Bloomington
-
JAVA & Company, Henry
-
J.D. Mullen Company,
Palestine
-
Jimmy B's Super
Salsa, Springfield
-
Jones Boys Market,
Ashland
-
Julie's Corner Store,
Lacon
-
*Just Right Eating,
Taylorville
-
Lime Rock Brown Swiss
Cheese, Davis
-
Ludwig Farmstead
Creamery, Fithian
-
M & G Foods (Grandpa
G's), Hamilton
-
Meatsmack, Chatham
-
Oakland Noodle Co.,
Oakland
-
Onofrio's Classic
Sauces, Springfield
-
Pasta Alley, Decatur
-
Pease's Candy,
Springfield
-
Perfect Pasta,
Addison
-
*Reinneck Ranch,
Mascoutah
-
ReMARKable Caramels,
Danville
-
Rolling Meadows
Brewery, Cantrall
-
Ropp Jersey Cheese,
Normal
-
Sasse's Apiary,
Chestnut
-
*Shelley's Sweet &
Chunky Salsa, Arcola
-
Smo Diddly's Pickled
Asparagus, Lynn Center
-
Spice of Life,
Decatur
-
SS Backwards Longhorn
Meats, Medora
-
Steidinger Foods,
Fairbury
-
*Sweet Slap'n Salsa
Co., Ringwood
-
The Homestead Bakery,
Arthur
-
Toohill Seed & Beef
Service, Heyworth
-
Turasky Meats,
Springfield
-
Two Fat Guys Gourmet
Sauces, McHenry
-
Uncle Joe's Sauces,
Ina
-
*Voss Pecans, Carlyle
-
*Wind Ridge Herb
Farm, Caledonia
-
Zillion's Chili, Springfield
[Text from
Illinois
Department of Agriculture
file received from the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
