Top Spots to Enjoy Champaign-Urbana's Local Flavors

March 12, 2024

Farms, large and small, surround our micro-urban community, providing fresh ingredients for local chefs to incorporate into their menus and for us to prepare at home. Here’s where you can enjoy or pick up the freshest ingredients of the season to support our local food system.

On the Farm

Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery, an award-winning goat dairy, is back with a new summer series on Wednesdays featuring local products right from the farm, where their cheese is prominently featured. Local ingredients from surrounding farms and around the region round out the menu for an unforgettable communal dining experience. Stay tuned for their weekend events through their calendar and many other ways to engage in this working farm with the goats!

Dining Out with Local Ingredients

The Wheelhouse— Just off the Kickapoo Rail Trail in St. Joseph, the Wheelhouse incorporates local ingredients into their seasonal menus—a perfect excuse to go back. Chef Ryan Rogiers wows our palate with the freshest of flavors, and has arguably the best cheese curds around.

Riggs Beer Company— Following traditional German brewing, the Riggs brothers utilize just four ingredients in all of their beers. Utilizing grains from their own family farm, and those grown on property, a typical month uses about 1500 pounds of their own grain. They also proudly run off 90-100% solar power. Take a tour of the brewery and enjoy your brew in their popular taproom and beer garden.

Timpone’s—From the family that originally brought pizza to Central Illinois, Timpone’s serves up authentic Italian cuisine, made from fresh ingredients. Their evolving menu means you can take your date there over and over again.

Silvercreek— Off the Boneyard Creek in Urbana, Silvercreek offers classic fine dining. Utilizing local ingredients from their gardens at their sister restaurant down the street, this restaurant is sure to charm you and your date.

Want to cook at home?

Outdoor markets kick off early May, with a market nearly every day of the week. Bringing ingredients from area farms and locally-made products, our markets are a haven for supporting local. Check out these farmer’s markets to bring home our locally grown and raised ingredients.

Seven farmers markets across five days: