This year, the third annual National Butter Day will be celebrated Friday, Nov. 17! For those wondering, National Butter Day came along in 2021 thanks to Associated Milk Producers Inc., which is a dairy farm cooperative that helps thousands of farm families across the nation produce quality dairy products including our beloved butter. The co-op has been around for over five decades, and the family farms associated with the co-op span the upper Midwest including parts of northwest Illinois.

Butter is a household staple for many families in Illinois and plays a large role in our state’s culture. Each year, one of the main attractions of the Illinois State Fair is the iconic Butter Cow. Back in August, the Butter Cow sculpture for 2023 was unveiled. The 800-pound sculpture was created by Sarah Pratt and honored Lorilee Schultz, an Illinois dairy farmer whose family farm goes back generations. The sculpture was proudly displayed in the Dairy Building at the state fair for everyone to enjoy.

Additionally, butter can be used to make already delicious foods even better. Illinoisans know this well. The official state snack of Illinois is popcorn. Popcorn and butter have always gone hand-in-hand and thanks to Illinois farmers, the bite-size delicacy can be found across the nation as the state is a top producer of the snack with 28,000 acres of farmland dedicated to its production.

Butter is also a top contributor to making popular foods in Illinois the best around. From beef sandwiches, to apple fritters, butter rolls and on our favorite roasted meats, we can always count on butter to elevate any food.

This holiday season, remember to keep butter stocked and ready!

Nov. 16 is National Fast Food Day. Did you know that Illinois has a rich history in the founding and incorporation of several fast food restaurants?

Ray Kroc, one of the founders of McDonald’s, opened his first restaurant in Des Plaines in April 1955. Although this is actually the ninth McDonald’s restaurant, the company refers to this as The Original McDonald’s. This location marked the beginning of Kroc’s involvement with the company, as he went on to become the CEO of McDonald’s. The headquarters of McDonald’s is located in Chicago.

Sandy’s was an American fast food chain that began in Kewanee in 1956 by founders Gus “Brick” Lundberg, Robert C. Wenger, Paul White and W.K. Davidson. The company was taken over by Hardee’s in the 1970s.

Sherb Noble opened the very first Dairy Queen in Joliet in 1940. The formula for soft-serve ice cream was first developed in 1938 by J.F. McCullough and his son Alex. They convinced their friend Sherb Noble to offer the product in his ice cream store in Kankakee, and on the first day of sales Noble sold more than 1,600 servings of ice cream. Noble and the McCulloughs then opened up the Joliet Dairy Queen.

Consider stopping for some fast food as you celebrate National Fast Food Day this week!

On Oct. 23, 2020, Centralia became the home of an establishment that has adopted a new take on dining. Rather than dishing a single style of food, the Varela family has made a remarkable stride in incorporating Mexican and Chinese cuisine into a single location. The reason for this was to create a friendly atmosphere in which families, couples, and friends could all dine together while enjoying the best of both worlds.

“Chelbran’s is the only place in which you don’t have to bicker with your family about eating Mexican or Chinese for dinner because you’ll find both here. Your cravings will be satisfied.” Varela said. “Families can come together and as simple as it might sound, they can enjoy great food and conversation.”

The Varela family prides themselves on serving fresh Mexican and Chinese dishes. Everything is prepared daily, either upon request or in the mornings as the front doors are opening to welcome customers.

When traveling through Centralia, also recognized as Orphan Nation for their school’s mascot, one may come across this family restaurant’s distinctive, attention-getting emblem planted to the left of its cozy white brick building. The emblem consists of a large shield with the restaurant’s name surrounded by flames placed before two strong centaurs. Although centaurs are often perceived as controversial creatures throughout Greek mythology, it is certain that they are warriors. Centaurs are idealists who fight for what they believe in even if it does not fit within Greek standards.

Overall, the restaurant’s emblem represents an underlying familial message. The Varela parents, Salvador and Maria L. Serrano, have always emphasized the importance of perseverance to their children. They believe that regardless of the difficulty level of the obstacles one must overcome, it is important to keep pushing forward.

“Somos luchadores (We are fighters),” Maria Serrano said. “We wanted to demonstrate our determination and ability to prevail by creating this place. It is intended to encourage our children to dream big but also other people who are in need of a reminder that they too are capable.”

There are over 40 options on Chelbran’s vast menu. Special requests can also be made to the food manager, such as egg drop soup or huevos con chorizo. The services provided are bilingual in English and Spanish.

Bring your family and check out this sensational Illinoisan family restaurant!

Owners Doc and Susan Richardson opened their family restaurant in Edwardsville, Illinois, and served pork, steaks, ribs, burnt ends, burgers, and a selection of fine desserts all under one roof. It’s become a bit of a local legend, with over 300 awards in the barbecue circuit.

Doc’s has also been named among the Best of the Best Barbecue by National Barbecue News, an extremely prestigious title to hold. To be eligible for recognition, a restaurant must be taste-tested, without notice, by an affiliate of National Barbecue News multiple times throughout the year.