Urbana's Sweet Corn Festival isn't for another three weeks but that doesn't mean we can't start celebrating. We don't grow much sweet corn here in Illinois; as a matter of fact, of the millions of acres of corn planted on all four sides of Champaign-Urbana, and across the state, only a fraction is suitable for human consumption. So eat all the local corn you can this summer, as it is a precious commodity. If you've never picked up corn from Market at the Square, the Schottman brothers in Effingham or the Kleiss farm in Tuscola grow perfect ears.

Every time I think I know what to expect at Market at the Square, someone shows up with something new. Case in point: early orange plums from Jeff Meyer of Villa Grove. Last Saturday, I bought a quart for five dollars and they were well-worth the cash. Sweet and slightly tart, these little orange beauties made a great little tart perfectly paired with vanilla ice cream — definitely summer at its best.

Last Saturday was the worst weather in current market history. Heavy rains and strong wind gusts made the opening hour of the morning difficult for farmers and vendors who were holding on to their tents and protecting their goods.

The rain didn't end until 8:30 a.m., and several vendors packed it up and headed home calling the day an entire wash. (Pun intended.) Eventually the skies cleared, and patrons showed up in droves turning it into a pretty good day for everyone involved.

I can't tell you how many people in the last several weeks have commented about the organic salad greens from Blue Moon Farm. How much they have come to love and depend on a generous bag every week, how remarkably fresh and interesting they are, how they stay so fresh in the fridge, and how they are such a great deal compared to the lesser quality greens one finds in the grocery store.

Jon Cherniss from Blue Moon takes his salad seriously.

Market at the Square has been shaping up nicely and every week it just gets better and better. Last week brought us fuzzy peaches, beautiful apricots and more cherries, raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries and blueberries. The folks at First Fruits had a mountainous display of sweet broccoli and cauliflower, along with a gorgeous stack of tri-colored beets that had my mouth watering. This coming Saturday market patrons can expect to find this year's first apples and plums along with more green beans, zucchini, cabbages and potatoes. There are still plenty of greens, kohlrabi, sugar snap peas, garlic scapes and radishes.

It couldn't be easier to come up with a simple pasta dish, soup or salad composed exclusively on what the market has to offer.

Truth be told, I didn't make it to the market last week. Only an event such as the marriage of dear friends can keep me away this time of year, and I am thankful to the Common Ground Co-op and a steady supply of goat cheese for getting me through the week.

Broccoli, cauliflower, green beans and beets are some of my favorite vegetables — finally in season — and I cannot wait to start eating my fill. But really, right now it is all about the berries, and Market at the Square is due to have quite the supply this coming weekend.

Broccoli grown at Blue Moon Farm in Urbana.

With the fear of sounding redundant, I must say that we had a great market again last Saturday. Beautiful weather, great produce and a ton of patrons — the vendors couldn't have asked for a better day.

This week, visitors to the market can expect to find many of the same vegetables we have seen over the past few weeks as well as raspberries, gooseberries, cherries, blueberries, broccoli, green beans, squash and onions. Make sure to visit all five aisles to really cover what the market has to offer. New vendors are popping up everywhere, and you never know what new treasure is to be found.

This week's salmonella scare in the nation's tomato supply should make us realize how lucky we are to have such a vibrant farmer's market here in Urbana. We can get to know our local farmers, where our food was grown, how it was handled and feel safe about what we are putting in our bodies.

Market at the Square was packed last weekend and patrons filled their shopping bags with the largest variety of vegetables we've seen thus far this season. I had the benefit of shopping early and was able to get some gorgeous Red Russian and Lacinato kales, swiss chard, turnips, salad greens, radishes, purple and green asparagus and of course, strawberries.

Cary's Garden of Eatin' had strawberries piled high with crate after crate of the blushing beauties. She was selling them packed in four different sizes suitable for all appetites and canning needs. I'm sure there will be plenty more to be had this coming Saturday, and I've got strawberry daiquiris in mind.

Market at the Square is starting to really get going this Saturday with a larger variety of fresh spring produce due to the warmer conditions. The early bird still gets the worm though; don't sleep too late, or you might miss out on some of the newer items.

We are starting to see a variety of crucifers including cabbages, bok choy, and maybe, we can hope for some kale, broccoli, and cauliflower in the next few weeks. Luckily, we can expect to have asparagus for about two more weeks. Make sure to get your fill — paired with some peppery arugula — asparagus makes an amazing salad. Radishes and rhubarb are still going strong as are the early harvest strawberries.

Now is definitely the time to bake a strawberry rhubarb pie for your honey or buy one for that matter.

We had another beautiful day at the Market last week. The morning clouds parted and gave way to some incredible sunshine along with a little spell of wind. Many of the vendors were holding down their tents to keep them from flying off, and I witnessed a few minor injuries. If you haven't had the chance to check out the market yet this year, Saturday looks like another great opportunity with outstanding weather and more incredible local products.

It was a great day at the Urbana Farmers' Market last week, and customers enjoyed the gorgeous weather, catching up with the local farmers and running in to friends, while exploring all the market had to offer. Although the variety of available produce was less than market goers are accustomed to this time of year, the bounty was plenty. Asparagus was the vegetable-of-the-day, and although I went slightly overboard on my purchases, I have no regrets, and will likely indulge again.

Urbana's Market at the Square begins their 29th season this Saturday, and after a long cold, winter, tomorrow's farmer's market couldn't have come too soon. All the blooming trees, spring flowers and little seedlings popping up in local gardens conjure thoughts about summer and all the ultra-fresh local produce in the coming months. Unfortunately, due to all the rain, the farmers were a little late in planting this year and the market may be slim pickings these first few weeks, so get out of bed early to guarantee your share of the spring harvest.

When I first saw the recipe for Creamy Celery-root and Haricot Vert Salad in this month's issue of Gourmet magazine I was reminded of how much I love celery root, particularly in this type of salad. Dressed in a tangy sauce known in French cookery as a remoulade, vegetables transform into something special. Sauce remoulade is a combination of mayonnaise, mustard, capers, chervil, tarragon, parsley, chives, gherkins and a touch of anchovy (optional). A thick creamy sauce, remoulade is traditionally served cold and appears not too different from a tartar sauce — but it’s much better due to all the fresh herbs. Louisianans have their own version of remoulade — "kicked up a notch," of course, with cayenne pepper, and often served alongside shrimp. Celery root, or celeriac, in my opinion, is the perfect foil for remoulade. Crunchy and earthy, it balances the tangy creaminess of the sauce, combining to form a beloved culinary classic known as celeriac remoulade.

Americans eat an average of 253 eggs per year, according to statistics provided by the United Egg Producers. That's a lot of eggs, but it’s not entirely surprising, given that eggs are an essential part of our common diet. Incorporated into a plethora of prepared products, baked goods and on their own, many of us eat eggs, in one form or another, on a daily basis (vegans excluded). It takes 280 million laying hens to satisfy our current egg habit — a multi-billion dollar industry. Yet, why do so many of us restrict our eggs to the breakfast table? Is it our fear of cholesterol, lack of imagination or just habit?

For me, Valentine's Day is just another Hallmark holiday. It's not that I don't believe in love or romance, I could just care less either way. That's not to say I would turn down a bouquet of roses, an invitation to dinner or chocolate — especially chocolate.

The world of chocolate is expanding, and chocolate manufacturers are including more details on their packaging, including cacao percentages, regional names and type of bean. These descriptions are hard to decipher — or use to your advantage when baking, buying or eating — without a brief understanding of chocolate: where it comes from and how it is made.

Banana, blueberry, ricotta, buckwheat, buttermilk, bao, bing (Chinese flatbread), German, potato, Schmarren, latkes, crepes, Johnnycakes, dosa — the list goes on and on. These, of course, are plays on the incredibly versatile pancake.

Pancakes can turn up in the form of appetizers, breakfast dishes, lunch courses, supper treats and desserts. They lend themselves to a variety of preparations and are often stuffed or served with fruits, jams, sausages, and even leftover meats or fish. It’ no wonder that around the globe pancakes find center stage for a wide variety of religious holidays and national dishes.

Although the produce section in our local supermarket looks the same year round, most people are beginning to recognize the concept of seasonality when it comes to vegetables. Summer tomatoes, zucchinis, and corn are simply not worth the high price produce commands this time of year and our money is wiser spent on tastier cold-weather crops. Traditional winter vegetables such as cabbages, greens, and root vegetables are fresher and sweeter, and haven't traveled as far to reach the grocer’s shelves, as they were more than likely grown in our own hemisphere. So using in-season vegetables is inevitably going to yield the best results in the kitchen. And a gorgeous winter vegetable that is often overlooked and underused is the leek.

This past Thursday, Itchefs-gvci (Virtual Group of Italian Chefs), an organization made up of Italian chefs cooking abroad, kicked off the First International Day of Italian Cuisines around the globe. Itchefs-gvci rallied chefs, foodies and lovers of Italian food to celebrate the authenticity and quality of Italian cuisine by cooking or eating pasta alla carbonara according to the original recipe.

The secret’s out: I love Jamie Oliver, the 32-year-old British culinary superstar who champions healthy eating in all corners of society. Imagine my excitement to hear he has returned to the Food Network after what seemed like an eternity. Granted, Oliver has continued to be a public presence, releasing his eighth cookbook and reforming the school lunch program in England, where he’s given wayward youths new opportunities through his Fifteen restaurant program. But it’s still satisfying to know Oliver will be back in my living room on a weekly basis.

Last Sunday marked the debut of Jamie at Home, a stylistic new look at what Oliver is cooking up in his own back yard. (The program now airs every Saturday night at 8 p.m. on the Food Network.) Using produce and herbs from his home vegetable patch, Oliver conveys the message, as the Village Voice puts it, that “gardening is cool.”

As a professional chef, I have a well-equipped kitchen. Three drawers full of every imaginable tool — knives, spatulas, whisks, tongs, you name it. Yet there are some gadgets I just can't live without. Thinking back, I realize that I’ve cooked for years without having many of the tools that today I would consider “essential,” and somehow everything seemed to work out. Nevertheless, I would not go back to those dark ages no matter how organic or romantic they seem in my mind. Let's face it: Gadgets make our lives easier and our kitchens happier.

Here are some of my all-time favorites — and I think many chefs would agree.

While living in Texas I was introduced to the custom of eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s for good luck. My friend Carrie would whip up a batch of Texas caviar, a salsa-like dish made with fresh black-eyed peas, chopped red onion, fresh tomato, green onion and jalapeño — all tossed together in red-wine vinaigrette. We would snack on the "caviar" with tortilla chips while watching football on New Year’s Day. Tasty and refreshing, Carrie's Texas caviar was something I looked forward to year after year.

In large families, the holidays are often surrounded by a myriad of food traditions. Family members all arrive at the table with signature dishes — and these are recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation. Whether it’s Aunt Ida’s green bean casserole or Uncle Frank’s marinara, the holidays wouldn’t be the same without these delicious traditions.

Depression has officially set in.

Our local farmers’ market lasts only two more Saturdays and I'm already starting to feel unhealthy. Despite the ample supply of late-fall vegetables (carrots, potatoes, turnips and brussel sprouts), I experienced what can only be described as disappointment — even despair — during a recent Thursday night voyage to a local supermarket in search of something fresh.

Nothing warms the body and soul in the winter months more than a fantastic pour of wine. This year, why not check out some local Illinois wines for your holiday spread?

One of Illinois’ largest wineries has a tasting room right here in Champaign–Urbana. Located on Duncan Road, just a mile north of Bloomington Road, Alto Vineyards Winery has been hosting wine tastings and local musical acts in their outdoor wine garden since 2001. The Champaign location is a second outlet for Alto Vineyards and the Renzaglia family. The vineyard, where they grow all of their grapes and make the wine, is located in the foothills of the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois.

This year I had a special turkey grace my table: a heritage breed Bourbon Red turkey from Monticello’s Caveny Farm.

Caveny Farm raises several varieties of heritage poultry, including duck and geese. Unlike the tasteless, overgrown Butterball birds found in supermarkets, a Caveny Farm turkey spends its life outside under open skies. Heritage turkeys are allowed to mate naturally and, for all intents and purposes, live their lives as nature intended. Unlike their Butterball counterparts, who reach their market weight in 12 weeks, heritage turkeys have a much slower growth rate, living a full 28 weeks before reaching their optimal size.

For the past several weeks, I’ve been stocking up on winter squash. Not only do squash make a charming centerpiece, but they are incredibly versatile in the kitchen.

So far this season, I’ve picked up a handful of varieties: acorn, festival, butternut, buttercup and pumpkin. Winter squash not only vary in name, but also in color, texture and sweetness — and everyone seems to have a personal favorite.

With cold weather setting in I’m in the mood for soup. Soup not only warms the soul; it’s also a great way to incorporate healthy legumes and vegetables into your diet. I make dozens of soups throughout the dead of winter, but love the simple ones best. Make it a practice to have some good broth on hand in your pantry or freezer and a quick, easy soup is always within reach.