Chestnut Street Inn Bed & Breakfast
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The ultimate foodies bed and breakfast, this award winning property was recently featured in Midwest Living Magazine as one of the 30 top B & B's in the Midwest. Chef Monika creates Mediterranean inspired gourmet dinners using locally grown organic foods from several farms. Enjoy big city dining in a small town atmosphere.
There are four elegantly appointed yet comfortable guest suites each with a private bathroom. Amenities include signature toiletries, full hot breakfast, robes, Satellite TV, VCR/DVD with over 1000 titles, snacks and beverages. Conveniently located near numerous activities including antiquing, shopping, hiking, biking, fishing, golf, historic sites, agri-tourism, letterboxing, geocaching, theater, wineries and more.
The ultimate bed and breakfast for foodies, the Chestnut Street Inn in Sheffield, IL is an award winning bed and breakfast featuring gourmet Mediterranean cuisine using locally grown foods. Conveniently located off I-80 within two hours of downtown Chicago, Peoria, Quad Cities and Rockford, it is just a quick drive to experience ultimate relaxation from the hectic pace of life. Built in 1854, this historic house offers comfortable accommodations in four uniquely appointed guest suites. All rooms include private bathrooms, Dish Network, DVD/VCR with over 1000 titles, robes, signature toiletries, snacks/beverages and a full gourmet breakfast.
There are numerous area attractions including antiquing, shopping, golf, biking, hiking, historic sites, wineries, theater festivals and much more. Enjoy big city dining in a small town atmosphere.
About the innkeepers: Jeff and Monika Sudakov are originally from Southern California. The couple lived in Las Vegas while Monika was pursuing her Master's Degree in Cultural Anthropology at UNLV. They bought the Chestnut Street Inn in 2005, bringing with them their experience in hospitality and knowledge of food and culture. Both have backgrounds in theater, Jeff having been a musical theater performer for years and Monika a ballet dancer. Both have also travelled extensively and you can see some of the souvenirs they have collected over the years displayed throughout the common areas of the inn.
Press: The Chestnut Street Inn has recently been featured in the June 2011 issue of Midwest Living Magazine in their list of the Midwest's Best B & B's. Listed under "Foodie Flourishes" the article states "You won't know what's more stunning-the $30 four-course dinner or that you found it in the little central Illinois town of 950. No matter. Just pace yourself as you sample huge fresh popovers, buttery garlicky shrimp scampi, tender chicken Parmesan covered in fresh buffalo mozzarella, and creme brulee flavored with orange blossom water."
Chef Monika is also a regular guest on Paula Sands Live! on KWQC and has been a guest on Martha Stewart Living Radio.
Fine Dining
Winner of the 2011 Lanierbb.com Award for Best Vegetarian Food, the 2010 Lanierbb.com Award for Best Chef and the 2009-2010 Best Food Award from Bedandbreakfast.com, the Chestnut Street Inn in Sheffield, IL has carved out a niche for itself as the ultimate bed and breakfast for foodies. Specializing in gourmet 4-course fixed price dinners highlighting the freshest in locally available foods prepared with a Mediterranean flair, Chef Monika will make a meal for you any meal, any time, by reservation only. Note: You do not have to stay at the inn to enjoy one of our meals. We are open to the general public. Reservations required.
Our Friday and Saturday evening dinners are posted on our website monthly for convenient reference. All other meals and menus can be tailored to suit your individual preferences. Chef Monika is also happy to accommodate any dietary restrictions, including, gluten free, dairy free, diabetic, vegetarian and vegan. Please mention your specific dietary needs at time of booking.Chef Monika is the winner of the 2009-2010 Bedandbreakfast.com Award for Best Food. Please note: We strive to provide the freshest available organic seasonal produce. Therefore, all menus May-Oct are subject to change based upon what happens to be fresh that day from the farm. Thank you for your cooperation.
The Chestnut Street Inn is also available for special functions accommodating groups of 40 or less. Prices range between $11.95and $29.95 per person plus tax. Call or email us for inquiries.
Chef Monika is a member of the IACP-International Association of Culinary Professionals.
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Travelers are always looking for memorable and relaxing experiences. Let’s discover more through the words of our innkeepers. Many thanks to Monika and Jeff Sudakov for sharing their own secrets with BBOnline.com! Why do most travelers stay at your inn? We attract “foodies” or people who enjoy fine and unique dining. That is our biggest draw.
What are you best known for? What makes your inn unique? What do you love most about your inn? We are best know for the food. We have won numerous awards in the food category as well as for our cooking classes. We are uniquely able to accommodate just about any dietary restriction.
If someone has never been to your city, what is the #1 reason to come visit? While not an obvious tourist destination, there is a lot to do in the area from hiking and biking to antiquing, shopping, golf, wineries, theater, historical sites and spa services.
What’s the best compliment you have ever received about the inn? We had gentlemen who stayed with us from Paris who said our food was as good as anything they have ever had in any big city, and they should know because they are from France.
What’s the best kept secret about the area? Hennepin Canal Parkway for biking and the Festival 56 theater group.
If a traveler is staying at your inn for 4 nights, what should he/she do in the area? I’d spend a day doing outdoor activities on the Canal, then shopping/antiquing in Princeton with perhaps a show that evening, a spa day for the ladies and golf for the boys and Bishop Hill/wineries the last day. And of course dine with us all the days for a unique menu each night.
Is there anything within walking distance of your inn? The historic Danish Church and Museum as well as our Town Hall which is on the National Historic Register. We also have a couple of shops on our Main St.
What is your favorite restaurant/food in the area? Our own of course!
Any good area guides/websites that travelers could reference? We have a detailed list of things to do on our website that will get them wherever they would like to be.
How many rooms does your inn have? We have 4 rooms.
Do you accept pets? We do not accept pets.
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Cooking classes are held by reservation only Sundays thru Thursdays for groups of 1-6 people. Classes are hands on and generally take 2-3 hours. Cost is $50 per person plus tax and includes instruction, recipes and the full meal afterward. Students get to select their menu based upon currently available menu options. The class will include instruction on basic skills as well as discussion about spices, pantry, technique and more as applicable. For more information or to set up a cooking class, contact Chef Monika at 800-537-1304 or you can email her at monikaandjeff@chestnut-inn.com.
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It's finally here!! Let's Party: Gluten Free Entertaining for Everyone.
You can purchase online via Pay Pal or you can contact us direct by phone or email to purchase. monikaandjeff@chestnut-inn.com or 800-534-1304.
“In this delightful and delicious tome, cultural anthropologist, gourmet cook, and self-professed “foodie” Monika Sudakov reveals the secrets of fun, festive, and flavorful gluten-free cooking. Preparing a gluten-free meal for a guest used to be a dilemma: a separate menu for the one, or a bland, uninspired menu for the many. Not any more! Here are a wide variety of culturally inspired appetizers, main courses, side dishes, and desserts to please the most particular palate. Take an international “food cruise” from the comfort of your dining room table! Best of all, no one will have to worry about gluten intolerances.”
“What a great entertaining resource! . . . This book proves that gluten-free cooking can be tasty, nutritious, diverse, and easy to produce. Happy, safe eating!”
Debra L. Tindle, Registered Dietitian
System Clinical Nutrition Manager, Orange County, CA -
Outdoor Activities
Bureau County and the surrounding areas are rich with numerous outdoor activities to satisfy virtually any outdoor enthusiast. From hiking, biking, fishing and hunting to bird-watching or just a leisurly stroll, the Chestnut Street Inn offers a perfect launching point for all of these activities. Note: Tennis Courts and Basketball Courts are available in the two parks in town so bring your rackets and balls.
Illinois River Country Nature Trail-Runs 140 miles from Ottawa, IL to Havana, IL. Sites in Bureau County include Galena Trail and Coach Road, Warneke Woods, McCune Sand Prairie, Mautino State Fish and Wildlife Area, Donnelley/Depue State Fish and Wildlife Area & Complex, Witness Tree and Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park. For a booklet detailing each site, contact the Princeton Chamber of Commerce at 877-730-4306. Booklets are free of charge.
Hennepin Canal-Part of the Grand Illinois Trail. Hike, bike, fish or birdwatch on the canal. From Colona, IL to Bureau Junction, IL, bikers can easily cover the entire trail in two days. The Friends of the Canal also offers monthly hikes, 2-5 miles long between the locks. For more information on the canal or on how to join, click on their website link or call 815-664-2403. Canoe, fishing pole, bike and Boat rentals are also available for the canal. Call 815-878-1438 for more details. Stop by the Visitor's Center located off Route 40 in Sheffield, just south of exit 45 from I-80.
Mautino Fish and Wildlife Preserve-15 stocked lakes. Great birdwatching. There is a fantastic 2-3 mile long bike ride from the inn to the Preserve and back.
Hornbaker Gardens-Hornbaker Gardens is a family owned and operated nursery located 5 miles southeast of Princeton, Illinois. Our large collections of hostas, daylilies, irises, trees & shrubs, grasses, aquatics, annual, and other perennials draw plant enthusiasts from not only the Midwest, but from all across the country. Guests of the Chestnut Street Inn LOVE bringing home plants to remember their trip by!
Johnson Sauk Trail-Hiking, fishing, cross country skiing, birdwatching.
Geocaching-At the current moment, May 5, 2010, over 9,000 geocaches are said to have been placed within a 100 mile radius of our zip code. If you're interested in geocaching, the possibilities are practically endless. For more information and exact coordinates, log onto www.geocaching.com.
Letterboxing-There are 36 boxes in Bureau County, including a number of boxes that are a part of a Wizard of Oz themed series running from Bureau Junction to Milan of about 50 boxes, many of which run along the Hennepin Canal. There is also a lovely box to be found at Frances Park Woodland Palace, a fantastic site to visit in and of itself. There is additional info on letterboxing at www.atlasquest.com.
I & M Canal Boat Tour-Discover the history of the I & M Canal on a mule drawn riverboat. Lock 16 Visitor Center, La Salle, IL.
Starved Rock State Park-Arguably one of the most popular hiking, biking, camping areas in the entire stae of Illinois. One of the most popular times of the year to come here is during the early spring when eagle watching is spectacular and the waterfalls are in full swing.
Z-Tour-This road ride provides you a chance to enjoy some of the best bike roads that northwest Illinois has to offer. The routes will feature loops that incorporate hills, rolling terrain, beautiful views of Bureau Creek with minimal traffic.
Golf
If you love to golf, then we are the bed and breakfast for you. There are numerous courses ranging in price and difficulty all within a 30 mile radius of the Chestnut Street Inn, Sheffield, IL.
Hunter's Ridge Golf Course-Princeton, IL. Par 72, 6337 yards, slope 125, course 70.5.
Hidden Lake Country Club-Sheffield, IL. Par 72.
Midland Country Club-Kewanee, IL. Par 72.
Wyaton Hills-Wyanet, IL. 9 Holes. Driving Range.
Baker Golf Course-Kewanee, IL. Par 72.
Deer Valley Golf Course and Country Club-Deer Grove, IL. Par 72.
Green River Golf Course-Walnut, IL. 9 Holes.
Historical
For the history buff, there are many sites worthy of exploration in Bureau County and the surrounding areas. Most are just a short drive away. Some require advance reservations or are only open on weekends so plan accordingly.
Bishop Hill-Relive the history of the late 1800's and learn about the rise and fall of this Swedish commune which at one point was responsible for manufacturing most of the brooms sold in the United States. Gift shops, museums, artisans, unique eateries, holiday festivals and more.
Historic Danish Church-One of the oldest Danish churches in North America, this carefully restored masterpiece is worth a look. Recently a team of filmographers from Denmark came to Sheffield to film a documentary about the restoration and history of the church and we had the honor of hosting them here at the Chestnut Street Inn!Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home-Dixon, IL. Come celebrate the Centennial of Ronald Reagan's birth in 2011! Tour the home and Visitor's Center dedicated to the 40th president of the United States. Seasonal.
Lovejoy Homestead-Located in Princeton, IL. Enjoy a guided tour of this former station on the Underground Railroad.
Hegeler Carus Mansion-Perhaps one of our personal favorites, this incredible structure is being slowly restored through the generosity of donors and tours. Of particular interest is the old gym which is currently being restored. Reservations required.
Francis Park Woodland Palace-Fascinating our of an eccentric who was way ahead of his time. If you are interested in Letterboxing, check out the special Letterbox here.
Red Covered Bridge-Built in 1863. On the National Register of Historic Places. Crosses Big Bureau Creek and used to be a part of the Peoria-Galena Trail.
Shadows of the Blue and Grey-Civil War Reenactment. Usually held the second weekend in October annually. Held at City County Park 1 mile north of I 80, Princeton, IL.
Please Visit Our Website For More Things To Do
