Winter
(January–March)

2010:

March 20:
Culinary Farm Tour, Galena, IL
Join us for a food escapade through the food treasures of Galena, IL, the gem on the Mississippi River. We will wind our way through the hills to visit award winning wineries and rich bountiful farms and gardens. Finishing with a hands on cooking class and meal with Chef Pat Lehnhardt at the Great Galena Cookery. 3-9p.m. This tour available any date with your group of 8 or more.

March 26:
2 Busy 2 Cook Weekend Retreat, IL
This 3 day retreat equips you with great, real-life ideas and skills for cooking healthy, including a private consultation with a personal chef. It features tours of organic farms and teaches how to shop effectively for what you need. Laugh your way through the “speed” cooking class taught by our guest chef. Join in the fun with discussions about good food guaranteed to give you ideas and practices that can be applied to your life, to your kitchen, to your schedule and to your style.

2011:

March 26:
Custom Tour, Galena, IL
Join us for a half OR full day food escapade through the food treasures of Galena, IL, the gem on the Mississippi River. We will wind our way through the hills to visit award winning wineries and rich bountiful farms and gardens. This tour available any date with your group of 8 or more.

Spring
(April–June)

2010:

April 3:
City Food Tour, Galena, IL
Join us for a half day food escapade through the food treasures of Galena, IL, the gem on the Mississippi River. We will visit great shops and food artisans. We then head to 111 Main for a cooking demo and meal with Chef Ryan. This tour available any date with your group of 8 or more.

April 18:
Custom Cheese Tour, WI
A sustainability tour with organic cheese-maker Willi Lehner of Bleu Mont Dairy in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin. Windmills, cheese curing caves, solar power - all part of the tour!
After the cheese tasting and tour at Bleu Mont Dairy, we caravan to a local restaurant for cooking and meal. Minimum of 8 required. This tour available any date with your group of 8 or more.

April 23:
Culinary Escape Weekend Retreat, IL
The Culinary Escape Weekend is centered around Galena's great shops and food artisans, and focused on foods that delight us- chocolate, wine, cheese, herb-infused vinegars and oils, preserves, and more - and how they are made in Northwest Illinois. Enjoy 2 cooking classes and fabulous meals with our guest chefs.

May 7:
All Things Chocolate Weekend Retreat, IL
Do you love chocolate? Join us for a weekend getaway which includes a tasting reception, tours of organic farms and stores, a taste tour of chocolates of the world at local chocolatiers, and a cooking class featuring gourmet recipes using chocolate.

May 19:
Edgebrook Farmers Market, Rockford, IL
Learn Great Foods will be hosting cooking demonstrations with a celebrated chef from 9am - 11am at the Edgebrook farmers Market. This weeks featured item will be Asparagus. After the demo visit and shop with the dozens of vendors at this lovely market.
No charge.

May 22:
City Food Tour, Galena, IL
Join us for a half day food escapade through the food treasures of Galena, IL, the gem on the Mississippi River. We will visit great shops and food artisans. We then head to 111 Main for a cooking demo and meal with Chef Ryan. This tour available any date with your group of 8 or more.

May 23:
Culinary Farm Tour, Mt. Carroll, IL
We start the day visiting local farms in Northwest IL. Choices include: Beef, Bison, Herbs, Fruits/Vegetables and many more.Followed by a hands-on cooking class where guests will prepare a meal with one of our celebrated chefs.
This tour available any date with your group of 8 or more.

May 26:
Edgebrook Farmers Market, Rockford, IL
Learn Great Foods will be hosting cooking demonstrations with a celebrated chef from 9am - 11am at the Edgebrook farmers Market. This weeks featured item will be Herbs. After the demo visit and shop with the dozens of vendors at this lovely market.
No charge.

June 6:
Culinary Farm Tour, Mt. Carroll, IL
We start the day visiting local farms in Northwest IL. Choices include: Beef, Bison, Herbs, Fruits/Vegetables and many more.Followed by a hands-on cooking class where guests will prepare a meal with one of our celebrated chefs.
This tour available any date with your group of 8 or more.

June 16:
Edgebrook Farmers Market, Rockford, IL
Learn Great Foods will be hosting cooking demonstrations with a celebrated chef from 9am - 11am at the Edgebrook farmers Market. This weeks featured item will be Lettuce. After the demo visit and shop with the dozens of vendors at this lovely market.
No charge.

June 18:
2 Busy 2 Cook Weekend Retreat, IL
This 3 day retreat equips you with great, real-life ideas and skills for cooking healthy, including a private consultation with a personal chef. It features tours of organic farms and teaches how to shop effectively for what you need. Laugh your way through the “speed” cooking class taught by our guest chef. Join in the fun with discussions about good food guaranteed to give you ideas and practices that can be applied to your life, to your kitchen, to your schedule and to your style.

June 19:
Culinary Farm Tour, Galena, IL
Join us for a food escapade through the food treasures of Galena, IL, the gem on the Mississippi River. We will wind our way through the hills to visit award winning wineries and rich bountiful farms and gardens. Finishing with a hands on cooking class and meal with Chef Pat Lehnhardt at the Great Galena Cookery. 3-9p.m. This tour available any date with your group of 8 or more.

June 23:
Edgebrook Farmers Market, Rockford, IL
Learn Great Foods will be hosting cooking demonstrations with a celebrated chef from 9am - 11am at the Edgebrook farmers Market. This weeks featured item will be Strawberries. After the demo visit and shop with the dozens of vendors at this lovely market.
No charge.

2011:

May 21:
Custom Tour, Galena, IL
Join us for a half OR full day food escapade through the food treasures of Galena, IL, the gem on the Mississippi River. We will wind our way through the hills to visit award winning wineries and rich bountiful farms and gardens. This tour available any date with your group of 8 or more.

Summer
(July–September)

2010:

July 14:
Edgebrook Farmers Market, Rockford, IL
Learn Great Foods will be hosting cooking demonstrations with a celebrated chef from 9am - 11am at the Edgebrook farmers Market. This weeks featured item will be Beans. After the demo visit and shop with the dozens of vendors at this lovely market.
No charge.

July 17:
Wine & Blueberries! Galena, IL
We will start our tour with wine tasting at Rocky Waters Winery. We then head to Wooded Wonderland and visit with Ginger in her abundant gardens and blueberry patch. We will take our food treasures that we have collected along the way and head to The Great Galena Cookery where we will have a hands on cooking class with Chef Pat Lehnhart.
3-9p.m.Minimum of 8 required.

July 18:
Culinary Farm Tour, Mt. Carroll, IL
We start the day visiting local farms in Northwest IL. Choices include: Beef, Bison, Herbs, Fruits/Vegetables and many more.Followed by a hands-on cooking class where guests will prepare a meal with one of our celebrated chefs.
This tour available any date with your group of 8 or more.

July 21:
Edgebrook Farmers Market, Rockford, IL
Learn Great Foods will be hosting cooking demonstrations with a celebrated chef from 9am - 11am at the Edgebrook farmers Market. This weeks featured item will be Tomatoes. After the demo visit and shop with the dozens of vendors at this lovely market.
No charge.

July 30:
Culinary Escape Weekend Retreat, IL
The Culinary Escape Weekend is centered around Galena's great shops and food artisans, and focused on foods that delight us- chocolate, wine, cheese, herb-infused vinegars and oils, preserves, and more - and how they are made in Northwest Illinois. Enjoy 2 cooking classes and fabulous meals with our guest chefs.

August 1:
Custom Tour, IL
We start the day visiting local farms in Northwest IL. Choices include: Beef, Bison, Herbs, Fruits/Vegetables and many more.Followed by a hands-on cooking class where guests will prepare a meal with one of our celebrated chefs.
This tour available any date with your group of 8 or more.

August 11:
Edgebrook Farmers Market, Rockford, IL
Learn Great Foods will be hosting cooking demonstrations with a celebrated chef from 9am - 11am at the Edgebrook farmers Market. This weeks featured item will be Blueberries. After the demo visit and shop with the dozens of vendors at this lovely market.
No charge.

August 14:
Wine & Blueberries! Galena, IL
We will start our tour with wine tasting at Rocky Waters Winery. We then head to Wooded Wonderland and visit with Ginger in her abundant gardens and blueberry patch. We will take our food treasures that we have collected along the way and head to The Great Galena Cookery where we will have a hands on cooking class with Chef Pat Lehnhart.
3-9p.m. Minimum of 8 required.

August 18:
Edgebrook Farmers Market, Rockford, IL
Learn Great Foods will be hosting cooking demonstrations with a celebrated chef from 9am - 11am at the Edgebrook farmers Market. This weeks featured item will be Eggplant. After the demo visit and shop with the dozens of vendors at this lovely market.
No charge.

August 20:
All Things Chocolate Weekend Retreat, IL
Do you love chocolate? Join us for a weekend getaway which includes a tasting reception, tours of organic farms and stores, a taste tour of chocolates of the world at local chocolatiers, and a cooking class featuring gourmet recipes using chocolate.

August 28:
City Food Tour, Galena, IL
Join us for a half day food escapade through the food treasures of Galena, IL, the gem on the Mississippi River. We will visit great shops and food artisans. We then head to 111 Main for a cooking demo and meal with Chef Ryan. This tour available any date with your group of 8 or more.

September 8:
Edgebrook Farmers Market, Rockford, IL
Learn Great Foods will be hosting cooking demonstrations with a celebrated chef from 9am - 11am at the Edgebrook farmers Market. This weeks featured item will be Potatoes. After the demo visit and shop with the dozens of vendors at this lovely market.
No charge.

September 11:
Culinary Farm Tour, Galena, IL
Join us for a food escapade through the food treasures of Galena, IL, the gem on the Mississippi River. We will wind our way through the hills to visit award winning wineries and rich bountiful farms and gardens. Finishing with a hands on cooking class and meal with Chef Pat Lehnhardt at the Great Galena Cookery. 3-9p.m. This tour available any date with your group of 8 or more.

September 15:
Edgebrook Farmers Market, Rockford, IL
Learn Great Foods will be hosting cooking demonstrations with a celebrated chef from 9am - 11am at the Edgebrook farmers Market. This weeks featured item will be Apples. After the demo visit and shop with the dozens of vendors at this lovely market.
No charge.

September 19:
Custom Cheese Tour, WI
A sustainability tour with organic cheese-maker Willi Lehner of Bleu Mont Dairy in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin.
Windmills, cheese curing caves, solar power - all part of the tour!
After the cheese tasting and tour at Bleu Mont Dairy, we caravan to a local restaurant for cooking and a meal. This tour available any date with your group of 8 or more.

September 24:
2 Busy 2 Cook Weekend Retreat, IL
This 3 day retreat equips you with great, real-life ideas and skills for cooking healthy, including a private consultation with a personal chef. It features tours of organic farms and teaches how to shop effectively for what you need. Laugh your way through the “speed” cooking class taught by our guest chef. Join in the fun with discussions about good food guaranteed to give you ideas and practices that can be applied to your life, to your kitchen, to your schedule and to your style.

2011:

August 6:
Custom Tour, Galena, IL
Join us for a half OR full day food escapade through the food treasures of Galena, IL, the gem on the Mississippi River. We will wind our way through the hills to visit award winning wineries and rich bountiful farms and gardens. This tour available any date with your group of 8 or more.

Fall
(October–November)

2010:

October 6:
Edgebrook Farmers Market, Rockford, IL
Learn Great Foods will be hosting cooking demonstrations with a celebrated chef from 9am - 11am at the Edgebrook farmers Market. This weeks featured item will be Winter Squash. After the demo visit and shop with the dozens of vendors at this lovely market.
No charge.

October 13:
Edgebrook Farmers Market, Rockford, IL
Learn Great Foods will be hosting cooking demonstrations with a celebrated chef from 9am - 11am at the Edgebrook farmers Market. This weeks featured item will be Pumpkin. After the demo visit and shop with the dozens of vendors at this lovely market.
No charge.

October 16:
Custom Tours, Galena, IL
Join us for a half OR full day food escapade through the food treasures of Galena, IL, the gem on the Mississippi River. We will wind our way through the hills to visit award winning wineries and rich bountiful farms and gardens. This tour available any date with your group of 8 or more.

October 22:
Culinary Escape Weekend Retreat, IL
The Culinary Escape Weekend is centered around Galena's great shops and food artisans, and focused on foods that delight us- chocolate, wine, cheese, herb-infused vinegars and oils, preserves, and more - and how they are made in Northwest Illinois. Enjoy 2 cooking classes and fabulous meals with our guest chefs.

November 6:
City Food Tour, Galena, IL
Join us for a half day food escapade through the food treasures of Galena, IL, the gem on the Mississippi River. We will visit great shops and food artisans. We then head to 111 Main for a cooking demo and meal with Chef Ryan. This tour available any date with your group of 8 or more.

November 7:
Custom Tour, IL
We start the day visiting local farms in Northwest IL. Choices include: Beef, Bison, Herbs, Fruits/Vegetables and many more.Followed by a hands-on cooking class where guests will prepare a meal with one of our celebrated chefs.
This tour available any date with your group of 8 or more.

2011:

October 29:
Custom Tour, Galena, IL
Join us for a half OR full day food escapade through the food treasures of Galena, IL, the gem on the Mississippi River. We will wind our way through the hills to visit award winning wineries and rich bountiful farms and gardens. This tour available any date with your group of 8 or more.

Where we eat: The Mt. Carroll culinary tours are based at Hands & Spirit Gallery, an historic artists conclave, with gracious art around us, in downtown Mt. Carroll. Culinary classes and dinners are also hosted at sustainable locations throughout the northwest Illinois/ Wisconsin/ Iowa region: Great Galena Cookery in Galena, The Dining Room at 209 Main in Monticello, Wisc., and in Sabula, Iowa, on the farm—in the rolling Mississippi River hills.

Where we visit: Each culinary tour includes two food stops and a hands-on cooking class, with delicious organic gourmet dinner! Tours include cheese-makers, buffalo and beef and chicken farms, tree farms and vineyard/ wineries, herb gardens, vegetable and fruit growers, and a grist mill. We visit these farms and producers and make wonderful food-lover stops along the way!