When Midwesterners are looking for a romantic weekend
getaway, Galena, Ill., often makes the short list of ideas. Wedged in the northwestern tip of Illinois,
Galena offers a superb blend of history (the town is full of sites related to
its most famous resident, Ulysses S. Grant), shopping, outdoor activities and
small-town charm. With the surrounding area being unusually scenic and hilly for Illinois, Galena tends to be more popular in the fall and
winter months (the only ski resort I know of in the state is nearby), but it
truly is a year-round destination.
It should be no surprise, then, that Punky and I try to
make a trip to Galena every year at a minimum.
And whenever we go, we rarely miss an opportunity to dine at one of our favorite
restaurants in the downtown area. Its
menu and décor might make you think of a modern Tuscan-style trattoria, but its
namesake dish is a classic southern appetizer – Fried Green Tomatoes.