Chestnut Street Inn - Starved Rock Illinois Bed and Breakfast

Starved Rock State Park boasts some of the most spectacular hiking, fishing, hunting, birding and wildlife in the state of Illinois. If you are in the area visiting, then you must take advantage of staying at the Chestnut Street Inn in Sheffield, Illinois. It is one of the few Bed and Breakfasts’ that is known for its gourmet food. Chef Monika Sudakov is a culinary master, and always prepares the freshest meals for her customers.

Winner of the 2012 awards from Lanierbb.com Best Restaurant and Best Collection of Recipes, 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 restaurant at the Chestnut Street Inn near Starved Rock, has carved out a niche for itself as the ultimate bed and breakfast for foodies. The inn specializes in gourmet 4-course fixed price dinners and everything is prepared using only the freshest ingredients. All of the meals have a Mediterranean flair, as that is Monika’s specialty. She will prepare any meal at any time for her guests as long as a reservation has been made. The restaurant is also open to the public, but reservations are required.

Bed and Breakfasts’ are not necessarily known for their gourmet menus, but Chef Monika is changing the face of the classic bed and breakfast. Come enjoy the tastes of big city living, in a quaint, relaxing atmosphere. Enjoy one of her delicious creations while sitting in the serene setting of Illinois.

If you are looking for specific menus while on your stay, there are Friday and Saturday evening dinners that are posted on the website monthly for customers. All other meals and menus, Chef Monika is happy to accommodate for her guests. This includes any dietary restrictions such as gluten free, dairy free, diabetic, vegetarian, and vegan. Just mention what you will need at the time of your meal booking. They also want their guests to take into consideration that they strive to produce the freshest available organic seasonal produce. Therefore, the menus are subject to change based upon the freshest produce at that time.

Chef Monika is a member of the IACP-International Association of Culinary Professionals, and received a Master’s Degree in Cultural Anthropology from UNLV. In June 2011, her restaurant at The Chestnut Street Inn was featured in an issue of Midwest Living Magazine, on a list of the Midwest’s Best B & B’s. It is listed under the section labeled “Foodie Flourishes” and the article states that, "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 crème brulee flavored with orange blossom water."

Along with being the chef at the restaurant, Monika has also become a regular guest on Paula Sands Live! on KWQC as well as being a guest on Martha Stewart Living Radio. She also hosts cooking classes at the bed and breakfast for her guests. You can reserve a class with Chef Monika for 1-6 people every Sunday-Thursday. Classes vary in themes, generally focusing on Mediterranean cuisines, including Moroccan, Italian, French, Greek, Spanish and more. The students get to choose their own menus and the class involves hands on preparation, copies of recipes, pointers on where to find specialty foods, and samples of the food that has been prepared. It is $40 per person per class. There are also classes that are offered off site for those who want to continue learning about gourmet food after staying at the bed and breakfast. Book a class with Chef Monika today and start learning how to prepare delicious and healthy meals for your family.

Make sure if you are in the Starved Rock area, and looking for a change of scenery to check out The Chestnut Street Inn. Chef Monika prepares delicious food in her restaurant and whether you are looking to enjoy a meal or interested in learning to cook one for yourself, this relaxing Bed and Breakfast can offer you both.