<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3gIFwf_19JGTWv600" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3gIFwf_19JGTWv600" width="1920" height="960" ><figcaption>Cinnamon roll at Six Red Chairs Bakery; Photo by Alyssa Buckley</figcaption></figure>Hello, March, and farewell, February. March is a little special month for me and this five things column. This month’s list is my seventh “Five things to eat in March,” marking six years as Smile Politely’s Food &amp; Drink Editor. For a throwback, peep my first March 2020 list, which published a week before the pandemy. Dear readers, thank you for reading every month. It really is my honor to share these meals with you.This month, taste the iconic, long-loved avocado jhalmuri in Downtown Champaign and four things that did not exist in this town in 2020: crispy chicken flautas in Downtown Urbana, sweet and spicy kombucha, an idyllic cinnamon roll, and a brewpub’s German pilsner-inspired chef special.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4Q4kwV_19JGTWv600" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4Q4kwV_19JGTWv600" width="1920" height="1441" ><figcaption>Schnitzel and spaetzle at Blind Pig Brewpub; Photo by Alyssa Buckley</figcaption></figure><h2>Schnitzel and Spaetzle | Blind Pig Brewpub</h2>Opened last summer in Downtown Champaign in the old Destihl, Blind Pig Brewpub has more than beer on the menu. The taproom offers appetizers, handhelds, salads, tacos, and brand-new chef specials. I went over the weekend for dinner and tried a bunch of things, but the standout for me was my order of the Blind Pig schnitzel ($23.95). This plate of breaded pork and spaetzle was served Holstein-style with a fried egg on top, a fantastic from-scratch dish. The pork loin had an outstanding crust, breaded in house and fried to deliciousness. I could not get over how good that housemade brown butter spaetzle tasted. The rich, buttery flavor was to die for and its fluffy, springy, chewy texture heavenly. To be honest, I did not expect the egg, but that fried egg was expertly cooked, yolky and yummy.The brewpub has 24 taps and the most selection anywhere of the Champaign brewery’s awesome beers in addition to cocktails and a non-alcoholic spicy margarita with a Tajin rim. Besides schnitzel, Blind Pig also added bangers and mash, cedar plank salmon, chicken parmesan bucatini, filet mignon, and more to the regular menu. Check out Omkar’s 2025 review of dinner at the taproom and my interview with the new owners.Blind Pig Brewpub301 N Neil StChampaignM-W 4 to 10 p.m.Th-Sa 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.Su 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=033Wpn_19JGTWv600" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=033Wpn_19JGTWv600" width="1920" height="1441" ><figcaption>Pineapple-Jalapeño kombucha at Cloud Mountain Kombucha; Photo by Alyssa Buckley</figcaption></figure><h2>Pineapple-Jalapeño Kombucha | Cloud Mountain Kombucha</h2>Another C-U brewery, Cloud Mountain Kombucha is the award-winning kombucha factory of Urbana. Cloud Mountain’s new taproom on Griggs Street has such a great vibe, and every time I go, I see the owners there, pouring brews and talking shop about the next batch with people at the bar. On Saturday, I ordered a pint of pineapple-jalapeño kombucha ($6), and it was freaking delicious. Brewed with locally grown jalapeños and organic pineapple juice, it was a yin and yang of sweet and spicy. I loved the crispy bubbles on every sip. Vibrant pineapple led the flavor, but notes of vegetal garden peppers with a mellow spiciness played right along with it. The heat was not overwhelming to me—I quite liked the punchy pepper in the background, but if spicy deters, the brewery has plenty of other brews on tap.Later this month in honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, the kombucha brewery will launch a green kombucha, so keep an eye out for that. Check out the menu here, and read my 2025 review of the new taproom or Remington’s interview with the owners.Cloud Mountain Kombucha208 W Griggs StUrbanaW 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.Th &amp; F 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.Sa 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2VBFYh_19JGTWv600" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2VBFYh_19JGTWv600" width="1920" height="1441" ><figcaption>Chicken flautas at El Paraiso; Photo by Alyssa Buckley</figcaption></figure><h2>Chicken Flautas | El Paraiso</h2>In Downtown Urbana, I want to be at El Paraiso, the family-owned restaurant with a menu of Latin American cuisine. We’ve waxed poetic about the mofongo because it’s fantastic, but so much at El Paraiso is. Last week, I ordered the chicken flautas ($13.95), three fried tortillas stuffed with chicken and cheese topped with sour cream and served with white rice, beans, and pico de gallo. The crunch on these tortillas was absolutely delicious especially in contrast to the soft center. Layers of crunch-crunch-crunch surrounded cheesy ribbons and tender pulled chicken. I enjoyed dipping these flautas in the beans and pico for extra flavor. Don’t sleep on El Paraiso’s beans. They’re really so good, slow cooked to be toothsome and chockfull of yum. My food took more than a moment because here the cashier was also the chef was also the server, but the wait was worth it, as always. They’re running specials all the time. Last week, Chef made pastelito Honduernos to order with choice of vegetables, shrimp, or chicken filling. This week, they’re selling a $7 sampler platter customizable by customer preference—so go ahead and eat that, too. Learn more in Ashley’s interview with El Paraiso’s owners and our reviews: Omkar’s 2025, Jessica’s in 2023, and mine from 2021.El Paraiso126 W Main StUrbanaT-F noon to 3 p.m. &amp; 4 to 8 p.m.Sa noon to 6 p.m.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=30cY62_19JGTWv600" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=30cY62_19JGTWv600" width="1920" height="1441" ><figcaption>Avocado Jhalmuri at Himalayan Chimney; Photo by Alyssa Buckley</figcaption></figure><h2>Avocado Jhalmuri | Himalayan Chimney</h2>I cannot believe I’d never had this appetizer until I ordered it last week (thanks, Jessica Hammie, for the recommendation). Himalayan Chimney’s avocado jhalmuri ($9.99) was stunning, a commanding presence of potato, avocado, tomato, rice puffs, onion, carrot, cilantro, and a beautiful drizzle of house special sauce. Though the flavor and spice was right, this was all about textures: crunchy, creamy, crispy, silky. The puffed rice and aromatic onion were delightful with hunks of soft avocado, sliced tomato, and fresh cilantro. Strings of carrot and what I’d call an elevated version of yum-yum sauce took it to another level—it’s a must order.Besides this app, HimChim has flawless lassoni gobi (spicy breaded and fried cauliflower), plus mains, desserts, lassis, and adult beverages. For more, read about the restaurant’s Indian mule cocktail, Rashmi’s review of dinner with friends, my pandemic review of takeout, and this throwback 2017 review of dine in.Himalayan Chimney134 W Church StChampaignM-Sa 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. &amp; 5 to 10 p.m.Su noon to 3 p.m. &amp; 5 to 9 p.m.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3WZSse_19JGTWv600" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3WZSse_19JGTWv600" width="1920" height="1441" ><figcaption>Cinnamon roll at Six Red Chairs Bakery; Photo by Alyssa Buckley</figcaption></figure><h2>Croissant Cinnamon Roll | Six Red Chairs Bakery</h2>Oh, how I miss the summer market—less than two months to go. Getting to enjoy a Six Red Chairs kouign amann early on a Saturday morning while strolling Downtown Urbana is honestly unparalleled, but a stop by the little bakery’s brick-and-mortar almost gets me there. Last summer, the market baker opened a little Mahomet bakery in the idyllic cottage that was once Lucky Moon Pies. Of the boxful of Six Red Chairs baked goods I bought, I fell in love hardest with the croissant cinnamon roll ($6). Not only was it gorgeous, but it was sinfully delicious. The frosting tasted divine, and the outer edges of the cinny roll had a wonderful crackly, burnt sugar decadence. Instead of dense bread, this was a swirl of airy layers of croissant laced with sweet buttery goodness. One will not be enough, I’ll say that.Honestly, everything on the menu hits, and she’s one of my favorite bakers. Read more about the delicious baked goods in Serenity’s 2025 bakery review.Six Red Chairs Bakery401 E Oak StMahometTh-Sa 7:30 a.m. to noon</div></body>

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Hello, March, and farewell, February. March is a little special month for me and this five things column. This month’s list is my seventh “Five things to eat in March,” marking six years as Smile Politely’s Food & Drink Editor. For a throwback, peep my first March 2020 list, which published a week before the pandemy. Dear readers, thank you for reading every month. It really is my honor to share these meals with you.

Five things to eat or drink: March 2026

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Hello, March, and farewell, February. March is a little special month for me and this five things column. This month’s list is my seventh “Five things to e

Five things to eat or drink: March 2026

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