This might come as a surprise to my Chicago friends who think Champaign-Urbana is just a big college campus surrounded by cornfields, but there are plenty of foodie delights to be found around here. A sampling:

Global Wednesday @ Silvercreek: Brazil

Contemporary American joint Silvercreek launched a Global Wednesdays series earlier this year, offering fare from a specific country each week. Of course I had to check out their take on Brazilian cuisine.

The capirinha was potent, and thankfully the menu didn’t describe cachaça as “Brazilian rum.”

The attempt at feijoada was more like a creole concoction — they didn’t get the meat or spices right, though it was still flavorful.

Pizzeria Antica

In downtown Champaign, authentic pizza di napoli — thin crust, crushed tomatoes rather than tomato sauce. Here’s the Chimuchurro: with mozzarella, basil, Calabrese peppers, and chimichurri lamb sausage.

Great apps too, like this selection of infused olive oils.

Global Wednesday @ Silvercreek: France

Another week, another cuisine. Very satisfied with the French Martini and the steak au poivre.  In retrospect, should have skipped the opera cake — not that it wasn’t good, it was just more chocolate than I can handle.