When college students are away from home, the clichéd answer to the question, “What do you miss most?” is “Good ol’ home cookin’.” But now that I’m back at home for the summer, there is one thing that I miss most about Champaign-Urbana: the food. And it’s quite a surprise. Three years ago, I would never have though I would miss the food at school. But then, that was when I was still eating dorm food. But within the past year, in becoming friends with more Champaign-Urbana locals than I’d ever meet on campus (thanks to community theatre), I have become privy to the area’s treasure trove of good, local food.

Forget save-the-best-for-last, because Lil Porgy’s Bar-B-Q is so good it deserves to be mentioned first. With two locations, one in Champaign and one in Urbana, I am hard-pressed to find even one comparable barbecue joint in my small, suburban town. Sure, the chicken is good, but when you go to Porgy’s, skip the chicken and go right for the most deliciously smoky, spicy ribs you’ve ever had. (Despite complaints from my burning lips, I always get at least the “mix” sauce and never the mild.) Last time I went into Porgy’s, a man from Louisville was shaking the hand of the owner, telling him that, even in Kentucky, barbecue this good is rare. At least I got my tub of rib tips for the drive back to Chicago.

I’m sure everybody has at least driven past a Seaboat (Tasty Fish and Chicken Delight) shop. It doesn’t look like much from the outside – it even may look avoidable – but venture inside and find that you were wrong. Huge, delicious fish sandwiches on big, soft rolls. I recommend the Seaboat’s trademarked whiting sandwich or their catfish sandwich. The veggies are cool and super fresh and the fish is perfectly crisp with a subtle flavor that even those I-don’t-like-fish people will enjoy. (Probably. You never know with those picky people.) Oh, and get the fried okra. I love fried okra.

Lastly (but not least-ly), Brown Bag sandwich shop may seem like quite a trip for those on campus, but it is the perfect place to pick up a few sandwiches for a picnic at the nearby Allerton Park. My first time there, I ordered a turkey sandwich and was impressed to find that this isn’t your deli’s boring thin-sliced turkey, but big, thick slices of real, carved turkey. This mom-and-pop style shop offers hot and cold sandwiches, subs, and a build-your-own sandwich section where you can pick your own toppings from a pretty extensive list. (Hint: avocado is not on the list, but, sometimes, if you ask, they are able to scrape some up for you.) And for no more than you’ll pay at a fast-food sandwich joint, you can get the kind of homemade sandwich that you only see in movies or, say, dreams.

When you watch travel shows, and they tell you to eat how the locals eat, not many people think to apply this advice to their college experience. It took me more than half of my time at UI to realize it, but it’s true. Now I can’t wait to get back in the fall – I may even plan a sooner trip, just to get my rib tip fix. I hope that this love letter to local food has made you as hungry as it’s made me, and I hope even more that you are closer to CU than I am.