Get Out & Go: Huntley
By Elizabeth Harmon
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| Tom's Farm Market and Greenhouse in Huntley is a great place to stop for homemade goodies, including apple cider doughnuts, scones and 11 varieties of pie. (Photo by Jennifer Zegler) |
One of McHenry County’s fastest growing communities, Huntley is well-known for its outlet mall and Del Webb’s Sun City. But Huntley also is a great place to go for regional food, American products and local flavor.
Tom’s Farm Market and Greenhouse, 10214 Algonquin Road. The family-owned farm market with the distinctive strawberry logo on the barn roof is a popular spot in summer and at Halloween, but even this time of year, there’s still plenty of reasons to visit. Especially if you’d like to include locally grown and produced foods in your Thanksgiving or holiday menus. Tom’s Farm Bake Shop is open daily and sells a variety of homemade goodies, including its famous apple cider donuts, a tender cake-style treat dusted with cinnamon-sugar; scones and 11 varieties of pie. Many feature seasonal ingredients grown right on the farm.
“Our pumpkin pie is one of the best you’ll have anywhere,” says Mary Manning, daughter of farmer Tom Halat, who began growing and selling vegetables as a 4H project more than 40 years ago. Be sure to try the locally grown squash, cranberry salsa, bacon raised in Hampshire and preserves made in DeKalb County. Place bakery orders in advance at 847-669-3421. Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit online at www.tomsfarmmarket.com.
Strode’s Furniture, 11707 East Main St. If there’s no place like home for the holidays, maybe it’s time to think about sprucing up yours. Whether it’s a new look for the dining room, or simply a new lamp for the guest room, Strode’s Furniture is your source for solid wood furniture made only in the United States and Canada. Strode’s opened in 1976 and owner Bob Wozniak says, “Our furniture is all North American made and very high quality. We sell nothing made with particle board.”
Country, early American and Mission styles predominate but contemporary styles are available through many of Strode’s suppliers. Wozniak also will help with planning and laying out your new room.
“People don’t always measure accurately and it’s very important, especially if you’re doing a home office or theater. So I’ll come out to your home and make sure everything fits correctly,” he says. Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., closed Sunday. Call 847-669-3500 or visit www.strodesfurniture.com.
Parkside Pub, 11721 East Main St. Just a few steps down from Strode’s, is the Parkside Pub, a Huntley institution for the past 80 years. The Parkside is a neighborhood bar, where the bartenders know regulars by name, but also treat newcomers like old friends.
Owners Jeff Lovell and Mark Weishaar purchased the bar in January and the newly renovated interior features stone trim, wood floors and flat screen TVs. Lunch and dinner specials include $4 burgers, (including specialty varieties like the tasty, tangy bleu cheeseburger) on Mondays, a Friday fish dinner and more.
“We make our burgers fresh and I think they’re the best burgers in McHenry County,” says bartender Kim Gordon.
But the Parkside is probably best known for its annual Turkey Testicle Festival, which serves up thousands of the floured and fried delicacies on Thanksgiving Eve. “Last year, we went through 1,200 pounds of them,” says Lovell.
The 27th Annual Turkey Testicle Festival is November 25, kicks off at 11 a.m. and runs through 12:30 a.m. Live music begins at 1:30 p.m. Admission is $10 and benefits the Huntley Lions and Jaycees. For more information call 847-669-8496.
