The Party Kitchen

08/30/2026

Parties for children 10 and up have an option to bake cupcakes first, decorate second. The party is 2 hours long. Apron decorating is also a nice add-on.

08/30/2026

The small parties are just as fun as the big parties. There is a 6 person minimum and a 10 person maximum.

08/27/2026

Even adults have fun at The Party Kitchen

07/16/2026

Since Monday's Teen Cooking Class was so successful, I've added one more to my calendar. Monday, August 3rd from 4:30-6:30pm. We will make my favorite Lemon Chicken, Roasted Veggies and Mini Cheesecake Bites. Class size is limited to 8 students. $35. Email to register: [email protected]

07/14/2026

One of the teens in my class tonight said “These chicken tenders are better than Cains.” Winner winner chicken dinner!

07/10/2026

Please be vigilant when cleaning your fresh fruits and vegetables. Use a scrub brush and cook what you can.

Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reporting 176 cases of cyclosporiasis in Illinois.

78 report travel outside the US
75 domestically acquired
23 unknown travel
No deaths have been reported.
14 hospitalizations

Illinois Cyclospora case data includes confirmed and probable cases that report illness in 2026. Data is as of 7/10/26 at 7am.

IDPH is seeing a higher-than-yearly-average number of reported cases of cyclosporiasis, consistent with what is being seen in several other states. It can be contracted by consuming food or water contaminated with f***s. At this point, no single source or cause of this increase has been identified, and there is no evidence of a large outbreak accounting for all or most of these cases. IDPH continues to work with the CDC and other public health partners to look for trends. In the meantime, IDPH recommends following all guidelines for safe food handling, including washing produce (wash all fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking; scrub firm produce such as melons and cucumbers with a clean produce brush).

Learn more about how the cyclospora parasite and how to avoid cyclosporiasis: https://www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/index.html

07/08/2026

Sharing

Now Hiring: Farmers Market Coordinator

Rustic Road Farm is looking for an organized, energetic, and customer-focused Farmers Market Coordinator to lead our retail market operations both on the farm and at our off-site farmers markets.

Schedule
• April–November: Wednesday through Sunday, approximately 40 hours per week
• Winter: Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, approximately 30 hours per week
• Year-round position
Responsibilities
• Schedule and coordinate staff for farmers markets and the farm store
• Prepare, organize, and monitor products for sale
• Maintain attractive, well-stocked displays throughout the day
• Manage inventory and communicate product needs
• Provide exceptional customer service and build lasting relationships with customers
• Track sales and assist with daily reporting
• Coordinate both on-farm and off-site market operations
• Ensure smooth setup, operation, and breakdown of each market

Qualifications
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Excellent customer service and leadership abilities
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment
• Comfortable lifting up to 50 pounds and working outdoors in varying weather conditions
• Reliable transportation and the ability to work weekends during the market season
• Appreciation for local food and sustainable agriculture

Benefits
• Competitive pay based on experience
• Paid vacation
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Annual performance bonus
• Employee discount on farm products
• A supportive, team-oriented work environment
• Opportunity for growth with a thriving local farm

If you enjoy working with people, have a passion for local food, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we'd love to hear from you.
To apply, send your resume and a brief introduction telling us why you'd be a great fit for Rustic Road Farm.

07/01/2026

Cream Puffs, filling and chocolate ganache. Doesn’t get sweeter than that.

06/23/2026

The grandparents were gifted a cooking lesson by the grandkids’ family. Grandpa said “I didn’t know what to expect and this exceeded my expectations.” What a great family experience.

06/14/2026

One more class for June. Monday, a June 29th will be Cream Puffs. Email for registration information: [email protected]