Food
If you're in the mood for food (and who isn't?), our favorites will have you traveling our eateries and establishments. One disclaimer: don't try this if you're concerned with calories, grams of fat, trans fat, etc. This is a list for food tasting pros - the real eaters out there.

First up - drinks and appetizers. You must try the onion rings (yes, I said onion rings) at Whitey's in Lisbon. They are fried to perfection and taste great with a beer or a soda. Speaking of beer, be sure to try a Xingu at Devine Wines or a cold Blue Moon on draft at Chameleon's.

Next course: soup. We suggest the Tortellini Alfredo, or the Italian Wedding soup at Big Creek Market in Mt. Vernon. There are soup specials everyday, so you have to be there on the right day (and early) for these tasty treats. And to clear the pallet, try Big Creek's Gelato frozen desserts.  Really smooth and creamy. At the Lincoln Cafe, Chef Mat Steigerwald also prepares daily soup specials that are a masterful blend of rich, vibrant flavors.

Next up: comfort food. The clear choice here is the real mashed potatoes at Country Foods in Mt. Vernon. Enough said - real mashed potatoes. If you're really hungry, try a roast beef sandwich with two mounds of mashed potatoes smothered in gravy at Gwen's in Lisbon.

In the mood for a lighter lunch? Try a Panini from Brewcasso Coffeehouse. This Italian style sandwich is grilled to a warm perfection. While you're there, sample the delicious short bread that melts in your mouth at the Perfect Blend Gift Shop.   Seriously hungry for a great sandwich? Head over to Chameleon's for a huge tenderloin or a wide selection of burgers - great burgers - and make sure you get fries and slaw with them. Definitely get the slaw - our favorite slaw of all time.  If you're in the mood for pizza, try the taco or pepperoni deep dish pizzas at Pizza Palace, or any of the thin crust items at Hilltop Pizzeria.  Both have excellent selections and are open for lunch and dinner.

If you're ready for a short drive, order a shrimp basket or tenderloin sandwich at the Sutliff Store and Tavern on a warm weekend day and eat outside on the Sutliff Bridge. Enjoy nature and the biker culture -- both are in abundance here. Before you leave, write a message on a dollar bill and tack it to the ceiling in the bar -- if you can find room! 

For a special dinner out, THE place to dine is the Lincoln Café. Order one of the specials and you're in for a culinary treat. Don't forget to bring your own wine!

Time for dessert (and don't say that you didn't have room for dessert...) - you need to be at the Lincoln Cafe. Whatever they have for the dessert special - order it. Even if it has something in it that you have never heard of or would ever think of as a dessert - order it. Trust us, it's going to be great with flavors you won't soon forget.  We would be remiss if we didn't mention Lincoln Cafe's superb menu of unique, creative, ever-changing gourmet dinners, and a sunday brunch that offers an à la carte menu of breakfast and lunch specials, including eggs in many permutations, challah french toast, irish oatmeal, homemade southern-style biscuits and sausage gravy.

Something else worth mentioning: the scones at Cornell College's Rathskellar (the Ratt). The coffee bar and made-to-order quick food on campus in the commons has perhaps our most favorite cinnamon scone ever. Just a few blocks away at Fuel, you can find a great cup of coffee, free Internet access, and blueberry or blackberry scones. The Black and Tan coffee blend is one of our favorites, but if that's too smooth for you, try the Grumpy Monkey.

And speaking of breakfast (were we?) Gwen's in Lisbon has both a weekend buffet and full breakfast menu. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, juice and all the favorites are available. Breakfast is also served at Country Foods. Try their skillet dishes - they are delicious.

Final disclaimer: these suggestions are just the tip of the iceberg for great food in Mt. Vernon and Lisbon. There's nothing wrong with going from restaurant to restaurant trying something at each one. You may even come up with your own list of favorites!  If you do, please send them in!