A Bit O' Heartland History
The Heartland began short, on both money and experience, but it was a long range dream...a picture vision of a wonderful place where people would gather to enjoy good wholesome food for the mind and body.

A nice environment...a pleasant attitude on the part of the personnel...lots of plants, wood and brick...breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week...and a piano for musicians to fool with while waiting for their food...

The Heartland was to be a place where community groups could hold gatherings, where travelers to and from our city mightstop, share some news...and certainly a place where regular visitors and returning natives might touch base...

And a place where runners, bike riders, dancers, lifters and athletes of all kinds would pass by for juice, a carbohydrate load, or some
other after or before workout sustenance...

Where the man-woman-child conscious of their body would comefor periodic nourishment...getting into that basic, whole, goodtasting food...prepared with care...and a place those not-yet-so-tuned-in to their bodies could enjoy and feel comfortable while checkingit all out...

Good stuff to eat, like rice and beans, cornbread and corn on the cob, sweet potatoes, stir-fried vegetables, and home baked deserts...

And omelettes and buckwheat cakes with real maple syrup...and fresh baked wheat bread...and juices fresh squeezed or bottled,
but with no sugar added if you please!

Coffee and tea...and neat little things on the tables, like sauces from Jamaica and Louisiana...seasoning from Milwaukee...tamari and tofu from the soybean...some honey from Wisconsin...and salt from the sea...and more...

Sweet Home Chicago, Heartland capitol and sometime paradise..
home of our Heartland Cafe...we started in the year of America's bicentennial and we've barely just begun...
It's still a dream that we hope you'll enjoy...
Together we'll grow