THE IRISH INN FEATURED ON COVER OF

         Illinois Bed & Breakfast Cookbook        

Ozark, IL — Illinois now has its own Bed & Breakfast cookbook, featuring some of the most popular tourist destinations throughout the state. This newest addition to the award-winning Bed & Breakfast Cookbook series — published by 3D Press, a division of Big Earth Publishing — contains a variety of mouth-watering recipes from some of the Prairie State’s top Bed & Breakfast inns, boutique hotels, and historic properties. 

The Irish Inn, located in the Shawnee National Forest of Northern Pope County, owned and operated by innkeepers Brian & Lynn McCreery, made the cover. “The publisher  identified some of the best eating in the State of Illinois and then requested recipes.  Many guests who have stayed at The Irish Inn also ask for our recipes, and now we can offer them this fabulous cookbook as they return home from their stay with us,” explained the McCreerys.  Big Earth Publishing also collected photographs of food and places, and a fall shot of The Irish Inn taken by Mr. McCreery was selected for the cover.

Guests from The Irish Inn have written in blogs, guestbooks, and diaries about the huge quantity and quality of the full Irish breakfast (also called an Ulster Fry), Irish stew, and other delights served in rural Ozark.  These recipes are featured in the Illinois Bed & Breakfast Cookbook, and have graced the tables of visitors since 2000 and an ever-growing number of brides and grooms.  The Irish Inn offers an elopement package and stress-free weddings with ceremonies performed by 88-year-old Eddyville resident and World War II veteran, Rev. Murrell Hazel. 

More and more people are choosing to marry in the superb nature settings of the Shawnee National Forest.  People want something simple, elegant, and uncomplicated.  They also want to save money and avoid the stress of doing all the wedding planning themselves.  “We make it easy.  All they have to do is call 618-695-LOVE with their date.  They get their license from the Pope County Courthouse one day and marry the next.   So far, the oldest groom married at The Irish Inn was 81, which shows that love can happen to anyone at any age!  Rev. Murrell Hazel has married people on horseback, on the Ohio River, and in most of the natural areas around here,” explains Brian McCreery.  The McCreerys were themselves married by Rev. Hazel a year ago. 

Bed and Breakfasts are great places to visit, and innkeepers are fantastic resources for guests; they serve as hometown ambassadors who take the time to make anyone’s visit much more rewarding.  Whether it is a cultural, business, or romantic getaway that brings people to Illinois, Bed & Breakfasts are perfect for anyone’s journey.  “We enjoy meeting the people who visit The Irish Inn and do our best to give them a rich experience during their stay here,” says Lynn McCreery, who says The Irish Inn guests enjoy visits to Garden of the Gods, Cave-in-Rock, Ferne Clyffe, the Ohio River, Lusk Creek, Hogg Hollow Winery, the Chocolate Factory, climbing in Jackson Hollow, Burden Falls or Bellsmith Springs, bird-watching, antiquing, wine-tastings, riding the horse trails or the Tunnel Hill State Bicycle Trail.   “Guests are awed by the magnificent sunsets and starscapes here,” adds Brian McCreery, a native of Northern Ireland, who says he fell in love with the Shawnee National Forest the first time he visited. 

This collection of popular and delicious recipes, as shared by innkeepers and chefs throughout the state, is the perfect showcase of the warmth and hospitality guests experience at Illinois’ B & Bs, historic inns, and boutique hotels. The Illinois Bed & Breakfast Cookbook  also features historical information and interesting anecdotes on each featured B&B and state attractions.  It is a must-have for any Illinoisan and a great gift for family and friends.   Southernmost Illinois is well-represented in this landmark cookbook.  Other locations featured are:  Windy Hill Acres Inn and Water Valley Inn (Cobden), Davie School (Anna), River Rose Inn (Elizabethtown), and Hidden Lake B&B (Jonesboro).

Get the 300 page Illinois Bed & Breakfast Cookbook at Barnes & Noble, Borders, online at amazon.com, or at The Irish Inn located at 600 Soloman Lane off Trigg Tower Road in rural Ozark, Illinois.  Phone 618-695-LOVE or email irishinn@lycos.com to reserve your copy today.  For more information on The Irish Inn, visit their website located at http://irishinn.tripod.com/ .

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