Prairie Fire: Episode 4 - August 2023
On the August edition of Prairie Fire, we introduce you to a unique deli in Monticello that has been a favorite spot for close to 50 years. Following her visit, Host Sarah Edwards sits down with Tinisha Spain to sample some of the deli's favorite dishes. Finally, Tinisha brings you the first installment in her conversation series, and shares the incredible story of a poet and author from Central Illinois who has had quite a journey that took her across the world.
When Harlean Swing came into some money in the 1970s, she told her husband she wanted to kick back and live the easy life. Instead, she opened a deli and restaurant called The Brown Bag and ran it with an iron fist for more than 40 years. Now, her daughter is in charge of what's become a culinary institution in Monticello, Illinois. In this short documentary, Prairie Fire visits the restaurant and speaks with Swing and her daughter about the Brown Bag's past and how the restaurant moving forward without Harlean's (ahem!) "direct" leadership.
In the first installment of this conversation series, Tinisha Spain sits down with a poet and author from Central Illinois who has had quite a journey that took her across the world, and back again. Returning to Illinois wasn’t easy, but it has proven to be fruitful for her and the family she’s created.
Prairie Fire airs on the Third Thursday of each month on WILL-TV. You can also stream it anytime on YouTube or the PBS App!