Maple Tree Inn Owner Shares Cooking Tips With Homewood Mayor

HOMEWOOD, IL — Spending more and more time at home during the coronavirus stay-at-home order may just make a chef out of one or more cooks that would otherwise consider themselves to be amateur level. Erich Wennberg, owner and chef at the famed Maple Tree Inn restaurant that recently reopened in Homewood, didn't begin cooking until he was an adult and now has some tips to share for others looking to hone their skills during the state shutdown.

Wennberg shared a number of cooking tips, including a full recipe on how to make a simple Asparagus salad, in a video interview with Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld. The village of Homewood shared the video in their weekend update email to residents on the status of the coronavirus pandemic in Homewood.

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The salad, Wennberg said, "tastes phenomenal, and we can get a good amount of nutrients in for the day."

"Even though we are at home, we should still take the time to eat healthy," Wennberg said. "Don't feel that you have to eat poorly just because you can't go out."

The salad recipe is "super simple, super easy," Wennberg said after giving a quick rundown of the ingredients and cooking steps. It takes about five minutes of prep time, and 15 minutes for cooking, Wennberg said.

Wennberg also shared tips on how to make tasty chicken, the best way to make hamburgers and where he always goes when visiting New Orleans.

"We try to bring up that love and passion of New Orleans" at the Maple Tree, Wennberg said. "We try to keep that pipeline from New Orleans, from Louisiana, and bring that directly up here."

The Maple Tree Inn is known for their cajun food, having been in business for decades first in Chicago's Beverly neighborhood and then Blue Island.

Maple Tree reopened in Homewood earlier this year, less than two years after a fire destroyed their longtime spot in Blue Island.

Their popularity hit such a peak after their Homewood reopening that reservations at the restaurant were booked for several weeks before all restaurants in Illinois were forced to close their dine-in services.

"We're thankful to be here and look forward to a bright future here in Homewood," Wennberg said.