After years of eating with the all–male photography staff here at News 25.... Eric Shangraw is bringing Mrs. Shangraw along for this Valentines addition of "You Gotta Eat."
They are sharing a meal at Medici (med–a–chee) in Uptown Normal.

Medici could be the most interesting restaurant to open in the twin cities in years. One of the owners, Hans Morsbach, owns his own forest in Wisconsin. His book is for sale here. There are 11 different types of wood on display in the interior décor. The tables all hand made by the Amish. But its' the big tree towering two and a half stories in the middle of the restaurant which turns heads and generates the most talk. Although finding a way to describe the style is not easy.

I call it "funky elegance" said the General Manager, Tammy Dunbar.

A customer said, "It is an atmosphere and décor that you don't find anywhere else."

Medici makes a great date night. My wife Stacey and I started with a micro–brew. They have 32 beers on tap. We also shared a pretzel with mustard they offer for free at the bar. Stacey and I are cut from the same twin city table–cloth...with a few differences. She grew up in Bloomington. I was raised in Normal. Stacey went away to college at Mizzou. I stayed home and went away to ISU. We met when I was a young green reporter in the early 1990's while she was working in PR at what was then the new car plant in Normal. Her Dad's retired from State Farm, now the Mayor of Bloomington feeling the heat after raising a sales tax earlier this week. My Dad's retired from State Farm now living on a golf course in Arizona. He's actually enjoying the heat. –Back to our meal. Stacey ordered the Ensalata Kimba: Romaine lettuce topped with bleu cheese, croutons, red peppers, pecans, and Granny Smith apples. She tried it with the balsamic–pesto dressing and grilled chicken and said it was outstanding. I had the Garbage Pizza. –Advertised as a Medici classic. Its' loaded with sausage, ground beef, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, pepper, onions and mushrooms. Great zaa. For dessert, I had a decaffeinated espresso and bread pudding... the most calories for you dollar. Stacey had a flavored coffee and a rich chocolate dessert she choose not to finish. –Very rich. Our bill: forty–three dollars plus tip. If you want to experience what may be the restaurant of the future while reminiscing about the past... you'll make new meal memories at Medici.

The kitchen at Medici is open seven days a week for lunch at dinner.
The bar stays open later.