Coffee & Treats in Nebraska

When the Bluejays take the court, you can expect to see a sea of bright blue shirts at the Sam & Louie's at the corner of 24th and Cuming in Omaha. The location has been one of Creighton University's homes away from home since it opened in 1994, but its welcoming atmosphere is found at each of the eatery's 24 locations. There, friends and families bond over great conversation and an eclectic mix of casual cuisine from a menu inspired by traditional New York–style pizzerias. Eighteen specialty pizzas are hand tossed into thin-crust pies before being decorated with more than 35 toppings such as creamy alfredo sauce, sliced Italian meatballs, and canadian bacon. In deference to those with special dietary needs, almost all of these specialty pizzas are available in gluten-free pizzas.

In addition to pizzas, cooks also craft their daily-made dough into calzones and strombolis, which ooze with mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce. The menu culminates in five third-pound Black Angus burgers, Italian hoagies, and eight types of pastas. In addition to hosting guests inside their welcoming pizzerias for both lunch and dinner, the cooks at Sam and Louie's also take their food on the road, offering catering services for events both large and not-so-large.

When the Bluejays take the court, you can expect to see a sea of bright blue shirts at the Sam & Louie's at the corner of 24th and Cuming in Omaha. The location has been one of Creighton University's homes away from home since it opened in 1994, but its welcoming atmosphere is found at each of the eatery's 24 locations. There, friends and families bond over great conversation and an eclectic mix of casual cuisine from a menu inspired by traditional New York–style pizzerias. Eighteen specialty pizzas are hand tossed into thin-crust pies before being decorated with more than 35 toppings such as creamy alfredo sauce, sliced Italian meatballs, and canadian bacon. In deference to those with special dietary needs, almost all of these specialty pizzas are available in gluten-free pizzas.

In addition to pizzas, cooks also craft their daily-made dough into calzones and strombolis, which ooze with mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce. The menu culminates in five third-pound Black Angus burgers, Italian hoagies, and eight types of pastas. In addition to hosting guests inside their welcoming pizzerias for both lunch and dinner, the cooks at Sam and Louie's also take their food on the road, offering catering services for events both large and not-so-large.

From the city in which Arbor Day originated, Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard has managed to preserve a legacy that originally began in 1925, when orchard founder Richard Kimmel and his wife Laurine planted their first apple and cherry trees. In a place where there's no shortage of love for agriculture, the orchard has thrived, vastly expanding to eventually grow not only fruit, but also vegetables and many grape varieties. Aside from growing and harvesting crops, the facility also hosts the Kimmel Education and Research Center, which is a staple of the organization that strives to educate and interact with the community.

Customers at Orange Leaf’s brightly colored storefronts build their own customized desserts, starting with a smorgasbord of thick, creamy frozen yogurt flavors. The low-fat and fat-free varieties lend an air of indulgence to the largely guilt-free dessert, ranging from red velvet to chocolate cheesecake to key-lime pie. Likewise, the topping bars feature fresh slices of kiwi and banana; sweet spoonfuls of gummy bears, graham crackers, and Oreos; or slender bride-and-groom figurines perfect for topping a cup of wedding-cake-flavored frozen yogurt. Orange Leaf also offers catering for private events such as weddings and birthday parties.

A dozen cookies will let you sample most of The Cookie Company’s sugary smorgasbord of 15 regular and seasonal (non-specialty) flavors, including lemon oatmeal, oatmeal scotchie, toffee nut, iced ginger, snicker doodle, macadamia nut, and the chocoholism-enabling OD (chocolate dough, chocolate chips, chocolate frosting). Because they are made from scratch—the most mysterious and delicious element on the periodic table—and baked in small batches without preservatives, The Cookie Company's cookies are best enjoyed fresh within 3 to 4 days, though they can be frozen for up to a month.

Chef and owner of Café L Luis Palacio is fussy about food, much to the delight of his diners. Before he adds any new dish to the café menu, it must pass the test with his family and friends―any dish found lacking is tweaked until the flavors are perfect. This fussiness extends to his choice of ingredients as well. His smoked pork chops originate from free-range pigs fed a diet free of steroids, antibiotics, and grape soda. Then, local barbecue-master Ray Green smokes the meat to a state of succulent goodness. Luis puts similar care into his specialty sandwiches, 12-inch pizzas, and dinner entrees, which change each month.