Popcorn at Von Bergen's in Hebron to be featured in new 'State Plate' TV show

So maybe television isn't Mike Von Bergen's thing. But that didn't stop producers of a new television series from seeking him – and his popcorn – out.

Von Bergen of Von Bergen's Country Market in Hebron will appear Oct. 28 in "State Plate," a new culinary travel series from INSP hosted by Taylor Hicks, the 2006 winner of "American Idol."

Hicks spent Memorial Day taping part of the upcoming episode at the family-owned Hebron farm, interviewing Von Bergen, along with his wife, Tracie, about the popcorn sold at the Von Bergen market and area farmers markets.

The segment will air in an episode about the culinary highlights of Illinois.

Von Bergen, who said he rarely watches television, has yet to see the show and wasn’t sure whether he’d tune in Oct. 28.

“I don’t know,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t like watching myself on TV. I don’t like listening to myself on the radio. I’ll probably watch it, and I’ll probably cringe the whole time.”

“State Plate,” which premiered Oct. 21 on INSP – available through DirecTV, Verizon FIOS, AT&T U-verse and more than 2,800 cable systems – is designed to celebrate the unique food traditions in all 50 states. Along with his “American Idol” fame, Hicks is known for his passion for food as co-owner of a barbecue and blues bar in Alabama.

Through the series, he visits farms, ranches, markets, festivals and other locales to uncover the stories and legends behind each state’s food traditions. He assembles a figurative plate of appetizers, entrees and desserts – or 50 meals – from each state.

The Illinois segment features Von Bergen’s popcorn as an appetizer and three entrees, as opposed to the typical entree and side dishes, because in Illinois, people are “most fond of entire meals you can hold in your hands,” Hicks says during the segment.

Popcorn was chosen because, as Hicks states, corn is one of the most prolific crops in Illinois, with the state producing about 2.3 billion bushels of corn. Illinois has 333 popcorn farms. Producers sought out a homegrown production, said Von Bergen, whose family farm also is known for its vegetables, fruits, horseradish and pumpkins.

“It’s a lot of work for a little bit of return you get out of it,” Von Bergen said of growing and selling the popcorn, “but it’s a good product. I like eating it. I think most people do, too.”

Among the other food featured in the segment is an Italian beef sandwich from D’Amato’s Bakery, a deep dish pizza from Gullivers and a hot dog from Kim & Carlo’s Chicago Style Hot Dogs, all in Chicago. For dessert, Hicks then goes to Hartigan’s Ice Cream Shoppe in Evanston for an ice cream sundae because, as he narrates, the ice cream sundae got its name in Evanston.

In Hebron, Hicks chats with Von Bergen about his popcorn, cultivated from about 1¼ acres of corn grown at the farm.

“It doesn’t sound like a lot, but when you pop it that would more than fill this room,” Von Bergen tells Hicks.

The two then go through the process of shucking the corn off the cob and cleaning the kernels from debris.

Hicks then tries a mix of cheese and carmel corn. “It’s like a whole meal in a snack,” he said. “You go from appetizer to dessert all in one bite.”

Von Bergen said Hicks, along with camera crews and his own makeup artist, spent an entire day, with Von Bergen even donning a “little bit” of makeup for the camera, though not as much as Hicks.

Hicks took a liking to a hot rod Von Bergen was storing nearby for a friend.

“He’s a super nice guy,” Von Bergen said of Hicks. “Just a regular kind of guy… pretty much a down-to-earth guy.”

The episode featuring Von Bergen's Country Market and Illinois is scheduled to air at 8 p.m. Oct. 28. For information on the INSP television show, visit www.insp.com.