Farmer's Markets

We're coming into that great time of year where farmer's markets are having their heyday. There are many, many local farmers offering locally grown produce, even some grown without the use of pesticides.
The farmer's market at Peoria's Metro Centre is celebrating 30 years in operation. With about 15 farmers participating here, there is a wide selection of fresh produce and flowers. They operate Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. until sold out. The kick-off this year is June 1, and, as reporter by the Journal Star, if you're one of the first 1,000 people, you could receive a tote bag to use to cart your goodies around.
Want something closer to Kickapoo or Dunlap, or not a morning person? The Shoppes at Grand Prairie is starting a farmer's market June 6, which will run Wednesdays from 4-8 p.m. They plan to have about 18 farmers and local music as well as cooking demonstrations.
Galesburg has a farmer's market near Main St., operating from 8 a.m.-noon on Saturdays.
Pekin's farmer's market operates downtown on Capital St. Thursdays from 4:30-6:30 p.m. with about 20 vendors. This market starts mid-July.
The popular Peoria Riverfront Market is back in gear starting June 2. In addition to all of the locally grown produce and flowers, there are several artists with booths here, and live music. I also love to pick up some bread from Peoria Bread Company. The market runs Saturdays from 8 a.m.-noon.
With all of this great fresh produce available, why would you want to pick up your produce at the local chain grocery or big box store? Who knows how long and how far that turnip traveled on a truck before it found you?
Now, if we could just get Washington to start a farmer's market!

Euro Jack's Café

One night after work last week, I met StfRon at Euro Jack's Café. I had not been in this building at 500 Main Street for years, since back in the days of SOP's being there some time during the late 90s.
They've done some redecorating since the SOP era. The floors are done in a charcoal slate tile and the walls have been redecorated; a stone look here, a mural there. I also noticed they appear to be planning to put a nice brick patio/beer garden area out on the sidewalk. Maybe in anticipation of the smoking ban?
StfRon was kind enough to order me a glass of wine before I arrived, the Rodney Strong Cabernet. This is one of my favorites to find on an establishment's menu.
We were a bit hungry, so we decided to try the bruschetta. Euro Jack's version is thick, crispy slices of crusty bread topped with tomatoes, feta, fresh basil and olives, both green and kalamata. It was quite tasty.

May, 2008 — Euro Jack's has closed.

Why I blog

Yikes! I was lurking watching the "Why I blog" comments go 'round and thinking "what the heck would I say?" Now I've been tagged by Angie, so here goes:

1. We really like to support local businesses, and wish more people did, so I thought maybe blogging about it would be a good way to get the word out about more cool local joints.

2. I like to write, probably more than I like to talk in most cases. I actually went to school to be a reporter, and got hired as one, but didn't enjoy butting into people's business.

3. Now that the blog's been around a while, it's cool to see where visitors to the site come from. That keeps me somewhat motivated.

4. I like to be mysterious.

5. I secretly hope blogging will make me rich??

OK, now, StfRon, Polly (one of the first blogs I ever read regularly), Mapgirl and Matt, you're it. Sorry if you've been tagged before!
"Why do you blog?"

Detweiller Park

Detweiller Park, on Detweiller Drive off Route 29 in Peoria, features over 740 acres of walking/cross country skiing trails, woods, soccer fields, BMX tracks, playground equipment and one of the best public sledding hills I've seen in this area.
The park also has several covered shelters available for rental from about $50-$75 for your family reunions or other events. Some of the shelters are also handicap accessible.

Big O's BBQ Rib Station

Big O's BBQ Rib Station knows good barbecue. I had the pleasure of dining at Big O's, 3901 SW Adams Street in Peoria, last Friday for lunch.
One thing I love is a good skin on BBQ chicken doused with sauce. Since Famous Daves moved out, I've been craving a good BBQ chicken. Big O's did not let me down. This 1/2 chicken dinner had a good smoky flavor, and was covered in Big O's special sauce. Accompanied with hearty fries, cole slaw, and some white bread, this was quite a feast.
Big O's also has ribs, rib tips, BBQ pork or beef sandwiches, and much more.
You place your order at the counter, and the service is friendly and quick. Stop in for some carry out, dine in, or even get some of this great sauce to take home with you.

Big O's closed in 2010

Alwan & Sons Meat Co.

Thanks to Numero, my absolute favorite Peoria magazine, StfRon and I got a gift certificate for $25 to the newly-expanded Alwan & Sons Meat Co., 703 E. War Memorial Drive in Peoria.
The Alwans have been in the meat business in Peoria for almost 50 years. The new look is great, with 11,000 square feet of meaty magnificence!
Alwan's also fires up a grill during lunch, so you can enjoy a freshly-made sandwich in the great outdoors.
We ended up going with a package deal, since we just bought a new chest freezer and wanted to fill it up right. We got four pounds of bacon, some pork chops, ribs, minute steaks and chuck roast.
While waiting for our box o'meat, a couple different employees asked if we needed any help. The service is very good.
The place was hoppin' on a beautiful Saturday night. I'm sure lots of people were planning to go home and grill out.

Walt's Dos

Walt's Tavern, opened in 1936 at 2301 W. Garden St. in Peoria, is now Walt's Dos, the second incarnation.
I had the pleasure of checking out this rustic neighborhood tavern/restaurant recently for lunch. This place is true old school, and it's neat to look at the old memorabilia. Enjoy a Dos Equis on tap while you're here.
Many of the original recipes from Walt's Tavern are still on the menu, including fried chicken, and are now accompanied by several Mexican entrées. I also noticed they have the Mexican egg dishes on their menu. I LOVE this stuff, and it reminds me of my trip to Puerto Rico.
To start, our server brought us a basket of chips and some salsa. The salsa did not appear to have any tomatoes in it, just a variety of chopped peppers, but it was good. The chips were very good, warm and coated with some seasoned salt.
I chose the chicken enchiladas and had them topped with green sauce (you can choose from several sauces). My meal was served with refried beans and Spanish rice. The food was not spicy, nor was it overly salty. This food would be good for StfRon, who right now is supposed to be watching his sodium intake!
My friend Jim had the tamales, which he said were very good, and finished off with some fried ice cream. The ice cream looked like fried ice cream, unlike some fried ice cream my brother's wife ordered at a Mexican joint in Macomb that, I swear, came out coated in corn flakes.

December, 2008 — Walt's Dos has closed

Tower Park

One of the most noticeable landmarks in Peoria is the red tower in Peoria Heights.

Located at 4901 N. Prospect Rd., Tower Park has recently been updated with nicer seating and landscaping plus a new fountain. Of course, as a kid, I called it the woodpecker tower due to the large fiberglass woodpecker which adorned the tower.
If you aren't afraid of heights, a trip in the glass elevator, 170 feet up to the top, is a fun time.
This tower is actually the second one, the first having been torn down during WWII and used for scrap metal. Our tower is the only one of its kind in the U.S.
There are three observation decks at the top, and telescopes for viewing as well.
The park itself also has a hidden geocache, if you're into that sort of thing.
Each year for Independence Day, the tower sells tickets in advance, allowing visitors to view various fireworks displays from the top of the tower. On a clear day, you can see displays from several towns within 20 miles from this vantage point, plus avoid all the crowds at the displays.

Second Chances

There's a new shop in Washington, just off the square on North Main St., that sells goods made from items that had a previous life. The shop is called Second Chances, and it's neat to see a place like this in our throwaway society.
Second Chances carries lots of recycled glass items, like earrings; coasters made from beer bottles; trivets made from melted down wine bottles; items made from old computer circuit boards; beautiful bowls made from telephone wires; stemmed glasses made from wine bottles; and some awesome chairs made from old wine barrels. Sit it them while you're there; they're very comfortable!
They also have these little animals made from stiff brush bristles. For some reason, I LOVE these. They make me laugh!
There are a lot of great things to check out here. And no, I don't work there and am not related to the owner, I just think it's a neat concept and hope the shop does well.
http://www.secondchances.biz/

June 2009 — Second Chances has moved to the Metro Centre in Peoria and is now called Re-.

River Beach Pub & Eatery

Our friendly Hofbrau bartender recently bought the River Beach Pub & Eatery, 13637 N. River Beach Drive in South Rome, with her new hubby. They will be taking over the place around the beginning of June.
And, rumor has it, our old "Cheers" bartender Chris will be filling in at the Hofbrau a couple nights a week. My dad calls him Woody, after the Cheers character.
Anyway, back to the River Beach Pub. It's a short drive from Peoria or Chillicothe, right along the river.
Things should stay the same, so expect to find a nice selection of imports. For eats, you can try some bar fare, like fried veggies, wings, chicken tenders, and the river crisps are good. They also serve wraps, catfish, fried chicken and grilled chicken, plus fish and chips, shrimp and various sandwiches. Inside, the bar is cozy with knotty wood paneling on the walls and ceiling.
Outside, enjoy a deck filled with umbrella-topped tables overlooking the Illinois River.
The area is a prime spot for eagles, so while you're on the deck enjoying the day (and your drinks), you might get lucky enough to see them.

Po-Boys

Lately StfRon and I have been into hearing some good live music.
Po-Boys, 3207 N. University St. in Peoria, in the bingo building near Wal-Mart, features live music every Friday and Saturday night, no cover charge.
The menu does feature some cajun items, like crawfish tails, gumbo, jambalaya, and, of course, po-boys, accompanied by drinks like hurricanes. They also have a really thin crust pizza and kids' food.
And if you like crab cakes, the crab cakes here are really crabby.
Right now, they have lunch specials for $5. All the food I have tried has been decent. The drinks are decent. The decor is great. And some of the bands we've caught have been excellent. All in all, a good time.
Have a look at http://www.poboysbourbonstreet.com/

December, 2008 — Po-Boys has closed.

Milo's, The Daily Grind

I don't make it to Lacon very often, but recently I had occasion to visit a new restaurant on Washington St. in Lacon (near the IGA), Milo's, The Daily Grind, for a private party.
The atmosphere inside is warm, rustic-cozy. The main room is almost like a tearoom, and off to the right is a nice room with a bar.
For our event, we were presented with trays of sandwiches, cheese, veggies with an awesome thick ranch dip with real bacon mixed in, 'lil smokies and delicious homemade lemon bars.
Checking out the menu, you will find wraps, burgers and other sandwiches, soups, salads, and more homemade desserts.
During the time we were there for the private party, several assorted groups of people wanted to come in for a bite. It looks like Milo's has already made a name for themselves.

No smoking?

One place I've enjoyed visiting while in Bloomington over the years is Fat Jack's. Roxy's, of Peoria fame, was owned by the same group. They have the Warhol-style paintings in Fat Jack's as well. Roxy's is long gone, but Fat Jack's remains.
We stopped in after Lucca Grill for a drink. On the walk there, it did occur to us that Bloomington has enacted a no smoking rule, as we saw several people outside Lucca smoking. We got to Fat Jack's, and the story was the same.
If you've ever been to Fat Jack's, though, you know they have a lounge of sorts with cushy couches, dark paneling and a large humidor full of cigars. Still there. And so are the nicely painted cigar logos on the wall. Right next to which appears an art-deco styled NO SMOKING sign, under the exit sign.
Upon speaking to the bartender, we found out that yes, there is no smoking at Fat Jack's anymore. You need to go out the door and to the left 15 feet. No, you can't take your drink with you. Which explains the purses and half-finished drinks spread along the bar.
First, no one was 15 feet to the left of the door, they were right outside. Second, Lancaster's is to the right. Do they have the same policy? If so, wouldn't their patrons be 10 feet to the left of Fat Jack's? Would that cause issues?
The bartender said in Normal, you can take your drinks outside. I would think a lot of people would chose Normal over Bloomington, if they want to smoke.
Fat Jack's might consider redecorating the lounge room. Unless they're holding out hope.

Lucca Grill

I've driven past Lucca Grill, 116 East Market St. in Bloomington, many times, and have always wanted to try the place out.
This weekend, I had my chance.
Lucca Grill has been serving up Italian favorites in the same building since 1936. It's a neat place, exposed brick walls and tin ceilings, with old memorabilia covering the walls; the friendly kind of place where you feel comfortable on your first visit. We didn't check out the upstairs, but there was a lot of traffic headed up there.
There's a bar along one side, with several cushy seats to sit in while you enjoy your brew.
They even have a dumbwaiter to move food and dishes from level to level.
We started with an appetizer of fried meat ravioli. It didn't seem fried at all, almost baked, with no greasy flavor. The cornmeal coating gave it a very nice crunch.
We then went for the gusto, a meat combo pizza, covered with sausage, pepperoni, ground beef, ham and bacon. The bacon was my favorite part. This pizza is on a homemade, crispy thin crust.
Now, knowing what I've been missing, the next time, I might not be able to just drive on by.

Kauth & Mayeur

StfRon has a VW Jetta diesel he bought off eBay, and we've enjoyed about 45 miles to the gallon for the past several years. We're also lucky enough to be able to carpool about three days a week.
When the Jetta needs some love, we head to Kauth & Mayeur, the import specialists, at 1013 N. Orange Street, just off Main St. in Peoria.
Kauth & Mayeur, in business for more than 25 years, offers parts and service for all import vehicles, and specializes in servicing European makes.
Taking your car in? You can catch a ride with their shuttle van.

Jubilee College State Park

Jubilee College State Park, off Route 150 between Brimfield and Kickapoo, is a beautiful 3,200 acre site with hiking, biking, horseback riding and camping.
The historic site at Jubilee is beautiful as well, featuring a sandstone chapel from the college, founded in 1839 by Bishop Philander Chase, the first Episcopal bishop of Illinois.
In June each year, the Olde English Faire is held at Jubilee, featuring arts and crafts, jousting on horseback, music and more. This year, the faire will be held June 16 & 17, starting each day at 10 a.m.

International Beer Festival

Here's a plug for the 15th annual International Beer Festival, held at Exposition Gardens in Peoria.
This year, the fest will be April 20-21, and funds will benefit the Peoria Art Guild and Peoria Jaycees.
April 20, you can catch a great local band, the Bogside Zukes, while sampling lots of different kinds of beer.
Catch the details at http://www.jaycees.com/projects/ibf/ibf2007.htm

Hearth & Patio

Hearth & Patio, 8304 N. University St., Peoria, is a good source for outfitting your patio as a great outdoor living space.
They have a nice selection of grills and patio sets. The Weber Genesis line of grills is currently made right here in the USA, and Ducane makes grills in the US as well.
Hearth & Patio also can set you up with a built-in outdoor grill.
If you're looking for some warmth indoors, they also have many fireplaces and gas stoves, or, if you're looking to update yours, check out the mantels and fireplace doors they carry.
They've remodeled their showroom, and soon will be offering cooking classes. Find out more at http://www.hearthandpatio.net.

Goodfellas Pub & Pizza

Say you're in Pekin and you feel the need to hit a sports bar or have some decent pizza. Give Goodfellas, 1414 N. 8th St., a try.
Here you can play some arcade games or shoot some pool, catch a band and have a good pizza with a nice, thin, crispy crust that has a great touch of sweetness to it. I'd love to get the dough recipe for this pie!
Or try some appetizers or a sandwich. Or just quaff a cold one. It's all good.
They'll even give you some of this rooster hot sauce to use, with Chinese or Japanese writing all over it, which, by the way, is clearly marked "Made in USA" on the back of the bottle. Hmm...

Elmwood Brewing Company

There's a nice restaurant and brewery tucked away in the quaint town of Elmwood, Elmwood Brewing Company.
I love to see an old, beautiful brick building used like this. This one dates back to 1896.
Elmwood Brewing Company also does a nice job with their own brews and have several of them on tap.
The menu is American-style cuisine, much like you would find at any brewpub you run across.
The restaurant also has room for groups and makes a great mid-way point to meet family or friends who are from the west side of the state.
Many times it seems their web site is down, so give them a call if you have any questions, 309-742-4200.

July, 2007 - The business is now known as the Parkview and is under new ownership.