Abe's

Abe's in the Metro Centre in Peoria is a great place to visit. There's always the scent of caramel popcorn in the air, and lots of great gifts, candies, bath gels and lotions, candles, sauces, salsas and kitchen linens, plus a whole lot more.
Once, we spent a couple of hours traipsing around Peoria looking for a pizza peel. Finally, we stopped at Abe's, and they hooked us up.

Zobrist Construction

In the market for some construction work? Why not give Zobrist Construction a try? Located at 95 Commerce Drive in Morton, they are a general contracting firm that's been in the biz since 1939. Find out more and see some photos of their work at http://www.zobristconstruction.com/.

Yen Ching

Moving on we get to a favorite of mine for at least 20 years, Yen Ching. Located at 6936 N. University St. in Peoria, Yen Ching is the place to go for sizzling rice soup and Mongolian beef. It's the best of either that I've ever had. They bring a plate of rice out alongside your soup and dump it in at the table so you get to hear that refreshing sizzle as you are served your soup.
They also have cheap lunch specials, around $5 for an entree, rice, egg roll and drink during the week.

And one thing we keep saying we need to try is the happy family. We've seen people enjoying this in the restaurant, but we just can't break away from the Mongolian beef to try something new!

Yen Ching does serve beer, wine and cocktails.

Willie's Tamales

I have to give Willie's Tamales kudos for making mouths water for years outside of UFS Savings Center on SW Adams Street in Peoria. The brats and pork chops sizzling on that grill with the sweet onions and peppers makes for an aroma you almost are powerless against.

The Vault Gift Shop

The Vault Gift Shop
953 N. Second Street, Chillicothe
http://www.davidalanbadger.com/thevault/index.html
This quaint shop is located in the Happy Thought Coffee shop in Chillicothe inside of an old bank vault. It's great to poke around while you are waiting for coffee or lunch at Happy Thought. Oddly enough, I used to get eye exams in the vault, as my eye doctor used the same building for his practice.