I received this note today from Wendy’s. The fast-food restaurant can be found locally in Bourbonnais and Bradley.

“This spring, Wendy’s will introduce 2 new beverages and Frosty™ desserts.

The new Premium Iced Tea program will include Freshly Brewed Regular and Sweet Tea.

The extensions to the Frosty™ line include the Frosty™-cino (a coffee-flavored Frosty Shake made with real coffee) and the Coffee Toffee Twisted Frosty™ (a coffee-flavored Frosty with chocolate-covered coffee toffee candy bits blended into the Frosty).”

A reader named Lisa sent me this tip last week via Facebook:

“Have you been to Yanni’s on Washington in downtown Momence? It’s at the site of the former Simpson’s Family Restaurant; Yanni relocated from Manteno to Momence about a year ago. He did a good job improving the place (won a Main Street rehab award in 2008), and the food is consistently satisfying, in my opinion!”

A reader named Kris just sent me this question via email:

I am a huge fan of Bloody Mary’s and I was just wondering who you thought had the best Bloody Mary around or who just has good ones. I don’t know if any of your readers have ever commented on the subject to offer their opinions either. Thanks.

I told her about the loaded Bloody Mary at River Bend Bar & Grill, but can you suggest any others?

Tiramisu

The classic Italian dessert tiramisu is a delicious combination of coffee-soaked cookies, creamy custard and a touch of cocoa powder. If you’ve had it and like it, try making it at home. It’s fairly simple — and doesn’t even require baking, and it’s always a hit with guests. It’s also served chilled, which is especially convenient because you can prepare it before guests arrive and stash it in the fridge, or pack it up and bring it to a party. That’s what I did Wednesday night.

The biggest obstacle is finding the ingredients. For the pasteurized eggs, I go to Jewel in Bourbonnais. I go to Rondinella’s Italian Import and Deli in Bradley for the Ladyfinger cookies and mascarpone cheese, but I’ve seen the cheese (which comes in a tub like ricotta) in the “gourmet” cheese section at Kroger and other large grocery stores.

And if you love tiramisu but aren’t interested in making it at home, Rondinella’s sells pans of it already made. I’ve also heard you can also order pans of it from America’s Bistro in Kankakee.

Here’s the recipe I use: Read the rest of this entry »

Happy New Year, everyone!

I hope 2008 was good to you, and I hope great things await you in 2009.

Now please, I need a 30-day reprieve from parties with plates of food covering every square inch of available space, OK?

The Aroma Park Boat Club is holding a “Recovery Day” party on New Year’s Day. I guess if you over-indulge on food and beverages tonight, you can do it again tomorrow! There’s no cost to attend, but you’re asked to bring a dish to share. The boat club is preparing turkey and some side dishes. The bar will be open, of course.

The Aroma Park Boat Club is on Boat Club Road in Aroma Park. (If they have an actual address, I couldn’t find it anywhere online. But you can see it on a map here.) Their number is (815) 939-9478.

I’ve discovered that one of the hazards of watching Food Network is that it sparks cravings that can’t easily be fulfilled.

Last night Bobby Flay was in a showdown over falafel, these fried balls of I-don’t-know-what that are delicious either on their own or in a sandwich or with a dipping sauce. You can get them at Mediterranean restaurants, which is where I’ve had them before. But I’m fairly certain they can’t be found in Kankakee County, and I’m positive I can’t make them at home. I think a trip to Greektown in Chicago is in my future. Maybe Saturday …

Speaking of Greektown, my husband and I go there with some regularity, as I’m a huge fan of Mediterranean food. There’s a restaurant called Venus that we like, and they will be offering 50% off their signature entrees during the month of January. The special is not yet posted on their Web site yet, but I have a special source. Here’s more:

Venus Signature dishes include over a dozen delicious varieties of Greek and Cypriot-inspired dishes. Entrée prices range from regularly priced $10.95 to $18.95, (1/2 off price range of $5.48 to $9.48).

Venus’s eclectic Signature entrees include Cypriot specialties like Kleftiko - Venus Greek-Cypriot Cuisine lamb wrapped in foil and slow baked to perfections, and Afelia - pork marinated in red wine and served with pourgouri (cracked wheat pilaf). Or how about traditional Greek dishes like Pastitsio - individually baked layers of pasta and ground beef topped with béchamel sauce, also selected by Chicago Magazine as one of the best dishes in Chicago, and Mousakas Tsoukas, individually baked layers of eggplant, zucchini, potatoes and ground beef, topped with homemade béchamel sauce.

Venus Signature dishes include Gluten-Free and Vegetarian options. That’s just the start. It’s the start of the Venus Signature menu, and the beginning of your next grand adventure.

Venus is located in Chicago’s very own Greek Town at 820 West Jackson Blvd. Visit www.venuschicago.com for more information or call (312) 714-1001.

In October I wrote about the expansion at Lydia and Groucho’s Coffee Shop and Deli in Kankakee. The expansion led to more kitchen space which allowed them to start offering grilled items, such as burgers. Here’s an updated menu with all of the new offerings.

The Kankakee County Convention and Visitors Bureau launched a new Web site in the fall, and they even give Best Bites a plug!

The new site includes a section titled “Eat”, and it links readers to this blog. The section also features a very handy directory of eateries in the area, broken down by type of cuisine.

To return the favor and to help readers find the new restaurant directory, you will now find KCCVB in the blogroll to the right.

If you’ve driven by Vito’s (1887 Armour Rd.) in Bourbonnais lately you might have noticed the new sign (see photo below), which bears their new name: Vito’s Pizzeria & Pub.

The name change reflects the focus of the new menu, and the new chef, Eric Peterson. The menu features pizza, of course, stromboli, sandwiches, salads and appetizers. Click here to download a PDF of the menu.

Lunch specials are offered Monday through Friday for $2.99. Plus, they promise that if you don’t get your food in 10 minutes or less, it’s free.

Brendan and I went there for lunch last week and shared a taco and an individual pizza pizza. Chef Peterson said the taco weighed 1.5 pounds — and I believe him. I chose the chicken filling, which was nicely seasoned. The pizza, which is made with homemade sauce and dough, was covered with large chunks (not those pre-formed balls) of very good sausage. Photos of the monster taco and the pizza are below.

Vito’s offers free delivery in Bradley and Bourbonnais, and they’ll deliver to Kankakee businesses during the day. To order, call (815) 935-3211.

If it’s been a while since you’ve ventured inside Vito’s, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how nice and clean it is. There’s plenty of seating, including a dining area separate from the bar, and the wood paneling throughout is a nice touch.