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Fajita Fridays
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 For the next few weeks we will serve Chicken Fajitas for two with a pitcher of traditional margaritas. All of this for only $20.00.
This special will be served after 4pm on Friday only.
This special is not available for carry out. |
| Around the Industry |
Slow Food
By Ray
"What they propose are
solutions that
arise out of what I think of as "slow food values," which run counter
to the assumptions of fast-food marketing. To me, these are the values
of the family meal, which teaches us, among other things, that the
pleasures of the table are a social as well as a private good. At the
table we learn moderation, conversation, tolerance, generosity and
conviviality; these are civic virtues. The pleasures of the table also
beget responsibilities -- to one another, to the animals we eat, to
the land and to the people who work it. It follows that food that is
healthy in every way will cost us more, in time and money, than we pay
now. But when we have learned what the real costs of food are, and
relearned the real rewards of eating, we will have laid a foundation
for not just a healthier food system but a healthier
twenty-first-century democracy." -- Alice Waters
I love this quote and wanted to share it with you. It is written by one of
the leaders in our industry Alice Waters, of Chez Panisse,
the original "California Cuisine" restaurant in Berkeley, California.
She
is a champion of locally grown and fresh ingredients. Her ideas for
"edible education" have been introduced into
the entire Berkeley school system, and with the current crisis in
childhood obesity, have attracted the attention of the national media.
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| What's New Around the Uptown |
New Gift Cards
By Kris
Once again we are drug kicking and screaming into the new century. This time we're screaming for joy. This Christmas season we are issuing Gift Cards not the old paper gift certificates. Not only the perfect gift for everyone on your list, but they come complete with all the wrappings - Black gift cards with our new logo on a beautiful backer card that can be personalized and, as always, in our signature black envelopes with silver seals and ribbons. You can purchase them any time day or night. Either stop in and pick up as many as you need or click the link below and you can order them on line. Just think, you can slip into your jammies, grab your laptop and do all of your Christmas shopping from the comfort of your sofa or even your bed! Ho Ho Ho!
Order Gift Certificates Online
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Playlist Theater
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Willie Nile Tickets make Great Stocking Stuffers
by Kris
 With the Steve Forbert show this Friday sold out, it leaves only one show left in our Winter schedule. That would be Willie Nile on Friday night, January 29th. More than a quarter century has passed since the release of Willie
Nile's first album, accompanied by press notices comparing him to Dylan
and Springsteen. He is now in his mid-fifties, his youthful energy unflagging, and he's
never sounded more committed to the themes he's tackled. Nile is a songwriters' songwriter.
No less a personage than Lucinda Williams has said of him, "Willie Nile
is a great artist. If there was any justice in this world, I'd be
opening up for him instead of him for me." In
1980 Nile released his self-titled debut album which remains "one of
the most thrilling post-Byrds folk-rock albums of all time". Nile has
recorded and performed with many musicians, including Ringo Starr, Tori
Amos, Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Ian Hunter, The Who and Barenaked
Ladies. A live Central Park
concert, "Willie Nile-Archive Alive," was released on Archive
Recordings, and Willie was one of the vocalists on the ensemble album,
"Largo,"
along with Joan Osborne, Cyndi Lauper, Levon Helm, The Chieftains, Taj
Mahal and Carole King. In the fall of 2003, Nile was invited
to share the stage at three concerts with Bruce Springsteen and the E
Street Band, including the two final historic Shea Stadium shows. Gathering together his resources over time, he managed to put out his
first self-released album, "Beautiful Wreck of the World" in 1999. That album was chosen as one of the Top Ten Albums
of the Year by critics at Billboard Magazine, The Village Voice and
Stereo Review. Lucinda Williams called "On the Road to Calvary,"
Willie's song for Jeff Buckley,
"One of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard." The album reached
the finals of the Independent Music Awards for Best Rock Album of the
Year. I know that you hear " you don't want to miss this show" all the time from us, however, I feel that I have to say it again. How can you miss seeing someone that "The Boss" has invited to his stage on several occasions? Grab a couple tickets for yourself and a couple extra stocking stuffers for the music lover on your list! Willie Nile Video |
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Around the State
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| Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway
by Jimmy
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 As you walk by the front desk here at the Uptown, you will see
on display and for sale, a book called Recipes from the Illinois River Road
National Scenic Byway. As I perused the book, I became interested in what
exactly this Illinois River Road was all about. The Byway connects more than 100
nature-based destinations in the Illinois River Valley beginning in Ottawa and
extending along the Illinois River to the city of Havana. It showcases
great places where you can discover and experience the true nature of our
region. Whether it be hunting, fishing, hiking, biking or canoeing, exploring
wetlands, gardens, birding and watching wildlife, your possibilities for
adventure are endless. Their mission is "to provide a living museum without
walls that will enhance people's experience of the nature, history, archaeology
and other intrinsic qualities of the byway, while providing and maintaining
unique recreational and educational experiences for visitors and residents and
sustaining local communities' economies and quality of life." Their
website has a fascinating amount of information about all
the stops along the 140 mile route. It even has an option where you
can select and choose your travel itinerary. An abundance of maps,
resources, calendars of events and links on many destinations along the route
make it easy to plan your next weekend. In the meantime, stop by the front
desk and check out this recipe book. The Byway in part with David Alan Badger,
an Illinois artist, put together this recipe book. It features drawings of the
Illinois Architecture along with all kinds of different food recipes from
each participating business. It would make a great stocking stuffer for any "weekend explorer" on your list. Illinois River Road National Scenic BywayRecipes from the Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway |
Did you know?
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Thanksgiving To Go
by Kris
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 The restaurant industry estimates 53% of the nation will opt for prepared meals from restaurants this Thanksgiving. As amazed as I was with this percentage, I can only assume that this lends more to the metropolitan areas than local rural communities like ours. My husband for instance would never hear of picking up stuffing from the place down the street, of course my grandmothers stuffing is the only one that goes on our Thanksgiving table. However, when I really thought about it, it makes perfect sense to me that I should pick up the fresh baked pie that someone else slaved over or the dark rye bread that you can't buy in any local store or even our house dressing that no one (not even myself) can duplicate. From appetizers to salads to dessert, don't hesitate to ask. Given the proper notice we can have whatever you need ready for you to pick up for your holiday feast. We can either pack it in attractive plastic domed containers or you can drop off your bowls and platters and no one will know that you did not do it yourself! Our banquet menu (see link below) lists appetizers, salads etc. We also offer any of our breads, pies, cookies, brownies, dressings and sauces. Uptown Banquet Menu53% will take Thanksgiving to go. |
On Special
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Panini with French Ham and Maple Smoked Cheddar Cheese
by Kris |
 Our panini this week features a very unique cheese. Unique enough that we thought it worth mentioning. We hope that you enjoy the many unusual items that we purchase from our import house each week. This is just one of those items. Grafton Maple Smoked Cheddar Cheese Vermont's award-winning aged
cheddar
cheese. This artisanal cheddar cheese is handcrafted from premium cows
milk from small Vermont family farms. At the 2008 World Cheese Awards it won Bronze in the "Smoked Cheddar"
category. It is bathed in the cool smoke from smoldering maple
wood for up to six hours. The smoke seasons and compliments the already
aged cheddar. It is a wonderful accompaniment to maple cured bacon or ham and
an ideal ingredient in several breakfast dishes. It also stands alone
as a great snacking cheddar. It is produced in Grafton, Vermont which is a likely setting for a world-class cheddar.
Cheesemaking traditions in this historic village date from the 19th
century. The Grafton Cooperative Cheese Company was founded in 1892 by
dairy farmers who gathered together in a cooperative to make their
surplus milk into cheese. In the days before refrigeration, there were
many such cooperatives in the rural agricultural communities and an
abundance of fresh, creamy milk was turned into a food that could be
stored for a longer period of time.
In 1912, a fire destroyed the original factory. Several decades
later, the nonprofit Windham Foundation restored the company in the mid
1960s. Today, quality and taste are the hallmarks of their
award-winning, handcrafted cheese. The cheese company is part of the
Grafton based Windham Foundation,
whose mission is to promote Vermont's rural communities. |
| On Our Special |
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Crab Claw Cocktail
Fried Veggies
Mole Chicken Quesadillas
Chicken Caesar Flatbread Salad
Pan Fried Panko Crusted Escolar
Roasted Cauliflower
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| Thanksgiving Weekend Hours |
 We will be closed Thanksgiving day to allow our staff to enjoy the holiday with family.
We will be serving lunch through dinner all weekend.
Friday 11 am to 11 pm
Saturday 11 am to 11 pm
Sunday Noon to 10 pm
Wishing you a safe and happy holiday from the entire Uptown staff!
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| Playlist Theater
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Tickets on sale now for all future shows.
Next Show
 Steve Forbert
Friday
November 20th
Upcoming shows
Willie Nile
Friday
January 29th |
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Uptown Grill
601 First St.
La Salle, Il 61301
815-224-4545
Mon - Thur 11 am to 10pm - Fri & Sat 11 am to 11 pm
Sun Noon to 10 pm
Uptowngrill.com
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You can read all of our past UPtown UPdates by clicking the link below.
UPtown UPdate Archives |
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