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Holiday Hours
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Come visit us this holiday weekend!
by Kris
We will be serving the following hours over the holiday weekend.
Friday, July 2nd - 11 am to 11pm
Saturday, July 3rd - 11 am to 11pm
Sunday, July 4th - 4pm to 10 pm
Monday, July 5th - 11 am to 11pm 
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Party Trays
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Take Uptown to Your Holiday Party
by Kris
Seared Tuna Nicoise Salad
 | This is the weekend for cook outs and parties with friends and family and it looks like the weather is going to cooperate. You can still enjoy the great appetizers, salads and other items from Uptown at your outdoor parties. Click the link below to see a list of all of our items that we can put together for you to take with you. We won't even tell anyone that we did the cooking!
Party Tray Information
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Around the Midwest
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Prairie Fruits
Farm, All American Cheese Samplerby Kris In 2003, Wes Jarrell and Leslie Cooperband moved to Champaign - Urbana. Coming from an urban life in
Madison, Wisc., finding the small farm just outside of town was the first step toward forming Prairie Fruits Farm, Illinois' first farmstead cheese making facility. They have begun to
transform the landscape from cash grain agriculture to diversified
perennial fruit trees and berries, goat pastures, hayfields and prairie.
Their dairy herds of Nubian and La
Mancha goats are fed on locally grown alfalfa and
grass hay and only their milk goes into the small batch, hand-crafted
artisan cheeses. In
addition to the
dairy and farmstead cheeses, they raise certified organic tree fruits
and
berries. The four-acre orchard includes peaches, apples, pears,
cherries, apricots and berries of all kinds-strawberries, raspberries,
blackberries, currants, gooseberries and jostaberries. Selling
products through local markets in Central Illinois including the Urbana
Farmers' Market and some restaurant and retail locations in
Champaign-Urbana and Bloomington-Normal as well as select Chicago
locations, they strive to educate the
community about organic and sustainable
agriculture and the connections between food production and
consumption.
They hope to serve as a model for others interested in small-scale
diversified farming systems. 
Visit the Farm
Red, White
and Blue Cheese Sampler
For the holiday, we have put together a "Mini Red, White and Blue Artisanal Cheese Sampler" featuring two cheeses from the Prairie Fruits Farm. The sampler comes with Canary Melon, sugared walnuts, honey and dried cherries.  THE RED.
Red
dawn is a soft-ripened goat milk round that is aged for
about three weeks, and then the rind is dusted in smoked paprika. They say "it tastes like bacon."
 THE WHITE.
The Canary Melon is sweet and juicy with a hard smooth
yellow rind and white fruit. It has around 60 calories per cup of cubes. It is a good source
of Vitamin C, fiber, potassium and Vitamin A. Melons are around 90-95%
water, so they are incredibly hydrating.
 THE BLUE.
Krotovina
is a soft-ripened pyramid shaped cheese with an ash layer in the
center. This cheese contains a layer of goat milk cheese and a layer of sheep
milk cheese separated by a thin layer of vegetable ash. Aged for 4-5
weeks, it has a very delicate bloomy rind with a firm paste. |
On The Menu
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Gourmet S'mores
By Ryan
 Your traditional campfire treat of chocolate, marshmallow and graham cracker has found
its way onto our menu. We serve this treat at your table with a hibachi grill that you
can roast your own s'more on. It really is a lot of fun, especially for
the kids, but adults can treat the kid inside as well.
S'mores
can originally be traced to a 1927 publication called "Tramping and Trailing With the Girl Scouts"
in which it is first noted that this treat was shared over a campfire. I
always knew the girl scouts were a brilliant bunch!
The dessert can be
prepared by simply roasting your marshmallow over a flame and using the
heat from that to melt your chocolate or some even will roast the entire
sandwich, graham cracker and all. Either way, whatever
your style, we now have this available at your table 7 days a week.
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Coming Soon to Downtown
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The Men's Emporium
By Kris
Construction underway.
 | After being vacant for the past several years, the former
LaSalle National Bank building at 105 Marquette Street will once again lay
claim to a thriving downtown enterprise.
View on First Street
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The Logo, a work in progress.
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They will host a grand
opening on Saturday, August 21 from 10 AM to 5 PM. The Illinois
Valley
area's newest men's store will feature apparel from many popular brands
including Tommy Bahama, Austin Reed, Alex Cannon, Cutter & Buck,
True Grit,
Thomas Dean, Golden Bear, Enro, Hart Schaffner & Marx and other
premium
brands. In addition to specialty clothing, Men's Emporium will showcase
the
popular Maui Jim sunglasses and a wide selection of fine cigars.
At Men's Emporium every customer will be treated like a VIP.
Whether it's a teenager shopping for trendy jeans, a local professional adding
to his collection, or a golfer heading out to play 18, the Men's Emporium will
ensure that you look your very best. Watch for future press releases and ads showcasing the stylish
apparel soon to be available from Men's Emporium.
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Behind the Bar
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Summer Cocktails
by JimmyStop in and cool off with some of our new summer cocktails. Enjoy an ice cold
beverage to help relax after a long day working in the yard.  The
Mojito"A Cuban Margarita" We make them fresh from scratch, muddled to
order. Just like in Long Beach. Bacardi Lite rum, sugar and fresh mint.  Absolut
Strawberry LemonadeWe use "Perricone" strawberry lemonade and mix
it with Absolut Vodka.
There is not a better combination for a summer cocktail. Perricone is a
company that makes fruit
juice with no additives or preservatives. A 100% fruit juice.  Basil
Rum ShakeupOur world famous lemon shakeup, just like you get at the
carnival, with Bacardi Lite Rum. What really makes this drink unique is
we have taken fresh basil and muddled it with sugar. A very soothing,
interesting
combination.  Fresh Mint Gimlet Fresh mint muddled with
sugar, fresh lime and mixed with Absolut Vodka.  Key Lime Martini Made
with fresh key lime juice
and cream.  Cucumbertini We have taken Tanqueray Gin and let it
sit and infuse with fresh cucumbers. The flavor of the cucumber goes
right into the gin. This is another cool refreshing cocktail. For
those looking for a beverage without the alcohol. Try one of the these.
Vignette Wine Country Sodas This lightly carbonated,
caffeine free beverage is naturally sweetened with the juice of the
California grape it is named after. There is no sugar added. Available
in Rose, Pinot Noir or Chardonnay
flavors. GUS SodasThese 100% natural "Grown Up Soda" is
made from real fruit
juices and extracts. No preservatives or caffeine. Available
in cranberry lime, pomagranate, or valencia orange flavors. |
Christmas Party Season
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Really, Christmas Parties?
by Kris
 Yes, I know, we're celebrating 4th of July, however, it's the perfect time to think "Christmas Party." The time is right to get in on some prime time dates. We have had a couple of our "high demand" weekend dates become available.
These dates have been booked for several years by returning customers and have just become available. By getting in early you not only insure that you have the date that you want this year, but you also have first choice to rebook it for returning years. A couple of these dates have been tied up for 10 years and are now available. Don't hesitate, they won't last long.
Banquet Room Information
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From the Wine Cellar
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Conundrum
by Jimmy During this summer wine
season, we are featuring Caymus Conundrum. From the renowned Caymus Vineyards of
California, comes this blend of five different white grapes. Back in
1989 this white "mutt" wine was born. After experimenting with 11
different white wine grapes, Jon Bolta, the winemaker, along with
Charles Wagner, the owner, chose the 3 key components; sauvignon blanc,
chardonnay, muscat canelli. They continued to explore how
non-traditional grape combinations would work together. They
experimented further and found that Semillon and Viognier completed the
conundrum. The word conundrum means "anything that puzzles" and this is
exactly what the wine makers intended to do. Although we know the five
components of this wine, the winery never lets anyone know how much of
each
grape is in the wine. They differ from year to year. Each vintage is
unique. This 2007 vintage is an excellent summer wine that goes great
while sitting on our patio on a hot summer day. |
| Not Your "Everyday" Specials |
 Friday Nights, Seafood Mixed Grill
It
includes
a 4 oz lobster tail with
drawn butter, 4 oz salmon filet with basil
cream and 4 oz whitefish parmesan with lemon caper
butter. All for only $19.75
Monday Nights, Steak Diane
Every Monday after 4 pm, we will be serving Steak Diane for $13.75. This will be just like the Red Door Inn. With Victor's stamp of approval.
 Sunday, All Day,
Sizzling Sunday Fajita and Margaritas
You
get a chicken
fajita for two with a 64 ounce pitcher of margaritas for only $20! Imagine this on a Sunday afternoon on the patio or at a sidewalk table
with the sunshine and a nice breeze! No, your not in Cabo, but it sure
feels like it!
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| On Our Special | |
Buckley Bay Oysters on the Half Shell
Steak and Bleu Cheese Bruschetta
Country Pate
Red, White and Blue Artisanal Cheese Sampler
Panini Sandwich with Raisin River Ham, Tillamook Cheddar and Dijon Mustard.
Antipasto Salad
Asian Seafood Kabob
Angelhair Pasta with Fresh Mozzarella Pearls and Asparagus
Peanut and Coconut Glazed Sugar Snap Peas
Gourmet S'mores
Neopolitan Creme' Brulee
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Win a Free Lunch
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Foodie Fight Free Lunch Contest
by Kris
 Each week in the newsletter we will ask 3 questions from the Foodie Fight cards. The first person to email us (see link below) the correct answers to all three questions will receive a complimentary free lunch. The winner has to have the correct answer for all three questions, no exceptions. The following week we will publish the correct answers and the winner from the previous week. So come on in and have a drink, study the cards, test each other and have fun. Good Luck!
1. What puppet celebrity said, "Never eat more than you can lift"?
2. What is the nickname of the sitcom character Yev Kassem, a role based on an actual New York City vendor?
3. What does the Wheaton Shucking Machine use to open 60 oysters per minute?
foodiefight@uptowngrill.com
Fine Print...
You must be the first person to respond with all three correct answers.
The response must go to the email address in the above link.
You must reply within 24 hours from the time the newsletter is published.
Participants are eligible to win a limit of 3 times a year.
Last Week questions and answers....
1. What is the name of
a shellfish dish that combines Italian and English words to say the
same thing twice? Shrimp Scampi
2. What is another name for pig's
feet that would be found in English cookbooks? Trotters
3. What "smellmark"
delighted chicago tourists and locals for decades but was cited by the
EPA for clean air violations in 2005? Chocolate from Bloomer Chocolate Company's processing plant
Last weeks winner of the free lunch ... Casey Anderson
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| Playlist Theater | |
Tickets on sale now.
Upcoming Shows
 Roy Davis
Friday
August 13th
Tickets on sale now
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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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