Wednesday, September 14th  

Dining Out Now A Value 

Rising Grocery Prices 

By Ryan

Every week I go to the grocery store, I find myself buying the household necessities, beverages and attempt to find a few meals for the week. When all is said and done the price tag that goes along with those purchases soars well over $100. Upon putting the groceries away at home I sit back and wonder how 2 or 3 meals cost me over $100. What is it exactly that my money is buying?  

My wife and  I constantly discuss how going to the grocery store and buying a meal for two people is really not that much cheaper, or cheaper at all for that matter, than dining out. If you go to the right restaurant on some of their special nights, you can get out of there for $20 plus tip, assuming you don't have 2 or 3 alcoholic beverages. There is very little that is packaged at the grocery story for two. Everything is packaged in quantities of 6, 8, 10 or more, and when someone like me is not home every night to eat, it's very difficult to use these things before they go bad. On top of everything I mentioned above, you have the added time value of prepping, cooking, cleaning, dishes and then putting everything away. To me, it's getting to a point where I am having a hard timing finding the value in groceries.

Just this week one of the top stories in the restaurant newsletters I  read was the "soaring grocery price inflation," and how consumers are beginning to find value in dining out. It was the first time I had found something that agreed with what my wife and I have been saying for at least a year or two. The articles goes on to give some statistics between grocery store price inflation and restaurant menu price inflation.  

The numbers come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and they show that grocery store prices rose 0.6% in July, which is the sixth time in seven months that prices increased at least 0.5%. During the last 12 months, grocery prices have risen a staggering 5.4%. Has your salary increased 5.4% in the last year? Have your taxes decreased 5.4%?  The Bureau also concluded that in the last 18 months on average, restaurant menu prices have risen monthly by 0.1% or remained unchanged. Overall, the grocery price inflation is more than double the average restaurant menu price inflation. And because of this, we hope we can help you be a part of the consumers that are finding "value added food solutions" by dining out.   

 

NRA: Dining out a better deal as grocery prices keep rising

 

Behind the Bar  

Goose Island Harvest Ale 

By Aly

In lieu of the summer weather approaching departure, we have made some changes to our current draft beer list. Goose Island Summertime Ale will not be amidst our selection of premium draft beers. For all of the dedicated Goose Island Brewery fans out there, its successor will be Goose Island Harvest Ale. Goose Island Harvest Ale is a special additional beer available from August to November. The beer has a beautiful copper color and is an extra special bitter beer. In order to achieve the copper coloring, the beer is made with cascade hops and is considered the richest of the Midwestern malts.  

Harvest ale is one of my favorite fall beers because its fluffy off white colored head and its well balanced flavor components. In particular, I enjoy the presence of its hoppy fruity aromas, nutty and caramel flavors. Generally, I tend to steer clear and away from bitter and heavy beers, however this beer I will make an exception for. It is a terrific beer for the transition from the warm summer season to the cool fall season.

One of the items we have on our appetizer menu is one that I don't think people take advantage of. The dish is not only interesting to taste by itself, it goes great with a glass of wine and a conversation. Perfect as an appetizer or dessert and great for cooler autumn nights on the patio. Our artisinal cheese sampler is one that is perfect to share amongst you and a few of your friends. It is a taste bud lesson learned with every bite. The best part is seeing which cheese goes best with the different garnishes it comes with. This week we have changed every cheese on the dish. These new and interesting cheese are sure to please your palate.

The one that I find the most interesting is Amber Valley Wendlseydale Cranberry. This cheese is produced in the town of Hawes, in the Wendlseydale region of England. The pastures in which these cows and sheep graze give the cheese produced in this region the unique flavor for which it is renowned. This is a fresh, young cheese taken at only three weeks old and coated with a green wax. It is semi soft with a slightly tart flavor due to the addition of the cranberries. It will go great with a glass of white wine. So next time you are in, try a dish that brings a different taste with every bite. Find your favorites. Try a different style of wine. Talk about what you find is the best combinations with the different assorted garnishes it comes with. Dried figs, dried apricots, fresh bosc pear slices, marcona almonds, mediterranean olive mix, honey, fresh baked breads and flatbreads all add to help make these cheeses interesting. 

Employee Birthdays and Anniversaries  

Birthdays

Chris Plankenhorn

 Craig Bartlett

 Geoff Heijl

 Andrea Neff

 Katlyn Camenish

Anniversaries

Jen Love - 9 years

Erick Raya - 3 years   

Marlee Giacometti -  2 years

Sheila Powell - 2 years  

Tyler Piasse - 1 year  

New Weekly Special   

Taco Tuesdays   

The idea behind our weekly specials is to offer our customers something new and interesting that you can't already have anywhere else. To round out our list of weekly specials, we have added "Fish Taco Tuesday." The addition of this special allows us to offer an affordable and interesting special every day of the week.

"Taco Tuesday" will be available all day every Tuesday for dine-in or carry-out. The offer will be for our version of a fish taco which will include panko breaded tilapia, red cabbage and chipotle mayo with a mango salsa. They will be served with corn chips and adobo sauce.

We will offer 3 tacos for $6.75 or for $2.50 each,  no limit.

"Burger Me" Thursday 

Burger and a Beer for only 10 Bucks!  

"Sunny Side Uptown Burger"  

Three Things to Try

By Anna - Ciliegine Mozzarella and Farfalline Pasta Salad - I recently had the opportunity to try our new special, ciliegine mozzarella and faralline pasta salad. I've sold this salad to many customers at the bar and I finally got to try it. This salad has many of my favorite garden items including cucumber, broccoli, red pepper, celery and red onion. The cute little farfalline pasta is a perfect touch as well. I also love the ciliegine mozzarella and fresh garden tomatoes.


By Andrew - Absolut SF - I suggest you try Absolut SF vodka, Absolut's tribute to San Francisco.  It's flavored with grape, dragon fruit, and papaya to represent the city by paying tribute to the Wine Country, and Asian and Latin cultures.  It has a nice unique flavor that's great for mixing.  We're doing a tropical gimlet with it right now mixing it with a little bit of lime juice and a splash of blue curacao.  Come in and try it out, or throw SF in place of your usual flavored vodka for something a little different.


By Nikki - Portobello Ravioli - Raviolis taste good whether they are stuffed with a meat or a cheese and whether they are served in a sauce or a broth. This week, we are serving raviolis stuffed with portobello mushrooms. The sundried tomato vodka cream sauce mixes perfectly and has such a wonderful taste. Topped with a grilled marinated portobello mushroom, this dishes flavor is a different but very appetizing one that you should try soon if you haven't!

"Not Your Everyday Specials"

Monday Nights, Steak Diane

Every Monday after 4 pm, we will be serving Steak Diane for $14.75. This will be just like the Red Door Inn. With Victor's stamp of approval.

Fish Taco Tuesdays

Every Tuesday, we will be serving fish tacos. The taco includes panko breaded tilapia, red cabbage, chipotle mayonnaise, and a mango salsa. They will be served with corn chips and adobo sauce. Available for dine in and carryout. 3 for $6.75 or 2.50 each. 

Wienerschnitzel Wednesday

Every Wednesday after 4pm, we will be serving authentic German Wienerschnitzel. Served with roasted asparagus, spaetzel and veal demi glaze it is only $11.75.

Burger Me Thursday- "Sunny Side Uptown Burger"

Each week we change our bizarre burger and serve it all day with any beer in house for only $10.00! This week we are doing the "Sunny Side Uptown Burgerr". This Thursday September 15th, we will be offering our gourmet half pound burger with shoestring potatoes, cheddar cheese, and it will be topped with a sunny side up egg. Delicious!  

Friday Nights, Seafood Mixed Grill

4 oz. broiled lobster tail with drawn butter, 4 oz. cod filet

with basil cream, and 4 oz. whitefish parmesan with lemon caper butter. All for only $19.75

Prime Rib, Friday and Saturday Evening 

Available after 4pm every Friday and Saturday night is our herb crusted prime rib of beef. Our prime rib is slow roasted for several hours in our 1980 alto shaam. It is served with au jus, mushrooms and your choice of side dish. Available in 12oz or 16oz   

Boneless Pork Loin, Saturday Nights

Saturday night after 4pm we will be serving a slow roasted boneless pork loin. It will be served with our mashed potato of the day, our special vegetable of the week and a bourbon demi glaze. All for $16.75  

Sunday, All Day, Sizzling Fajita and Margaritas

You get a chicken fajita with a 64 ounce pitcher of margaritas, perfect for a relaxing Sunday! Serves 2 for $20!

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Foodie Fight

Each week in the newsletter, we will ask three 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 lunch. The winner has to have the exact answer for all three questions, no exceptions! The following week we will publish the correct answers and the winner of the previous week. So come in and have a drink, study the cards, test each other and have fun. Good Luck! 

1.  What is the Italian garnish, usually served with osso buco, made of minced parsley, garlic, and lemon peel? 

2.  What is the term for baking a pastry shell before it is filled?  

3.  What is "sterlet," a rare variety of seafood once reserved for Russian czars, Iranian shahs,  and Austrian emperors? 

Email your answers to 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 weeks questions and answers...

1.  What Middle Eastern dish is named for the Turkish words meaning "sword" or "skewer" and "roasted meat"?   SHISH KEBOB  

2.  What agriculture-related disease swept the Roman Empire in 80 B.C., killing thousands of humans and animals?  ANTHRAX

3.  What is the most common variety of Chinese white cabbage, traditionally used in stir-fry dishes?   BOK CHOY  

Last weeks winner of the free lunch .......   Wendy Peniak 

Uptown Grill

601 First St.

La Salle, IL 61301

815-224-4545

Monday - Thursday

11AM -10PM

Friday - Saturday

11 AM - 11PM

Sunday

12PM - 10PM

uptowngrill.com 

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