Tuesday, October 11th  

Downtown LaSalle

Jazz'n the Street Review

By Nikki

     

Thanks to everyone that came out on Saturday night and joined downtown LaSalle with their annual Jazz fest celebration! Everyone was enjoying the live jazz music along with the variety of delicious wine and beer stands. The Wes Hausken Trio, Dave Hoffmann & Friends, and Professor John were rocking first street! The fireworks display was one of a kind also. It was a great experience with a wonderful ending.

LaSalle Business Association takes a lot of time and money on different projects throughout the year to better the downtown. One project they took on recently was putting a new fountain in that is actually right across the street from the Uptown. They made sure to put the effort in to get it done by the weekends festival. It looks great so thank you Lasalle, keep up the good work! Be sure to support downtown LaSalle and join us again next year.

Uptown Events  

How Do You Shower? 

By Ryan 

There are many different reasons for having a shower, but most commonly is the arrival of new babies or to celebrate a new beginning. Where should someone have these parties, well, that always seems to be the question. Fortunately, for you we have the space, the staff, the food, and the proper accommodations to handle any group for these types of celebrations. We even have a menu option for these events and it is called our "Shower Buffet." We feel that this menu option is one of the nicer and more affordable meals that we offer on our list. If you are looking for quality and value, look no further. We set the room and you are more than welcome to decorate to your taste, if desired. You will use real china, not paper plates, you will have a private dining facility all to yourself, your own bar and quality service. There will be no shortage of food and enough selection to make even the pickiest eater happy. For $13 per person, we feel that our shower buffet is not only value, but the essence of what we do here at the Uptown. Have your next shower with us. 

All seven of these items are included on our shower buffet:   

Walnut chicken sandwiches
Mini fresh baked slider rolls with lettuce, tomato and house made chicken salad



Mini panini sandwiches
Mini grilled sandwiches on sourdough bread with roasted red peppers, grilled portobello mushrooms, tomato and swiss cheese

Nicoise salad

Mesculyn lettuce, seared tuna prepared medium rare, string beans, boiled new potatoes, tomatoes, kalamata olives and hardboiled eggs 



Panzanella salad
Warm bread salad with freshly baked chunks of Italian bread tossed with romaine lettuce, grape tomatoes, parsley, pinenuts. served with balsamic vinaigrette dressing

 Ceasar salad with mesquite chicken and parmesan crisps
Fresh homemade butter parmesan croutons, creamy garlic dressing, sundried tomatoes, grape tomatoes, mesquite chicken and made fresh croutons

Mediterranean bowtie pasta salad
Kalamata olives, capers, garlic, grape tomatoes, crushed red peppers, feta cheese, spinach and bowtie pasta. Topped with pinenuts

Roasted asparagus

On Special 

Great Lakes Whitefish 

By Anna 

On special this week, we have a broiled fresh Great Lakes whitefish. One of our most popular items that we have on the menu is our broiled whitefish parmesan. This whitefish is a bit different from the one you have come to love. It is served with a white wine and dill cream sauce with roasted garlic and parmesan cauliflower. The Great Lakes whitefish has a sweet, light flavor and its mildness makes it perfect for a variety of dishes, while it also adapts to almost any method of cooking. The fish technically isn't just white, its coloration is greenish brown over the back, silver on the side and white on the bottom.

 

Some health benefits associated with the Great Lakes whitefish includes strong levels of Omega-3 fatty acids, in which studies have shown to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and it contains more omega-3 fatty acids than pink and sockeye salmon. The Great Lakes whitefish is a good source of niacin plus Vitamins B6 and B12. It also contains some amounts of Vitamins A and E and is a good source of potassium. You'll also find small amounts of calcium, iron and zinc in the whitefish. Not only is it delicious, it's healthy! 

 

Fun facts of the great lakes whitefish are-

• Early Native Americans would make a powder of smoked Great Lakes Whitefish for use in stew, soups and fish pies; they would also mix the powder with fresh blueberries.
• The scientific name for lake whitefish is Coregonus clupeaformis.
• Whitefish prefer to spawn on rock, honeycomb limestone, gravel or sand.
• Fannie Farmer's 1918 Boston Cooking School cookbook calls whitefish "the finest fish found in the Great Lakes."

Around the Area 

Fall Colors Weekend 

By Jimmy  

Just this past weekend, my family and I took a bike ride along the Illinois Michigan canal. I must say, this time of year is picture perfect. Living in the Illinois Valley, we have some of the most beautiful scenery around. As fall begins, Mother Nature gives us one last spectacular show of color before the dreary dull white winter months consume us. The foilage becomes a display of natural fireworks bursting with beautiful colors. The small peaks and valleys are quite full with an array of color.  

But what causes these beautiful colors during this time of year? When the temperature falls, trees shut down their production of chlorophyll and the trapped glucose in the leaves brings out the beautiful orange, yellows and reds. It becomes quite tranquil to sit and look around. With all the gadgets and gismos of this high-tech world, this is a perfect time to get away and follow the colors of the natural beauty of our area. No GPS needed. Follow the colors. Make a day of it, the Illinois Valley has tremendous amounts of this natural artwork.

Starved Rock and Matheissen State Parks are very popular and wonderful destinations to get the full array of fall colors. The area around Starved Rock has been highly rated as must see places to visit this time of year. The overlooks along the Illinois River offer beautiful views and great photos. This weekend, October 15-16th is considered Fall Colors Weekend throughout the park. Guided hikes and tours to see the best views will be given throughout the day. Just remember, your day will not be complete without lunch or dinner at the Uptown. The drive from here to the park is filled with the colorful foliage as well. Treat yourself to the natural beauty of our area.   

On Special 

Oktoberfest

 

On special right now we have our famous Oktoberfest dinner. We will serve Oktoberfest Sunday through Thursday after 4pm, while supplies last! Our Oktoberfest plate includes kassler ripschen (smoked pork chop), eisben mit sauerkraut (pork hocks with sauerkraut), leberkaese (German veal loaf),  knackwurst (German garlic sausage), bratwurst (mild white veal sausage), sauerkraut, red cabbage, and german potato salad. We  also offer a wurstsalat salad. To help celebrate the Oktoberfest we also have Bitburger Pilsener (the #1 draft pilsener in Germany), Hofbrauhaus Hefe Weizen beer.

Employee Updates  

October Birthdays and Anniversaries 

Birthdays

Melinda Andreoni

Tony Victor

Ryan Gramite

Dalton Owen

 

Anniversary

Chuck Messino -- 16 years

Andrew Kamphaus -- 9 years  

Jenny Heagy -- 7 years

Kim Washelesky-- 1 year

 

"Burger Me" Thursday 

Burger and a Beer for only 10 Bucks!  

"French Onion Burger"   

Three Things to Try

 

By Ryan - Snicker Pie - We haven't had snicker pie on our dessert menu for quite some time, but this week it is back. While we don't make this dessert in house, it is still one of my favorites. I remember this dessert being around when I was younger and I still can not order it enough. The dessert contains snicker pieces, fudge brownie, chocolate, caramel, peanuts and cream cheese filling. All things that I love, especially after dinner. Goes great with a cup of our house coffee and this dessert will only be around for a limited time.

By Nikki - Victor Hugo -  An old Red Door favorite! When it comes to salads, its hard to find a unique, flavorful salad without going overboard with garnishes or calories. Well, that's where we come in! On special we have our delicious Victor Hugo salad. It is served with romaine hearts, tossed with a creamy mustard vinaigrette dressing and topped with hearts of palm, housemade pickled asparagus, artichoke bottoms, celery root, cherry tomatoes and hard boiled eggs. Don't miss this one of a kind special before it's gone!


By Aly - Corn Crab Cake - This week on special I would like to recommend starting your meal off on the right foot. By this I mean start with our special housemade Corn Crab Cakes. These are not your average crab cakes by any means. They are made with sauteed corn and with real lump crab meat served on a crouton with avocado lime mayonnaise. The dollop of avocado lime mayonnaise makes this dish memorable and tastes delicous. These mouthwatering crab cakes are heavenly, if they don't fulfill your hunger than I'm not sure what else will.

"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 - "French Onion 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 "French Onion Burger". This Thursday, October 13th, we will be offering our gourmet half pound burger topped with Swiss cheese, au jus, sauteed onion, romaine lettuce, and sliced tomato.

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.  How many liters are in a magnum of Champagne? 

2.  What is the name of the famed fish stew from Marseille, France? 

3.  What sidelined production of Hershey's Kisses in 1942? 

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.  Where is Pike Place Market - founded in 1907 to connect farmers with consumers and today attracting 10 million visitors a year?   SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 

2.  That "Cuban" drink made popular by Ernest Hemingway, is said to have been invented in 1896 by an American working in Cuba?   THE DAIQUIRI (JENNINGS COX, INVENTOR) 

3.  What Chinese, star-shaped, dried-fruit spice is a key ingredient in Tamiflu, a drug that lessens the severity of avian flu?  STAR ANISE (IN MANDARIN CHINESE, BAJIAO)

Last weeks winner of the free lunch .......  Zakia Scheuer 

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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