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Tales from the heart...
In honor of St. Valentine's Day, we'd like to share a few firefly love stories...
Well we have to say that probably the most famous is Grandpa & Susan! They're always a big hit with our fireflies, and they're their the epitome of a true love story.
Having played married couple Doug and Julie on Days of our Lives, they're known as the first "super couple" of daytime TV! They fell in love both on-camera and off, and soon will be celebrating 40 years of bliss! They're a true love story, and a strong testament to the power of love!
Just beginning their love story are Kirin and Dave Wetzel, who married on July 17, 2010, and had over 200 guests at their firefly wedding. Kirin and her family (Dr. & Mrs. Rudert) are frequent guests, and so we asked her why she chose the firefly for her wedding: "I love the building itself and the atmosphere it set for our wedding and most importantly the staff is amazing. Everything was  perfect! Firefly captured what I was looking for on my big day. I wanted it to be a big party where you could kick back, relax and enjoy excellent food and great company. The simplicity of being able to step outside and enjoy a cigar on the back deck, lounge by the fire with friends or dance the night away made everything flow smoothly. People are still talking about how it was the best wedding they have been to.
My favorite memory was when we came to install the arbor with my parents and my sister and Kristie, her dad, and Cara. It was HOT but we had mojitos and squash flowers and just had fun! We all took a step back to see where I would be standing on the big day with that beautiful willow tree and pond as our backdrop; it brings tears to my eyes just reliving that memory."
Dave is now flying for Continental Express and the couple recently moved into a new apartment in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago. We're happy to report that they visit us often at the firefly!
 Jan and Dennis Berkbigler are two of our most dedicated fireflies. Jan, one of our biggest cheerleaders, always has a mile-wide smile and a personality to match. Dennis is a bit more of the quiet type, steady and unassuming, a great compliment to Jan's effusive personality. Having met on a blind date, they were married in Effingham on February 14, 1987, spent almost 10 years in California, and then returned to Effingham. And we're so glad that they're here, because they're among our favorite firefly regulars. Birthdays, anniversaries, work events, Effingham Performance Center evenings - you name it, they're two people who light up our dining room. They are big believers in our fresh perspective, always adventurous, and always set forth some challenges for us. We're so glad that they make the firefly the spot for their celebrations with family and friends, and we're honored to have them as members of our family! Happy Anniversary, Jan & Dennis!
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From the wine cellar...
 | | Firefly's wine steward, Pete Beem |
Firefly grill recently held a one-of-a-kind winter truffle dinner at which we featured some very unique and outstanding wines. Fortune has shined upon us and we've been granted limited-time access to them, so we're proud to feature these wines on our menu for a limited engagement! These are single vineyard, limited production, and/or are very hard to acquire! Most are available by the bottle only, but some are even available by the glass. And to try to bring these to the attention of more of our fireflies, we'll feature several at our Valentine's Tasting dinner, paired with Chef Niall's incredible creations! If all goes according to plan, we should have: 2006 Sauvion Sancerre, Bordeaux, France A classic white Bordeaux blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. A very well balanced white wine with characteristics of stone fruit, fresh herbs, and crisp acidity! 2006 Don Melchor, Concha y Toro, Cabernet, Puente Alto, Chile (concha y toro means ear of the bull) A limited production, single vineyard Cabernet which received 95 points from Robert Parker and the Editor's Choice from Wine Enthusiast. This is a powerful and concentrated, yet balanced Cabernet. There were only 18 bottles available to the state of Illinois and the Firefly has a handful remaining! 2005 Le Tertre Du Lys Sauternes, Bordeaux, France A sweet, concentrated and complex dessert wine produced from the Semillon grape. This sticky dessert wine is a beautiful golden color! It boasts honey and apricot on the nose, with an exotic, ripe mouthfeel balanced by good acidity! What a treat!
We're proud to make these available to our fireflies, please let us know what you think!
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It's a Wrap!
 For those of who you were unable to attend the recent Wellness Day/FitJam event held at the Effingham Performance Center, you missed a great experience. Everywhere we looked we saw big smiles, people having fun, and people learning new things. Over 900 people attended the event!
We had a great time catering the V.I.P. party at the Fat Boy Chronicle premier and having members of the film cast and CEO class for dinner at the firefly.  Judging by the flood of emails we've received over the past week, Chef's Niall's demonstration made a lasting impression on many. We're thrilled that so many of you are seeing that it's easy to eat healthy, and we're really proud of the fact that so many of you have pledged to put an emphasis on sharing Sunday dinner as a family. As we believe, it's an easy place to start!
Sincerely,
Kristie & Niall Campbell
firefly grill |
See our pics at shutterfly!  Be a firefly fan on facebook! Follow us on Twitter! 
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What's Happening
Saturday, January 12, Valentine's Day Tasting Dinner There are several shows this month at the Effingham Performance Center. We encourage you to make reservations if you're planning on dining with us on show nights!
217-342-2002 or www.ffgrill.com |
 Valentine's Day Tasting Dinner...
This year, Chef Niall and his team have put their heart and soul into creating an exquisite tasting dinner, one we're very proud to present. Starting off with Maine Lobster Tempura Lollipops, you'll journey through a sensational variety of tastes and flavors. Fennel custard in duck egg, Point Reyes Souffle, savory Dungeness Crab Bisque...just to start. Main courses range include fish, beef, veal, lamb or pheasant, something to please everyone!
Pete has assembled a fabulous selection of wines for those who choose to pair their meal.
We can't wait to bring it to you! you can view the entire menu at www.ffgrill.com. Please call to reserve your seat today. 217-342-2002.
And please note, that because our preparation for this event is so extensive, the tasting menu will be the only menu served this evening, and we will be closed from 3 - 5 p.m. to prepare for it. Saturday, February 12th!
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From the bar... Well, February is a month for lovers, so we just couldn't resist...
Between the Sheets!
Everyone who knows Mike knows he has a sharp sense of humor, and he definitely had some fun coming up with February's drink special.
Between the Sheets is a fruity, rum-based concoction, also known by some as Maiden's Tale. Featuring rum, cognac, triple sec and a hint of citrus, it's similar to the classic Sidecar. It's fresh and citrusy but has a really smooth undertone, we think it will become a bar favorite!
Come in and try one and tell us what you think, it's on special all month at the firefly!
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Grand Chef's Gala
The 14th Annual Fairmont Hotel and Resorts Grand Chefs Gala/Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence in Chicago was a rousing success! Held on Friday January 28th, the Grand Chefs Gala brought together Chicago's finest chefs to prepare and present their signature dishes for over 500 guests to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
For the event, Chef Niall's assignment was to provide an hor's d'oeuvres to the guests. With the help of the firefly staff, Chef Niall prepared an exquisite creation... Reconstructed Duck Eggs; featuring a fennel duck custard, smoked Steelhead roe, layered with cauliflower foam and topped with Blis Maple Bourbon Syrup, and served with a Fennel micro-green on a Boos Butcher block. The response was amazing, and we loved talking to attendees about Effingham!
For us it was an honor to participate in this benefit with so many wonderful, highly-regarded chefs and restaurants of distinction. We were truly in awe, and incredibly proud of our firefly team and thankful for all of your support.
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