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Thursday, December 13th, 2012 |
New Shows
Just in Time for Christmas
By Ray
I have been working my little hoofies to the quick trying to finalize these shows for the first half of next year. We can only announce them as of now, but in a couple of days we will have them ready to sell with plenty of time to nestle them in your music lover's stocking. We will send out another email as soon as they are ready. All of these will be seated shows.
 Friday, March 1stGreg Brown with Bo Ramsey ($35)
Anyone that knows me knows this is the show I have been dreaming of since we started six years ago. One of the leading contemporary folk artists in American music, Greg reflects a poetic spirit while also sounding thoroughly down to Earth. He has a voice, while Bo has a guitar, you'll never forget.
 Friday, April 12thChris Knight ($30)
Chris Knight is a singer/songwriter from the tiny mining town of Slaughters, KY. Over the years, Chris has been the most requested encore we have had. He will be appearing with his full band.
 Wednesday, May 15thThe Iguanas ($20) From New Orleans, Louisiana "The Iguanas" have been together for 25 years. The band reflects the diversity of musical styles found in their home state by fusing blues, classic R&B, zydeco, Cajun, Tex-Mex, and roots rock & roll.
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Gift Cards Another Great Holiday Idea By Brianne
As the shopping days before Christmas become fewer, gift givers may often find themselves running short on time, gift options, or worse... patience! Thankfully, the Uptown has made your gift buying as easy as a quick "point, click, buy" on the computer screen.
 Check out this link to our webpage where you can select a gift card in an amount of your choosing and have it shipped directly to your (or your intended recipient's) home. It's truly that easy!
Our crew of Santa's helpers works hard to ensure that all gift card orders are out the door daily by 4 pm...which means that there's a good chance that locals will receive theirs the very next day!Go ahead, wrap up your holiday shopping early and relax this season! Find Gift Cards Here! |
On Special Braised Pork Shank By Josh
To coincide with the hearty meals of the holiday season, we are now offering braised pork shank. Pork shank is a cut of meat taken from the lower part of the pig's leg. This very lean cut of meat typically requires specialized cooking techniques in order to help make the cut as tender as possible. It has not been as favorable of a dish up until the last 10 years or so when Osso Bucco started to become popular. For those of you unfamiliar with the cooking lingo, braising is a technique in which the pork shank is pan seared in a skillet and then slow roasted in the oven with a variety of vegetables and stock in order to infuse the meat with a particular flavor and allow the meat to become fall-off-the-bone tender. 
Our version of braised pork shank follows the same lines but with our own flair. We braise our shank with a mixture of celery, carrots, and onions mixed with our house made stock of cognac and sweet vermouth that allows us to import a rich yet sweet taste. Topped with a pork demi-glaze, we serve it bone-in over a bed of butter flageolet beans with sides of fresh steamed baby carrots and fingerling potatoes. This mammoth size meal is a perfect way to warm up to the cold weather and large holiday meals.
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From the Bar
Small Craft Bottled Beers
By Jimmy
As you read last week, a new winter ale was brought in to our draft beer selection. This week, we want to introduce a few new brews by the bottle. Every trade magazine that I read, beer is what is hot right now. From Double IPA's, Belgians and Stouts, beer drinking has evolved and can be enjoyed with almost everything. When it comes to these beer trends, the small craft brewers are what is being taken notice of. This week, we have brought in a handful of new beers of different styles that will give your palate more to choose from.
 Over the course of the last decade, Americans have become obsessed with super sizing and the illusion of value. The premise - more is better - is not always the case. Usually in those times, you have to sacrifice quality when it comes to value. The trick is to find both.
However, when it comes to what you put into a beer, more is better and I am not talking about producing more. Is it me or do we continue to see mega breweries pumping out masses of their product and flooding the media with advertising dollars while the product itself tastes like watery, fizzy, bland beer? Oh yeah, they also suggest some sort of weight loss or low calorie intake gimmick to lure you in as well. This is where our countries small American craft brewers step in. They spend more time and money on producing their product with great flavor they intend to put forth than on marketing their name.
 I cannot tell you how many of these small craft brewers I have tried to get in here. At times, I have been told distribution is only to certain parts of the country or they simply can not keep up with demand and are happy with what they are producing each year. When that's gone, it's gone. Tough luck... maybe you'll get a case or two next year. In one aspect, you wonder why not produce more? Why would they not want to sell more of their product? But what's the old adage? You want something more when you cannot have it? If you have tasted their product, you realize, these small craft brewers are more passionate about the product they put out.
 American craft brewers have continued to defy the trend of watered down, no flavor beers for the masses and stick to making flavorful beers that keep getting better and better. You will see a few different styles that are added to the list. These beers hold twice the character and usually twice the potency of normal beers. In the case of a double IPA, imagine a traditional Indian Pale Ale on steriods. I guess you can say the American double IPA holds true to our country's obsession with more is better. We hope between our bottle and draft selection, you will find the style you are looking for. Also, if there is one you think we are missing out on, send me an email. I would love to check it out. Cheers!
 Founders Breakfast Stout
Founders brewery is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A stout is a darker beer made with roasted malts or barley with the hops and yeast. They typically are higher in alcohol content, around the 7% or 8% range. Founders Breakfast Stout is brewed with an abundance of flaked oats, imported chocolate and Kona coffee.
Ballast Point Sculpin IPA is from San Diego. The Sculpin is a high hopped beer with flavors of peach, apricot, mango and lemon. Light bodied beer that has won a Gold Medal at the World Beer Cup in the IPA category.
Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter from Cleveland, Ohio. A porter is another dark style of beer originating in London, England in the 18th century. It is a well hopped beer made with brown malts. The name came about as a result of its popularity with street and river porters. Edmund Fitzgerald is a dark, complex beer that is rich with roasted malts. It has won a Gold Medal in the 2012 World Beer Championships.
Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA from Paso Robles, California. This American IPA has a ton of hop aroma and character. It is a well balanced, west coast IPA that is double dry hopped with grapefruit and citrus aromas.
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In the News December 21, 2012 By Ryan
 December 21st, 2012 has been pointed to as "Doomsday," or the end of the world according to some who have studied the ancient Mayan Calendar. But how and why did this date become so revered by many? Scientists that have studied the Mayan Calendar have concluded that their calendar is divided up into bak'tuns or 144,000 day cycles that began at the Mayan creation date. December 21st, which is also the beginning of the winter solstice would have symbolized a full bak'tun to the Mayan culture, essentially ending what would have been the 13th bak'tun. It's quite obvious to all of us that the world is not ending. Need more evidence than the human eye?:
- The Mayans never actually said the world was going to end. That was a conclusion that others drew, based on looking at their calendar system, which was created some 2,300 years ago.
- The approaching date marks the beginning of a new "era" for humanity, not the end of humanity.
- Many religions, prophets, and mystics have pinpointed this "turning point" on planet Earth. They have been letting people know that it will be a turning point for humanity, rather than a doomsday.
- There are no ostensible, physical signs to indicate the planet is ending. If there were, scientists would have discovered them and their findings would be making news headlines everywhere.
 Because there are so many elements and much scientific information to predict that the world is not ending next week, many scientists believe that December 21st would have been a day of great celebration within the Mayan culture. A day that would certainly not be the end of the world, but a day that signifies the completion of a full cycle of life. Scientists have concluded that the end of the 13th bak'tun was to be highly celebrated as a "new beginning" and a "turning point" for everyone on Earth.
For those searching for symbolic links to December 21st, 2012, perhaps the Mayans some 144,000 years ago had it wrong. Perhaps they were off by just 10 days? I mean it was 144,000 year ago, but maybe they were close to predicting a turning point for the world. Perhaps they meant the looming fiscal cliff at the end of this year, December 31st, 2012. This fiscal cliff will signify the end of a cycle and could be a major turning point for humanity. Hopefully those holding the fiscal well-being of us all, in the palm of their hands, will give all of us still here something to celebrate much like the Mayans would be.
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Uptown Playlist Theater
We now have tickets available for sale on our website.
Friday, December 28th
Tickets $15
_____________________ Tickets $30 Friday, March 1st Tickets $35 Tickets On Sale Soon! Friday, April 12th Tickets $30 Tickets on Sale Soon! _____________________
The Iguanas
Wednesday, May 15th
Tickets $20
Tickets on Sale Soon!
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"Not Your Everyday Specials"
Monday Nights, Steak Diane
Every Monday after 4 pm, we will be serving Steak Diane for $17.75. 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 pineapple black bean salsa. They will be served with corn chips and adobo sauce. Available for dine in and carryout. 3 for $7.75 or $2.75 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 $12.75.
Burger Me Thursday
Every week we have a new burger creation that we serve all day with any beer in house for only $10.00! Thursday, December 20th will feature our Flatbread Pizza Burger. We combine two favorites, a beef patty and a nice slice of pizza, for this unique concoction! The thin, grilled flatbread pizza tops the burger and features cheese, sausage, mushroom and onion.
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.
 Slow Roasted Boneless Pork Loin,
Saturday Evenings
Available after 4pm every Saturday night we have slow roasted boneless pork loin with a bourbon demi glaze. 10oz sliced pork loin served with our daily mashed potato and vegetable side
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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Specials This Week
appetizer
artisanal cheese sampler
1. Belletoile Triple Creme (France) 2. Chimay a la Biere
(Belgium) 3. Marieke Gouda (Wisconsin) 4. Cypress
Humboldt Fog (California) 5. Ludwig Farms Vermillion River
Blue (Illinois) 6. Sap Sago (Switzerland) serves 2 to 4
people 19.75
oysters on the half shell
olde salt oysters from chincoteague bay, virgina. small to
medium in size with a bold sea-side brininess with a smooth
clean finish. served with a mignonette 11.75
salad and sandwich
mesculyn salad & panini sandwich combo
rosmarino ham and brie. served with a mesculyn, walnut and
gorgonzola salad. balsamic vinaigrette dressing 11.25 with
cup of soup of the day 12.75
shrimp cobb salad
baby shrimp, gorgonzola cheese, avocado, roasted red
tomato, roasted red peppers, egg, tomato, baby corn,
beets, and applewood smoked bacon served over romaine
lettuce. buttermilk dill dressing 14.75
entrees
shrimp dejonghe
classic circa 1960's dish made with gulf shrimp baked in
white wine, garlic, herbs and bread crumb. served with
toasted crostini and a vegetable trio of squash, carrot and
zucchini 18.50
pork new york strip
10 oz. char grilled pork new york strip served with roasted
rosemary red potatoes and sauteed broccolini with white
wine, plugra butter, and crushed red pepper 16.75
andouille chicken sausage over penne pasta
andouille chicken sausage sauteed with white wine, leeks,
peppers and tomato. served in a tomato cream
sauce over penne pasta. small 13.00 large 17.50
stone ground mustard and fennel crusted salmon
10 oz. salmon crusted with stone ground mustard and
fennel. served over sauteed spinach with shiitake
mushroom 19.75
dessert
turtle cheesecake
layers of caramel cheesecake and chocolate fudge layered on
a chocolate fudge brownie. topped with pecans 7.75 |
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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 citrus fruit carries the trademarked tag line "The affliction is only skin deep, so the beauty is in the eating"?
2. Which are you most likely to find at an Iowa farmers' market in June - raspberries, strawberries, or grapes?
3. What TV channel broadcasts the weekly cooking show "The Grill Sergeants," with a live audience and a kitchen band?
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 up to 3 times a year.
Last Week's Questions & Answers:
1. What primal cut of beef do pot roasts come from, getting flavor from hard-working muscles that need to be tenderized through cooking with moist heat? ............Chuck
2. What city launched Twinkies, Cracker Jack, Brach's candies, and the Baby Ruth and oh Henry! candy bars? ..............Chicago
3. Which species of cod has been reduced to 10 percent of its 1950s population level due to commercial fishing practices - Atlantic cod or Pacific cod? ...............Atlantic Cod
Last Week's Winner: ...................Edie Thompson
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Uptown Grill
601 First Street | LaSalle, IL 61301 | 815.224.4545
Monday - Thursday: 11am -10pm
Friday - Saturday: 11am - 11pm
Sunday: 12noon - 10pm
uptowngrill.com
Uptown respects your privacy and will not sell or distribute your personal information. |
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