|
|
|
|
Thursday, August 22nd, 2013
|
|
Daily Specials Update
Online Menu
By Ryan
 Now that we are 2 weeks into the digital menus and we have a little bit of a feel for this under our belt, we can start to answer some of your questions. Probably the biggest question we have received so far is, "What about specials?" and "What is your soup?"
Many of you have been used to going to our website and downloading our specials menu to view them. For a couple days, while Menuvative tried to figure out a way to download "the largest menu in their account" into PDF form, you were not able to view our menu online. The glitch has been fixed, and we will continue to upload our menu, daily, to our webpage.
You can still find the day's soup and other specials at the following link (so bookmark it now). And as a rule of thumb, the daily specials will be at the top of their respective menu page.
You can also sign up to receive an email with this link daily.
Blog with us and ask any questions you might still have about the new digital menu!
|
On Special
Pig Pops
By Josh
 We always pride ourselves in coming up with new and exciting dishes that you'll rarely see in any other restaurant in the area. We stay true to this by introducing "pig pops."
Ray discovered these on one of his trips to the west coast and has been feverishly talking a big game about these bite-size eats. Closely resembling a pork shank, these miniature versions are just as tender and delicious as their larger counterpart. With pork being such a strong component in Thai cuisine, we've created a dish that would do any Thai food connoisseur proud.
We've taken our pops and roasted them in a Thai chili barbecue sauce and topped them with a sugar snap pea slaw. The spicy sweet dish keeps the true eastern flavor of Thai food alive by combining it with an uncommonly used pig pop. But don't let us just explain them to you... give them a try and see for yourself!
|
Playlist Theater
Show Recap
 As many of our loyal readers know, we promoted first-time Playlist Theater act Andy Frasco and the U.N. pretty heavily. We understand what it's like to not recognize a name, and thus not want to invest in the experience. The following blog submission we got following Andy's show was too good not to share. Please take a moment to read one fan's take on the evening:
In 1974 in a publication called Real Paper, Jon Landau wrote: " And on a night when I needed to feel young, he made me feel like I was hearing music for the very first time."
Of course the sentence that preceded that one is one of the most famous ever in Rock Criticism, "And I saw something else: I saw rock and roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen."
On August 16th 2013 at the Uptown I felt like how I imagine Jon Landau must have felt in 1974 as Andy Frasco and the UN tore the place to the ground in a scene that has never played out like that there before. Generally I don't have a problem feeling young, but the music of Andy Frasco is designed to make you feel young, exhilarated, and happy to be alive. There was so much motion and commotion from the patrons that the floors of the Playlist Theater took an absolute beating.
But this post is intended for those of you who gave consideration to going to the show but ultimately decided to do something else. I fully understand the mental phenomenon that plays out when trying to decide to make the time, effort, and commitment to go see any show, no matter where or when. I will generally see about 20 to 24 shows a year. For me, the Uptown is an automatic. I buy tickets to everything, and thereby I miss nothing (or very little due to travel). So at least locally, there is no dilemma, the decision has been made and the tickets purchased within minutes of the show going on sale.
I know the experience of deliberation and consideration my intended reader. For even though last night was an automatic for me, prior to the show I found myself asking 'Who is this guy?' "Why have I never heard of him?' How good can he be, if I have never heard of him?' Walking into the room, I had low expectations. However my experience has been that when you least expect it, something special happens that you could not anticipate.
So if you find yourself jumping back and forth between opting in or opting out, I would remind you that life is a participation sport. You must be present for that which you cannot anticipate.
Ladies and Gentlemen the Andy Frasco show was lighting in a bottle. Truly magic.
Gotta run. Gotta check out Andy Frasco's web site and sign up for his email list.
Click here to read the original blog entry that prompted this reader's response. Feel free to add your own thoughts.
|
Downtown LaSalle's Jazz Fest
Jazz'N the Street
By Ryan
 Saturday, September 7th will be the 8th annual downtown LaSalle Jazz'N the Street from 4pm to 10pm. Usually the festival is held on the same weekend of Burgoo, which is the 2nd weekend of October. but because the weather is so unpredictable (like last year's 40 degree temperatures), it's not always ideal to host an outdoor event. In an effort to try and enjoy some of summer's last remaining nice weather days, the LaSalle Business Association has moved the event to the weekend following Labor Day. Let's keep our fingers crossed!
The event will take place between Marquette and Gooding Street in the heart of downtown LaSalle. The festival will feature music from live jazz bands, and there will be imported beer and wine for your enjoyment as well. Stick around till the end because you will not want to miss the fireworks display that caps off the night at 9:30 pm. And as always, feel free to watch the fireworks and enjoy the festival's environment from our sidewalk dining café or screened in dining patio. Might as well stop in for dinner too, right?
|
Menu Items
White Anchovies Anyone?
By Jimmy
 Anchovies..... they are a love or hate food relationship. You either like them, or you want to stay far, far away from them. For those that like them (or are daring enough to give them a try), read on.
Fresh anchovies, or those preserved in olive oil or vinegar, can be found in many gourmet supermarkets and restaurants. The current trend finds chefs now using them on menu items such as bruschetta, marinades, tapenades, pastas and stews.
In our efforts to keep with the trends, we have brought in imported white anchovy fillets, or "boquerones," and are serving them as choice to top our traditional Caesar salad or our hail Caesar gourmet burger. Fresh anchovies are cleaned and placed in a marinade of vinegar and salt water that slowly turn them white. They are then seasoned with garlic, olive oil and parsley. These salty treats sure do enhance any dish that you choose to top it with.
So why the sudden obsession with anchovies?
Read on to learn more about how the anchovy has evolved. Be sure to tell us whether you love 'em or hate 'em!
|
|
Burger Me Thursday
Choose any microbrew or bottled beer to accompany a different and
enticing burger, every Thursday, for just $10.
 Next Week: August 29
Aloha Burger
Join us in giving summer a fond farewell by biting into this ray of sunshine! We top our tasty beef patty with grilled ham and pineapple combined with our special blend of teriyaki seasoning. Round out your meal with our delicious fries and a cold brew before you say "aloha" to this warm weather for good!
|
|
Uptown Playlist Theater
We now have tickets available for sale on our website.
Please purchase tickets either online by clicking here or in person only.
|
|
With our weekly specials menu, you won't find any 2 for 1 deals or two 4-course meal options for $20, but what you will find are quality products offered at a true value. Come see why we sell more steak diane or weinerschnitzel in one night than we do some menu items in a week. Or why some of these evenings have developed a type of cult following. They are the real deal.
Our weekly specials (a new one each day) are below:
 steak diane, every monday evening
the original red door inn steak diane! 6oz filet mignon medallion. served with mushroom marsala sauce, celery and button mushrooms. Victor approved! available monday evening only after 4pm. 17.75
 fish tacos, every tuesday all day
soft flour tortillas filled with panko crusted tilapia, red cabbage, chipotle mayonnaise and mango pineapple black bean salsa
3 for 7.75 or 2.75 each
weiner schnitzel, every wednesday evening
veal cutlet lightly floured and sauteed, served with veal demi glaze, spaetzel and roasted asparagus. available wednesday evening only after 4pm. 12.75
 "burger me" every thursday all day
choose any microbrew or bottled beer to accompany a different and enticing burger every week. served with a heaping plate of our housemade fries. all for 10.00.
(see this week's creative concoction above)
 oscar sunday! every sunday, all day!
every sunday is oscar sunday. choose from the following oscars: new york strip, veal, chicken, grouper or portobello mushroom. Top your choice with asparagus, lump crab and béarnaise sauce.
12.75 each
|
|
"Like" us on Facebook and be the first to know about
food specials, drinks, and MORE!
|
|
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. True or False: Research suggests taste sensitivity is genetic and ranges in individuals from nontasters to supertasters.
2. What round-bottomed pan, traditionally made of carbon steel, is designed for quickly cooking small pieces of food over high heat?
3. What is the time limit for holding perishable foods at "danger zone" temperatures of 40° to 140° F?
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. Which kind of seafood is certified by the GAA for best practices: farmed or wild-caught seafood? .............farmed
2. What underground-grown spice is used fresh, grated, juiced, sliced, chopped, and shredded in Asian cuisines? ..............ginger
3. Who joked at a fundraising event, "I have to shoot and catch a lot of my organic food before I eat it?" .............Sarah Palin
Last Week's Winner: ...................Barbara Cooper
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
