Today's print column (April 2)
Best Bites appears as a print column every Thursday in The Daily Journal. Here’s what’s in today’s paper:
Best Bites: Now you can get local dining coupons on your cell phone
April 02, 2009, 9:48 am
If you’re like me, and saving money and eating out are high on your “like to do as often as possible” list, I’ve got great news: There’s now an easy way to do both at the same time.
Let’s Eat Out, which launched yesterday, is a new online program that features coupons for local eateries. From the Web site, you can search the available coupons by cuisine type, location of the restaurant, atmosphere and more. When you find a coupon you like, print it out and take it to the restaurant.
If that’s not convenient, use our Mobile Club to get coupons sent to your phone. Text the word EAT to our short code, which is 48534. Every time you send a text message, you’ll receive a coupon from our database.
You can also sign up for the Let’s Eat Out E-mail Club if you want the coupons to be sent to your e-mail in-box.
Special thanks to our debut advertisers: America’s Bistro, Eddie’s Bar & Grill, HoneyBaked Ham and Cafe, JR’s Chicken, Mr. Giggles Pizza, Rondinella’s Italian Imports and Vito’s Pizzeria and Pub.
More coupons will be available as more advertisers join the program and advertisers can change their coupons monthly.
If you have questions about Let’s Eat Out, feel free to contact me at drenckens@daily-journal.com or at (815) 937-3374. If you’re a restaurant interested in participating in this program, please contact Andrew Wheeler at (815) 929-5416.
***
Niro’s Gyros (545 S. Kennedy Dr.) in Bradley now offers delivery to all of Kankakee County for $2. When I stopped in recently, I resisted the temptation to get a gyro and instead tried the veggie pita, one of several meat-free options on their menu. For meat lovers, there are numerous sandwiches, wraps, melts, burgers and Philly cheese options to choose from, in addition to the classic gyros, which come in single, double and triple portions. Niro’s is open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. To order, call (815) 935-1790.
***
Speaking of Greek food, if you’re a fan of Greek-style yogurt, I found some the other day at Kroger. Look in the organic section, which is behind the floral section. Greek-style yogurt is much thicker than other yogurt, and the Fage brand is high in protein and low in sugar. Mix equal parts Greek yogurt and sour cream with some chopped chives for an excellent baked potato topping. Or, add grated and strained cucumber, garlic and salt (and a little fresh lemon juice and dill if you have some) and you’ll have tzatziki sauce, the creamy condiment that makes gyros so darn good.
***
If you’re a restaurant that will be open for Easter brunch, please contact me by Monday and I’ll let readers know in next week’s column.
Denise Renckens, general manager of MyKankakeeCounty.com, is yearning for summer, when she can buy homemade tzatziki (pronounced sot-ZEE-kee) sauce and pita bread at the Kankakee County Farmers Market.
