Best Bites column (July 9)
Here’s the Best Bites column that appears in the July 9 edition of The Daily Journal:
Tom’s Pizza in Bourbonnais will be shutting its doors today after 12 years in business. According to Tom Klonowski, the owner, the difficult economy took its toll. I wrote about Tom’s Pizza early this year, and I quoted Tom as saying, “If you want to help the recession, order a pizza.” What seemed like a humorous comment then now sounds painfully true.
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Also closed is The Daily Grill in Watseka. A rent increase prompted owner Amber Daily to close at the beginning of May.
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I’ve written about far too many closings in the last few weeks. It’s always sad to see, and it’s a good reminder that we should try to support the many area businesses that are owned and operated by members of our own community. Best wishes to Tom and Amber, as well as the owners of Romer’s Bakery and Devon’s Bakery & Cafe, on their future endeavors.
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One Sixty Four North in Kankakee is holding their summer wine-tasting dinner on July 19. The evening starts at 4 p.m. and will feature 13 different wines paired with multiple appetizers, entrees and desserts. Tickets are $70 per person, or $135 per couple. Call 815-936-0164 for reservations.
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Speaking of One Sixty Four North, they have a banquet room upstairs that will accommodate up to 80 people. It even has its own bar and restrooms.
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Jim & Angie’s Saloon is now open in Kankakee. The bar, which also offers food, is inside the Economy Inn, which is on the west side of U.S. 45/52 on the southern end of town. Jim and Angie Krumwiede own the tavern, thus the name. The saloon opens at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday (so you can start your drinking early!), and at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. It closes at 2 a.m. daily. “Fixin’s” (aka food items) are available from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to 8 p.m. on the weekends. Also, chicken patties, pork tenderloins and pizzas are available during saloon hours. The food is made fresh daily, according to the press release I received. For carry-out, call (815) 932-0990.
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Lydia & Groucho’s Coffee Shop and Deli (150 N. Schuyler Ave.) in Kankakee is now open until 8 p.m. Monday though Friday, and they’ve added daily dinner specials to their menu. For more information or to place an order, call (815) 935-5008.
Denise Renckens works at SNG Internet Innovations, a division of the Small Newspaper Group, and is editor of myKankakeeCounty.com. She can be reached at 815.937.3374 or drenckens@daily-journal.com.


