Here’s the Best Bites column that appears in today’s edition of The Daily Journal.

Squeaky’s BBQ opened Friday at 1633 E. Court St. in Kankakee. They offer barbecued ribs, chicken, fish and hamburgers. Dining is available inside, and there are plans to add picnic tables for outdoor seating. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday. To order, call (815) 614-3119.

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The Daily Grind in Momence will close its doors for the last time at 11 a.m. on Saturday. The coffee shop had been open for nearly four years at 110 W. Washington St. It will be missed by many regulars, including a customer named David, who brought this news to my attention.

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Congrats to Tony Morrical from the Kankakee Country Club. Morrical and assistant Gretchen Jordan won the annual Pro Chef Challenge, which was held Aug. 8 at the Kankakee County Farmers Market. They prepared a three-course meal from ingredients purchased that morning from market vendors. The winning meal consisted of Fresh Mozzarella Italian Pinwheels made with perfectly seasoned tomatoes, a fresh pasta dish with chicken sausage, and for dessert, grilled puff pastry with peaches and mascarpone cheese.

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If you think you could make a unique and great-tasting meal from market ingredients, there’s still time to sign up for the Amateur Chef Challenge, which will be held Saturday. Just like the Pro Chef Challenge, at 8 a.m. each team will receive $50 to shop for ingredients, and they will present their creations to a panel of judges, myself included, at 11 a.m. The winner will take home $100. If you would like to participate, contact Bill Yohnka at (815) 933-0462 or at kankakeechamber@gmail.com.

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Have you ever had a Cow in a Blanket? It’s new and only available on Sundays at PJ’s Ice Cream & Coffee in Manteno. I’m told it’s a big scoop of your favorite ice cream on top of a warm pancake drizzled with flavored syrup. Also, starting on Tuesday, PJ’s (41 W. Second St.) will open at 8 a.m. so moms (or dads) can stop in and enjoy a cup of coffee after dropping the kids off at school.

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Earlier this month the Best Bites blog celebrated two milestones. On Aug. 4, I made my 300th post, and on Aug. 8, the blog turned two years old. Nearly everything you read in this column is posted on the blog first, which means it’s a good source for the latest news, and it’s also a two-year archive of everything that has appeared in this column. You can find the blog at www.myKankakeeCounty.com/blogs/dining. Thanks to all my faithful (and future) online readers!

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As I write this, Schoop’s in Bourbonnais and Jimmy John’s in Manteno are getting very close to opening. Check the blog for the latest information.

Best Bites appears on Thursdays in The Daily Journal. Denise can be reached at (815) 937-3374 or at drenckens@daily-journal.com.

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