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

Three new restaurants opened last week in Kankakee.

Savannah’s, a Southern bistro and coffee house, opened Saturday. It’s located at 2005 W. Court St. in Kankakee, in the space formerly occupied by Devon’s Bakery and Cafe. The menu includes a BBBLT (bacon, bacon, bacon, lettuce and tomato) and a Kentucky hot brown sandwich, which is a classic Southern dish made of shaved ham and turkey that’s topped with tomato, bacon and cheese sauce. There are also paninis, wraps, soups and an 8-foot salad bar. If you save room for dessert, your choices include bread pudding, s’more brulee, chocolate bourbon pecan pie, strawberry shortcake, and apple or peach oatmeal crisp. Wash it all down with a glass of sweet tea, a smoothie or coffee. Nothing on the menu costs more than $7.

The owners originally planned on opening only for lunch and dinner, but they’ve been persuaded by lots of folks who like their morning coffee to open at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday. They’ll just offer coffee and some pastries until 10 a.m., when the full menu will be available. The drive-through is not open, but it could open eventually.

Savannah’s hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. They are closed Sunday. The phone number is (815) 304-5372.

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El Mexicano opened Friday at 503 Riverstone Parkway, Suite 201, in Kankakee. It’s in the RiverStone development at Exit 308, in between the Dollar Tree and a U.S. Cellular store, which are in a strip mall in between Walmart and the Hilton Garden Inn. Inside you’ll find colorful decor, unique tabletops and chairs, plenty of booths for seating, and a full bar in the back. I’ve posted photos on my blog (blogs.i57Life.com/dining) if you would like to see them.

This is the third El Mexicano restaurant for the owners, who also own locations in Fairfield, Ill., and Kentucky.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Their phone number is (815) 933-5426. (Thanks to a reader named Terry for that tip.)

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A third restaurant, Magic Pizza, has reportedly opened at the corner of Station and Wall streets in Kankakee. However, they weren’t open when I stopped in on Monday afternoon. I’ll share more details when I have them.

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Aquinas Catholic Academy’s annual cookie walk is Saturday from 1 to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to noon. A variety of holiday cookies, candies and breads will be sold for $5 per pound in the school cafeteria. Aquinas is at 366 E. Hickory St. in Kankakee.

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On Dec. 25, enjoy food, family and friends at the 15th annual Christmas Day Dinner. The holiday feast will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at eight locations throughout the area. The intent is to bring together people who would otherwise spend the holiday alone, so carry-outs are not available. Reservations are required. Please call (815) 295-3804, Monday through Friday, by Dec. 23. The locations are: Bourbonnais: Central Christian Church; Bradley: Quality Inn & Suites; Grant Park: Community Center; Kankakee: Civic Auditorium, Lisieux Pastoral Center; Manteno: Leo Hassett Center; Momence: Community Center; and St. Anne: Northlake Villa Senior Housing. There is no cost to the meal, which is catered by La Villetta restaurant, organized by the fine folks at Christmas Day, Inc., and made possible by the financial support of many area businesses and an annual golf outing fundraiser.

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If you’re a restaurant that will be open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, please contact me at (815) 937-3374 or drenckens@daily-journal.com. I’ll be publishing a list in my column next week.

Denise Renckens Olszewski lives in Bourbonnais with her husband, Brendan, and 8-month-old son, Grady. He loves food, too, especially the kind he can grab and put in his mouth himself.

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