Here’s a copy of the Best Bites column that appeared in yesterday’s edition of The Daily Journal.

Club Irwin (4460 Main St. in Irwin) has been sold to new owners, who plan to reopen the restaurant by June 1. The sale to John and Linda Naese, of Aroma Park, and Sue Stevenson, of Kankakee, was finalized last week. They are now busy cleaning and remodeling, and hope to reopen as Poppy’s Club Irwin in four to five weeks. They will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and have a full-service bar.

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Aava Java (163 E. Bethel Dr.) in Bourbonnais is closing Friday. Best wishes to owner Anita Speckman and all the staff. You and your wonderful coffee will be missed.

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Thanks to all of you who called, e-mailed and left online comments last week with tips on where to find frog legs. If you read last week’s column, you know that a reader had asked me for help finding the best frog legs in Kankakee County. I didn’t know what to tell him, but lots of you did:

* “The Homestead, hands down,” said a reader named Rob. “They’re fabulous over there.” The Homestead is at 1230 S. East Ave. in Kankakee.

* “I, too, had been on the prowl for frog legs since my husband no longer goes gigging (hunting for frogs),” wrote a reader named Vicky. “(I) finally found some good ‘ns at a little hole-in-the-wall place called Simply Gooood Ribs (yes, this is the way the business spells its name) at 788 E. Court St. in Kankakee. Nicely seasoned, lightly breaded and deep-fried, they are simply scrumptious. No, they don’t taste like chicken. They taste like frog legs! … By the way, their fried catfish is also very tasty!” Simply Gooood Ribs is open daily except Thursday. For carryouts, call (815) 932-3500.

* The Longbranch (2713 N. 1500E Road) in L’Erable has frog legs every Friday and Saturday evening. (Thanks to Kathie for that tip.)

* Ryan’s Pier (112 First St.) in Aroma Park has them on Friday nights. “The couple we were with ordered (them) and loved them,” wrote a reader named Kris. A reader named Steve said they were “delicious!”

* A reader named Ken told me that La Villeta Restaurant (801 W. Broadway Ave.) in Bradley has frog legs periodically, and they’re on the specials’ menu this week. Ken also mentioned that if you’re willing to cook them at home, they are occasionally available frozen at Ultra Foods in Kankakee.

* America’s Bistro (110 Meadowview Center) in Kankakee has them periodically. (Thanks to Bruce for that tip.)

* If you’re near Odell, which is a few minutes south of Dwight, a reader named Carol suggests you try Rentz’s Tap & Dining (210 S. Waupansie St.). They have frog legs on the dinner menu daily.

* Lastly, Kankakee VFW Post 2857 (756 W. Jeffery St.) has them as a special about once a month. The next all-you-can-eat frog leg dinner will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 30. The cost will be $12.99.

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Speaking of the Kankakee VFW, a reader named Alma contacted me recently to recommend their breakfast. The post is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The breakfast menu includes more than 10 specials for $2.99, and the lunch menu has more than 10 specials for $3.99. The VFW also has several all-you-can-eat specials on the weekends. On Saturdays, it’s all-you-can-eat pancakes or French toast; Sundays is all-you-can-eat biscuits and gravy; and on Friday nights, they have all-you-can-eat dinners from 4 to 8 p.m. For more information, call (815) 939-2431.

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Congrats to BrickStone Restaurant & Brewery for winning the i57life.com Pub Madness contest! BrickStone was one of 40 bars vying for online votes from fans and the title of best local pub. Other big winners were Oliver’s Bar & Grill (northeast conference champion), Eddie’s Bar & Grill (southwest conference champion) and River Bend Bar & Grill (southeast conference champion).

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Saturday is the first day of the Kankakee County Farmers Market, which is at the southwest corner of Schuyler Avenue and Merchant Street in Kankakee. Hours are 8 a.m. to noon. There will be plants, flowers, cheese, baked goods and some produce.

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On Sunday, there will be a pork chop dinner from noon to 4 p.m. at the Aroma Park Boat Club. Dinners include two pork chops, a baked potato, salad, sides, a beverage and a dessert. The cost is $10, or $5 for a children’s meal, and carryout is available. The annual Spring Fest fundraiser is hosted by American Lutheran Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, and the eighth-grade class at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church School. Call (815) 530-0434 for more information.

Denise Renckens Olszewski lives in Bourbonnais with her husband, Brendan, and son, Grady, who celebrated his first birthday on Tuesday. She can be reached at (815) 937-3374 or at drenckens@daily-journal.com.

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