Best Bites column (July 1, 2010)
Here’s the Best Bites column that appears in today’s paper:
Dunkin’ Donuts opened Monday at 112 E. Bethel Drive in Bourbonnais. Hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Besides doughnuts, they serve coffee, iced tea, bagels and flatbread sandwiches. They also have a drive-through window. The phone is number is (815) 933-7100.
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MiMi’s Maxwell Street opened June 4 at 178 E. North St. in Bradley. It’s a simple menu, with just six items to choose from — a hot dog, Maxwell Street Polish, Maxwell Street Burger, grilled chicken breast, bone-in pork chop or MiMi’s rib snack. They bill themselves as “the best in the world” and, based on the Maxwell Street Polish I had, I wouldn’t argue.
I admit that this was my first experience with the Maxwell Street style, which co-owner LaShawn Porter explained meant that it would be served with grilled onions, but consider me a convert. The perfectly caramelized onions that were heaped on top of the beef Polish, along with some mustard and sport peppers, had me licking my fingers after the last delicious bite.
MiMi’s is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. They’re closed on the weekends. They focus on being “quick, easy and good,” so it’s a good bet if you’re in a hurry. Bring cash, though; they don’t accept anything else.
MiMi’s is located on the south side of North Street, just east of the railroad tracks. To place your order, walk up to the window of the one-room building, which most recently was home to Mr. Giggles Pizza.
The phone number is (815) 293-7871.
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Niro’s Gyros (545 S. Kennedy Drive) in Bradley will be unveiling a new and improved falafel sandwich today and are celebrating by selling them for just $1 all day.
I’m a big fan of falafel, which are kind of like hush puppies but made with ground chickpeas (or sometimes fava beans) instead of ground corn. Herbs and spices are added to the batter, which is formed into balls or patties and fried. At Niro’s, they wrap the falafel in flat bread and add lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles and a tahini sauce, which is made from ground sesame seeds.
While you may not have heard of falafel before, they’re as common in the Middle East and parts of Europe as hamburgers and hot dogs are here. The protein-packed snacks are particularly popular with vegetarians. Niro’s has been serving falafel sandwiches for several months, but they now have invested in more kitchen space and special equipment to allow for a better and more authentic preparation.
Niro’s opens at 10 a.m. daily. They close at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The phone number is (815) 935-1790.
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The Starbucks inside the Bourbonnais Kroger (633 Armour Road) has closed.
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One Sixty Four North (164 N. Schuyler Ave.) in Kankakee will be holding a summer wine-tasting dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 18. Wine will be paired with each of the meal’s six courses. The cost is $75 per person or $140 a couple. Call Heatherann at (815) 936-0164 with questions or to make reservations, which are required due to limited seating.
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Construction is complete on the patio at French Toast (161 E. Bethel Drive) in Bourbonnais. Not only does this offer patrons the ability to dine al fresco, but it offers additional seating at this very popular eatery. French Toast is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Breakfast is served all day; lunch is served after 11 a.m. If you go for lunch, try the Reuben. It’s the best I’ve ever had. The phone number is (815) 929-3733.
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I would like to welcome The Country Mansion (101 W. South St. in Dwight), Miss Karol’s (1140 E. Walnut St. in Watseka) and Oliver’s Bar & Grill (800 N. Kinzie Ave. in Bradley) to Let’s Eat Out, our online menu guide. Go to www.i57life.com/letseatout for downloadable menus, coupons, hours and more.
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Denise Renckens is general manager of online operations for The Daily Journal. She can be reached at (815) 937-3374 or at drenckens@daily-journal.com.
