Best Bites column (Aug. 19, 2010)
Here’s the Best Bites column that appears in today’s edition of The Daily Journal:
I’m a huge fan of Mexican food, especially tacos. I like mine the traditional way, with meat (pork is my favorite) wrapped in corn tortillas and topped with diced onions and cilantro. Last week I discovered two new tacos that I recommend trying. The first was at Jimmy Jo’s BBQ (665 N. Convent St.) in Bourbonnais. I wasn’t expecting to see tacos on the menu when I walked in, but they’ve been offering pulled pork and beef brisket tacos for more than a month. I tried one of each and both were excellent. They come topped with tomato and lettuce, and either pico de gallo, red sauce or green sauce. Also available are sour cream and guacamole, which is particularly good on the pork taco.
The other tacos I enjoyed were the new Cantina tacos at Taco Bell. They’re served the traditional way that I like and even come with a fresh lime wedge. Choose from chicken, steak or carnitas (shredded pork). In addition to tasting good, these tacos are also waistline friendly. The steak Cantina taco is 160 calories, the chicken taco is 170 calories and the carnitas taco is 200 calories.
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Speaking of tacos, one of the food vendors at last weekend’s Merchant Street MusicFest in Kankakee was Martinez Tacos. The once-popular restaurant was at 348 E. Station St. until it closed several years ago. I was finally able to enjoy one of the burritos that I had heard so much about.
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Here are a few September events for your calendar:
* The Taste of Kankakee County will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3, in an area adjacent to the Kankakee Boat Club (1600 Cobb Blvd.). The new event is one of the festivities surrounding the Power Boat Nationals boat races that will once again be held Labor Day weekend. Admittance to the Taste costs $15 per person or $5 for kids under 12 and includes two beverages and food samples from all the vendors. Tickets are available at the event or in advance at the Kankakee Valley Park District or the Holiday Inn Express at Northfield Square mall. Also that evening, the boats will be conducting test runs until 5:30 p.m., the band Bakersfield will perform from 5 to 8:30 p.m., a beer tent and the boat club will be open, and rides in a two-seater racing boat will be raffled off. Vendors are still invited to join. For more information, call (815) 955-7211.
* The 50th annual Limestone Fire Department Chicken BBQ will be held Saturday, Sept. 11, from noon to 7 p.m. Dinners are carry-out only. The cost is $8, or $6 for a children’s dinner. Tickets are available at the door or by calling the fire department at (815) 932-4664.
* The 75th annual Greek Festival will be held Sunday, Sept. 12, from noon to 7 p.m. Dinners include your choice of Greek style shish-ka-bob or chicken, plus several sides. Numerous homemade Greek pastries and sweets, including the classic baklava, are available for sale. The festival is held at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, which is at 296 N. Washington Ave. in Kankakee.
* The fourth annual Half Paddy Festival will be held Sept. 17-18 (halfway to St. Patrick’s Day) at St. Patrick’s Church in Kankakee. The corned beef dinner will be held Saturday evening following the 4 p.m. Blue Mass, which is held to honor area firefighters and law enforcement personnel. The church is at 428 S. Indiana Ave. For more information and a full schedule of events, go to www.halfpaddy.com or call the church at (815) 932-6716.
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Denise Renckens Olszewski is general manager of online operations for The Daily Journal. She can be reached at (815) 937-3374 or at drenckens@daily-journal.com.
