Asbury United Methodist Church’s 3rd annual International Taste Night will be held April 15 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Attendees can sample foods from many different countries. The cost is 25 cents for a small taste or 50 cents for a large taste. Proceeds benefit United Methodist Women missions.

Asbury United Methodist Church is at 196 S. Harrison Ave. in Kankakee, just east of the Kankakee County Courthouse. It is handicap accessible. For more information, call the church office at (815) 933-4408.

Today (Monday, March 28) is Mason Day at Schoop’s in Bourbonnais.

From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., a portion of your purchase will be donated to support the medical needs of Mason Saldana, son of area native David Saldana and his wife, Nancy. According to Facebook, “Mason is just shy of three years of age, and was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) last September. He has a three year treatment journey ahead.”

Schoop’s is at 515 S. Main St.

Many restaurants are planning special offerings for St. Patrick’s Day, and I’ve received details on a few of them. Here they are:

• Anthony’s Pizzeria in Manteno will be serving corned beef and cabbage, plus green beer, all day on Thursday.

• Carlo’s Family Restaurant in Kankakee is offering a corned beef and cabbage dinner from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Thursday through Sunday, Jimmy Jo’s BBQ in Bourbonnais will be offering smoked corned beef accompanied by cabbage, baby red potatoes and baby carrots for $9.99. They will also have bottles of Guinness and Harp and be selling the corned beef by the pound.

• JR’s Chicken will be serving corned beef and cabbage dinners and corned beef sandwiches. 

• Thursday through Sunday, Tucci’s in Bourbonnais will be serving a corned beef dinner and corned beef on rye.

A reader named Delma called me yesterday to ask about the excellent corned beef dinner that’s held every year in Campus, generally the Sunday before St. Patrick’s Day. Here’s what I was able to find out:

“The annual Sacred Heart Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner will be held at the Sacred Heart Parish Hall in Campus, this Sunday, March 13, from 2-6pm. Adults $9, 12-under $3 for all you can eat corned beef, cabbage, beets, potatoes, carrots and our famous mustard sauce. Homemade cakes will also be served.  Take outs are available and corned beef sold by the pound while supplies last.”

Sacred Heart Church is at 290 Elm St. To get there, take Illinois 17 almost to Dwight, turn left onto N. 3300 E. Road, and drive south for 5 miles into Campus.

Today is the last Kankakee Winter Market for the year. It will resume Jan. 8 and continue through March 26.

The market is at 150 N. Indiana Ave. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

If you would like to eat out on Christmas Day, here are the restaurants I know of that will be open:

– Fran’s on 17 (7096 W. Rt 17) in Kankakee will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Christmas Day, and also New Year’s Day. (Added 12-20-10)

– Gold Bowl Buffet (1248 N. Kennedy Drive) in Kankakee will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

– Great Wall in Kankakee will be open. (Added 12-16-10)

– The Herscher Restaurant & Pub (171 S. Main St.) in Herscher will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. serving from their regular menu. Call (815) 426-2200 for more information.

– Denny’s (1303 N. state Route 50) in Bourbonnais will be open 24 hours as always.

– The Hilton Garden Inn (455 Riverstone Parkway) in Kankakee will be serving a traditional Christmas meal including ham, turkey and roast beef with all the trimmings from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $16.95 for adults and 11.95 for children. Reservations are apppreciated at (815) 932-4444.

– The Homestead (1230 S. East Ave.) in Kankakee will be open from 12:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. Prime rib will be offered, as well as everything from the regular menu and children’s menu. Call (815) 933-6214 for reservations.

– Tuscany Steak And Pasta House in Manteno will be offering Christmas Day brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The buffet-style meal costs $13.99 per person or $8.99 for kids 12 and under. Call (815) 468-9810 for
reservations.

Also, in case you missed this information last week, Christmas Day, Inc. will be serving a free dinner on Dec. 25. It’s a chance for anyone who might otherwise spend the holiday alone to come out and enjoy food and fellowship on Christmas Day. The holiday meal, which is catered by La Villetta restaurant, will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at eight locations throughout the area. Please call the toll-free reservation line at (815) 295-1610 through Dec. 23 for locations and reservations, which are required.

Christmas Day, Inc. is once again serving a free Christmas dinner on Dec. 25. It’s a chance for anyone who might otherwise spend the holiday alone to come out and  enjoy food and fellowship on Christmas Day.

The holiday meal, which is catered by La Villetta restaurant, will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at eight locations throughout the area. There is no cost to the meal, but reservations are required. Please call the toll-free reservation line at (815) 295-1610 until Dec. 23. This helps ensure that each location is properly prepared.

The meal includes ham, turkey, stuffing, several other side dishes, salad and pie. The intent is to bring together people who would otherwise spend the holiday alone, so carry-outs are not available.

The eight locations are:

Bourbonnais:
Central Christian Church
310 NW Main Street
(815) 295-1610

Bradley:
Quality Inn & Suites
800 N. Kinzie Avenue (Rt. 50)
(815) 295-1610

Grant Park:
Community Center
209 W. Dixie Highway
815-465-6531

Kankakee:
Civic Auditorium
8th & W. Charles Street
(815) 295-1610

Lisieux Pastoral Center
371 N. St. Joseph Avenue
815-929-9158

Manteno:
Leo Hassett Center
211 N. Main Street
815-468-3403

Momence:
Community Center
125 W. Gladiolus Street
815-472-2001

St. Anne:
Northlake Villa Senior Housing
539 W. Dewey Street
(815) 295-1610

If you would like to go out for Thanksgiving dinner, or at least have someone else help with the cooking, here are businesses that I know will be open or fulfilling pick-up orders on Thanksgiving Day:

* America’s Bistro (110 Meadowview Center) in Kankakee will be serving dinner from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The menu includes all the traditional Thanksgiving fare, including dessert. If you have five or more diners at one table, you will be served your own turkey and all the trimmings, and any leftovers will be boxed up for you. The cost is $17.95 per person. Reservations are required. Call (815) 932-6795.

* The Bennett-Curtis House (302 W. Taylor St.) in Grant Park will be serving Thanksgiving dinner from noon to 6 p.m. Diners have a choice of turkey, ham or prime rib. The meal also includes an appetizer, choice of soup or salad and several sides. The cost is $18.95 for turkey or ham and $24.95 for prime rib. Reservations are required. Call (815) 465-2288.

* Bull’s Pit Smoked BBQ (125 W. Station) in Kankakee is offering whole smoked turkeys and smoked boneless/skinless breasts, as well as everything they regularly offer, for pickup. The order deadline is 2 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 23). Orders may be picked up at either 11 a.m. or 4 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. For more information, call them at (815) 932-2399 or visit their Facebook page.

* The Country Mansion (101 W. South St.) in Dwight will be serving a Thanksgiving buffet from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost is $19.50 for adults, $16.50 for seniors 60 and over, $9 for children ages 7 to 12, and $6.75 for children 6 and under. Coffee, tea, soda and dessert are included. Reservations are required. Call (800) 892-5969

* Coyote Canyon (1359 Locke Drive) in Bourbonais will be serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner buffet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The price is $10.29 for adults and $9.29 for seniors. In addition to the traditional favorites, the buffet will also include steak.

* Denny’s (1303 N. state Route 50) in Bourbonnais will be open 24 hours as always.

* The Great American Grill, inside the Hilton Garden Inn in Kankakee, will be serving a buffet meal from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $16.95 for adults, $10.95 for children ages 4 to 12, and free for children under aged 4. Coffee or tea and dessert are included. Alcoholic beverages are available at an additional cost. Reservations are recommended. Call (815) 932-4444.

• The Herscher Restaurant and Pub (171 S. Main) in Herscher will be open from 6 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. They will also be offering a free turkey dinner from noon to 3 p.m. Call (815) 426-2200 for more information.

* The Homestead (1230 S. East Ave.) in Kankakee will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving. The full menu will be available. Call (815) 933-6214.

* Jimmy Jo’s BBQ (665 N. Convent St.) in Bourbonnais will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for pre-ordered catering orders only. To order a whole smoked turkey, turkey breast, ham, brisket or pulled pork, call (815) 933-7500.

* La Villetta Restaurant (801 W. Broadway) in Bradley is offering both a Thanksgiving buffet and Thanksgiving dinners to go. To-go orders are hot and ready to serve when you pick them up; they serve either 4 to 6 or 10 to 12 people. The Thanksgiving buffet is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $13.99 per adult, $6.99 per child 10 and under, and free for children 3 and under. Dessert and soft drinks are included. Seating is limited, so reservations are recommended. To place an order or make a reservation, contact La Villetta at (815) 939-4960, email them at lavilletta@att.net or go online to lavillettarestaurant.com. You can also get more details on their Facebook page.

* Old Route 66 Family Restaurant (105 S. Old Route 66) in Dwight will be open from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. They will be serving the regular menu, as well as holiday favorites. Reservations for large groups would be helpful. Call (815) 584-2920.

Also, The Pie Lady (a.k.a. Amy Wagner), a regular vendor at the Kankakee Farmers Market, is taking orders through Thursday (Nov. 18) for holiday pies. They will be available for pickup on Wednesday (Nov. 24) from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Community Resource Center (150 N. Indiana Ave.) in Kankakee. Pies are $14 except for pecan, which is $15. To place an order, call Amy at (815) 295-7226 or email her at flakeybakers@gmail.com.

And Southside Meats (423 E. Indiana Ave.) in Momence is taking orders for Rosebud Farm turkeys & turkey breasts, as well as Amish and Mickelberry hams. Call them at (815) 472-2223.

If you know of any restaurants that I missed, please let me know. My email is drenckens@daily-journal.com and my phone is (815) 937-3374.

Please see comments below for additional information.

FroYo Creations (509 N. Convent St.) in Bourbonnais will be celebrating its one-year anniversary on Nov. 27 with hourly giveaways and a grand prize drawing at 8 p.m.

“FroYo” is a play on “frozen yogurt.” There are six flavors of frozen yogurt available daily, and a toppings bar full of fruit, candy and other toppings to add to your creation. Smoothies are also available, and nutritional information is available for everything. Also, military & veteran discounts are available.

FroYo opens at 11 a.m. daily. They close at 9 p.m. daily except Saturday, when they’re open until 10 p.m.

The next fish boil at the X-Line Sportsman’s Club in Kankakee will be Oct. 15.

The dinners are served from 6 to 8 p.m. Cost is $11 for adults, $10 for seniors, $7 for kids ages 7 to 12, and free for kids younger than 7.

X-Line, which is 3 miles east of Illinois Route 50 on Grinnell Road, holds the dinners the first and third Fridays of the month September through May. Future fish boils are scheduled for Nov. 5 and 19, Jan. 7 and 21, Feb. 4 and 18, March 4 and 18, April 1 and 15, and May 6 and 20.