A reader named Ken emailed me recently to tell me about the Watseka Theatre. Here’s what he said:

“It is newly restored and a terrific nostalgic experience. On Friday nights, they serve a high-end menu (prime rib, steaks, etc.) and have live entertainment. On Saturday nights, they offer dinner and a movie for $10.”

When Ken went on a recent Saturday with his wife and another couple, the dinner “was a pork loin sandwich (very tasty), potato salad, and homemade dessert, and … (the) movie was a 1937 Cary Grant comedy.”

I didn’t realize the theater offered dining, so I did a little research, and here’s what I learned:

The dining area inside the theater is called The Club Café, and it celebrated its grand opening on May 22.

On Fridays, there’s happy hour from 5 to 6 p.m., with dinner served from 5:30 p.m. until midnight or until the last guests have left, whichever comes first. There’s also live music every Friday, ranging in style from jazz to pop to folk.

The menu changes from week to week, and you’re encouraged to “just show up and see what we have in store for you to please your taste buds,” according to the theater’s Web site. Sample entrees include lamb chops, rock cornish game hen with apricot brown sugar sauce, Tuscan chicken with white wine cream sauce, or stuffed pork chops. Most of the meats are grilled, and the vegetables are organic.

Debra Liddell, of Watseka, does all the cooking and baking with her husband, Charles Gomez. It’s “cooking from our heart,” she said.

Debra has a few staples on the menu, including a lasagna that she makes out of homemade crepes. She also makes all the desserts from scratch, including a triple chocolate molten lava cake.

On Saturday evenings, when the theater isn’t booked for a special event, there’s “food and a flick” for $10. These dinners are much more casual, and the movie is an old one that’s not copyrighted.

If you are planning a visit to the Watseka Theatre and The Club Café, you are encouraged to confirm the schedule. Their number is (815) 993-6585, their email is info@watsekatheatre.com, and they’re on the Web at watsekatheatre.com

I used the To Your Door delivery service for the first time on Friday, and wow, was I impressed. I placed an order at La Siesta in Bradley at 8 p.m. and To Your Door got it to my house in Bourbonnais in 20 minutes flat. Plus, the delivery fee was only $5.

To Your Door days they deliver anything anywhere. When I called La Siesta they sounded confused when I asked them if they used the service, but I just gave them my name, said the order was for pickup, and then called To Your Door.

I love that I can get whatever I’m craving delivered, regardless of whether the restaurant offers delivery or not. Also, the delivery person wasn’t very surprised when I answered the door with an infant in my arms, as I think busy moms particularly value the service. The nice woman who came to my house also told me they get lots of calls from pregnant women with Dairy Queen cravings!

Service is available from 10 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.

Call them at (815) 614-3456.

Dinner by Design (1230 N. Convent St.) in Bourbonnais now sells lunch four days a week.

The made-to-order meals are available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The lunches cost $5.50, and you can add dessert for $1.50. To ensure your order is ready when you get there, call 30 minutes ahead.

The menu options are:

Buffalo Turkey Burger – Served on a kaiser roll with buffalo & bleu cheese sauces with a side of roasted red potatoes.

Parmesan Herb Chicken Sandwich – Boneless chicken breast with a crunchy bread coating on a bun with a side of roasted red potatoes.

Stuffed Bacon & Cheese Burger - Gourmet burger stuffed with bacon and cheddar cheese with a side of roasted red potatoes.

California Chicken Wrap – All white meat with raisins & walnuts in a lite, creamy sauce with a side of veggies.

Thai Chicken Pasta Salad – Chicken breast, sugar snap peas, bell pepper, shredded carrot and pasta noodles tossed with homemade sesame-peanut dressing and served over romaine lettuce with a LaBrea roll on the side.

Caesar Salad with Parmesan Herb Crusted Chicken – Chunks of flavorful chicken over romaine lettuce with our homemade Caesar dressing. With a side of garlic toast.

To order, call (815) 802-2003 or download the order form.

My mom made split pea soup when I was a kid, and while I don’t remember if I was a fan of the often-disliked dish then, I know I am now.

And to make good split pea soup you need a ham bone. That limited my opportunities to make it to once or twice a year, so I was excited to discover that HoneyBaked Ham and Cafe in Bourbonnais sells frozen ham bones for just $5.

I tried one the other day and it was excellent. I was a little worried that it would be sweet, but it wasn’t, and I was thrilled when I was able to pull a generous 4 cups of meat off the bone once it had cooked in the slow-cooker for a few hours.

So if you ever need a ham bone for a soup recipe, HoneyBaked is super-convenient and a great deal.

One of my favorite things to do is help spread the word about “secret” places to grab a meal, and here’s one that’s long overdue: Country Fruit Market, which includes Cakes ‘N Lace Bakery and Country Florals and Gifts, has a deli counter that’s open seven days a week.

Hours for the store and deli are both 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The store is at 1695 S. Schuyler Ave. in Kankakee, making it one of the few places to grab food once you head south over the river.

The menu features a variety of sandwiches, from the basic (turkey, ham or roast beef), to traditional (Italian Beef and barbecue pork), to subs and clubs. They also serve hot dogs, Polish sausage, tamales, daily specials, soups and salads.

Owned by Dick and Sharon Panozzo, the store is an eclectic mix of edible, smell-able and plant-able items, plus home decor and gift items. Besides the deli, notable offerings in the edible category include fresh and dried fruit, a large selection of cheeses, smoked salmon, gourmet jellies, and confections. In the latter category, I recommend the chocolate-covered cashew crunch, which tastes very much like English toffee.

If you’ve never been to Country Fruit Market, Sunday (April 19) would be a great day to go, as that’s the annual spring open house. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be an orchestra, petting zoo, barbecue and samples of their food products. You can also stock up on garden goodies, of course.

The Library Bar in Bourbonnais is now open.

Formerly known as R.D.’s, the bar is at the northwest corner of Convent and Illinois Route 102.

Owners Mike Brooks, Brent Manau and Scott Irps purchased the building in August and have been operating it since then. It was closed for the last few weeks while undergoing remodeling and officially reopened on Saturday. Outside, new signs and awnings are up. Interior improvements include a new bar and cabinetry, new tile floor, new stone accents, T.V.s and updated restrooms.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week. The address is 131 E. Marsile St. The phone number is (815) 928-9143.

Here’s a photo of the new exterior:

The Library Bar (exterior)

And the new interior:

The Library Bar (interior)

Here’s what it used to look like:

Someone with a Snuggie fettish and a sense of humor has organized a Snuggie Pub Crawl in Chicago. It will be held Saturday, April 18, in Lincoln Park.

That might seem like a long way off, but according to the pub crawl’s official Web site (yes, there is one), if you don’t yet have a Snuggle, you must place your order today to guarantee delivery by the 18th.

The Web site also notes that “The date has been changed from March 21st to allow for additional time for our guests to acquire their Snuggies™ and for the bars to prepare for our volume.”

(Personally, I suspect the makers of the Snuggie hatched this plan … but brilliant strategy on their part.)

If anyone from the area goes, make sure you take photos and post them to MyKankakeeCounty.com.

Edible Arrangements, a business that sells edible fruit arrangements, may still be coming to the area.

Noreen Hansbrough, who owns the Edible Arrangements franchise in Homewood, had planned to open in Bourbonnais last fall, but the bad economy and challenges in the bank lending market put those plans on hold. Still, Hansbrough says the franchise fee is paid and she hopes to open here in early summer. Until then, you can place your order with the Homewood store and they will deliver to the area.

To Your Door is now offering delivery of “anything from anywhere to everywhere.”

Working primarily as a delivery service for area restaurants that don’t otherwise offer it, To Your Door will pick up your order and bring it to your home or office. To place your food order, either call the restaurant directly and tell them To Your Door will be picking it up, or ask To Your Door to place the order for you. The charge is $3 per order for fast-food restaurants and $5 for restaurants where your food is cooked to order, which means the delivery driver must wait for it. The only restaurants not participating in this service are those that already offer delivery.

To Your Door also offers grocery service. Give them your list, specify a store if you have a preference, and they will do your shopping and deliver the groceries to you. The cost ranges from $3 to $20, depending on how many items are on your list. You can place your order by phone or by emailing your list to  toyourdoorinc@hotmail.com.

Here’s the phone number to stick on the fridge: (815) 614-3456.

Delivery is available from 10 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.

If you live outside of Kankakee, Bradley or Bourbonnais, expect to pay a little more than the prices quoted above. The delivery fee for surrounding areas is $1 per mile from the place of pick-up.

While I’m sure many of us appreciate the convenience of food and grocery delivery, this service is particularly valuable to those who have trouble getting to the store — or the pharmacy or any other similar business, for that matter. If you have elderly family members, consider sharing this information with them.

To Your Door is working on their Web site, www.toyourdoorinc.com, and hope to have it completed early next month. Jeff Smith, the owner of the business, says the site will feature menus for area restaurants and allow for online ordering.

Thanks to a reader named Kim for that tip. She used To Your Door recently and said they had “terrific service.” Her order from Cracker Barrel in Bourbonnais was still hot when it was delivered to her in Kankakee, she said.

Brandon Casey’s on Illinois Route 50 in Bradley closed early this year, and there’s finally a “Sold” sticker on the For Sale sign out front. I’ve heard it was purchased by a church, though, so I’m not expecting another restaurant or bar.

Now if someone would just clear off the marquee, which for the past 11 months has been promoting a DJ that was there in January …