Thanks to a reader named Jackie, who sent me this yesterday via email regarding The Ray Cafe & Coffee House:

“Have you heard about the new little cafe at the intersection of Rt. 45 and DeSelm Road? Turn West off Rt. 45 at the intersection of the two roads and watch for the brick building on your right. There is usually a sign out front with the daily specials listed.

The kids love it! As you walk in the door you walk onto a footbridge across an indoor pond containing the large goldfish (whatever they are called) on one side and live turtles on the other. The man who owns it has a tropical fish business and the place is filled with large tanks of beautiful tropical fish and other creatures.

The best part is their “blue plate special”. You get your choice of sandwich, soup, drink, chips and a dessert. The tomato tortellini soup is awesome!!

There are all kinds of special coffees and other goodies as well.

Try it — betcha you like it!!!”

I HAVE been to The Ray Cafe, and I DID like it. Great food, and the ambiance is hard to beat. But you have to go looking for it, because it’s not in a location that you just happen to drive by. Here’s what I wrote in my column back in October:

“Speaking of coffee houses, have you been to The Ray Cafe and Coffee House in Manteno? Their address is 150 N. Prairieview Dr., but it’s probably more helpful to say it’s about 1/8 mile west of the Manteno Gas City and the intersection of U.S. Route 45/52 and 9000 N. Road. It’s beautiful — and unusual — inside. The cafe shares space with Aqueous Ideas, a water landscaping company, and there’s a bridge and indoor waterfall as you walk in, and aquariums around the cafe area. The food menu includes seven sandwiches, soup, stuffed pretzels and breakfast sandwiches. Beverage options include “pie shop smoothies” (made with ice cream or low-fat yogurt and topped with whipped cream and graham cracker crumbs), fruit smoothies, frozen frappes and, of course, coffee. The banana cream pie smoothie was delicious. The Ray Cafe is open Monday through Saturday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.”

The weekly Best Bites column that appears in The Daily Journal print edition is now online. You can read it here.

Did you know that you can grab more than a cup of coffee at Aava Java in Bourbonnais?

A bowl of Tortellini Tomato soup at Aava Java

The coffee shop (at 163 E. Bethel Dr.) also offers a bowl of soup and breadstick for $3.50, including tax. Eat in, or ask for it in a Grab ‘n Go bag. They offer two soups daily. The schedule is below.

With the stoplight at Illinois Route 45/52 and Bethel Drive now up and on, it’s much easier to take a left when you leave.

Here’s the daily soup schedule. If you want to make sure it’s current, you can call them at (815) 929-1230.

MONDAY: Chicken Noodle & Broccoli Cheese

TUESDAY: Beef Noodle & Cheese Potato

WEDNESDAY: Chicken Noodle & Tortellini Tomato

THURSDAY: Beef Noodle & Chicken Wild Rice

FRIDAY: Chicken Noodle & Chili with Beans

SATURDAY: Beef Noodle & French Onion

SUNDAY: Beef Noodle & Roasted Chicken & Barley

PJ’s Ice Cream and Coffee in Manteno will begin offering seven new flavors on Tuesday, including dark chocolate, maple walnut and sugar-free apple pie. This is in addition to the more than 50 flavors of ice cream, Sherbet, frozen yogurt and Italian ice that PJ’s already offers.

PJ’s is at 41 W. 2nd St. Winter hours are noon-9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; noon-11 p.m. Friday; 3-10 p.m. Saturday; and 3-9 p.m. Sunday. They’re closed on Monday.

Summer hours, which will kick in around April, are available here.

(Thanks to Paula for sending me that information.)