Sunday, August 12, 2007

Leonardo's, Peoria

Just kidding. They closed, very secretively, as discussed on the Peoria Pundit (and in the Journal Star).

Bunch of crap. I hope the employees get their paychecks, and I hope the owner, Michael LaHood, brother of representative Ray LaHood, finds a way to pay his workers. It is just the most careless thing to do. I hope it gets worked out.

And it's too bad for Leonardo's. Their pizza was, to me, at the very top of Peoria area pizzas, especially their deep-dish. Damn shame.

I am unclear about the ownership situation, as far as how long LaHood has owned it, or if he owned the one down on War Memorial and Wisconsin, as well.

Kinda weird, though. Good business in the original location, they open up a new location out at the Grand Prairie, the old business catches fire, rebuilds, and then closes. Now the new place closes.

And I also noticed a sign over in Washington. They have a LaGondola that offers (offered?) Leonardo's pizza.

WTF? Any answers out there?

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Milford, Michigan

Yes, Katie, I am still alive. Don't you know that I am a world traveler? Always out and about, gallavanting around the globe?

The truth of it is, me and the family just got back from Michigan, up to visit her brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Stefanie. They got themselves a house in Milford, which is about the cutest little town ever. Nice little house, too. Wonderful hosts, didn't complain once with the crying kid or me trodding heavily up and down the stairs with the cell phone low-battery beep going off every minute while they try to sleep.

Not that I expect anyone to rush off in search of this wonderful cuisine, but we had some nice meals up there. Paul made us a couple of homemade pizzas that just rocked. We lunched at a little deli up on the main drag where I had pineapple salsa for the first time, on a "caribbean Philly" sandwich. Dinner at the Milford House, where I enjoyed a nice salad with oranges, dried cherries, and other stuff with a house dressing that was sort of sweet and sour. Big ole burger, too. Good stuff.

A visit to the Big Boy in Chelsea, Michigan, and a quick stop at an Arby's in Ottawa, Illinois, and we were back home, ready to get back into the swing of things.

Highlights of this trip: Getting to see my sis-in-law's mom and sister, Sue and Kim. They are a treat!! Also, there's this big grocery that sells organic stuff and gourmet food. I just wanted to buy about everything!! I ended up buying orange juice made from "blood oranges", pomegranate soda, onion horseradish dip, horseradish pickles, Charles Chips (!!), and a piece of Wensleydale cheese (Cheese, Gromit!!).

Lowlights of this trip: I forgot our birth certificates, so we couldn't go across the river to Canada so I could buy contraband such as Players cigarettes and Cuban cigars. Dammit. Also, we were going to swing by Ypsilanti to hit the Bomber Restaurant. Traffic just got too thick in between Milford and there, so I decided, reluctantly, to save my arteries and head on down the road.

So, yes, Katie, I am still alive. Alive with pleasure!! The pleasure of having driven about 920 of the 1000 miles involved in this trip. But it was good to get away for a bit. I've saved you a horseradish pickle. You're welcome!!

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Donnelly's, Peoria

Lots of talk about this place on the blogosphere in the past few days. Why? Because anyone who's anyone was there at the Blogger Bash. We enjoyed a nice evening of conversation, sometimes four or five at one time. It was a pleasure to meet some of you folks, and I am looking forward to the next Bash!! I was saddened when it was time for me to leave, and then I had to take the ever-bubbly Katie away from the party far too soon. It will be nice to get back to Peoria after my stint out here in Macomb. I like living here, but would rather be back among all my friends and fambly. But the new friends I made last night are just a keystroke away anyhoo!!!

So anyhoo, about Donnelly's. Little Irishy place over off Glen, kind of across from the Lariat Club. It's a dark little pub-like atmosphere with lots of wood walls. It's a bar, so it's smoky, but if you want to eat in a bar, you already know that you're going to have to deal with the smoke. So deal with it!!

Our waitress sure seemed on top of things, ready for refills and always checking up on us. There was a bit of an ordeal with silverware, but it was solved rather quickly. I had the catfish, which was just dandy. I'm used to the southern style of catfish frying, which is usually a cornmeal batter, but this wasn't like that. No matter-it was very tasty, and absolutely huge!! But the star of my dinner was the dill tartar sauce. Wow!! It's DILL-icious!! Hooooo-weeee!! Fries were okay, but they were better dipped in DILL!!!!

Katie had mini-tacos. Hard to screw them up. Dump 'em out of the bag and fry 'em. They did go the extra mile and sprinkle some cheddar cheese on it.

Looking around the table, I heard a bit about an overcooked ribeye steak sandwich, and saw a yummy looking chicken breast sandwich dipped in buffalo sauce (the chicken, not the whole sandwich). Chef Kevin had a "Waterford Chicken" sandwich and onion rings. He had no complaints about it-said it was his fallback meal when he went there.

One more comment-I'm not sure if Donnelly's is the kind of place that makes their own salad dressing, but their balsamic vinaigrette was (searching for another adjective besides tasty....) tasty!!!

Donnelly's-it's bar food that is well worth a visit!!! Donnelly's makes the HIT List!!

And again, to all who showed up for the party, it was a pleasure, and I look forward to future meetings!