Sunny Sarasota: Beautiful beaches, city life, and food options

(SARASOTA, FL.) — In 2020, I was at a crossroads in my career.

In the span of two months, I interviewed for TV anchor and reporter jobs at stations from the Northern U.S., to the Midwest, to sunny Sarasota, Florida.

Let’s go back even another 2 years, to spring 2018. I was a senior in college and finishing up my undergraduate degree in Broadcast Journalism. I was interviewing and applying left and right, getting a lot of “no,” “maybe so,” and “not right now” emails.

If you asked me during that time what my top markets were that I REALLY wanted to work in, here’s how I would have responded:

1: Sarasota, Florida

2: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Two beautiful locations, two different environments to why I wanted to live there.

But I chose to come to the station I interned at in college in Peoria, Illinois. Funny enough, the couple of days after I accepted the Peoria job, both Sarasota and Colorado Springs called wanting to interview me and offer a job. I believe life turned out how it was supposed to.

So now fast forward back to winter 2020, and I’m on a flight down to Sarasota, Florida to interview for a weekend anchor gig. It’s beautiful. It’s warm. It’s perfect. It was also late February, when the first COVID cases were appearing in the United States. The day of my interview? The first COVID case in Sarasota.

So, I did my interview as a recording in the studio that the manager would look at later, and the following day I continued my interview with the General Manager and Assistant News Director.

Three weeks later, I received the official job offer to move to Sarasota, Florida – the market of my dreams. But by then, COVID-19 was spreading quickly and there was uncertainty about lockdowns or “stay at home orders” coming soon. So, I declined.

Present day, I’ve now been in Peoria for six years, have a beautiful wife and kid, two jobs, and life is good! So when Christmas 2023 was coming up and Rachel said she didn’t want any “physical gifts,” but that she wanted to travel, I thought Sarasota would be a good place.

High Quality Beaches:

#1: Siesta Beach

It’s no secret Florida, sunshine and beaches go hand-in-hand. Sarasota is home to one of the consistently top-ranked beaches in all of America, Siesta Beach (also commonly referred to as Siesta Key).

It was the perfect mix of clouds overhead to provide some relief, and sunshine on our first beach day in Sarasota. The sands were pristine, white and soft underneath our feet. The water was chilly, as it was early March, but still fun to go out and get our feet wet.

Bennett loved the bucket of water game, we probably filled his bucket dozens of times and he just kept mixing it with the sand and letting his imagination run wild. He also loved all the seagulls around! He wanted to chase them everywhere.

It was a weekday, but the beach was not too crowded at all and we had plenty of space. Another great thing about Siesta Beach? The huge playground right outside the beach area. Bennett was a little too young to really enjoy it, but that’d be a great, more shaded area to take older kids who are tired of the heat. Plus – there’s a beach bar and grill right above.

#2: North Lido Beach

I may have to give Lido Beach my favorite beach of Sarasota, simply because the walk out to the water at Siesta Beach is pretty long. We didn’t pack too heavy, but a cooler backpack full of snacks and drinks, a beach tent, and a toddler made for a tougher walk. Lido Beach, on the other hand, was a much shorter walk, but still had the amazing soft, white sand. We had another beautiful day of sunshine, blue skies and just a little bit of clouds this time. I took Bennett out into the very shallow water, and he warmed up to it, but he still wasn’t the biggest fan.

#3: Turtle Beach

Say goodbye to the soft, white sands commonly seen across Sarasota, and say hello to the gray sand. While it was still very soft, this sand got everywhere in our tent and bags. We didn’t last long on this beach, sadly, due to an upset stomach from dinner the night before. It was also our last full day in Sarasota, which was a huge bummer!

Before I get to the food (since I just mentioned a bad dinner we had, which FYI I will not be writing about on this blog), let’s talk about Circus Park!

Parents, if you head to Sarasota with your kiddos, you gotta check out Circus Park. These expansive, circus-themed park is free to the public and has plenty of slides, jungle gyms and other activities for your kids to have a blast. Bennett loved roaring at the lion statues, running around, and sliding down the slides. There were a lot of young families there hanging out, so it’s a great place to socialize and meet new friends!

Delicious Food options:

#1: Brick’s Smoked Meats

Are you even surprised I’m starting with BBQ? I’m going to do an entire blog separately on Brick’s, so stay tuned for that! I tell you what, this was some of the best barbecue I’ve ever had. I now had TWO new favorites since coming here. 1: The brisket, and 2: the fried okra.

The ribs were also phenomenal, as were the fries, sausage and brussel sprouts. I got all of this in the “Texas Trio.”

Rachel got the happy hour nachos which were HUGE and delicious. She loved them. Also, Brick’s has an extensive kids’ menu! Which we were very impressed by. The vibe is very modern and we both loved the aesthetic with the “garage door” type windows that you can raise up to include outdoor seating right by Main Street downtown Sarasota. The wait staff was fantastic here and very kind to Bennett who can sometimes drop his crayons on the ground.

2: Cafe L’Europe | St. Armands Circle

This restaurant is magnificent. Beautiful indoor seating areas with wonderful architecture, paintings, chandeliers, statues and much more. In the back there is an additional bar area with tables that would be great for parties or events. The staff was extremely attentive and kind, we felt like royalty! The food was fantastic, too! I went with the walleye & chips, a high-quality version of the classic fish & chips meal I love.

Rachel got a quiche with chips that was delicious. The server brought a bowl of fruit for Bennett, which was very nice of him. I love the building and the area of St. Armands Circle in general. There are so many food, drink and dessert options plus a ton of shopping.

3: Hashtag Cafe

When looking for coffee shops, Rachels #1 question is “Do they have frappes?” While I’m a coffee drinker, she’s more of a, milkshake with a tiny bit of coffee gal. Which is great! I love a good frappe, too. And that’s exactly what we found at the Hashtag Cafe! The couple who own the place were awesome, we ended up talking with them for about 30 minutes after we ordered and they gave us a tour of the place. They’re expanding soon to have a full cafe! I got an iced coffee, Rachel got a frappe, and they made Bennett a tiny cup of whipped whole milk with whipped cream on top.

4: Le Macaron French Pastries

We’re back in St. Armands Circle! After walking around and eyeing the options, we came across Le Macaron. With a great array of chocolates, pastries, and macarons, obviously, we went with the gelato. It was AMAZING. I did a scoop of the Macaron Almond (which was my favorite) and a scoop of the cookie dough. The was a fantastic, light treat to enjoy on a hot day.

When you make it down to Sarasota, make sure to enjoy the beautiful downtown cityscape with plenty of shopping, hotels and restaurants along the way. That’s one of the things that makes Sarasota so beautiful to me.

Honorable mention to Ram’s Barbershop who gave me a great haircut while we were down there. I decided after a day or two the hair was too long for beach life, and made a spontaneous decision to get it snipped. They got me in right away and did a fantastic job.

If you’ve been to Sarasota and have other “favorites,” let me know on social media!

Great places to eat near Starved Rock

(LASALLE COUNTY, Ill.) — While Starved Rock State Park and Starved Rock Lodge are a huge part of what makes LaSalle County such an attractive place to visit, there are many fantastic food and drink options nearby to round out a fantastic getaway.

During our stay to Starved Rock (read the full article here!), we ventured out in nearby towns in LaSalle County like Ottawa, Peru and La Salle! Here are some great options for you to try during your next trip to Starved Rock Country.

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Please note: There are many other amazing places to visit while in the area. These are just a few that we were able to try over our weekend there!

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1: Starved Rock Lodge Restaurant

Nestled in the coziness of Starved Rock Lodge is the Lodge’s dining room, home to one of my wife and I’s favorite steaks ever. But let’s start with the appetizer.

If you’ve read enough of my articles by now, you’d know cheese curds are a go-to for us. These were packed with the right amount of crisp and flavor that melts in your mouth. Instead of ranch, it’s served with the Lodge Lager beer cheese sauce.

There’s a common theme for us when we get steaks out. I get the ribeye, she gets the filet mignon. This is definitely one of my favorite ribeyes I’ve had. This time I went with the green beans and baked potato. Hard to go wrong with a baked potato!

Rachel’s filet mignon lived up to the expectation once again, and she got green beans and mashed Yukon gold potatoes for her sides.

The lodge is obviously the most convenient option for you if you’re staying at Starved Rock Lodge. It’s just a quick walk through the Lodge to get there from your room, and they offer breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

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But, there are plenty of other amazing options nearby that you should check out. Let’s get into it!

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2: The Lone Buffalo by Tangled Roots Brewing Company

Right along the downtown strip of Ottawa, Illinois you’ll find The Lone Buffalo. It’s the home of Tangled Roots’ original craft brewery and their restaurant. The modern, relaxing vibe is welcome to all customers, and then menu is amazing as well.

To start, we went with the dry rub Drunken Wings. Served with ranch and Brewmaster BBQ sauce, these wings are meaty, juicy and delicious.

Rachel ordered the spicy pepperoni flatbread and loved it. She said it wasn’t too spicy but had the right amount of kick.

I enjoyed the Halfway to Nashville chicken sandwich, loaded with pepper jack cheese, crispy bacon, dill pickles, frites aioli on a brioche bun.

These all were part of the brunch menu recently launched by the Lone Buffalo. Just because it says it’s brunch, doesn’t mean you can’t get lunch type items! There’s a great variety where if you’re feeling french toast, you can get it! If you want a chicken sandwich like me, more power to you!

Speaking of french toast; that’s what we got Bennett!

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3: Haze Smokehouse

BBQ, bourbon, blues. That’s a good motto! And that’s what Haze is all about. Located at 159 Bucklin St. in La Salle, Illinois, Haze provides top tier BBQ and a great selection of meats.

To try them all, I had to go with the Haze smokehouse platter, covered with BBQ ribs, brisket, pulled pork, chicken, and “sassy sausage.” For sides, I got the sweet potato tots and ham & poblano mac n cheese. It was all incredible and the prices are reasonable for the amount of food you get.

The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The vibe inside the restaurant was awesome, and you could even look through some windows inside and see the chefs cooking meats on the grills.

Haze also has a fantastic outdoor space for parties and events. We saw a birthday party there with roughly 50 people and there was plenty of room for families to gather and the staff did a great job serving them.

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4: Lodi Tap House

I love this place. If you are ever in North Utica, Illinois – you have to stop by Lodi Tap House.

I’m gonna say it, they have my FAVORITE cheese curds ever. Beer battered, flaky, cheesy goodness. Let’s take a look.

I mean, come on. Just absolutely beauty right there. I also had to try the fried mushrooms this go round. Delicious as well!

I guess I was in a chicken wings mood this weekend, because I got them again! We split 2 flavors, Korean ginger zing and sweet chili amazing!

For the meal, we went with the smashed burger, which was phenomenal as well.

Lodi Tap House is on Mill Street in North Utica, which is one of my favorite places for a day trip. When the weather gets warmer, the street gets blocked off and all the businesses open up outdoor seating. It’s a fantastic atmosphere and you have a plethora of options to choose from. Multiple eateries, two wineries (remember my article at August Hill?) and… an ice cream, coffee and food store. Which is where we’re heading next 🙂

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5: Bruce & Ollie’s Ice Cream, Specialty Coffee and Deli

I went on too long in my life without ever having Bruce & Ollie’s ice cream.

Located in the Bickerman Building on Mill Street, Bruce & Ollie’s has some of the best ice cream around from Capannari Ice Cream located in Mt. Prospect, Illinois. And the best way to serve it up. In an ICE CREAM FLIGHT.

Move over wine flights, ice cream flights are here to take the cake! What a phenomenal way to let you try a little bit of everything and make it fun. We went with the Cosmic Cookie, Mediterranean Sea Salt Caramel W/ chocolate-covered pretzels, Cherry Vanilla and Lick-The-Bowl Cake Batter (in order from top to bottom).

My favorite was the Cosmic Cookie, Rachel’s was the Cherry Vanilla, Bennett wanted whatever dad was eating. So mainly the Cosmic Cookie and Cake Batter. He’s got good taste in ice cream!

Like I mentioned, Bruce & Ollie’s has many more options like coffees, floats, sundaes and even food items. I was too stuffed from lunch when we stopped by, but there’s always next time!

As you can see, LaSalle County is home to a large amount of fantastic restaurants. I barely scratched the surface with this list!

I hope you get to explore LaSalle County similar to how I have, and let me know your favorite places to eat, drink and have fun!

Until next time, cheers!

Starved Rock: Where Peace and Adventure Meet

(OGLESBY, Ill.) — There’s a reason Starved Rock State Park and Lodge are consistently ranked as a top Illinois destination. Many reasons, in fact.

The beautiful scenery of nature trails, canyons and waterfalls intertwined with the relaxing ambience of the lodge makes a perfect getaway for anyone.

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On Friday, we arrived to Starved Rock Lodge with sunshine and 50s to welcome us.

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It’s a beautiful drive from Peoria to LaSalle County, Illinois. A combination of back roads and interstate leads you to an area filled with inspiring state parks, ready to help you embark on your next adventure.

After checking into our room at Starved Rock Lodge Friday, we were ready for dinner! A warm lodge dining room welcomes you in with an impressive fireplace, unique wooden tables, and friendly staff ready to serve amazing food.

I have always been impressed by the food served at the Starved Rock lodge’s dining room. My go-to is the ribeye steak, while my wife orders the filet mignon.

Of course, in typical Sheehan fashion, we get cheese curds to start us off.

Hey, it’s hard to go wrong with cheese curds! Plus, my kiddo loves cheese. So when he’s acting grumpy because he’s hungry, you get him something he’ll enjoy and you get it fast!

You get two sides with your steak dinner. I got the baked potato and green beans, Rachel got the Yukon mashed potatoes with green beans. For little Bennett, we ordered him the chicken tenders. Which mom and dad may have also snuck in a couple bites of!

After leaving the dining room, we went back to relax. I think we were all asleep by 8:30!

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It’s not February in Illinois without some climate changes every day. Saturday morning, we woke up to snow on the ground and lows in the 20s. Talk about a change of scenery!

The room’s alarm clock automatically went off at 6:00 AM, because I’m assuming the guest before us forgot to turn the alarm off, so we were all up and at em’ a little earlier than expected. But nonetheless, we decided to take advantage of being up early and go on a coffee run.

I’m writing a more thorough article soon about the food & drink options in and near Starved Rock very soon, so I’ll get into more of these details then.

After our coffee/breakfast run, we headed back to the Lodge for another fun adventure.

It was time to take advantage of one of Starved Rock Lodge’s best amenities. The pool!

Bennett absolutely loved playing in the kids’ pool. He also had a lot of fun while mommy and daddy swam him around the bigger pool. He’s currently in swim lessons, so we were able to take some of things we’ve learned and put it to the test!

The pool area provides guests with towels and comes with a hot tub, sauna and locker rooms. The sauna and hot tub were calling my name, as well!

After swim time, came lunch! We headed to the Lone Buffalo by Tangled Roots Brewing Company in Ottawa. They have recently started offering a brunch menu at 11:00 AM, so we ordered off of that! More to come in the next article.

Now it’s nap time for Bennett and Rachel. Which meant hiking time for me!

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There’s a lot of different routes and plans you can put together to hike at Starved Rock State Park. I chose a route I’m pretty familiar with, which is the combination of hiking to the French Canyon and Wildcat Canyon.

First, you head down the staircase behind the Lodge that leads you to the State Park near the trailhead and Visitor’s Center. Take a right, and you’re on your way to the trails!

The French Canyon is the closest and one of the easier hikes, so it’s a good place to start. The water was flowing a little on Saturday afternoon, which made for a scenic walk up to the canyon. It’s extremely important to make sure you have proper hiking shoes/boots and dress warm, especially when it’s a “balmy” 30 degrees. It always feels nice, cool and refreshing when you approach the canyon and see the waterfall rushing over.

After heading down, I wandered to the Wildcat Canyon. Another beautiful walk that eventually takes you down a couple flights of stairs, before you’re faced with the beauty of the canyon. The Wildcat Canyon had more water flow and ice formation than the French Canyon.

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What I had been walking on was the “Bluff Trail.” It’s the innermost trail system of the State Park that connects you to different canyons, whereas the “River Trail” as you probably guessed, has you walk alongside the river.

After getting my steps in on the bluff trail, I decided to switch things up and take the river trail to return to the Lodge.

Walking near the picturesque river makes for a great opportunity to relax and unwind. The river trail takes you to the Beehive Overlook and Lover’s Leap, two great opportunities to get an amazing view of the Illinois River and the Starved Rock Lock & Dam.

After trekking back to where I first entered the State Park’s hiking area, I decided to stop by the Visitor’s Center to check out the stickers they have. The last year or so I’ve started collecting stickers for my water bottle of the different places I’ve been. I’m happy to add Starved Rock State Park to the list!

It was time to head back to the lodge, so up the tall staircase I went. After 5 miles of hiking, I was ready to relax and head to dinner.

HAZE Smokehouse in LaSalle was our next food stop. Can’t wait to tell you all about some delicious BBQ in the next article!

We loved the pool area so much, we decided to swim again before bed time Saturday night! I used the hot tub a little more this time to rejuvenate after the 5 mile hike earlier. It was amazing!

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Sunday morning we woke up to a much more pleasant day, weather wise. Temperatures were a little warmer, the snow was no longer on the ground, and we decided to explore the Visitor’s Center and let Bennett look at all the stuffed animals on the walls. This is a great way to spend some time, having your kids learn about nature and getting them inside.

We headed to Utica for lunch at one of our favorite local stops, Lodi Tap House. If you’re a cheese curd connoisseur like we are, just wait until you hear about these! Afterwards, we walked across the street to Bruce & Ollie’s Ice Cream & Coffee at the Bickerman Building for an ICE CREAM FLIGHT. Can’t wait to tell you about that.

You may remember my article on the August Hill Winery Tasting Room in Utica. That is on the same stretch of road on Mill St. in downtown Utica.

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A weekend away to Starved Rock Lodge is the perfect getaway for friends, a family, or solo travelers needing some time away. The hotel wing part of the lodge we stayed at this time was amazing. The beds were extremely comfortable, so much so I need Starved Rock Lodge to tell me what brand they were so I can buy one for my next bed! The double queen room was spacious, came with a good-sized mini fridge and microwave and TV. The bathroom was nice, with plenty of space with a nice bath/shower included.

We had stayed in the lodge wing the time before, which had a king size bed which was really nice as well.

I have yet to stay in the cabins here, but I think that needs to be my next trip up there!

It was great to partner with Starved Rock Lodge and ExplorUS on this amazing adventure. There are beautiful things to see throughout the Midwest, and I’m honored to be able to help tell these stories!

Smash Burgers, fried green beans, quesadillas and more: Office on Main!

(MORTON, Ill.) — It’s the clever line when you pick up the phone, “Yeah, honey. I’m at the Office!” But which office? That’s the real question.

Located on Main Street in Morton, Illinois sits The Office on Main. Welcoming you into Morton’s downtown, The Office is a great place to eat delicious food, order cold drinks, watch a sports game and hangout with friends.

Thanks to Jimmy Rassi for hosting us, and Maggie was a great server! Now, let’s get into the food options.

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Appetizers

  • Boneless chicken wings. We ordered the garlic parmesan and the Morton Firefighter wings. The Morton Firefighter is the garlic parm mixed with their hot sauce! Both were extremely good. Ordering with ranch is always a good option, but these are tasty enough on their own!
  • Cheese quesadillas. This might be the best bang for your buck around. We will definitely have enough for leftovers! Which is great, because Bennett absolutely loved the quesadillas.
  • Fried green beans served with apricot sauce. Apricot sauce, you say? Yes, we were skeptical too. But it’s the perfect flavor and texture to dip the fried green beans in. Jimmy told me the cooks whipped up the idea one day. Now here it is!
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Main course

The Office on Main is well-known for its smash burgers. We ordered the double Classic Smashburger and split it, because we were pretty stuffed from the apps. I am no smashburger expert, as I’ve only had a handful in my days, but I have to say The Office on Main might just be the greatest smashburger I’ve ever had! The meat patties are packed with flavor, juicy, and grilled just right. Soft buns, melted cheese, smashburger sauce and pickles help seal the deal for me. Ten out of ten!

Bennett was a big fan of the serving containers we got. They double as a hat!

He also loved all the food here at Office on Main. Just ask him yourself!

The Office on Main have been incredible supporters of Peoria City Soccer. Over one of the tables, the Peoria City scarf remains! I always appreciated Jimmy and the team’s passion for the game of soccer and willingness to help the club and community succeed.

Thank you Jimmy and Office on Main for having us by, I’m already looking forward to the next soccer watch party we have at your place!

Illinois Wine Tour: Tres Rojas Winery launching new wines

(WASHINGTON, Ill.) — Every year, the owners of Tres Rojas Winery close down shop in the month of January for a little time off and relaxation.

But February 1st, it’s back to the races. And the Washington-based winery is approaching 2024 with a lot of new options!

For starters, the Heart of Illinois Wine Trail is doing a wine and chocolate promotion the weekend of February 3rd-4th. Tres Rojas is offering wine by the glass with truffles made by The Chocolatier, a chocolate shop in Bloomington, Illinois.

Two Glasses/Two Truffles for $21

Milk Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Truffle with Marquette or Resurrection Red

Dark Raspberry Truffle with Marquette Rosé or Traminette

Owner Lisa Barry gave me a sneak peek at the new wine selection for 2024. See below!

For your reference, RS means residual sugar, so you can know how sweet a wine is.

0-0.5 is dry, 1-2%is semi-dry, 3-5% is semi-sweet, and 6%+ is sweet.

“We released our Marquette Rosé – Dry, crisp, very traditional feeling rose. My new favorite, hands down! 0%RS,” Barry says.

This spring Tres Rojas will be bottling the following:

Peach – with 6%RS this will be a sweet wine. “This is the wine we used to make our La X Peach that we brought out in December again,” Barry adds.

Black Dog White “I’m excited about this blend since we’ve run out of Chardonnay – Dry white blend of Seyval Blanc, LaCrosse, and Edelweiss. Evaluated as a lightly oaked wine.” Plus, Lisa and Bob Barry’s dog, Onyx, is pictured on the label. Under 1%RS

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Landot Rose (limited release) “Made with our first harvest of the Landot Noir grape – this is a light rose that will be made available to Wine Club members first, then the public. 0.5%RS”

Chancellor “This will also be a dry red. Developed as a hybrid in France, it is almost exclusively grown in the US. It takes to oak nicely, and has blueberry, cedar and plum flavors.”

Dos Vides “This is a dry red blend of our Chancellor and Chelois grapes. Chelois is the grape that gives our 1st Harvest Red its jammy red raspberry flavor, so add that to the fruity Chancellor, this blend is definitely going to be popular.”

New Batches of previous released/popular wines

Vignoles – We got this one back on the shelf in December. It is very close to its previous vintage – same honey finish, medium bodied, green apple and citrus and 1.5%RS

Resurrection Red – We only have 2 cases out on the shelf, so we are bottling another run before we open Feb 1st. 6%RS

1st Harvest Red – This wine went FAST!!! So I’m super excited to get this one 2.5%RS

Leon’s Rose – I love the aroma of our current vintage, but this one – if it can be better – is! 0%RS

Glacial White – Last time Glacial White was on the shelves, Moscato drinkers drank us out of stock on this one. Cayuga grapes have apple, peach, soft pineapple, spiced pear, and citrus aromas/flavors. This will be 6%RS, so a Sweet wine. We don’t grow it in our vineyard, but a grower had extra, so we jumped on it!

Bulldog – We will probably run out of our current vintage before the 2023 is bottled, but it will be coming! 0%RS

Leon Millot – We are decently stocked on Leon, so we should be consistent. 0%RS

Lisa Barry | Co-Owner of Tres Rojas Winery

Tres Rojas is located at 1774 E Cruger Rd, Washington, IL 61571. The Washington winery was my first-ever wine tour article! So it made sense to start off my 2024 wine writings back with the Barrys at Tres Rojas.

Illinois BBQ Blog: Blue Duck Barbecue Tavern!

(PEORIA, Ill.) — There’a a reason Blue Duck Barbecue Tavern was voted “Best ribs in Peoria area” this year.

Meaty, tender, fall of the bone delicious, and full of flavor.

With crispy fries, pickle chips, and cornbread to go with your ribs, you’re set! The two sauces available are a sweet red and a Carolina-style, for those mustard lovers out there. Luckily for me, I loved both sauces! It was a perfect match to have two completely different flavors to dip the ribs into.

Blue Duck is a staple business of the Peoria Riverfront district. We’re lucky with our beautiful riverfront views in Peoria, and Blue Duck is a great food option for anyone in the area. It’s located in the River Station building right across from Martini’s, where of course, you can get some martinis before, or after, you eat some delicious BBQ. My Tony, the owner of Blue Duck, has been great to work with over the last year. He and his business supported Peoria City Soccer, where I work, and we greatly appreciate it!

I was happy to meet the General Manager, Tim, while visiting this time. We were also provided great service by Kristin, our server for the night.

To start, my wife got the chopped wedge salad. Drizzled ranch on top, it was delicious.

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Of course I got the ribs, but Rachel got the Brisket Philly Cheesesteak.

Can you tell she enjoyed it? Here’s another look!

For appetizers, you can get smoked fried wings, which I’ve ordered multiple times over the last few years. They are incredible, if I wasn’t writing a rib blog, I would’ve gotten an order of the wings, too! You can also get Poutine, barbecue nachos, fried dill pickle chips (which I ordered as a side instead), and a barbecue quesadilla.

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Brisket, pulled pork, St. Louis-style ribs and smoked half chicken lead the charge on the entree section. You can get them A La Carte or as plates, with 2 sides and cornbread like I did.

Sandwiches, burgers and tacos round out the menu. Offering a variety of options, you can get Asian pork belly tacos, Mexican tacos, the Brisket Philly my wife got, a “mustard clucker sandwich” and much more.

Whether you get it with the fries, salad, a side or something else, get a cup of ranch! My kid LOVED it. He also loved the sweet red BBQ sauce, as you can tell below.

To end our adventure, we ordered the key lime pie.

I highly recommend this. It’s a milder key lime pie, not so in your face as some can be, and that made it easy to scarf down by me, my wife, and 1-year-old son of course. I mean, when he’s begging to have a piece of key lime pie, how can I say no?

That’s a good lookin’ picture right there. The garlic aioli served with the fried pickles is incredible. Nice and smooth and a great addition to some already delicious pickle chips.

Head down to the Peoria Riverfront and stop by Blue Duck Barbecue Tavern for an amazing atmosphere, incredible food, and wonderful crew serving you. The address is 212 Southwest Water Street Suite B, Peoria, IL 61602.

Pubs to visit while exploring Ireland

(IRELAND) — In April 2023, I had the trip of a lifetime. Since I was a young kid, my dad would talk about his lifelong goal of getting to Ireland.

With a gift from my mom and travel agent-esque planning on my part, we made it happen.

My Sheehan Irish lineage runs through County Limerick. Specifically, Newcastle West and Limerick City. So we knew those two spots were a must on our trip.

But after mapping out a 7-day adventure, we explored many more corners of the Emerald Isle.

The greatest parts of the trip were the views, the people, the vast green land and the stunning blue waters crashing onto the cliffs. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the incredible pubs, filled with delicious food and the greatest pints I’ve ever had.

I’m going to move in chronological order of my trip. We started in Limerick, headed to Killarney, and then settled in Dingle a few days for the first leg of the trip.

The middle part was in Ennistymon and Lahinch as we hiked the Cliffs of Moher.

We ended the trip in Newcastle West, Limerick again, and finally, Dublin.

1: Flannery’s Pub on Shannon St. (Limerick)

How often does it happen that your first meal is your favorite meal? I don’t have any data on that, but my guess is not often. Well, that was the case for me in Ireland.

Delicious fish & chips, seasoned to perfection. My introduction to mushy peas! It all happened at Flannery’s Pub on Shannon Street in downtown Limerick. The classic, rugby-loving Irish pub has character, coziness, and amazing foods. It’s also the place I learned Magner’s Hard Cider is called Bulmers in Ireland.

2: The Curragower (Limerick)

Sitting across from the River Shannon rests The Curragower. The bar & restaurant has much more modern vibe than Flannery’s, but a wonderful outdoor seating area gives great views of the River Shannon, King John’s Castle, and downtown Limerick.

I started out with some amazing fried calamari and a pint of Guinness.

Next, came the burger and chips to round out the meal. The ambience of the restaurant was very unique and I really enjoyed. Aside from the fried calamari, the meal was not something to write home about. I would like to go back and try a different entree if I were to return there.

3: The Shire (Killarney)

Lord of the Rings fans, this one is for you. On good ole TikTok, my brother (pictured above) and I came across The Shire. The LOTR-themed restaurant looks almost as cool as it sounds, with Middle Earth and Mordor memorabilia hanging on the walls, a green light undertone around the bar, and photos of LOTR stars who have visited before.

I hate to say it, but the food did not match the awesomeness of the restaurant. It was not bad, let me be clear on that, but it was nothing special either. If I were to return, I’d happily stop by for a pint, but would probably choose another local pub for my meal.

4: James Long (Dingle)

Grabbing a bite to eat in downtown Dingle isn’t the easiest thing on earth. Pubs are full of locals and tourists alike, with barely a table available in sight. We thought, foolishly, we could just walk down the street and find a table easily. We stumbled across the James Long pub, which lay right across the street from the harbor in Dingle. A beautiful sight. Luckily, we were put on a rather short waitlist and got a table outside.

We got back on track here in the good food category. Fried calamari and chips tamed my appetite after a long day of walking, hiking, you name it. And look at the fish & chips my brother got across from me. That fish was HUGE.

I also tried the Kopparberg strawberry/lime hard cider! 7th Street Cidery in Springfield, Illinois has this flavor cider, and it is my favorite. The Swedish cider was very refreshing, and served over ice to keep it cold.

5: The Dingle Pub (Dingle)

Dingle’s food scene continued to impress. After a full afternoon of walking the town, we decided it was time to stop for a meal. The Dingle Pub was in the vicinity, so we stopped on in.

Known for its good food, local pints and live music, the Dingle Pub was a fantastic time. I enjoyed the fish cakes & chips. My dad got the Irish stew which he said was some of the best stew he’s ever had (next to the beef stew my mom makes, of course).

Local pints were enjoyed. This was one of the rare times I strayed away from an Irish stout, lager, or red lager. Sadly, there was no live music and dancing when we were there. Maybe next time.

6: Foxy John’s (Dingle)

I wish I had more to say about Foxy John’s. But the truth is, we only stopped in for a quick pint before heading back to our Air BnB. We stayed off the Wild Atlantic Way about 10 minutes outside of town, so we thought it wise to not drive the windy, narrow roads after dark.

If you know of Foxy John’s, then you know it’s not only a pub. It’s also a hardware store. Iconic to tourists from around the world, I’d recommend Foxy John’s to anyone who visits Dingle.

7: Danny Mac’s (Lahinch)

When I think about our time at Danny Mac’s, I have to recall how much we went through to get there. Here’s another travel tip; always check the restaurants hours in towns you’re going to. We wanted our trip to be somewhat planned, somewhat spontaneous. This was one of those nights. Every restaurant was closed in Lahinch because it was in the middle of the week. But thank God for Danny Mac’s.

I veered off my usual meal to get back to an American classic with an interest twist. The BBQ ribs. Layered with sauce and sesame seeds, this was one of the best meals of the trip.

I did get back on track with my beer choice, though. The Smithwick’s Irish red lager. I also found out the “w” in Smithwick’s is silent. So it’s pronounced “Smith-Icks.” The more you know.

8: Chaser’s Bistro (Newcastle West)

Connected to our hotel in Newcastle West, I had a wonderful fish & chips meal. Newcastle West is the city my Irish roots run through (alongside with Limerick). We enjoyed searching for family history, although we came up empty handed.

On the bright side, I was introduced to one of my now favorite beers of all time. Asahi super dry. The Japanese lager is so smooth and rich in flavor, this is a special occasion beer for me now. It’s also pretty pricey if we’re being honest. Another thing I loved about Irish restaurants, is no matter what drink you ordered, you would drink it in a pint from that company.

9: Katie Daly’s (Limerick)

We stopped back in Limerick before our train ride to Dublin, which is the last stop of our trip. Katie Daly’s Irish pub was on the schedule, and it was a wonderful time. It’s eight across from King John’s Castle and near the River Shannon.

I enjoyed a different Irish staple here, the bangers and mash. Sausage and potatoes covered in gravy, this is now one of my favorite meals to cook at home.

10: Bar Rua (Dublin)

Well, I had to get one last fish & chips before I left the Emerald Isle. Bar Rua was so awesome to us. We had our luggage still, because we took the train from Limerick to Dublin, walked to the Guinness Open Gate Brewery, and then grabbed an Uber and took it to downtown Dublin. We enjoyed one last full dinner in Ireland, reminiscing on the trip and talking about the future.

Bar Rua is a modern take on the Irish pub. It’s part of the Galway Bay Brewery family.

11: Sheehan’s Pub (Dublin)

All week long I had been talking with my brother and dad about coming to Sheehan’s Pub in Dublin. I was excited, until I wasn’t. We walked up to the pub, only to be told we could not come in because of our luggage. Hence the reason we ended up across the street at Bar Rua. Luckily, the worker was extremely kind about it and felt very bad. They just didn’t have the room to hold three large suitcases. I can’t blame them. Later that night, my brother said he wanted one drink in Sheehan’s. I told him and my dad to head in and have fun. I was really tired, and was OK with staying with the luggage while they enjoyed themselves. Next time I’m in Dublin, I’m coming here and leaving my luggage at the hotel. Haha.

12: Gravity Bar @ Guinness Brewery (Dublin)

After taking the full tour in Guinness’ Open Gate Brewery in Dublin, you finish the journey at the Gravity Bar. The bar is at the very top of the building, looking over Dublin from the 7th floor.

The Guinness tour was an amazing cap to the trip. You definitely get your money’s worth here. There is so much to see, so much walking to be done, and you get to try freshly poured Guinness along the way.

While the following are not pubs, I thought they were worth mentioning. Because Ireland’s food culture isn’t just known for the pubs, the Irish breakfast is an amazing thing, too.

1: Vincenzo Grill House @ The George Hotel (Limerick)

The George is a boutique hotel in downtown Limerick. The staff were amazing and the rooms were really nice. The breakfast buffet, included in your hotel payment, was delicious.

2: Station House B&B (Ennistymon)

It was a beautiful, clear night in the photo above. That’s our bed & breakfast in Ennistymon, a town *somewhat* close to the Cliffs of Moher. We all really enjoyed our stay here. The owner was extremely friendly and there was an antique vibe inside the B&B that was warm and welcoming .

The breakfast, once again included in your B&B pricing, was pretty good once again. You were given a menu when you checked in, and you’d give it to the owner later that day so they could have your order in the morning. You’d also pick a specific time to come down for breakfast. I enjoyed the ham, sausage and eggs but pretty much steered clear of the rest. The black circle on the plate is Irish black pudding. When I was told blood is added to the meat, barley, oats and whatever else is in there, I made a clear choice to decline that. Maybe next time I’ll feel a little bolder.

All in all, the food in Ireland was fantastic. When I go back, I now know what to get, and what not to get! Thanks for reading along, I hope you enjoyed the journey.

Sizzlin’ Steaks, cozy yet exquisite atmosphere: Pickled Radish Provision Co.

(EUREKA, Ill.) — No matter the occasion, add Pickled Radish Provision Co. to your list for restaurants to visit.

Sitting along Main St. in Eureka, Illinois, the cozy yet exquisite atmosphere welcomes you in with arms wide and delicious food.

At Pickled Radish, you are the champion of your destiny for the meal you want to have.

Want a fancy date night meal? Great, then order a steak! It comes with a roll, salad and side.

Looking more for pub food? Get the fish ‘N chips, Half Pounder burger, or brisket!

So what did I get? Glad you asked!

We started with an appetizer of “The Hot Mess.” Squared, butter-dipped Pepper Jack cheese curds tossed in hot-pepper bacon jam. On a scale of “how spicy is this?” I’d have to give the mark right in the middle. The flavor is fantastic and the heat of the Pepper Jack is just right. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the hot-pepper bacon jam, but it was very tasty and added great flavor.

To make sure my 1-year-old got his tummy filled while we chomped on the cheese curds, I ordered him a side of Wild Rice Blend. He tore it up and absolutely loved it. There is a kid’s menu by request, but it’s not printed.

On to the main course! As I mentioned, you get a salad, side and roll with your meal. I went with the Ribeye, a Char-grilled Black Angus cut of meat. My wife, Rachel, decided on the Filet Mignon. Also Char-grilled and Black Angus, but hers was bacon-wrapped!

The salad was tossed by our wonderful server, Kennedy, at tableside! “Dinner and a show!” Rachel exclaimed.

The house salad was tossed in a basil vinaigrette, topped with onions and tomatoes if you wanted them. As many of you know, I steer clear of onions and tomatoes, but I was able to sift through them and enjoy a very nice salad. I got the green beans as my side.

Pickled Radish does an amazing job at keeping the mood just right and presenting an entertaining atmosphere. Well, what the heck do I mean by that?

On each table, there’s a portable lamp that changes colors when you tap the top of it. You can also make the light brighter or dimmer. It’s a great distraction to a small child when they start demanding food, randomly yelling, or any of the other crazy things small children do.

Not only is this a great place for a date night or family meal, but there’s a full bar on its own in another open space room. Outside, Pickled Radish has a seating area and a firepit. The snow and low temperatures took that possibility out of the equation, but it’d be great especially in the fall when the temps are dropping a little.

Now, on to the main course!

Sizzling steaks ripe with flavor, the Ribeye was extremely tender and packed with flavor. The juicy cut of meat was one of the better steaks I’ve had across central Illinois. I order my steaks medium rare. Hats off to the chef, because they understood the assignment and did a great job sticking to the order.

My wife, on the other hand, ordered her Filet Mignon medium well. I only got one bite of her steak, but it was amazing as well! She really enjoyed it and said it was cooked perfectly to her liking. The steaks are all grilled over an open flame.

One interesting tidbit about the restaurant is that most, if not all of the tables are sponsored by a local business! I thought that was really cool to see other local businesses supporting the restaurant, and in turn, the restaurant supporting them by promoting their business for their customers!

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In 2011, Jeff and Shelli Stahl took ownership of The Chanticleer. Known for its fried chicken and catfish, The Chanticleer closed down in May 2021.

Starting in October 2023 as reservations only, the husband/wife duo revitalized the location at 744 N. Main St. to become Pickled Radish Provision Co.

When I took to Facebook to ask my followers who had the best steaks in central Illinois, Pickled Radish was mentioned multiple times. This is definitely a location worth driving from Peoria, Bloomington or wherever you’re driving from.

The staff was extremely friendly. Our server, Kennedy, did a fantastic job.

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Save room for dessert? Might I recommend the Oreo Cheesecake. We took it to-go and enjoyed it at home later that night. It was amazing! The Crème brûlée looked fantastic, as well. I guess I’ll have to have that the next time.

I wanted to thank Pickled Radish Provision Co. for being fabulous hosts to me and my family. We now have a new favorite restaurant to add to our list, and will definitely be back! You can call 309-481-4055 for reservations, and follow them on Facebook here.

Full menu posted below!

Why 2023 was the best year of my life

(PEORIA, Ill.) — There’s no better feeling than equilibrium.

Life flows up and down, in and out, but when you are fully aware of who you are and are joyful with how your life is going, you retain a sense of peace.

The constant joy in my life is my wife and my son, hands down. I have two jobs at the moment (with a potential third coming in 2024), but no career, no accolade, no promotion can amount to the deep honor I feel to be the husband of Rachel and the father of Bennett. I tell everyone that my greatest title is “dad” and “husband.” It’s true!

When Bennett was born in September 2022, I was working a job that had me waking up at midnight some nights, and 2:30 AM the other nights. Combine that with a newborn baby waking up every 2-3 hours to feed and be changed, it made for hellish nights and really rough mornings.

I loved journalism, I still do. I still get to achieve that goal I had in college of being a journalist as a Media Relations Coordinator and Director of Communications for my respective jobs. But at some point, you reach a moment where you have to reevaluate your life and make a decision. That is where I was at the end of 2022.

I am abundantly grateful for the job I took at OSF HealthCare, where I started early February this year. Not only do I have a wonderful team, but I have a supportive boss who makes her team want to work hard and do an excellent job. That’s a rare thing to have, so cherish it if you have it. Plus, I still feel like I am doing good for my community by writing medical stories that offer beneficial medical advice for parents, families and individuals.

That same month I started working for OSF, I got a call with an offer to work for Peoria City Soccer. Not everyone knows, but I played soccer all the way from 4-years-old through senior year of high-school, then intramurals in college. I am a huge soccer fan and an advocate for Peoria, so putting these two passions together was a no-brainer. I ended up being promoted at Peoria City to Director of Communications, where I am still at today. I have a lot of pride in our club and am once again thankful and blessed to work with such a great crew, and have a manager I greatly respect and enjoy working with.

This year has been a wonderful opportunity to experience family travel in a way I never have before. We went to Disney World, Wisconsin, Florida, Minnesota and more. A lot of people seem to be scared to travel with kids. Can it be tough at times? Sure! But so can traveling alone or with your partner. Things happen, and you have to adapt appropriately.

I was also privileged to be a content creator for the City SC Report, a fan-based publication that covers St. Louis City SC, the newest expansion team in Major League Soccer. I was on the field for most home games shooting video of the action, it was amazing.

The greatest trip of the year was my adventure to Ireland alongside my dad and brother. This was a trip decades in the making, one my dad had told me he wanted to take since I was a young kid. We got to experience the Emerald Isle as a family, searching for family history and trekking through beautiful scenery all across the country. This is a place I absolutely want to take my own family to one day. Ever since, I’ve been building relationships with people and businesses there, so I believe this will happen soon.

The highlight of my year has been to see my son grow. I’m a proud dad. I’ve said those words to him since he was a newborn and didn’t know what the heck I was saying. Now, he’s starting to understand the things we’re saying and I hope he feels the pride I have in being his dad. He’s a hilarious kid. Could easily be a Gerber baby. I joke that he’ll be a Hollywood superstar one day, it’s possible. But it’s his joyful energy that is his most attractive quality. Everyone always says “he’s always happy!” He gets that from his mom. He’s always smiling, laughing, playing and loving life. Whether it’s snuggling his stuffed dog animal we creatively named “Puppy,” being ornery and acting like he’s going to hand you something then he pulls it away, or raising his hands in the air and yelling “AHHHH” simultaneously with his dad like a couple of cavemen.

As I write this article, Bennett is going through his first real cold since being born. It’s turned me into an anxious daddy, but I think it’s also brought us closer and led him to see I’m his protector. All throughout the day I’ll be checking his temperature, wiping his nose, giving baby medicine when needed, and putting the baby’s version of Vicks VapoRub on his chest and just ensuring he’s taken care of. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been fulfilling. Keeping him safe and healthy is my top priority, and you have to step to plate when you’re needed. When I’m in another room doing something, he comes searching for me yelling “dad!”

I think there’s something about a mother’s love us dads just can’t replicate. There’s this closeness a child feels with their mother that brings them peace. Maybe it’s the heartbeat they were close to for 9 months inside the womb, maybe it’s their mother’s scent and voice, maybe it’s all these things. As a dad who wants to be active in my son’s life, sometimes I want that same closeness with my kid. But I have to remind myself that maybe my hands are too rough, maybe my facial hair is a bit scratchy, and maybe I don’t smell as good as his mom. Just kidding, I always smell good.

But what I have realized is while the snuggling nature my wife and son have, my son always wants me around. He might not want me all up in his grill, but he feels safe with me standing in the room with him. And that’s all I need. Now don’t get me wrong, sometimes my kid just wants to be held by his dad and I’m not complaining one bit. And yes, I do sing my son to sleep. We start with a little slow country for a song or two, then switch to a Jonas Brothers song, and he’s asleep. Works every time.

What do I wish for in 2024? A lot of things. I hope to travel to new places. Every year I want to see at least one new place. I want to continue succeeding in my jobs, moving the needle forward and perfecting my craft. I’ve started collaborating with businesses on content creation, showcasing restaurants, wineries and resorts. I want to do more of that, and I have many plans to! There’s a lot more, but I’ll leave it at that for now.

As always, I’m very thankful for the people who have followed this journey of mine. You don’t have to, but you want to. You enjoy the things I’ve done and you wish the best for me and my family. I’m thankful for that. So raise a glass of your favorite wine, beer, spirit, milk, water heck I don’t care, and drink to the end of another year on God’s green earth. God bless you all.

7 BBQ restaurants to visit in Illinois!

(ILLINOIS, USA) — When thinking about barbecue, your mind might go right to Texas, St. Louis, Kansas City, or Memphis.

While all of these places have AMAZING BBQ to enjoy, let’s go through six BBQ restaurants in Illinois I visited this year that you should try, too!

Most are located in Central Illinois, but one is near St. Louis, MO on the Illinois side! As I did in my 2023 year-end Illinois winery article, I’ll start in chronological order!

1: Brickhouse BBQ, Burgers and Brew – Washington, Illinois

After my first visit to Brickhouse BBQ for a Valentine’s day with my then-girlfriend, now-wife Rachel, this has become a place we enjoy visiting in Washington. The BBQ ribs with green beans and fries was my go-to here, but for starters, the burnt ends and cheese curds are where it’s it. The staff has always been extremely friendly here and the food comes out decently quick. The ribs are well-seasoned and the sauces are a good addition to the flavor for both the ribs and burnt ends.

2: Dac’s Smokehouse – Morton, Illinois

Illinois Foodies recently named Dac’s Smokehouse the #1 Barbecue restaurant in Illinois. Recently, Dac’s focused their efforts on their Morton location and closed down the Campustown spot near Bradley University in Morton. The ribs are very meaty and packed with flavor. I gave the breaded cauliflower wings a 5/5, great flavor and just the right amount of kick! I’m also a sucker for cheesy corn, which was a great addition to the meal at Dac’s.

3: BC BBQ – Pekin, Illinois

One of my all-time favorite BBQ restaurants is a place called Rudy’s. It’s mainly in Texas but can be found in Colorado Springs, too. BC BBQ in Pekin reminded me a bit of this, especially with the gas station meets saloon vibe. First I tried the “hog wing.” This was something I never had had before and I’m glad I tried it. It’s a meaty piece of pork that falls right off the bone. There are 4 BBQ sauces to choose from, and I was happy to see Lovingood’s BBQ was a part of this! They’re a local barbecue sauce/seasoning company that has great flavors. Try the mac n cheese + green beans alongside some well-cooked ribs, packed with sauce and spices that you’ll love.

4: Whitey’s BBQ – West Peoria, Illinois

For weeks, I received comments and messages on Facebook that I had to try Whitey’s BBQ as part of my rib report. So I did! When I visited, Whitey’s was a part of Crusen’s on Route 29 in Creve Coeur, now the BBQ is offered inside Crusen’s on Farmington Road in West Peoria. I have told many people this before, Whitey’s had some of the best ribs I have ever had. Perfectly glazed in sauce, with the right amount of smokiness and tenderness, you don’t even need to dip these in sauce. Alongside the ribs, the honey sriracha wings and tots (which my wife said were “crisp to perfection) are great options. Whitey’s served us up the 3 meat combo full of burnt ends, pulled pork and brisket. I put that the burnt ends were the best I’ve ever had.

5: Smokin’ Notes BBQ – East Peoria, Illinois

Opened last December in East Peoria, Smokin’ Notes BBQ has entered the central Illinois BBQ scene in strong fashion! With a quaint, country vibe, the atmosphere is really nice and the food is even better. We started out with a shareable of loaded fries, covered in pulled pork and a cheese blend that was delicious. As seen above, I ordered the Nick’s Combo which was a 1/2 rack of BBQ ribs which was greatly glazed with BBQ sauce so you didn’t even need to cover them in sauce along with pulled pork. For a side, I got the fried okra, my favorite BBQ side on planet earth. We really enjoyed our stay and we will be back!

6: Blue Duck BBQ Tavern!

There’a a reason Blue Duck Barbecue Tavern was voted “Best ribs in Peoria area.”

Meaty, tender, fall off the bone delicious, and full of flavor.

With crispy fries, pickle chips, and cornbread to go with your ribs, you’re set! The two sauces available are a sweet red and a Carolina-style, for those mustard lovers out there. Luckily for me, I loved both sauces! It was a perfect match to have two completely different flavors to dip the ribs into.

7: Edley’s Bar-B-Que – Glen Carbon, Illinois

Last but not least, let’s head to Glen Carbon for Edley’s Bar-B-Que! The Tennessee-based restaurant mainly is home to spots across Nashville, with an additional restaurant in Franklin and Chattanooga, TN. The BBQ chain hits Illinois in both Glen Carbon near the campus of SIUE, and O’Fallon. The ribs were very meaty with great flavor, glazed in BBQ sauce where they were fine all by themselves. The star of the show were the smoked wings, though. I got the White BBQ wings which for a spicy level, is in between the BBQ sauce and the hotter sauce Edley’s has. My wife got the brisket tacos. I’d like to get back to Tennessee and visit Edley’s at one of their locations there! Maybe in 2024 or 2025.

Comment, email or message me what Illinois barbecue restaurants I should visit in 2024. I have been in talks with multiple locations already, and I think we’ll have a great line up for next year!