I’ve been meaning to go and check out the market and bakery addition to Jonah’s Seafood House since it opened up last spring. This week my friend Lisa told me she was going there to get prepared for a wine tasting she's having there this Saturday and so I asked if she’d like to have lunch and then we could take a look around at the Market at Jonah’s and she said: “Of course!” So it’s off we go for lunch with Lisa and a tour of The Market at Jonah’s Seafood House! To the MBIP Mobile!
And here we go off into the bright blue yonder...with the emphasis on bright...I hate the daytime! It's just so...bright! Okay, here we are at Jonah’s and there’s the Market and Bake Shop on the end, but we’ll be going there later, for now, let’s go in on the restaurant side through the double doors...
And whoomp, here we are, inside of Jonah’s and I see a familiar face down there at the host station, it’s Andrew, who was bartending here last September when we did our MBIP Ice Cream Drink Tour! great to see him and then I wandered into the bar area and saw bartender, Stefan who served me up an iced tea. I marked our table there in the corner and when I turned around, there’s our guest of honor for the day, Lisa! She’s looking pretty as always and it’s great to see her!
Stefan took a photo of the two of us standing in front of our table and then...
It’s time for lunch! I started off with a cup of the jambalaya and Lisa got the seven layer salad. Both were delicious and even a cup of the jambalaya is packed with jasmine rice, chicken, shrimp, andouille sausage, bell peppers and onions and it’s spicy and it’s really a taste-sensation! We also split an order of the deviled eggs and then it was time for more food! We ordered three appetizers: The Bang Bang Shrimp, Crab Rangoon and the stuffed mushrooms. They were all fantastic, but Lisa and I both agreed that the Bang Bang Shrimp was our favorite. The food never disappoints at Jonah’s! This was such a delicious lunch and the service was impeccable, thanks to Stefan and everyone in the kitchen for the quick delivery of the very tasty food!
Okay, now it’s time for both of us to get to work! Lisa has to plan her wine tasting event that takes place this Saturday (more details about that below, keep on scrolling!) and I followed her down the hall that leads to the Market and Bakery from the restaurant. That’s handy, you don’t even have to go back outside! Wow, from the first glance in here, it’s really impressive looking and loaded with food and drink options!
And speaking of drink options, there’s Lisa pointing out some of the wines that she supplies here from Maverick Wine Company. At the end of the room is a cooler with chilled bottles of wine and domestic, imported and craft beer.
Here’s Dan Ralph, who’s the General Manager of Jonah’s and it was great to see him! Dan and Lisa quickly got to work assessing the wine situation at hand and what to bring in for the tasting Saturday, so I got out of the way and took some pictures for the blog, it’s what I do after all!
The cooler is a focal point of the room and it was a little steamed up, so Keri opened it up for us so we could take photos of the meats and seafood inside. Everything in the cases are as fresh as you can imagine. The pieces that aren’t sold within a day are incorporated into the restaurant’s menu and fresh items are added to the mix on a daily basis. As you can see, there’s a wide array of meats, seafood and other items in the front display cases here and it all looks delicious! Thanks to Keri for giving us this meaty tour!
Meanwhile, Lisa and Dan are still working and they’ve started sampling some wine. Nice work if you can get it! Cheers!
There’s also fresh prepared food there in that case in the top photo and the Market also features a full-service bakery complete with homemade cakes, pies, bread, biscotti, cinnamon rolls, danish and cookies among other sweet treats! It looks and smells so wonderful in here!
And Lisa and Dan are still drinking...I mean working hard over here in this corner!
There’s also fresh coffee here in the Market and you can get a cup to go or you can get some of the house-made blends of coffee to make at home. Or you can get a cup and relax up in the brick-lined front hallway. It’s really a nice and laid back atmosphere in here and once you enter, you just may not want to leave!
Okay, Lisa and Dan have decided on the wines for this Saturday’s tasting and they’ve also decided that it will take place...
Right over here in this corner! Lisa had this to say about the upcoming wine/tasting event:
"This Saturday at Jonah's in the new Jonah's Market from 2:pm-5:pm, consumers are welcome to sample a half a dozen different Maverick wines specifically paired for what Dad might like at that amazing cookout or dinner you’re planning for him this Sunday on Father’s Day! The wines are served both in the restaurant and available for retail purchase to take for home consumption. The Market also offers most everything Jonah's serves in the restaurant in raw form. Both Seafood, Fish and Meat are available to purchase. Sort of like Jonah's Take and Cook at Home! Some things, such as Oysters Rockefeller, are available already prepared! Just pop in the oven or on your grill and voila...Jonah's Restaurant’s tasty dishes can be served up in your home, just like you cooked them yourself! Or, my personal favorite: Their famous Seven-Layer Salad...prepared and ready to devour...yum! With Father's Day the very next day, stop in and get all your dinner, wine and beer needs in one stop! Oh—almost forgot—dessert is also available and man are they mouthwatering! Think: Carrot Cake on amazing delicious steroids—I could go on, but there's only so much room for my Jonah's Rant! Thanks Marty for spotlight preview of my wine tasting this Saturday!”
Thank you, Lisa for joining me for lunch and for showing me the Market and Bakery at Jonah’s! If you’re out and about between 2 and 5PM on Saturday, stop by and say hi to Lisa and try some wine and check out the Market and Bakery at Jonah’s, you’ll be glad you did!
Maverick Wine Company
1101 N Ellis Ave.
Bensenville, IL 60106
630-860-4600
Jonah’s Seafood House and Oyster Bar
2601 North Main Street
East Peoria
309-694-0946
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Related Posts: Lunch With Lisa Odum @ Jonah’s Seafood House and Oyster Bar and The First Annual Lisa Odum Birthday Luncheon @ Jonah’s Seafood House.