Last January we had the First Annual Lisa Odum Birthday Lunch and I just realized we’re into the first week of March and we haven’t had the Second Annual LIsa Odum Birthday Lunch! Well, it’s time to correct that mistake right here and right now!
There’s the River Station Building on Water Street on the riverfront in downtown Peoria! Lisa has never been to one of my favorite restaurants, the Blue Duck BBQ Tavern, so I thought this would be a nice spot to have her birthday lunch. She agreed wholeheartedly so let’s get quacking to Blue Duck BBQ!
We’ll just walk down the brick sidewalk and here we are at Blue Duck BBQ Tavern. I’ve done quite a few blogs from here, but I’ve never done a luncheon blog, so this is a first! The only bad thing about a luncheon blog is it’s daylight outside and that horrible and nasty sun is shining down! Let’s get inside and escape the brightness...aaah, that’s better!
Okay as we enter the Blue Duck Tavern there’s a familiar face at the host station up front, it’s Ali, who’s had his picture taken many times for the blog! Below him is Amy who’s never had her picture taken for the blog for those of you at home keeping score. Great to see both of them!
I spy a familiar face there at the end of the bar, it’s the owner of Blue Duck BBQ Tavern, Kavan! Always wonderful to see Kavan and he told me that Blue Duck is celebrating their 2nd anniversary in April! We’ll have to come by with a present for them then!
There’s yet another familiar face behind the bar, it’s Annie who’s been bartending here ever since it opened up almost two years ago! She’s looking great as always and next to her is the generous amount of beers on tap here and there’s a tap list above that if you’re still keeping score. Oh and if you are still keeping score...well, could you stop it? It’s making me nervous. Thank you, now let’s keep this thing moving along!
Remember what I said earlier about that rotten sunshine being out in the daytime? Well you can see it streaming in here through the windows. Ugh! I found a table and planted myself in the corner where I found a patch of sweet darkness to sit in! Shortly after that Alex showed up with a glass of iced tea. I love it when that happens! Hmmm, now where’s Lisa?
There she is, looking as pretty as ever! She may have a birthday every year, but she never ages! Happy belated, birthday, Lisa!
It’s Lisa’s birthday, but she brought me a present! How nice is that! I opened it and it’s so cool! She took a picture of me when we had a Christmas lunch last year at Edge in Junction City! Check out that post here and look at the picture, she got it converted into a stained glass version of the photo an had it printed on canvas and framed! It’s so cool! Thank you, Lisa, I’m going to hang it up in a place of honor at the MBIP World Headquarters! Oh and for those of you still keeping score even though I told you to knock it off, I also got Lisa some birthday gifts, but those are back at her home in Champaign. I got her some miniature gifts to go along with a book we’re working on that will hopefully be out this year! Stay tuned for that and now please, I beg of you here...stop keeping score! Sheesh!
Speaking of Lisa’s birthday—and why wouldn’t we be, this is her birthday lunch after all, here comes Kavan with a special meal he’s prepared for this celebratory lunch and he’s put a candle in it! Lisa made a wish (I hope she wished everyone keeping score dies, but that’s just me, Lisa’s not that bitter or as mean as me) and blew out the candle! Hooray and happy birthday to you, Lisa!
Holy freaking moley, check out the lunch Kavan prepared for us, this is such a beautiful barbecued sight for hungry eyes! I asked him if we could have a little sampler of some of the dishes here at Blue Duck, since Lisa’s never eaten here and what he prepared is just amazing! There’s ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket and two styles of wings, their original (which won the best chicken wing in the official MBIP contest, check that out here) and the new Buffalo wing flavored style. There’s also three sides, beans (aaahhh!), Elotes and one of my favorite dishes here, the warm bacon potato salad! What a fantastic and delicious feast!
Cheers from Lisa and I from our corner table at Blue Duck BBQ Tavern! Lunch was so tasty and delicious and both Lisa and I agreed that it’s some of the best BBQ in the country and quite probably the world! Thanks to Kavan and everyone at the Blue Duck BBQ Tavern for a wonderful and memorable Second Annual Lisa Odum Birthday Lunch!
Meanwhile, back at MBIP World Headquarters, I’ve put the cool picture Lisa had made for me in and honored place in the hallway right under two Joan Jett framed photos! Thanks for the photo and meeting me for lunch, Lisa! Happy birthday to you and thanks as always for your friendship, it means the world to me! LYLXOXO! We’ll see you all tomorrow!
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212 SW Water Street
Peoria
309-981-5801
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Related Posts: The First Annual Lisa Odum Birthday Lunch and Lunch With LIsa Odum @ Jonah’s Seafood House and Oyster Bar!