The Iowa Machine Shed is hosting the "Iowa Pork Tailgate Challenge" on Saturday October 24th with all proceeds going to the Child Abuse Council.  Starting at 11am at the Iowa Machine Shed, up to 12 amateur grill contestants will be grilling and competing for a panel of judges and a people's choice award as they prepare their own specialty recipes using Pork Tenderloin or Pork Loin.  People can show their support and purchase a $2.00 ticket to sample the contestant's entrees and vote for their favorite amateur cook.  "The Shed enjoys celebrating October Pork Month and what better way then to have a tailgate competition and partner with the Child Abuse Council," states Jeff Grunder, manager of the Iowa Machine Shed.

For more information on the event or to be compete as an amateur cook, please call the Machine Shed Restaurant at (563) 391-2427 or visit www.machineshed.com. The Machine Shed is located at I-80 and Northwest Blvd in Davenport.

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Johnny's Italian Steakhouse will host an interactive cooking class on October 14th at  6:30pm.  Participants will learn expert tips from top notch chefs and will be given an opportunity eat what they make.  The chef will teach the class to make Johnny's Signature Crab Cakes; they are perfect for at home parties!  In addition, a door prize, such as meal certificates and recipe books, will be drawn at the conclusion of the class.  The cooking class is $10 to the public and includes light appetizers and a glass of wine or beverage.

For more information or to sign up, please call Johnny's Italian Steakhouse at 309.736.0100.

 

 

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The Mississippi Valley Growers' Association announces the following October special events at your local Farmers' Market - don't miss the fun, excitement and the locally grown fresh produce.

? The Davenport Farmers' Market at NorthPark Mall, 8:00 am until Noon, East of J. C. Penney's

  • October 3:  Apple Cider Press, taste some delicious fresh pressed cider
  • October 10:  Wine, grape juice and cheese tasting, compliments of our vendors
  • October 17:  Caramel Apple Day - don't leave without your apple for the day
  • October 24:  Carved Pumpkin contest - kids - don't miss out on the fun!
  • October 31:  Costume Party, get an early start for Halloween at the market.

? And, at the Bettendorf Market on Thursday, October 8th from 2:00 pm until 6:00 pm, the Annual Wiener and S'mores Roast.  The Bettendorf Market is located at 23rd and State Streets, parking is behind the vendors if you enter from the light at 23rd Street.

? Coming in November - the Indoor Market.  More details to follow.

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Thunder Bay Grille in Davenport will re-create a southern summer favorite - Cajun Seafood Boil on Saturday, September 26th starting at 4pm!  Head Chef Andy Wildermuth invites guests to experience a Cajun boil that includes crawfish, shrimp, mussels, corn on the cob, Andoullie sausage and red potatoes all cooked in a Cajun bouillabaisse broth.  Guests will be seated at tables that are wrapped in butcher block paper and the chef will empty the Cajun seafood boil in the center of the table.  It is an event that friends and family can all enjoy!

Call 563-386-2722 to reserve your table, price is $14.99 per person and includes salad, the Cajun Seafood boil and dessert. Thunder Bay's full dinner menu is also available.  Thunder Bay Grille is located at I-80 and Brady Street in Davenport.

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Take 'n' bake pizza giant named Platinum Award Winner in Restaurants & Institution's Consumers' Choice in Chains Survey; Among top 10 chains in highest overall scores

VANCOUVER, Wash. - September 22, 2009 - According to thousands of U.S. consumers, Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza is not only the "Best Pizza Chain in America" for the seventh straight year, but it's also one of the top 10 restaurant chains in the country. In the overall rankings among all restaurant categories, Papa Murphy's was one of only two quick service restaurants (QSR) in the top 10, joining other industry leaders such as P.F. Chang's China Bistro (NASDAQ: PFCB), Olive Garden and The Cheesecake Factory.

"The past year has been a great test," said John Barr, CEO at Papa Murphy's. "While many restaurant brands tried to save market share by reinventing themselves or their product offerings, Papa Murphy's has stuck to what we know our customers want - quality pizza with the freshest ingredients at a great value. It's what we've always stood for and our customers know they can count on us for that. We're honored that they consider Papa Murphy's not only the best pizza company in the country, but one of the best restaurants out there, period."
Earlier this year, more than 3,000 consumers rated over 200 chain restaurants on a variety of guest satisfaction attributes in Restaurants & Institution's Annual Consumers' Choice in Chains survey. Papa Murphy's received the highest possible accolade - the Platinum Award - in the pizza segment by a large margin, soaring 16% above the pizza category's second-place winner.  For full results of the survey, log onto www.rimag.com.

About Restaurants & Institutions
Restaurants & Institutions (R&I) (www.rimag.com) is the leading source of vital information for the entire foodservice industry, online and offline, covering chains, independent restaurants, hotels and institutions. Published monthly, R&I magazine is the only source of complete industry coverage and reaches more than 120,000 commercial and noncommercial subscribers, including executives who operate independent and chain restaurants, hospitals, colleges, schools and hotels/resorts, as well as dealers/distributors and consultants in the foodservice industry. R&I is published by Reed Business Information.

About Papa Murphy's
Papa Murphy's is the fifth-largest pizza chain in the country and the pioneer and leader of the take 'n' bake pizza segment. Papa Murphy's operates over 1,150 franchised and corporate-owned locations in 32 states and Canada. The Vancouver, Wash.-based company offers custom-made pizzas featuring high-quality fresh toppings generously layered on pizza dough that is made fresh each morning in each store. By baking Papa Murphy's pizzas at home, customers get to experience the home-baked aroma of a convenient, delicious meal that the brand is known for. In addition to handmade pizzas, the company offers a growing menu of take 'n' bake items, including Cheesy Bread, Cinnamon Wheels, and chocolate chip cookie dough. Papa Murphy's has been voted "Best Pizza Chain in America" for seven consecutive years by consumers nationwide in the Restaurants and Institutions "Consumers' Choice in Chains" survey and is a four-time recipient of Pizza Today's Chain of the Year award, most recently in 2009. For more information, visit www.papamurphys.com.

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Pork Dinner Fund-raiser

Thursday, September 17th

4:30  to 7 PM

Fellowship Hall

First Presbyterian Church - Milan

1620 W. First Street

Menu Includes:

Pulled Pork, hot baked beans, cheesy potatoes, coleslaw, dessert and drinks

Donation:  Adults $8   Children under 10 - $5

Proceeds to go to the pew re-upholstery project fund

Tickets Available at the door

Thunder Bay Grille host a Beer Dinner with special guest speaker Pat McHenry on Thursday, September 17th at 7:00 p.m.  He is a regional manager for Boulevard and has been with the brewery for nine years.  Boulevard has been named "Midwest's favorite craft brewery." Guests will enjoy a five-course meal, with each course paired off with Boulevard's hand-crafted brews. Executive Chef Andy Wildermuth will prepare dishes the highlight each brew's distinct flavors.

The cost per guest is $50; this includes tax and gratuity. If you have any questions or to make your reservation please call Thunder Bay Grille at (563) 386-2722 or visit www.thunderbaygrille.com for a full menu of the beer dinner.  Thunder Bay Grille is located at I-80 and Brady Street in Davenport, IA.

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Take 'n' Bake giant promoting pizza on the grill this summer; giving away free samples this week

VANCOUVER, Wash. - (June 16, 2009) - Road trip! Armed with a map of the U.S. and an industrial-sized Traeger Smoker Grill boasting 50-square-feet of cooking space, Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza is on a mission to demonstrate how easy, convenient and delicious its grilled pizzas can be. The Take 'N' Grill Tour's next stop is Papa Murphy's in Davenport, 2406 East 53rd Street. Owner Eric Nelson and his crew will be giving away free pizza samples from the grill this Thursday, June 18th from 3pm to 6pm.

"One of the many things we know about our customers is that they love to grill, and with the weather warming up it's a perfect combination!" said Nelson. "Papa Murphy's specially-designed aluminum grilling trays and specific grilling instructions found in our stores allow grillers to easily bake their pizzas on gas, charcoal or wood pellet grills. Our pizza has great 'grillability'!"

Papa Murphy's pizzas, made from premium-quality, fresh ingredients that are mixed, shredded, sliced and diced in each store every morning, can be easily customized to fit any grilling aficionado's favorite flavor preferences. Don't want to heat up the oven on a hot summer day? Baking a Papa Murphy's pizza on the grill is fast and delicious.

About Papa Murphy's:

Papa Murphy's is the fifth-largest pizza chain in the country and the pioneer and leader of the take 'n' bake pizza segment. Papa Murphy's operates over 1,100 franchised and corporate-owned locations in 32 states and Canada. The Vancouver, Wash.-based company offers custom-made pizzas featuring high-quality fresh toppings generously layered on pizza dough that is made fresh each morning in each store.  By baking Papa Murphy's pizzas at home, customers get to experience the home-baked aroma of a convenient, delicious meal that the brand is known for. In addition to handmade pizzas, the company offers a growing menu of take 'n' bake items, including Cheesy Bread, Cinnamon Wheels, and chocolate chip cookie dough. Papa Murphy's has been voted "Best Pizza Chain in America" for five consecutive years by consumers nationwide in the Restaurants and Institutions "Consumers' Choice in Chains" survey and is a four-time recipient of Pizza Today's Chain of the Year award, most recently in 2009. For more information, visit www.papamurphys.com.

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The Machine Shed Restaurant supports their community by serving local produce.  The local produce includes strawberry rhubarb, asparagus, sweet corn, fresh herbs, and tomatoes and will be served according to what is in season.

Strawberry Rhubarb is hand cut from Stems and Vines in Wheatland, Iowa.  Each day, while it is in season, the chefs make Jeff Grunder's Family Rhubarb Crisp (see attached for Rhubarb Crisp Recipe).

Asparagus is hand picked from Stems and Vines in Wheatland, Iowa.  It is at the Machine Shed in less than an hour after picking - never frozen or canned.  At the Machine Shed, the asparagus is grilled to order and crisp.

Kurt's Green Acres in Bettendorf grows 10 acres of corn each year for the Machine Shed.  Rows of eight are alternated so ensure peak freshness every week.  Five hundred ears of corn are served each day at the Machine Shed.  A local student shucks the corn nightly and it is cooked in a special corn roaster. The roaster is a corn rotisserie that caramelizes the natural sugars in the corn.  Then, it is served fresh to each guest.

Each week, servers hand-cut more than 200 pounds of tomatoes from Kurt's Green Acres in Bettendorf.  The tomatoes are sun ripened on the vine.

The Machine Shed plants their own and picks their own fresh herbs.  They add flavor to the garlic herb sauce and steak stuffing.

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June 11, 2009 is the annual Spring Celebration at the Bettendorf Farmers' Market located at 2117 State Street. At the Spring Celebration, the Eastern Iowa Dairy Producers will be providing complimentary ice cream for everyone! The S.M.A.R.T. Bus will be there with free children's books. The Bettendorf Librarian will offer children's crafts and there will be balloons, face painting, puppets and more! Come join the fun and pick up fresh produce and baked goods for your family every Thursday from 2pm until 6pm. Its a great way to spend the afternoon and support local farmers.  Note: go to the stop light at State and 23rd streets and enter the parking lot there to avoid the traffic on State Street.

The Market offers locally grown annuals, perennials, herbs and fresh produce. You will find meats, eggs, jams, honey, fresh baked goods, arts & crafts, jewelry and a variety of hand-made items for your home. It is a great way to begin your weekend and stock your refrigerator with healthy, locally grown fresh foods.

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