Meet Journal Star food and dining reporter Cas Waigand
Journal Star reporter Cas Waigand covers food and restaurant news throughout the Peoria area.
Christmas Day is just around the corner, falling on Wednesday, Dec. 25.
The holidays offer a time to gather with family and friends, often around a table nearly overflowing with good food. Maybe you are hosting this year and need a meal for 25, or perhaps you plan to celebrate over the weekend and only need a plate for yourself on Christmas Day.
Whatever the case, here is a look at the Peoria-area businesses offering holiday meals to enjoy at home. If you have a business to add to the list, contact CWaigand@gannett.com.
Barrack’s Hospitality Group
What they offer: Individual orders, six-person meals and desserts are available.
Individual meals include a Tuscan breast of chicken for $16. The meal includes cream sauce with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes, Cavatappi pasta, green beans with bacon and onion and a roll.
Other meals include apricot glazed sliced ham for $16 and prime rib of beef with horseradish cream sauce for $25. Both meals include au gratin potatoes, green beans with bacon and onion and fresh baked rolls. A slice of pie can be added to individual meals for $3.
The entrees are also available for groups of six and include the same sides plus a sweet corn casserole. The chicken and ham meals are each listed for $125, and the prime rib meal costs $175.
For dessert, customers can order apple pie for $15, cherry pie or fruits of the forest pie for $16, a holiday dessert box with cookies and brownies for $16 or apple caramel walnut pie for $18.
How to order: Customers can email catermail@caterinn.com, call (309) 692-3990 or order online at https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Christmas-Dinners-To-Go—.html?soid=1102816857825&aid=pLPwnse4uWc. Orders must be placed by Dec. 20.
When is pickup? Dec. 23 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. and Dec. 24 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Address: 1224 W. Pioneer Parkway, Peoria
Bob Evans
What they offer: Bob Evans offers various farmhouse feasts, family sized sides and pies. Customers can order meals which feed four, eight or up to 10 people.
Four-person meals include a slow-roasted turkey farmhouse feast for $94.99 and a hickory-smoked ham farmhouse feast for $84.99. Each meal includes dressing, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn, green beans with ham, rolls and pumpkin pie. The turkey dinner also includes cranberry relish.
The restaurant also offers slow-roasted turkey and hickory-smoked ham meals for eight people. The meals cost $124.99 and $114.99, respectively, and include everything previously mentioned, as well as pumpkin bread.
A premium farmhouse feast for $159.99 and a slow-roasted pot roast farmhouse feast for $164.99 are also available, and each serve up to 10 people.
How to order: Order online at https://www.bobevans.com/menu/farmhouse-feast.
When is pickup? Customers can select a date and time to pick up their order. Bob Evans also offers delivery.
Address: Multiple Bob Evans restaurants operate in the Peoria area. Find a nearby location at https://www.bobevans.com/locations.
Cracker Barrel
What they offer: At Cracker Barrel, the online heat n’ serve menu includes a French toast bake, various pies and three dinners.
Holiday dinner options include:
Holiday heat n’ serve family dinner, which feeds four to six people, for $124.99. The meal features sugar cured ham, dressing, gravy, cranberry relish, green beans, mac n’ cheese and yeast rolls.Prime rib heat n’ serve family dinner, which feeds four to six, for $149.99. The meal includes prime rib, au jus, horseradish sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, mac n’ cheese and rolls.Holiday heat n’ serve feast, which serves eight to 10, for $184.99. The meal includes sugar cured ham, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry relish, green beans, mac n’ cheese, rolls, apple streusel pie and pecan pie.
Four individual pies are available for order.
How to order: Order online at https://www.crackerbarrel.com/catering/heat-n-serve.
When is pickup? Heat N’ Serve meals are available for pickup from Dec. 21 to Dec. 28. A 24-hour notice is required. Pies are available until Dec. 28.
Address: 150 E. Ashland St., Morton
Cyd’s Take Away Market
What they offer: For Christmas, Cyd’s offers breakfast dishes, starters, salads, sides, entrees and desserts.
Customers can order breakfast items such as a 9-inch giant cinnamon roll breakfast cake for $30 and maple baked pears with yogurt and granola, which feeds four, for $32. An everything bagel breakfast casserole and cranberry-eggnog sweet bread are also available.
Entrée options include:
Coq au vin − which is French chicken stew with brandy, wine, garlic and herbs with bacon, pearl onions and mushrooms − for $18 per serving.Crispy garlic parmesan salmon for $32 per pound.Brown sugar roasted pork tenderloin, which feeds four people, for $60. The pork is stuffed with bleu cheese, sage, garlic and bourbon-soaked figs.Baked ziti with sausage and spinach, which serves 8 to 10 people, for $80.Beef tenderloin with a port wine reduction sauce for $225 for 3 pounds or $375 for 5 pounds.
The menu features sides such as green beans, honey butter glazed butternut squash and roasted brussels sprouts. Dessert options include gingerbread cheesecake, pink peppermint bark macarons and more.
Find the full menu at https://cyds.biz/CHRISTMAS2024/.
How to order: Call (309) 685-1100 and select option 3 or email Ann@cyds.biz. Orders must be finalized by 6 p.m. on Dec. 18.
When is pickup? Dec. 24 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Address: 5805 Knoxville Ave., Peoria
Hick’ry Stick
What they offer: Hick’ry Stick offers various ala carte items, as well as meals for six to eight, 10 to 12 and up to 25 people.
The family meal serves six to eight and includes one entrée, one stuffing, two sides, cranberry sauce, a dozen cornbread muffins and a dessert. The meal costs $109.95.
The large turkey meal is listed for $309.95 and can feed up to 25 people. Along with the turkey, the meal includes one stuffing, two sides, cranberry sauce, two dozen cornbread muffins, two pies and one additional dessert.
Find the full holiday menu at https://www.facebook.com/hickrycatering.
How to order: Call (309) 264-0269 or email ryan@hickrystick.com with Holiday Order as the subject line. Orders can be placed until 5 p.m. on Dec. 20.
When is pickup? Dec. 24
Hy-Vee
What they offer: Various brunch and dinner options are available.
Brunch is available for two, four or six people. The meal includes orange juice and five breakfast items. Prices are listed as $29.99, $49.99 and $59.99, respectively.
Hy-Vee also offers dinner options which can feed two to 12 people. A ham or turkey dinner for two − which includes mashed potatoes, two additional sides, gravy and dinner rolls − costs $39.99. The Crowd’s Choice gourmet ham and turkey, which feeds 12, is priced at $289.99. The meal includes a turkey, honey-glazed spiral ham, mashed potatoes, four large sides, gravy, two dozen rolls and two pies.
How to order: Order online at https://www.hy-vee.com/shop/Holiday-Meals-C42.aspx.
Address: 4125 N. Sheridan Road, Suite 20, Peoria, and 7610 N. Orange Prairie Road, Peoria.
Mike’s Cobbler Corner Family Restaurant
What they offer: Customers can order a Christmas dinner special with slow roasted beef, homemade dressing, green beans, mashed potatoes with gravy and a roll. The restaurant’s apple cobbler and chocolate pie are also available for preorder.
How to order: Call (309) 347-2666
When is pickup? Dec. 24 until 2 p.m.
Address: 1534 N. 8th St., Pekin
Untamed Chef
What they offer: At Untamed Chef, the Christmas menu includes hors d’oeuvres, main courses and desserts.
Entrees, which are served with two sides, dinner rolls and bacon jam butter, include:
Six cheese lasagna, which feeds 12 to 14 people, for $65.Spiral ham for $120.Whole smoked turkey for $160.Smoked brisket for $180.Whole beef tenderloin for eight to 10 people for $300.Prime rib, which is priced by the pound.
For hors d’oeuvres, the menu includes items like bourbon chicken bites, warm crab Rangoon dip, mini crab cakes and more.
How to order: Call (309) 231-0906
When is pickup? Dec. 24 from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Address: 7338 N. University St., Peoria