Eating outside the box
Updated: January 28, 2013
CHAMPAIGN -- People are being encouraged eat outside of the box as Restaurant Week kicks off around the city. The week-long event started Friday. Fifteen local restaurants have special deals for $10, $20 or $30. You can try a new spot or something new on the menu at one of your favorite places.
"You can drive from New York to California and see the same things over and over," said Alan Pocaro, of Champaign. "So it's absolutely crucial for people to come to places like this so there's still a sense of regionalism."
Pocaro said he came to Pekara for the first time last year when he moved here. He said it's the love that's baked into the locally-made food that makes it extra special.
"Making bread is this really earthy, physical process," said Pocaro. "Creating food and sharing it with others is a really kind of intimate relationship. And that you can have that kind of relationship at a place like this is really important."
He and his wife usually get the same thing every time. But Restaurant Week gives them the chance to order something new.
"I think it's a really good opportunity for people like us to try all the different places and get a sense for the variety that's being offered," said Pocaro.
Store manager, Lauren Klein, said the restaurant has been part of the event each year. Because of it, she often notices new faces coming through the door.
"We usually do a lunch special and a drink special but this year we're doing a dessert plate which is really fun," said Klein.
She hopes some of the new faces will become familiar ones even after the week is over.
"It's just really fun to do things that a lot of the other local restaurants do and it's always fun to play with cake and offer specials," said Klein.
Restaurant Week wraps up Friday. If you want to see the menus, you can click on this link.
"You can drive from New York to California and see the same things over and over," said Alan Pocaro, of Champaign. "So it's absolutely crucial for people to come to places like this so there's still a sense of regionalism."
Pocaro said he came to Pekara for the first time last year when he moved here. He said it's the love that's baked into the locally-made food that makes it extra special.
"Making bread is this really earthy, physical process," said Pocaro. "Creating food and sharing it with others is a really kind of intimate relationship. And that you can have that kind of relationship at a place like this is really important."
He and his wife usually get the same thing every time. But Restaurant Week gives them the chance to order something new.
"I think it's a really good opportunity for people like us to try all the different places and get a sense for the variety that's being offered," said Pocaro.
Store manager, Lauren Klein, said the restaurant has been part of the event each year. Because of it, she often notices new faces coming through the door.
"We usually do a lunch special and a drink special but this year we're doing a dessert plate which is really fun," said Klein.
She hopes some of the new faces will become familiar ones even after the week is over.
"It's just really fun to do things that a lot of the other local restaurants do and it's always fun to play with cake and offer specials," said Klein.
Restaurant Week wraps up Friday. If you want to see the menus, you can click on this link.
