June in June (Sat. June 26, 5:00), Peoria Heights

There has been some discussion about Chef Josh Adams new restaurant June in Peoria Heights, which some propose might be the best new restaurant in the Midwest and suggesting that Chef Adams may be a "rising star," and what better time to schedule an LTH visit than on a Saturday in June. I propose that a group of LTH'ers visit June on Saturday June 26th. If we dine at 5:00 p.m., it should permit us to make the three hour drive home before midnight for those who would rather not spend the night.

I have talked with the restaurant and Chef Adams will be cooking on the 26th, and we can get the chef's table. I spoke to them about the Chef's Menu (permitting the chef to add whatever dishes he would wish to cook).

If you are interested in this culinary adventure, please post or pm, as you wish. We can easily have eight diners and perhaps more.

For LTH discussion, see http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=27675&p=309590&hilit=June+Peoria#p309590

For Mike Sula's evaluation in the Chicago Reader see http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/june-restaurant-peoria-illinois-josh-adams/Content?oid=1814940

June Restaurant
4450 North Prospect Road
Peoria Heights, IL 61616
309-682-5863
http://www.junerestaurant.com

I Might be interested as this is less than 1.5 hours from my place.

what is the estimated cost per person?

I'd like to consider this with my husband. Does anyone know the area? I definitely don't think I'll drive home afterwards so I'd be looking for a cheap hotel.

I'm interested as well, probably with a plus one. Also interested to know the projected cost (I think i recall that the 8 course was $85-is the chef's table more than that?) Great idea GAF!!

Since my husband and I are recent Central IL transplants (living in Blormal, aka Bloomington-Normal), I was really excited about going to June with a group of Chicagoans, since it's only 40 minutes away! We probably could have had some LTHers stay overnight in our home. Unfortunately, we'll be in Beaver Creek, CO from June 9 to June 29 (I know, tough life). We look forward to hearing about it and will probably visit it soon as well!

I don't know Peoria, other than to know that there are plenty of motels and some nice hotels in the area. As for cost, I didn't ask at this point, because I wanted the chef to have free range to prepare a meal that he wants. I want to wait a week or so to find out how much interest there will be, but there certainly seems to be enough to continue with planning. I was told that there will be no cap on the number of diners, but I believe that the chef's table will seat eight, but we can get several tables (the chef's table is not in the kitchen, a la Trotter's, but has a view of the kitchen).

We might consider this, as said before I have large in-law family in Peoria and have been traveling there 3-5 times a year for 30+ years now. No one in the family is interested in food, all bland meat and potato eaters so it would be refreshing to find something like this. Peoria has a wide range of hotel options but surprisingly is not cheap. We have to stay in a hotel when we go down (allergic to S-I-L's dog) and a lot is in the $90- 130 range. There is also nothing really close to Peoria Heights, most lodging is downtown, out around the Grand Prairie Mall off War Memorial and I-474 or by the Northwoods Mall off I-74. We just have to check our schedules.

On June 1st, I will call the restaurant with the number of interested people, and will get an estimated cost. It is, of course, possible for LTH to constitute two separate tables (restaurants usually will want everyone at the table to have the tasting menu) - one with the Chef's tasting menu and another ordering from the prix fixe menu, although having all of us dine together will be preferable.

I just got off the phone with June. They are planning a nine-course menu that will show off what Chef Adams can do. It should be a truly memorable meal (and I TRUST in a good way). The meal will last from 5:00 p.m. until about 8:15 p.m., permitting people to return to Chicago if they wish. The cost of the meal will be $215/person, including tax and tip. It does NOT include beverages. In my experience it is often unfair to split wine/liquor, some people don't drink, others choose a glass, and others prefer a full bottle or wine pairing. They also have a modest corkage fee for BYOB.

I recognize that this price may scare some people away, but given that it includes tax and tip, it is not more expensive (and possibly less) than Alinea, Tru, Everest, or Trotters for a full tasting menu. And it will be the chef's table with a view of the kitchen. So it will be an occasion!

Now that you have the details, I would like a fairly firm commitment by June 9 (although we can add and subtract after that).

If you have any strong allergies the restaurant will work with us.

Sadly I will be out of town, but I look forward to the report so I can make my own way down for a dinner.

Round trip to Peoria is a fairly easy trip for me, done it many times before, if not for such a meal.

Sorry but this now won't work for us. Family event got in the way.

I have worked with June (handling PR) since prior to opening and can answer a few questions -

-- close by (I believe this is what the earlier poster mentioned off War Memorial Drive) there are a couple hotel options in the Peoria Heights area. These are closer than going to downtown Peoria. I've stayed at the AmeriCinn a couple times and it's been fine. (they have a pool and pool table/game room, popcorn if you have kids coming along - but confirm that when you call). That's your best closest option.

-- between June and the AmeriCinn is a place called Cyd's - good cafe for breakfast/lunch (though the hotel includes a lobby breakfast - nothing special - boxed cereal, wafflemaker, toast et al)

-- less than a minute from June is Grandview Drive - take the five minutes to drive up/down this, it's really pretty

-- as for the restaurant itself, there isn't a "chef's table" as you might be thinking. The room is basically a square with the open kitchen to one side and the bar to the back. there is a PDR but I think you want to be in the main DR. You can see some pictures on my website www.grapevinepr.net though these were taken preopening and the room has "filled in" since. My guess is that Josh is going to place tables together right by the kitchen pass.

-- if you happen to end up going on a Wednesday, there is a nice farmers market on Weds afternoons right outside the restaurant.

-- Starved Rock is about halfway between Chicago and June if you want to break up the drive. It's a solid three hours. You can take a train to Bloomington, which I've done (eaten early and caught the last train back) - but B-ton is 45 minutes away and so you have to figure that in, how to get to/fro. If you do drive, I like taking the expressway down and then taking back the route that goes along the river back - it's about the same time and a prettier drive. Google maps shows both options.

I hope you all enjoy it - and if you are in town Weds 6/16, Josh is demo-ing at Green City Market (10:30a) and then doing a dinner at North Pond that night. Stop by and say hello!
Jenn

This is all very helpful. At this point I would like to know whether there are any LTH members who are planning to attend. If not, it appears to be just three of us. If you are interested, let me know.

Gary--Thought this might be of interest to you:

From the 6/9/10 Dish column:
Reserve a seat for a dinner at North Pond (2610 N. Cannon Dr.; 773-477-5845), hosted by the rising star Josh Adams, the executive chef at June in downstate Peoria Heights. It’s $95 for six courses, on June 16th.

I hope that some people try Josh's cuisine, and then if they are impressed, join us at the "mother church" the next week. Our menu will be a special tasting menu, according to Josh's inspiration.

Tomorrow I will call June to give them the final number of guests at the table. As of now, there will be four of us, including two prominent St. Louis chefs, a prominent food blogger, and me. It should be a splendid and memorable meal. Granted it will not be inexpensive, but I am sure that it will be memorable, and we are likely to have time to meet with Chef Adams. If you are interested in attending, let me know either by pm or by posting. June is the time, June is the place. If you live on the southwest side, Peoria is only two hours, from Chicago only about three hours.

looks like a great meal Gary, wish i could swing it.

have fun

I recommend that everyone who cares about great modern American cuisine make the trip to Peoria Heights. At some point I will post about our 11-course dinner on the June thread on the Beyond Chicago board (don't expect it right away as I am quite busy right now). But the meal was very, very impressive, and some of the dishes were truly masterful. Dinner lasted from 5 p.m. until after 11 p.m., and my only complaints were the slowness of the pace (they need one or two more cooks) and the fact that the air conditioning was not working as it should. However, two St. Louis chefs, Mr. Plotnicki, and I enjoyed some world class cuisine. June is one of the wonderful restaurants that are now popping up in small towns and cities across the US. More later.

Current June restaurant thread