Don't want to cook Christmas dinner? Cater from one of these Tazewell County places
Whether it’s the fault of a busy work schedule, a lack of cooking skills, a pack of invading dogs; a home-cooked Christmas feast is not always feasible.
With the difficulty of finding restaurants that are open on Christmas Day, some merrymakers plan ahead and have their holiday feasts catered.
Here are a few Christmas catering options in Tazewell County.
Bob Evans
Location(s): 304 N. Main St. East Peoria; 3440 Court St., Pekin
What: In addition to a year-round choice of three Farmhouse Feasts, Bob Evans franchises offer a Holiday Hot Family Meal to go for $100. The ready-to-heat holiday dinner feeds six people and includes slow-roasted turkey and hickory-smoked ham. Bob Evans locations will be closed on Christmas Day.
For more: bobevans.com
CookUnity
What: A chef’s collective operating throughout the country; CookUnity offers a wide selection of meals that varies by region. The meals are cooked daily by top chefs in the area and delivered. Instead of the traditional ham or turkey, CookUnity customers in the Midwest might sample such festive fare as Jose Carces’ crispy plantain-crusted chicken or Chris Ratel’s braised short ribs with a red wine reduction.
The good news is that the collective is delivering holiday meals in Tazewell County. The bad news is that the service is available only to subscribers who sign up for weekly meal plans.
For more: cookunity.com
Cracker Barrel
Location: 150 E. Ashland St., Morton
What: Cracker Barrel franchises throughout the United States are offering three heat-and-serve holiday dinner options that are available for pick-up Dec. 21-28. The Holiday Ham Heat n’ Serve Feast serves eight to 10 people and costs $165. For smaller gatherings, the Holiday Ham Heat n’ Serve Family Dinner and the Prime Rib Heat n’ Serve Family Dinner accommodate four to six people for $115 or $135 respectively.
For more: crackerbarrel.com
EZCater
What: A Boston-based company, EZCater connects with over 100,000 restaurants and caterers nationwide through an online marketplace. In Tazewell County, the network offers approximately 40 catering options, ranging from pizza to Middle Eastern cuisine to barbecue. Restaurants in the EZCater network typically have a spending minimum for catering.
For more: ezcater.com
Moe’s Southwest Grill
Location: 130 Spinder Dr., East Peoria
What: For merrymakers wanting a Southwest-style Navidad, Moe’s franchises will cater a selection of taco, fajita or nacho bars for pick-up or delivery. The restaurant also caters chili con queso and pre-rolled burritos.
For more: moes.com
Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen
Location: 103 N. Main St., East Peoria
What: Known the rest of the year for Cajun-style fried chicken, Popeye’s stores across the country delve into turkey at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Customers can pre-order a pre-cooked Cajun-style turkey for delivery in time for Christmas for $99.
For more: popeyes.com
This article originally appeared on Pekin Daily Times: Catering Christmas dinner? Here are a few Tazewell County options
