VEGAS FOOD NERD’S TREK ACROSS AMERICA (Day 5 Pontiac, IL)
Day 5 Pontiac, Illinois
With the vintage Trident recording console delivered safely back to her new home in Royal Oak, Michigan. We began the voyage cross country from Royal Oak, Michigan, back to Las Vegas, Nevada. I was sad about leaving my home state without getting more of my hometown favorites square Detroit pizza and those egg rolls I told you about in the last issue. We had to get back to town, so we left the same day, taking the southern route back to my adopted home Las Vegas.
The first stop was Pontiac, Illinois. There wasn’t much around our hotel, except for a place we passed on the way to check-in. There was a giant Cow statue out front, that sold us, so we decided to give it a try.
Baby Blues Restaurant
The restaurant feels like a familiar family gathering spot. There are warm wood accents on the walls, blue and floral-patterned booths, and an open view into the kitchen. It was a busy night, but we were lucky to get a table in the corner. The surroundings felt familiar, like visiting an old family friend or relative. The staff was warm and welcoming. The menu is pretty diverse with Italian dishes, Greek items, and classic comfort foods. We ordered their California Panini with fries and the hot pork tenderloin sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy. Before our sandwiches arrived, we started the meal with cups of their savory and definitely homemade Grandma approved delicious chicken soup. The panini was turkey, cream cheese, raspberry preserves, with spinach pressed to a crunchy finish between two slices of white bread. It was a unique flavor profile executed perfectly, and the fries were fantastic. The hot pork tenderloin was definitely the star on the table that night, though. The tenderloin is a massive piece of pork that has been pounded thin, then breaded and fried. Then in all of its greasy goodness is placed between toasted bread then drown in gravy with mashed potatoes and more gravy on the side. It’s an infamous Midwest dish, and for good reason, it was so good. Next visit, I am getting a selfie with that cow.
I will post day six soon. Thank you for joining me on this food nerd adventure. Now, go eat something.