Craving a bit of home cooking? Stop by the Shell Gas Station (275 E. Winslow Road) at the corner of Winslow Road and Henderson Street to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner at MJ's Kitchen. Owners and operators Ci Jones and Robert Miles opened their shop inside the gas station on April 1 and are open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Jones said they started out serving breakfast and now offer breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as any type of comfort food. “There’s at least one thing on the menu that you’re going to love,” she said, just before one of the patrons walked in.
“Friendly, fresh food delivery,” reads a sign posted near the food in the warming area, which includes breakfast items like biscuits and gravy, bacon and sausage sandwiches, breakfast burritos, shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles. Jones said she started cooking as a child, learning in her mother's kitchen.
Lunch options are mostly finger foods, including fried jalapenos, pizza puffs, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, chicken tenders, fried okra, cheeseburgers (single or double), gyro cheeseburgers, gizzards, chicken sandwiches, tacos (beef, chicken, steak), fish sandwiches, salmon burgers, and Italian beef.
Diners offer wings (two, five or 10 pieces), tenderloin, catfish, meatloaf, turkey with gravy or ribs and two side dishes. Options are macaroni, green beans, baked beans, spaghetti, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes or collard greens. The 10-piece wings come with two side dishes, Jones said.
A variety of desserts are available each week, from deep-fried doughnuts to pies and cookies.
Those with special requests can place orders 24 hours in advance for pickup — Jones said one person asked for a Fruity Pebbles pancake sandwich — and all customers' names will be entered into a drawing at the end of the month for a free meal.
In addition to stopping by, you can call ahead to place your order at 812-322-3628 (curbside pickup available in case of rain) or order through DoorDash. For more information, visit MJs Kitchen on Facebook.
Bloomington Chocolate Company celebrates with brownie bars
To celebrate its 14th anniversary, Bloomington Chocolate Company will host a build-your-own brownie bar on Saturday, June 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a variety of treats (mini M&Ms, Reese's Pieces, crushed pecans, etc.), frostings (dark chocolate balsamic, vanilla buttercream, peanut butter) and chocolate or caramel toppings to accompany your brownies, all for $6 each. Bloomington Chocolate Company is located inside the Olive Leaf store at 2534 E. Third St. in Eastland Plaza.
FARM adds summer appetizers and main dishes
FARMbloomington has a new summer dinner menu with dishes like an appetizer of vegan tomato bisque with coconut milk, basil and roasted garlic, and garlicky cauliflower and cheese dip served with toasted French bread.
Orchard Pizza with peaches, Capriole goat cheese, basil, Hoosier hot honey and baby arugula salad is a new main course dish. Other dishes include Greek eggplant stuffed with Parmesan, tomato, feta, summer vegetables and breadcrumbs served with Greek salad and tzatziki sauce; and spicy New Mexican style grilled cauliflower steak with black beans, rice and roasted red pepper coulis. On hot days, try the new Monroe County Summer Salad with mixed baby greens, Maytag blue cheese, sweet peas, cucumber, carrots and radishes.
FARM also offers regular summer desserts, all available for purchase at 108 E. Kirkwood Ave.
Please contact Carol Kugleremail address
