By Greg Olson
The unearthing of a decades-old menu from a once popular but long-closed Jacksonville restaurant formed the basis for an upcoming culinary event.
“My ‘aha’ moment came when I was looking through the menus pulled from Jacksonville’s 1975 time capsule,” said Brittany Henry, executive director of the Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and coordinator of the May 3 outdoor dining event, “Plates on State,” which is sold out.
“Seeing those pieces of our culinary history sparked the idea for this year’s theme – ‘Time Capsule to Table,’ Henry said. “It felt like the perfect way to honor where we’ve been while celebrating the incredible talent we have in our kitchens today.”
Henry said the time capsule menu that stood out was from The Beef and The Bird, a popular restaurant that was located in the Dunlap Hotel from about 1967 until the early 1980s.
“To draw inspiration from a place that was once such a staple in our community, and bring those flavors back to life in a modern way, felt incredibly meaningful,” Henry said.
She added that this year’s “Time Capsule to Table” event, which will be held in the 300 block of East State Street, will feature a five-course, chef-plated dinner with curated wine pairings. In addition, local musician Jeff Newman will provide music.
“Culinary tourism plays a powerful role in communities like Jacksonville,” Henry said. “It’s more than just a meal, it’s an experience that brings people together, supports local businesses, and tells the story of who we are. We’re so fortunate to have such a talented group of chefs and restaurateurs who continue to elevate our dining scene and create something truly special for both residents and visitors.”
The discovery of The Beef and The Bird menu also rekindled the memories of several Jacksonville residents, including Jan Shaffer Ryan, who was a full-time or part-time employee of the restaurant from the late 1960s until the mid-1970s.
“I did everything, but I was mostly a waitress,” Ryan said. “I subbed whenever anybody went on vacation. I was the salad lady when she went on vacation. I even washed dishes once.”
She recalled that most of the dishwashers were Illinois School for the Deaf students. “And that’s how I learned to swear in sign language, because whenever anybody brought dishes to them, they would swear,” Ryan said.
She also remembered delivering meals to Dunlap Hotel residents who lived above the restaurant.
“One of the residents we served was Mary Wadsworth, the aunt of Waddy Applebee of Jacksonville Savings & Loan,” Ryan said. “One day, I was bringing a meal to Mary and Waddy got on the elevator with me. He asked me how school was going. I told him I was taking one class [at MacMurray College]. We got to talking and he said, ‘Come see me at the bank.’ The gist of it was ‘We are grateful for all you do for the residents of the hotel, and especially for my Aunt Mary, and therefore, we are granting you a scholarship so you can go full-time at MacMurray.” She added that the grant also covered the cost of her college textbooks.
“I had two years under my belt, so the last two years at MacMurray were totally paid for,” said Ryan, who graduated from MacMurray in 1972 and began teaching at Armstrong Junior High School in Jacksonville in 1973.
Ryan has many fond memories of her time working at The Beef and The Bird.
“The Beef and [The] Bird was a community with the servers, kitchen staff and bar staff,” she said. “There was very little turnover.”
She recalled that Friday night’s restaurant special was catfish, which included a fried catfish filet, baked potato, salad, roll and a dish of sherbet for $3.
And Saturday’s special was either an 8-ounce top or strip sirloin steak, which included a baked potato, salad and a glass of wine for $3.50.
“And we were absolutely packed both nights,” Ryan said.
“The Beef and [The] Bird allowed me to make lifelong friends, including Ed McPike,” she said. “And it allowed me to graduate two years sooner than I would have and to begin my career in education. The Beef and [The] Bird also gave me an appreciation of different foods and different food prep that I use today. And it taught me how to deal with all kinds of people. It was a shame to me when The Beef and [The] Bird closed. It was such a great place.”
Marty and Nancy Henry Rhoades of Jacksonville, formerly of White Hall, had their wedding reception at The Beef and The Bird in August 1969.
“At that time, wedding receptions were generally held at a church hall, which many times were simply in church basements,” Nancy Rhoades said.
“My mother, Helen Schumm Henry, was originally from Jacksonville, and she explored the options for having our wedding reception in Jacksonville,” recalled Nancy Rhoades.
The Beef and The Bird was chosen because of it offered several options and could accommodate Marty and Nancy Rhoades’ wedding guest list.
“We brought the cake and The Beef and The Bird provided finger food, such as chicken salad puffs and a champagne fountain,” Nancy Rhoades said. “We thought the Beef and Bird’s offerings were impressive, and Marty and I laugh about it now since weddings today are such elaborate affairs. The Beef and The Bird also piped in music for people to dance, which we also thought was special. But the whole reception was over by 10 o’clock.
“The fact that I remember all of the wedding reception details almost 57 years later attests to the special place known as The Beef and [The] Bird.”
