Donk’s Mexican Joint – Michagan Street NE
820 Michigan Street NEAnother pretty quiet night at work means another chance to actually get out for dinner. I’ve been going to the Qdoba at 25 Michigan quite a bit. Not sure why. Just craving their tacos.
I’ve been noticing a new Mexican joint popping up around town not really sure why there was all of a sudden a new chain moving in to the area. A quick Google search shows it’s not really a new chain, but an established chain branching out with a new concept.
Donk’s Mexican Joint is being brought to you by the people who have been in business as Taco Boy for many years in the Grand Rapids area. They came to the realization that people only think of tacos when they think of Taco Boy and they wanted to showcase the other items on their menu, including the burritos, so a name change was in order.
The newest addition to the Taco Boy stable is the Donk’s Mexican Joint on Michigan Avenue Northeast across the street from Grand Coney. The building, like the Taco Boy in Plainwell that is also now a Donk’s, used to be a Hot ‘n Now. The building has undergone an extensive renovation to make it fit the new theme of a Mexican place. Read more…
From a Bravo! Restaurant & Cafe email blast….
Valentine’s Day Take Out Dinner For Two
Enjoy a Bravo! dinner in the comfort of your own home on Valentine’s Day. Our chef, Shawn Hagen, is cooking a fabulous to-go (take out) dinner for two created especially for this traditional lovers’ Holiday. The dinner comes complete with heating instructions so you can pick it up cold, heat it at home and relish a quiet, romantic dinner. You will look and feel like a top chef without doing any of the work! Valentine’s Day Take Out Menu
Mixed Greens Salad
*****Beef Wellington Bordilaise
with Roasted Potatoes and Honey glazed carrots*****Bravo! Fennel Bread
*****Sparkling Wine
*****White Chocolate Mousse
Dinner for two $65.00
Call 269-344-7700 to reserve your meal.
Pick it up February 13 or 14, 2013
Happy Valentines!
Chef Shawn Hagen
Captain Jay’s Fish & Chicken – Grand Rapids
300 Franklin Street SEHoly crap did winter hit Michigan with a vengeance this week. Unlike people with a normal job, there are no snow days in my line of work. The last couple of days, I have spent a lot of time on the roads white knuckle driving all over the west side of the state. Today, my employer gave me somewhat of a break. I still had to make a trip to Northern Muskegon County, but after that, I had a pretty relaxing evening and time for a decent meal.
I drive around a lot on the Southeast Side of Grand Rapids and I come across a lot of rundown looking restaurants that I really want to try. I love “You Buy We Fry” places because they usually have pretty tasty wings.
Several times I have driven by Captain Jay’s Fish & Chicken on the corner of Franklin and Lafayette. It has always looked pretty busy whenever I would drive by, but I never really have time to stop. I know I’m going to need 15-20 minutes for the chicken to cook and I don’t always have that kind of time for lunch.
Captain Jay’s is a Detroit based chain specializing in Cajun chicken. The company was founded in 2003 and they have twelve locations with all but three being in the city of Detroit. There are two in Indianapolis and the lone store on the west side of the state on Grand Rapids’ southeast side. Read more…
Press Release – Secrets of the Kitchen at Food Dance
From a Food Dance email blast…..
Just call or click to make event reservations.
Jersey Giant Subs – Oakland Drive
7886 Oakland DriveMy little girl is 1! J and I have been asking ourselves how that happened for a couple weeks now. It seems like yesterday we were hanging out on the sixth floor at Borgess. My co-workers are already reminding me that it goes by fast as they take sent their babies off to college this year.
Along with turning one, it was time for L’s one-year check up at the pediatrician. We go to Borgess ProMed Pediatrics on Angling Road in Portage and L’s appointment was late in the afternoon. Neither one of us had eaten lunch yet and it was pushing dinner time, so I suggested a sandwich that would take care of both meals.
Jersey Giant Subs has opened their third Kalamazoo area location by taking over the space once occupied by Soup’R Heros on the corner of Oakland Drive and Centre Avenue in Portage right next to Full City Cafe.
If you’re familiar with Jersey Giant Subs, you won’t find any surprises in this new location. There’s a large open dining area with the order counter along one of the side walls. The large menu board with all 16 of the subs hangs behind the counter.
J and I eat at the Drake Road location quite often, so we both already knew what we wanted. I’m guessing the lady in front of us had never been to a JGS before as she was having a hard time grasping the concept….which really isn’t all that hard to grasp. Read more…
Press Release – Gourmet Cooking Classes at Salt of the Earth
From a Promote Michigan press release….
Gourmet Cooking Classes Come to Fennville’s “Salt of the Earth”
Hungry Village Tours and Salt of the Earth bring exclusive cooking lessons to the table.Saugatuck, MI – “Knead it,” “Grind it,” and “Toss it” at Salt of the Earth this winter! Join your friends at Salt of the Earth (SotE) for an exclusive glimpse into their kitchen as they present three intimate evenings with Chef Matthew Pietsch. These events will be demonstration based with hands-on elements throughout. Each event will begin at 6 p.m. and will last two to three hours. Included in these events will be a light, simple meal as well as recipes and instructional handouts.
“Salt of the Earth is typically closed on Tuesdays,” said David Geen of Hungry Village Tours. “Chef Matt is opening the restaurant specifically for these lessons so we have full use of the kitchen, restaurant, and most importantly, the complete and undivided attention of the chef!”
Tuesday, January 29th – “Knead It: The Secrets Behind SotE Seedy Salt and other Bread Techniques”. Salt of the Earth is known for their exceptional hearth-baked breads, including their signature loaf, Seedy Salt. Learn the secrets behind the SotE wood fired oven, wild cultured yeast, cold fermentation, and how to bake bread as it has been baked for hundreds of years. After the lesson, a simple dinner will be prepared and enjoyed with Chef Matt. Included with the lesson will be recipes for a simple approach to achieve SotE quality bread at home. Each participant will receive fresh-baked bread to bring home!
Tuesday, February 26th – “Grind It: The Art of Making Sausage”, also features a Michigan craft beer pairing. Pork is King at Salt of the Earth! SotE has featured its own house-made sausages since day one. Here is a chance to discover which cuts of meat are best to use, along with how to simply season pork. Discussion and demonstration will cover marinating, grinding, casing, and techniques for cooking a perfect link. As an added bonus, Michigan craft beer pairings will be explored with the flavor profiles in each sausage.
Tuesday, March 26th – “Toss It: Wood-Fired Pizza and Wine Pairing” will complete the series. At the centerpiece of the Salt of the Earth kitchen is an artisan wood fired oven. Chef Matthew has spent years perfecting SotE’s pizza dough and is anxious to pass this knowledge on. Amazing hand tossed dough combines with fresh locally sourced ingredients to create the perfect pie. Using a few special techniques for the crust, and under the direction of Chef Matt, participants will enjoy creating their own signature pizzas. Discussion will include tips to prepare amazing pizza at home. In addition, SotE Sommelier Jeremy Duggan will lead the group in a wine pairing discovering which varietals best accompany the pizza.
Classes will be limited to 20 people to maximize the experience. The cost for each event is $50.00 per person plus tax and gratuity. For more information and reservations, call Hungry Village Tours at (269) 857-1700 or Salt of the Earth at (269) 561-SALT, or visit www.hungryvillagetours.com or www.SaltOfTheEArthFennville.com
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Restaurant
5581 S. 9th StreetWell, winter sure hit in a hurry, huh? With the threat of an ice storm coming in at some point on Sunday, J and I wanted to get our errands done fairly early in the afternoon. She was really wanting to get to Meijer and get the grocery shopping done, but first, I wanted breakfast. Sunday is the one day of the week that we still have some time to go out for a meal and I wanted to take advantage of it.
Going out to eat has been getting a little bit tougher as L is getting older. When she was little, we could keep her in the carrier and she would be fine. After the carrier, we were still getting pretty lucky with a high chair and something to keep her distracted. Now, she’s pretty mobile and doesn’t want to sit still. She wants to crawl/toddle around and check out all the other customers in whichever restaurant we decide to eat at.
Because of all this, we’ve been hitting chains more. It’s not ideal for us as far as food goes, but it works a lot better when we’re in a place where there are a lot of other kids and it’s nice and loud.
It has been several years since I’ve eaten at a Cracker Barrel. I believe it was New Year’s Day about fifteen years ago. I don’t remember much about that breakfast (it was before I was 21, so no, I wasn’t drunk or hungover…no, seriously…I really didn’t drink until I was like 22…) and for some reason, I have never been back to a Cracker Barrel restaurant even though they seem to be everywhere.
The Kalamazoo area Cracker Barrel is right off I-94 at the 9th Street exit in Texas Township. It’s a little hard to get to. While the address is technically 9th Street, you have to follow an access road past the Microtel Inn to get in to the large parking lot. Read more…
Press Release – 6th Annual Chefs Challenge
From a Promote Michigan press release…..
Ricobene’s – Pulaski
5160 S. Pulaski Road #108When it comes to finding a restaurant in Chicago, my Father-In-Law is always my go-to. He’s an electrician, so he never spends very long in the same spot when it comes to work. Having worked at different job sites all over the Chicagoland area, he’s a good resource whenever J and I are looking for something new to eat.
Quite a while ago (probably a couple years), he suggested a pizza place that used to have a location not far from where they live in Oak Lawn. That location is now closed, but I passed a different location on 159th Street in Orland Hills a couple days ago which reminded me of the recommendation.
Orland Hills isn’t a terrible drive from my in-laws, but I decided to Google map to see if there were any closer.
I’m not sure if it’s any closer, but I did find a Ricobene’s on South Pulaski Road not too far from I-55. It’s one of four remaining locations in the Chicago area. There’s another one in the city on 25th Street as well as the location in Orland Hills and one in Bolingbrook.
Ricobene’s kind of covers all the bases when it comes to Chicago food. They do pizza. They do beef. They do Chicago Dogs. Yup, all the bases. Read more…
Revolution Brewing
2323 N. Milwaukee AvenueThe last couple of times we went home, J and I had planned to leave the baby with Grandma and go out for dinner. Before L, J and I went out to eat all the time. It was a way for us to relax and do something we enjoy. Since L, we’ve still gone out to eat, but it’s much more stressful now so we avoid the fancier pubs we used to love.
When we made a trip home in the beginning of December, we tried two nights to go out, but J wasn’t feeling great, so we passed. I still decided to make a trip downtown and tried to make a stop at Revolution Brewing. The place was so packed that night that even getting a seat at the bar would have taken over an hour, so I went for Italian beef instead.
We were back in Chicago for L’s first birthday. We spent Saturday at Gymboree Play & Music in Orland Hills with friends and family, but we still planned on staying in the Chicago area for a few more days.
On Sunday, J and L took a late morning nap then J asked if I wanted to go in to the city for lunch. I didn’t want to push a brewery on her since she isn’t really a fan of beer, but she suggested one…and how could I say no to that? Read more…
SW Michigan Dining 