Pizza Papalis Taverna
553 Monroe StreetWork trips can be fun. Exhausting, but fun. This past weekend, a couple co-workers and I headed to Detroit for the weekend. Our day started early on Friday in Grand Rapids and finally wrapped up late Monday afternoon.
In between, we spent the whole weekend in downtown Detroit putting in 16+ hour days.
On the first night, we were sitting around near the end of the day and started talking about dinner. The last thing we had eaten was McDonalds in Lansing about ten hours ago.
It was getting pretty late and we weren’t really sure what was open. We still had about an hour and a half of work left when I suggested pizza. The co-worker that was traveling with me had talked earlier about a pizza place a few blocks from where we were, but couldn’t remember the name of it. I knew exactly what he was talking about.
For those that don’t already know, Pizza Papalis is a Detroit chain that specializes in Chicago Style pizza. A few years back, I had carry-out from the Southfield location. J and I have always attempted to go to Pizza Papalis Taverna in Greektown when we go to Tigers games, but have never had any luck with that. Read more…
Hard Rock Cafe Four Winds
11111 Wilson RoadAfter a few days in Chicago, it was time to head home. L has not been a fan of car rides lately, so we decided to split it up and stop for lunch. The place I wanted to stop in Union Pier doesn’t open until 5:00 during the week, so that wasn’t going to happen. Instead, I suggested we check out the new Hard Rock Cafe in New Buffalo.
It has been several years since either of us hadn’t eaten at a Hard Rock. For me, it was in St. Louis at least 15 years ago.
We knew that Hard Rock had opened at Four Winds Casino, but, as we pulled in to the casino, we were hoping there would be an exterior entrance or at least one through the hotel. We saw neither.
I went in to scout things out. When I went in the main casino entrance, I saw no signs for the cafe. I did, however, see a map on the wall, so I went to find the Hard Rock. According to the map, it was right off the casino floor. I was starting to wonder if we could even bring L in.
I saw the sign through the slot machines and walked back that way to ask about bringing a kid in. The hostess asked me if I wanted a table when I walked in. I said maybe. First, I asked about bringing in my daughter. She said it was fine. There’s a red walkway on the carpet that leads from the hallway through the casino floor to the Hard Rock. The instructions I was given was to stay on the red carpet and don’t stop and I was more than welcome to bring in my daughter. Read more…
Smokin’ Hot Smokehouse
13849 S. Cicero Avenue- Crestwood, IL 60445
- (708) 388-7665
- No Known Website
- No Online Menu
The big plans for the day was the Bears/Lions game. Before that, J and I needed to get some lunch. I woke up pretty late and J and her mom had already given L something to eat. They were actually just getting started on the project for the day. Carving a pumpkin.
J asked what I wanted to do for lunch. She wanted me to go pick something up, but neither of us really had a taste for anything.
We have passed a BBQ place on Cicero several times in the last year or so and I asked if that would be ok. She said she didn’t care, so I headed out to pick up lunch for everyone.
Smokin’ Hot Smokehouse is on South Cicero right across the street from the Crestwood Village Hall. I pulled in to the parking lot a little after noon and was a little surprised to find it empty. I drove around to the front to see if they were open. I saw a flashing “Open” sign in the front window, so I parked an headed in.
The inside of the place is actually really nice. It’s not the typical roadhouse style BBQ place, but it’s more of a nice pub with a large bar and a couple levels of dining space. Read more…
Bengston’s Pumpkin Farm
13341 W. 151st Street- Homer Glen, IL 60491
- (708) 301-3276
- Website
After lunch at Rock Bottom Brewery, the family loaded up in two cars to make the short 10 mile trip to our destination of the day. Bengston’s Pumpkin Farm.
We sort of went back and forth on where to go. The original plan was Bengston’s, but then my brother brought up County Line Orchard in Hobart, IN. I was on board with that except for the fact it was a further drive for us. L hasn’t been traveling really well lately and I wanted to go someplace that was a little closer to where we were staying.
The drive from the restaurant to the farm should have only been about fifteen minutes….should have been. You see, a 70 degree day brought out what seemed like all of Chicago to Bengston’s.
We hit some pretty bad traffic about half a mile from the farm. Cars were blocking the intersection. It was a nightmare. By that point, we were committed to Bengston’s and L was already getting a little cranky. It took us about a half hour to go four tenths of a mile to the corn field that was doubling as overflow parking.
That still put us a pretty good walk from the entrance to the farm. We got L ready to go with a quick diaper change then got her in to J’s Boba Carrier. My brother took his girls and walked ahead of us because both of them needed to use the potty. That ended up working out for us. Even the freakin line just to get in to the gate was going to take twenty minutes. As we were walking by, my brother reached out and stopped us so we could get in line with them. My parents, for whatever reason, bought their tickets online but didn’t tell us to…they got to skate right by the entire line and waited for us while we patiently waited to get in. Read more…
Rock Bottom Brewery – Orland Park, IL
16156 S. La Grange RoadJ and I are spending another extended weekend back home in the Chicago area. My birthday is Tuesday and this year, J got me tickets for the Bears vs. Lions Monday Night game at Soldier Field.
Like anytime we go home, we do our best to see both sets of Grandparents. Since we were staying with J’s parents on the south side of Chicago, my parents asked if we wanted to meet at a pumpkin patch somewhere.
The first suggestion was Bengton’s Pumpkin Farm in Homer Glen. That sounded good to us. It was about a half hour from J’s parents and it’s a place that J went to as a kid and has fond memories of.
First order of business, as it always is, lunch. I compiled a list of restaurants in chain heavy Orland Park. To my surprise, everyone picked the brewery.
Rock Bottom Brewery is a which originated in Denver. The story goes they were supposed to chain Walnut Brewery, but because their location was on the bottom floor of the Prudential Building, the name was changed to Rock Bottom. The chain is part of the CraftWorks Restaurant and Breweries family which also owns Old Chicago.
My brother and I ate at the downtown Chicago location several years ago. He remembered really liking the place so that’s why he was on board. The rest of my family just thought it looked good and would be a good place with three kids. Me? I wanted beer. Read more…
Press Release – Gingerbread House Decorating at the Union Cabaret
From a Millennium Restaurant Group press release…..
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chicken Coop – Kalamazoo Township
2120 Sprinkle RoadI ended up in Kalamazoo tonight on a wild goose chase. As regular readers of my blog know, I live in Kalamazoo, but work in Grand Rapids. Every so often, I end up back in Kalamazoo on job related activities. Tonight was one of those nights.
After finishing up my task, I wanted to find something for dinner. I was on Sprinkle Road heading back to I-94 when I realized I was coming up on a Chicken Coop. I figured I could pick up something there to eat.
Regular readers of this blog will also know that my Chicken Coop experiences are mixed. I’ve had really good luck with the South Westnedge and Plainwell locations and a not-so-great experience at the Portage restaurant.
Still 100% confused on how the Chicken Coop franchise/chain thing is set up. I do know that the Kalamazoo Township location on Sprinkle Road just to the south of the BL is under the same ownership as the Portage, Watervliet, and Paw Paw locations.
The thing that makes this location different from most of the others is that this is a walk-up/drive-thru location only. There is no inside dining room. Most patrons use the drive up, but I opted to walk up. Read more…
Press Release – Roasting and Frying Class at Food Dance
From a Food Dance email…
Tuesday, October 30th from 5-6:30pm or 7-8:30pm
Two important skills to have in your tool box, since you can apply them to just
about anything. One in a series of Techniques Cooking Classes. Join Chef Robb
in our kitchen for demos, a bit of hands on and lots of great smells. Your choice
of either session. $45 per person.
Just click to make event reservations.
Press Release – Cider and Donuts Back at Sweetwater’s
From a Sweetwater’s Donut Mill email
We are featuring our ever-popular fall favorites including cinnamon-sugared, spicy pumpkin, powdered sugar and the traditional plain, cake donuts. To truly enjoy the taste of fall, have your favorite Sweetwater’s donuts with a glass of hot or cold tree-ripened fresh apple cider.
Enjoy your favorite fall donuts to share the season with family and fiends with a glass of delicious, apple cider!Click here for more information about Sweeetwater’s
Hurry in today, the season won’t last long!
Three store locations in Kalamazooand Battle Creek.
We’re open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
Our donuts are made freshthroughout the day.
Marta’s Fine Foods
6541 Stadium DriveI still have a list of places that have recently opened that I just haven’t had time to get to. This afternoon, J had a hair cut appointment which left me with some more Daddy-Daughter time.
By the time J left, L was almost ready for a nap. I hadn’t eaten lunch yet and just wanted a sandwich. There are a few places that have opened recently that have limited sandwich options on their menu that I haven’t been brave enough to drag J to. Since I was by myself, I figured it was time to knock one of my list.
The one I chose is a place that has been recommended to me many times since it opened last spring.
Marta’s Fine Foods is near the corner of Stadium Drive and 9th Street in Oshtemo Township. It actually took over the space that used to be Cool Beans Cafe. Marta’s is more than just a little restaurant situated in a small strip mall. It’s actually a really unique shop that happens to offer a limited lunch menu.
Marta’s specialty is European Deli meats and cheeses. They have a display pure of high end meats, cheeses, and sausages on one side of the building which they will give you small taste of to entice you to buy. The other side of the building is a small dining area with a few tables. Read more…
SW Michigan Dining 