Five Guys Burgers and Fries – Portage
6286 S. Westnedge AvenueI have never been so excited for a chain restaurant to open. I think I’ve been pretty clear about my love of Five Guys Burgers and Fries over the past couple years. Every time I’ve been close to one, I’ve stopped and told you just how much I love the East Coast burger chain. You’ve been forced to read my blubbering comments and look at my delicious pictures from Orland Park (IL), East Lansing, Detroit, Gurnee (IL). I spared you a post from Chicago Ridge because I thought you had seen enough.
A week ago, my cholesterol got really scared when we finally got a Five Guys of our own right here in the Kalamazoo Metro.
Five Guys Burgers and Fries opened their doors last Monday on South Westnedge in the Southland Mall right next to Weight Watchers. I, unfortunately, was out of town on Monday so I couldn’t wait in line for the doors to swing open. In fact, it wasn’t until Wednesday that I loaded L up in to her car seat to get me some delicious burgers.
I wasn’t really expecting a line out the door on Day #3, but I was expecting it to be a little busy. The parking area in front of the store was pretty full and there was a steady stream of people going in, but there was also a steady stream coming out. Read more…
Brookfield Zoo
3300 Golf Road- Brookfield, IL 60513
- (708) 485-0263
- Website
Our last day in Chicago was probably the one we had been looking forward to the most. We had planned a trip to Brookfield Zoo with J’s mom and my parents.
Growing up less than 40 minutes from the zoo, J has spent quite a bit of time there. I can vaguely remember a few trips when my brother and I were pretty little, but my family grew about 70 miles from the suburban Brookfield Zoo.
The plan was to get there as the zoo was opening at 9:30. Since we would take surface streets from J’s parents, my parents, who would take Interstates most of the way, decided they would just meet us there.
Our plan worked pretty well as we pulled in to the south gate of zoo just after 9:30. I don’t know why, but it was kind of surprising to me just how “urban” the zoo was. It’s a 216 acre zoo in the middle of suburban Chicago. In fact, just to get to the south gate, you drive right through the Riverside Brookfield High School campus.
The first gate you come to is for the parking lot. Without a zoo membership, parking is $10/car. After parking the car and loading up the stroller, we then headed for the admission gate. Zoo admission is $15 for adults. L is still well under the age that we have to pay so it was just the three adults who had to pay to get in. Read more…
4010 W. 11th StreetThis is one of those times that I didn’t get a say in lunch. I mean, I probably could have, but it was J’s mom’s birthday, so I just kept saying it was up to her.
Her first choice was the Limestone City Grill and Lounge in Palos Heights, but we didn’t check the hours. Once we got there, we found they didn’t open until four and it was just a little before two, so we had to come up with a Plan B.
J’s mom and step-dad came up with a few ideas before her mom remembered a place we saw after breakfast two days earlier.
Quigley’s Southside Irish Pub & Craft Beer Bar is in the same strip mall as Niko’s Breakfast Club on the corner of 111th and Pulaski in Oak Lawn. The big draw for J’s mom and I was the “Craft Beer Bar.” The craft beer industry in Illinois is miniscule compared the Michigan scene. It’s not common to find at least one or two crafts on tap in bars like it is here.
J called ahead to make sure they were open and they were. Quigley’s is a sports bar first and foremost and since both the White Sox and Cubs were playing, it would make sense that the TV’s were on and all the guys who play Sunday Morning “Church League” slow pitch softball were taking advantage of the wing and drink specials. Read more…
From a Millennium Restaurant Group press release……
Shorts Brewing Co. to be Featured at Central City Tap House July 9 Through July 15
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Shorts Brewing Company—brewing out of Bellaire, MI since 2004—will be taking over downtown Kalamazoo’s Central City Tap House the week of July 9, 2012. Central City Tap House currently has 20 beer taps; 10 of which are import craft beers, while 10 are American craft beers (including a hand-pull cask). During this week nine Shorts beers will be featured on the American side of the taps.
This is second annual tap takeover from Short’s Brewing Co, the first taking place in July 2011.
“Last year’s event was so successful, we decided to do it again” says Central City Tap House General Manager Brandon Banicki. “Plus, it allows us to showcase one of our favorite breweries in the state of Michigan.”
Due to the fact that many of Short’s beers are seasonal and in limited quantity, Central City Tap House does not yet know the full list of beers featured. A representative from Shorts will be in the restaurant on Wednesday, July 11 at 5pm, to answer any and all questions about the beers, as well as to hand out some goodies from the brewery.
Central City Tap House welcomes Shorts Brewing Company July 9 through July 15 as they take over nine taps. For more information call Central City Tap House at (269) 492.0100
Al’s Beef – Taylor Street, Chicago
1079 W. Taylor StreetAfter a couple days at my parents house, J and I headed back to the Chicago suburbs to spend time with her parents. After J and L went to bed, I decided it was time to get the sandwich worth driving to Chicago for.
I wanted, ney, needed an Al’s Italian Beef. There’s all sorts of discussion over who has the best beef, but to me, there’s no comparison. I like Mr. Beef. I like Portillos. I LOVE Al’s.
Now, I could have saved myself some time and money by going to the Al’s just a few blocks from my in-laws, but what’s the fun in that? Instead, I hopped on the Stevenson and headed towards University Village.
This location on Taylor Street between Aberdeen and Carpenter Streets is the original Al’s Beef. The other locations are all franchise locations. They’re all delicious, but there’s just something about the Taylor Street location that you can’t get at the franchise.
It was a busy Saturday night near the UIC campus which made parking a little bit of a struggle. There’s street parking all along Taylor Street, but I wasn’t having any luck as I was approaching the red, lighted awning with white lettering. As I pulled up to the building, I noticed a parking lot. I didn’t see any signage that prohibited parking there, so I pulled in and found an empty spot near the back by the alley. Read more…
Niko’s Breakfast Club – Oak Lawn, IL
4002 W. 111th StreetMan, I’m a week behind on getting this blog posts up. I’ve learned in the last few months that babies make you tired.
Last weekend, J and I both took a few days off to spend with our families. We prefer to drive overnight when we go home, so when I got off work Thursday night, we loaded up the Ford and headed towards J’s parents in Oak Lawn, IL.
Our plan was to spend Friday and Saturday at my parents a little farther south, but J’s parents makes a good stopping point in the middle of the night.
Before heading to my parents, I told J we should go out to breakfast with her mom. Everyone seemed to like that idea.
Just recently, J’s mom found out that one of their neighbors owned a breakfast joints just a few blocks down the road. They had never been there, so we decided to go check the place out.
Niko’s Breakfast Club is in a strip mall on the corner of 111th and Pulaski in Oak Lawn (there’s also a location on Weber Road in Romeoville). With a name like Niko’s, we were expecting a little Greek diner. While the food was typical of a Greek joint, the decor was not. Read more…
From an Experience Grand Rapids press release….
ON TAP FOR JULY: GRAND RAPIDS AREA BREWERIES CREATE “BEER CITY PALE ALE”
Brew produced in celebration of city’s new Beer City USA title and Craft Beer Month (GRAND RAPIDS, MI – June 25, 2012) – Grand Rapids has yet another reason to toast the town. Ten area breweries have teamed to create Beer City Pale Ale, a new craft beer produced in celebration of both the city’s newest title and Craft Beer Month beginning July 1.“The breweries came together in a fun and fitting way to honor Grand Rapids’ newest claim to fame as ‘Beer City USA’ and July’s month-long celebration of craft beer. Cheers to each of them for such a creative and collaborative approach to making the most of these well-deserved accolades,” said Experience Grand Rapids President Doug Small.
The breweries collaborated on a recipe that resulted in a red pale ale, amply hopped with all Michigan grown cascade and nugget hops. Each brewery produced their own version of the beer, which they will offer on tap throughout July.
Participating breweries include Harmony Brewing Company, The Hideout Brewing Company, White Flame Brewing Company, Jaden James Brewing Company, Michigan Beer Cellar, Pike 51, The BOB, HopCat, Founders, and Schmohz.
According to Barry VanDyke of Harmony Brewing Company, a “few other bars lucky enough to get their hands on a keg will sell the beer as well.”
Last month, Grand Rapids was named “Beer City USA 2012” in a nationwide poll. The city shares the crown with Ashville, N.C. following a dead heat tie. In recognition of the burgeoning industry across the state, the Michigan State Legislature designated July as Craft Beer Month.
Experience Grand Rapids has paid tribute to the area’s craft beer community with its newly created Beer City USA logo and the addition of a Cool City. Great Beer. page to its website, where visitors can easily find area breweries as well as navigate a craft beer tour throughout West Michigan.
Press Release – Goose Island Beer Dinner at Burdick’s
From an Old Burdick’s email…I wish I didn’t have to work…I’m a fan of Goose Island…..
Press Release – Pharm-Phresh Philanthropy
From a Food Dance email…..
RAISE A GLASS AND CASH AT THE SAME TIME.
The Social Charity Circle of Kalamazoo and Food Dance are hosting an evening
to support Fair Food Matters, a non-profit organization that supports programs and
education around local food. Enjoy an evening of socializing for a $10 donation which
gets you a cocktail and entry into a raffle full of great prizes, including gift cards, fun
tchotchkes and a ticket to Food Dance’s annual Harvest Dinner. Oh yeah,
and you’re supporting a great cause right here in your community.
No reservations necessary, just show up.
Outpouring Coffee House
34020 W. M-43It’s been a while since J and I actually ate together. We’ve been on a couple weekend trips and her mom had been in town for a while, so eating out has kind of been on the back burner.
On our first Monday home together in a couple weeks, J asked me if I wanted to go out to lunch while she was feeding L. I already had a website pulled up. I was hoping she would ask that.
For quite a while now, I’ve been wanting to go to the Outpouring Coffee House in Paw Paw. The tiny coffee shop and cafe sits on the corner of M-43 and M-40 outside of Paw Paw. From Kalamazoo, it’s straight out on Main Street about halfway to Bangor.
We were shocked when we pulled in to the parking lot a little after 1:00 and found it packed. J asked if there was a used car lot next to the restaurant. There were that many cars in the lot.
After making a parking spot behind the building, we walked in to find a packed dining room. There was one table in the middle of the room that was open. J was already heading towards the lunch counter but quickly saw that I had found a table and followed me through the maze of tables. Read more…
SW Michigan Dining 