Mandarin Orange Propel is Back!!!
Sorry, I’m a little geeked out. A few years ago, I wrote about my disappointment that Propel pulled the Mandarin Orange flavor off the shelf when they discontinued the Propel w/Calcium line.
Right after it was discontinued, my Mother-In-Law bought up all the Mandarin Orange she could find. I drank it all but one bottle. It’s one of those cases where I was so sad to see it go, I didn’t want to drink the last bottle, so it’s been sitting in my fridge ever since.
I no longer have to mourn the fallen flavor. Look what I found at Meijer today…. 🙂
Amore Pizza
117 W. Michigan AvenueL was starting to get a little cranky and J really wanted to take a shower before going to bed. I asked if she wanted to go on a little road trip. J asked what I had in mind and I said pizza.
It was dinner time anyway and someone had just recommended a pizza place in Paw Paw to me. L sleeps pretty good in her car seat so I knew the trip down I-94 would give J enough time to do what she wanted to do and I got pizza. Win win.
Amore Pizza is on West Michigan Avenue just to the west of the downtown business district. I put in our order for an 18″ thin crust pizza from home and by the time I got to the small store, it was ready.
The restaurant is a full service, sit down joint with a pretty typical Italian restaurant decor. The paint scheme is the same as an Italian flag and the table cloths were the red and white checkered ones you see at a lot of pizza joints. Read more…
Player’s Grill
1290 M-83J sort of let me sleep in this morning. About 11:30 she went down to the basement to throw in a load of laundry leaving L on the floor watching TV. L didn’t like that. Not long after J left, L started screaming. I got up to see why she was screaming because she doesn’t do that when one of us are with her. As soon as I picked her, she stopped then I went looking for mommy.
Since I was up, I asked J if she wanted to go out to eat. She was up for it so we got L ready and got out the door.
I’ve been wanting to go to The Fly Inn near Plainwell, but we got there as they were closing up for the day. They only do breakfast on Sunday and close at noon.
Since we were already in Plainwell, I figured we should just stay in town and check out someplace we haven’t been yet.
Player’s Grill is right on M-89 on the west side of US 131 near the Walmart. It’s a pretty non-descript building that really would have never drawn my interest except for the sign near the road. Underneath the pertinent information (ie. name of the restaurant) is another sign that says “Food Inspired by Niskers.” That did it for me.
We walked in to the restaurant about 12:30 on a Sunday afternoon and found a pretty mixed crowd. There were a few people sitting at the bar watching the Red Wings game, but there were also some older people sitting in the small dining area between the bar and the pool tables enjoying lunch. Read more…
Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill – Grand Rapids
4875 28th Street SEI was in the mood for BBQ, but not really sure to go. I’ve found a couple pretty good BBQ places in the Grand Rapids area, but none of them are really the true Memphis style that I really like.
I decided just to go with a chain and started looking up Famous Dave’s in Grandville. It’s not the best BBQ in the world, but I remember liking the place when I lived in Peoria. I would take my parents there all the time. As I was getting ready to call in an order, I remembered another place out on 28th Street that I really liked.
When J and I lived in Lansing, we had a really hard time finding BBQ there too. In fact, the only decent place we could find was Smokey Bones in Lansing Township. We only ate there once because it was so far from our apartment, but I remember really liking it.
OK, back to last night. I was starting to call in my order to Famous Dave’s when I decided to check the Smokey Bones website. I noticed they had online ordering which I am always a fan of, so I changed my mind and went with Smokey Bones.
The Grand Rapids Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill is on the corner of 28th and Patterson which is about a mile from the I-96 exit. As I walked in to the log cabin themed restaurant on Saturday night, I was really happy I was doing carry-out. I have to say I was a little shocked by the long line. I guess I’m not the only one who can’t find the type of BBQ I like in the Grand Rapids area. Read more…
From a Fair Food Matters press release….
“Very Open House” event to celebrate community gardening in Kalamazoo
Common Ground, a community-wide effort to promote and support gardening in neighborhoods, schools, churches and other shared properties throughout Kalamazoo County, will hold a “Very Open House” event in celebration of community gardens.
The event will take place Saturday, April 21, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at 1519 E. Michigan Avenue (in Kalamazoo’s Eastside Neighborhood). It is free of charge and open to the public.
Scheduled to be included in the Very Open House will be:
- The grand opening of the Community Garden Resource Shed at 11 a.m.
- Distribution of checks for community garden grants
- Free plants/starts and seeds for all gardeners (subject to availability)
- Demonstrations of rainwater collection and seed-saving (throughout the day)
- The chance to meet other community gardeners and learn more about what Common Ground offers, including a tool-lending program and free gardening workshops
- Healthy refreshments for everyone!
For more information about this event, please visit the Common Ground website (http://commongroundkalamazoo.com/index.php), or contact Catie Boring at (269) 216-9681 or Info@CommonGroundKalamazoo.com.
Press Release – Tasters Guild Event at Bravo!
From a Bravo! Restaurant & Cafe email….
Bravo! Restaurant
in cooperation with Imperial Beverage
invites you to a Tasters Guild event5:00p.m. Sunday April 22, 2012
featuring
Nicole Bott
Domaine Bott Frères
and
Paul Mann
Imperial BeverageNicole Bott is part of the family that oversees the winery Domaine Bott Frères. This is a very famous and successful winery in Alsace France. The winery has been continuously operated since 1835. The Bott Frères’ vineyards are established on a great variety of soils, allowing the authentic expression of the different grapes of Alsace : Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer.
Paul Mann was born in a small village in Hungary where German was spoken and the surrounding countryside was draped with vineyards. In 1965, Paul immigrated to the United States, and began working for J. L. Hudson eventually earning a position in the wine department. Paul was able to establish the wine selections at Hudson’s as a critical piece of their business, and ultimately became their buyer. In 1975, Paul started his own wine wholesale and import business, and is active today with Kalamazoo based Imperial Beverage.
Paul Mann has been honored with memberships in La Confrèrie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, the Commanderie de Bordeaux and the Ordine Dei Cavalieri Del Tartufo Dei Vini di Alba. Paul has also been awarded L’Ordre Du Mèrite Agricole by the government of France.
Paul has selected five special wines to pair with our six course tasting menu. Wines will also be available “to-go” at deeply discounted prices and available only during the event.
Menu
2008 Weingut Eugen Wehrheim Riesling Kabinett
Bravo! Rosemary and Gorgonzola Flat Bread
with Artichoke Mousse
*****
2010 Hopler Gruner Veltliner
Shrimp Stewed with Mushrooms on Pillows of House Made Pasta
Stuffed with Sweet Potato, Goat Cheese and Pine Nut Puree.
*****
Bravo! Fresh Basil Ice
*****
2010Bott Freres Vin d’ Alsace Pinot Noir
Spice Encrusted Planked Salmon, Wood Roasted and
Served with Blue Crab Risotto and Light Tomato Sauce
*****
2009 Ciabot Camerano Barbera d’ Alba
Herb Encrusted Roast Pork Tenderloin Wrapped with Bacon
Served with Green Beans and Sweet Onions
*****
2008 Field Stone Convivio
Grilled Double Lamb Chop with Red Curry Sauce and Cranberry ChutneyChocolate and Raspberry Tiramisu
6 courses, 5 wines $75.00 (includes tax and tip)
Seating is limited. Call for reservations
Bravo! Restaurant 269-344-7700
5402 Portage Rd. Portage MI. 49002
From a Fair Food Matters press release…..
Can-Do Kitchen seeks the weird and the wonderful for Kitchen Gadget Garage Sale
From zesters to pickle slicers to egg separators and salt ‘n’ pepper shakers, the Fair Food Matters’ Can-Do Kitchen is seeking your weirdest, wildest old kitchen items.
Unclutter your kitchen cabinets and cupboards by donating used or new, antique, funky, useful, bizarre, functional kitchen utensils, gadgets and small appliances for the Can-Do Kitchen’s Kitchen Gadget Garage Sale.
The sale will take place on Saturday, May 12 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Can-Do Kitchen. Proceeds from the sale will support Can-Do Kitchen programs, which help the community’s food entrepreneurs achieve their dream of small business success.
Please drop off donated items in the marked bins at the Can-Do Kitchen (511 Harrison Street), People’s Food Co-op (507 Harrison Street), or Victorian Bakery (116 West Crosstown Parkway).
Jersey Giant Subs – Drake Road
563 N. Drake RoadAnother lazy Monday. J got home from work and my tummy was growling. We had tried to go to the new Jersey Giant Subs for dinner last night, but they were closed due to the Easter holiday. We were both still kind of in the mood for subs for lunch today so J asked if I wanted to make a run. I was game.
The newest Jersey Giant Subs is on Drake in the shopping center next to the Lowes. I know there are a couple of shopping centers near there, so it’s the one that also has La Pinata Mexican Restaurant.
If you’re already familiar with the small chain (there is already a location in Portage in addition to four in the Lansing area and one in Detroit) this new location holds no surprises. You order your sandwiches at one end of the counter. The meats are then sliced fresh to order before the sandwich moves on to the small topping station. Your sandwich is then sliced in to quarters then wrapped up at the far end of the counter. Read more…
Press Release – Free Dessert at Bravo!
From a Bravo! email….
April 15th is Tax Day so…
Let’s Eat Cake!or Death by Chocolate, or Creme Brulee, or White Chocolate Blueberry Cheesecake, or White Chocolate Mousse, or Chocolate Zabaglione or Tiramisu, or Lemonade Cake, or Ice Cream, or Sorbetto.
All for free!
Because on tax day we can be stressed.
And stressed is desserts spelled backwards!Come in for dinner on the 15th, 16th or 17th and desserts are on us!
Bentwood Tavern
600 W. Water StreetA few weeks ago, J suggested I ask my parents if they wanted to meet in New Buffalo for Easter. J’s mom has been staying with us for a couple weeks and we needed to get her back to Chicago anyway. J thought it would be a great idea if my parents, my aunt, and her step-dad meet us in New Buffalo for an Easter Brunch.
Since there was going to be seven of us and a baby, we thought we should probably try to make reservations. I checked a few places that I wanted to eat at but found out they weren’t open. Somehow, I stumbled upon the Marina Grand Resort which has a pretty nice looking restaurant. Even better, they take reservations via OpenTable.
I made the reservation for the Bentwood Tavern for noon on Easter Sunday. The Tavern is just off the main lobby of the resort past the front desk. They claim to be New Buffalo’s only waterfront dining. It’s a claim that is probably true, but the water is just that of the marina so your view is yachts you wish you could afford and not Lake Michigan. Still, on a nice day, they have a really nice patio and it would be nice to sit outside and enjoy a beer.
The restaurant bills itself as artisan comfort food and the decor of the place matches. It’s an open concept with table seating that gives you a few of the brick oven and the chef’s who make everything from scratch. Read more…
SW Michigan Dining 