Could Giordano’s Be Coming?
How great would that be? Chicago pizza chain Giordano’s announced today that they will be undergoing a major expansion. According to Crain’s Chicago Business, the pizza chain is looking to expand by 86 stores with a focus on college towns and Michigan and Wisconsin. Kalamazoo is both a college town and in Michigan…..here’s hoping, right 🙂
Chicago Style Gyro
539 Leonard Street NWAs much as I’d like to be, I’m no expert on Chicago style food. I know my way around an Italian beef and I know good pizza, but there is so much other cuisine in the city that I’m completely oblivious about.
I know Gyro’s themselves are not Chicago inventions and honestly, I wasn’t even aware they were a popular thing in Chicago. The thing is, I don’t like Gyro’s…..but I do like Italian beef.
As I was driving down Leonard Street on Grand Rapids northwest side, I noticed a little yellow sign hanging off the side of a building. On my first pass, I only saw the words “Chicago style.” It was until I went back and parked in the empty gas station next door that I saw the word “Gyro.” I was about to move on, but a sign in the window showed they had my favorite sandwich.
Chicago Style Gyro is on the corner of Leonard Street and Gezon Avenue. The joint doesn’t look like much from the street, but after you find a spot to park and make your way inside, you’ll be surprised to find a large restaurant that’s decorated with brightly colored walls. The space is divided in to two spaces with tables in both.
The kitchen area is in the back of the space when you walk in. There’s a counter that separates the kitchen from the dining room and that’s where you order. Read more…
Press Release – Girl Scout Donut Day at Sweetwater’s
From a Sweetwater’s Donut Mill email…
On Saturday, March 24th, beginning at 6:00 am and going until 6:00 am the following morning, Sweetwater’s Donut Mill is sponsoring Girl Scout Donut Day!
20% of all sales, not just proceeds, will be donated to our area Heart of Michigan Girl Scout Council to support educational programs for these fine young girls.Throughout the morning and afternoon, Girl Scouts and their leaders will be on hand to meet the public and share their enthusiasm for scouting.Please visit your favorite Sweetwater’s Donut Mill location between 6am Saturday, March 24 and 6 am Sunday, March 25 to help support our area Girl Scout program!To find out more about the Heart of Michigan Girl Scout’ Council, please click here on the word Girl Scouts
Thanks you in advance for your support! We look forward to seeing you at Sweetwater’s for a truly great cause.
From a Millennium Restaurant Group press release….
Join us for a fun evening for a great cause: to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters The 3rd annual “Spring Fling” wine tasting will be held on Monday, March 12, from 6pm-8pm at The Wine Loft.Enjoy Fine Wines paired with appetizers, live auctions, door prizes, and live entertainment by the Lana Hawkins Trio.Tickets are just $75/person and space is limited.For tickets, please contact Sherry Butler at (269) 382.4108, or order online HERE
Press Release – Rosie’s Diner To Be Auctioned Online
From a LastBid Real Estate press release…
ROSIE’S DINER
-Worlds Most Famous Diner –
going to AUCTION!
In Cooperation with Secured Creditors – 4.5 acres, Historical Diner Cars including the Worlds most famous diner “ROSIES DINER”, will all be sold intact to one bidder.
ROCKFORD, MI- Rosie’s Diner, made famous by the Bounty® paper towel commercials featuring Nancy Walker who played Rosie the waitress, cleaning up spills with “the quicker picker upper” is going to auction! Built by the Paramount Dining Car Company in 1946 as a Deluxe model Diner, it was originally named the “Silver Dollar Diner” and resided in Little Ferry, New Jersey. In early 1991, the diner was loaded up and four days, 10 flat tires, and one fire later, it had found a new home in Rockford, Michigan. This diner and 3 others including: the “Uncle Bob’s diner, built in 1947 by Jerry O’Mahony Dining Car Company, and the 2 car “Garden of Eatin” from Fulton, New York are all joined together on one property. This is likely the finest collection of diners in America in one Location. Currently set up as restaurants, sports bar, and ice cream parlor with over 6000 sq.ft. of space and miniature golf course, the Auction will offer someone a rare opportunity to operate a historic landmark!
Recently closed on October 2, 2011, the current owners, in cooperation with secured creditors, have decided to utilize an Online Real Estate Auction in an effort to find a buyer for the property quickly.
According to Doug Heuker, President of LASTBIDrealestate, “an online auction allows the property to be exposed to a very broad audience as well as offers the convenience of competitive bidding from any location in the world. Given the historical nature of the dining cars and unique opportunity this auction provides, it is hard to say where a buyer may come from. Our feeling was that in order to achieve true market value, we needed to open the market up to the broadest spectrum possible which is why we recommended this format.”
The Auction will be held April 26, 2012 and all bidding will be done at www.LASTBIDrealestate.com.
More information about the property and auction process can be found there as well.
Press Release – Bravo! Beer Month
From a Bravo! email…..
MARCH IS BRAVO! BEER MONTH
AND LOOK WHAT WE ARE BREWIN’Bravo! Beer calendar
All Month: Special Food & Beer Pairing Menu
March 6 & 7: Chef Shawn Hagen’s Cooking Classes
March 15: Celebrity Cheese And Beer Tasting
(The Cheese Lady meets the Brewers)March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
March 20 – April 1: Four Seasons Menu saluting the “Jersey Boys”
Food & Beer Pairing Menu for March
Our chefs have built the following menu of great foods paired with three of our great beers. Come on in and enjoy these match-ups. This menu is available all month.
Grilled Chicken Appetizer
with asparagus and served with barley
Paired with Bravo! Irish Red (8 oz.)Grilled Flat Iron Steak
with caramelized onions
Paired with Chef’s Amber Ale (8 oz.)“Triple Chocolate Obsession”
Layers of dark chocolate cookie, white chocolate ganache
& Bittersweet chocolate mousse
Paired with Oatmeal Stout (8 oz.)$35 per person – Cheers!
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Cheese And Beer Tasting
Beer and Cheese – what a pair!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Bravo! handcrafted beer meets “The Cheese Lady.” Join us for an evening of pure
delight as we pair her favorite selected cheeses with our favorite Bravo! beers!The Cheese Lady opened her store at 7035 West Q Ave, Texas Corners
March 17, 2011, offering more than 60 cheeses along with sausages,
specialty foods, cheese boards and knives.On March 15 she will be at Bravo! to discuss cheese and beer
pairings with our beer brewers.Bravo! Beer and Cheese Pairings
Bravo! “Blonde Ambition” Blonde Ale
Paired with Cave Aged Gruyere
Served with a classic Swiss fried cheese and tomatoBravo! “Chefs Ale” Amber Ale
Paired with Aged Manchego
Melted on a brioche with pear preservesBravo! “Adams Ale” I.P.A.
Paired with Emmentaler
Served in a tart with sweet Vidalia onionsBravo! “Nimbus” Oatmeal Stout
Paired with Trugole – a sweet creamy fruit cheese from Italy’s Asiago region
Prepared in a mini cheesecake style$20.00 per guest
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Tuesday March 6 & Wednesday March 7
Chef Shawn Hagen’s cooking class 7:00 – 9:00 pmChef Hagen teaches the art of cooking using the special recipes of Chef
Marcus Samuelsson. Marcus grew up using unusual spices and serving food
with an Ethiopian flavor. Currently he is the well-known Chef at Harlem’s
“Red Rooster“. Join us either night (or both if you wish remedial work.)March 17 St. Patrick’s Day.
Great handcrafted Irish Red Ale and the ultimate “gastro pub” foods at Bravo!
No schmaltzy green beer at Bravo!, just the finest micro brewed Irish Red we
can make. Remember, Bravo! restaurant may be Tuscan inspired, but
brothers Terry and Shawn Hagen are from Ireland.March 20 – April 1. Four Seasons menu in honor of
“Jersey Boys” at Miller Auditorium.This delightful musical uses the songs of the popular group to tell the saga
of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.The Four Seasons Menu
“Spring” Rolls – The Jersey Boys Asian tour special
“Summer” Squash Ravioli – Take ’em out of Jersey and see
what these Italians like to eatPork Scallopinis With “Winter” – Truffles Now dats Italian
“Fall” en Chocolate Souffle – “Get Down” with this molten chocolate dessert
4 Seasons/ 4 Courses/ 40 Dollars.
Press Release – 6th Annual Millennium Showcase
From a Millennium Restaurant Group press release….
Millennium Restaurant Group to Feature DuckHorn Vineyards Wines for Millennium Showcase
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—For the sixth year in a row Millennium Restaurant Group is excited to host the Millennium Showcase on Wednesday, March 21; an annual food and wine event where all of the Millennium Chefs will share a kitchen for one night as they each prepare a dish for this five-course dinner. The Chefs’ dishes will be inspired from the portfolio of wines by DuckHorn Vineyards as each dish will be paired with a specially selected wine.
With the addition of The Wine Loft to Millennium Restaurant Group’s family of restaurants, there will be a special strolling amuse reception before the plated portion of the evening begins. This reception will feature Chef James Allen of The Wine Loft and his culinary talents.
DuckHorn Vineyards, established in 1972 in Napa, California, offers a full and rich portfolio of wines. They have been praised for their commitment to quality, earning high accolades throughout their various vineyards and brands. According to their website, they strive “to understand the needs and opportunities presented by each specific terroir and microclimate.”
In addition to the five wines served, there will be additional offerings from DuckHorn Vineyards available for retail purchase. Those in attendance who are Millennium Rewards members will receive 25% off any retail wine purchased that evening, which will be available for pick up at Martell’s the following week.
This year’s lineup is as follows:
Course Chef Wine Amuse Chef James Allen The Wine Loft
Decoy, Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, `10 89 Points – Wine & Spirits
Appetizer Chef Kirk McKinney Epic Bistro & Central City Tap House
Migration, Chardonnay, Russian River, `09 5 Stars – Exceptional – Restaurant Wine
Salad Chef Jason McClellen Martell’s
Migration, Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, `08 90 Points-Wine Enthusiast
Reserve option
Goldeneye, Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley `08
90 Points – Wine & Spirits
Entrée Chef Eric Gillish The Union & Cityscape Events
Duckhorn, Merlot, California, `09 92 Points-Wine Enthusiast
Reserve option
Duckhorn,”Howel Mountain” Red, Napa Valley `05
92 points, two puffs – Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wines
Dessert Chef Jeff Hanson Paraduxx Red, Zin Blend, California, `08 91 Points – Ken’s Wine Guide
The cost is $69 a person with wine pairing, and $49 a person without wine pairing. For the first time in the event’s six year history a reserve wine pairing option will be available for those who would like to sample a higher tier of wine for $79.
The event is slated to start at 6:30pm with doors opening at 6pm for a strolling amuse reception and meet and greet with The Wine Loft’s Chef James Allen
The sixth annual Millennium Showcase presented by Millennium Restaurant Group will be held at Martell’s—located in Parkview Hills—on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at 6:30pm. Space is limited so reservations are required. For more information or to make a reservation, please call Martell’s at (269) 375.2105
Press Release – Breakfast with Slappy at Burdick’s For Breakfast
From an Old Burdick’s email
Poor Richards Cafe
1105 E. Crosstown ParkwayI know it’s only been a month, but even with the addition of a newborn, I still hate getting up in the morning. J decided to torture me a little bit and made an 8:15 AM doctor appointment for me.
The plan was for J and L to get up and go with me then we’d just go out to breakfast, but L wasn’t cooperating, so I just went by myself. By the time I got home, L was in a little better mood so we decided to go out to breakfast anyway.
A few weeks ago, I suddenly realized that Crosstown Parkway went all the way to King Highway. Stupid me. I was driving all the way through town when I needed to go out that way. I don’t know my brain was thinking Crosstown stopped at the Public Safety building.
As I was exploring this newly found shortcut, I saw a restaurant I had never heard of before. When I mentioned it to J, she said, “Oh yeah. I drive by there all the time.”
Poor Richards Cafe is on the corner of Crosstown Parkway and Mills Street. It’s a pretty large building with a green awning and entrances on both Crosstown and Mills. There are a couple of parking lots which really surprised both of us. Do they really need that much room? When we got inside, we figured out why there’s so much parking. The dining space is huge. Read more…
Big City Food Diner
2307 E. Main StreetLike I assumed, having a baby would really slow down our eating out. It’s been almost two weeks since J and I actually went out for a meal in Kalamazoo so when we got up this morning, I asked J to get L ready to go out….we needed to find a new place to eat.
A couple weeks ago, @jage9 asked me about a new place he saw pop up on Urbanspoon. I hadn’t heard of the place yet, but they had a website and menu online. Next time we were going to head out to lunch, I wanted to hit it up.
Big City Food is on the corner of Humphries and Main in Kalamazoo Township. Neither J nor I could picture where this actually was in town until we started to get close to the intersection. The corner building used to house a breakfast joint called Our Place. Neither of us realized that establishment went out of business.
We never made it to Our Place for breakfast even though they had some pretty cheap specials, so I can’t comment on whether much has changed since the new ownership took over. My guess is no because there is still a lunch counter in the small dining room that has only four booths and about as many tables.
When we walked in the door, we were greeted by a voice from the kitchen who told us to take a seat anywhere. We had our choice as we were the only ones in restaurant at the time, but as we ate, a few more people trickled in for a late afternoon lunch on a Sunday. Read more…
SW Michigan Dining 