Cider and Donuts at Sweetwater’s
From a Sweetwater’s Donut Mill email…..
Cider & Donuts!are now available at Sweetwater’s Donut Mill!Sweetwater’s has once again partnered with Schultz Fruitridge Farms, an award-winning-Michigan orchard from Mattawan, to bring you the best cider and donuts you will find anywhere on the planet.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 Schultz Fruitridge Farms apple cider.
And while you’re at it, take home a dozen of your favorite fall donuts to share the season with family and fiends with a glass of delicious, Schultz Fruitridge Farms’ apple cider.
Jimmy’s Bar & Grill
18529 LaPorte RoadJ has been really good about not going crazy and buying baby clothes, but those days are quickly coming to an end. For a couple weeks now, she’s been wanting to go to Lighthouse Place in Michigan City to see what we can find….not only for the baby she’s carrying, but also for ourselves.
The Michigan City/New Buffalo area has always been a good halfway point to meet my family. Every few months, we’ll meet for lunch then either go shopping or go our separate ways. My parents will go to one of the two casino’s and J and I will head back to Kalamazoo.
Since J and I were going to Michigan City anyway, I called my mom and see if she wanted to meet us. My mom and my aunt decided to come, but my dad already had plans. As an added bonus, my brother made a last minute decision to tag along with his family, so we also got to hang with my two nieces for the day.
I told my mom to meet us in New Buffalo for lunch then we’d head back to Michigan City to shop. We always pass Jimmy’s Bar & Grill on the way to The Stray Dog which is where we usually meet at. I finally looked Jimmy’s up and it looked good to me so that’s where we met.
Jimmy’s Bar & Grill is on LaPorte Road just south of the New Buffalo city limits. It’s in a small strip mall, but as the menu says, “It’s not what you’d expect in a strip mall.” Read more…
Press Release – Fair Farm Bill Kickoff in Kalamazoo
From a press release….
Care about small farmers? How about healthy, sustainable food? Then
please join us for…Fair Farm Bill Campaign Kickoff Meeting!
Tuesday, September 20th
7:00 – 8:00pm
Kalamazoo Downtown Library, 315 Rose St.
The Van Deusen Room
**Refreshments provided**Right now, our country’s food system is broken. A few large companies,
like Cargill, control every part of our food system, squeezing consumers
and driving out small and mid-sized farmers.We all have the right to safe, healthy food. This year, we have a
chance to make sure the USDA implements the 2008 Fair Farm Rules, which
level the playing field for small and mid-sized farmers, giving
consumers access to safer, more sustainable food.Right now, Senator Stabenow is on the fence on this issue. We need your
help to make sure she stands up for small farmers, consumers and the
environment.Come to the Fair Farm Bill Campaign Kickoff Meeting to learn how you
can help! All are welcome so please bring your friends.Tuesday, September 20th
7:00 – 8:00pm
Kalamazoo Downtown Library, 315 Rose St.
The Van Deusen RoomTo learn more about how you can get involved before the meeting, please
contact Charlotte Bartter at cbartter@fwwlocal.org or 269-290-1448.
Thanks, and looking forward to seeing you on the 20th!
Martell’s Now Offering Complete Meals To-Go
From a Millennium Restaurant Group email….
We (Martell’s) will be offering the following Complete Meals To Go*, available anytime after 4pm:
(all meals served with sliced tuscan bread and brownies and feed 2-4 people. All food is packaged in reusable plastic containers)
Golden Brown Walleye
served with hot buttermilk mashed potatoes, garlic sauteed green beans, creamy mustard chive sauce
$30 out the doorHerb Roasted Lemon Chicken
served with hot buttermilk mashed potatoes, garlic sauteed green beans, and chicken jus
$23 out the doorSlow Braised Italian Beef
served with hot buttermilk mashed potatoes, garlic sauteed green beans, and hearty beef gravy
$29 out the doorPappardelle with Mushrooms
thick cut egg noodles tossed with herb roasted mushrooms, shallots, mushroom broth, and white wine, topped with shaved parmesan
$20 out the door*Millennium Monday Coupons not valid on Complete Meals To Go
A Complete Meal for Everyone
Herb Roasted Lemon Chicken Complete Meal
Additional items available:
Family Salad $5
Single Brownie $1
Kids Chicken Fingers with French Fries $5
Kids Mac and Cheese $5
Family Soup 24oz $8
1/2 Loaf of Tuscan Bread $5
Loaf of Cranberry-Walnut Bread $6
Also Available to go: Select Beer and Wine
Crane’s Pie Pantry Fundraiser for Wes Leonard Heart Foundation
From Crane’s Pie Pantry’s website…
A great time to come and see us would be on Friday Sept 16th because we are having a fundraiser for the Wes Leonard Heart Team here in Fennville at Crane’s. We will donate 20% of each and every check on that day to help support Wes Leonard Heart Team. This non-profit group was founded this spring after we lost a cherished young man here in Fennville to sudden cardiac arrest after he made the winning basket during a tournament game. This foundation was set up in Wes’ name to help educate people as to what to do when sudden cardiac arrest happens. It will help schools to buy defibrillators for their sporting events and set up CPR and AED training for schools. They are also lobbying for AED legislation. So come out and support the Heart Team and have a great meal and pie here at Crane’s! Here’s the poster for the event – help us spread the word!
Press Release – Meet The Chef
From a Fair Food Matters press release….
“Eat Local, Kalamazoo,” a program of Fair Food Matters, will present six “Meet the Chef” events, giving people the chance to see (and taste) how our community’s top chefs use local ingredients to create delicious food.
Meet the Chef: People’s Food Co-op
Date: Tuesday, September 27
Time: 2-3 p.m. (repeats at 5-6 p.m.)
Location: People’s Food Co-op, 507 Harrison St., Kalamazoo
Cooks from the new People’s Food Co-op will show off techniques and hand out samples of freshly created salads and dips. Demonstrations will take place in the Can-Do Kitchen, the region’s only commercial kitchen/food business incubator (located within the same facility).Meet the Chef: Bravo Restaurant and Café
Date: Tuesday, October 4
Time: 2-3 p.m. (repeats at 5-6 p.m.)
Location: Bravo Restaurant and Café, 5402 Portage Road, Kalamazoo
Chef Shawn Hagen will demonstrate how to make delectable dishes using produce and products from local farmers and businesses.Meet the Chef: Life and Food at Brickyard Farms
Date: Thursday, November 3
Time: 2-3 p.m. (repeats at 5:30-6:30 p.m.)
Location: Portage District Library, 300 Library Lane, Portage
Writer and farmer Kim Sanwald is the author of Basics with a Twist: Life and Food at Brickyard Farms. As she talks about her transition from urban life to life on a working farm, Sanwald will demonstrate three healthy, hearty soups using produce from her farm.A $5 fee (payable at the door) covers the cost of food for each event. Space is limited, and registration is required. To find out more or to register, please call the Portage District Library at (269) 329-4542, ext. 600, or visit the library’s website at http://www.pdl.lib.mi.us/events-and-classes/
Finley’s American Grill – Kalamazoo
5160 W. Main StreetWorking Sunday meant Monday was my Saturday. Surprisingly, I was actually out of bed before J got home from work. I checked my e-mail and saw one from her saying she wanted to go out to lunch.
I had originally suggested going to Bilbo’s because I have a BOGO coupon. I thought I could save myself some money. She was on board, but the more I thought about it, the more I wasn’t in the mood for pizza. I also didn’t want to go too far from home because I knew she would want to take a nap before her evening activities.
My second suggestion was Finley’s American Grill. We had eaten at a Finley’s when we lived in Lansing and had such an awful experience, we have never considered going back. The food was fine as was the service, but the atmosphere was horrendous. This experience took place in the archaic days before the smoking ban. We asked to be seated in the non-smoking section and instead of punishing those who have no respect for others, they put the non-smoking family section is a small, enclosed room in the back of the restaurant. We had to walk through the smoking section to get there and I swear the short walk took two years off my life. The smoke was so bad we had the smell on our clothes just walking through.
That pretty much sealed the deal for us on Finley’s prior to the smoking ban and it’s kept us away ever sense. When I suggested we try the Kalamazoo location, J’s eyes didn’t exactly light up, but she agreed. Read more…
East Egg – Richland
8860 N. 32nd StreetSo, I end up working a Sunday and I end up meeting a co-worker in Richland. We didn’t have a whole lot of time. We got our assignment down in town then she wanted to eat. I was getting a little worried about time because I needed to get back to Grand Rapids. I had a little over a half hour until the last possible moment that I needed to leave, so I gave in eventually.
It didn’t look like there was a lot open on a Sunday afternoon in Richland, but I knew East Egg was. I also knew, from experiences at the Portage and Mattawan East Egg’s, that they were usually pretty quick and pretty cheap. Best of all, we were going to head M-89 to head back to US-131 so it was even on the way home.
The Richland location of East Egg is on M-89 just north of the Richland city limits. The restaurant is actually in the space that used to be Cafe Thyme in the Clocktower Green shopping center. That makes sense because the same people that own East Egg also own Mission Pointe which is also in the same shopping center. Read more…
Martha’s Vineyard
200 Union Ave. NE- Grand Rapids, MI 49503
- (616) 459-0911
- Website
After eating pretty bad yesterday and drinking a lot of great beer, I really didn’t think it would be a good idea to eat another greasy fast food burger. While at work, my options are kind of limited and I wasn’t in the mood for Subway.
My other option, and one I’ve known about for a while, is a small specialty grocery store in Grand Rapids’ Midtown Neighborhood.
Martha’s Vineyard sits on the corner of Union NE and Lyon NE. It sits right next door to one of my favorite pizza places in town, so I overlook it a lot, but I’ve been told by multiple co-workers that it’s a great place to pick up a sandwich for a price much cheaper than the other deli’s in the area.
Martha’s Vineyard is a specialty, neighborhood grocery store first. They have a wide variety of craft brews and a large wine section which is what initially brings people in the door. That door leads right past the deli. Before you can even get both feet inside, you come face to face with a wide variety of made-from-scratch dishes and specialty meats and cheeses. Read more…
Smokin’ Woody’s
12620 Red Arrow Highway- Sawyer, MI 49125
- (269) 426-6100
- No Known Website
- Menu
Once a year, my brother, my dad, my best friend from grade school, and I get together at US Cellular Field for a White Sox game. This past Friday happened to be that day.
Since I work Friday night’s, I took the night off work and when J got off work at noon, we started heading south. After a stop for some good Michigan beer, we decided to hold off on lunch until we got to Sawyer.
It was a little bit of a drive, but I found a BBQ place on Terry’s Guide that I really wanted to try.
Smokin’ Woody’s Char-B-Que is right on Red Arrow Highway just south of the Warren Dunes State Park. The parking lot was empty except for two pick up trucks which we eventually found out belonged to the owner and one of his friends. Parking was a little confusing. There’s really no room to park in front of the brightly painted building, but there’s a sign that points you to the back. I followed the sign and all I really found was a grasssy area with tire tracks. I continued around the building and just parked along the side. Read more…
SW Michigan Dining 
