The Parlor at Cherry Hill Market
721 Cherry Street SE- Grand Rapids, MI 49503
- (616) 776-0266
- No Known Website
- Menu
You would think that I’d stop for ice cream on one of the 95+ degree days and not on the one when it’s pleasantly warm out, but that’s exactly what happened. I was out of the office with a couple co-workers and one of them mentioned she wanted ice cream. I’m not really familiar with Grand Rapids, but she knew a place that another co-worker had recommended. Once she said it, I knew what she was talking about.
The Parlor at Cherry Hill Market is on Cherry Street at Packard Avenue. As the name implies, the ice cream shop is part of a larger market complex. They’re in the same building, but I don’t believe you can move between the two businesses without going outside.
The building is in the historic East Hills neighborhood so as you would expect, the building has gone through many transformations over the years. The distressed hardwood floors and exposed red brick walls compliment the rustic furniture that is placed around the large L-shaped ice cream case.
There was a couple people in front of us when we walked in so we had time to look over the large ice cream menu. My two co-workers were very excited and wanted something fun. Boring ol’ me was planning on going with the Cookies ‘N Cream standby, but something else jumped out at. Read more…
From a Millennium Restaurant press release…..
The Wine Loft to Expand Menu to Include Locally-Made Artisan Desserts
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Millennium Restaurant Group-owned The Wine Loft is expanding its current menu to include a new artisan dessert line created by Lindsey Pompileo, the owner and founder of The Cupcake Zoo. The Wine Loft has chosen to work with Pompileo to embrace local talent and showcase her expertise in the field which is exemplified through the success and quality of her business.
“I am a self taught baker who has always loved anything in the form of sweets,” says Owner and Founder of The Cupcake Zoo Lindsey Pompileo. The Cupcake Zoo is a local, web-based cupcake bakery that specializes in making a truly unique and gourmet baked good. Additional specialties include vegan, gluten, and dairy free cupcakes which allow everyone to have an opportunity to enjoy this beloved childhood treat. The mission Pompileo has in place for her company is to offer creative options by use of only the best ingredients available, which will transcend to the new dessert options at The Wine Loft.
The Wine Loft has become a staple in the community for their wide selection of wines and its relaxed lounge setting in the heart of downtown Kalamazoo. The new dessert menu comes in a series of changes—including the addition of draft beers to the menu, as well as new tables and chairs—which will allow The Wine Loft to offer a more diversified experience for its patrons.
“We are excited to have Lindsey join our staff at The Wine Loft,” says The Wine Loft General Manager Katie Hallin. “Last weekend, our guests had a sneak peek at the new dessert menu and the response was amazing. The Wine Loft will be the hot spot for that late night dessert paired with a great port.”
The expansion of the current menu will compliment the wide array of wines offered by pairing them with unique dessert options. The Wine Loft will utilize these changes to accommodate more late night patrons for those enjoying all that downtown Kalamazoo has to offer. Desserts to be added include:
- Cake Truffles (flavors changing weekly to accommodate fresh ingredients)
- Strawberry Bread Pudding
- Blackberry Shortcake
- Cupcakes (flavors changing weekly to accommodate fresh ingredients
“I love the charming city of Kalamazoo and the people that reside in it so this has turned into an incredibly rewarding experience,” says Pompileo. “I had the pleasure of working for Millennium Restaurant Group for six years at Epic Bistro before starting my own business. Not only did I gain so much knowledge of how beautiful and fun the art of food can be, I also made lifelong friends. I find it only fitting that my business is moving forward alongside such a great company.”
For additional information regarding the new dessert menu at The Wine Loft, please contact The Wine Loft at (269)343.9227, or visit them online at www.kalamazoowineloft.com. For more information about The Cupcake Zoo, visit them at www.cupcakezoo.com.
Maestro’s Pizza
4824 W. Milham Avenue- Portage, MI 49024
- (269) 372-2222
- No Known Website
- Menu
My last night eating on my own and I was hungry for pizza. There’s a convenience store that I frequent quite often when I do freelance work because it’s on the way my employer’s home. It’s usually a pretty early morning so I really need a Pepsi.
About a month ago, I stopped in and saw some construction starting to happen inside the store. I asked the clerk what was going on and she told me they were building a pizza place. A month later, J and I were driving to the mall and we use that route to avoid Westnedge. I saw a sign that the pizza joint had opened. This morning, I stopped in to get my Pepsi and grabbed a menu so I could call in my order once my workday was over.
Maestro’s Pizza is inside the Sunny Mart on the corner of Milham and 12th Street in Portage. It’s a very small part of the store that is taken up by the pizza joint. In fact, it can’t be much more than a 6′ x 9′ box. I think there may be prison cells larger than the kitchen they are working in. It’s nothing fancy. The walls are plywood that are not finished. There is an opening in the front where there is also a warming oven where they keep pizzas warm for pizza-by-the-slice service during lunch time Monday through Saturday. Read more…
George & Sally’s Blue Moon Diner
6865 Hickory Road- Hickory Corners, MI 49060
- (269) 671-5089
- Website
- No Online Menu
With J out of town for the weekend, I decided to pick up some extra work. I got a call about some freelance work earlier this week but declined due to the fact I was supposed to take J to Chicago to catch a plane. When I started my full time job on Friday, my Sunday opened up so I called the prospective employer back and told her I was available. The job was still open, so I took it.
The job was on the grounds of the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners. We’ve been talking about going to Gilmore for some time, but never got around to it. We always thought it would be a good thing to do some afternoon when my family was in town, but I wasn’t sure if it would be worth the time and money. I found out today it would be and next time my parents come to visit, we’ll be making the trip.
Not long after arriving on the large campus right off M-43 north of Gull Lake, we found our way to George & Sally’s Blue Moon Diner. The 1941 Silk City Diner was moved to Gillmore in 2005 from Meridian, CT. They kept the original name, but added the names of George & Sandy who gifted a “substantial” sum on money to get the diner project started. Read more…
FooJay
1200 W. Patterson Street- Kalamazoo, MI 49007
- (269) 598-7245
- No Known Website
- Menu (not great picture)
Day two of my weekend rib excursion brought me back to the Northside neighborhood. On the same day I found Velt’s Soul Food, I also found FooJay. They’re only a block or so from each other although FooJay is actually on Patterson just east of the intersection with Douglas. I would have never known they were actually a functioning restaurant if I didn’t see the smoker out front and, of course, a Gazette article after I did a Google search.
I got out of bed a little later than I was planning on, but I still had time for lunch before I headed to Grand Rapids to work. My actual plan was to go get lunch and eat it at home, but I lounged around the house to long for that to actually be possible. My only option was to go pick up lunch on my way and either eat on the way to Grand Rapids or wait until I got to work.
I walked into the restaurant about 1:45. The old building across the street from the Christian Life Center is really small with only three booths in a small customer area. The order counter is behind glass and there’s a sign that tells you to ring a bell if you don’t see anyone in the kitchen. As I was looking over the menu, the guy working the kitchen came out and switched on the window air conditioner that was built in to the wall. It was pretty warm in the building but I didn’t plan on being there. Read more…
Velt’s Soul Food
712 Douglas Avenue- Kalamazoo, MI 49007
- (269) 254-8541
- No Known Website
- Menu
My bachelor weekend begins. J is in New Orleans hanging out with some girlfriends which means I get to eat whatever crap I want. I don’t have to worry about if there is going to be anything on the menu that she would like.
A few weeks ago, I passed a couple places in the Northside neighborhood that I wanted to check out. They’re only a few blocks from each other, but I had never heard of either. I wrote down the names and Google’d them both when I got home. The only information I could find were pretty recent Gazette articles. No websites. No menus. When I’m by myself, I’ll take chances on places like this. I won’t put J through that if I don’t have to. My plan is to eat at both places this weekend while she’s out of town.
The first place I decided to check out was Velt’s Soul Food. It’s on the corner of Douglas Avenue and North Street in the Northside Neighborhood. It’s an old building with only an airbrush sign on the side signifying the current business. In a previous life, the building was home to Wing Heaven.
I walked in to the building around 7:30. There are only four tables in the dining room and all were taken up by people waiting for to go orders. When I walked in, I was greeted by a woman who later identified herself as one of the cooks. She asked if I needed to put in an order after she noticed me going straight for the menu that hangs from the ceiling sort of over the middle of the order counter. Read more…
Shifters Bar and Grill
6857 W. Main Street #3Date night changes yet again. One of these days, I’ll actually work at a place and on a set schedule for more than a few weeks. If you’ll remember, I changed jobs about two months ago. It didn’t really work out the way I would have hoped and my old place of employment made me an offer to get me to come back. When I put in my two weeks at the place I was working at, they pretty much kicked me out of the door so I’ve been on the beach for the last three weeks waiting until I could start at my old job.
The start date is tomorrow morning which also coincides with a trip that J will be taking without me. She’s going to New Orleans for the weekend to catch up with some friends from her first job in Idaho Falls. The only chance we were going to have to have our “date night” this week was actually lunch today.
A few weeks ago, I got a tweet from someone who suggested we try the Kansas City Dip ‘N Grill. I had heard of the place but I wasn’t so sure it was still open. I did a Google search and eventually figured out the place no longer existed….but the family that owned Kansas City Dip ‘N Grill stayed in business, changed the name, revamped the menu, but kept some of the dips.
The new business is Shifters Bar and Grill on West Main Street (in the old Kansas City Dip ‘N Grill building) just to the west of Ninth Street. It’s sort of hidden from Main Street as it sits in a strip mall that’s really hard to see as you’re driving by at 50 MPH. If you’re familiar with the area, it’s right next to the Seelye Wright Toy Store. Read more…
Bob Evans – Kalamazoo
4400 Stadium DriveI was really in the mood for BBQ today. Oh well, maybe tomorrow. J wanted a salad but didn’t know what kind of salad she wanted. The only lettuce we had in the house probably isn’t edible anymore so I pulled up the menu for Bob Evans. When we lived in Lansing, I know she did carry-out from there a few times and she did so because she liked a salad.
There are two Bob Evans locations in Kalamazoo. One is right off the Interstate in Portage. The other is not far from US 131 on Stadium Drive. That was the one I ordered from.
The great thing about Bob Evans is that they do online ordering. I always like places that let me order without actually having to use a phone. I handed the computer to J first so she could find the salad she wanted. I had been wanting to try their new Big Farm Burgers. It was just a matter of choosing which one.
After deciding, she handed the computer back to me and I put the order in. It was going to take about twenty minutes and the restaurant is only about ten minutes away. I decided to get there early because I’d rather wait on it than pick it up cold. Whenever I do pick up from these casual chains, I usually end up eating a cold burger because I wait until the time I’m actually told to pick the meal up and it’s usually been sitting there for a few minutes. Read more…
Happy’s Pizza – Kalamazoo
1517 S. Westnedge AvenueJ wasn’t really in the mood to go out tonight. I was hoping for dinner and a movie, but she wasn’t feeling so instead we just ordered in pizza. She wanted Cottage Inn, but as we were coming home from the Farmers’ Market today, we passed Happy’s Pizza. Another place I keep forgetting about.
Happy’s Pizza is on South Westnedge at the intersection with Crosstown Parkway. It sits right in front of the PNC Bank in a brand new building. I don’t remember what was there before, but I do remember them tearing it down to make room for the new building.
Happy’s Pizza isn’t new to us. We actually were first introduced to the Detroit chain when we lived in Lansing. The first Happy’s Pizza in Lansing opened up just down the street from us and we gave it a shot within the first couple weeks. My blog post on Mid-Michigan Dining actually became one of the more active posts on the site. It went from people really liking the place to people really not liking the place. Our experience was pretty good but it was still a chain style pizzeria. The thing we didn’t know at that time is that they do square pizza.
That was actually a pretty recent discovery. J’s place of employment picked up pizzas there one day and when J opened a box, she found a square pizza. That was the reason I wanted to order it tonight instead of Cottage Inn. Read more…
Blue Dolphin
502 S. Burdick StreetBreakfast on a Saturday. Sure, why not? I was up early. Really early for me. Before 9:00. Even on days I work, that’s rare. Last night, I was finally burning off all the sticks and tree branches that fell during the ice storm in February and something about lighting a fire made me want a beer. Four beers later, I realized at some point, I became a lightweight. I was in bed by 10:30.
J usually gets up around 8:00 on weekends just because her body is used to the wacky schedule she works. When I stumbled out of the bedroom around 8:30, she started talking about breakfast and the Farmers’ Market.
Since the market was in our plans, I figured we should head downtown for breakfast. The place downtown that we still haven’t eaten at was The Blue Dolphin. Everytime we pass the place, we both say we need to go there, but neither of us ever think about it unless we’re within a block of the place.
The Blue Dolphin is on the corner of Burdick and Cedar Street about a block south of where Kalamazoo Mall becomes Burdick again. It’s a pretty plain, old building with an older marquee attached to the roof that lists specials and upcoming events.
J and I have lived in several different cities around the country since we graduated college almost ten years ago. Whenever we’re looking for a place to eat in a new city, we always look to see where the local police department is eating. Police officers and firemen always know the best, quick, cheap places in town. When we pulled up to the Blue Dolphin, there were two KDPS cars parked out front. We knew we were in the right place. Read more…
SW Michigan Dining 