Plainwell Ice Cream

You may find it hard to believe that this Foodie has lived in Kalamazoo for 5 years (almost to the day) and JUST visited Plainwell Ice Cream for the first time.  My friends, it is true. We jumped in the car and make the trek out to Plainwell - construction and all - to meet our friends for some ice cream.

So, what's the big deal about Plainwell Ice Cream? Well, a few things in my opinion:

1) The sheer number of flavor options! I wish I would have counted them, but I didn't. And, not just your run of the mill chocolate- vanilla- strawberry- cookie-dough business, but some creative ones like Salted Caramel (which I ordered of course!), Key Lime Pie (one of their top summer sellers), and Peanut Butter Fudge (which made its way to Paul's cone!). And, as any good ice cream shoppe should, you could taste flavors before deciding.

Kate's Cone featured: Salted Caramel on the bottom and French Silk on top

Paul's Cone featured: Peanut Butter Fudge on the bottom and Pecan Praline on top

Mr. Foodie's and my cones

2) The quality of the product is high. I don't know the story behind Plainwell Ice Cream (I should remedy that) but the ice cream was creamy, the flavors were distinct and well balanced, and I am guessing the ingredients are of high caliber.

3) That was the best darned waffle cone I have ever had. Period. Made in-house, no doubt.

Little Foodie was digging this treat

4) The staff were friendly and welcoming.  Little Foodie also got in some flirting with the ladies.

5) And the building itself is charming with an old soda-shoppe-type feel.

Long story short, Plainwell Ice Cream is worth the drive. I have had my fair share of excellent ice cream (Check out this post featuring two amazing Columbus, Ohio ice creameries... Jeni's and Graeter's. Both TOP NOTCH) and Plainwell Ice Cream holds its own in this race.


http://www.plainwell.org/cgi-bin/display.pl?uid=129

Confections with Convictions

When Dale Anderson posted the following on the Kalamazoo Foodies Facebook page, we didn't know just what we were in for:

Dear Kalamazoo Foodies: It would be fun to meet you, to talk about delicious food, and to see what you think of our chocolatey treats. First-timers always start with a free sample from the case. Stop by sometime soon! Dale, from Confections With Convictions (116 E. Crosstown Pkwy., Ste, 101, Kalamazoo, MI 49001 (269) 381-9700 www.confectionswithconvictions.com)

After some scheduling issues, we finally made a trip to Confections with Convictions to check them out.  We are so very glad we did! We were greeted by Dale himself  who smiled from behind the case of beautiful treats.  After introductions, Dale starting telling us about each treat as if they were his children. The confections are not only beautiful but they are incredibly flavorful too. He has such thoughtful combinations (my FAVORITE BY FAR: White Chocolate Truffle with Vanilla, Walnut, and Poppy seeds! Who comes up with that?) and quality ingredients.

His story, including his convictions, are on his website. The concept is truly inspiring. Dale is an amazing artist with a keen sense for chocolate. I was delighted when days later I saw him featured on the Maranda show on WOTV 4.

What the foodies tried: Kentucky Sorghum Molasses Caramel with Applewood Smoked Sea Salt & Poppy Seed, Walnut, and Vanilla Truffle

What the foodies bought to take home:
1.  Poppy Seed, Walnut, and Vanilla Truffle X 2
2. 65% Dark with Honeycomb
3. Maple Butter Crunch
4. 72 1/2% Ecuadorian/Peruvian Blend Truffle

Even Little Foodie was in wonderment!
He couldn't stop staring in the case even though he wasn't able to try any of the treats

Next time, Little Foodie, next time.

five forks out of five

Taste Love Cupcakes (Royal Oak, MI)

So, Mr. Foodie had some business to take care of on the east side of the state and his buddy, Corey, tipped him off to this Food Network's Cupcake Wars winning bakery. Naturally he had to stop and pick some up to bring home to his pregnant wife, right? Right! Let's not forget that that means that he got to indulge in them as well! 

Anyway, they were truly incredible. And I will dare say they were the best cupcakes I have ever had. As the name suggests, these cupcakes are truly made with love. The cake was moist, the frosting was wonderfully creamy and thick, and the flavors were outstanding. So, below is a breakdown of the cupcakes we enjoyed (ranked in least favorite (first) to favorite (last) order, though all were delicious)...

Pictured are Key Lime Pie (L), Fluffer Nutter, and Sweet Potato

Fluffer Nutter

Peanut butter. Yes, peanut butter. This cupcake was overwhelmingly peanut buttery. Not that I don't like peanut butter. But it kind of took over. The marshmallow didn't even come through, expect for texturally in the frosting, which was light and fluffy. We actually were worried that this cupcake was SO peanut buttery, that it was going to make the others taste like it. Fortunately it did not. If peanut butter is your #1 thing, then this is the cupcake for you. 

Key Lime Pie

A tasty, light cupcake. The flavoring of the key lime was very subtle, so subtle in fact, that it was almost overwhelmed by the vanilla of the cake (I think it was the cake, as I am not 100% sure where all the flavoring was happening). The graham cracker crumbles on top added a very nice crunch. I liked this one, don't get me wrong. It was delicious. I just expected a little more key lime than I experienced.

Double Vanilla Bean

This gal loves vanilla through and through. I rarely opt for a chocolate option when a vanilla one exists (think cake, ice cream, cookies, etc.). So, I was immediately excited about this cupcake, and for good reason. This this was LOADED with vanilla bean flavor. You could see the little black specs of real vanilla throughout the cake AND the frosting.  For some, this might have been too much. For me, it was perfect. The frosting on this one also seemed a little thicker, and more indulgent, for some reason. Which was totally wonderful.

Sweet Potato

Um... what to say about this cupcake? I am almost speechless. Let's start with this... it was INCREDIBLE! Invoking images of a blustery fall day with the spicing in the cake (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, what else???) and the most decadent brown sugar frosting topped with crunchy pralines. Is this heaven? I think it may be. Again, the moist cake with the super creamy and thick frosting punctuated with the crunch of the nuts on top... genius! I could probably eat this cupcake every day of the year, even with its cold days feel, but that is likely not a good idea. Since it is made with sweet potatoes though, it has to be good for me, right? Redeeming nutritional value...HA! If you visit Taste Love, you CAN NOT pass this one up. Unless you are allergic to sweet potatoes or something like that. 

I was blown away by our Taste Love experience. You can see why these ladies won Cupcake Wars. I have to say, I am thankful that they are not easy to get to for us, as I would have trouble staying away if they were! If you are anywhere near Royal Oak, or maybe even not that near, you gotta try them!

http://www.tastelovecupcakes.com/index.php

five golden forks out of five!

Zazio's

Kate: Cheese Tasting and Eggplant Ravioli Parmigiana
Well... it was kind of a special night, I guess. Actually, Paul and I are making pretty much any outing a special/date kind of thing as we know that our ability to do that will soon be limited by Baby Y! I advise a student dance troupe at the College where I work, and it was their big spring concert. I have performed in this concert in the past. However, being 6 months pregnant, I was able to anticipate that it might not be a good idea to attempt that this spring. I did, however, choreograph a jazz piece, revived it actually from about 5 years ago. And, the Choreography Class that I taught in the winter had a piece they were presenting as well. 


I spent a good bit of time in rehearsals this week with the students, not nearly as much as they did, but enough to be able to assist them in pulling off a successful production. Wednesday night was double dress rehearsal, and I sat quietly and took notes on the show that I then shared with the whole cast. I hope it was useful...


Anyway, back to food... so, Paul and I were planning a night out. Dinner and then the show. And, we initially thought we might meet up with some of my colleagues for dinner. That didn't work out, so we were on our own. We started thinking about where to go and checked our coupons and our Restaurant.com gift certificate stash. We found a $25 certificate for Zazios located downtown Kalamazoo in the Radisson Hotel. 


Now, we had been to Zazios once before. They have a chef's table offering that friends treated Paul and I to one time. I would have blogged on the amazing experience, but a) I would have never remembered everything that went into that meal, and b) since we did the wine pairing too, I REALLY wouldn't have remembered everything. And, I certainly didn't want to look like a weirdo sitting and taking notes on the whole experience, so I opted to just enjoy it. 


But, here we were, walking into the Radisson for what was certain to be an excellent meal. And, that it was. Zazios is one of the nicer places in Kalamazoo, I would say. The decor is elegant, and a little posh, the menu changes often and I have never heard anyone say anything bad about the food. The head chef gets out into the community a good deal, and even plans food getaways to Italy that anyone can buy tickets for (gift idea for this foodie?). 


Our server, Whitney started us off with Pellegrino and lime and house made bread with a garlic white bean spread and a olive tapanade. Now, I am not typically an olive person, but, these two together were magic. The bread had a slight herb to it, and the saltiness of the olives blended with the creaminess of the beans was perfect. 


Then came our cheese plate... with ricotta, pecorino, and Gorgonzola with apple slices and a fig mostarda. All of the cheeses where delicious. The ricotta was subtle and paired well with the apples. The pecorino was salty, and was great on its own or on a cracker. The Gorgonzola was sharp and when paired with the figs was heaven. The figs toned down the sharpness and made this combo my favorite on the plate. 


When it came to ordering, I was torn between a few dishes, and had asked for Whitney's recommendation. Without hesitating, she said "the eggplant", so that it was. And, I don't think I could have been happier with this meal. The pasta was subtle with the perfect amount of eggplant, garlic, and basil stuffed inside. But, what made this dish was what was on top. Large shavings of Parmesan cheese, a sprinkling of bread crumbs that added the most perfect amount of crunch, and a light tomato sauce that brought everything together.

I savored every bite. And, was perhaps the saddest I have ever been to reach the end. This was, quite possibly, the best pasta dish I have ever had. And, that is saying a lot, as I have had a lot of pasta dishes in my time. 


Paul was also very impressed with his Veal Parmigiana, which was almost a cross between Parmigiana and Saltimboca. 

Sadly, there wasn't time for dessert as we had to get to the show (and we got there none too soon...it was a FULL house!), but we were so blown away by this experience, I imagine we will save up and make a least one more visit over the summer before Baby Y arrives! 

If you are looking for amazing Italian cuisine in Kalamazoo served in a perfect date night (or fun night out with the girls) setting, look no further than Zazios.

http://www.zazios.com/kalamazoo-home-page.html

five golden forks out of five

Foodies on Vacay: The Up North Babymoon

Paul and I headed "up north" (it's a Michigan thing...) for our very own Babymoon. That's right, our perceived last chance to getaway before the arrival of our first child. Yes, yes, I realize I am not due until August. But, we aren't supposed to travel after we reach 32 weeks (mid June). April and May are pretty darn booked up with baby showers and work-related events. And, June, well, my sister is getting married in June. So, March it is.

Fortunately, we SUPER lucked out with the weather. We booked this trip over a month ago. With NO IDEA that the weather would be more like June than March. So, for that, we feel that is was meant to be. We also managed to have a pretty darn amazing weekend. So, again, meant to be.

Also, we stayed at this amazing Bed and Breakfast thanks to an amazing wedding present (a BedandBreakfast.com gift certificate!) and had a phenomenal stay. If you are looking for a cozy place with the best B&B hosts ever, definitely check this place out. And, the breakfast was pretty darn great too.

But, anyway, we had to eat on our trip, right? So, here is what we discovered.

Stone House Bakery and Cafe, Leland, Michigan

Our first food stop, other than the Taco Bell that we ate on the way out of town on Friday night (don't judge) was for lunch in Leland, MI at the Stone House Bakery and Cafe. We were looking for a light and somewhat healthy lunch. And, since it was early March, not everything was open, but Stone House sure was. So, after a little exploration of Leland, particularly Fishtown, we stepped into Stone House Bakery and Cafe.

Now, I am still trying to pack on the nutrition, even in things that are less healthy for me by way of super food-type ingredients. In this case, the Garden Panini seemed like it was a home run. With tomatoes, fresh spinach, red onion, and artichokes, as well as hummus and dill harvarti, it seemed like most of those ingredients are pretty good for me. Served on focaccia and grilled to perfection, this sandwich really was a hit.

I took my first bite, and though, 'man! This is GOOD!' I know, very descriptive, right? But seriously, the ingredients all played together very well on the playground. For me, it was the artichoke that made it. The acidity added such a nice, distinct flavor that it took it from being an ordinary sandwich to pretty darn extraordinary.

The bread was a star too. Baked in house. The right density. Crispy/crusty from the grill. And hearty enough to hold the ingredients inside. Right on!

Paul also thoroughly enjoyed his Chicken, Bacon, and Smoked Gouda panini. In fact, he told the lady who made it that it was one of the top 5 sandwiches he ever had. And, Paul doesn't make stuff like that up.

This little gem was definitely worth the long drive up the coast from Frankfort. And, I suspect we will want to visit again when in the area. And, you should too!

five golden forks out of five

http://www.stonehousebread.com/index.html

Grocer's Daughter Chocolate, Empire, Michigan

So, this is not a place you would go and dine, but for any foodie-type, it is definitely worth the stop. This charming place (and BRIGHT GREEN building) came to us via a suggestion from our friend, Hillary. And, we trust Hillary when it comes to food suggestions, among other things, so we thought, 'we better stop'. So, after our very satisfying lunch in Leland, and the 30ish minute drive back down the coast, we found ourselves at Grocer's Daughter... not quite sure what to expect.

We wandered in, and I will admit, at first, I was like, 'eh... what's the big deal.' Then, moments later after seeing the selection of local and organic products on the shelf, Mimi, the grocer's daughter herself, came to talk to us. And, we were mesmerized. She is so knowledgeable, and stocks such great products, we just couldn't stop chatting it up with her.

As others wandered in as well, regulars by the way they engaged with Mimi, we struck up conversations with them as well. My growing belly was a good starter, but from there, there were all kinds of cool things we learned and heard about. We even met someone who's brother-in-law in Kalamazoo is someone we know!

There were samples a plenty, and believe me, we sampled. We left with a modest stash, but the highlight of the visit was when we told Mimi about the amazing hot chocolate we had on our honeymoon in the Dominican Republic. Well, she wanted to know if her's was better. So, she made us each a little cup... and SHE WON! Wow! What amazing stuff! And, we told her that too!

So, for real, if you are in north western Michigan... and near the town of Empire, go to Grocer's Daughter's Chocolate. You will not be disappointed. I promise.

five golden forks out of five

http://www.grocersdaughter.com/

A. Papano's Pizza, Frankfort, Michigan

Well, our Saturday night dinner plans kind of fell through. So, instead of indulging on bar food (on St. Patrick's Day, no less) we decided to go for some local pizza. Now, honestly, I love trying local pizza. I have had some pretty amazing pies in some pretty unlikely places, and this is no exception.

A. Papano's was within walking distance of the B&B. So, we went for a little exploratory walk and decided that we would order two small pies. We were both pretty hungry after all the walking we had done that day, and pizza leftovers are NEVER bad. So, we went for it. One small Venetian Veggie (with pesto sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, green pepper, and roasted garlic) and one small Chicken Parmigiano (with seasoned chicken, roasted red pepper, and Parmesan cheese). The wait was not long, so we walked back to the house, chatted with the B&B owner for a bit, then headed back to pick up our pies.

When we opened up those boxes, and took the first whiff, I knew we were in for a treat. The ingredients were high quality and in generous amounts. And, oh, I forgot to mention, we opted for the sesame seasoned crust, which was a PERFECT choice.

I started devouring the Venetian Veggie. It was the perfect combination of flavors, and the pesto, rather than a red sauce, was the right choice. The Chicken Parm was also delicious, though I did like the Veggie a bit more. My only complaint on these pies were that they were a bit greasy. I know some folks like that. It is not my favorite thing. The grease ring in the box was pretty outstanding. But, the flavor was great. The toppings were in the right proportions, and for $25 (rather than the $100 we probably would have spent on dinner at a nice restaurant) we were happy campers.

There are several locations of this pizza eatery, and I will go out on a limb and say that if there is one nearby a future trip, we will likely grab a pie!

four golden forks out of five.

http://www.papanos.com/

All in all, a fantastic trip to the great white north. I am not sure if they actually call it that, but for our purposes here, we will go with it. Great food, beautiful weather, and a chance to kick back and relax. Just what the doctor, not mine but someone's, ordered!

P.S. We stopped at Hop Cat (see our previous review HERE) in Grand Rapids on the way home. I actually DID NOT order my usual, the Hippie Wrap. Not because I don't love it, but because I wanted to try something else. You know what else is amazing on their menu... The Stoner Tacos! Woah! Totally yummy!

Erbelli's Gourmet Pizzeria, Italian Bistro, and Pub

Kate: Side salad with Greek Dressing, Classic Margarita Pizza, and Be Careful Not to Choke Pepperoni Shocker

OK. I know, I know. People have been telling us to go to Erbelli's for years, literally, years. And, we have wanted to check it out. It's just that it seemed like it was kind of out of the way. Well, now that we have been there, I can promise you, that is ABSOLUTELY no excuse. This place is a very worthy of the 6 awards they just won in the Kalamazoo Gazette's "Reader's Choice" awards. Seriously. (Check the article out here).

Any way, my folks were coming into town for the weekend, and we had an afternoon to kill, so we decided to head over to Erbelli's and check it out with them. So, off we went for a late lunch, with a coupon from our Super Book in hand! And, we were ready to attack this food. Oh, and I should give a shout out to Mr. Brian Dietz (my boss) who has been telling Paul and I to check out Erbelli's for quite some time. He was very glad to hear we finally made it over there. So, thank you, Mr. Dietz, for the recommendation.

We walked in and were met by the friendly hostess. (Note: one of the Reader's Choice awards they won was Friendliest Staff... well deserved). She took us back through the charming dining room, not at all what I was expecting, and sat us in a booth. Though, I had looked over the menu online before, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed as I had it in my hands... There are a lot of options. Sandwiches, salads, gourmet pizzas, a whole vegetarian pizza section, and more and more. Our coupon was for two pizzas, so we decided to share. Mom and I ordered the Margarita and Paul and dad went for the Pepperoni Shocker, which was no shocker at all. We also ordered side salads, because, well, we were pretty hungry at that point, and this was late lunch/early dinner, so that seemed ok.

Upon our server's suggestion, we went with the Greek dressing for the side salad. The perfect choice. Most of their dressings are house made, expect for their house (Ranch!?!) which is odd. The salad was nothing special. Mostly iceberg lettuce with mozzarella cheese, tomato, and croutons, but the dressing made this something I will likely crave. The perfect blend of herbs. Not too oily or greasy. Light. Yum! Man, my mouth is starting to water now that I think about it.

And, then, it was pizza time. Mom and I started working on the Margarita, while Paul and dad attacked the Pepperoni Shocker, appropriately I do believe. Sadly (and epic fail on my part) my the batteries in my camera died before I could get a picture of the Margarita. And, I was pretty hungry, so I just dove it. But, as Margarita's go, it was pretty standard. A little wet, perhaps (thanks to the tomatoes) but the flavor was great. The right blend of garlic and olive oil and basil. The crust was the right balance of crispy and chewy (not too much, but some of both), and, in all honesty, it was gone pretty fast. I am pretty sure, in fact, I am positive, that I ate more than my half. Now, I think the Park Street Pizza (check out that blog post here) is still my favorite Margherita) but this was darn good. And available here where I live.

BUT, Paul and dad's pizza, was, well, pretty incredible. Now, I am not a pepperoni eater. It's almost more on principle than anything at this point. I had an evolution of carnivorism. I started as a full meat eater, then went to a full vegetarian. Over the years, I have added chicken, turkey, seafood, and some pork back into my diet. But, I am still weird with the pork products (I just recently started eating bacon) and I have maintained my no beef status since about 1995. But, the looks on Paul's and dad's faces as they ate this pizza pie, made me want to at least take a bite. And, I did. And, it was epic, amazing, awesome and any other cliched word you can think of. Pan crust, again the perfect combination of chewy and crispy, with the crispiest of crispy pepperonis. I didn't even pay attention to the cheese (sorry!) because the rest of the pizza was so good.


I don't know that I will have this particular pizza again ( I still don't feel good about the pepperoni eating), but I WILL go back to Erbelli's and will try many of the other pizzas. It is absolutely clear why Erbelli's was awarded so many Reader's Choice awards. This place is family friendly, delicious, and worth the drive, wherever you are coming from!

http://www.erbellis.com/


Thanks for visiting, mom and dad! Love you lots! XOXO!

five golden forks out of five

A Trip to Art Prize (and the great food we found!)

We are very fortunate to have a cool city like Grand Rapids so close by, especially because things like Art Prize take place in the city. Art Prize is an open art contest, the largest publicly juried art contest in the world. There are thousands of works of art all over Grand Rapids. So, Paul and I headed to the city for a little getaway to check out not only the competition and art, but, OF COURSE, the food.

More on the food in a moment, but here are a few photos from our trip!

Paul and I on the "blue bridge" enjoying the gorgeous day!

Paul pays homage to one of Grand Rapids favorite sons... Jay Van Andel.

One of the pieces... a tribute to Barrel of Monkeys. A favorite for many of the little ones' who came to Art Prize.

Want to know more about Art Prize? I know you do... check it out here:

http://www.artprize.org

Now... on to the FOOD!

Kate: Dip Trio (shared) and the Hippie Wrap with beerbar cheese and crack fries

Holy HopCat, Batman! Yes, I said it. This place just became one of my favorites! Named the #3 bar in the country by Beer Advocate, you would expect good beer and a cool atmosphere. The bar staff is super cool. The beer selection is wide. There is great music playing (Arcade Fire and Pink Floyd that I can recall) and great art and stuff on the walls. But, what I was really blown away by was the food!

There are 150 beers available. Yes, 150. That's a lot. Good beer, too. Though, we learned about the "Lawnmower" category on the beer list (which was Rolling Rock while we were there). Beer that you would drink while mowing the lawn. Yeah, not a compliment, really, but good to know that option exists if that is what you are looking for.

OK, OK, the food. I know. So, we were hungry. And, they were SLAMMED, so we quickly ordered our first round of beer (I had Left Hand Brewing Company's Milk Stout) and a starter. And here is where I confess that we actually had been to HopCat before, and had ordered this starter. But, that's it. That's all we ordered that time. I promise! So, the Dip Trio it was. This yummy appetizer includes three dips (really!) including Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Spicy Black Bean Dip, and HopCat's own (and amazing) Beerbar Cheese. It is served with crispy pita chips and veggies including carrots, celery, cucumbers, and red bell pepper. Ok, so the Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is very good. The Spicy Black Bean dip is outstanding. And, the Beerbar Cheese is OUT OF THIS WORLD! It's bite-y, thanks to the horseradish, creamy, thanks to the cheese, and, gosh, I just don't even know what to say except that it is ADDICTIVE! We even got a little crazy and mixed them together a bit. The hummus with the black bean dip, a winning combo. Only problem with this dish... there isn't enough of it!

So, as I am enjoying this amazing dip trio, it is time to make a decision on what I am going to order. And, boy, was I struggling. So many things on this menu sounded good. So, after much debate, I decided I was going to go with a healthier option, but splurge on the side dish. So, I landed on the Hippie Wrap and the Crack Fries. And, this is now the dish that I will crave. All the time. It was phenomenal. Let's get the Crack Fries talk out of the way first... they are VERY appropriately named. They are french fries. That's all they are. But, they are so crispy on the outside, and warm and soft on the inside, and so well seasoned (pepper, salt, lemon pepper, and some secret ingredients that I think I am glad I don't know) that you want the serving to be endless. Oh my gosh. I think I can say that these were the best fries I have ever had. Ok, that might be going a bit far, but they are definitely in contention for that spot.

Now that that is out of the way, let's talk about the Hippie Wrap... OK, I am going to tell you that ingredients, and you are going to think, 'Really, that good?' and I am going to say, 'YES! That good!'. Spinach tortilla with cucumber, tomato, red onion, basil, roasted red peppers, spinach, romaine, sunflower seeds, and you can choose either Roasted Red Pepper Hummus OR Beerbar Cheese. And, that is what puts it over the top. Yeah, yeah, veggies in a wrap. Seen it. Been there. Done that. But, this Beerbar Cheese is what makes this something to write home (or a blog) about. The ingredients are all so fresh. And, the Beerbar Cheese adds the extra bite. Plus there are little surprises like the sunflower seeds which add some crunch. Wow! This is so good.

So, there continued to be good beer. In fact, we left, went to dessert somewhere else, then came back for another drink because it is such a cool place. Even Beer Advocate says so!

Check it out!

http://hopcatgr.com/

five golden forks out of five

Kate: Pearl Barley Veggie Burger with Sweet Potato Chips

Day Two meant another meal. And, as tempted as I was to go back to HopCat and order the exact same thing, the foodie in me knew that wasn't the right thing to do. Plus, we were meeting up with our friends Hillary and Jeff and their adorable little guy, Graham, so it wasn't just up to us. Now, Founders was a tempting choice. Hillary and Jeff are diehards/regulars there. But, we all agreed to go another route.

Now, I was the only one who had never been to the B.O.B. (which I recently learned means Big Old Building). So, we went to the B.O.B. Inside the B.O.B. are several dining options, and nightclubs, etc. But, it was lunch time and we were just looking for a good meal. So, upon Hillary and Jeff's suggestion, we went to Bobarinos. (I know, it's funny!).

The menu is eclectic. Pizza, some Mexican dishes (like the burrito that Paul ordered), sandwiches and burgers, etc. There was also a section of the menu called "Super Foods". I was intrigued. So, I read on. And, it said that this section included foods that were identified as super foods. After a little extra indulgence the day before, I felt like this might be the section of the menu for me.

So, I ordered the Pearl Barley Veggie Burger with Sweet Potato Chips. The sandwich, in addition to the burger, had tomato, arugula, Roasted Red Pepper Aioli, and onion on a Pretzel Bun. I am trying not to sound underwhelmed... because this was a really good meal. But, the Hippie Wrap from the night before was so in my head, that it is hard to get past that.

I'm serious, this was a good combination for a sandwich. It was very satisfying. The ingredients were fresh and played together well on the bun. The creaminess of the aioli brought it all together, while the onion and arugula provided some sharpness. The burger itself was great. I wish they sold those in the store. I think I would eat them more often. Plus, the sweet potato chips were great. Thinly sliced, just lightly seasoned, crispy, very good.

So, maybe the experience the night before with the food mixed with the kind of unappealing atmosphere of the place (it seemed to have a bit of an identity crisis with the decor. Seating was tight. There just wasn't anything very special about it) made it harder to be blown away.

Moral of the story... Bobarinos wasn't bad. But, if you are in Grand Rapids and have to make a choice, HopCat should always win!

http://www.thebob.com/

three golden forks out of five.

So, that is our Art Prize story. We had a great time. And, my mouth if watering thinking about the Hippie Wrap, the Beerbar Cheese, and the Crack Fries!

Founder's Brewery

Kate: Curmudgeon Sandwich with Oatmeal Stout

This was not our first visit to Founder's Brewery in Grand Rapids. In fact, it is pretty much our rule that if we go to GR (as we call it here in West Michigan), we need to stop at Founder's. The beer is great and the sandwiches are incredible. Always fresh ingredients, good bread, and wonderful flavor combinations.

So, on Labor Day, we headed to GR for a West Michigan Whitecaps game with our friends, Kristi and Steve, and had plans to meet up with Hillary, Jeff, and Graham for a bite and a beer at Founder's. I was thinking about it the whole time we were at the game. Now, the food at the quality of the concessions at the Whitecaps games are pretty good. Apparently, the burgers are great (not that I would know), and Adam Richman was there with Man vs. Food to try the ginormous 5/3 burger. But, I did my best to not fill up there. Only a small snack to tide me over so I was ready for Founder's when the time came.

So when we arrived at Founder's, I immediately started scanning the menu for the sandwich that would fill my belly. I have had a few other their other sandwiches before, and they have all been great, but I wanted to go for something new. NOTE: A lot of their sandwiches have meat on them, and not just turkey... so, the choices are a bit limited, BUT, there are still several options.

I elected to go for the Curmudgeon today. Smoked turkey on rye with colby jack, red onion, baby spinach, sauerkraut, and horseradish sauce. Sounds good, right? Well, it is! There is a nice sharpness to this sandwich from the horseradish and the onion. The sauerkraut adds an extra bite, and the spinach and colby jack balance it out. Not to mention the delicious smoked turkey. It is really juicy, thick, and seasoned perfectly, with the smokiness as an extra bonus. Plus, the fresh rye bread! This sandwich is heaven.

Paired with the Oatmeal Stout which is as rich and creamy as a beer can be, this was a very satisfying and craveable meal!

Heading to GR? Check out Founder's. If you are a Bell's fan... you will be blown away! Yep, I said it. ;)

http://www.foundersbrewing.com/

five golden forks out of five

Foodies on Vacay: Park Street Pizza, Sugarcreek, Ohio.

Kate: Veggie Patch and Margherita Pizza
If you take a look at the photos below, it will give you some sense of where this blog is going. But, until you taste this pizza, you really can't know the amazingness that is Park Street Pizza in Sugarcreek, Ohio.

Sugarcreek is a small town. A few miles from where I grew up in Dover. Nestled in the heart of Ohio's Amish community, there is a plethora of great ingredients available from the local farms. But, to my knowledge, no one has captured that quite like Park Street Pizza. Though the growing season isn't as long there as it woudl be in more temperate climates, the seasonal menus focusing on the freshest, local ingredients are one of the things that elevate this place above your average pizza joint.

Take this Veggie Patch Pizza for instance. Featuring mushrooms, spinach, sun dried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, green peppers, garlic, red onions , and, mozzarella, parmesan, AND feta cheeses. This is a veggie pizza eater's dream. The freshness of the ingredients make this a stand out. And, the crust is the perfect combination of thin, but a bit dough, and is well seasoned with garlic. Wow! I just couldn't stop. In fact, I am certain I ate WAY more than I should have, but it was fresh, and hot, and so good.

But, to top that off, I saw that one of their seasonal pies was Margherita and they were selling it by the slice. So, I loosed my belt a bit, and ordered a slice to share with my sister, Mallory. With local heirloom tomatoes, fresh, garlic, basil and mozzarella cheese how could you go wrong? Right, we know I love this combo. BUT, to top it all off, they also swirl a house-made pesto into the pizza dough before stretching it out. Now, I woudl have NEVER thought of that on my own, but man, does that make this pizza irresistible. I cherished every bite. That sounds kind of strange, but it was perfection.

Park Street also has an environmental focus, which is always a bonus with me. Using all compostable materials to serve, that just gets them a few extra points!

Sugarcreek, Ohio is likely quite a drive for most of you. But, I promise, this pizza is worth it. You think they would deliver to us here in Kalamazoo? Probably not, but a girl can dream, right?

Check them out here: http://parkstreetpizza.com/

five golden forks out of five.+++
(+++ added because it was SO GOOD!!!)

Gorilla Gourmet

Kate: BLT

YAY! I FINALLY made it down to Gorilla Gourmet, one of Kalamazoo's up and coming food trucks. First, let me say, this was one of my first food truck visits, and I was psyched! I mean, I have gotten pretzels from street vendors before, but I think this might have been my first legit food truck experience! Woot!

I wandered down for lunch, since the current location is so super close to campus. It was a beautiful, slightly windy day, and I was ready for a tasty sandwich. I have been following Gorilla Gourmet on Facebook for awhile, and am always drooling over the photos they post, so when I arrived, I was good and hungry and ready to attack my lunch.

The menu is not large, but you can tell it is very thoughtfully planned. Three sandwich options, a soup, and a burrito. Those were the choices. But, you know that so much care goes into each one of those. So, I selected the BLT, since I have recently become a bacon eater again. But also because it sounded delicious. Heirloom tomatoes, organic mixed greens, a basil-lime vinaigrette, and the bacon of course. How could you go wrong with this combination? So, we placed our order, took a seat at the table under the tent, and patiently waited for our lunch.

Gorilla Gourmet gets food. Big time. And, more importantly, gets the importance of local food. The ingredients were the freshest of fresh. There was no greasiness, no "I hate myself" for eating this delightful sandwich. It not only tasted good, but it made me feel good to be supporting my community by eating it. Ok, off my soapbox, but seriously, there is nothing like a meal made with ingredients that come from where you live. Nothing frozen. No long drives to get to you. It is from here. And, that makes a difference.

This sandwich was excellent. The ingredients mixed and mingled in such a perfect way. It wasn't overwhelmingly huge, but very satisfying. And, I am certain that anything on this menu will blow you away. Please support this great new addition to our community!

Check them out on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gorilla-Gourmet/143321982353310


And, this foodie says...

five golden forks out of five.

(and I can't wait to try more!)