Foodies on Vacay: A Trip to OH for my Sister's Wedding

My baby sister just got married! She is the last of the girls to walk down the aisle.  I wouldn't have missed this for the world. Paul and I headed to my hometown, Dover, Ohio for the last weekend I can travel during this pregnancy. It was a wonderful weekend, full of happiness, love, and connections with family and friends. Of course, there was some eating too! We couldn't get out of town without some Park St. Pizza, but, we tried some new places too!

My sisters and I just after the ceremony

 

Sammy Sue's Barbeque: Dover, Ohio

Trips to Dover often involve seeing as many people as humanly possible. This time around we lucked out and got to have lunch with two of my best friends, Jen and Abby (who I don't see NEARLY enough!). Jen lives in Dover; Abby lives in Columbus and was in town for the day.  Paul and I met them at a new BBQ place in Dover, Sammy Sue's. 

Sammy Sue's is located near downtown Dover and is now occupying the building that used to house Rosie's, a Dover institution. I am not quite sure what happened to Rosie's as I haven't lived there for years, but, alas, Sammy Sue's is there now. 

The atmosphere is dive, without question. In fact, it looks like a place that Guy Fieri would visit. Mismatched tables, chairs, and booths. Not a lot of decor on the old wood paneling. Not a lot of space for folks to dine. It's charming in its own way, I suppose. Ms. Sammy Sue herself is there most of the time and usually does a round of the dining room to introduce herself every hour or so.

The menu is pretty standard for a BBQ place. You can enjoy chicken, brisket, salmon, ribs, and pulled pork all out of the smoker with Sammy Sue's sauce. The sides are also pretty standard. Fries, BBQ Chips (which I found out AFTER we ate there that we should have tried), many other potato options, rice, veggies, coleslaw, baked beans and mac and cheese. There are sandwiches, salads, baskets, etc. Usual fair. 

I went for a grilled chicken sandwich. Since I am trying to avoid smoked meats while pregnant, I thought this was a safe bet and probably on the way to being healthier than anything else. I opted for coleslaw as a side thinking, 'man... coleslaw on a bbq chicken sandwich is usually pretty good.' Sadly, I feel I had a miss on this one. In a word, my meal was bland. Not a lot of flavor to anything on the plate. In fact, I was quite disappointed because everyone else at the table was oohing and ahhing over their meals. 

Based on my experience, I would likely not go back. I mean, the chicken was tender. That is the best thing I can say about what I ate. There was just nothing else there. However, Mr. Foodie was in awe of the brisket and mac and cheese that he ordered, which makes me think I need to go back and order differently. 

So, from me, we get a "meh" but I will try it again, especially since the prices are right, the portions are large, and my husband and besties dig it. 

three golden forks out of five

Jen, me (32 weeks pregnant!), and Abby outside Sammy Sue's

Nervous Dog Coffee Bar: Stow, Ohio
On our way back to MI, we stopped just south of the turnpike to visit with our friends, Brian, Jen, and their little guy Sam. Brian chose the Nervous Dog as our rendezvous spot as it is right off the freeway and is a place he loves. Sounds good to us!


Though I hadn't necessarily planned on eating while we were there, my stomach had decided otherwise, and I went up to order a sandwich. Again, pregnancy food limitations include lunch meat, so I was looking for a vegetarian sandwich option. There was an intriguing grilled cheese sandwich with cream cheese, but feeling I needed something a bit healthier, I opted for the Elysian Fields sandwich. 

This sandwich includes spring mix, pecans, dried cranberries, feta, cucumbers, and a balsamic drizzle on good wheat bread.  Man, was I pleased with my menu choice. I mean, how can you go wrong with those ingredients? I would have NEVER thought to put them on a sandwich together, but I will now. This sandwich hit the spot, and eating it didn't make me hate myself. Plus, they serve Zapp's chips (from Louisiana) on the side, which is never bad. I picked up a bag of the Dill Gator Tators (I think that is what they are called) which we took on the road and enjoyed later on the drive home. 


I did order an iced coffee drink (decaf, of course) to go. It was good. It didn't blow my mind as I expected it to. It was the Coco's Caramel Drizzle with dark chocolate and Ghirardelli caramel, which sounded amazing. It was good, but there other coffee spots that I like better. That is where the lack of the 5th fork comes from, but we will keep this as a rendezvous spot with our friends.  I will order that sandwich again, for sure!

four golden forks out of five

http://nervousdog.com/

Jac's (Cekola's Pizza)

Kate: Caprese Salad and Green Pepper, Onion (and half Italian Sausage for Paul) Pizza
It was another busy weekend day full of running around and taking care of errands. This is becoming a thing now. Now that I don't work quite as much on the weekends, this seems to be alright. And, really, who knew there was so much to do to prepare for a baby? Really? So, we were running around and this lady needed to eat. 



We had driven by Jac's on the way to our birthing class and Paul had heard some OK things about it. Actually, I think he read somewhere that the pizza was supposed to be great.  So, while we were out and about, we thought, 'what the heck!?!' and, seriously, how expensive could it be. It's a pizza joint. So, in we were, on a Saturday afternoon.The place was pretty quiet. Not a whole lot of folks hanging out. So, we grabbed a table and started looking over the menu.


There is not a lot on there that was appealing to me, other than pizza and salad. So, we decided we would go with that. You know me and a caprese. I can't resist. And, as for pizza, well, we went with some toppings we could agree on and placed the order. And, waited. And, waited. And, waited. 

We finally called our server over and mentioned that we would like the salad first, and she seemed surprised by this. So, she went to grab the caprese and like a minute later, brought out our pizza. Not ideal. I was hungry. But, we dealt.

As caprese salads go, this one was pretty good. The ingredients were of high quality. It wasn't terribly fancy on the plate, but it did taste pretty darn good. You could taste the richness of the balsamic and they sprinkled the whole plate with some very good, large crystal salt, which oddly added a nice crunch to the salad. While this salad was good, I am not sure it was $9 good (I think that is how much it was... it seemed high to me). It was small. And, for a pizza joint, that seems a bit, uh, much, but it hit the spot then. 

And... on to the pizza. The pizza was alright as pizza goes. Thin crust. SUPER greasy. A nice, light covering of a well seasoned sauce. A ton of cheese (thank you). And, high quality toppings. There was nice crunch to the outer crust. It was good. Nothing to write home about. And, not my favorite pizza ever. But, it was good. Again, the greasiness is what stuck with me. It was almost 'hose you off after eating it' greasy. And, for some, that is what pizza is all about. That is not necessarily my pizza quality of choice, but if it is yours, then you will be in heaven.

Overall, not a bad experience. The bill was high for a thin crust pizza and a caprese salad I thought (over $30 with tip...) and we waited awhile, which was odd since there was hardly anyone in there. Plus, not that this really matters, but they  have about 50 (exaggerated!) televisions in the place, and over half of them were playing some weight loss product infomerical the whole time we were there. Which, for some reason, just left a weird taste in my mouth. But, I might go back. It wouldn't be the most awful thing ever. 

NOTE: I did take a picture of the pizza that I intended to post... but, I took it on my phone, and when I downloaded it, I realized that it was MEGA blurry... SORRY! I know I suck at the whole posting pictures thing! 

three golden forks out of five.

Tokyo Express (Hibachi)

Kate: Tofu Hibachi
Paul and I were out and about running, what felt like, a ton of errands. And, it was time to fill our bellies for some much needed energy. So, we decided to try the new Japanese/Hibachi place that just opened near our place.

We were warmly greeted upon entering and were quickly seated at it was not busy. In fact, at first, we were the only ones in the place. But, it wasn't a prime meal time, so, no big deal. We knew we were likely going to opt for hibachi because, let's face it, we love hibachi. This is not your typical hibachi place where you sit at the big hibachi table with strangers and the chef displays awesome spatula spinning skills and flips broccoli into someone's mouth. Here, the set up is like any other restaurant. Just tables and Asian decor. And, that is fine. Honestly, sometimes I feel really awkward sitting at the hibachi table.

Anyway, we looked over the lunch menu and were immediately struck by the great prices. Especially for what you get for the price. Like typical hibachi, you get the rice, veggies, and protein, plus soup or salad. For like $7! I ordered tofu. And, was happy with my choice.

The miso soup came out first, and was on par with what I would expect. It didn't knock my socks off. But it was good. Maybe a little on the salty end. Then she delivered our plates of hibachi. And, again, not like the best thing I ever ate, but definitely tasty, satisfying and very budget friendly. The vegetables seemed fresh and crisp, the tofu had nicely taken on the flavor of the sauces it was cooked in, and the rice was also well seasoned. The sauces were what I would expect. A ginger sauce, and the spicy white hibachi sauce which I love.

I'll admit it. I was in the clean plate club that day. The food tasted good, was served in decent proportions, and made my tummy happy.

I am not sure I would recommend driving across town to try out Tokyo Express as I found it comparable with other options in the area, but if you are over here, it is definitely worth stopping in. I am certain it will become a regular in our carryout or quick (and close to home) dinner options.

Check it out for yourself!

http://tokyoexpresskalamazoo.com/

three 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!

Foodies on Vacay: Pineville Tavern (Pineville, PA)

Kate: Cheese Ravioli
So, I was PUMPED to try my first Food Network featured spot. I have been watching that channel almost non-stop over the last few months. And, when we knew we were traveling to the Philadelphia area, I made up a list of places I had seen on the Food Network that I would love to try. Now, this one was not on my list, as it had been pretty recently featured on the channel, but I was glad to get the chance to try at least one "famous" place.

I CLEARLY remembered this episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives because the one specialty at this place is Snapper Soup... And, that's not like the fish snapper, they are talking about snapping turtles. For real. Guy Fieri assists the head chef as he makes this soup from this giant turtle. Now, I am pretty adventurous, but that was a little more than I was willing to take on. So, I opted for another dish that they showed in that episode, their ravioli.

Now, we know that I am not a red meat eater, which was very unfortunate in this case because it was actually the meat raviolis that were featured on the show AND they were on special that day. But, since there was a non-meat option, I thought I would give it a go. And, I have to say, I was a bit disappointed with my meal. There wasn't a lot of flavor to the filling in the ravioli. And, the marinara sauce was watery and also fairly lacking in the flavor department. I loaded on the crushed red pepper so there would be something to it. I understand that the meat ravioli that Paul ate was better, but still not a knock your socks off dish. I mean, I didn't leave hungry. I cleaned my plate like a good girl. But, it left a little to be desired, especially from a Triple D spot.

The place was charming, though. It has that old, rustic feel. Its located in what used to be a hotel that was built in 1742 and was Pineville's major landmark. Its been there for a while. They recently underwent a renovation/update, but we didn't get to explore the whole place.

There are a lot of dead animals on the wall (there was a preserved for all time squirrel climbing a tree right next to our table. Charming!), but I think that adds to the atmosphere of the place. I hear that are some ghost stories connected with it. AND, I LOVED this... they have an herb garden right in the front of the place that you see when you walk in. AND, they use the herbs from the garden in their dishes, or so they say. Now, that I can totally get behind.

It seems to be a local favorite. Our friends eat there often and say they have never had a bad meal. And, my meal wasn't bad. It just wasn't incredible, like I expected it to be.

So, there you have it. My first Triple D visit. Hopefully, not my last!

http://www.pinevilletavern.com/

three golden forks out of five.

Sakura Sushi and Hibachi

Kate: Hibachi Chicken Lunch

YAY! Kristin and I got to share a meal. Woo hoo! We had a day off, and had some errands to run, so we said, 'Hey! Let's grab lunch at a new place!' So, we did. We checked out the newer (but totally new to us) hibachi place in the Target plaza near the mall. Now, I love hibachi. I don't know why. Something about watching my food be cooked right in front of me is really excting. I guess. So, I was pumped. And, it always seems like it is a good value. You get soup, salad, rice, veggies, some kind of meat, for a fairly low price. It seems like you get a lot for your money.
Sakura was no exception. The $9 for all of the above was a good value. My stomach was full, my wallet wasn't empty, good deal. The soup was your typical miso soup. Though, I thought it was a little strange that there seemed to be fried onions, like that you put on top of green bean casserole, in it. I actually kind of liked how it tasted, but thought it was strange nonetheless.
The salad was also fairly typical. A ginger dressing that I thought had just the right amount of tang. Kristin did not enjoy it, but I thought it was just fine. I tend to like this type of salad dressing and think it a good compliment to lettuce. Weird, I know.
Now, our hibachi experience could begin. Our chef, Rick, came out to prepare our chicken and vegetables and did all the fun things you expect from a hibachi chef. He was fun and engaging and took care of business quickly. The meal was nothing overwhelming. There is not a lot you can do to change the taste of hibachi chicken and vegetables, I think. For me, it is the sauce that makes the meal. Kristin missed out on this, as she is not a sauce person. There was a ginger sauce for the chicken and the typical white sauce for the veggies and rice. Again, nothing extraordinary, but it was satisfying. It did what it needed to do.
So, overall, the trip was just fine. Nothing that amazed me, but I would go back. I think this place felt a little cleaner and cozier than what I remember from Kumo Hibachi. We did not try the sushi at either place, so we can't use that as a basis for comparison. But, hibachi is hibachi. I like it. I think it tastes good. And, this did just that!

three golden forks out of five.

Kristin: Hibachi Chicken Lunch

Hahaha. I like how Kate said "We had errands to run." Someone should ask her what our errand was.

Anyway.

Kate suggested Sakura somewhere around Thursday of the week before, and I pretty much spent the rest of the week drooling until Monday. I heart hibachi. We got there half an hour before they closed, something I think really hurt my look on the dining experience. There are two "sections/ rooms/ big areas that are separated by a wall" within Sakura - the traditional restaurant style, where I assume they serve the bulk of their sushi (want to try that soon!), and the hibachi side with the grill you sit around and watch your food be prepared. The atmosphere was inviting and well decorated (though SUPER cold!), and I got a lot of time to look at it because we were the ONLY people in the hibachi section.

I agree with Kate, hibachi is hibachi. Perhaps the sauces can the difference between restaurants, but I've just never been a sauce/ dressing type of person (see also: why I didn't like the salad), so hibachi for me is made better or worse based on the experience of sitting at that grill, watching the people around you and enjoying the show the chef puts on.

Rick was certainly skilled with his knives and had a super kitchy little "fireman" (I'll leave the surprise ending out here so as not to spoil) that got a good chuckle out of me, but being the only two people in the place, I felt like the spotlight was stuck on Kate and I... and I am a people-watcher at heart. So that made it a little awkward.

Moral of the story - the food was good, but next time I will wear a thicker sweater and go when the place will be more populated. Until we meet again Rick the Hibachi Chef!

three golden forks out of five.

Rasa Ria

Kate: Chicken Curry Puff and Tofu Rendang

After our interest was piqued at Taste of Kalamazoo, we knew we wanted the full Rasa Ria experience. Paul and I had attempted to eat here a few times and found that, when they go on vacation, they GO on vacation. So, our previous attempts were unsuccessful. But, today was an exception. So, foodies, Kristin and I were able to share a meal from a new place. YAY!
Ok, curry puffs... pretty underwhelming. Good in theory. Filling wrapped in a heavy pastry dough. But, this dough was WAY heavy, translation= there was way too much. The filling was pretty good, but the outer crust was so overwhelming, that it got lost. In other words, I will likely save on the calories in the future and skip the curry puffs. But, we did want to order their stuffed tofu (which sounded interesting and yummy) but were informed that they were out of them... :(
The tofu rendang was good. Not 'blow my mind' fantastic, but good. Much like I remember it from Taste of Kalamazoo. I did find a few bay leaves floating around, which I thought was interesting. But, overall, I like this dish. Chunks of tofu and potato marinated in the coconut milk curry sauce. Served over white rice, it is a simple dish. The flavor is interesting, and unlike others that I have experienced before. There is a sweetness to this dish that makes it unique, and I like it. But, I don't love it/have to have it.
For the price, it is a nice take out experience that is different than your run-of-the-mill Chinese, or pizza, or Jimmy Johns. New flavors, you know? We will likely eat here again because it is something different and filling.

three golden forks out of five.

Culp's Cafe, Dayton, Ohio

Kate: Roasted Vegetable and Goat Cheese Omelet

Clearly I was exploring Dayton a little while I was there for work. On Sunday morning, we were looking for brunch, preferably at a non-chain place. We were near the University of Dayton campus, and we hoped on Google Maps to see what might be close. Culp's Cafe popped up, and we were intrigued. One of the most intriguing things about this place is that it is tucked in the Carillon Park, a 65-acre area with 25 historical buildings and many more artifacts and exhibits. It was a short drive from campus, so off we went...
Its a charming little place. When you walk in, you feel like you have taken a step back in time. The hostess was wearing traditional waitress looking outfit and the decor is that of a 1950s dinner. The breakfast menu had several griddle items, a long list of omelets, and other gems. I was instantly drawn to the roasted vegetable and goat cheese omelet. Shocking, I am sure! The menu description boasted zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, onions and more. YUM! So, you can imagine my disappointment when the omelet came to my table and was full of red and yellow bell peppers and goat cheese. Yep, that was it. It still tasted good, but it was a bit of a let down to not get what you were expecting. I can understand that certain vegetables are seasonal, but if that is the case, then it should indicate on your menu that that is a possibility... I'm just saying...That disappointment aside, it tasted good. The fried potatoes on the side were well done and seasoned nicely and the rye toast, my favorite, is always a good compliment to breakfast.
Apparently, Culp's Cafe is under new management, so towards the end of our dining experience, the new owner sauntered over to our table to ask about our dining experience. He said "maybe you all can make this one of your regular spots," which I thought was pretty good salesmanship...we informed him that we don't live in the Dayton area, but that we would stop back the next time we were in town. I could see this becoming a regular spot for me if it was close by... and if they don't falsely represent their menu items...
Overall, good breakfast and cool setting.

three golden forks out of five.

Menna's

Kristin: Fajita Wrap (And Mama Menna's Cookies)

Attention college students that frequent our blog - Menna's is this month's awesomely affordable entry. But then, if you are a college student in Kzoo... you probably already know about this place.

I really like the scene in this little joint (Aka the "Only Legal Joint in Town"). Movie posters and trivia adorn every square inch of the walls. And they're fun cultish movies like Evil Dead and the Princess Bride. Woot. The staff is also pretty great - a friendy crew with a sense of humor who don't forget to end the transaction with a sincere "Have a great day!" I like that in my eatery of choice.

On to the food. Menna's specializes in quirky wraps that I can best describe as the perfect late night college food. I got the Fajita wrap, which contained chicken (tossed in taco sauce), lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and I believe there were a bit of pepper for heat in there as well. Good to eat, but messy as all get out! I believe both Kate and I got about 3/4 through our respective wraps before we had to admit defeat and get forks to finish off the rest. Followed that up with some of Mama Menna's chocolate chip cookies. Though I mention them here only because I ordered them - they weren't really anything past your standard run of the mill cookie.

three golden forks out of five.

Kate: Taco Light Dub and a Pickle

I can't believe that Kristin didn't call them by their actual names! Though they are wraps, they call them "dubs" for some reason. Not sure why. Was hoping for an explanation when I went there (their menus are all over campus), but, not so much.
Anywho, yes, I opted for a light version of one of their dubs. It was pretty similar to what Kristin had and I struggle to understand why it was "light". It had a lot of lettuce and hardly any cheese, so maybe that is why. But, it was still tasty. And, yes, I had to relinquish to the fork at one point. It just would not stay together. There was a good bit of kick in it thanks to the jalapenos. Yum! I was certainly satisfied and was not wanting for more when I polished it off.
I did start the meal with a big old pickle. YUM! Pretty much your run-of-the-mill huge-ass pickle. But, it was a good way to start the meal off. Probably should have saved some for after my dub since it did have some punch. Next time I suppose.
I don't imagine myself hitting up Menna's too frequenlty, but they do deliver into the wee hours of the morning... hum...

three golden forks out of five.

Mangia Mangia

Kristin: Bruschetta and the Caprese Sandwich

Kate and I finally got a chance to catch up over lunch! And since it isn't Monday, we decided to try Mangia Mangia (on the Downtown Mall) again. This time we met success - the little italian restaurant was open (sadly though, Billy Joel was missing from the scene).

We started with the Bruschetta, which was decent, but not breath-taking. It took a while for us to be served, and I have a sneaky feeling that it had a few minutes to sit before it was brought out to us - as evidenced in our soggy bread.

My caprese sandwich was my sad attempt at not getting the caprese salad (I try not to be predictable. I clearly failed here. Huzzah.) It was yummy- I mean, it was basically caprese on bread, so I was happy, but I have two disappointments: 1. the bread it came on was more a bun than the sliced bread I was expecting (and consequently sat like a rock in my tummy), and 2. It made me WICKED sick about two hours later. Like, "go home from work and get some pepto in you before the sandwich makes its way back up" kind of sick. It um, was kinda sucky.

Now, all that being said, I fully admit some of that sick is just poor ordering judgement on my part. The oil on the bruschetta paired with the cheese in the sandwich just don't mix well in the middle of your work day. I will definitely try Mangia Mangia again, and will be a little smarter about both what I order, and making sure I have more than an hour to kill there.

three golden forks out of five.

Kate: Bruschetta and the Chicken Toscana Sandwich

Off we went back to the Kalamazoo Mall for lunch. This time, with the intent of hitting up Mangia Mangia. Italian sounded good. So, why the heck not? Kristin's note about the slowness of the service is one that should be expanded upon. My thoughts... if you are going to offer a weekday lunch menu in an area where lots of business people dine, you should probably think about speeding it up. We were definitely late getting back to work as we sat and waited for our sandwiches for quite some time. Boo!
The brushchetta was alright. It was really onion-y, which is not how I prefer it. And, soggy bread was definitely a problem in this appetizer. Overall, not bad, but as brushchetta goes, I would probably not order it again from this establishment.
They did allow us to sub side salads for the homemade chips that are usually served with the sandwiches. That was nice. Lightened up the lunch a bit. And, the salads weren't bad. The dressing was yummy. La Cantina I think it was called. A light Italian vinaigrette. Clearly something I like. But, there was a strange collection of things on the salad, including green peppers, which just didn't quite go with the rest of the ingredients.
When my sandwich arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was sliced chicken breast, deli-style, as opposed to a grilled chicken breast. Grilled chicken breasts can make sandwiches like that seem soggy and this was a good solution to that. That sandwich was tasty. The red peper aioli added a nice bite to the other ingredients. Yum. The best part of the meal by far. I would order this sandwich again.
We both agreed that this was maybe not the best lunch time expereince. I think we will try to go back soon and experience Mangia Mangia for dinner.

three golden forks out of five.

Soup Kettle

Kristin: Cup of Chicken Noodle Soup and the Salad Bar
Located on the Downtown Mall, this stop is an easy one for Kate and I to make during our lunch hour - hence, we stopped in. Just a point of reference for y'all that have never been there, you have two door choices as you walk in - you want the one to your right.
The food was good - nothing special, but satisfying. The servers were super friendly, especially in being patient with us as Kate blurted out "We're new here. Help."
That being said, while the food was decent and the people were nice, I found their "flow" to be really unhelpful. From the moment we entered the wrong front door, we just didn't know what to do. How do we order? Where do we go? Do we leave our trays here or bring them up somewhere? There's a lot of things to look at in the Soup Kettle - take out menus, reviews from big-shot newspapers (how do Kate and I get in on that action?), interesting people-watching, etc, but there's very little in the way of "How does this place work?"
In that aspect, I could see the Soup Kettle being more one of those places you have regulars, and then those people who you really could care less about when they get flustered with the layout. Sadly, I was one of the latter today, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't go back. I mean, hey, I've got it figured out now. (Still though, please post some arrows or directions, or ... something.)

three golden forks out of five.

Kate: Cup of Hearty Vegetable Soup, the Salad Bar, and Cornbread
So, in all honesty, this was not our desired destination. We went down craving some Sprout, but found the windows covered and the door locked. SAD! Not sure what is going on, but Sprout, come back soon! I had remembered seeing the Soup Kettle in a few of my walks down the mall, and said to Kristin, 'hey, let's try that Soup Kettle place' and so it was. Um, Kristin has done a great job in describing our confusion. And, yes, I really did say, 'we are new here, how does this work?'. The response I got back was 'welcome' which made me smile.
I found the soup to be lacking in flavor. It was hearty. And it wasn't bad, but it kind of just was. If you are going to have soup in your name, I would expect it to knock my socks off. Not the case here. But, I was starving. The salad bar was not too bad as salad bars go. Pretty fresh looking, nice variety. Not a great selection of dressings, but they had olive oil and balsamic vinegar, so I was good. The cornbread was a little less moist than I prefer, but pretty tasty.
So, not a bad lunch. On the light side, which is what we were looking for. A little pricey for what it was, if you ask me. $8.37 for soup salad and cornbread...? I am confident we will give the Soup Kettle another chance.

three golden forks out of five.

Charlie Foster's

Kristin: Blueberry Vinaigrette Walnut Salad (I think that's what it was called...)

Happy Birthday Deanna! Kate and I joined Deanna and a few others to celebrate this Kalamazoo holiday, and we had a great time.

Kate's been there before, but this was my first time into the classy joint otherwise known as Charlie Foster's. I really liked the architecture, very open - lots of different levels and space.

Our server was... well let's describe with a story. I asked for the caprese salad (like you expected something else?) and she quickly said "we're out of that." So I switched to my second option (the salad listed above), and after taking two or three more orders she came back to me and said "well, I can see if he can scrape together one last caprese salad from what we've got left." I dunno, does that seem off to anyone else? I'm not really looking to get the bottom of the barrel scrapings, I'd like a meal. In any case I stuck with what I had.

I liked the parts of the salad, but I believe there may have been too many flavors at play at once. The blueberry vinaigrette with the candied walnuts was good, but the slice green apples that also came in the salad ended up getting picked out - they were just too much extra for me.

All this being said, it certainly wasn't a bad experience, and the waitress was very attentive to us considering we were a full and slightly rowdy table.

three golden forks out of five.

Kate: Jerked chicken panini with a side salad

YES! Happy birthday, Deanna. Thanks for inviting us out. As mentioned above, I have been to Charlie Fosters before, so I had an idea of what to expect. They do bring these mini loaves of break to the table with a bottle of olive oil dipping sauce. YUM! So good.
My wallet kept me from ordering a large plate, so I opted for a sandwich this evening. Th description of this sandwich was very appealing, and I will admit, I was torn between this and a few others. But, the jerked chicken minus the bacon was where I went. With a side of homemade chips (that I knew I wouldn't really eat) and a side salad, this was a good meal. There was a nice blend of spicy from a chipotle sauce that mingled with the jerkedness of the chicken. YUM! A little on the greasy side, but not too bad. Enough to make me know I needed to do a few extra crunches and push-ups the next day. The side salad was also good. I can't recall what dressing I had, but it was a vinaigrette of sorts and was tasty.
There are some other intriguing items on the menu, so I am sure to return. I would order this sandwich again, as well, if in the mood for something a little risque.
The service was a little questionable. Which is what I had heard from others. She was nice, but seemed a little naive to the ways of the server. Maybe she was new. Kristin's exploit with the caprese salad was only the tip of the iceberg on that one!

four golden forks out of five.

Crow's Nest

Kristin: Beer battered mushrooms and... shoot! I can't remember what it's called, but it was a wrap with mushroom, fresh veggies, pesto, and cheese. AND a side of sweet potato fries

When my staff heard about the blog (Do y'all read this? You should comment. That would crack me up.), they immediately told me we HAD to check out the Crow's Nest. HAD to. They also mentioned that they're known for their wicked breakfast food, but I have a poor memory, so I got an actual entree instead.

This was a pretty great vegetarian option. The wrap was fresh, the beer battered mushrooms were good. But the real award winner here for me was the sweet potato fries. So delicious. So delicious, in fact, that I can't even think of words to describe them. Which of course is super helpful in this role as a foodie blogger.

In any case, it was good, but we're going to have to go back soon to try the breakfast like we were originally told.

four golden forks out of five.

Kate: Crap! I can't remember what mine was called either! It was a black bean burger with goat cheese and something else. Boo! Oh, and the shrooms and the sweet potato chips.

It has also been suggested to me that I needed to check this place out. I don't recall the breakfast part, but that's fine. We figured that since so many college students enjoy this place, we could afford it, right? So, off to the Crow's Nest we went.
I was reluctant to go with the fried shrooms. I knew I would like them, but thought that the grease factor might be a little high. They weren't too terribly greasy, nothing beyond normal, but coupled with my meal, it was a little beyond what my tummy could handle. The burger was tasty, but it was a little beyond my preferred greasiness. The sweet potato chips, however, were amazing. And, unlike other places that serve sweet potato chips with a special dipping sauce, these ones didn't need it. They were perfect as is!
Kristin's plate looked a little more appealing to me when it came out. A lighter option, which she clearly enjoyed. I will probably steer clear of the burgers from here on out. And, yes, I would like to experience their breakfast sometime soon.
Service was pretty good, the atmosphere is delightfully dive-ish, and the food was tasty.

three golden forks out of five.

Kumo Hibachi and Sushi

Kristin: Hibachi Chicken and Edamame

Yay hibachi! I haven't had hibachi for far too long - the place I frequented at my last home (Abilene, TX) was good until the news started doing stories on how many cockroaches the food inspector was finding in that place.

Let me state for the record that Kumo is not such a shady place. Nice atmosphere and very clean. And the chef was quirky and deadpan in his joke/ performance delivery. Just as any good Hibachi chef should be. (Kate and I actually had a conversation where she, being the cultured foodie she is, stated that for her the mark of a good Hibachi place is their sauce selection. For me it's totally how many things the chef can light on fire/ throw into his hat.) All in all a fun time.

In addition, the food was totally yummy. I stuffed myself to the gills with chicken and fried rice. Woot.

four out of five golden forks.

Kate: Hibachi Chicken and Edamame

I do enjoy a good hibachi meal. There is something satisfying, for someone who likes to cook, about watching them prepare your meal in front of you. And, hibachi veggies are always so yummy! Edamame was a good start. We were hungry mongries that day. But, I have NEVER left a hibachi hungry. I don't know what we were thinking with that edamame. The miso soup was pretty decent, and the ginger dressing on the side salad was pretty standard for a place like this, which is fine with me. As Kristin mentioned about, it is all about the sauce for me at a hibachi. And, I was not disappointed. The white sauce (why can you never describe what the sauce at a hibachi tastes like?) was very good. I tend to dump the sauce I like the most all over my plate of grilled food, and that I did at Kumo. I thought that everything tasted pretty good. I will definitely return, though that may just be because I have yet to find another hibachi in town and I do crave it often.
We can not report on the sushi as we didn't have any, but, perhaps, in a future post we will!

three golden forks out of five.

London Grill

Kristin: Butter Curry Chicken & Sticky Toffee Pudding

Okay, I liked it here, but know that before you go to the LG, you need to do a little online research. The menu online will tell you what each dish is actually comprised of, but the menu in-store is only dish names. Sadly, I think this made Kate and I both a little hesitant to try something that we didn't find familiar name-wise. This is not to say the curry wasn't wonderful. I'm really intrigued by the mix of indian and british flavors that the London Grill presents. Because I am a wuss about spicy foods, I honestly think the curry was wonderful as the British side to the cooking made it a little blander than normal. The meal also came with naan and a really scrumptious mix of vegetables - onions, bell peppers and tomatoes with some kind of light dressing. Next time I'm back here, I'd like to make sure that I ask for the naan on the side, since that was really great until the soggy bottom that had soaked up all the curry juice.

To wrap up, I ordered the Sticky Toffee Pudding, which is basically a piece of cake with hot toffee sauce ladled over the top. The portions at London Grill were fairly large, so I certainly didn't need desert, but I knew that if I was the bad influence in the group, that Kate would join me in some adventures of the sweets variety. I also know now (hindsight being 20-20 and all), that the toffee is served hot enough to leave you with a few less taste-buds than when you started, but to her credit, the server definitely tried to warn us. In any case it was delish.

Lastly, I have to comment on our server. She was super awesome and personable. Mad props to her for not only being a great server, but also giving us some tips on places to add to the list.

three golden forks out of five.

Kate: Tandoori Chicken
Um, yum! Had heard about this place for quite some time, and it had been on the list since the list was created, but we hadn't made it here, yet. Last night, however, we were not disappointed. Such a kitschy idea, a British pub that serves Indian inspired foods. Wonder what chemicals influenced that decision...
I, unlike, Kristin, enjoy spicier cuisines and enjoy trying something new. And, the lack of descriptions did hold me back a bit. The Tandoori was delicious and fairly spicy, but I wouldn't have minded a little more fire. The vegetables that Kristin mentions above where also part of my meal, and they were really yummy! And, there was a cucumber sauce on my plate that was to die for, but there wasn't enough of it, in my mind.
What Kristin did not mention was the pre-meal wonder that came to our table. It was reminiscent of chips and salsa, but with a twist that only the London Grill could have. It consisted of flat, tortilla-like crispy things with a sweet salsa. Kristin compared the taste to an egg roll in sweet and sour sauce. Not quite what I got from it, but it was mesmerizing.
Overall, a great experience. Our excellent waitress alone would have been enough to make me come back, but the food experience was also intriguing and I will be back and a little more adventurous next time!

four golden forks out of five.

McGinnis Landing

Kristin: Strawberry Florentine Salad

I checked out McGinnis as a working lunch today, and was quite happy with my meal. It's a sports themed restaurant, which is usually not my bag, but the atmosphere had a pretty TGIFridays kind of thing going on- so there was a lot to look at for my semi-ADD attention span.

I feel like this would be a decent place for a quick dinner with a date, because the menu had both manly things like hamburgers (which my staff were quick to note tasted more like ground steak while licking the remaining hamburger carnage from their fingers), and more "prissy" dishes like the strawberry salad that I ordered.

It was a really good combo of flavors - spinach with feta, almonds, fresh sliced strawberries and a strawberry vinaigrette that really meshed well with the rest of the ingredients. I cleaned my plate and it was just the right amount to make me satisfied.

All in all a good lunch.

three golden forks out of five.