Yum Burger

I haven't had a burger and fries in months. I hadn't even thought about one when my perennial dining companion suggested a trip to Mason's, a small bar in Livonia. We both had a burger and split an order of chili cheese fries (what a treat). Good food, good prices and good fun. We watched the first period of the Wings/Blackhawks hockey game (Wings win 4-0 I think) and had pints (served in Mason Jars) of Labatts. Great night out. Mason's doesn't have a website, but you can click here for directions and reviews:

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&q=mason's+bar+livonia&fb=1&view=text&latlng=3912726036668338911

Drop in Hockey

The folks at Suburban Ice in Farmington Hills saved me from a sports-free weekend by opening up one of their rinks to Women's Drop In hockey this morning for an hour and a half. We played four v four and had a great workout and a good time.

Running Outside in Shorts in Michigan in December!

Running outside in shorts in Michigan in December is worth noting. We had 57 degree temperatures in southeastern Michigan yesterday and the sun felt WARM! All right, you folks in California and Florida may be able to run in shorts year round outside, but I bet we in Michigan appreciate it lots more!

Wicked Snow, Wicked Food, and just Wicked Good

We bought our tickets to Wicked at the Opera House in Detroit months ago and have been looking forward to the show for weeks. As the day drew near, the weather forecast continued to look more dire. And go figure, the first real blizzard of the season was destined to fall on my most anticipated night in December. And fall with a bang it did, dumping 10 inches of snow (beautiful stuff if you aren't driving) on the metro Detroit region and potentially inserting a snag into our evening downtown. But I got out of work on time and worked my way home to change clothes and let my perennial dining companion navigate downtown. The city looked festive, with holiday lights everywhere and the fresh layer of snow covering the ground.

Our first stop was Angelina's, an Italian Bistro next door to the Opera House. I had heard only good things about the restaurant and rightly so. We had a wonderful experience. The interior is modern and brick, but with an eclectic chandelier in red and yellow hanging in the corner that I asked the host about (it turns out some of the restaurant staff made the piece and it's in the style of a famous glass artist I haven't heard of). The service was very good and efficient and moved us along at exactly the right pace to arrive at the Opera House on time (we had been asked when making our reservation if we were seeing a show that night). The food was excellent. We started with the La Angelina appetizer, which was a wonderful assortment of house-made items such as a fish sausage, pickled cauliflower, cheese, balsamic-dressed greens, and smoked salmon. I had the butternut squash ravioli, which was perfect and served with rapini and coated with a beautiful almond amaretto sauce. My perennial dining companion had the linguine with little neck clams which he enjoyed as well. We ended the evening with coffee (very good) and the gelato sampler. We will be back. The bar looked like a great place to sit and enjoy an appetizer and glass of wine and I think we need to try that soon. This restaurant is worth a drive through the snow. Visit soon:

http://www.angelinadetroit.com/Angelina_Italian_Bistro/Angelina_Home_Page.html

On to Wicked! We had seen Wicked a couple years ago at the Majestic, and while we really enjoyed it, we weren't expecting the show at the Opera House to so exceed our previous experience. The Opera House is an amazing venue for this type of a show and the performers had their A game on. Glinda was performed by an understudy, but we wouldn't have known that without the program insert. She was terrific, both comically and vocally. Elphaba was tremendous as well. The songs I had heard so many times seemed fresh and new. The show was magical and I highly recommend seeing it, if tickets are still available.

http://www.nederlanderdetroit.com/engine.cfm?i=34

Great food and great entertainment in a city lit up for the holidays and covered with snow. Take a trip downtown and enjoy the season!

Zingerman's Bake!

My friend, Lisa, and I had signed up this summer to take a class at Zingerman's bakeshop in Ann Arbor this fall called Amber Waves of Grain: American Breads. We attended the class in November and what a great time! We expected to learn about how to make bread from scratch and our expectations were exceeded. Not only did we learn about baking bread (and walked away with three terrific recipes), but we were very entertained and the snacks were tremendous. Our instructor was Alejandro and he explained things very well. He had two assistants (I believe they were Candie and Shelby) helping so we didn't have to do any "work" such as clean up and measuring. All we had to do was blend, knead, shape, wait and eat!

We made a whole grain "Margaret" bread, a bakehouse white, and a cornbread and took home five loaves total. All the breads were delicious and we got to try a slice at Zingerman's. There is no comparison to mass produced prepackaged bread. All the ingredients in our bread were easily pronounced and understandable (flour, sugar, eggs, butter, yeast, honey, etc.).

My perennial dining companion was very impressed. I will absolutely start making my own bread as I have time.

I would highly recommend their classes. They were well organized and efficient as well as entertaining and effective. Plus, they ended on time and were a great value.

Visit Zingerman's:

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

Arbor Brewing Company

My perennial dining companion and I had friends over on Saturday night and needed to find a restaurant that offered contemporary and healthful food. We knew the beer at the Arbor Brewing Company was good and decided to believe the reviews and head on out to Ann Arbor. Our plan worked out wonderfully! The 30 minute wait for a non-smoking table (not bad for a Saturday night) was happily spent as the four of us each had a Sacred Cow IPA. Once seated, we split the appetizer of house-made red bell pepper hummus. For dinner, I ordered the crumbled black bean tacos which came on spinach tortillas with vegetarian charro beans and cilantro lime rice. Amazingly tasty. My perennial dining companion had the fish tacos and my girlfriend had the blackened chicken tacos. We were all thrilled with our choices. My friend's husband had the Drunken Chicken with Goat Cheese and Pesto sandwich which looked tremendous. Our server easily accommodated our myriad requests (extra pesto, more jalapenos).

I am especially impressed with the Arbor Brewing Company's move to organic and local offerings with thoughtfulness to the food itself.

You should visit. We will be back.

http://www.arborbrewing.com/index.php?site=brewpub

The only game that counts Uof M 2, OSU 0

I know the University of Michigan is not having a great year in football. The games have almost become painful (and I'm a lifelong fan) and the punter (an amazing Zoltan Mesko) has been the best player game in and game out. That said, the offense had sparks of life in the defeat at West Lafayette this weekend and the healthy Brandon Minor was tremendous! But the defense was abysmal and you should be able to win any game in which you score more than 40 points.

At the greatest game on earth (with apologies to Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilley, and Abby Wambach and my second favorite sport of soccer), Michigan's men's ice hockey team triumphed over arch-rival Ohio State on two consecutive nights at Yost Arena in Ann Arbor. On Friday, Michigan topped OSU 4-3 on the ice. At Yost in Ann Arbor on Saturday (a game my perennial dining companion and I were thrilled to be at and I was still hoarse from cheering Sunday morning, I must say), Michigan thumped Ohio State 6-1, surviving and thriving in the challenge of multiple power plays, cheap hits, and marginal referees.

Bryan Hogan was brilliant in goal and the line of Palushaj, Miller and Caporusso was tremendous. Last night was the first time I had a chance to see the new freshmen and I was impressed. I think the hockey program is in great shape (even given the loss to the Phoenix Coyotes of Chad Kolarik and Hobey Baker award winner Kevin Porter - last year's senior stars and Max Pacioretty to the Montreal Canadians a year early).

For those of you who haven't seen a hockey game at Yost before, being in the crowd is an experience not to be missed, assuming you are of a certain age. That age could be either old enough to appreciate the wit of the cheers and jeers issued by the student section (an uncanny, unified mass of sound) or young enough not to understand or question. Plus, as an added bonus, the alumni pep bend was in the house tonight and ROCKED it. The conductor, a gentleman well over 50, danced and shimmied his way through the band's repertoire, earning cheers from the student section. Great stuff all around!


Read about the game: http://www.mgoblue.com/ice-hockey/article.aspx?id=154352

Farmer's Markets

I cannot even begin. My favorite thing this summer was Breakfast Club skating on Thursdays: http://suburbanhockey.com and then stopping by the farmer's market in Northville for fresh produce. This is the last week for most farmer's markets (we have been frequenting Northville on Thursdays and Canton on Sundays) but not for Ann Arbor! We went for the first time this Saturday and I was blown away quantity and quality of the local produce. We will be back.

Ann Arbor 10-24

What a weekend! What a town! On Friday we took a little fall color tour (for those of you not from Michigan, you have no idea what you are missing). The fall is beautiful with the colors of the trees. You in Florida have NO IDEA! Move back to the Midwest and experience four distinct seasons, the Great Lakes, a wonderful region of restaurants and culture and community. It's a tremendous place to be and I can't imagine living anywhere else.

Friday night we ate at Mac's Acadian Seafood Shack in Saline. Great Food. Great Service. But the delivery was uneven (my entree arrived before I was done with my salad). I insist you visit however. We will be back. I had the butternut squash ravioli and my perennial dining companion had the salmon. The food was wonderful. http://macsinsaline.com/

The evening ended at Rackham Auditorium listening to Andres Schiff as he performed 4 Beethoven Sonatas and finished with an encore of Bach's Italian Concerto. Tremendous stuff: http://www.ums.org/s_current_season/artist.asp?pageid=470

2-0

My hockey team is 2-0! As my husband said, I didn't know Ryan Miller played in goal for you! Our goalie stood on her head tonight, stopping 5 breakaways and making solid plays throughout to lead us to a 1-0 victory (we scored in the third period on a fluky, sloppy goal although the other team had more skill). What a win! The best game on earth and I'm fortunate enough to be able to play it.

Flat, Black & Circular and Dusty's Cellar

To celebrate both the birthday of my mother and of my perennial dining companion, the four of us (mother, father, husband and myself) ventured into East Lansing despite the Michigan St./Ohio St. football game last Saturday to go to Flat, Black and Circular (you guessed it, it's a used record store) so my father and my husband (aka perennial dining companion) could browse the used albums and try to one-up the other on the brilliance of their obscure selections. It's a great record store and you should visit if you are in the area: http://flatblackandcircular.com/

We then drove east to Okemos to Dusty's Cellar which is a great restaurant offering a diverse menu and terrific service. I had the Torte Rustica which was very good. The Bell's Two Hearted Ale (alas, the end of Oberon season is at hand) I had was wonderful and my husband and father both indulged in a Manhattan. They both give me the maraschino cherries out of their drinks so I can vouch for their potency. The pumpkin cheesecake we split for dessert was divine. Visit Dusty's Cellar: http://www.dustyscellar.com/

1-0!

My hockey team won it's first game of the season today 3-1. Woo hoo!!!!

Giovanni's

Some of the best (if not the best) Italian food in Metro Detroit can be found in the unlikely location of Giovanni's Ristorante near the Ford Rouge Plant on Oakwood in Detroit. The contrast between the outside urban darkness, complete with industrial skyline, and the homey sophistication of the inside must be noted (please use the valet parking). We were celebrating the birthday of my perennial dining companion. We began with red wine and an appetizer pizza bianco which was wonderful. My entree was the amazing pesto pomodoro over linguine (the homemade noodles melt in your mouth). I avoided ordering it for years concerned about the dilution of the pesto with the pomodoro which was my loss. My companion had veal which was also tremendous. For dessert, we ordered the lemon sorbet when a small piece of tiramisu arrived complete as a birthday compliment. The food, service, and atmosphere are not to be missed. I would suggest it for out of town guests as well. Visit soon:

http://www.giovannisristorante.com/

Antonio's

There is Old-School Italian food which is served steaming hot and covered with cheese. There is a time and a place for this. There are also tremendous high-end Italian restaurants with excellent food in a more adventurous mode. And then there's Antonio's. We discovered Antonio's when we were living in Farmington and there was a new Antonio's opening in Farmington Hills at 12 and Drake. The bread was a thing of beauty. The salad was wonderful. The pesto divine. The pine nuts plentiful. And the bill under 30 dollars if you didn't drink anything stronger than coffee. When we moved to Canton 7 years ago, we started frequenting the Dearborn Heights location, which while possessing a little less of the "white table cloth" feel of the Farmington Hills location definitely had all of the attention to detail with the food and service and is worth the trip down Ford Road. My Perennial Dining Companion swears by the spaghetti carbonara. I feel the pesto is exceptional. If you get it with Italian Sausage, it's enough for dinner and lunch the next day.

Visit Antonio's! http://www.antoniosrestaurants.com/

Football! - Baseball :-(

Like a salve for my baseball-savaged heart, football has returned! Yes, I know Michigan lost to Utah. Yes, I know that we would need to splice the two quarterbacks together to get one solid quarterback. But the special teams were neat, the defense made adjustments at halftime that WORKED (when was the last time that happened, Wolverine fans?) and as long as we can get the opposite team to commit something like 15 penalties in a game, we can hang in on offense. Just don't make them go the length of the field. And a special "way to go" to Morgan Trent on defense with a few great hits! There is something magic about fall and football and marching bands and I need something to distract me from the chaos that has become my beloved Tigers (Detroit, that is).

The Detroit Tigers. My Sean Casey-less team. The team that took my favorite player (Brandon Inge) who was an athletic genius at third base out of the day-to-day line up until they put him in at catcher (where he certainly has the game smarts to play but is not necessarily optimally used) after trading away Pudge. The team that paid top dollar for a roster full of hitters who weren't hitting, then took the best defensive player on the team off the starting line up. The team that let my second favorite player sign with Boston. Captain Single, aka Sean Casey, The Mayor. But last year at Comerica Park, I got to see Sean Casey hit a triple with the whole bench going nuts for his effort. I've seen nothing like that this season. Oh well. Maybe next year. Just goes to prove you can't buy chemistry. But keep Cabrera (I've turned into a fan - as long as he doesn't play third base). Polanco. Galarraga. Granderson. Inge if you can (and if you can't, the team he lands on will become one of my favorites similar to Brad Ausmus and the Astros). Just fix the team and give us something to cheer about in August and September next year.

Squeeze!

Wow! When I made my Perennial Dining Companion get me tickets to see Squeeze at the Royal Oak Music Theater I didn't know Aimee Mann would be warming up. I love Aimee Mann's plaintive yet powerful songs. She was wonderful, although I would really like to see her in a smaller venue. That said, Squeeze was amazing. Despite the fact that we are 25 years passed their heyday, the band were beyond tight, nailing song after song both vocally and instrumentally (and somehow making me proud to be in my 40s like the band). And despite the fact that I grew up with my sister playing a Squeeze cassette in a boombox in our 79 Caprice Classic (lemon yellow, no less, but with a broken tape player), I had no idea how intricate the music was and how talented the musicians are. Still in full voice, the band delivered in a way many reunion tours don't. If they pass through your town, buy tickets and prepare to enjoy yourself. It's a rare treat for those of us at (or past) a certain age to hear our music played this well.

Atlanta with my sister

I don't often dine without my Perennial Dining Companion, but the weekend before Labor Day I left him at home with the cats and headed to Atlanta to spend the weekend with my sister, who is camping out in Buckhead in a rented townhouse with her two dogs, getting a feel for the city. There are many things I love about Atlanta (and many more I love about Michigan) but one of the things I do love about Atlanta is how close nice, tree-filled, residential neighborhoods are to the city proper with the restaurants and the skyline. And the availability of parking if needed. Atlanta is full of runners, bikers, and folks walking their dogs. And lots of tasty food (in a mostly non-smoking atmosphere).

Friday night we went to Cafe Intermezzo for champagne cocktails (it's a celebration when sisters get together after all) and appetizers in lieu of dinner. Very tasty. Visit at http://www.cafeintermezzo.com .

On Saturday, due to mild and damp weather (Tropical Storm Fay was passing south) we went to the movies (very entertained by Mama Mia - I will be singing Super Trooper for weeks) and then met my sister's friend for vino and snacks at Taurus. We sat on the covered deck so we could watch the incredible city lights as the sun went down (the lights look great with cloud cover as well as clear skies) . I had the Kobe Beef Sliders. Truly tasty with sweet onion marmalade, Dijon mustard and perfect little buns. My sister had a soup which looked excellent as well. The location was perfect for a relaxed evening. Visit Taurus at http://www.taurusrestaurant.com/.

The Golden Harvest

As if we hadn't already eaten enough in the last two days to sustain us for the week, after a walk through downtown Lansing (I must say our Capitol is well-landscaped with a nice variety of perennials) we found ourselves at The Golden Harvest for another snack. We had to wait a few minutes for a table, but a wait of twice as long would have been well worth it. The food seems to be made to order. We each had an order of biscuits and sausage gravy (the sausage is the house specialty) with great coffee. My order was a 1/2 order and I couldn't finish it, but on another day I probably would have no trouble with the portion size. The biscuits were perfection and the gravy a marvel. If it wasn't an hour drive from home, we'd be back twice a month. The menu had lots of vegetarian friendly options and everyone's food looked delicious. Easily the most amazing breakfast I've had in a long time. They don't have a true online presence, but you can check out this website:

http://www.myspace.com/golden_harvest

The English Inn - Eaton Rapids, MI

We discovered the English Inn thanks to a gift certificate received as a wedding present from some friends. We've been three times, and it's worth a trip to the wilds of Ingham County. The English Inn sits on 15 pretty acres on the Grand River just north of Eaton Rapids, MI. The rooms are pretty and roomy with lots of cable choices (I like to play rummy and watch the food network after dinner with my Perennial Dining Companion). The Inn boasts an elegant restaurant and a more casual English Pub.

For our 7th anniversary we decided to visit the English Inn for one night and have dinner as well. We stayed in the Somerset Room which I think we will choose again when we return.

Dinner was simply beautiful. We started with a mushrooms florentine appetizer and then shared Chateaubriand for two with duchesse potatoes and vegetables accompanied by a very nice red wine that I neglected to note. The service was very good and the food simply perfect, although I was left no room for dessert. The crowning touch was the piano background. We got the card of the pianist, Padraic Smith (www.padriacmusic.com), who kept us thoroughly entertained (and occasionally guessing) as he converted eighties pop songs into jazzy piano numbers (Asia or Journey anyone)?

Breakfast the next morning was very nice as well. I had quiche and my perennial dining companion indulged in eggs benedict.

I recommend the English Inn to anyone looking for a weekend getaway. The Inn excels over other bed and breakfast establishments by virtue of it's size, grounds, and especially the restaurant. Dinner is always excellent.

Visit the English Inn at http://englishinn.com/index.shtml.

Izabella turns 1!

My baby cat is a kitten no more! She turned one year old yesterday and weighed in at 10 pounds (dwarfing the senior Phoebe who at age 10 still rules the roost despite the size factor, but still much smaller than the incongruously named Itty Bitty Kitty who waffles between 14 and 15 pounds). A far cry from the 2-pound, 8-week old kitten who followed us home from a walk only to find her new family when we had to take her in rather than leave her outside and alone at night in October. No one responded to our posters and she didn't have a chip, so we decided to make her a permanent addition. And what an addition she has turned out to be! Aerobatic, highly chatty (she's mostly Siamese to our uneducated eye, but with a tabby-shaped face with Siamese coloring) and very personable - she's a quintessential cat and the first one we've "raised from scratch". Happy Birthday Izzy! Many Happy Returns!

Eve - Ann Arbor

Once every few years, you happen into a restaurant that is something extraordinary. Food is my passion (along with sports) and I appreciate a lot of local restaurants for great food, atmosphere, service, or even properly chilled beverages. I especially admire restaurants that get a little quirky with their menu or have something unique or different about their ingredients or offerings showing a desire to do something special with their food.

That said, Eve has taken the place in my heart and my stomach previously only occupied by Emily's in Northville. My Perennial Dining Companion and I had reservations for Saturday, intending to just eat an appetizer or two and a salad and share a bottle of wine to celebrate the end of my stint in the Introduction to Professional Cooking class at Schoolcraft. Upon arrival, I was unexpectedly hungry and we ventured into the main menu. There were two selections neither of us could pass up.

I ordered the simple steak and my perennial dining companion had the simple fish. Beautifully yet simply seasoned and prepared, our choices exceeded our expectations. I had a corn pudding as my side which was beyond perfection and my dining companion had a rice side which he enjoyed as well. The wine was well matched and the service outstanding. For dessert (accompanied by excellent coffee) we split the sorbet which was a lavender and violet sorbet and was almost indescribably good. My husband described it was tasting like a color. I just call it great.

Visit often and soon. http://www.evetherestaurant.com/

Anna's Porch - Jackson, MI

Someplace new! How fun! All the better spot to have lunch with my aunt visiting from Florida (and as it turns out, my grandfather as well). From the I 94 corridor in the middle of Michigan (aka Jackson), there is a nifty spot for lunch (and for gift shopping) called Anna's Porch. If you are hungry around mile markers 137-144 on I94 (or earlier and can hang on for a few) , this place is worth the detour off the freeway south and into downtown Jackson (a place I can say I don't think I've been before). I had a beautiful salad (The Cafe Bleu) which was bleu cheese, apples, pecans, and a bed of very nice greens served with Poppy Seed Dressing (very yummy!). My very health conscious aunt and grandfather had the salmon burger and a soup and salad combo (tuna on rye and a marvelous looking Italian Tomato soup) respectively. I really, really wanted the quiche of the day. But, having been up since 5:30 for hockey and needing to make it through my final sauce exam at Schoolcraft tonight, I abstained.

Visit and shop: http://www.annasfamily.com/PorchMain.htm

Late July without posting

I have been delinquent in posting over the last few weeks but my time has been primarily taken up with CAP 103, the Introduction to Professional Cooking class at Schoolcraft College compressed from the standard 7 weeks into 3 weeks for the summer term. I am in love with cooking (if not with making Hollandaise Sauce). I've been up to my elbows in chicken feet while making stock and yet I'm happy and busy and it's all good while I'm in the kitchen. Have I found my niche?

So while I've been so busy, my perennial dining companion and I have been on something of a hiatus from restaurants with a few exceptions. The Wednesday night visit for cold beer and inexpensive (but oh so tasty) snacks at The Rusty Nail in Canton. We also made a visit to Compari's in Plymouth (The Italian food is good, but trust me on this and go sit in the bar, have yourself a beer or a glass of vino, and order a pizza). Either the Compari Special or the Napolitana, depending on your mood. Watch baseball or what have you and sip your beverage and the pizza will come out great. The Compari Salad is worthwhile if you need a starter. Or the Italian sausage - It's not out of the box. Someone put some time into it and it should be appreciated. http://www.comparisdining.com/cotp_csi/rmud/100000003.pdf

Tigers come from behind and win!

I had written the game off at 6-0. Silly me. With explosive offense in the 7th and 9th (including a home run by Joyce in the 7th and a walk-off home run in the 9th by Cabrera), outstanding pitching by Fossum, Zumaya, and Jones, and a crowd the stuck with the team to the end, the Tigers surged ahead to take the win and move to within 6 1/2 of the White Sox. We look forward to an exciting series against the Twins coming up before the All Star Break.

First Pesto!

I made the first pesto of the season tonight. We planted about 20 basil plants and despite a hail storm and a few torrential downpours, they are in great shape and the pesto was tremendous. I start them inside in early April from seed I buy from Cook's Garden. (http://www.cooksgarden.com/products.asp?dept=1128&lvl=1052&grp=1) and transplant in late May into the outdoor garden. Today I mixed it in to risotto (Recipe courtesy of Lynne Rosetto Kasper of The Splendid Table http://splendidtable.publicradio.org). Pesto might be the best food ever. I highly recommend the cookbook http://publicradiomarket.publicradio.org/email/?0307346714/103-9938343-6037439

Tigers win in 15!

Nate Robertson goes a remarkable 9 innings (with 99 pitches) out of 15 in the Tigers 2-1 win over the Mariners. Games like these are the tough ones you need to win and the Tigers pulled it out without wounded slugger Magglio Ordonez or defensive superstar Brandon Inge (my personal favorite Tiger). The win brings the Tigers back to 500 and sets the stage for the upcoming series against the Cleveland Indians and the surging Minnesota Twins before the All Star Break.

Bubba Ho-Tep - Rescue Me

I am not a huge fan of comedies. There are exceptions (I really like Legally Blonde and The Princess Bride). But in general, don't show me a comedy. So when my perennial dining companion pulled out a comedy with an aging Elvis (no, folks, he's not dead) in a Texas rest home doing battle against the forces of inertia and evil, I was nervous. But it turned out to be good (if not clean) fun with a few jumps and a couple of twists. Very well cast and acted. Watch Bubba Ho-Tep. It's great. http://www.bubbahotep.com/

I have really enjoyed is renting entire series from Netflix (http://www.netflix.com/) We've gone through almost all The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Twin Peaks, Deadwood, a truly tremendous series that lasted not even a season called Wonderfalls - you must find it on DVD and watch it http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361256/, - all great shows. We are now watching Rescue Me, a really quirky show about the lives of fireman in a post 9-11 NYC fire house. It's not what you expect but it is really good. Plus, the show's theme song is by the Von Bondies, a Detroit band! Except for limiting water cooler chatter with coworkers, renting TV shows on Netflix is a great way to go. You can watch several at a time and there are no commercials!

The Nail

Under the category of favorite hole in the wall bar comes The Rusty Nail on Ford Road in Canton. My Perennial Dining Companion has a thing for the Wednesday night special (50 cent coney dogs, extra onions). I get a grilled cheese with bacon. For extra decadence, dip the chips from the grilled cheese into the hot dog chili. YUM! Cold beer, good food, friendly service and a great picture on all the TVs. The bar has been there for years and caters a little less to the young crowd and more to the over thirty set. There is no website, but visit on the south side of Ford between Sheldon and Morton Taylor.

Over 500

Don't look now but the Tigers are over 500. Bats are heating up with the summer temperatures. Fun to watch and it's every day!!!!

Week of 6-23

My perennial dining companion and I ate out twice this week. We went to Moe's on 10 Mile for the first time in Novi (just past Haggerty). I ordered a special - Key West Whitefish which was basically a whitefish crusted with thyme and basil and grilled. Very Good. Came with an adequate house salad. My companion ordered yellow fin tuna with red bell pepper coulis and was equally pleased (although he had a little entree envy over my whitefish which really was nice) although his choice of chicken soup was a better call than my salad. We will visit again. Part of the fun was counting the fish in the tank by the bar.

Visit Moe's at http://www.moeson10.com/

We met for dinner in Ferndale on Friday (which I am starting to love) at Josephine's on 9 Mile. 9 Mile is unfortunately under construction which seems to have stifled the normal Friday night crowd on a gorgeous (if muggy) Friday night. Crepes are the specialty of the house and I had a wonderful Wild Mushroom crepe (it had chevre cheese in it) which was just tremendous and my perennial dining companion had a Spinach crepe which was also quite good (although I contend mine was better). We had a seared scallop appetizer to start which was really well done also. You should visit (I hate to think of the struggling restaurants with 1/2 of 9 mile shut down). Parking was easily available behind Assagi (also worth the visit, see April posts) north of 9 Mile and east of Woodward. We will definitely go back. Ferndale is full of great restaurants.

http://josephinebistro.com/aboutus.aspx

PIB

We spent all day Friday and Saturday morning in Put In Bay, OH which is a town located on South Bass Island in Lake Erie. The food here is not normally remarkable (I tend to eat things that are fried or are pizza while visiting) but we like breakfast at Axel and Harry's Waterfront Grille. In good weather you can sit outside and enjoy a view of the lake and the marina. The coffee is good and the menu is solid. (Island food and drink is a little more expensive than the same choices would be on land which is something to keep in mind before visiting). I had blueberry pancakes and perfectly cooked bacon. My friends had either blueberry pancakes and sausage or English Toast (renamed from the standard French Toast) and eggs, or eggs, toast and potatoes. My Perennial Dining companion had biscuits and sausage gravy which comes with potatoes and he swears the gravy is something really special. It's a nice send off from the island.

Here's a link to their website, but there is no online menu:

http://www.axelandharrys.com/

Knight's in Ann Arbor

We had a craving for steak so my perennial dining companion and I braved the construction on Ford Rd. and headed into Ann Arbor to Knight's Steakhouse, a true classic. We both had the filet (mine a nice 6 oz size and covered with mushrooms) and his the standard cut with blue cheese and they were tremendous. Melt in your mouth good. My companion had the cream of asparagus soup which he said was very tasty and I had a salad so I could indulge in a little home-made ranch dressing :-). While the food is tremendous and not inexpensive, you should note that this is a family restaurant filled with all generations talking at all volumes with enthusiasm.

http://www.knightsrestaurants.com/

The Fly Trap - A Finer Diner

And so it is (a finer diner). My perennial dining companion and I have been carpooling once or twice a week of late to do our part to reduce our fuel consumption. While we were waiting out the rush hour Friday, we stopped in for dinner in Ferndale at The Fly Trap. I would call it a diner with flare. We sat at the counter and I had a tremendous portion of macaroni and cheese (half came home with me). Cheddar, Smoked Gouda, and Blue with Elbow Pasta, Caramelized Onion and Herbs and you can't go wrong. My companion ordered breakfast and was very pleased with his Steak and Eggs with potatoes (tasty little wedges spiced up nicely by some house made hot sauce they call SWAT Sauce) and two great pieces of rye toast. For dessert (although stuffed) I couldn't resist a 25 cent mini cherry coconut muffin. Good stuff. Well prepared, priced and vegetarian friendly.

http://www.theflytrapferndale.com/

WINGS WIN!

I have been so focused on hockey through early June I was not focused on food at all. But the Red Wings pulled out the Cup win (despite the Crosby media blitz) and Detroit is a happy place. Plus our Tigers are surging.

Up North

Good eats don't stop north of the suburban Detroit sprawl in this state! A trip up north with a group of girlfriends proves good food is everywhere, you just need to find it. A great weekend up north at Crystal Resorts was temporarily stifled by rainy weather, when we headed out to do shopping and explore. We went to Frankfort where we discovered The Crescent Bakery, a tremendously amazing spot for lunch on a rainy day. I had a quiche and soup combination which was tremendous. My other friends had a variety of soups and salads and we were all very pleased. We brought home a box of goodies for later which were tremendous as well. We chatted with Bob, the owner. You should, too. Visit the Crescent Bakery at

http://www.crescent-bakery.com/

For dinner (much later) we went to The Road House, a great spot for southwestern fare in Benzonia. The vegetable quesadillas were truly AMAZING! Go! Drive! Everyone loved their food. The service was great (we sat at the bar) and the salsa and chips were beyond belief (Margaritas also). If you are within a 1 hour radius, make a side trip.

http://www.roadhousesalsa.com.

April Food to Date

My first entry should actually fall into March, but since it was dinner at Diamond Jim Brady's in Novi to celebrate my 40th birthday with my husband and parents - and my birthday is technically in April. But we had a great dinner as always. The menu at DJB's in not overly large, but I've never had anything that I wouldn't recommend and the four of us always find something we really enjoy. I finally ordered the vegetarian burrito (very yummy) stuffed with sweet potatoes and topped with black bean chili. I've been eyeballing it for years. Visit Diamond Jim Brady's at www.djbistro.com

Now, it wouldn't be my birthday without a trip to Little Italy in Northville. One of my favorite restaurants ever - a can't miss. My husband (otherwise known as the perennial dining companion) had the filet and it was perfect. I ordered my traditional ravioli ales (sausage ravioli in a light spicy tomato cream sauce). It never disappoints. Visit their website (www.littleitalynorthville.com) and then visit in person. Wonderful atmosphere, service and food.

The day after my birthday, we visited Assaggi in Ferndale with two of our best friends. Our first time there, but not theirs. Wonderful food and service. I ordered an appetizer and a salad in lieu of an entree (wild mushroom gnocchi - a must have) and left happy and satisfied, but not stuffed. We were all thrilled with our meals and had a great waiter. We will visit again. You should too. www.assaggibistro.com/atmosphere.htm

Then, on to Seva in Ann Arbor on Saturday (pre-concert snacks before Opus 21 at the Kerrytown Concert House). Seva, as always, was tremendous. Vegetarian food at it's finest, but surprisingly without an online presence to share with you.

The next weekend we only went out to lunch, but it was worth noting. Back to Sidetrack in Ypsilanti, where my Perennial Dining Companion and I split a litre of lemonade and I had a wonderful spring salad (with roasted asparagus, grilled chicken and wonderful greens). My dining companion had a special (the meatloaf sandwich) and was very happy with it. Always a good choice. Closer to Canton than you would think. www.sidetrackbarandgrill.com

Toast!

I may have a new favorite breakfast restaurant competing with the ever wonderful Angelo's in Ann Arbor (raisin bread French toast anyone?) and the old-school Gest Omelette's in Redford (you can get an omelette with fresh mushrooms, green onions, kielbasa and swiss cheese topped with a sour cream sauce - trust me on this).

Toast! in Ferndale was very impressive on my first visit. I ordered an omelette from the list of daily specials with brie, carmelized onions and bacon that was just beyond belief good. The accompanying potatoes were perfect as was the Toast (whole grain wheat). The service and coffee were also exceptional. You must visit. Now. Frequently. How I didn't order the Grand Marnier French Toast is still a mystery (and no, I'm not experiencing entree regret) but it may have had something to do with my plans for ice hockey later in the morning. But I will return. As often as possible.

Links to Angelo's http://www.angelosa2.com/
Gest Omelette's http://gest-omelettes.com/Documents/master%20menu.pdf
Toast! http://www.toastferndale.com/

CCHA Championship - Go Blue!

For those of you able to tear yourselves away from the NCAA basketball tournament this weekend, you may have caught the CCHA conference championship game between U of M and Miami of Ohio. College hockey at its best. The only complaint I have is Michigan's goalie (Billy Sauer) not getting named to the all tournament team after single-handedly keeping Michigan in a tight game for the championship against a tough Miami team after a scoreless first period. Tim Miller earned a well-deserved spot on the all-tournament team. Looking forward to the Frozen Four.

March Food

We have eaten this month at Seva and Amadeus in Ann Arbor and again at Sidetrack in Ypsi. All three are worth visiting. Seva is a favorite of ours (unfortunately I have been unable to find a menu on line - and my perennial dining companion and I have yet to find an item on the menu we would not recommend). Amadeus is wonderful eastern European food.

My dining companion woke up Saturday craving a reuben and a root beer so we ventured back to Sidetrack (fast becoming our favorite pub food) and I had a chicken salad on greens (with iced tea- which comes with a refill to the table). Wonderful stuff. I look forward to introducing my father (a huge fan of the reuben) to Sidetrack this summer.

To go to Amadeus click here: http://www.amadeusrestaurant.com/

Lunch at Sidetrack

We investigated in early February to see if the burgers lived up up to their reputation (they did). Plus, everyone should have a fried dill pickle at least once.

This weekend we returned. I had the grilled veggie sandwich (very tasty with provolone on great bread) and my dining companion had a bowl of smothered chili. The service is great and so is the food. This restaurant gem will certainly be on our regular rotation and next time I will save room for dessert (most tables ordered at least one).

You can visit Sidetrack at http://www.sidetrackbarandgrill.com/

Best French Toast Ever

Monday we had the day off and drove to Angelo's in Ann Arbor for breakfast and I ordered the raisin bread French Toast. You can't beat it on a cold, Michigan February morning.

You can visit Angelo's on the internet here .