About Me
- GCJ
- Lansing, Michigan, United States
- I am a Lansing townie, lawyer, and restaurant reviewer for the City Pulse. I love traveling, reading, yoga, and baking, but my favorite hobby is stuffing my face.
Monday, December 7, 2015
Monday, September 14, 2015
Cheese Platter, a favorite dinner
I would be content to graze on a beautiful cheese platter for all my dinners.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Marquette
At the beginning of August, I took a business trip to Marquette in the Upper Peninsula. I had never been there before, and while my dad insisted that Marquette is "a neat town," I wasn't convinced.
After traveling for work a lot this year and staying in a lot of nondescript hotels (think HoJos, Knights Inns, etc.) I decided to do something different this time and find myself a bed and breakfast. After a Google search, I settled on the Blueberry Ridge Bed and Breakfast.
I think the charms of bed and breakfasts might be lost on me. I found it awkward to make conversation with the owner over breakfast, and while I'm sure that there are some travelers who would be charmed with the owner's early-morning piano playing, I found it strange.
The breakfasts were sugary sweet.
On my upcoming return trip to Marquette, I will stay at the Landmark Inn. And I'll find a little added protein for breakfast, I hope.
For lunch, I went to Sweet Water Cafe, more than once. I also went there for breakfast. This little cafe is wonderful- fresh, healthy food, made with seasonally-appropriate ingredients that are influenced by the UP (maple cream latte.) They make their own bread and desserts and both are fantastic.
I'm looking forward to eating at Sweet Water as many times as possible in October. What a little gem.
I also ate at Elizabeth's Chop House for dinner and The Vierling for lunch.
My advice? Skip these two places and explore Sweet Water's menu as much as possible.
Marquette is a hilly town, which made running challenging but justified the above-mentioned almond cheesecake. There's a great little independent bookstore, and of course the views of Lake Superior are breathtaking. One morning I drove to Presque Isle park to go for a run, and I know that the autumn leaves will be spectacular at the park in October.
Before I hit the road for the 7 hour drive back to Lansing, I had a root beer float at Doncker's, which also has an adorable gift shop.
Does anyone have other Marquette or Upper Peninsula recommendations? Does anyone want to volunteer as chauffeur?
After traveling for work a lot this year and staying in a lot of nondescript hotels (think HoJos, Knights Inns, etc.) I decided to do something different this time and find myself a bed and breakfast. After a Google search, I settled on the Blueberry Ridge Bed and Breakfast.
I think the charms of bed and breakfasts might be lost on me. I found it awkward to make conversation with the owner over breakfast, and while I'm sure that there are some travelers who would be charmed with the owner's early-morning piano playing, I found it strange.
The breakfasts were sugary sweet.
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| Grape salad with brown sugar. |
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| Peach puffed pancake with whipped cream, straight out of the can. |
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| Dining room. This was at 7am. Notice the lit candles. |
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| "Spicy fruit compote." Spicy because there was a cinnamon stick in there. |
For lunch, I went to Sweet Water Cafe, more than once. I also went there for breakfast. This little cafe is wonderful- fresh, healthy food, made with seasonally-appropriate ingredients that are influenced by the UP (maple cream latte.) They make their own bread and desserts and both are fantastic.
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| Chilean avocado salad- exactly what I needed after the peach puffed pancake. |
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| Almond cheesecake. |
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| Yogurt, fruit, and granola, with toast and a maple cream latte. My favorite thing at Sweet Water. |
I also ate at Elizabeth's Chop House for dinner and The Vierling for lunch.
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| Bread basket glory at the chop house. |
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| Best thing I ate at the chop house was the house salad. That vinaigrette was to die for. |
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| Planked whitefish at the chop house, with double the spinach. |
Marquette is a hilly town, which made running challenging but justified the above-mentioned almond cheesecake. There's a great little independent bookstore, and of course the views of Lake Superior are breathtaking. One morning I drove to Presque Isle park to go for a run, and I know that the autumn leaves will be spectacular at the park in October.
Before I hit the road for the 7 hour drive back to Lansing, I had a root beer float at Doncker's, which also has an adorable gift shop.
Does anyone have other Marquette or Upper Peninsula recommendations? Does anyone want to volunteer as chauffeur?
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Recent favorites
This blend of coconut water and coffee. Yes, it's expensive and I can only find it at Whole Foods in Ann Arbor, but man oh man does it hit the spot.
We traveled to Asheville, North Carolina, and jumped at the chance to return to a Waffle House after being intrigued by this article.
Our neighbor brings us beautifully decorated sugar cookies for each holiday.
Ina's provencal lamb made for a knockout dinner and beautiful presentation.
Her chocolate pudding tart has become a new favorite.
Coney dog comparison in Detroit- American v. Lafayette. Lafayette (on the right), hands down.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Monday, January 19, 2015
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Top 5 of 2014
Read the article here.
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| Strange Matter latte. |
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| When we visited Ham Sweet Farm in October, we saw our turkey. |
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| He was delicious. |
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Holiday Whirlwind
This past holiday season I depended heavily on Mert's Meats. They have quickly become my very favorite butcher shop.
The gorgeous 28 pound fresh turkey I made for Thanksgiving. I used Alton Brown's brining technique and probably won't ever make a turkey another way. It was perfect.
Although he looks like the King of the Creeps, my brother liked it.
We went to more parties.
We had a fondue lunch before a pasta-making class at The Local Epicurean in Grand Rapids. (For the record, I stink at making pasta.)
We went to my firm's Christmas party in Detroit.
Mert's came to the rescue again when I made my absolute favorite recipe- Ina Garten's Slow Roasted Filet of Beef with Basil Parmesan Mayonnaise (for book club.)
It was last year's best thing I made. I think I'll stick with it for this year too.
The boyfriend surprised me with the world's most appropriate mantle decoration. I'm in love with it.
We celebrated in Adrian with his family. I brought the Smitten Kitchen cranberry orange breakfast buns.
We showed off tiny snowmen.
Mert's. Again. Christmas Eve prime rib.
Recipe for garlic and herb-rubbed prime rib from the Pioneer Woman, as well as her recipes for Yorkshire Pudding (so delicious, decadent, and dead easy), and roasted Brussels sprouts. Roasted potatoes with pancetta and parsley, and grilled lobster tails. The cheesecake didn't stand a chance of being photographed- my brother got into it while I wasn't looking.
Alton Brown's brining recipe again. Ham Sweet Farm heritage turkey, roasted for Christmas Day. Word to the wise- if you're going to use this recipe, also look up the YouTube videos for how to make the tin foil breastplate. It'll save the white meat from being dried out.
The nephew, or a tiny elf/police officer?
His and hers hot chocolate with marshmallows and Ninja Turtle mugs.
Happy 2015! We wore sweatpants and tiny hats to ring in the new year.
And I spent the next two days on the couch, wearing H&M fair aisle leggings, drinking endless mugs of Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride tea, and reading The Traitor's Wife. Highly recommend.
And then, shortly after the new year, we got a pup.
Wally the Weimaraner is four years old and came from the Humane Society. He likes to spend time on his bed and join me in the kitchen.
Wally made this guy so happy that we went to Zoobie's and ate our weight in truffle popcorn.
Holiday season, I love you. Until next year-
The gorgeous 28 pound fresh turkey I made for Thanksgiving. I used Alton Brown's brining technique and probably won't ever make a turkey another way. It was perfect.
Although he looks like the King of the Creeps, my brother liked it.
 |
| We went to parties. The outfits are intentionally ugly. |
 |
| The nephew turned one. I made him a cake all for himself. |
We went to more parties.
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| We had holiday dinners with holiday crackers. |
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| We posed in front of Christmas trees and gingerbread house displays. |
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| We had peppermint lattes. |
We had a fondue lunch before a pasta-making class at The Local Epicurean in Grand Rapids. (For the record, I stink at making pasta.)
 |
| We got one of each at Propaganda Doughnuts. |
We went to my firm's Christmas party in Detroit.
Mert's came to the rescue again when I made my absolute favorite recipe- Ina Garten's Slow Roasted Filet of Beef with Basil Parmesan Mayonnaise (for book club.)
It was last year's best thing I made. I think I'll stick with it for this year too.
The boyfriend surprised me with the world's most appropriate mantle decoration. I'm in love with it.
We celebrated in Adrian with his family. I brought the Smitten Kitchen cranberry orange breakfast buns.
We showed off tiny snowmen.
Mert's. Again. Christmas Eve prime rib.
Recipe for garlic and herb-rubbed prime rib from the Pioneer Woman, as well as her recipes for Yorkshire Pudding (so delicious, decadent, and dead easy), and roasted Brussels sprouts. Roasted potatoes with pancetta and parsley, and grilled lobster tails. The cheesecake didn't stand a chance of being photographed- my brother got into it while I wasn't looking.
Alton Brown's brining recipe again. Ham Sweet Farm heritage turkey, roasted for Christmas Day. Word to the wise- if you're going to use this recipe, also look up the YouTube videos for how to make the tin foil breastplate. It'll save the white meat from being dried out.
The nephew, or a tiny elf/police officer?
His and hers hot chocolate with marshmallows and Ninja Turtle mugs.
Happy 2015! We wore sweatpants and tiny hats to ring in the new year.
And I spent the next two days on the couch, wearing H&M fair aisle leggings, drinking endless mugs of Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride tea, and reading The Traitor's Wife. Highly recommend.
And then, shortly after the new year, we got a pup.
Wally the Weimaraner is four years old and came from the Humane Society. He likes to spend time on his bed and join me in the kitchen.
Wally made this guy so happy that we went to Zoobie's and ate our weight in truffle popcorn.
Holiday season, I love you. Until next year-
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