Tacos El Cunado, Grand Rapids

Last week I was in Grand Rapids for my wonderful new job. It got even better when my boss suggested that we head to the Downtown Market for lunch. We walked in and my jaw dropped. There were cupcakes. There was fresh fish. There was whiskey barrel-aged maple syrup, which I snapped up for my syrup-loving Valentine.

I did several laps before deciding what I was going to eat for lunch. When I saw Tacos El Cunado, I was sold. I ordered a chorizo quesadilla, which was $6.50 or something else inexpensive (the charge hasn't posted to my debit card yet.) I went to the salsa bar where I loaded up with pico de gallo and some spicy pickled onions. I found my colleague and dug in.

This ain't no Taco Bell quesadilla- don't pick it up to eat it unless you're willing to have a "taco hand" all afternoon. I had one. I felt like a wild animal.

The chorizo was spicy but it didn't hurt. I took this entire thing down in record time and I've been thinking about it ever since. The two owners are an attorney and a restauranteur, and I dig that. It looks like the place is popular with locals too (and great photos on that site!), and of course Grand Rapidians know from Mexican food.

If you're in GR and hungry, you'll find something fantastic at the market. There are cooking and yoga classes there too? I might pitch a tent.

Wolfgang's, Grand Rapids

A few weeks ago I hit the road for a quick trip to Grand Rapids with a girlfriend. She and I have been know to start chattering so much, and so distractedly, that once while we attempted to drive to Kalamazoo for dinner we ended up in Indiana. Since this trip had the advantage of daylight and neither one of us had had quite enough coffee yet, we were confident that we would remain in the correct state for the duration.

While she did what she needed to do, I researched where we would eat breakfast. After this great series on MLive ran, I had jotted down two must-visits in GR: Anna's House and Wolfgang's (the link wasn't working, so check the Facebook page too.) A quick Twitter check with my most beautiful cousin confirmed that Wolfgang's is the spot to beat and we headed over for a late breakfast.

We waited for a table for about 20 minutes while we gazed lustily at the dishes being whisked past us. After we were seated we came up with a game plan quickly- we would each order our own savory dish and would get a sweet dish to share. I just love friends who are as out of control as I am.

Of late, I've been loving both biscuits and gravy and corned beef hash. The two struggle for the #1 spot in my brain every time I go out for breakfast. When I read the description for the Keane, I snapped the menu shut and checked my chin for drool. Keane- Two biscuits in a skillet topped with corned beef hash, sausage gravy and three eggs. In the immortal words of Uncle Jesse, have mercy.

I got those eggs poached, as I am wont to do. The moment the hot skillet was set on the table I punched into the middle of the eggs JUST TO SEE if I would have something to complain about (i.e. hard yolks.) The yolk glided out of the egg and ran into the corned beef hash, and I ate my words. And everything else in the skillet. I cleaned it out and washed it down with hazelnut coffee and tears, because Wolfgang's is an hour away from where I live.

You didn't forget that we had breakfast dessert, did you? I couldn't forget the massive plate of pancakes sitting between us, staring at us, whispering to us "you're going to spent the night in the gym for this one, girls." We knew before we sat down that we wanted the Victoria Upton- tiramisu pancakes layered with mascarpone filling, and coffee topped with whipped cream, dusted with cocoa powder.

The pancakes were so light, but the filling was so rich and coffee-y. That dollop of whipped cream? The size of my face. The dish was gorgeous, to boot, and could have been photographed for a magazine. Instead, it showed up on my Facebook and Instagram, which is almost as important. Judging by the feedback on Facebook, Wolfgang's brings Grand Rapidians running. "I would have met you there on my lunch break!" said one cousin, while a friend who spent formative years in GR professed her love for the restaurant. I understand why.

Keep this place bookmarked, and if you're ever in GR and hungry, get thee to Wolfgang's.

Sixth best meal I had this year: Monica's Gourmet Cookies

Granted, these cookies are not a meal. But they could be. Several months ago I was at Horrock's, an awesome food store we have that is known for its fresh, inexpensive, and varied produce (and for its free coffee bar.) As I filled my cart with spinach, apples, Brussels sprouts and the like, I saw huge glass canisters stuffed with adorable cookies. Although they were $2 a piece, I bought two of them.

I lost my mind over these cookies. I even mentioned them in this article. I started researching them- where do they come from? who is Monica? why are these glorified balls of dough so addictive?

Here is everything you need to know. You should also take note that Monica has a "bakehouse" in Grand Rapids where you can go buy a zillion cookies.

In November I did a reading in a friend's wedding, and at the rehearsal she gave me a sweet gift bag. Inside was a bag of coffee beans, a beautiful red scarf, and half a dozen of Monica's cookies. The most perfect little gift bag I ever did see.

Five for 2012

Five of my best meals of 2012 were:

5. Dinner at Bistro Bella Vita (Grand Rapids)-
On February 19, 2012, homegirl Stacey and I went to see Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert at DeVos Hall in GR. We ate at Bistro Bella Vita (which, apparently, in-the-know Grand Rapids people refer to as "Bistro") and I wrote about it here. I ate there again in September, during Labor Day weekend when I went to GR to go to a West Michigan Whitecaps game with a friend from law school. We had both just taken the bar exam and were probably insufferable.

Also, while we were wandering around GR, we went into some dive bar and a dude started talking to me. He was wasted, and he started YELLING things like "You think America isn't the greatest country in the world? Why don't you lawyer THAT!"

Normal.

*Anthony Bourdain is coming to this neck of the woods in May. You might want to buy your tickets now, because I am seriously considering going off my own fiscal cliff and buying every ticket so I can just have a private conversation with him.

4. Cousin's graduation dinner at the Knight Cap (Lansing- Downtown)-
In May, one of my favorite cousins graduated from MSU. His family and my family celebrated his accomplishment at one of my all-time faves, the Knight Cap. Ya know I love it.

The Knight Cap is one of my go-to places when people ask me for a favorite restaurant in Lansing. I qualify it- although not every meal I have ever had there has been incredible, enough of them have been. And the atmosphere can't be beat. It's cozy and fabulously 70s.

I had other great meals at the KC this past year in January, for the birthday of one of my favorite men, and in August, with one of my favorite doctors. I should get back to this classic, sexy place pretty soon. 

3. Pre-bar exam breakfast at Golden Harvest (Lansing- Old Town)-
A week before the bar exam, we were all grasping onto our last vestiges of normalcy. My study schedule was ridiculous and I would get up at 5am to do a quick 50 multiple choice questions just to get warmed up for the day. A group of four of us needed a little break so we decided to meet at Golden Harvest one morning in mid-July. We were the only ones there, which was perfect, because I'm sure we were obnoxious. But that sandwich with avocado on it was bangin.

2. Birthday dinner at Mitchell's Fish Market (Lansing, Eastwood Towne Center)-
Yes, a chain. Deal with it. My little group of friendsicles has been treated very well by Mitchell's over the past few years. Because we are ridiculous people, we have occasional group roasts of each other. The private room at Mitchell's is the perfect size, is free, and allows us some privacy so the rest of Lansing isn't subjected to dirty jokes about past indiscretions (not that I have any of those.)

We celebrated my 30th birthday a few weeks late but had another wonderful meal with wonderful service at Mitchell's. They've got my endorsement. Plus, you can buy mussels for $3.99 a pound, which I do every Christmas Eve to make cioppino.

1. Publican Bachelorette Brunch (Chicago)-
Don't even play like you didn't think this was going to top the list.

Honorable Mentions:
- Scarfing oysters on the half shell on my tour of the state of South Carolina in August
- Bridesmaid brunch at Dusty's in Okemos on the day before my bestie's wedding in September
- Dinner at Meat (Lansing- Old Town) before a show at the Riverwalk
- A friends birthday dinner at Ukai (Okemos) on the night before Thanksgiving
- Tavern 109 with my favorite veteran, and subsequent return visits to put my money where my mouth is
- My yearly dinner with a college bestie at The Laundry in Fenton on December 23 (the Brussels sprouts were fantastic. The coq au vin was disappointing. The chocolate cake and cinnamon-vanilla ice cream were worthy of making the drive to Fenton.)
- A Sansu lunch series with my tallest friend, @ruistom, where we invariably order too much and wonder how the check is a million dollars.

2012 saw some good eats. Not so much good photography. I will get better at that, my friends. Stick with me.

And Happy New Year. 

Bistro Bella Vita, Grand Rapids

Last night a pal and I went to Grand Rapids to see some celebrity chefs talk to each other at DeVos Hall. Maybe this sounds like a weird event to you, but the participants were this foul-mouthed bowl full of swagger and this full-lipped Frenchman.

Eric Ripert is a GOOD. LOOKING. MAN. Wowza. Also, his French accent makes me physically miss that country. Yes, I am aware of how pompous that sounds. Excuse me for being cultured.

We left Lansing four full hours before the show started, thinking that we would have a nice, leisurely dinner. It's a good thing we left that early, because we got to our seats as the lights were going out. I don't know how this happens. Maybe I need to talk less.

That's never going to happen.

Anyway, upon the suggestion of a friend who lives in GR and knows the dining scene much better than I do, we went to Bistro Bella Vita. We rolled in right after 4:00 and were asked by two different staff members if we had a reservation. People were sitting at three tables and everything else was open, so I thought that this question was maybe a little bit- I don't know- ridiculous?

As usual I was dead wrong, and within an hour the place was totally packed. Our server was Alyssa. After dinner last night, I am now in love with Alyssa. She knew we had never been there before and I told her that I wanted some guidance on the menu. Actually, my exact words were "I need some help with this. Tell me everything." Instead of looking at me like the weirdo I am, she dove right in and gave us impeccable guidance. We were thinking of starting with the bruschetta, but she suggested the wild mushroom polenta instead. Yes, I hate cheese, but I love polenta.

When this came to the table, my friend hadn't decided which entree she would order. Alyssa didn't have a problem with that and she didn't try to rush us. She came back a few more times to ask us if we were ready, and when we finally were, we ordered. The paella for me and the four cheese ravioli for her. When Alyssa was telling us about the entrees and she started talking about the paella, she said it was her favorite thing on the menu. I was sold before she finished her sentence.

The paella was delicious. The chorizo was nice and spicy and there were MASSIVE tiger shrimp buried under that rice. The asparagus still had a snap to it. Fun fact- I hate risotto because I always expect the texture to be gummy and sickening, and I took a chance knowing that this was prepared in a similar way. Fortunately, the rice was perfectly al dente. I will still never order risotto, so don't even try it. I don't know how the ravioli was, because I would rather eat expired yogurt than eat cheese-filled pasta pillows.

After dinner we obviously wanted dessert, and we debated between the warm chocolate cake and the tiramisu. It has been a thousand years since I last had tiramisu. I was due for a refresher course. So we went for the pour-over coffee for two and tiramisu, which was presented in a martini glass. I'm not wild about presenting food in a martini glass. You?

I had no idea what pour-over coffee was, but the manager came to the table with this little diffuser full of ground coffee over which she poured hot water. The water streamed into the pitcher below the diffuser and voila- delicious coffee.

I was blown away by Bistro Bella Vita. As a matter of fact, I just called and told the manager how much I enjoyed our meal last night and how impressed I was by our server. I have never worked in a restaurant and don't really know how things operate, but I imagine that they don't get many calls from pleased customers. As with most things in life, the people who call are probably the people who want to complain. I've been trying lately to let people know when they give me exceptional service and to thank them for it.

I'm going back to GR next month to see this band (I have also been trying to develop better taste in music, because mine is seriously embarrassing.) I'm going to suggest that we have dinner beforehand at my new favorite GR restaurant, Bistro Bella Vita. The manager who I just spoke with advised that I make a reservation in advance.

Bistro Bella Vita
44 Grandville Avenue SW
Grand Rapids
(616) 222-4600

Amore in Grand Rapids

My sweet friend Kelly has been telling me about her favorite restaurant in Grand Rapids for a while. So, the last time I had an appointment in GR, I headed over a few hours early so I could stop for lunch. The place? Amore Trattoria Italiana.

Let me be honest with you. The place is not in a great location. As a matter of fact, from the outside, it kind of looks like a dump. Ignore that. The inside is decorated in Italian stuff. Just a ton of stuff, you know? It's not appealing to me, a lover of simplicity, but whatever. Do your thing, Amore.

I asked my waitress what she recommended for lunch and she started talking about sandwiches and lasagna. I wasn't in a sandwich mood and I do not like lasagna at all (way too much cheese), so I pretty much ignored her suggestions and got exactly what I thought I was going to get after doing preliminary research on the menu.

I started with the mista salad. It was everything I like in a salad- greens that are NOT romaine or iceberg, dressed in vinaigrette. The dressing was fantastic. It was covered in a layer of cheese, which I didn't love, but I flicked most of it off easily.

The waitress brought a bread basket. I wasn't impressed. Something in the bread was eerily reminiscent of Pizza Hut, which, try as I might to forget, it apparently a flavor profile that is going to stay with you. The bread also came with a bowl filled with dipping oil and about a metric ton of shredded cheese. Seriously, I know people love cheese, but I beg of you. Take it easy.

My entree was spaghetti with meat sauce. For the most part, I am rarely impressed with pasta. I think it's essentially foolproof and pretty difficult to screw up. In turn, it's difficult to knock my socks off.

However.

This pasta was exceptional. I took a bite and honestly thought to myself "This is how you do al dente." There was a bite to it- the pasta was cooked perfectly. After my first few bites, I noticed something odd. The meat sauce wasn't ground beef only, it actually had pieces of chopped steak in it. Heaven.

My bill was $7.42. $7.42! Get there quick.