I read in one of my beer magazines that a bar in Delton was brewing their own beer. I had been past Tujax Tavern many times and thought it was just a small town bar. I decided to check it out for the beer and found a couple of nice brews and a very good restaurant. My beer was a Mud Lake Stout which was very good. It does look and feel like a local bar, but they have a chef and an expanded kitchen which allows them to prepare some pretty impressive stuff. Their burger is fresh ground to their specifications and never frozen. I had a burger and thought it was very good. They make their own bread, pizza crust, salsa and as many other items as they can. The bread is even sold by the loaf from a bread display which can include cookies, croutons and muffins. Next time I want to try the burger with peanut butter and jalapeno jelly. They have daily specials listed on the in house board. They also have a smoker and make great brisket and corned beef. They are well known for burgers, pizza on their house made crust, brisket and their reubens. They have lots of other sandwiches, wraps, salads and appetizers as well. I do want to go back at night and try some chef specials like pan fried walleye or perch. I would also like to try the whitefish Grenoble or one of the pasta dishes. This place was a nice surprise and I can't believe I am just finding it. Nice place and nice people. Check out the guide for more details.

New in 2011. This place is connected to one of my favorites that has been in the guide for awhile called La Perla in Benton Harbor. That favorite of mine is run by Esteban Blanco's father. He worked for his father for 13 years before coming to Kalamazoo and opening El Gallo Blanco on Portage Road. This is very authentic Mexican food with unique offerings like fried cactus. I like the Alambre dish made with ham, bacon, shredded pork, onions, peppers and cheese. I also like the Steak Bistec. They have your favorites like tacos and burritos, but they offer some items not found on our "Americanized" Mexican restaurant menus. They also make their own soft drinks like horchata and hibiscus. This place is worth a drive if you like the real authentic experience. Check the guide for more details.

Second location deserves second writeup

New in 2011. This "Yooper" joint will bring back memories of the North country. The new second location of U.P. North Sandwich & Pasty Co. in Richland brings U.P. homemade food to us in the lower part of Michigan. This place has the same offerings found in the first place in Allegan like a great homemade pasty and the Cudighi italian sausage patty sandwich. If you don't like rudabagas, they have lots of hot and cold sandwiches including their dirty reuben, pecan chicken salad croissant along with italian or roast beef subs. Hot ones like torpedo, chipotle chicken or chicken cordon bleu. Fresh homemade soups everyday and a nice salad selection including southwest chicken, italian and greek. Don't miss the homemade desserts like cheesecake, cream puffs and homemade fudge. They also sell a famous "yooper" candy brand called Saykllys. Look in the guide for more details.

Terry's Guide featured in Southwest Michigan's Second Wave media article

Growth News - THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2010

Portage Resident Offers Favorite Dining Picks at Updated Online Site

ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Terry St. Louis of Portage sells insurance, and he spends a lot of time traveling Southwest Michigan, dining out at least five days a week.

So many people asked St. Louis for advice on where to eat he decided to start Terry's Guide to Dining and Drinking to chronicle his picks for the best places to dine in Southwest Michigan.

After a little over a year, the site has reviews and pictures of 350 places where St. Louis has found good food. Wineries, bakeries and breweries are all part of the mix.

The site recently relaunched with a new look and features that are more friendly to mobile phone users and is constantly updated as St. Louis finds new places to eat. There are no negative reviews, only places where St. Louis can recommend good food.

"When I go into a restaurant I ask what they are known for, what are their top sellers and build my review from that," St. Louis says.

The restaurant guide covers all kind of eateries from dives to fine dining spots such Webster's in downtown Kalamazoo. The site also can be searched by city, cuisine and specialties. Hidden-away spots only the locals know about are also part of the package.

"One of my spots is two miles down a dirt road," St. Louis says. "I have reviews of places that are out in the middle of nowhere."

The site recently has seen a lot more traffic -- 4,000 visitors last month -- and St. Louis attributes that to its redesign by Team Hypernet. He said the company not only provides attractive graphics but services to help drive traffic to the site.

If the site continues to grow he hopes to eventually branch out and offer reviews from Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Grand Haven.

Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: Terry St. Louis, Terry's Guide to Dining and Drinking

New Orleans style deli & bakery

New Orleans comes to Middleville in the form of Big Easy Deli & Bakery. The owners had lived in Gulf Shores, AL for several years savoring New Orleans style food from their close proximity and because that style is very prevalent all over that part of the gulf. Open for breakfast and lunch you could start your morning with local roasted coffee, a housemade muffin, pastry or strudel and move on the Bourbon Street croissant. How about a nice quiche with house baked bread for toast. Lunch has that same great bread in several sandwich options like a pulled pork po'boy with coleslaw on top or a shrimp po'boy. Their signature sandwich is the muffelatta which rivals any I have had on Bourbon Street. Don't miss the gumbo. The owner is up at 3am baking her breads, muffins and turnovers so we can enjoy all this homemade goodness. Daily specials like red beans and rice on Monday and jambalaya on Tuesday. Always chef choice fish on Friday. This place is worth a drive so check it out. More details in the guide.

New addition Pub

Since 1959. This place has always had very good food but was a little smoky for the guide. However, you need to try The Pub in Richland. If you have never been or not in quite awhile like me, go back and check it out again. They are most famous for their burgers. They also make homemade potato chips and big beer battered onion rings. All soups are homemade and their fish sandwich is hand battered pollock. You could also try the 14 piece hand battered perch dinner or their 1/2 pound pot roast. They are a bar with TV's for sports and Nascar special wing deals. On Saturday you can stay past 9pm and enjoy the Karaoke! Nice place. Check out the guide for more details.